NDMC Sparda Character and Design Analysis
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This must be stated from the beginning: Sparda is the foundation for Devil May Cry.
However this post isn't about Sparda but Narda, a name I have given to Netflix Sparda as they are not the same character even remotely.
So let's talk about it. What is Narda's role in NDMC?
He's a plot device. Or a more accurate role he takes on is an 'unseen character'. He drives the narrative without ever being onscreen in the active plot. He is meant to be a legendary figure that the boys aspire to be.
Okay so let's go over what we do know that Narda has done. And remember folks, any knowledge you have from the games you need to throw out the door because this is it's own thing okay? I'll try to go in chronological order.
Narda was the right hand man to Nundus, the king of hell.
Narda betrayed Nundus because Nundus became increasingly paranoid or because he saw that Nundus wanted to enslave humanity and decided it was evil for Nundus to do that. Conflicting accounts by Nundus and Mary.
He then protected humanity by sealing the world's off from one another and then he stayed on the human world's side.
He has been MIA ever since sealing the two realms according to Mary (A high level government agent mind you).
At some point his sword, The Force Edge, ended up at the Vatican after he sealed the realms. No idea when in the years after the seal but it ended up in the Vatican's hands either way.
Narda had sex with NEva. He stuck around long enough for the boys to be born then disappeared.
Narda also had something to do with the amulet since it activates his sword. IDK if he gave it to NEva before he left or what because that is never explained.
He also met Lucan at some point? Don't know when or why.
Unknown: The Yamato ended up in Nundus's possession. Either before or after the betrayal. No clear answer on when but we know it was Narda's sword.
Also he probably had sex with Nundus before the betrayal. That isn't canon but Nundus's monologue in S2 E8 almost made it so.
Narda's role is also to be the one responsible for the main conflict in NDMC. His sword is a McGuffin and he himself is just something for characters to point to and trash on and they would be right to do so. The only people to really talk positively about him was Enzo, NEva, and Nundus. Of course Nante did too but it was more of parroting what he knew from his mother and Enzo.
With Enzo I wonder how much of the broader public knows about Narda given that Nante had no clue but Enzo did. Curious how Enzo learned about Narda when Mary's team was uninformed until Mary's famous monologue in Episode 2.
NEva didn't say much about Narda and just confirmed that he was a brave warrior, the bravest that ever lived and fought all the bad things so 'we' could be free.
Nundus had the most insight but again it was chalked up to how strong his knight was and how Narda did everything to protect and save Mundus from himself. And I don't know if getting compliments from the guy you supposedly betrayed is a good thing?
So does Narda succeed at his role? His role as a legendary figure who stood up to evil? Not even close. He was just some guy who decided to betray his people as a high ranking official, closed off his world to live with humans doing absolutely nothing in the mean time to the point that most ordinary people forgot he existed. He knocked up a woman, left her after the children were born and then disappeared. There is nothing he has done that is aspirational.
Do I find his story compelling? No. I don't like him. I think he's a failed character in the role he is suppose to play and quite frankly I don't believe the third season is going to fix that. In fact, the third season will undoubtedly make it worse because there is no excuse for him to leave innocent Makaian's stuck on the other side with a dictator and not try to get them out over the past 2000 years. There is no excuse to leave his wife so vulnerable with their children with nothing to protect them. There is no excuse for anything he didn't do because his FUCKING REALM SPLITTING SWORDS WERE ON THE HUMAN SIDE WITH HIM. On top of the fact that he should have access to all his power and strength because demons in this universe are not the same as in the game universe. They shouldn't get weaker as they are closed off from the demon realm and again his sword was on the side he was stuck on with the amulet pieces that activate it. So either Narda was incredibly weak in reality, proof by him not doing anything for the last 2000 years and his sons getting their asses beat constantly, or he just didn't give a fuck after he got out of Makai.
Okay well, I may hate the man but we gotta rate his fit and for this one I am doing two separate style rankings.
First off his human form is a rip off of Van Hohenheim from Fullmetal Alchemist. I like the long hair as I am a sucker for men with long hair. The fit isn't that bad and I am glad that they at least went detailed on it. This show is notorious for simplifying designs to mind numbing degrees. I do think the reason they made him look like Van Hohenheim is because of the fanart in the fandom that is inspired by the family photo in the FMA series. I really don't think Adi knows anything about the games other than through memes and fandom.
Style Ranking:
Style and Sexiness: 13/15 I'm not a fan of that style of beard but I'll give him a high score for the detail they put into his outfit.
Functionality: 3/10. Not really functional with the cape.
Originality: 2/10. He just looks like aristocrat Van Hohenheim and I am also pretty sure that his outfit is a mod in DMC5 you can put on Dante.
OVERALL: 18/35 points.
STYLE RANKING IS:
deadBEAT FATHER!
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Okay his demo- I mean Makaian form. Besides the horns being kind of too small for my liking... I kinda love it. Like don't get me wrong the DMC games Sparda is still my favorite between the two but this version ain't bad. As my mutual said in this post: (x) "Now I entirely believe Sparda's demon design was a mistake and taking away the bug motif is wrong but this shot? With stain glass wings? That's pretty. So unapologetically stylish that it ALMOST feels like DMC. Also his demon body kinda tea. They gave him a cinched waist and juicy thighs."
And no CGI on top of that! They may have massacred his character but they did do his demon design justice!
Style Ranking:
Style and Sexiness: 14/15 If his horns were bigger I would give him a full score here. But he really did slay with this look. No wonder Nundus wants him back he was eye candy.
Functionality: 10/10. Not really functional with the cape BUT they turn into wings and that my friends is functional and cool which makes this a full score.
Originality: 9/10. I can't believe I am saying this but I fucking wish the stained glass wings were in the game. This is getting one point off though for two reasons. Bug demon will always be more original, the wings are no doubt a reference to Madame Butterfly from Bayonetta and I can respect this reference because it isn't in your face and stupid.
OVERALL: 33/35 points.
STYLE RANKING IS:
SSTYLISH!
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Clarification Note: With this post over I will now address the elephant in the room. I did not compare NDMC Sparda with his game counterpart because of how different these characters are and how just changing anything about him effects all of DMC. It is something I will address in a later post but when I started this one I had fully intended to dive deep into both versions to show how bad the show fucked up. But I think just going with what the show has done and not comparing the two still gets the message across that this character is not written well in this story. I know they have one more season to build him up but I guarantee you there isn't much they can do at this point to salvage this character into the role he is meant to play with the shows logic in place.
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Important links to Mutual's Posts:
Van Hohenheim Pic (x)
Sparda's Wings opening Gif (x)
