In the modern age of streaming, very few shows last longer than a season or two. Netflix has developed perhaps the worst reputation for cancellation from all streaming services. While the company commissions and produces a ton of original content every year, very little of it lasts the many years that shows often got in the old days of traditional television. Of course, there are exceptions, and with the release of Castlevania: Nocturne Season 2, there is a big one.

Yes, this is only the second season of Nocturne, but if you consider it a sequel to the original Castlevania series, it's Season 6. Most sequel series are their own separate entities, but in the case of The Castlevania Team, many core members made a transition between the two shows. Original creator, showrunner and writer Warren Ellis was kicked out of the franchise between series after allegations of misconduct, and was replaced by a team that included writers Zodwa Nyoni and Temi Oh and new Nocturne showrunner Clive Bradley. However, the directors and animators at Powerhouse Animation Studios led by Adam and Samuel Dietz, composer Trevor Morris, and producers Kevin Kolde, Fred Seibert, and Adi Shankar were all on board from the start, giving the two series a lot of cohesion over their shared universe.

What's even more impressive than an animated video game adaptation getting six seasons on Netflix is ​​that every season of Castlevania has been spectacular. With Season 2 of Nocturne delivering another set of standout episodes, the show has entered some truly rare company.

It's hard to make a list of shows that have aired for at least six seasons and never dropped in quality. The sixth season of Game of Thrones was controversial, all timers like The Wire and "Breaking Bad" only ran for five seasons each, and many other popular, high-genre shows like "Supernatural," "Doctor Who" or "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," have seen major drops in quality.

Some viewers may argue that "Castlevania" fizzled out after Season 2, as Season 3 of the original show is much slower. However, I would argue that season 3 is one of the franchise's strongest pieces, as it gives all the characters time to breathe, develop and explore core themes like faith, grief, love and loneliness. The first season of Nocturne changed things up again by giving the show a slightly younger ensemble of characters, but the core of what always made Castlevania great remained intact.

Yes. If anything, Nocturne was a huge risk when it premiered, as none of the characters that fans loved from the previous series were present at all.

The most appropriate comparison might be Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. While Castlevania is a much more brutal and adult-oriented show, the Avatar franchise has a similar animated style, level of supernatural skill, and a close connection between the original and sequel series. In both cases, the majority of the creative team from the first show carried over to the second, changing the tone and structure but keeping the important things consistent.

Castlevania Season Rankings is a challenge because they are all great, but in different ways. That said, Nocturne Season 2 is near the top of that list. In my opinion, it doesn't top Season 2 of the original series, but it has a similar structure, building tension, and explosive climax.

The final two episodes of this season feature some of the best action Castlevania has ever seen. Alucard's Paris duel with Droolta and the multi-level team against Erzebeth are real feats of animation, no less impressive than Trevor's battle against death in the 4th season of "Castlevania" or the fight against Dracula in the 2nd season. the artwork - something Castlevania has always excelled at - continues to be incredibly strong. Everyone, even villains and anti-heroes, get juicy material here. Maria struggles with a devastating combination of grief and rage that nearly destroys her. Olrox struggles with his own morality, which is sometimes enriched and contradicted by his selfishness.

We still don't know if Netflix will renew Castlevania for another season, but at this point, it's an eight-year-old institution, and the streamer wouldn't be the same without it. Video games eventually transcend the present day and enter the near future, so there's tons of material available for adaptation if Nocturne ends and a third show with a new name succeeds it. Personally, I hope Castlevania lasts another six seasons, because after being this good for so long, I just want to see how far it can go.