Having just finished binging Netflix's adaptation of Capcom's Devil May Cry franchise, by Adi Shankar, I came away thinking it was... just alright. As a fan of the series, I was really looking forward to it and was willing to give it a fair shot despite the constant negativity from fans leading up to its release.
For non-fans, it can be enjoyable, and even for longtime fans, there are plenty of nice callbacks that I appreciated. The voice work I thought was well done, and the animation, for the most part, was solid especially in the action scenes. Hell, I even liked the choice of music for the soundtrack. Maybe a controversial take, but I thought it was a fun touch, considering that style of music was popular around the same time as the early games. Plus, I just so happen to like that type of music, so I didn't mind it in this adaptation.
What really turned me off, though, was the story and the handling of its characters. It started off strong but slowly spiraled into its own thing, and by the end, it felt like it had completely missed the point of what Devil May Cry is really about. The show's overt edginess gets excessive at times, featuring a level of brutality not seen in the games and feels more fitting for a Mortal Kombat adaptation than Devil May Cry. Also Lady constantly dropping F-bombs in nearly every sentence? I mean it was comical at first but quickly became real try-hard.
Despite the franchise's surface level aesthetics, demon-slaying with dual pistols and a long sword by a dude in a red coat. Devil May Cry isn't actually that edgy. If anything, it's surprisingly wholesome. This is a series built on themes of humanity, love, and compassion, with iconic lines like:
"Maybe somewhere out there, even a Devil May Cry when he loses a loved one."
"Humans possess something that demons don't."
The franchise emphasizes how human emotions, like love, compassion and their desire to protect is what makes humans and even demons strong once they "wake up" to it.
The anime, on the other hand, while having some good moments, focuses more on displaying the raw action the series is known for. It shifts its narrative toward the plight of demons, presenting it as an allegory for real-world struggles. While that's an interesting angle, it doesn't align with the games' core themes, which are more about exploring the beauty of humanity and why it's worth protecting especially from Dante's perspective as a half-demon. This shift didn't lead to much in the end, and it just felt disconnected from what makes Devil May Cry special.
By the time the season wrapped up, I was underwhelmed by how it handled key aspects of the games. Even if later seasons eventually introduce the deeper themes of humanity alongside all the stylish action, I fear it'll be too little, too late. Instead of waiting to see if it improves, I'd rather just replay the games.
That said, if you got something out of this adaptation, don't let me take that away from you. If you've never played the games before and enjoyed the show, I highly recommend giving them a shot. Hopefully, you'll come to love this series as much as I and so many other fans have.
