Guilty Men to be Judged

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

"Mournful that day, when from the dust shall rise guilty men to be judged."

Guilty Men to be Judged is the sixth episode of the first season, and the 6th episode overall, of the Netflix original series, Castlevania: Nocturne.

Synopsis[]

While Richter learns about the Belmont legacy, Annette searches for the wisdom of her own ancestors. Edouard attempts to get through to a comrade.

Plot[]

One night, Drolta stands before a horse-driven wagon alongside vampire devotees and await the soon-to-arrive Erzsebet. She arrives by horseback and is respectfully greeted by Drolta and her devotees with a bow. Looking at the moon, Erzsebet notes that soon, the sun will be vanquished and the moon shall reign supreme and people will terrified when living in darkness. Noting that she's thirsty, Drolta offers Erzsebet by the presenting the daughter of the revolutionary deputy, a member of the Jacobin Club, as a gift to her countess that is wheeled to by a cage. Drolta reminisced how the Deputy begged for his life and traded to save his daughter to save his own skin. Erzsebet grasps the her neck and, before biting her neck, relishes in the young woman's despair.

Elsewhere, Richter follows his newly discovered grandfather, Juste, to the lakeside while demanding answers from him. However, Juste scorns being called "granddad" by Richter and loathed that Tera broke her side of the deal about not revealing his location to Richter. Contrarily, Richter is oblivious to what Juste is talking about, and Juste quizzically asks Richter if what he spoke is true, and he confirms it. So, Juste informs Richter that he's been watching him since he arrived in France, and Tera was paid to keep her silence about it. As for why he decided to do this, Juste admits he thought it was for the best, but Richter scorns the act and states that his mother had always said he was dead. He also gets tearful when he mentions that his mother died at the hands of Olrox.

Watching his grandson gripe, Juste walks back to his small wooden cabin, where he sits by the fireplace and is criticized by Richter for dishonoring the Belmont name. Juste admits that he was once a "hero" who had slain many vampires, most with special powers in his time. He claims that 300 years ago, their ancestor was a great sorceress which Richter knew of as Sypha and knew his entire family history thanks to his mother. However, it's noted that his mother omitted any information concerning Juste, which he found unsurprising, and claims he was once the most powerful sorcerer in their line. Promising to talk about it more outside, Juste prepares Richter and him a cup of coffee.

Waiting by the lakeside, Juste approaches him with a cup of coffee, and Richter asks him why Juste said he was once a great sorcerer. Juste explains that his grandmother Lydie and his best friend Maxim were both killed by a vampire by the name of Lord Ruthven. He explains his final moments with them and how they triggered the loss of his magical abilities. Richter mentions how Julia went to America to fight "evil", which Juste claims that evil always outnumbers them and that it doesn't matter what vampiric evil they slay, as more will be just around the corner. Juste finishes off by saying that evil will always win and then asks why Richter was there, but Richter gives no answer and tearfully sobs into his knees.

Nearby, Nikolai and three other vampires on horseback close in on Richter and Juste.

Elsewhere, Annette performs a spiritual summoning to summon Cécile and other souls of the dead. Cécile congratulates Annette for slaying Vaublanc; however, Annette mourns losing Edouard, but Cécile says that his soul hasn't been lost, which is enough to be grateful for. Annette then curses Richter for running away, but Cécile says that all do their first time. This does not convince Annette; she seeks guidance from them while citing how dangerous Erzsebet is and how inadequate her magic is against her. However, Cécile counter-argues every point Annette makes and advises her to listen to the voices of her ancestors and there is light in darkness.

Meanwhile, Edouard's singing catches the attention of a few of the night creatures, one of whom slowly begins to remember their former human lives as well.

At the inn where Olrox and Mizrak stayed, Olrox reads the forgemaster book he took from the abbey cellar. Olrox chats with Mizrak, who asks him why Richter is so afraid of him, and Olrox elaborates on his history of being for a time and then a vampire. As a vampire, he fell in love with a Mohican man from Massachusetts, to whom he transformed into a vampire. Olrox related with his lover over their passion for freedom, but Julia later killed him. Mizrak argues that Julia killed him because he was a vampire and demands to know if his transformation was consensual. Upset, Olrox proclaims that he loves the man and wants to be with him forever. Quietly, Mizrak asks if Olrox intends to do the same with him; smiling, Olrox claims that he doesn't intend to because he doesn't love him.

Finishing his song, Edouard asks one of his night creature guards if he recalls anything from his previous life. The guard recounts faint memories of his previous life involving a young girl speaking in the forest and that his name was once Jacques.

Exiting The Abbey with Templars lined up side by side, Emmanuel walks down the pathway. He's soon met by Maria, who asks if the Templars know about his misdeed about her birth. Emmanuel answers they don't, leading to an argument about the subject. Still, Emmanuel offers Maria to join him and embrace God's will, but Maria refuses.

Not too far away, Erzsebet, led on a chariot with a wagon behind her, is led down the town's streets as the vampire populous praises her as she relishes it. Mizrak and Olrox observe this from the window to their room, and Olrox reminisces about when he was human, conquistadors arrived on boats and slew millions of his people.

Tera was among the crowd, and as Drolta followed the wagon in tow, she spotted Maria finishing her chat with her father, which gave her an epiphany about their relationship. Maria rejoined her mother in the crowd, and they soon met, with the forlorn Annette reassuring her to have courage.

