Ever since it first debuted on PS2 in 2001, Devil May Cry at its best has been a mix of over-the-top action, coolness, and surprisingly hard-hitting moments of raw emotion. Replicating that recipe for TV is a tall order but, thankfully, Netflix's adaptation of the cult-classic Capcom series comes out swinging. By fully embracing the devil-may-care appeal of the video games, amping up the series' irreverent tone, and making meaningful contributions to the lore of the franchise, Dante's latest adventure makes one hell of a first impression.
The Netflix anime doesn't waste any time in establishing its foundation, as carefree demon-hunter Dante finds himself in the middle of a conflict between the Alice in Wonderland-inspired White Rabbit, demons, and the US government's own elite team of hellbusters, led by Mary Arkham--better known to fans as Lady, who was introduced in Devil May Cry 3. A sinister plot is unfolding between powerful players on both sides of the Earth and Hell realms, with Dante poised to be the deciding factor in this conflict.
Devil May Cry introduces Dante as the cocky demon-slayer looking for an outlet to help him overcome a terminal case of boredom, but this brash incarnation of the hero shares top billing with Lady throughout the eight episodes of this first season. It's an effective approach that allows viewers to see the parallels between these two characters while also ensuring that the series isn't over-saturated by Dante's laissez-faire attitude or Lady's take-no-prisoners approach toward demons. Dante is simultaneously cool and dorky, and it's apparent that his voice actor, Johnny Yong Bosch, is having a ball. Lady's sombre attitude, meanwhile, contrasts well with Dante to create a classic odd couple dynamic whenever they share the screen.
That direction also leaves room for growth, and while the story of Dante slowly learning to accept his bloodline and legacy is territory that has been explored in the games before, Lady's path takes her through a nuanced and interesting journey through the world of Devil May Cry that hasn't been explored in such an in-depth fashion before. From examining the consequences of Sparda's rebellion in the demon realm to giving the demon's a more relatable motivation, , Netflix's Devil May Cry series asks interesting and hard questions that the video games never concerned themselves with.
All of this is done through the lens of early-2000s summer blockbuster action flick; the kind of big-budget crowd-pleasing films that dominated cinema long before the streaming wars and an obsession with creating shared cinematic universes resulted in an assembly line of bland movies. Devil May Cry wears its influences on its crimson leather sleeves, and if films like The Matrix Reloaded, The Raid, and Dredd helped shape your movie-watching habits, then you'll be happy to see overt references to them in this series, though they never become a focal point.
While Dante and Lady shine as the co-stars of Devil May Cry, the show also has its fair share of memorable characters to help flesh out the cast. A few familiar--and demonic--faces give Dante a hard time, and Lady has a support squad who look like they hopped right out of an issue of Jim Lee's Wild CATs. However, it's the late great Kevin Conroy who steals the spotlight as US Vice President Baines.
The legendary voice of Batman, Conroy plays Baines as a calm and collected ultra-religious patriot who happens to be obsessed with creating heaven on Earth through any means possible. It's a chillingly effective performance, especially when compared to the mustache-twirling villains Devil May Cry fans are used to encountering in the games. Meanwhile, Hoon Lee's White Rabbit villain fits the theatrical villainous stereotype that would be right at home in the games, but when his mask slips, behind it is another fascinating character who goes from cliched to tragic in the span of a single episode. On that note, Devil May Cry's sixth episode is a stellar look at both the villain and Lady, as their stories are told with barely a spoken word and with contrasting art styles that deliver a haunting look at their dark pasts.
Of course, it's not all thought-provoking drama and gripping character development in this show, as Devil May Cry doesn't miss a chance to throw incredibly well-crafted action sequences at viewers. Barring the use of some jarring CGI in several episodes, Studio Mir's slick animation complements an inspired selection of late '90s and early 2000s rock and nu-metal music. One episode sees Dante tearing up the dance floor to Rage Against the Machine's "Guerrilla Radio" while he treats an army of mercenaries as tango-partners. Another episode contains a stellar highway chase scene fueled by the high-octane drive of Papa Roach's "Last Resort".
Moments like this have the energy of an animated music video directed by Spawn creator Todd McFarlane--or at the very least, an AMV-loving anime fan with access to Windows Movie Maker and Linkin Park MP3s--especially in the first season finale with its cliffhanger ending. All the pieces are in place for an explosive second season, but right now, this new take on Devil May Cry offers fans and newcomers a hell of a good time.
