Summary
Capcom startedDevil May Cryas an attempt to make a newResident Evilgame, but over time, it became its own thing and was eventually released on the PS2 in 2001. The series has been sporadic in its releases, but it has successfully gathered a following, let alone start a new kind of action genre. It only made sense forNetflix to try their hand at adapting it, seeing as how they did a good job withCastlevaniathrough multiple seasons.
And becauseDevil May Cryis over two decades old, Netflix had a lot of lore to call back on in this first season. Let’s go through some of the bigger Easter Eggs.
This list contains spoilers for the Devil May Cry games and anime adaptation.
7"Jackpot!"
Dante’s Signature Move
One of the first Easter Eggs fans will spot happens when Dante first appears in episode one. When he’s slaying the three skeleton-like demons, with his final shot he says,“Jackpot” which is a move and catchphrase he says in theDevil May Crygames. He even engraved the word “Jackpot” on his bullet, which begs the question of where he gets that work done.
Dante says it a few more times early on in season one, like when he mistakingly traps himself inside a Darkcom truck. The best callback to “Jackpot” though is when Lady says it in the final episode as she strikes the center of White Rabbit’s chest. Capcom games and media sure do love big glowing weak points on their boss monsters.
6Dante’s Dance Moves
A Tribute To The King Of Pop
It has been a long time sinceDevil May Cry 5, as that game launched in 2019. In the final version ofDevil May Cry 5, players can assume the role of Nero, Dante, and a new character named V. In the lead-up to the game’s release, there was a memorable trailer that showed Dante wearing a hat and dancing like Michael Jackson, which is a move he could perform in the final game too.
That dancing move is paid homage to in Netflix’s anime adaptation, which is different because Dante is playing a dance game on his TV. It looks likeDance Dance Revolution, which is a Konami game and not a Capcom franchise, unlike other references in season one. It just goes to show that this version of Dante loves all types of games, no matter the developer or publisher.
5Ryu Vs M. Bison
Dante Loved Arcade Games
Dante’s hideout is in some rundown building that barely looks like it has any power in it, let alone heat. His office is filled with arcade cabinets beyond his TV and dance pad setup. As he’s fighting the mercenaries in episode two, one of the goons bumps into a cabinet, which turns it on.
On the screen,Ken fromStreet Fighter 2can be seen performing his signature Shoryuken on M. Bison before winning the match. Ken is dressed in his typical red uniform, but strangely, M. Bison has a darker variant on his suit, like green or black instead of his usual red outfit. Why this is the case isn’t known, but either way, it’s a good reference to another Capcom classic franchise.
4The Mega Man Statue
That’s a Cool Amiibo Darkcom Driver
When Dante gets captured by Darkcom in episode two, the scene continues into episode three with Lady’s team hauling him and Enzo away. On the driver’s dashboard, a figure of Mega Man can be seen in his classic art style and not the X version. The statue looks a bit like the Amiibo that GameStop got an exclusive of whenMega Man 11launched in 2018.
There has not been a newMega Mangamesince then, but there have been collections to tide fans over, like Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection in 2023. When will the next game come out, if ever? Fans are patiently waiting, but either way, this was a cute Easter Egg that was gone in a flash, just like Mega Man’s ability to teleport after a job well done.
3Operation Raccoon City
Will Dante Meet Leon?
There’s another fun reference in this truck scene that should have been obvious toResident Evilfans. Dante and Enzo are discussing past jobs, and Enzo brings up Raccoon City, which is the city all of the main characters are from and it’s also the setting of many of the games. Players first get to explore Raccoon City inResident Evil 2, which was split betweenLeon S. Kennedyand Claire Redfield.
Did Dante go in to help Leon, Claire, or any of the other familiar characters from the franchise? What exactly was his job, and will Netflix ever get to make an anime based onResident Evilto tie intoDevil May Cry? Suffice it to say, fans would be hyped if that happened, but Netflix already did get one attempt atResident Evil, which was not picked up for season two, so signs point to unlikely.
2Lucia
Justice For Devil May Cry 2
Devil May Cry 2is the most divisive game in the franchise, despite having some good scores back in the day and a moderate Metacritic score now. It’s by no means terrible, but it was not the sequel some fans hoped for, as if Dante was a whole new character. Besides Dante, players could play as newcomer Lucia.
Lucia only appeared inDevil May Cry 2,but she was mentioned in a tie-in novel,Devil May Cry 5: Before the Nightmare. She’s now made a third appearance via this Netflix adaptation in episode one, when all of the mercenaries are rounding up demon hunters. She has no lines, which is a shame and disrespectful.
1Themes Of The War On Terror
Good Old Red And Blue
One of the biggest Easter Eggs requires a bit of historical knowledge for those who grew up in the 2000s in the U.S. In 2001, George W. Bush was elected as the 41st President of the United States alongside his Vice President, Dick Cheney. For many years, Bush was also the Governor of Texas and established that southern twang in his voice. The President modeled in season one ofDevil May Cry, President Hopper, could be a reference to Bush what with his giant cowboy hat.
Not only that, but his VP, William Baines, seems like he has all the power, and it was a joke for many years that Cheney was secretly running the country from late-night talk shows to parodies onSaturday Night Live. Beyond that, red and blue are a thematic part of season one between Dante’s red outfit, how the sky goes from red to blue in the final episode, Darkcom’s blue uniforms, the red and blue crystals, and so on. It’s like the American flag, and the white could be Dante’s and Vergil’s hair color. Overall, this first season could be a thematic retelling of the U.S.’s war on terror following the 9/11 incident, except that terrorists have now been replaced by demons. It’s also worth noting thatDevil May Crywas released in North America a month after 9/11.
