Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 54

Sekhmet – The Fierce Goddess Tied to Castlevania Nocturne Season 2

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Let’s take a moment to talk about Sekhmet – the Egyptian goddess who’d probably win in a fight against any mythological figure you can name. Her name means “The Powerful One,” which feels like an understatement. Imagine a lioness with divine powers, a short temper, and a job description that includes smiting enemies, keeping chaos at bay, and occasionally bringing plagues – just for balance. Sekhmet wasn’t just fierce; she was the very definition of fierce. Which is why she makes the perfect fit to inspire the primary antagonists in Netflix animated series ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ in season 2.

Sekhmet in the Fictional World of Castlevania

Erzebet Bathory, the Vampire Queen who wants to swallow the moon for good in the show and take over the world, draws her strength from Sekhmet’s blood in the series. In flashbacks, we learn how Drolta, the vampire, used to be a priestess at Sekhmet’s tomb. In the fictional world of Castlevania, legend goes that only a rare few can survive if they drink Sekhmet’s blood, which is preserved in her tomb. To ensure her goddess walks on earth again, Drolta becomes a vampire and begins to hunt the ‘vessel’ who could become the next Sekhmet.

Finally, she learns about Erzebet, an infamous countess imprisoned for drinking the blood of countless young girls just to preserve her youth and beauty. Drolta’s doubts prove right, and Erzebet indeed doesn’t perish after consuming Sekhmet’s blood but instead becomes incredibly powerful. Together, the two women plot to take over the reins of power in France first.

If you’re a Castlevania fan and love Egyptian lore, let’s dive into Sekhmet’s story, the beliefs surrounding her, and why she’s still fascinating today.

The Lioness of Ra

Sekhmet was no ordinary goddess. She was the daughter of Ra, the sun god and king of the Egyptian pantheon. According to myth, Ra’s enemies were getting a little too bold, questioning his power and causing trouble. Ra decided he needed a little divine enforcement, so he sent Sekhmet to sort things out. But Sekhmet didn’t just “sort things out.” She went on a rampage that would make any Marvel villain look like a puppy.

Sekhmet’s weapon of choice? Her fiery breath, said to scorch the desert. She was depicted as a lioness because lions, much like Sekhmet, don’t ask questions before asserting dominance. And her ferocity wasn’t just physical; Sekhmet was also associated with plagues. You could say she was the goddess of both “fight” and “flight,” as she’d either protect you or send a disease your way—depending on her mood.

The Bloodthirsty Tale

One of Sekhmet’s most famous myths is the story of how she nearly wiped out humanity. Ra, feeling disrespected by humans, sent Sekhmet to teach them a lesson. She did her job—a little too well. Sekhmet’s bloodlust kicked in, and she went on an unstoppable killing spree. Her thirst for blood became literal; she drank it up like it was happy hour at the Nile.

Realizing that his creation was about to become extinct, Ra hatched a plan to stop Sekhmet. He ordered his priests to brew up a huge batch of beer and dye it red with pomegranate juice to make it look like blood. When Sekhmet stumbled upon this river of “blood,” she couldn’t resist. She drank and drank until she passed out. When she woke up, her rage was gone, and humanity was safe. Moral of the story? Always keep a stash of beer handy if you’re dealing with Sekhmet.

Dual Nature: Protector and Destroyer

Sekhmet wasn’t all about chaos and destruction, though. Like many Egyptian deities, she had a dual nature. On one hand, she was the goddess you’d pray to if your enemies were getting out of line. On the other, she was also a healer and a protector.

In her gentler moments, Sekhmet was associated with physicians and surgeons. She was called upon to ward off diseases and ensure health. Her priests were said to be skilled healers who blended spiritual rituals with practical medicine. If you got sick in ancient Egypt, you’d want Sekhmet on your side—but you’d also want to stay on her good side. The Egyptians believed that if you angered her, she could just as easily send sickness your way as she could cure it.

Source: Pixabay (MythologyArt)

Sekhmet’s Temples and Worship

Sekhmet’s followers were devoted, and it’s easy to see why. Who wouldn’t want a goddess with lion-like ferocity and healing powers on their team? Her main cult center was in Memphis, Egypt, where she was worshipped alongside her husband, Ptah (the god of craftsmen and architects), and their son, Nefertum (god of healing and beauty).

