I love all the inconsistencies Dracula has that show you just how he truly felt. For all this "all humans must die" talk, he was more invested in the well-being of the only two humans in his army, rather than the hundreds of vampires.
His road is still open and now he is the captain of his path. His mind is expanding to new things and seeks to spread his newfound faith to his disciples giving them the chance to be better or find new peace within themselves. He is now the King and if he meets Dracula again they will be true Equals for only then could they debate the truer questions.
"He lived one long night and never the future" Isaac's realization of the possibility of something brighter in his life is the best aspect of the show.
Dracula, by throwing Isaac in the middle of the desert, inevitably made him travel which eventually changed him--something Lisa wanted Drac to experience when she sent him off traveling.
I think that’s the thing with Dracula. Isaac was perhaps his only friend in a court of cut throats, a treasure greater then anything in his collection. He might have been bitter, but he also was an impeccable judge of character. Isaac was too noble a man, a once in a lifetime companion to merely die in his service. So he uniquely gave him the opportunity to live, which was the only time Dracula ever acted directly against his friends interests.
@@Zavrael Yes. It's not traveling itself that could change the person but the other people along the way. Interacting with people from different places would expose you to different norms and different experiences that would otherwise be scarce in the comfort of your home environment. So I say, go for it and good luck with your future travels.
@@Zavrael I never gained more insight about my own homeland until I left it and traveled, and saw what other lands were like and how they operated. I also never gained a greater appreciation for our race and our planet than when I traveled. Traveling is a gift. Only the fools treat it as mere vacation. To expand your worldview, physically see and walk and talk among people of other cultures, and to take wisdom from it...that's why it's good to travel.
Hector’s arc was discovering the harshness and cruelty of not just humans but the world and Isaacs arc is learning to love the world and want to make it a better place.
Their arcs in season 4 had alot of beautiful moments, but I don't think everything flowed properly. I love where Isacc ended up in the end, but I feel his turn-heel moment was rushed even if there were a few seeds planted here and there that led to this well enough, and as for Hector, his storyline was completely muddled and rushed after how things ended in season 3, in ways that I can't entirely say in just one comment. I loved season 4, but it made narrative issues I can't defend, and it showed how bloated this season was since it wasn't meant to be the final one in the first place.
Humans, I think, can be excused for their cruelty, selfishness, and bigotry. Especially in a world like this with vampires and night creatures. Humans are a complex species, but at the end of the day we're just animals who are scared of the unknown and scared of being too weak to survive. Vampires may feed on humans, but as far as I see it they have NO reason to be as cruel as they are. They are the top of the food chain, nothing to fear. But if humans are as bad as they supposedly are, what makes Isaac or Hector think vampires would be any better. And as far as night creatures go, they exist to follow their master. So, they're fluid and can be taught a better way of life.
I was just going to comment this! I just finished S4 (Isaac was my fav character) and wondered huh? i don't seem to recall Hector and Isaac meeting the trio. I googled it and all, and they indeed haven't met. It also made me smile because this show was able to seamlessly fuse these stories! As one commenter here stated, it does indeed make the world of Castlevania feel so much bigger! In hindsight, the story of the trio would have been too i don't want to say generic, but if the Plot B of Hector and Isaac were not there, we wouldn't have as deep of an experience. For me personally, I found the most "philosophical" and profound quotes to come from Plot B (Isaac talking with the flyman, the captain, to himself, and later Hector and Lenore). The Plot A, in hindsight, was kind of predictable. I mean it was really like the usual Rising Action, Falling Action (S3 ended with the trio being emotionally destroyed), and in the triumphant Climax and Conclusion (literally victory over death thru friendship and love). And I'll say it, it was so masterfully executed. But really the Plot B just adds a whole new dimension that just elevated this show, with all the philosophical discussions, it made this "mature" animation evolve from just being R-rated because of death, cursing, violence, and nudity to being really high minded literature. I wish there was more. Would have loved to see the trio and the duo interact more! But it ended the way it did :)
@@jomamaharlika6738 Though Hector didn't meet the trio, Isaac did encounter them for a few second in season 2 at the castle when the trio raided the place to look for Dracula. Alucard even shot his sword toward Isaac and Isaac used a dead vampire's body he just killed to block the sword. After that he ran to Dracula to tell him Alucard was there and he was ready to die protecting Dracula. That's why Dracula tossed him through the distant mirror to save his life and that's how Isaac only met the trio for a few seconds.
