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Devil May Cry Season 2 debuts on Netflix on May 12.
The first season of Devil May Cry had some frustrating issues, yet it still delivered a fun ride with a bonkers finale and a killer soundtrack. Season 2 goes even harder on the political allegories and commentary that make the show more than just a gorefest, while doubling down on the emotional undertones of Dante’s story by bringing in his long-lost brother, Vergil. Immediately, Vergil elevates the show, with a tragic and compelling backstory, a thrilling arc, and the best fights of the season. Though the scripts remain predictable, Devil May Cry is still a riveting video game adaptation.
Season 1 left off with the cowboy President of the U.S. literally invading Hell to the tune of Green Day’s “American Idiot.” As it turns out, this war is not exactly universally popular; though the government and DARKCOM work their propaganda machine relentlessly to push the war on Hell as a righteous battle against evil, we see plenty of backlash from the public… especially when footage of black site detention centers and the torturing of civilians goes public. If nothing else, creator and showrunner Adi Shankar knows to follow the lead of Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace when he says that writers who use subtext are all cowards. Is it too on the nose? Most definitely, but the overt references to the Iraq War, combined with the very early 2000s soundtrack, does give the show a unique identity that makes it stand out as an adaptation.
The main thrust of the plot involves Vice President Baines (Ian James Corlett, replacing the late Kevin Conroy) and the head of the Uroboros Corporation, Arius. As a villain, Arius is not the most compelling character, though he does get a bit more characterization than he had in Devil May Cry 2 (the plot of which serves as the biggest inspiration for this season, alongside the 2013 reboot). Arius is mostly a stepping stone toward bigger and better villains; take, for instance, the agent of Hell sent to stop Uroboros – Vergil. From the moment he steps into frame, Vergil becomes the star of the season; he’s the polar opposite of Dante – super serious, no-nonsense, and completely vicious. He arrives on Earth by mercilessly butchering a squad of Uroboros soldiers, with the dynamic action edited to match the tune of Drowning Pool’s Bodies.
Vergil’s story is the highlight of Season 2 – a quest for vengeance full of twists and turns that challenges his own notions of justice, his allegiances, and his goals. But it’s also a heartfelt tale with flashbacks expanding on his and Dante’s childhood and their relationship to their mother, Eva. Where the first season focused on the reveal that Dante is a half-demon and son of a legendary demon warrior, this season turns its attention toward Eva and how she raised her boys, and the very different paths they took. Johnny Yong Bosch and Robbie Daymond do a great job portraying the emotional aspects of Dante and Vergil, respectively, with both men trying to hide the emotional scars they so clearly carry with them while letting that same trauma drive their every decision.
Even if the visuals still suffer from CG demons and some unfortunate use of still images during some action scenes, the animation by Studio Mir remains dynamic, and the fighting is kinetic. Episode 2 even employs some interesting art style changes that echo the phenomenal sixth episode of the first season. The soundtrack also remains one of the coolest things about this show, with some fantastic needle drops that fit the tone of the season.