One of the most intriguing rituals associated with Sekhmet was the “pacification” ceremony. Every year, her priests and followers would hold a festival to calm her temper. This involved music, dancing, and (of course) beer—a nod to the myth of how she was pacified with red-dyed beer. These festivals were not just about keeping Sekhmet happy; they were also times of celebration, honoring her as both a fierce protector and a benevolent healer.

Sekhmet in Art and Symbolism

Sekhmet’s iconic image was that of a lion-headed woman, often wearing a solar disk and a uraeus (a rearing cobra) on her head. The solar disk signified her connection to Ra, while the cobra symbolized her protective and destructive power. Her statues were placed in temples and tombs as guardians, meant to ward off evil and ensure balance.

In some depictions, she holds an ankh (symbol of life) in one hand and a scepter in the other, showcasing her role as both a giver and taker of life. Her presence was meant to inspire awe and a healthy dose of fear—the kind of energy that says, “Don’t mess with me or the people I protect.”

Sekhmet’s Legacy

Even today, Sekhmet’s story resonates. She’s a symbol of feminine strength, duality, and the fine line between creation and destruction. Modern interpretations of Sekhmet often portray her as a fierce feminist icon, embodying empowerment and resilience. Whether you see her as a warrior, a healer, or a little bit of both, there’s no denying her influence on mythology and popular culture.

In a world that’s often chaotic, Sekhmet reminds us of the power of balance—and the importance of knowing when to unleash your inner lioness and when to calm it with a metaphorical glass of red-dyed beer. So the next time life feels overwhelming, channel your inner Sekhmet. Be fierce, but don’t forget to celebrate and heal, too. And if all else fails, remember: sometimes, a little beer can save the day.

Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso: These Covers Brew Fresh Life Into the Viral Hit

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If there’s one song you can’t escape lately, it’s Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso. It’s the kind of earworm that practically lives in your head rent-free, popping up everywhere from TikTok dances to Instagram reels. A viral sensation and a chart-topping hit, Espresso isn’t just a song; it’s a full-blown phenomenon. Released as the lead single from her sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, it’s a perfect blend of pop, funk, and disco vibes with a confidence-boosting lyrical flair.

If you’ve clicked on this article, we’re guessing you’re here for more Espresso goodness – and you’re in luck! While there are thousands of covers floating around online, we’ve rounded up three of our absolute favorites. Each one adds a unique twist to the already iconic track, and trust us, they’re worth a listen.

1. Good Neighbours cover Sabrina Carpenter’s ‘Espresso’ for Like A Version – We love this version, especially because it make the song sound even more like a dance number than it already is!

2. Gigi Perez — Espresso (Sabrina Carpenter Cover) [Live @ SiriusXM] – This cover makes the ‘feel good’ song sound like a moody, sad pop ballad from the 1990s, and we’re totally digging the emo vibes.

3. William Singe – Espresso (Sabrina Carpenter Cover) – Singe does a cool RnB version of the track, adding his own unique verse into the popular lyrics.

BONUS COVER NUMBER FOUR!

4. Wallows — Espresso (Sabrina Carpenter Cover) – We had to include this one too, because it sounds really good! It’s already one of the most popular covers of the song on YouTube.

If you have your own favorite covers, feel free to share them in the comments!

Wolfpitch Review: Werewolf Jams, Ghostly Keys

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Look, most romance fans love a good ‘enemies to lovers’ story, but not if it comes like a slap to your face out of nowhere! That’s how the romantic subplot in the graphic novel ‘Wolfpitch‘ plays out – just two people with zero chemistry fighting like dogs and suddenly having a moment of passion that’s super ill-timed that. Even though I can’t think of a perfect equivalent, imagine seeing an old priest praying seriously in a church, then suddenly breaking out into an Eminem rap for no reason; it would be super weird right? Or maybe funny to some. But still weird. Anyway, let’s move on to the plot…

Created by Balazs Lorinczi (Doughnuts & Doom), ‘Wolfpitch’ follows Izzy, a werewolf who’s also an amazing bassist, but with the kind of attitude that keeps getting her kicked out of bands. Since human musicians can barely stand her sass, Izzy teams up with Geraldine, the ghost of a famous jazz pianist, to take part in the biggest music competition in town. Geraldine convinces Delilah, a popular drummer to join them. But Delilah hates Izzy’s guts, and the two are constantly fighting. Will they be able to make it to the competition without tearing each other apart? It looks highly unlikely!