@@matthiasjilimin700 He wanted to resurrect Dracula, needed Hector but then sacrifices himself as the offering or some shit, not sure, been a while. He had a totally mashochistic look to him too. Honestly, this Isaac is a 100% improvement.
@@matthiasjilimin700 In the games Issac wanted to resurrect Dracula by using Hectors body as a host. In the end he failed in capturing Hector so he sacrificed himself to bring Dracula back. Much better ending in my opinion.
Yeah, imo Isaac is the best character in the series and one of the best that I have ever seen in fiction. His evolution over the series is really powerful. I wonder if he will succeed in his goal of emptying hell. If so, I hope we get to see it in the new series.
much better than the fucking game. God what a night and day Issac is from the game and the anime. Hector is pretty spot on in both but even in the game hector's vision was vengeance the same way dracula's vision was about mankind.
Yeah, that part made very little sense. At best, she would have felt relieved of having been relinquished of Carmilla's bossiness, ignoration and madness. She easily could've chosen to live out another some 50+ years with Hector, enjoying simple joys until he died of old age... And only THEN, on that day, witness the dawn and follow him into the afterlife. Would've been infinitely more satiafying end to their arc.
@@danieljanecka9492 this feels disingenuous to Lenore's story to me. She constantly defends Carmilla because they are sisters, if not by blood then by bond. Lenore built everything with her sisters and unlike Morana and Striga who were already weary of Carmilla and contemplating leaving, Lenore was loyal to nearly a fault. Because she was so 'kind' to Hector and fell in love with him, she gave him free reigns of the castle, which eventually ends in Carmilla's death being much easier for Isaac to bring about, so she feels responsible for her sister's death. She's known Carmilla for likely centuries and had the love and trust for her for so long and like she said in her last scene vampires don't like change. So when it's a choice between the most radical, unpredictable change of her life versus an eternal peace in death, as much as she has come to love Hector, she's just too scared of change.
@@dodogamusghaul The captor sold the captured the ropes which are gonna be used by latter one to hang the former one. About her giving the reigns of castle to Hector. Your take is great, I also see as her getting in touch with her human side cause of Hector and realising what a fucking monster she was for her whole life and choosing to end it. It's better to die a human, than live your whole life knowing you were a monster.
@danieljanecka9492 People act like Lenore and Hector was true love but it always seemed more like owner and pet, which lines up with her reaction. She was content living with Hector until she lost control, then she preferred to just die and move on then enjoy some years with him
I would normally be angry with drastic changes made to an adaptation, but the complete re-imagining of Isaac was one of the best things to ever happen to the show. He was the best thing about season three, and his character development between then and season four is nothing short of astonishing.
Such a powerful moment. Adetokumboh M'Cormack's incredible performance as Isaac was one of the highlights of the show. What a great conclusion to his arc.
Issac’s arc is mostly open ended. This is his last scene in the series, and I think the writers were trying to let the viewers decide HOW he’ll live. I wished for a bigger send off, like Issac walking towards a town but this works perfectly.
True. Unless there is a future spin-off or sequel. CV was originally supposed to be 5 seasons but I guess the creators decided to cram it into 4 due to issues.
@@Elly3981 really? I had a funny feeling this season felt a bit cramped on trying to get all the plot points fit into it. Some elements seemed built up and dropped rather quickly. Would’ve preferred one extra season to get it all to sit better. But oh well.
I think Lenore or Hector refer to "King Isaac" so it seems that his idea of "starting here" is just that: building a civilization right where he stands where people can live.
They turned an already great character into an outstanding and compelling one with a great arc. This series deserves a videogame tie-in handled by anyone except Konami of course.
