Sypha got stoned.
Before I really start my review of episode 3 of Castlevania, I have a confession. I watched 3 and 4 back to back. Which really just killed some speculation I had, but it also affects this review. Not a whole lot, but still…
Anyway, Trevor heads down into the catacombs looking for Grandchild the Speakerkid. And, more so than the second episode, it gives you an opportunity to appreciate what Richard Armitage brings to Trevor. His take is somewhat subdued in both episodes, though arguably he has more to play against in Labyrinth. I’d be hard-pressed to guess how much of any given line is Ellis’s writing, and how much is Armitage’s performance. But what is obvious is that both come together to make something delightful. There’s something about hearing Trevor remark on his catlike reflexes after a fall, only for the ground to give way once again.
As a matter of fact, I have no idea how they got half of this voice cast. Specifically, to play characters in a series based on a nearly 30 year old video game. Meredith Layne should probably get a medal for that.
Any way, Trevor runs face to face with the Sypha scenario from the game. She’s stone, and there’s an angry cyclops that turned her to deal with. Trevor realizes the shit he’s in, too. He is, however, able to prevail, restoring Sypha. Sypha is not a fan of Trevor’s attitude on the whole.
The old man is overjoyed to find that Sypha is still alive; less so in following through on Trevor’s deal. He does offer him a place to stay, but that’s tenuous at best. Trevor wanders off for… some reason, and runs right into his best friends from earlier. You know, the ones down a finger and an eye, respectively.
They take him to see the Bishop, who just so happens to be the lunatic that started the mess in the first place by burning Lisa as a witch. And he’s nuts enough to believe that, not only will killing all of the Speakers before sundown will spare them Dracula’s monsters, but that God Himself is really pleased with his work. He offers to let Trevor live, as long as he leaves by sundown. Trevor agrees just to leave.
He’s obviously not going to do it, and sets a plan in motion to protect the Speakers. As a matter of fact, this probably has my favorite Trevorism thus far; he refers to the bishop as “snake-fuckingly crazy”. Which he is; that said, this somehow beat out “God shits in my dinner once again” from earlier in the episode.
He then manages, through guile and planning, to hold off an angry mob of villagers, as well as a bunch of armed priests. Well for a bit. And then the night creatures come.
There’s one or two things I’ve taken small issue with thus far in Castlevania. But I’m holding off on them for the finale, since it’s not exactly fair to take the individual episodes to task for them.
4/5
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