I watched the "Castlevania" series that was on Netflix over the last few years and, with the exception of the bloaty second season, I really enjoyed it. So, I had no problem jumping into this sequel series that, like the games, favours exploring the Belmont family's wide lineage rather than sticking with a particular hero.
Richter Belmont (Edward Bluemel) kills creatures of the night both because of his family's legacy and specifically as he saw his mother killed by Olrox (Zahn McClarnon) an ancient Vampire. In France, alongside Annette (Thuso Mbedu), a former slave who can manipulate the Earth, and Maria (Pixie Davies), a former aristocratic youngster who can summon animals to fight for her, Belmont learns of the prophesised coming of the Vampire Messiah, whose arrival would be timely for the aristocratic vampires in French Society, who are in danger from the scent of revolution in the air.
Much like the games do, we've leaped on a few hundred years to connect with a new Belmont, Richter. Less accomplished than Trevor was, but more emotional and still pretty capable and voiced by Edward Bluemel, from "Sex Education" and "Killing Eve". The animation style is the same and it looks great, particularly in its regular fight scenes. It's not quite as viscerally gory as I remember the original series being, but it certainly has its moments of heads being lopped off and people torn apart. It does have a better sound mix than that original series had though, with the vocals sounding slightly more natural.
Story wise it's a bit of a mixed bag though. It clearly lays out what its issue is going to be and who the villains are, but then the story progresses a little too slowly for my taste, though it does pick up towards the end.
I liked it enough though, and I'll be back to watch the second season when that arrives.