Nocturne' Connected to the Rest of the Franchise?

The Big Picture

• Castlevania: Nocturne shifts the action to the French Revolution, featuring Richter Belmont as the last surviving member of the Belmont family.
• Richter inherits the famous Vampire Killer whip and shows off magical abilities similar to Sypha's spells, adding depth to his character.
• The spin-off introduces a new villain, the Vampire Messiah, and may or may not include the return of fan-favorite character Alucard from the previous series.

A fictional vampire aims to destroy the world: for the Castlevania universe, that's a day ending in Y. The original Castlevania is a gem, one of the rare video game adaptations that beats the odds and offers a quality story on its own merit. Its emphasis on unrelentingly graphic horror and devastating pathos backed by nuanced scripting, exemplary characters, and astonishingly atmospheric animation from the underrated Powerhouse Animation Studios showcases the artistic heights of which the medium is capable. The unlikely friendship between co-protagonists Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), Sypha Belnades (Alejandra Reynoso), and Adrian Tepes/Alucard (James Callis) won audiences over the most, a meeting of opposites who make each other stronger when united. The final season ended things as happily as possible for the trio, but nothing stays peaceful in Castlevania's grim world. Its spin-off sequel, Castlevania: Nocturne, features a new cast of characters and a different setting from its predecessor. But the Belmont legacy lives on through Trevor and Sypha's descendant, Richter Belmont (Edward Bluemel): a legacy that involves fighting vampires, family trauma, and a ridiculously badass whip.

Castlevania: Nocturne

Richter Belmont, a descendant of the legendary vampire-hunting family, takes center stage as he confronts a resurgence of nightmarish creatures threatening humanity. Set in a richly detailed gothic universe, the series follows Richter's journey as he hones his combat skills, discovers hidden truths about his lineage, and allies with other hunters. Each episode weaves together thrilling battles and deep lore, showcasing the relentless fight against the sinister forces that lurk in the shadows.

Who Is Richter Belmont in ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’?

Unlike the first Castlevania, which takes place in the 1470s in Wallachia, a Romanian region near Transylvania, Castlevania: Nocturne opts to shift the action to the French Revolution. The year is 1792, just over three centuries since the events in Wallachia. Richter Belmont, a direct descendent of Trevor and Sypha, follows in his ancestors' footsteps in more ways than one. Just like Trevor, Richter grapples with being the last surviving member of the Belmont family. When he was a child, a powerful vampire by the name of Orlox (Zahn McClarnon) murdered Richter's mother, Julia Belmont (Sophie Skelton). Richter isn't entirely alone in his quest, however; he later meets Juste Belmont (Iain Glen), his grandfather, who comes to his aid when Richter battles vampires during the Nocturne's main plot.

Like his ancestors, Richter also ends up wielding the famous Vampire Killer whip, a centuries-old weapon passed down the Belmont line from hunter to hunter. His use of magic clearly comes from Sypha's side of the family and, with the combination of magic and martial skill, Richter is a formidable foe.

How Does ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ Continue the Belmont Story?

Instead of regurgitating the Belmont versus Dracula plot that's typical of the Castlevania gains, Nocturne sets Richter against Erzsebet Báthory (Franka Potente), the self-proclaimed "Vampire Messiah" and a villain loosely inspired by a historical figure of the same name. Báthory is determined to cast the human world into literal eternal darkness. Maria Renard (Pixie Davies), a young French revolutionary and Richter's adopted sister, accompanies the last Belmont on his quest to stop the self-proclaimed Messiah, as does Annette (Thuso Mbedu), a powerful magic user.

Richter also reunites, as it were, with Orlox, his mother's killer, who carries deeply personal motivations of his own and doesn't play by the vampire society's typical roles. And, of course, the one and only Alucard makes his triumphantly epic return in Season 1's finale, setting the stage for Alucard to once again fight the forces of darkness with a Belmont at his side.

The ‘Castlevania’ Games Might Influence ‘Nocturne’s Later Seasons

Castlevania's four seasons adapt the game Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse in tone and spirit, if not to exact plot detail. That creative freedom works to the show's advantage, allowing for expanded lore, detailed characterization, and brooding worldbuilding. Castlevania: Nocturne shakes up Castlevania lore from the start. Nocturne and Rondo of Blood, the first game in which Richter appeared, share the same year (1792). However, Nocturne shifts Rondo's setting by several centuries to incorporate vampires into the French Revolution. The intuitive move lets Nocturne continue the original series' emotional themes in a fresher setting, one teeming with social upheaval to match its characters' complex states. In the games, Richter became one of the Castlevania franchise's most popular and recognizable characters. He enters the Netflix Castlevania world with an existing legacy and established story beats, yet in a delightful twist of fate, it's this new Richter who must live up to the television series' reputation.

How 'Castlevania: Nocturne's Action Scenes Consistently Raise the Stakes

"I don't necessarily want to use the same power over and over again."

With Nocturne renewed for Season 2 and co-showrunners Kevin Kolde and Clive Bradley already reimagining game lore, where could things go from here? Rondo of Blood's direct sequel, Symphony of the Night, turns the tables and sees Richter fall prey to the manipulative machinations of Shaft, a dark priest who influences Richter into helping Shaft resurrect Dracula a second time. Alucard then replaces Richter as the main protagonist, waking from one of his long naps to investigate what happened to the Belmont heir and why his father's causing trouble again. Richter's guilt-ridden once he's restored to his senses, but the trio of Richter, Maria, and Alucard defeat the vampire ruler. Richter and Annette marry and continue the Belmont bloodline, which, in turn, continues the theme of children restoring and reinventing their family's legacies.

Since Nocturne introduces the Vampire Messiah and the original Castlevania concludes with a surprise happy ending for Dracula (Graham McTavish), it's unlikely the world's most famous vampire will return for Nocturne. Recycling the Netflix Dracula as an enemy seems reductive, if not impossible. Since Richter assumes his familial destiny in Nocturne Season 1, it's only fair that Alucard does the same without the baggage of battling his father to death a second time. That said, we won't turn down a Dracula cameo in Nocturne's present-day — or, better yet, a flashback of Dracula and his beloved Lisa (Emily Swallow) enjoying their well-deserved happiness.

Castlevania: Nocturne is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.

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