TV Series Review: Devil May Cry – Season One (2025)

Netflix’s strong run of good animated TV shows adapted from/based upon video game properties doesn’t seem to be ending anytime soon, with the latest to appear on the streaming giant’s service being Devil May Cry. An adaption of Capcom’s beloved action-adventure video game series.

Created by Adi Shankar and animated by South Korean Studio Mir, there’s no talking about the Devil May Cry series without first talking about the game franchise and my personal relationship with it. Which, putting it simply, doesn’t really exist. To date, I have played just one game in the franchise, and that was the 2013 reboot, DmC: Devil May Cry. This means I had very little expectations for the show as far as a video game adaption goes.

Which is both a good and a bad thing. On the one hand, it’s good to not have to worry about how the show handles aspects of the games and if it’s going to be an absolute butchering of the source material. On the other hand, it does mean a lot of the references and video game elements are lost on me. I know bits of Devil May Cry, but the for the most part, this was quite a blank slate for me.

Which is what creator Adi Shankar was going for choosing to not base this series on any particular Devil May Cry game, but rather have it be its own thing. All while paying homage to the franchise as a whole. Exactly what the likes of Castlevania does, and those shows are phenomenal.

Of course, this was never going to please everyone, but Devil May Cry has proven itself to be one hell of a hit (renewed for a second season) and having watched it, I can see why. It is hugely entertaining, featuring great animation, brilliant voice acting, tons of bombastic action, plenty of humour, and a delightful amount of blood and guts. I enjoyed the hell out of the show and went through an array of emotions while watching it. One particular episode is up there as one of the finest animated episodes I have ever seen.

So, what is it Devil May Cry about?

In a nutshell, it’s about demons from Hell and a demon hunter named Dante, voiced by Johnny Yong Bosch. A cocky young man who has unique abilities and uses them to destroy the forces of evil that want to invade Earth. Dante isn’t the only one fighting the ‘good’ fight as a government organization called Dark Realm Command (DARKCOM) is also doing what it can, in particular, a DARKCOM lieutenant named Mary Ann Arkham (Scout Taylor-Compton), who despises demons.

Dante and DARKCOM are on the same side, but the demon hunter refuses to work with them, and the organisation sees him as a problem. However, when a new threat, the White Rabbit (Hoon Lee) emerges, they are forced to work together to stop the villain’s plans. Which might not sound like the most interesting of stories, even if it is action-packed, however Devil May Cry has depth and so much is poured into the main cast, that it ends up being so compelling.

These are characters you , characters that feel human, and characters that you will grow to love. Not just the good guys either, as everyone has shades of grey. It’s not just the creative animation that brings them to life either, as the voice acting is so strong across the board. Every aspect of Devil May Cry draws the viewer in, and it’s very easy to forget that it has any video game links at all.

That being said, there are references, and even plenty that I understood (the Resident Evil reference is delightful) and the action feels suitably ‘gamey’. Though that’s not to suggest it is lessened or anything, Devil May Cry is an adult show, and it delivers adult content. Impressively, not just with the visuals either as the story deals with hate, xenophobia, trauma, and so much more. Which might sound kind of silly for a Devil May Cry TV show, but trust me, it results in some really powerful scenes and a story that holds your attention right up to the end.

I loved it, way more than expected, and I can’t wait for season 2. Hell, even the aspect I wasn’t sure I’d like, the music and using actual songs like Limp Bizkit’s Rollin’, worked really well in the end. It’s an entertaining show, and once again, the animated side of Netflix delivers.