Every Episode In Netflix’s Devil May Cry Season 1, Ranked

Serving as both a continuation to Adi Shankar’s Bootleg Multiverse and an adaptation of a beloved long-running video game franchise, the Devil May Cry anime on Netflix brings the story of Dante to new audiences in a tight eight-episode package. Not only does the first season have to introduce and explain the world and lore created by Capcom, but it also has the responsibility of setting up the future on its shoulders.

However, the television show can be a rollercoaster ride in terms of its quality, which means that some episodes stand out as being much more memorable and striking than others.

Major spoilers for Netflix’s Devil May Cry below.

8

Episode 8

A River Of Blood And Fire

The final episode of any television season should act as the culmination of everything that has been built up in the episodes leading up to it. Unfortunately, the last chapter of the Devil May Cry anime falls flat for a variety of reasons. From turning an actually menacing antagonist into an Arkham Asylum finale Joker-esque brute to Mary deciding to betray Dante at the very last moment, even after finding out the truth, A River of Blood and Fire is a mess all the way through.

Of course, it does not help the finale’s case when the entire spectacle of the gates of Hell opening comes to a sudden halt in the most underwhelming way possible, making it the worst episode that the first season has to offer.

7

Episode 4

All Hope Abandon

The Devil May Cry anime is arguably at its least interesting when it takes a detour from Dante’s storyline and perspective, but when the fourth episode is not even able to execute one of the protagonist’s biggest moments in the season, it is quite disappointing. In All Hope Abandon, it is revealed that Dante is actually the son of Sparda, but even that reveal is not as intriguing as it should have been due to extensive exposition that does not really flow naturally.

These low points are only made worse when we head over to Mary’s side of things, with the only saving grace in the episode being the majority of her boring team falling victim and dying to the White Rabbit’s scheme.

6

Episode 5

Descent

Dante unlocking his inner Devil Trigger power should have been an extremely epic moment, but unfortunately, it comes across as more of a jumbled mess of an action sequence in the Devil May Cry anime as he tries to save the uninteresting people falling to their deaths. That, combined with Mary’s illogical confrontation with Plasma and Echidna, makes the fifth episode a chapter that fails to live up to the potential it could have had due to mundane execution.

Thankfully, Descent comes to a close with a dark and saddening ending for the demon refugees that Mary wanted to save, making up for the rest of the episode and bringing up the moral dilemma of whether humanity is in the right or wrong.

5

Episode 3

The Deep And Savage Way

Showcasing a tragic backstory for Mary that feels a little too much like Bruce Wayne’s own origin story, the third episode of the Devil May Cry anime tries to humanize her stern character by providing her with some much-needed motivation. That does not mean that it works as effectively as the show may have hoped, and to make matters even worse, The Deep and Savage Way introduces a bunch of major CGI demons that are initially an eyesore.

Fortunately, there is enough Dante action in the third episode to save it from being an absolute dud, accompanied by fitting music, an exciting chase sequence, and an unexpected ending featuring a part of the protagonist’s face getting blown off.

4

Episode 1

Inferno

The series premiere of the Devil May Cry anime had a lot of responsibility resting on its shoulders, considering that it had plenty of elements to introduce with just enough hooks to keep you going for the rest of the season. And for the most part, Inferno delivers on various fronts, ranging from setting up the White Rabbit as a force to be reckoned with to showing the unpolished and inexperienced demon-hunting career of Dante up until now.

It does not try to do anything too extravagant with its introductions and keeps things simple, making the first episode a great and accessible gateway into the world of Devil May Cry, even if you have not played any of the games.

3

Episode 7

At The Gates Of Paradise

Although the White Rabbit and Dante do meet for a short duration early in the season, it is not until the penultimate episode that they actually have a proper confrontation, and, to some extent, it is a meeting worthy of the wait. The dialogue between the two characters is some of the best put into the Devil May Cry anime, as the White Rabbit tries to show Dante the drastic parallels between Hell and the human world.

At the Gates of Paradise also promises an unforgettable finale by setting the stage perfectly despite the final episode not sticking the landing, and it also serves as somewhat of a farewell to the White Rabbit as a compelling character.

2

Episode 2

Our Lady Of Sorrows

While the first episode of the Devil May Cry anime does a fine job at setting everything up, it is Our Lady of Sorrows that brings the majority of the show’s players together, moving things forward in quite an enjoyable way. Queue an exciting action sequence as numerous mercenaries try to apprehend Dante, dead or alive, showing what the protagonist is capable of as he takes on multiple enemies at once using whatever he can find at his disposal.

The second episode also features plenty of references to the Devil May Cry video games and other Capcom properties, filling you with hope that perhaps the rest of the season will keep up the quality as well.

1

Episode 6

The First Circle

When you watch the Devil May Cry anime on Netflix, the sixth episode is the one that will stick with you long after the credits roll, as not only is it a marvelous detour in animation style, but it also tells two contrasting backstories simultaneously in the best way possible. The White Rabbit was already an intriguing antagonist since the very first scene of the show, but The First Circle gives him some extraordinary layers to help him transcend from the typical villain route.

The sixth episode also makes Mary much more tolerable with extremely tragic additions to her backstory, as it makes you understand why she absolutely loathes anything that resembles a demon. Thanks to top-notch animation, heartfelt and heartbreaking revelations, and outstanding character moments, The First Circle is the Netflix adaptation at its best and most unforgettable, all without the use of dialogue, as it lets the silence, music, and visuals tell a devastating tale.