Devil May Cry Season 2 Review: Adi Shankar Stands On Business With Sophomore DMC Outing

Devil May Cry, just like Castlevania, has had the privilege of being developed into an anime under the watchful eye of Adi Shankar, who seems to be making quite the splash in the video game space with his adaptations. Season One of Devil May Cry set the stage in the edgiest way possible, and Season 2 did not hold back its punches at all. With the introduction of Vergil into the story, the narrative was primed to evoke some of the same themes as shows like Invincible and the aforementioned Castlevania.

There are some noticeable hiccups when it comes to dialogue and storytelling from time to time, but where the show shines is exactly why One Piece‘s Netflix adaptation has been getting so much love- it gets the vibes so damn right.

Devil May Cry Gives Audiences What They Came For

When the show opened with Dante encased in ice, there was a part of me that wondered if the show was going to be about Lady. There would be no objections from me, but after Vergil entered the picture in Season 1’s cliffhanger, it would feel like a rude bait and switch if it were. However, Devil May Cry understands the source material that it is working with, and it understands what the hype around Season 2 was all about.

Opening with a bombastic fight sequence straight out of a war movie, Hell and Earth clash in a brutal landscape as Lady tries to retrieve a crucial piece of divine weaponry that might allow the forces of Earth to defeat Mundus.

Devil May Cry 3: Dante’s Awakening seems to be a very important piece of influence on the story, not that the adaptation does not take its many, many liberties with the source material. Vergil comes out swinging this season, with the focus heavily on the other son of Sparda. However, this doesn’t mean that Dante is left in the background, by any means. In a manner of speaking, at least.

Devil May Cry Season 2 Has A Strong Focus On Dante and Vergil’s Childhoods

The season does a very good job of building up the tension between the characters. Rather than focusing entirely on Vergil and letting the tension (and the resultant epic fight) spill over into Season 3, it juxtaposes the relationship that the duo shared as children with the bitter rivalry that they find themselves in during the present events of the story.

It makes sense then that family is at the forefront of the narrative, with antagonistic parties trying to preach the weaknesses that come with family, and how they can be overcome. However, the narrative itself and our heroes are able to reinforce that family and unity make us stronger, and are a very potent way of preventing hell on earth, literally in the case of the sons of Sparda.

Now, there are certain scenes that stall the action, such as a particularly lengthy corporate meeting, which is the kind of thing one would skip to watch this show. A shorter version of the scene could have been forgiven for being the palette cleanser before an action scene, but here it just ends up hurting the pacing.

Studio Mir Delivered A Visual Masterpiece With Devil May Cry Season 2

While the story was something that needed a little fixing in places, the animation that was put on screen by Studio Mir screamed quality in all the right ways. The character designs, as seen in the first season itself, remain at the top of their game. Animation, across action sequences and even the aforementioned boardroom scene, never seems to falter.

Adi Shankar’s distinct ability to translate visuals from games to animated series remains strong as ever. One could see shades of his previous work, such as Castlevania, and leaves at least this reviewer excited for what he has in store for upcoming adaptations like Assassin’s Creed, Hyper Light Drifter, and Duke Nukem.

Studio Mir truly shines in the fight sequence between Dante and Vergil, which is clearly the highlight of the season. By depicting flashbacks between the duo, the show was able to hold out on introducing the present Dante too early in the story, without having to bend over backwards to keep fans engaged without the protagonist of the show.

Is Devil May Cry Season 2 Worth Watching?

Absolutely. Everything that a viewer, fan, or otherwise might have enjoyed about Season 1 is amped up to an eleven. The animation alone, in true Studio Mir fashion, would have made the show worth watching, but the characters, the dialogue, and the story itself make it a must-watch for fans of the series.

A good amount of effort has also gone towards the soundtrack, which is a feast, as it often is when it comes to properties in the Devil May Cry franchise. While there do not seem to be any concrete plans for Season 3, sources have suggested that Netflix might have already greenlit a third installment as per MP1st. I, for one, cannot wait to see more from this iteration of Devil May Cry.

What stood out to you this season? Let us know in the comments below!

Season 2 of Devil May Cry is currently streaming on Netflix (USA).

Devil May Cry Season 2 Review: Adi Shankar Stands On Business With Sophomore DMC Outing