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Review of Season 3 of “From” – The gloves come off completely in the dark new season

Netflix's Twilight of the Gods mixes Norse mythology with sex, magic, and extreme violence, striving for a mythical quest that is truly suitable for an adult audience.

“The age of the little gods must end.”

The last decade has been a goldmine for subversive stories about gods and mythological warriors, whether American Gods, Ragnarok, KAOSor even YA fare like the PercyJackson series. In addition, the animation has explored this theme in both despondent action dramas like Blood of Zeus and absurd comedies like Krapopolis. This is certainly an area in which a stylized filmmaker like Zack Snyder, who caused a sensation with his historical action epic, 300only to devote himself to increasingly fantastic themes and repeated musings on the nature of the “gods”. In this sense Twilight of the Gods it feels like Snyder has been waiting a long time for this. It's the perfect synthesis of his over-the-top sensibility, celebrating violence, mature situations, and power struggles through an abstract lens.

Twilight of the Gods is a fitting synthesis between 300 And Rebel Moon This gives Snyder a lot of room for his ideas. Snyder thrives with this “original” property as he plays with many familiar tools and tropes that have always been in his line of work. This inevitably leaves audiences wondering what Snyder would do with the popular video game IP, God of Warbefore it squirts blood in their face and tells them to keep going and enjoy the ride. Twilight of the Gods is an entertaining deconstruction of Norse legends and tales of revenge that will appeal to fans of mythology, but also to those who simply want a thrilling, hard-hitting action series with overwhelming stakes, where there is no greater victory than bathing in the blood of the enemy.

A bold, bloody journey through Norse mythology can be approached in many different ways. It can be easy to get lost in such dense lore and ideas, but Twilight of the Gods positions its narrative as a focused “man on a mission” story, albeit one that features a band of supernatural warriors searching for a sacred, god-killing weapon, the Heretic Spear. Sigrid, the daughter of giants and a warrior who has always felt like she doesn't belong, leads a deadly team and drives the story forward. Sigrid turns out to be a truly badass action heroine and one of the best and most complex characters Snyder has ever been involved in creating. Still, each character experiences a satisfying catharsis as they conquer their individual demons—both figurative and literal—and grow stronger by the end of the season. Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049, conspiracy) delivers a raw, emotional performance as Sigrid and leads an absolutely top-class ensemble, including John Noble as Loki, Rahul Kohli like Egil, Jamie Chung as Hel, and Lauren Cohan as Inge.

Twilight of the Gods makes hilarious references to classic Norse mythology, gods, and the fantasy genre while subverting expectations and rewriting the status quo. “The age of petty gods must end,” is the mantra proclaimed for the characters at the start of the series, but it is equally true for Twilight of the Gods himself. This series is about demystifying gods and revered figures. Twilight of the Gods aims not only to knock them off their pedestal, but to literally cut off their heads and turn them into cannon fodder. Twilight of the Gods seeks to plunge his world into chaos and establish a new status quo of bloodshed and tyranny. At its core, this series shows that everyone – even gods – feels fear and regret. Twilight of the Gods is grandiose in nature, but it's oddly human and humble about the universal message it preaches. It evolves into an enlightening meditation on faith, power, and the cyclical cycle of war in the universe and whether it's even possible to unhinge the future. Twilight of the Gods effectively uses the Machiavellian power play dynamics of series like Game of Thrones. Hypocritical deals are being made and alliances are constantly being formed and broken up because no one knows who can be trusted and where the interests of the respective alliances lie.

Twilight of the Godshas fun with many of the genre's established tropes at every moment, but moves through them quickly enough that it never becomes a chore. Snyder projects can occasionally drag on for too long, struggling with pacing and brevity. Fortunately, with only eight episodes, it Twilight of the Gods understands the value of less being more, and this series never becomes a boring story that drags through the telling. Each episode has a specific purpose that succeeds as a single installment, but also contributes to the larger whole of the mission that encompasses the entire season. There is also consistent action that is spread throughout the entire season. This is far from the series holding back all the good stuff until the end.

