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.
