Castlevania Nocturne Characters That Are Different From The Lore

Castlevania: Nocturne has delivered its second (and apparently last) season, and this divisive series has left fans with several questions unanswered. Though satisfactory in the end, there are many differences with the Castlevania franchise lore that might be worth pointing out.

The most notorious changes are related to the origin stories of several characters, as well as their designs, attitudes, powers, and most importantly: the role they play in the story. This list showcases the Castlevania: Nocturne characters that are most different from their original inspirations.

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This list contains spoilers for Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2

7

Olrox

A Change For The Best

• First Appearance: Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (1997)
• Age: Unknown
• Affiliation: Dracula’s Army (game)

The original Count Olrox, heavily inspired by the Nosferatu character of the same name, appeared in Catlevania: Symphony of the Night and Moonlight Rhapsody. Though his design was originally more akin to the bald vampire of the 1992 classic film, the artists from Castlevania: Nocturne respected in great part the color palette of the character. However, his origin story, powers, and demeanor are the absolute opposite.

The Olrox in the game was a Vampire Lord at the service of Dracula. He was one of the main bosses, and was able to transform into a demonic reptile-like creature. In the series, however, he is an Aztec vampire who survived the fall of Tenochtitlan and had a human lover whom he turned into a vampire, who was killed by Richter’s mother. It all makes for quite the difference in character background design.

6

Maria Renard

The Most Lore-Accurate Character, But Still Somewhat Different

• First Appearance: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993)
• Age: 12 (original) – 17 (Castlevania: Nocturne)
• Affiliations: House Renard, Belmont Clan

Maria Renard hasn’t changed as much as some others from the games to the screen, though there are some significant differences. The series shows a lore-accurate, though more radicalized, character. The Maria from the Castlevania games was mild, child-like, and innocent, while the Maria from Nocturne is a young woman with certain inclinations for violence.

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This is explored deeper in Season 2, when Maria succumbs to her darker side. Her invocations become monstrous, and she unlocks all her untapped potential. Guided by Tara (who had been vampirized by Countess Bathory), she ends up killing her own father, pleasing an unknown dark entity.

5

Juste Belmont

Just Being Himself, Though Seasoned And Tired

• First Appearance: Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance (2002)
• Age: 18 (original) – 56 (Castlevania: Nocturne)
• Affiliation: Belmont Clan

Snarky, insidious, arrogant, and righteous: that’s the original Juste Belmont, the paragon of the Vampire Slayer family, and a true legend. The series showcases a beat-down, grounded, passive, and more ‘tired of living’ Juste, one that has lost everything he had been fighting for, including his magic.

During Season 2, fans got to watch the original Juste return in his full glory (though a little bit more cautious), which makes for a welcomed change from Season 1. He even got back his old looks and faithful sword for one of the most anticipated fighting scenes, with Maria, Richter, and Juste banding together against Countess Bathory in a final confrontation.

4

Annette

The Most Radical Change In The Series

• First Appearance: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993)
• Age: 17
• Affiliation: Belmont Clan (Richter’s Wife)

Annette goes from lady in distress to a radical freedom fighter, and that’s a change that might be better than what most fans expect. Her origins, ethnicity, and character are all divergent from the original Annette, who was a French maiden and Richter’s fiancée before Dracula turned her into a Vampire.

Annette’s abilities in Castlevania: Nocturne have a deep and meaningful origin, and her story is relatable and a powerful testimony of resilience and fighting to preserve her own identity. Despite being nearly consumed in the final battle against Countess Bathory/Sekhmet, she and Richter finally have their ‘happy ending,’ with no Dracula to ruin the fun this time.

3

Richter Belmont

The Series Portraying Him As Traumatized Made Him More Relatable

• First Appearance: Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (1993)
• Age: 19
• Affiliation: Belmont Clan, House Renard

Way past the age where he should be able to fend for himself, Richter Belmont is portrayed as a fledgling vampire hunter during the events of Castlevania: Nocturne. Heavily traumatized by the death of his mother at the hands of Olrox when he was a child, Richter is a fearful and inexperienced fighter who will flee at the slightest chance. Or so they want viewers to believe.

In truth, Richter shows true character growth throughout the series, entirely different from the consummated and mature main character of Rondo of Blood. As he reconnects with the Belmont Legacy, and unlocks his magic powers once more, Richter is shown transforming into the hero of legend that is portrayed in the games. Fast-forward to Season 2, and the transformation is complete. Richter has acquired most of the talents and abilities fans see in the games. The only other difference is that he has gained something more important: wisdom and strength of character.

2

Countess Bathory

Nothing To Do With The Original Character

• First Appearance: Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994)
• Age: Unknown
• Affiliation: Cult of Dracula

The character inspired in the original Countess Bathory first appeared in Castlevania: Bloodlines as Elizabeth Bartley, a vampire noblewoman obsessed with resurrecting Dracula, and leader of his Cult. She is also related to the count as a grandniece of sorts, and has traveled across Europe recruiting powerful Dark Sorcerers, Vampires, and other creatures of the Night to prepare for the return of her Dark Lord.

But Castlevania: Nocturne shows a different character: Though she remains a cult leader (of sorts), now she calls herself a Goddess, and impersonates Sekhmet (an Egyptian deity) by stealing her power. Accompanied by Drolta Tzuentes, another character from the same game who has undergone a drastic change, they both play the role of main antagonists in the Netflix series.

1

Drolta Tzuentes

Even Less Than The Former Entry

• First Appearance: Castlevania: Bloodlines (1994)
• Age: Unknown
• Affiliation: Cult of Dracula

The drastic change that Drolta Tzuentes had in the series, compared to the original character from the lore, is perhaps the most notorious ‘poetic license’ that the producers took with the Netflix adaptation. In the game, Drolta is an ancient witch, sorceress, and demonic worshipper, capable of wielding powerful Dark Magic. She is an assistant of Elizabeth Bartley in her plans to revive Dracula.

But in Castlevania: Nocturne, the character’s origin story portrays her as a former priestess of Sekhmet whose temple was attacked by vampire raiders. She survived by killing one of the assailants and drinking his blood, alongside a droplet of the blood of her long-dead Goddess, to become the monster fans see in the series. Though defeated once by Alucard, she returns recharged by the powers of the Forgemaster, with a new body capable of walking in daylight and with a more demonic aspect, that looks more like a succubus than a vampire.

Castlevania: Nocturne

Release Date

September 28, 2023

Cast

Edward Bluemel
, Thuso Mbedu
, Pixie Davies
, Richard Dormer
, Iain Glen

Main Genre

Animation

Writers

Clive Bradley
, Temi Oh
, Zodwa Nyoni

Directors

Sam Deats
, Adam Deats

Showrunner

Clive Bradley
, Kevin Kolde

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