There are a lot of fun elements in Wolfpitch that make it an entertaining read, like Geraldine the ghost being made of milkshakes or Izzy the werewolf having crazy hearing. It’s these unique, quirky elements that help pull the story out of its predictable funk – bandmates who hate each other team up for a competition; we all know how it’s going to end, right? Also, like I wrote right at the start, the romantic subplot just didn’t flow well in the story. Things could’ve worked better as a music-themed, magical tale about bickering friends putting their differences aside for a shared dream. Or Balazs Lorinczi could have extended the length of the graphic novel to give more space to the love story and make it flow smoother than the jarring execution it gets in this 188-page graphic novel.

The artwork is cute, and Balazs Lorinczi uses a fun color palette dominated by shades of pink and blue. The flashback scenes in Wolfpitch are in grey tones, making it easier to differentiate the timelines. Izzy’s character design wasn’t my favorite – she looks like someone doing a very basic cosplay of a werewolf. But it also gives her a cutesy vibe, making her feel like a furry version of Valerie Brown (the bassist in Josie and the Pussycats comics).

Overall, Wolfpitch is a bubbly, bright, mildly chaotic, and slightly predictable read, sharing quite a few similarities with Balazs Lorinczi’s earlier work Doughnuts & Doom. So, if you liked that, you’ll probably enjoy this one too.

Rating: 3 on 5. “Wolfpitch” is also on Kindle Unlimited.

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Inside the Mind of a Dog Documentary Review

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“When given the chance, dogs are capable of amazing things…”

From rescuing trapped earthquake victims to helping people with disabilities, dogs have become more than just man’s best friend in today’s world. But honestly, the real reason I streamed Inside the Mind of a Dog, the Netflix documentary, was because I was having a bad day and wanted to watch some cute dogs. And if you’re a dog fan too, you won’t have any complaints about the screen time these adorable beings get. However, on the scientific front, it doesn’t quite live up to the expectations set by its title.

Directed by Andy Mitchell and narrated by Rob Lowe, Inside the Mind of a Dog starts with the familiar story of how dogs evolved from wolves by recognizing the benefits of befriending humans. “Survival of the friendliest” is how some experts in the documentary describe it. The bulk of the film, however, focuses on how dogs are trained to become service dogs or work in search and rescue operations. Despite its title, the documentary offers few eye-opening insights into what truly happens inside a dog’s mind, apart from confirming what we already know: they love their humans.

“How Service Dogs Are Made” would have been a more accurate title for this documentary, as much of it centers on puppies undergoing training to become service dogs. The film follows a group of puppies at Duke University’s “puppy kindergarten,” where they are put through a series of cognitive tests. Based on these tests, researchers assess which pups might excel as service dogs. Only a handful of interesting facts emerge, like how dogs follow human instructions more effectively than chimpanzees, even though chimps are our closest living relatives.

Overall, Inside the Mind of a Dog is an enjoyable watch for pet lovers, brimming with adorable canine moments. But if you’re seeking groundbreaking insights into a dog’s brain, you might leave feeling underwhelmed.

Stream the documentary on Netflix.

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Sookshmadarshini Review: Quirky Thriller Keeps You Guessing

Kartik Sudershan (Follow us on Twitter | Instagram)

What if a mystery thriller revealed its antagonist right at the start? You’d assume it’s a red herring, leading to an eventual twist, right? That’s where M.C. Jithin’s Sookshmadarshini sets itself apart. Equal parts lighthearted and intriguing, this Malayalam film keeps you hooked by unraveling not just who the bad guy is, but why he’s doing what he’s doing.

Nazriya Nazim and Basil Joseph lead the film as primary characters Priya and Samuel, but it’s the story’s clever twists, tight editing, and gripping screenplay that steal the show. With a mix of neighborhood antics, suspenseful moments, and a dash of humor, the film stays true to the quintessential charm of Malayalam cinema.

Nazriya plays Priya, an overly curious neighbor whose nosiness is often amusing and comedic. The story takes off when Samuel moves into the neighborhood with his ailing mother. Basil portrays Samuel with a quiet intensity, balancing his role as a caregiver with his darker, more suspicious activities – like cooking up a peculiar “beef” curry after killing a monitor lizard. Priya, however, suspects there’s more to Samuel’s mother’s behavior than meets the eye. Could she really be an Alzheimer’s patient, or is she being drugged into submission?

