Netflix's 'Devil May Cry' embodies the unhinged and edgy essence of beloved video game series
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The Devil May Cry (DmC) franchise by Capcom has long been a cult favorite among action gamers. This video game series has fast-paced hack-and-slash gameplay with gothic flair, dry humor, and a demon-slaying protagonist who redefined cool for Gen Z and millennials. Now, Netflix is adapting the franchise as an animated series under the direction of Adi Shankar, whose work on Castlevania has already proven his penchant for dark, edgy, and experimental storytelling.
The series wastes no time establishing its world of demon-hunting and the constant battle between hell and earth. The protagonist is Dante, a younger, more vulnerable version of the cocky antihero fans know. The McGuffin driving the plot is his amulet, one half of a powerful artifact capable of unlocking a portal to hell. This relic ties directly to Dante's mysterious past and his family's tragic history. The show takes its inspiration from mythos, touching on religious symbolism, infernal politics, and demonic conspiracies, though rushing too much in the very first season.
What makes Netflix's Devil May Cry so unhinged isn't just the gory fight scenes or Dante's devil-may-care attitude; it's the abundance of absurdist humor, political satire, and deep monologues. Not all viewers will appreciate it, but for DmC fans, this creative chaos embodies the energy of video games. While the high-octane actions are occasionally sidelined, the trade-off is the exploration of identity, power, and destiny.
Character development is one of the weaknesses of the show. Dante is still charismatic yet restrained. Voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch (who voiced Nero, another character of DmC, in the games), he balances between swagger and insecurity. Dante is younger, less confident, and more conflicted here. Lady Mary Arkham is introduced as a foul-mouthed, trigger-happy ally who suffers from overly forced edginess. Her constant profanity and one-note aggression shadow her underlying complexity. Vice President Baines is shown as a satire of American politicians portrayed in Japanese media: authoritarian, jingoistic, and ruthless. White Rabbit, the main antagonist of the season, is surprisingly layered. His motivations for merging demon and human realms are full of nuances that overshadow the protagonists.
The biggest strength of the series is its vibe. Studio Mir's animation captures the chaos of demonic battles with oddly colorful gore. But the soundtrack embodies the soul of the early 2000s rebellion when the video games were first released. Tracks like Limp Bizkit's Rollin', Papa Roach's Last Resort, Rage Against the Machine's Guerrilla Radio, and Crazy Town's Butterfly don't just set the mood; they resurrect an era. This nostalgic music selection complements the series' emo-horror aesthetic, where punk rock meets gothic melodrama.
Ultimately, Netflix's Devil May Cry is an intriguing adaptation. The show has bold artistic choices, specks of rich lore building, and respect for the franchise's roots. It keeps the significant aspects of Devil May Cry up front: wild, weird, and gory. With room to grow, especially around Dante's evolution and the impending arrival of Vergil, season 2 holds promise.