Netflix’s 98% RT Fantasy Action Series Is Getting Better And Better

Few shows improve with each new season, but this popular Netflix fantasy action series demonstrates that there are exceptions to every rule. Netflix has been at the helm of some great fantasy TV shows in the last few years, including Castlevania, One Piece, and Arcane, so it’s not surprising that one of this year’s best returning fantasy sagas is also produced by the streaming giant.

Within Netflix’s impressive fantasy catalog, the animated video game adaptation Arcane ranks among the best. Since its finale aired in 2024, one could argue that there haven’t been any fantasy shows on Netflix that rival its greatness. However, Arcane’s reputation as Netflix’s best gaming adaptation might be in jeopardy following the return of the streamer’s animated fantasy series, Devil May Cry. When it debuted in 2025, Devil May Cry proved that this really is a golden era for video game TV adaptations. The first season of the series was a critical success, earning a 96% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Devil May Cry season 1 nailed every aspect of its storytelling. Dante, the protagonist, was effortlessly cool, sarcastic, and just reckless enough to make every fight unpredictable. The combat scenes were top-notch, and the action sequences were memorable. However, as stunning as Devil May Cry season 1 was, it was missing one key ingredient: Dante’s twin brother, Vergil.

Vergil’s introduction in Devil May Cry season 2 raised the stakes for the show. In the first installment, Dante was more of a lone wolf with no family to speak of besides Enzo. Introducing a character like Vergil in the series was a game-changer, not just for Dante but for the show as a whole, as the war between humans and demons became even more complicated.

Thankfully, the series’ sophomore season builds on the strengths of the first installment, producing something even more exciting and character-driven. Everything in Devil May Cry season 2 is better. The action has leveled up, the soundtrack is incredible, and Dante’s character has a mature side that was missing when the series launched its first season. Season 2 also takes the time to explore important narrative mysteries, like the identities of Sparda and Lady’s father.

Critics and audiences agree that the second season of the show is a genuine upgrade. Currently, Devil May Cry season 2 boasts a rare 100% critics’ score and a 79% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, giving the show a 98% Tomatometer rating overall. It fully deserves that praise.

Devil May Cry Is Primed For An Even Better Season 3

Everett Collection

The first two seasons of Devil May Cry have done the hard work of establishing its world, its rules, and its rivalries. As much as Devil May Cry is filled with demons, danger, and destruction, at its core, the series is about two brothers who were torn apart when they were young and have a difficult relationship as adults.

Currently, it’s hard to tell whether Vergil is a good guy or not — after all, he is the product of the demon who raised him. Dante, to his credit, still believes in his brother, even after he was beaten to a pulp and had a sword thrust in his chest. A potential third season (Netflix has yet to confirm a renewal) will build on this all-important dynamic. The show will only become more emotional from here on out.

Story-wise, the most significant question Devil May Cry needs to tackle in season 3 is, of course, who won the battle between the show’s overarching villain, Mundus, and Vergil, as the second season never revealed the answer. Everyone wants Vergil to be the victor, but there’s no point in denying that the older Sparda twin was outmatched by his father figure. Perhaps Vergil will be locked away in a dark dungeon somewhere, forced to think about how he stepped out of line. Surely, though, that scenario wouldn’t last forever. It’s unlikely Dante would let his brother die.

Amid the fantastical chaos, bloodshed, dysfunctional family relationships, and killer soundtrack, Devil May Cry season 2 also found time for a love story between Dante and Lady. The third installment of the series will definitely have to address where Dante and Lady stand in their relationship, further developing the show’s most important and compelling character dynamics.

So far, the series has been switching between two worlds: Earth and Makai. However, Devil May Cry‘s season 2 finale hints that all roads now lead to Makai. Dante is determined to save his brother, and Lady is hellbent on finding her father. If the show expands on these story aspects and digs deeper into the characters’ emotional connections, Devil May Cry season 3 has the potential to be the best installment of the Netflix animated series yet.

Release Date

April 3, 2025

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Adi Shankar

• 

  Johnny Yong Bosch

  Dante / Soldier #1 (voice)

• 

  Chris Coppola

  Enzo / Frat Boy (voice)

•