@@keithfilibeck2390 I mean, when castlevania tries to be overly complex it often just ends up feeling pretentious. They do deep but less obvious lore better.
I love that even Isaacs way of talking changed. He talks way more quiet and peaceful now, with much less aggression and absolutely no hatred left in him.
Isaac is by far my favorite character in the show. His arc isn't even a redemption arc. From the beginning to the end he doesn't show a shred of remorse for his past deeds, and yet so many viewers are straight up rooting for the guy because despite aiding in an attempted genocide with Dracula he and hector GROW more than any other character. We can't really hate hector because he really was just a child in a man's body being toyed with by everyone and anyone and we can't hate Isaac because he was just a tool. By the end, Hector is no longer being toyed with (note how he says not to trust Death in his last mirror transmission, implying he was onto him) and Isaac becomes a person with agency, no longer a tool. I freaking love it.
Yea I kinda wish they actually gave a shit about the source material in this anime. It felt better to watch if I just treated it as entirely separate from castlevania entirely but, there was still a nagging feeling in the back of my mind like "you know this isnt right. You know this doesn't make much sense to canon."
@@lordsickomode After season 2 they pretty much break from canon, and i think that's the right way to go. Castlevania as a game series is hardly a masterclass in writing so after doing the "oh no, we need to stop dracula from either destroying the world or being revived" plot which is most of what castlevania is, i think veering away from canon is absolutely the right move.
@@rubberduckey111 There is a difference between breaking away and defilement. An anime would obviously be more focused on story since it has no game play to mix in. They could've done the games story (which has comics to bolster it pretty well) and added more depth and it would've been perfect.
@@lordsickomode gonna need to agree to disagree on this one. I can't imagine a version of this show that stays faithful to the games/comics and is somehow better than what we got.
@@lordsickomode You really are in the minority here, what they did here was great and most of the fandom from the original games loved this show, me included. So yeah too bad you didn't like it, doesn't make any of your opinions into a fact.
I got really nervous during his battle with Carmilla. So badly, I wanted Isaac alive by the end. I completely get the people who wanted more episodes with him, but I can't even feel right about complaining. What he did this season all felt so right that I was satisfied even with the lesser amount of screentime
When he said "I'm going too live" at the very end, I couldn't help but feel that was a flag right there and he would straight up die in that moment. Thank goodness that was not the case
"I want to read and make things and think." God, how many of us watching this clip feel the same way? To just, have time to be you and not needing to constantly work jobs that stifle and hinder us? What would we do if we had a month? Two months? A year to just... live, without worrying about money for once?
I like the notion of Hector being alone in his tower, studying, reading, tinkering, building. At peace with himself and with the world. Every so often Isaac visits, sometimes for companionship, sometimes because he values Hector's input, and very occasionally to ask Hector to build him something. Isaac being a philosopher king and Hector his most trusted friend and advisor.
"I'm going to live" You can actually feel that Isaac truly achieved the reason for his life after his cruel past towards a better future not only for himself but also for the world.
My favorite also. He is my favorite character in the entire series. Just wish that I could have SEEN him living in the final episode. Seeing Hector in the finale was nice but where was Isaac?
Hector discovered demon forging out of loneliness, Isaac did it to feel useful. People shunned Hector for surrounding himself with zombie slave pets, Isaac's master punished him for daring try to surpass him. Respectively, they hated humankind for concluding they were uncaring of other's suffering, and willing to stagnate the world if that meant preserving their own personal power. They thought that did not deserve salvation. But by knowing what was like to live as a "pet", commodity in exchange for lack of agency, Hector decided his loneliness wasn't an excuse to bind other's wills to him. And Isaac knowing what it was like to live without masters, started to realize his hate was just lack of confidence in the idea that he could be the useful as a leader rather than as a servant.
Just like the Captain said ''Why would a person with all your fantastic knowledge not teach people how to be kind''? And Isaac is exactly the right person for that, probably better than even Alucard. Isaac has been evil and assisted in evil, but a few choice encounters with intelligent and charming individuals has changed his mind towards survival and improving quality of life. He's had the most thorough development of everyone, and therefor would be the best pick for improving the lives of humans.
