For fans of the popular game franchise Castlevania, changing plotlines isn’t an issue like it is for most game to series adaptions. In the games, Dracula lacks a proper backstory and the real reasons for his bloodthirsty rampage vary depending on the game.
The Netflix series Castlevania seeks to fill in the gaps by creating a full backstory with lurid characters and original plots that are loosely based off of various parts of the games. While some fans of the games might enjoy the changes made to fit the overall plot in the series, many others will despise it for blurring the lines between good and evil.
Netflix Change: Grant Is Missing
Usually, when various adaptions of games or series are made, the other adaption at least keeps the main protagonists of the story. They might alter these characters’ story-lines in the newer adaption while removing a few side characters but usually, that is it.
However, in the Netflix adaption of Castlevania, Grant, one of the main protagonists of the games is completely missing. In the games, Grant is an instrumental figure in helping Trevor Belmont, Alucard and Sypha Belnades in defeating the sinister Dracula and his army of monsters from destroying mankind.
Unneeded Change: Elisabetha Is Never Mentioned
While Alucard’s mother, Lisa is briefly mentioned in the games, her death affects her son’s view of humans, instead of Dracula’s. While much of Dracula’s history is foggy in the games, one thing that always remains is his first wife Elisabetha.
She was originally Dracula’s one and only. This is completely different in the Netflix series where Dracula is just shown to be a bloodthirsty monster until meeting the kind doctor Lisa, who sees the good within. She teaches him kindness and he teaches her medicines as the two fall passionately in love.
Netflix Change: Church Led Expedition To Defeat Dracula
The Netflix series casts the Church as ungodly, merciless beings who mirror the outside visage of the monsters in Dracula’s army. In fact, they are the reason why Dracula is on his world-wide tour of destruction after they murdered his wife Lisa.
However, in the games, the Church leads various expeditions to defeat Dracula but on every occasion, he kills all those who come against him. The Castlevania games make it clear that Dracula is the sole main antagonist but in the Netflix series, Dracula is coaxed into his worldwide carnage when the Church murders his wife Lisa.
Unneeded Change: Hector’s Betrayal
In the games, Hector finds refuge as a boy in Dracula’s castle. He respects power and believes it to neither good nor evil. Even though he was a top general in Dracula’s army, Hector willingly fled and hid from his master. However, in the Netflix series, Hector only betrayed Dracula accidentally after being manipulated by Carmilla.
She then holds him hostage until Dracula’s eventual death. In the series, Hector is sincerely loyal to Dracula, while in the games he is willing to die if it means being free from his master.
Netflix Change: Sypha Belnades Was Originally A Witch
Sypha Belnades the eventual wife of Trevor Belmont was originally a powerful witch and ally to Trevor in his journey to destroy Dracula once and for all. Her spells are her greatest strengths as she proves herself a worthy adversary and equal to Trevor as the two fight against Dracula the Lord of Darkness.
However, in the Netflix series, she is a member of the Speakers who possess a hidden knowledge of science that resembles magic. They are given this name because their knowledge is never written down, only spoken from one generation to the next.
Unneeded Change: Isaac’s Backstory Is Different
In the Netflix series, Isaac is one of Dracula’s closest and most loyal generals. One of two Devil Forgemasters in Dracula’s court. Isaac wasn’t always evil, as he once loved his abusive human master. However, after defending himself from being beaten to death, he killed his original master and took refuge in Dracula’s castle.
In the games, he is also a Devil Forgemaster who is driven insane by the evils from a curse Dracula placed on the land. Hector becomes his adversary and eventually frees him from the curse by killing him.
Netflix Change: Speakers Do Not Exist In The Games
The Castlevania games are more black and white. There are those who use magic for good and those who use it for evil. Both sides are in an eternal struggle to overcome the other. While in the Netflix series magic mostly has an evil origin, though that doesn’t mean it doesn’t get used for good.
Speakers, who exist in the series are confused as magic users because of their advanced scientific knowledge. In the games, there is no mention of them, partly because they do not fit in with the game’s known canon and view of the world.
Unneeded Change: Most Of The Fighting Takes Place Outside Of Dracula’s Castle
Fans of the Castlevania games know that most of the gameplay and story revolve around Dracula’s castle. In fact, in the original games, it is the only setting ever seen with the protagonist having to venture throughout various regions of the castle until finally reaching the main target and adversary Dracula.
However, in the Netflix series, almost all of the series, especially the scenes involving the main protagonists primarily takes place outside of the castle’s walls. It is only until the very end that Dracula’s castle is finally penetrated and destroyed.
Netflix Change: The Belmont Family Was Excommunicated
In the games, the Belmont family was never excommunicated for any reason. While their name sounds prestigious and old, it was never properly declared that they hold any monetary value or titles. They stay on the outside of modern society because of their reputation as monster slayers not because of anything the church had done to them.
In the Netflix series, the Belmont family was an ancient, rich family that had a mansion. They were excommunicated from the church and their lands stripped. All that remains of them is their family name.
Unneeded Change: Carmilla’s Loyalty
In the Netflix series, Carmilla is shown to be a vampire who will stop at nothing to enact a coup against Dracula. Believing Dracula to be weak and out of control by killing the vampire’s main source of sustenance in humans, Carmilla shows her deceptive side by actively trying to dethrone him.
However, in the games, Carmilla is one of Dracula’s most loyal servants, who will stop at nothing to defeat the Belmont family before they can kill her master. In some cases, Carmilla resurrects Dracula even at the cost of her own life.
