Freedom was Sweeter

Warning! This article contains spoilers. Proceed at your own risk.

"Freedom was sweeter than the sugar we harvested."

— Annette when reminiscing about the slaves revolt of Saint-Domingue

Freedom was Sweeter is the third episode of the first season, and the 3rd episode overall, of the Netflix original series, Castlevania: Nocturne.

Synopsis[]

In shock after a loss, Annette shares the story of her escape from slavery and her journey from Saint-Domingue. Chaos erupts at a public gathering.

Plot[]

Deep in a dark, secluded forest filled with withered trees, several worshipers of the Devourer of Light observe as the newest cult member Vaublanc is branded as an initiate by Drolta.

As Richter sees Annette outside grieving about Edouard's death from Tera's house. He approaches Annette and claims they could have done little to retaliate because of the night creatures ambush. However, Annette still blames herself for Edouard's death. Tera and Maria approach Annette to console her. Still, Annette claims that Edouard was her family after the death of her mother.

A flashback shows Annette working in the field crops where a horseback tries to whip her, but Annette's mother protects her, pleading to the man to spare her. That night, Annette is bathed by her mother in a tub at their house, and her mother sings for her. Once Annette is dressed, Vaublanc appears from the shadows and accuses Annette's mother, Esther, of harboring secrets from him. Sniffing the place, Vaublanc knocks over a few objects in the house, revealing magic scriptures underneath them. Taking Esther outside by her throat as Annette watches in terror, Vaublanc proclaims that spells of any kind would be cast on his plantation. Vaublanc then snaps Esther's neck as Annette tearfully watches this.

In the present, Annette sings a song while casting a spell that levitates fragments of the earth around her. Richter relates to Annette's loss, stating that he understands what it's like to lose a mother. Annette states that she held her mother's lullabies in her heart and that they were ancestral calls connected to African deities beyond the plantation.

Ten years after her mother's death, Annette was dragged to the outside of Vaublanc's manor where she was to be branded, but her magical powers awoken. Vaublanc then warned Annette to run; as she did, several of Vaublanc's dogs chased her.

Eventually, Annette made it to Saint-Domingue, where Vaublanc, an associate, and some of his dogs were tracking her scent. Seeing a light from a doorway accompanied by a man singing opera. Annette headed toward it, and seeing the shadows of someone coming from the hallway, she retreated through a door and found Edouard performing in front of a live audience.

Edouard would later tell Annette that as he looked upon the audience who attended his performance, he claimed he could see the colors of their souls. Annette's was said to be pink, but she thought it was green.

As Edouard's performance continued, Vaublanc, accompanied by two of his dogs that sniffed the area, entered the theater and started barking, causing Edouard to stop. Vaublanc told Edouard that he sought his escaped slave, who was believed to be there thanks to his dogs, but seeing the scornful eyes of the audience makes him decide to wait.

Afterward, Annette hides in Edouard's room behind his silk clothing. She's found by Edouard, who allows Annette to replace her wet clothes with something else. She chooses a dress from the play The Beggar's Opera, which Edouard praises. After Annette puts the dress on, Edouard fastens a belt onto her, and they introduce themselves.

Sometime later, Edouard would assist Annette in escaping to the mountains, where she joined the Maroons, a group of freedom fighters. There, Annette learned to harness her magical power from her mentor Cécile Fatiman.

One night by a campfire, Cécile foretells a revolution in France, but their chains of suppression will not be broken. Cécile announces that they'll attack Saint-Domingue and cause it to burn. The Maroons do this, and amid the chaos, Annette and Edouard confront Vaublanc inside his room at his manor, who stands defiant to her emancipation desires. They try to attack him, but he easily outmaneuvers them and escapes by transforming into a bat and fleeing into the night sky.

Hours later, at the Maroon base, Edouard, who had his wounds treated, sang for the resistance members. Annette reported to Cécile about the failed attempt to assassinate Vaublanc. However, Cécile had a dark premonition about the Vampire Messiah, who is a greater threat than Vaublanc would ever be. Cécile details that she's across the ocean and will conquer Europe first. Hence, Annette decides to go to France, and Edouard volunteers to follow.

In the present, Annette holds an earthen bust of Edouard's head and reminisces about him, and Richter vows to avenge him.