I think doing anything important in life shouldn't ever be left up to 1 person. If it affects human life, then it's something humans need to do together, I believe. If anything, I think Isaac proves that improving other people and their lives is something Anyone can do, but takes multiple people doing small acts of good. Like Isaac said, the point of having a world isn't necessarily about knowing what to do with it. But yes, I think Isaac will make a fine leader and be able to create something great in the world.
@@Sav3TheWorld In fact becoming the intelligent and charming individual himself, who have inspired him so much in the past. He would in turn inspire others.
I teared up when he said "I'm going to live." because throughout his story, he never found anything worth living until he met and had time to think for himself. He's the first to have a happy ending he deserves
His smiles in the end is so precious. But let me tell you, the camera stood way to long on him and my mind pictured an axe coming and beheading him ( cause it's castlevania). The pure DREAD I felt thinking he was going to die was so fast and strong. If they killed Isaac I was ready to throw this series out of the window
Jesus Christ I need MORE. I dont need to continue the story of the main trio, it would only dececrate the beautiful conclusion. But there is so much more to Isaac and Hector.
This was a fantastic episode. Brilliantly written, acted, and animated. The pinnacle of the show and a testament to the art. Even the soundtrack is spectacular. Can't wait to listen to the track from this scene in particular.
Can't agree more.. it was an amazing series but my fav character and arc was of the forge masters both of them. I hope we will see the after math in a spin of series of Issac and hector after this series
“That’s how they get us, Hector. They convince us there is no future.” That hit so hard. Now I see things differently in life. A freaking anime from Netflix has taught me more than school ever did.
Same thing in the modern age the news tells us there is no hope whatever you do there will be the elites , the system and tragedies to stop you so theres no point in trying but history tells us that if there is no future rather than sit this one out create one instead
You know in season 2 when Dracula talked to Isaac, when he phrased "I find myself wishing you two were better friends." How his wish was granted that both Isaac and Hector being friends.
by far the best character arc in the show. went from a cold blooded killer who wanted the world to burn to a genuinely kind person who wants to make the world better. that final shot of him smiling really says a lot since its the first time we see it i think
I was honestly not expecting this kind of reunion between Hector and Isaac. In the game, they were bitter rivals but their anime counterparts had a relationship closer to that of good friends.
Not really brothers. More like acquaintances with mutual respect. Isaac respects Hector now because he’s trying to grow up, but kind of thought of him as a child before when they worked for Dracula
“I’m going to live” idk why but that part has been stuck in my head for the past few days. The way it was delivered..and like isaacs voice...Idk man something about it hits me in the feels. Makes me think of my own life
honestly castlevania the netflix series isnt just a good castlevania series but its also a fantastic series in general,every character has depth and they all feel real and grounded and of course the voice acting is superb,i truly love isaac as a character he maybe my fav character in any series ive watched
I love this. I was expecting Isaac to try and convince Hector to do whatever he planned next, but this is oddly wholesome...at least for the moment. Still gotta think about his line about exterminating humanity and then telling the last person alive why he did it "Because you were all so f_ing rude!"
The more i watch Issac's scenes the more i think he realises people are products of their environment. Which is why he wants to build a place with a positive future, where people don't have to steal to eat or be shown that being violent and murderous is the only way to get by. He will build a place where people can live peacefully, contribute to society in a meaningful way
Perfectly mirrored the conversation he had with the captain. The captain cut up lime and gave Isaac a lemonade drink, he asked Isaac what he wanted, and he gave hector what he wanted "you shall have it." The captain is legit the savior of that world lol, some random side character, that's why this show is amazing.
Just noticed it's a mirror of Lenore's manipulation as well. She asked "what do you want, Hector" several times too, but described it as a transaction between equals (which wasn't the case, since he was a prisoner). When Isaac, who just before was Hectors archenemy, asks the question, it's not about transaction, it's about knowing what "gift" could he present to him. And finally, only this time Hector realizes he can answer sincerely.
