TV Show review
April 3, 2025 · TV-MA · Returning Series · Action · Sci-Fi · Animation · Fantasy · Adventure
Stream on Netflix
Based on 2 seasons, 16 episodes · through May 12, 2026
Devil May Cry is an action-adventure animated series about a handsome demon hunter named Dante. The show changes the classic story to focus heavily on a female soldier named Lady, leaving Dante as a background character for much of the plot. It also turns the evil demons into misunderstood refugees fleeing a harsh homeland. The series uses these changes to lecture viewers about immigration, war, and the jingoism of the United States government. These heavy political themes are very easy for regular viewers to notice.
Why 80%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Devil May Cry.
Woke representation / casting
The vocal casting is modern and diverse, featuring actors like Johnny Yong Bosch and Hoon Lee. However, the casting itself is professional and avoids heavy identity-driven marketing or forced diversity quotas. The diverse actors are chosen based on their experience with the franchise rather than to check off representation boxes.
10%
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue contains strong real-world political parallels. Characters like the White Rabbit and Vergil speak of low-level demons as oppressed victims of human cruelty. The dialogue critiques American interventionism and frames government actions as jingoistic. The political lectures about refugee rights and military overreach are very noticeable and feel out of place to many game fans.
48%
Identity-driven story themes
The main plot centers on a heavy metaphor about immigration and global refugee crises. Instead of being monsters, the demons are framed as victims who are hunted and mistreated by humans. The story focuses on their struggle to survive and find a safe home on Earth. This turns a simple fantasy adventure into a visible allegory for real-world identity politics.
52%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show heavily critiques Western institutions. The United States government, the US military, and the government agency DARKCOM are portrayed as corrupt, jingoistic, and comically evil. Season 1 ends with the US launching a destructive, colonizing invasion of the demon world. This is backed by a corporate billionaire and framed as a direct attack on innocent civilians.
62%
Woke character or canon changes
The show makes massive changes to classic characters. Dante is sidelined and portrayed as an incompetent extra who gets frozen at the end of Season 1. Meanwhile, Lady is reimagined as a prominent, highly competent military commander who dominates the story. Additionally, the traditionally evil demons are rewritten as sympathetic refugees, which completely changes the core moral dynamic of the lore.
65%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Anti-woke viewers and classic fans launched major online backlash against the series. Fans complained that the show pushed a "girlboss" agenda by ruining Dante to prop up Lady. They also rejected the heavy-handed refugee metaphor, accusing the creator of turning a beloved, stylish action game into preachy political propaganda.
55%
Creator track record context
The key creative team has a mild-to-moderate track record of incorporating social themes. Creator Adi Shankar has a history of championing representation and inserting political satire into his animated projects. While some of the writers have worked on identity-driven content, the animation directors and casting crew have no activist footprint.
22%
Production
