Review: ‘Castlevania: Nocturne’ Season 1 Episode 5 “The Natural Order”

In Season 1, Episode 5 of the Netflix series Castlevania: Nocturne, titled “The Natural Order,” the aftermath of the Abbey Cellar’s conflict lingers with the protagonists, and Richter’s sudden decision to run away becomes a topic of discussion. The episode commences with Richter (Edward Bluemel) fleeing to a lake where he mourns his mother’s death and the trauma he experienced when he encountered her killer, Olrox (Zahn McClarnon), once again in the Abbey’s cellars. 

At the Renard Household, Tera (Nastassja Kinski) and Annette (Thuso Mbedu) collaborate to tend to Maria’s (Pixie Davies) wounds before heading to bed. Some hours later, Maria witnesses her mother’s tears due to the Abbot’s (Richard Dormer) betrayal and decision to ally with the evil vampires. The Abbot had helped Tera find a home and refuge in Machecoul during her years of fleeing from Erzsebet Bathory (Franka Potente). Soon, they hear a noise near the front door, which turns out to be Annette dressing up and preparing to return to the Abbey to “save” Edouard (Sydney James Harcourt). Tera protests, asserting that Drolta and Olrox are formidable vampires and that Annette will likely meet her demise if she confronts them. Maria adds that they should wait for Richter to return so they can devise a plan to understand their enemies and come up with a better strategy to attack the Abbey. Annette refuses and criticizes Richter for running away. However, Tera calmly insists that Annette forgive him because Olrox was the vampire who killed Richter’s mother, haunting him in his nightmares since childhood. Annette remains steadfast as she believes her childhood was far more traumatic than Richter’s. 

At the chateau, Drolta Tzuentes (Elarica Johnson) and the vampires hold a funeral pyre for the deceased Marquis’s body, with the Marquioness holding her husband’s decapitated head due to her deep love for him. During the funeral, Drolta informs her vampiric bodyguard, Nikolai (Fred Tatasciore), that she needs to meet with Olrox. Nikolai promises to bring Richter Belmont’s head to her on behalf of the Marchioness. 

In Machecoul, Olrox drains the blood of a human noble in the streets but spares a homeless boy in the process. Drolta arrives, reproaching the Aztec Vampire for his actions, as the vampires in Europe are in a strict yet fragile alliance with the human rulers and nobles of Europe. Olrox sarcastically apologizes, but Drolta sympathizes with Olrox’s reasons for feeding on the human noble’s blood. She disapproves of the alliance and the vampires having to restrain themselves and devour only commoners to maintain influence among the human aristocracy. Drolta also dislikes having to ally with the Abbot on behalf of the Vampire Messiah because he is also human. The two continue to have a casual conversation as they reach a Christian graveyard, discussing the Vampire Messiah and her plans. Unbeknownst to them, Annette stalks them from the shadows to eavesdrop on their conversation. 

In the graveyard, Drolta informs Olrox that the Vampire Messiah Erzsebet Bathory has gained the allegiance of every European vampire. Drolta even shares her background as a former priestess of Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war and vengeance. Tzuentes reminisces about the sacrifices, the incense, and her powerful connection with Sekhmet herself. Drolta’s point to Olrox is that Bathory possesses Sekhmet’s ability to create an everlasting eclipse to block the Sun, allowing vampires to roam freely on Earth without fear of being burned to death by the Sun. The conversation ends positively, with the two vampires leaving to avoid the rising Sun. Annette is overwhelmed by Olrox and Drolta’s presence and aura. Before she can return to the Renard household, she witnesses Vaublanc (Alastair Duncan) draining the blood of a commoner in the graveyard. The rising Sun and Vaublanc’s presence in a Christian graveyard enable Annette to kill her vampiric tormentor. She uses the iron bars from the graveyard’s iron fence to create a Christian cross cage around Vaublanc, trapping the vampire due to the cage’s somewhat Christian magic until the Sun burns him to death. Annette revels in Vaublanc’s demise, feeling the Sun’s warmth and hearing his screams. 

