Spoilers for Netflix’s Castlevania below the cut
I will preface this by saying that I absolutely have not played the video games. I understand that the show does draw from them, so maybe certain things make more sense in that context, but this is based solely on my viewing of the show itself.
Also, these are just my personal rambly feelings, so please do not take offense. You can have your own thoughts and ships.
Y’all what the fuck is going on in Castlevania. I just finished Season 2 and started Season 3 and I’m just like WHAT. How could Sypha and Trevor just abandon Alucard like that? Like, “yeah, we know you just killed your own father in your childhood bedroom and you’re probably experiencing some really intense grief and a lot of complex emotions right now, but we’re gonna just leave you in this old, empty castle full of things that remind you of your dead parents while we go off and have adventures. k Bye :)” Like, okay, maybe I can sort of accept this from Trevor because part of his thing is being emotionally damaged and unavailable, maybe he wouldn’t feel comfortable reaching out to Alucard, but I feel like Sypha should know better. It just feels out of character for her to be so completely unconcerned.
And then Sypha and Trevor just randomly start being a couple and I’m like ???????? Like it’s fine as a pairing, I don’t hate the idea of them being romantically involved, but it’s really out of the blue and also REALLY inappropriate for the circumstances. Like, hello??? Your friend Alucard is really struggling here, this is not the time to go have your fun summer romance or whatever. Also it was a little patronizing and inappropriate for Sypha to pressure Trevor into coming with her on adventures by saying “it’s good for you,” like he’s completely incapable of deciding on his own what’s good for him, but whatever, it probably is good for him, and it’s not an unforgivable offense as long as she truly meant well. (Again, though, it is extra weird that she takes such a strong interest in Trevor’s wellbeing when she’s leaving Alucard completely in the dust.)
But then Season 3 just took things to a whole new level where Alucard is literally in his house going insane and talking to dolls and the dynamic between Trevor and Sypha is...I kinda wanna say toxic heterosexuality. I hope that’s not needlessly provocative but like, it’s this very uncomfortable vibe of like, the man has to be big and stupid and emotionally unavailable and like beer, while the woman gets to be smart and right and constantly make fun of and criticize him. A little playful teasing is one thing, but it feels like Sypha takes it beyond teasing, to the point where she’s actually devaluing Trevor’s perspective and feelings (see “it’s good for you”). Alucard basically calls this out explicitly when he’s talking to the dolls. And the whole “beer is better than sex” thing...idk man, Sypha’s response felt cringey. Like, “How dare you enjoy something more than having sex with me?” ??? People are allowed to like the things they like. Also, seems like y’all been fucking like every night (quite honestly I was kind of floored to find out they were having sex, since again, I really didn’t see any chemistry between them), and he probably hasn’t had a beer in a while. There’s no need to take it personally. Yes, it’s reasonable that she might feel a little hurt, and yes, it’s okay for her to tease him, but something about it just feels immature and even a little possessive or narcissistic. It doesn’t make me love their relationship, basically.
I have a pet theory that Trevor, Sypha, and Alucard make up a carefully balanced ecosystem. All three of them take pot shots at each other, but there’s clearly a dominant tension between Trevor and Alucard that Sypha then has to mediate. Trevor and Alucard fight like cats, and Sypha breaks them up. Also, since it’s usually Alucard picking on Trevor, Sypha gets to play the hero and rescue/defend Trevor from Alucard’s attacks, which makes her feel good about herself as well as closer to Trevor.
But now that Alucard’s taken out of the mix, everything is all messed up. Alucard’s obviously a mess, but so are Trevor and Sypha. Sypha clearly feels very warmly toward Trevor, but without Alucard as an alternate target, all of her gibes and annoyance end up directed at Trevor. And maybe she discovers that her feelings toward him were more complicated than she originally thought when she rushed into this relationship.
Also like...I don’t really know what to say about what’s going on with Hector. It’s super fucked up, and no one is coming to save him.
I want to be clear that this isn’t intended as condemnation of the writing on the show. Media can and should show bad/questionable behavior, bad/complicated relationships, and tragic circumstances, especially among the protagonists. It’s how the show treats these things that matters.
And like, the point of media is to make you feel things. And boy, did these choices make me feel some things. Mostly confusion and indignation and distress, but those are valid emotions too.
I’m genuinely curious to see where this goes. I assume that Alucard finds his way back into the fray somehow. I have no idea what’s going to happen between Trevor and Sypha. I kinda want them to break up. I didn’t see any real chemistry between them before, and I’m not really seeing any now either. But who knows.
