Castlevania Season 3, Episode 8 recap: What the Night Brings

Episode 308 of Netflix’s Castlevania sees the Judge gather an army.

The previous episode of Castlevania focused overwhelmingly on the plans of some bad, mad monks in the quaint town of Lindenfeld. This episode divides its focus between that story, Carmilla (Jaime Murray) and her vampire sisterhood, and Alucard (James Callis) and his new associates, Sumi (Rila Fukushima) and Taka (Toru Uchikado).

Sumi and Taka ask Alucard about killing his own father, and they also discuss moving Dracula’s old castle. In fact, Sumi and Taka seem a little too interested in the subject and also accuse him of withholding relevant information from them.

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Meanwhile, in Lindenfeld, Saint Germain (Bill Nighy) sets his eyes on the crucified night creature in the priory basement. When it awakens, it’s an intimidating presence. Germain then urges Sala (Navid Negahban) to leave town due to the Satanic nature of the priory.

Sala seems unimpressed and certainly does not move. After all, we’ve already learned that he wants to resurrect Dracula (Graham McTavish), and this night creature seems to be a pathway to make it happen.

Meanwhile, Trevor (Richard Armitage), Sypha (Alejandra Reynoso), and The Judge (Jason Isaacs) gather facts from the man they’ve captured. When Saint Germain returns, he elaborates more on “The Infinite Corridor,” though the details are a little blurry, with vague talk of consecrated versus desecrated ground (scholars have studied actual beliefs in vampires in history). What we do know: There are mad monks afoot in Lindenfeld!

Castlevania: Things are brewing

While season 3 has had slower moments, there’s always been an impression of something building. By the time Sala recites some strange words to the night creatures, we know it could be epic. However, we don’t quite know what his plans are, or why exactly he wants to resurrect Dracula.

After all, Dracula wasn’t exactly unrelenting evil by the time he was slain. In fact, the character’s death had many elements of suicide. However, it’s very possible that Sala wants to tap into Dracula’s power, rather than feeling purely devout loyalty to the vampire himself.

While conflict is brewing between Sala and everyone who isn’t a mad monk, there’s an interesting love dynamic brewing between Hector (Theo James) and Lenore (Jessica Brown Findlay). In this episode, there’s a sense that it’s genuine, too.

Hector even seems impressed by what he calls “vampire philosophy.” However, the big revelation is when Lenore says they should just leave, and that what her sisters are doing is wrong.

Gathering army

By the episode’s end, The Judge has gathered an army to take on the mad monks of Lindenfeld. As he demands they move out of the priory, Sala is in the basement, seemingly summoning something big. Absent from this showdown so far: Both the vampire sisterhood and Isaac (Adetokumboh M’Cormack).

In other words, all three of these stories don’t yet seem merged, at least not exactly. This all suggests bigger crossovers for season 4. “ZCastlevania has never been solely about action, but it can deliver in that regard, too. It’s all just a matter of time.

What are your thoughts on Castlevania? Let us know in the comments!