In the beginning of the series, Isaac was a man who understood the cruelty of the world but thought that it's impossible to change. He sought to destroy the world. He had no agency and saw no future. His character arc was about discovering his agency, discovering the possibility of a future beyond the worlds cruelty. Now he is a man that understands the worlds cruelty, but sees a future beyond it and acts to change the world, not destroy it.
Huge props to the voice actor of Isaac across the whole series. He starts off with a stern, clear, and loud voice in season 1, spitting every word like he's full of contempt and anger, but after Dracula's death, the start of his journey, and particularly after meeting each of the characters that made him think and wonder, his voice gets softer and more gentle, peaking in this conversation.
Hector had to Basically be stripped of his Naivety by torture and betrayal. While Isaac had to kinda gain an appreciation of the world for them both to eventually meet in the middle. Great character arcs for both of them
Not just the dialog, even the cinematic is beautiful here. When Isaac said "This is how they get us, Hector' at 0:52, the foreground is a bunch of tools which is symbolic for how Isaac and Hector have been used as tools and how they perceived themselves as such.
My whole thing with Hector and Isaac was that I had mismanaged expectations due to Curse of Darkness. But I like this ending too. It's more appropriate for the characters that were written for the show. Especially for Isaac, who is finally able to move on instead of spitefully fighting for eternity. I wish he got a final scene with Hector in Episode 10, though.
Yeah. At this point, I doubt that the anime will follow the Curse of Darkness storyline. Anime Hector and Isaac are quite different from their game counterparts.
@@Elly3981 and to me this show is my head cannon it's just too good not to be cannon.. I loved 4 season of Issac and hector both were amazing compelling characters far far better than the games
I never played Curse of Darkness, but I have read about it. This Issac is by far an improvement over the original, but I am disappointed that Hector didn’t become an avenger like his game counterpart. Also, it bugged me that Hector would agree to help resurrect Dracula, when it’s clear that he was opposed to his goal of global annihilation. Hector never even brings this up in his conversation with Issac.
@@Michael-590 in the game, it was the opposite. Issac wanted to bring back Dracula. Hector did not. Carmilla was also loyal to Dracula in the games while she rebelled against him in the anime.
On itself the game saga never made much sense after the ending of Symphony of the Night, because there was remorse in what he said at the end, yet in he keeps being non-chalantly evil with every subsequent game. With Netflix ending, Dracula has lost all reason to become the recurrent villain of the saga, Death was the true mastermind. Bringing Death back could be an option, however it seems they killed him definitely, so I have no idea what they will do with the Richter show, haven't heard updates about that in a while.
I loved the fact that it was Isaac who put an end to Carmilla's insane quest for revenge, and how well those two characters contrast with each other. Carmilla was mad with hatred, willing to sacrifice anything and anyone for a vengenace against the entire world. Isaac, in the other hand, realized how pointless revenge was, and that he could do better than that. Carmilla could never move on from what the world did to her. Isaac could, so he had to stop her.
the way Isaac smiled gets you...we all have something we want to do...clarity that is not given light to a lot of us..only a few get to have it...won't you love to have that as well?
Dracula would so proud of Isaac. I believe he saved him back in Season 2 to live and change to become a better man. His last words to him were you are the best of your people Isaac. And he has finally become the best of himself by not punishing humans but making the world better without the need bloodshed.
In all this wild ride, I have never seemed such a brilliant character than Isaac. All the rest paled in comparison for he gained and accepted the one thing all of them lacked: Self-obtained wisdom. I would like to see more of him.
They limited our time with issac this time around cuz this character is a pure powerhouse in every way who would've stolen this season like he did the last
I'm still amazed that such a dark and at times disturbing show led to such healthy, hopeful ends. Almost universally those who could not change, died - and those who could let go of their obsessions and hatreds were allowed to move on in hope.
Just wanted to say how happy I am that animations like this are still being made nowadays. Everything today is about conformity, stupidity, doing the laziest and easiest things possible: Most series are also are about glitter, forcing everything to appear happy, coolness in the most toxic ways. Stuff like this used to be common until the mid 2000's till everything became "corporate art" in more ways than one. This is such a beautifully needed change.