Later, Abbot Emmanuel visits Tera and requests to speak with her while Maria stands in the background, listening. Tera reluctantly agrees when Emmanuel pleads for a dialogue. Tera criticizes Emmanuel’s choice to ally with the vampires. He justifies his alliance as a response to the growing violence of the French Revolution against the Church, the nobility, and devout Christians. Maria believed the Revolution would bring freedom to France. However, Emmanuel sees it differently, viewing the Revolution and its leaders as demanding control and obedience for the French Republic, much like the Church. The Abbot even suggests that his “evil” actions to build a night creature army are akin to Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, leading to salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice. Emmanuel knows his deeds are evil, but he is willing to do anything to ensure the safety and guidance of the Church and its followers amid the Revolution and its supporters. Still angry, Tera wishes she had never met Emmanuel, but he objects by stating that their meeting resulted in the birth of Maria, shocking Tera’s daughter because she believed her father had died. In shock, disbelief, and sorrow, Maria runs away upon realizing that the Abbot she dislikes is her father. 

Richter eventually recovers from his trauma at a bar, attempting to drown his sorrows in alcohol. He meets an elder doing the same thing. However, the bar is suddenly attacked and harassed by a vampire targeting the elder. The elder takes Richter’s Belmont whip and decapitates the vampire. Astonished by the elder’s skills, Richter inquires and learns that the elder is his maternal grandfather, Juste Belmont (Iain Glen).

Juste Belmont: Father of Julia Belmont

In Castlevania: Nocturne Season 1, Episode 5, directors Sam Deats and Adam Deats, along with writer Temi Oh, delivered an intriguing conversation between Olrox and Drolta. Drolta’s background as a former priestess of Sekhmet in Egypt suggests that Erzsebet Bathory might be a vampiric avatar of Sekhmet, seeking to conquer the world through war and blood. Additionally, Sekhmet is the daughter of the Egyptian Sun God, Ra, which unveils the origin of Bathory’s divine ability to eclipse the Sun, drawing from Sekhmet’s inherited power from Ra. There is a possibility of Drolta being unaware that Olrox can transform into a feathered serpent entity resembling Quetzalcoatl, indicating that Castlevania: Nocturne’s central conflict revolves around divine entities, not just vampires, nightcreatures, and demons. 

Also, the episode introduced Juste Belmont. He is a member of the Belmont family, known for their long-standing tradition of vampire hunting. Juste is the main protagonist in the game Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance, where he embarks on a quest to rescue his kidnapped friend, Lydie Erlanger, from the clutches of the dark forces within Dracula’s castle. Like other Belmonts, Juste wields the Vampire Killer whip and possesses skills in vampire hunting, making him a central figure in the series. 

It’s worth noting that Drolta Tzuentes initially appeared in Castlevania: Bloodlines, where she employed black magic to revive Count Dracula’s niece, Elizabeth Bartley, who serves as the game’s counterpart to Erzsebet Bathory. The two collaborated to orchestrate a plan to bring Dracula back to life. Drolta utilized her magic to animate a Mecha-Knight to intercept the Belmont descendant, John Morris, and his companion, Eric Lecarde. Ultimately, the two heroes thwarted the women’s schemes and defeated them, ending with the destruction of both Drolta and Elizabeth. This game’s narrative could serve as an inspiration for Castlevania: Nocturne’s Drolta’s potential resurrection of Bathory in the past to transform her into Sekhmet’s avatar.

Rating: 9/10

Ryan Seun Woo Kwon: I am currently pursuing a major in Film & Media with a minor in History & Creative Writing at the University of California, Berkeley. Growing up in Portland, Shanghai, and Seoul has given me a multicultural perspective that I use to view social and historical events. With a strong passion for TV and film, wish to explore opportunities in narrative development, story writing, and production.
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