Castlevania season 2, episode 7 recap: For Love

Episode 7 of Netflix series Castlevania has an epic fight between Dracula and his son, and animosity gives way to tragedy.

Castlevania does much to depict Dracula (Graham McTavish) in a stereotypical way. Often his eyes glow red, and even the moon matches them with an otherworldly crimson glow.

Still, there’s more to this character than meets the eye, as we’ve already seen. Dracula isn’t merely driven by a primal thirst for human blood, but by grief, despair and revenge against a human world which has destroyed his capacity for love.

In other words, Dracula is like a wounded creature, almost as jaded as he is despicable. In fact, one needn’t be a vampiric ruler to have anti-people feelings (just look at certain manifestos through the ages).

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When Trevor Belmont (Richard Armitage), Sypha (Alejandra Reynoso) and Alucard (James Callis) show up to stop the evil one, there’s already a sense that action and emotion will meet.

There is indeed action, as Sypha’s magic ice spell raises them to the castle. There’s the obligatory slaughtering of demonic creatures, which leads Sypha to switch between ice to fire magic, and Alucard becomes a literal battle-wolf.

In many ways, these two are the big stars here (Sypha’s ice catapult is a nice touch). Belmont almost seems to be along for the ride, cracking his whip here and there as needed.

The one human to be spared

Although Dracula has pledged to destroy all humans, even he can’t go that far. He makes at least one exception for his most loyal human: Isaac (Adetokumboh M’Cormack).

When Isaac says he would give his mortal life to preserve Dracula, it compels the fanged one to say, “You are the greatest of your people. You have a soul.”

Although Isaac doesn’t want it, Mr. Dractastic sends Isaac to a distant desert-scape through a magic mirror. It’s a way of sparing his life, but it will certainly pay big plot dividends in the future.

Father vs. Son

Before long, Belmont and the others encounter Dracula, and Castlevania doesn’t relent in the action. Belmont utilizes his iconic morning star whip but struggles against Dracula’s massive fireball (and his supernatural strength).

Even Sypha has a rough time against the monster, although everyone does their fair share. Finally, as one might expect, there’s a showdown between father and son, and it’s more calamitous than a teenager punching his dad on Thanksgiving.

For whatever reason, Alucard doesn’t share his father’s desire to commit genocide on all humans (kids today, right?). As they exchange punches, Alucard calls the anti-human violence “history’s longest suicide note.”

Although Dracula fights well, something ultimately stops him in his tracks. They find Alucard’s childhood room, and Dracula realizes, “I’m killing my boy.” He then breaks down, saying “I must already be dead.” It’s a potentially emotional scene, even for the most cynical viewer.

Quite simply, it’s a show with heart. By the time Alucard stakes him, the man is no longer fighting it. If anything, he’s willing it to happen.

Of course, Dracula is still a vampire, so Belmont beheads him and Sypha fries him to a crisp. Still, there’s a lingering sadness apart from the physical brutality of the scene before them.

Alucard also realized he’s killed his father, and the profound nature of the scenario ought to linger with anyone. As Belmont says, “you saved lives by killing him, but it’s okay to mourn him.”

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Although there’s one final episode of the second season, this Castlevania episode offers a certain finality. It makes one wonder what’s around the corner. Is it Isaac? What about Carmilla (Jaime Murray) and Hector (Theo James)?

Also, I personally miss Godbrand (Peter Stormare). Sure, he would kill you as soon as look at you, but he was so cool while doing it, you know?

That’s it for this Castlevania recap! What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments and remember you can stream this on Netflix!

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