Twilight of the Gods thrives on its struggles and forward momentum, but the season's strongest episode is perhaps a more thoughtful detour that indulges in magical campfire stories that contribute to the thematic backbone of the season and are beautifully articulated Twilight of the Gods mission statement. It's a validation to realize that the few moments in the season where the characters stop to take a breath are still deeply rewarding and entertaining. It's such an effective episode that it seemingly could work as a backdoor pilot if Snyder and his production company The Stone Quarry were interested in expanding it Twilight of the Gods scope and allows the series to pick up on other iconic moments in this divine timeline. The series does a great job of fleshing out this universe, its various realms, the powerful beings that inhabit it, and the war for supremacy that is about to break out.

There is a deep plot and a spiritual journey Twilight of the Gods. However, many viewers will naturally be drawn to the series' over-the-top action sequences, where brute force, magical powers and vicious weapons collide. Twilight of the Gods features demons, deities, giants, sea monsters, magical wolves, and more. There's a welcome balance between harmless errand missions for things like magical apples and battles against apocalyptic creatures. They're truly incredible spectacles that take full advantage of the animation's limitless nature. Twilight of the Gods is also full of beautiful, lush environments that bring this fantastic adventure to life.

Jay Olivawho was a storyboard artist on many of Zack Snyder’s productions, including Man of Steelcan really flex his artistic muscles here. Oliva seemingly brings his most ambitious storyboards to life in triumphant showdowns that have the freedom to last an entire episode rather than being limited to a few minutes in a feature film. Those who are fans of the heightened action sequences of any of Snyder’s films have a lot to celebrate in Twilight of the Gods and will not be disappointed, even if they are not interested in Norse mythology. Twilight of the Gods is rich in Snyderisms throughout.

Twilight of the Gods War

The season culminates in open war, which is an extremely satisfying conclusion to a series that constantly hints at utter doom. Twilight of the Gods doesn't hold back on the violence. This is also an animated series full of sex and nudity, almost as if to prove that it's a show designed exclusively for adults. There are some incredibly over-the-top sequences where the original polyamory takes over. Twilight of the Gods can't help but show bare breasts and the female form. It feels a little unnecessary at times, but it fits the setting of the series and helps revive the idea that animation can be just as good for adults as it is for children.

Many Netflix animated series tend to have a certain routine look, which fortunately is not present in Twilight of the Gods. Xilam animationa French animation studio, creates a simple art style that still allows for complex fights and exaggerated action sequences that almost feel like Samurai Jack or Originally meets Brave. The visuals are often stunning and create a unique aesthetic that helps the series establish an original voice that stands out from its animated Netflix peers. A derivative animation style would quickly kill interest in this show. Twilight of the Gods understands this and creates something special, even if the animation is not particularly complex. It feels old-fashioned and modern at the same time, but in a way that complements the ethereal theme of the series. It is able to indulge in a stylized flair that often breaks away from the boundaries of reality through creative accents. It also doesn't hurt that Hans Zimmer takes care of the film music of the series, which often Secret weapon. It helps to develop an impressive dignity even in the quieter moments.

Twilight of the Gods is entertaining, mediocre television that will delight audiences for the moment, but won't necessarily make everyone want to travel to Vanaheim repeatedly. It's not at the same level as Blue-Eyed Samurai, Arcane, Castlevaniaor even Hildabut it holds up well with comparable offers such as Blood of Zeus, Captain LaserhawkAnd YasukeThe series tells a fulfilling and complete story in these eight episodes, but also leaves the door open for an even bigger second season if the series reaches a large enough audience. Regardless Twilight of the Gods Zack Snyder and Jay Oliva are two visionary storytellers who will hopefully continue to experiment in the medium. They are perfect for unforgiving, mature animation that isn't afraid to bare its teeth and break flesh.

“Götterdämmerung” premiered on Netflix on September 19, 2024.

3 out of 5 skulls