Sunday Service

Night stalks the day in Castlevania: Nocturne S2

Netflix’s Castlevania franchise resurrected its spinoff, Nocturne, right where season one left off. Our beloved Belmont descendant, Richter, met the vampire legend, Alucard, in the heat of battle against the Vampire Messiah’s minions. While this battle was won, they failed to stave off the inevitable: Eszerbet Báthory cementing her reign.

The action-packed series finds our heroes at a crossroads struggling to hold the light against an indomitable force and within themselves. This plight is highlighted within two specific characters, Maria Renard and Annette. Ricther’s cousin, jaded by her mother’s sacrifice, finds her magic tainted. Her thirst for revenge darkens her judgment, thrusting her to a point of no return. Annette also finds herself in a similar predicament. Hauntings from beyond Papa Legba’s threshold stalk her mind, signaling her need for a deeper source of magic.

Another granted plus is the return of Elarica Johnson’s Doltra, Báthory’s lieutenant. Better and deader, viewers get a double dose of the sultry vampiric servant as the series explores her origins. While everyone is great, Johnson stands out whenever she’s on screen, along with Zahn McClarnon’s immortal Olrox.

The second season doesn’t miss a beat, with the animation and voice acting delivering on all cylinders. All eight episodes are available on Netflix.

Welcome back, Outies

Apple TV’s most known unknown, Severance, returned with its second season Friday. For the minimal promotion it’s had, everyone seems to know the difference between an Outie and an Innie, and that the break room is anything but recreational.

Without delving into spoilers, the season opener places viewers back in the unsettling calm at Lumon Industries. Mark S. and his colleagues — Helly R., Dylan G., and Irving B. — return to open arms from management. Changed by their experiences on the outside, MDR’s trusted four must decide to continue their “mysterious, important work” or ascend, leaving their Innie behind forever.

The debut is strong, planting the seed for new mysteries to explore. Parallels between this episode and season one’s premiere display how far our characters have come from their initial ignorant bliss. I’m mostly interested in seeing how their new knowledge impacts the relationship with Milchick, who now serves as upper management. And how exactly was Miss Huang hired? Plus, theories about Helly — something I initially missed — not being the right one make sense. What a cruel way to punish Mark if true.

New episodes of Severance arrive every Friday on Apple TV+.

No new coming attractions. But I want to leave you with this note.

Tomorrow is a day to celebrate a man that threatened the evil frabic this country was threaded on. For that reason alone, do not entertain a millisecond of what whiteness has propped up to be worshipped. Any day. Find joy in where and with whom celebrates you, your worth and the good in others.