At the Abbey, Olrox watches from the shadows as Emmanuel's right-hand man, knight Mizrak, practices his swordplay. Becoming aware of his presence, Mizrak intercepts Olrox into a wall with a knife and demands to know why he's there. Smiling, Olrox reverses his position against Mizrak and asks why the abbey was producing night creatures for the Night Messiah, citing that it contradicts his faith. However, Mizrak turns the table on Olrox and forces him against the wall again, citing his faith belief. This prompts Olrox to believe that Mizrak's faith has abandoned him, which Mizrak frees Olrox and asks that he state his name as Olrox knows his. Mizrak states that the consequences of the revolution were that those who didn't commit to the state would be executed. Olrox then warns Mizrak that Erzsebet Báthory, the Vampire Messiah, will eventually turn on their alliance, but Mizrak doesn't believe her. After a brief pause, Olrox proposes they continue their conversation at a different location, and before leaving, he states his name.

At the Vendée, Drolta sits on a sofa contacting Erzsebet, while the Messiah drank from a young woman. Drolta informs that devotees are filling the chateau. The Marquis is excited to see her, and she'll speak with the Forgemaster the next day. Erzsebet talks about the dream she had where European leaders bowed before her, and Drolta assures her that all would bow before her.

Elsewhere, Maria introduces Annette to the other revolutionaries to inspire them. Annette gives them a motivational speech, while Abbot Emmanuel gives his own. As the shrieks of night creatures are heard, Abbot Emmanuel calms the people in his church and tells them that all will be fine as God is on their side, while Mizrak stands close by.

Several night creatures surround Annette, Richter, Maria, and the other night creatures, one of which is Edouard, now a night creature. Annette, Maria, and Richter fight against the night creatures, and when Annette is endangered by one of them, Edouard kills its fellow night creature to save her, causing a winged night creature to bring him back to the abbey. A perplexed Richter wonders what has happened, but a shocked Annette claims that the night creature is Edouard. This encounter with Edouard left Annette distraught and tearful seeing her comrade had been transformed into a night creature.

Cast[]

Quotes[]

–Vaublanc: "And so many things which could hurt you, child. Snakes, witches, secrets. Do you have secrets, Esther?"

–Annette: "I could not be caged. No matter how many times they tried to take me. I was always plotting an escape. But the slave drivers; eyes were always on me. I was 16 when they tried to brand me but I was not going to be branded. I'd inherited from my father's bloodline the power of the god of war and iron, Ogun. I didn't know what was happening, but my guiding spirit heard my calls when I needed him the most."

–Vaublanc:"There will always be masters and servants. Slavery is the natural order. You can't kill us all."

–Annette: "I can kill you."

– (Drolta contacting Erzsebet)

– Erzsebet Báthory: "Is everything ready in Machecoul?"

– Drolta Tzuentes: "The Marquis is excited to meet you, and I'm meeting the Forgemaster tomorrow."

– Erzsebet Báthory: "I dreamt last night about the world we are making. The Empress of Russia, the Holy Roman Emperor, the Ottoman Sultan, the Pope, all kneeling before me, kissing my feet. (moans) It was such a beautiful dream."

– Drolta Tzuentes: "They're all going to kneel, Countess. Every single one."

– Mizrak: (Pull a knife on Olrox's neck) "Who the *** are you, and what do you want?"

– Olrox: (Pin Mizrak to the wall) "Why is your Abbot forging night creatures for the Vampire Messiah. It doesn't sit well with your faith."

– Mizrak: "What do you know about faith? Faith is a foundation. Faith is order. "When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, nor will flames consume you." Isaiah, 43:2. Faith is a companion in the hardest of times. When the world abandons you."

– Olrox: "Oh. Has the world abandoned you, Mizrak?"

– Mizrak: (Froze for a moment and put his knife away)"You know my name, tell me yours. The revolution's forcing everyone to choose sides. Clergyman who don't profess loyalty to the state are being guillotined."

– Olrox: "And you'd rather be loyal to Erzsebet Báthory? Do you have any idea who she is? What she's capable of? The moment she doesn't need you, she'll turn on you and murder you, slowly one by one.

– Mizrak: "You expect me to believe you care, vampire?"

– Olrox: "Let's do this again, somewhere more comfortable. My name is Olrox by the way."

Freedom was Sweeter

Contents

Synopsis[]

Plot[]

Cast[]

Quotes[]

Gallery[]

Concept art[]