Back down in the cellar, Edouard asks Jacques if he is content with his current purpose, to which he answers no.

Returning to the lakeside where Richter and Juste sat, Juste asked if Julia's death was quick, and Richter answered that it wasn't. Juste blames himself, regretting not coming with her. But gives Richter a piece of advice about facing the truth about themselves, even if they don't like it, before leaving for a moment.

After Juste leaves, Richter senses the presence of several vampires, led by Nikolai, who get the upper hand on him and reveal they have Juste hostage. Once Richter is disarmed of his whip, Nikolai takes it and promises to make the Belmont Clan extinct. Nikolai also promised Richter that he'd kill Tera, Maria, and Annette. The emotional trauma of losing his mother and the thought of losing his newfound allies and family reawakens his dormant magical powers that he lost 9 years ago, and he uses them to slay the vampire lackeys, and then Nikolai, with the help of Juste, restrains him with the family whip as Richter incinerates the vampire.

As the sun rises over the horizon, Juste approaches Richter carrying his whip. Richter notes that he's regained his magical powers but doesn't know how. However, he plans on living and protecting the ones he loves. After a wisecrack remark from Richter, who pities Juste for being unable to regain his own magical power, but notes that it's because he's younger than his grandfather. Juste returns Richter's whip and supposes what Richter said was fact.

Cast[]

Quotes[]

– (Erzsebet Báthory arrives to France on her chariot)

–Drolta Tzuentes: "Welcome to France, your magnificence. Your long and tedious journey is almost over".

–Erzsebet Báthory: "My sister the Moon burns brightly tonight. She's very excited, of course. Soon we will force our father, Amun-Ra, the Sun, down on his knees to grovel in the mud for mercy. But there will be no *** mercy. I will cut off his head and suck out his brains and spit them into the dust. (groans) They've always worshiped him. My father. The *** Sun. Since they crawled out of caves, mortals have adored him, because they are afraid of the dark. Soon there will be only darkness. And terror will be all they know."

–Drolta Tzuentes: "For now though, Countess, the nights are short this far north. We still have a way to travel."

– Erzsebet Báthory: "Yes, yes. (groans) But I'm so thirsty, Drolta."

– (The cage containing a frightened Thyme is presented to her)

– Drolta Tzuentes: "Daughter of the revolutionary deputy, a member of the Jacobin Club. Lawyer. Liked the sound of his own voice. I'm told he begged for his own life rather than hers."

– Erzsebet Báthory: (Drinking the woman's blood as she whimpers in fear. Erzsebet moans) "This is much, much sweeter. Despair." (Thyme screams)

– Juste Belmont "Evil will always win, Richter. Whatever it is, evil. And it's everywhere. It will always be stronger than us. And you can kill this or that devil. A Lord Ruthven, a Dracula, maybe even an Olrox. But there'll always be more, more and worse. And they'll murder the people you love. No one around you are safe. Evil will always win."

– Mizrak: "Why was the Belmont boy so afraid of you?"

– Olrox: "I lived a long time as human and vampire. But I've only really loved once. He was from a little town in Massachusetts, if you've ever heard of that. Which in those days, was a colony. But he wasn't a colonist. He was proud to be Mohican, with roots deep in the land and forest. He burned with such passion. About the world, about how the people, "the people", that's how he talked, could win this thing called freedom. Even people like him. People whose land had been stolen, I mean. Like mine was, oh, so long ago. But he fought with them, the revolutionaries. He fought with them. He almost made me believe in it too. Then Julia Belmont killed him."

– Mizrak: "Because he was a vampire. And you did that to him. Did you even ask permission?"

– Olrox: (Quickly walk toward to Mizrak) "I was in love with him. I wanted him to be with me forever."

– Mizrak: "And is that what you have planned for me?"

– Olrox: "Of course not, Mizrak. I'm not in love with you."

- Maria: (Referring to the Knights of Saint John)" Do they know? All of them? Do they know?"

- Abbot Emmanuel: (sighs) "Of course not."

- Maria: "Ashamed to tell them, are you? Why? I mean, you're a priest, so you're supposed to keep it in your pants. But everyone knows most priests don't. Most popes don't even."

- Abbot Emmanuel: "They are dishonorable priests."

- Maria: (Chuckles) "Fathering a few brats here and there doesn't count for much compared to summoning devils from hell. Or does the Pope do that too?"

- Abbot Emmanuel: "We do whatever we have to do in the name of God."

- Maria: "It was for God, was it? That you ignored me my whole life?"

- Abbot Emmanuel: "I haven't ignored you, Maria. I know, for instance, that you're a witch. But I protected you anyway."

- Maria: "You're not seriously accusing me of black magic?"

- Abbot Emmanuel: "God moves through me, Maria. Implore you. Please, don't stand in God's way"

– Richter Belmont: (After regaining his ability to use magic) "There's something you forgot about Belmonts. Stupid of me, I'd forgotten it too."

Gallery[]

Screenshots[]

Concept art[]

Trivia[]

A symphonic rock orchestral rendition of "Divine Bloodlines" can heard around the climax of the episode when Richter unlock his ability to use his magic again to fight off Nikolai and the other vampires along with the help of his grandfather Juste.