As Priya ropes in a group of neighborhood women to investigate, things take a darker turn. Samuel’s mother mysteriously disappears, prompting her daughter to fly in from New Zealand to uncover the truth. This blend of quirky characters and eerie developments keeps the audience engaged, shifting seamlessly between laughter and suspense.

Director M.C. Jithin deserves credit for striking this delicate balance, making Sookshmadarshini an ideal weekend family watch. While the acting is solid, it’s the smart direction and compelling narrative that leave a lasting impression. It’s not perfect, but the refreshing approach and engaging storytelling make Sookshmadarshini an entertaining watch.

Rating: 7 on 10. Watch it on Disney Hotstar.

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‘XO, Kitty’ Season 2 Review: Crushes, Cousins, Chaos, & K-pop

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Kitty has a new nickname for herself – chaos queen. She is always butting into other people’s business, trying to play matchmaker, and changing crushes like a diva changes her outfits. She might be completely over Dae, but still has her heart set on the ‘very much in a relationship’ Yuri, while the same heart skips a beat over the hot playboy Min Ho. All of this despite resolving she won’t date within the same group to avoid drama. Tsk. Tsk. Good luck with that, Kitty.

Anna Cathcart is back as protagonist Kitty Covey, who goes back to America after a fun, but ultimately disastrous first semester at the Korean Independent School of Seoul (KISS) in Seoul, as an International scholarship student. In a fortunate turn of events, Kitty’s scholarship is extended, so she returns to Seoul in season 2 for her second semester in the city with her friends. However, things are a little awkward for her within the friend group. Kitty’s ex-boyfriend Dae (Minyeong Choi) is still not over her, Min Ho (Sang Heon Lee) is acting strange after she turned him down post his mid-flight ‘love’ confession, and Kitty feels unsure how to act around Yuri (Gia Kim) because she still has a massive crush on Yuri. Amid all this relationship drama, Kitty embarks on a side mission to explore her Korean roots in Seoul after discovering that her grandmother has an estranged sister living in Korea – someone no one ever mentioned to her. And Quincy AKA ‘Q’ (Anthony Keyvan), continues to be Kitty’s confidante and loyal best-friend through all her changing moods, crushes, and nosiness.

I feel like I could just copy-past most of my critique for season one of “XO, Kitty”, since season 2 is largely a re-hash of the same sub-plots, themes, and elements. For instance, this para still stands true from my earlier review – Despite the plot holes and clichés, the pretty-looking sets and talented actors make “XO, Kitty” a fun, escapist teen drama that has its own share of K-drama style twists.

‘XO, Kitty’ Season 2 goes big on its K-drama elements by introducing Min Ho’s dad Mr Moon (Philippe Lee), a famous talent manager, who makes a big donation to KISS, and starts a singing talent show on campus. So you have students singing popular K-pop songs, and Dae reveals himself to be quite the talented vocalist! Some of the new student characters include exchange student Stella (Audrey Huynh), who is Kitty’s roommate at school and expresses romantic interest in Min Ho. Sasha Bhasin plays Praveena, one of the most interesting new faces in the season, who asks Kitty out on a date. But things unfortunately do not go anywhere between the two, it could’ve been a fresh sub-plot that’s left unexplored. Praveena seems smart, fun, adventurous, but Kitty simply has her head all over the place. If anything, Kitty is a lot more annoying this season, but since Anna Cathcart has the cutest smile, she makes Kitty are lot more likable than the character really is.

The creators should’ve simply gone for a completely new spin-off called K.I.S.S or something along those lines, making the series about multiple protagonists instead of centering everything around Kitty. Anna Cathcart is lovely, but many other cast members exude far more “main character energy” than she does. This season had the potential to be much more fun than the first, but it falls short – though it still manages to be an entertaining teen show, thanks to the very charming cast.

Rating: 6 on 10. Watch XO Kitty Season 2 on Netflix.

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La Ciguapa Siempre – Short Film Review

Rating: 2 out of 5.

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It’s a dark, spooky night. A couple is out camping deep in the woods, but strange noises keep distracting them. Are the sounds coming from other campers, hikers, wild animals, or something more sinister?

