Castlevania season 2, episode 1 premiere recap: War Council

The season 2 premiere of Netflix series Castlevania serves as a refresher course for events in season 1 but also clarifies Dracula’s intentions against humanity.

Season 1 of Castlevania ended with monster hunter Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage) teaming with magician Sypha (Alejandra Reynoso) and Dracula’s own son Adrian Țepeș (James Callis) to save Wallachia and defeat Vlad Dracula Țepeș (Graham McTavish). In fact, to emphasize this point, Adrian is also known as Alucard — Dracula in reverse. Adrian believes he’s honoring his mother by seeking to slay his father (a little Freudian, if you think about it).

January 1475 in Wallachia

Castlevania‘s “War Council” begins with a little recap. We’re reminded that Vlad’s wife, Lisa Țepeș (Emily Swallow) was accused of witchcraft merely for practicing medicine, which the emissary of the Archbishop of Targiviste. Although she insists otherwise, they still assume she is employing magic. She;’s accused of Satanism by the Inquisition. Of course, rather than saving Wallachia from witches, they are killing a knowledgeable healer and incurring the wrath of her husband Vlad. She informs them that, unlike Satan, her husband is real; “Don’t make him kill you all!”

Indeed, Dracula wants to kill them all

In the aftermath, Dracula’s been using creatures of terror to threaten Wallachia.  Castlevania introduces us to some interesting chums: Hector (Theo James) and Isaac (Adetokumboh M’Cormack).  They are the only 2 humans in Vlad Dracula Țepeș’ inner court. In fact, they are to be his main planners (other than himself, of course), as they are not driven by a thirst for blood, but by intellect, loyalty and a deep-seated hatred for mankind.

While vampires see humans as livestock, Hector and Isaac see humans as individuals who think, scheme and betray. We don’t fully learn why Hector and Isaac hate humanity, but we catch an auditory flashback glimpse of Hector apparently burning his stern and uncool parents.

After we see Wallachians clear out slain demon carcasses (signifying a rough night), we also see Hector forging living beings from the dead (great work if you can get it!). We also meet Godbrand (Peter Stormare), a Viking vampire warlord — which has to be one of the coolest job descriptions ever.  Despite seeming like a rollicking, riotous sort, Godbrand wants some order for the plans to destroy mankind and is concerned that Dracula’s wanton desire for death and destruction could fail if not planned carefully.  Meanwhile, Dracula magically moves his castle, either to conceal his whereabouts or just for a change of scenery.

That’s it for this Castlevania recap! What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.