Never have I seen an animated series where 2 side characters became so compelling to me, and so well written. It's as if the writers all wanted to convey their messages through Isaac.
It's so weird to see Isaac smiles. Also as I understand well to be a forgemaster in that universe is hard because humans don't accepted them even they are also humans and vampires used them their unique skills for their own purposes. I'm glad Isaac takes the Captain's advice: to leave his own story no someone else's story. I think that we must do it all of us.
I loved how Isaac picked up the hammer, alluding to his “you can use a hammer to build a home, or crack a skull”, line. Unlike vampires, humans can change, we have a choice in building or destroying. Vampires, cursed by they’re bloodlust, can only kill and feed.
I love that the 2 times Isaac mentions "Dracula has earned his rest" have different meanings on the context around them. Firstly, how he deserved his peace for the great work he had done, then secondly here how he did not run things well living in an eternal night, his rest painted as penance. Fitting given that Isaac is consoling Hector here.
This is such a fucking powerful scene. It really explains well that yes there is many things in the world that are cruel, but there are also many things that makes this world fucking great. Instead of hating everyone in the world and thinking humans suck because of all the bad things that happen, appreciate the gifts that the world has to offer. Appreciate the gifts of stimulations and joy through kind people. Having fun, accomplishing something great in life, having a desire to keep growing and also look to make the world a greater place through conquest. By doing that you can find greater stimulation and pleasure by creating a life that you want.
This scenario could happen : -A girl called Julia comes to Isaac's new founded nation and, after showing her prodigal magical abilities besides many simularities with Isaac's scars, he decides to adopt her as his younger sister. When she grows older, she bids farewell to Isaac, for her time to live her life and find her future began, and during her travels as a commerciant, she finds a man fighting against a werewolf, and after helping him, she tends to his wounds, and the man tells her his name, Hector. Because recently she was having problems with the church due to the accusation of witchcraft against her, they decide to remain together, and after killing the new clerigal man who was trying to continue the Bishop's work, particularly trying to exterminate the Speakers, they decide to adopt their lifestyle of acquiring knowledge, with the difference that they pretend to write it down but ensure only the worthy may read their information (I mean, she is a witch and he is a forgemaster, there must be magical ways to ensure this), and to marry and start a family, after all, they were always prisioners, but if they had to be, then at least let the cage be a golden one, and let them try to give their children a chance of succeeding where they failed as individuals.
Considering the implications that Isaac was either a poor street orphan or just someone sold into slavery, Julia, Rosaly or whoever you wanna call her could still technically be a long lost biological sister. Either way, this is still a pretty good fanfiction idea
I like to think that after the final episode, Isaac established his rule on Styria, created a new kingdom and went on to become one of, if not the greatest king who ever lived. One who is kind, understanding, wise, and fair. God I would kill to see that!
I think this was probably Dracula’s final gift Dracula did teleport him somewhere far from the kingdom but I think he saw himself in issac that feeling nd in need of the search tht set him on a better path with his wife , he honestly was doing more than just an accident gesture but a life changing priceless gift , freedom & life and the will to love & live and change
I like to think that Isaac internalize his conversations with the Captain, and came to the conclusion that he COULD teach humanity to be better. That his purpose could be so much more than wanton slaughter and destruction.
Isaac picking up Hector's Forgemaster Hammer as he says he wants to build a way to live, calling back to him telling Fly-Eyes how a hammer can be used how the user sees fit. Love it.
I think one thing that really stands out about Isaac's character development is that you could say it's all because of Dracula. Three times in his life, Dracula changed Isaac's path. He saved him from slavers. He recruited him to the war. He threw him into the transmission mirror. Everything that happened to Isaac since then has led to this renewal of love for life that Isaac has now. Ironically, you might say that Dracula's campaign of extermination has ultimately planted the seeds of a better future for the world.
Isaac is so wise and mature... I love his development in the series... Most people would not hesitate to revive the person they cared about... Look at Sir Germain... But Isaac chose to be wise and let his old master rest... This shows how much he cares and respects Dracula... And Hector is also wise by listening to him...