Written and directed by Monica Moore Suriyage, the short horror film La Ciguapa Siempre stars Cheyenne Washington as Milagro, an orphan anxious over not knowing her parents, while her dubious boyfriend Davis (Michael Bonini) tries to distract her with a camping trip.

The 13-minute film opens with Davis collecting wood for a campfire, while Milagro snoops through his phone, vexed over his chats with his boss – a woman. Clearly, apart from the dark clouds hanging over her family situation, Milagro has questions about her relationship too. Answers come to her in the form of mysterious sounds and strange supernatural elements that turn her camping break into a terrifying experience.

While the first few minutes establish some sort of intrigue, La Ciguapa Siempre quickly descends into a weird mash of “jealous girlfriend with an asshole boyfriend” meets “girl trying to find her roots,” with a creepy twist of the supernatural. The special effects in the ghostly scenes are sub-par, almost laugh-inducing, so the climax comes off like a parody instead of the serious horror movie it tries to be.

There were a few interesting ideas in there, but they are shabbily executed. Cheyenne Washington however delivers a watchable performance as primary protagonist Milagro.

Rating: 2 on 5. La Ciguapa Siempre is on Netflix.

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Baban Baban Ban Vampire Episode 2 Review

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Ranmaru Mori might be over 300 years old, a blood-thirsty vampire, but he isn’t a lot more mature than they average 30-year-old man-child guy who wouldn’t date women who are older than 24. So instead of scaring his potential love-rival, Aoi Shinozuka, he lists all the reasons why Rihito Tatsuno is the perfect catch.

For plot overview, read: Baban Baban Ban Vampire Episode One Review

Titled “The Unpleasant Vampire,” episode 2 of Baban Baban Ban Vampire starts off right where episode one ended – with Ranmaru hanging upside down outside Aoi’s bedroom window, asking her if she fell in love on the first day of high school. Aoi says “nope,” and Ranmaru cannot believe she hasn’t fallen for his target (Rihito) yet. The rest of the episode follows the blossoming, awkward friendship between Rihito and Aoi, while Ranmaru stalks them, working to ensure that they do not fall in love—or, to be precise, that Aoi doesn’t deflower Rihito. However, in a funny little twist, Aoi seems to be more enamored by the creepy-but-handsome vampire.

“Youth is brief. Fall in love, princess,” Ranmaru tells Aoi when she says she isn’t in love. Call a girl “princess,” and chances are that if it doesn’t creep her out, it might make her feel special. A love triangle is on the cards, which is definitely going to cause a lot of headaches for our vampire protagonist. This edition of Baban Baban Ban Vampire also introduces a few new characters, some of whom bully Rihito.

The episode ends with a bizarre twist, which had been foreshadowed since episode one. While the anime series isn’t the “oh, I can’t wait to watch the next episode” kind of entertaining, it has its comedic moments along with its wacky elements, and we’re definitely not giving up on the show yet.

You can watch Baban Baban Ban Vampire on Netflix.

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Sakamoto Days Episode 2 Review: Pork Buns Meet Lu!

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Even a little trip to buy some delectable, authentic Japanese pork buns can be dangerous if you’re running errands with retired legendary hitman Taro Sakamoto.

Titled “Vs. Son Hee and Bacho,” episode 2 of the anime series Sakamoto Days starts with a relaxed scene of Shin Akasura stacking shelves in Sakamoto’s convenience store. Shin started off as a hitman dispatched to murder Sakamoto in Sakamoto Days Episode 1. However, in an amusing turn of events, he ends up quitting his life of crime, like Mr. Sakamoto, and becoming his employee instead. And if you remember, Shin can read minds!

Episode 2 follows Sakamoto and Shin on a harmless outing to shop a little and pack some pork buns, but right after Sakamoto gets his parcel of steaming buns, a teenage girl crashes into them, ruining the food and bringing chaos—a bunch of nefarious mafia men are trying to kill her. Instead of minding his own business, Sakamoto decides to help the girl, so a reluctant Shin does the same.

It’s a cutesy, fun little episode, which introduces the girl as Lu Shaotang, a feisty character who can fight grown men with tai chi and is set to become one of the primary characters of Sakamoto Days. The episode also includes some flashbacks to explain how Sakamoto’s wife, Aoi, turned him into a complete domestic family man. The running gag about Sakamoto killing Shin in his mind continues in this episode and remains pretty funny.

Overall, episode two is a little more entertaining than the pilot, packed with violent but humorous fight sequences that feature two creepy twin contract killers dispatched to get rid of Lu. But they’ll have to get through the gentle-looking Sakamoto first, whom they grossly underestimate.

Watch ‘Sakamoto Days’ on Netflix.

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Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 Review – Near Immaculate!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ Season One had ended on a high note – it brought in the legendary vampire Alucard, the son of Dracula, in the climactic moments of the last episode with a picture-perfect scene in the sky, as if it were made for a High Renaissance classical painting. So, ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ season two kicks off with a flashback scene of Alucard looking for something in an ancient Egyptian tomb, guarded by supernatural entities…

Created by Clive Bradley, directed by Sam Deats and Adam Deats, season two of ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ is definitely an upgrade from season one in terms of animation quality. In the previous season, scenes featuring characters walking often appeared choppy and slightly glitchy, but that issue has been resolved in the 2025 edition. Of course, the plot now is mostly about Richter Belmont, a descendant of the greatest vampire-hunting family in the world, defeating megalomaniac ‘vampire messiah’ Erzsebet Bathory with some help from Alucard and allies. So there aren’t a lot of twists, turns, and complexities in the tale, but it’s a completely binge-worthy successor.

Titled “A Living Legend,” episode one of this season begins with a flashback but soon shifts to the present timeline, where the primary protagonists – Richter Belmont (voiced by Edward Bluemel), Maria Renard (Pixie Davies), and Annette (Thuso Mbedu) – are fresh from having their heads saved from Erzsebet’s army by Alucard’s (James Callis) surprise appearance. The voice cast is fantastic, adding the perfect amount of emotional heft to their animated characters.

Erzsebet & Drolta is a flashback scene

Like season one, Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 has eight episodes, and the first four are well-paced, packed with flashbacks to explain how the vampire Drolta played a crucial role in Erzsebet’s rise from being an imprisoned human noblewoman to a dreaded vampire queen. The writers mix some fascinating Egyptian lore into the story, linking Drolta’s origin story with the Egyptian Goddess of War. And of-course, the French Revolution continues to be the background of the tale.

Alucard proposes a mission to Paris, claiming the city might have an ancient relic that could help them fight Erzsebet’s army. While Richter and Annette follow Alucard to Paris, the young magician Maria wants to stay back in her town, primarily to seek vengeance for her mother Tera’s (Nastassja Kinski) death – or rather, her conversion into a vampire. With Tera now a vampire, Maria, who relished slaying the blood-suckers with Richter, is forced to ponder the nature of vampires and whether they retain the goodness of their human selves. Meanwhile, Erzsebet continues to have the Abbot craft hellish night creatures to become her pawns.

I feel like episode five was the only episode where the pace dipped, focusing a lot on Maria’s struggle with grief, anger, and Juste Belmont’s (Iain Glen) efforts to guide her. Since Maria doesn’t join Richter and crew to Paris, and is instead wrapped in her own personal struggles, I wasn’t very invested in her sub-plot. Although, her character arc does play a crucial part in the overall war between Erzsebet and revolutionaries. And thankfully, unlike some of the eyesore neon monsters of the older Castlevania, the wicked supernatural creatures of Nocturne are much easier on the eyes. One can spot some manga/anime influences in the animation, especially during the bloody battles between the characters, which was exciting to see.

For those hoping for a repeat of the witty, humorous banter and brotherhood the original Castlevania series offered through Alucard and Richter Belmont – there’s just some glimpse of it in Nocturne. Alucard this time is more of a tired ancient uncle dealing with kids. Richter and Annette however prove to be strong, powerful heroes – just what the world needs to fight evil forces. The last two episodes are entirely focused on the final war between the vampires trying to seize Paris and those defending it. Honestly, some of it felt a little prolonged, but the killer music makes all the madness – and the endless swooshing of swords, magic whips, guns, dragons (yes, dragons), and monsters – seem exciting.

Gritty animation, lots of violent fights, all accompanied by some really great background music – Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 has it all. If you loved season one, you’ll probably be more than happy to watch this one too. All its high points easily overshadow its flaws. This was a near immaculate season!

Rating: 4.5 stars on 5. Stream Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2 on Netflix.

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