Summary
The ending of Devil May Cry Season 2 leaves things very open for a sequel, with Dante and Vergil at cross purposes once again.
In the storied canon of brothers who don’t get along especially well, Dante and Vergil have got to be up there. If you’re a fan of Adi Shankar’s Devil May Cry – or indeed the games, while we’re on the subject – then this can only be good news, since the Season 2 finale is very much defined by the realm-spanning schism between the children of Sparda. This virtually guarantees a third season, which Episode 8, “Vexilla Regis Prodeunt Inferni” – try saying that five times fast – sets up in multiple different ways.
It’s an all-action showdown on Makai to decide who will become King of Hell and who may or may not attempt to invade Earth at some point in the not-too-distant future. It’s a lifelong sibling rivalry boiled down to its most essential essence. It’s a revenge story. And, obviously, it’s a music video. Let’s break it all down.
Argosax Doesn’t Make It
Arius and Argosax have very much occupied the Big Bad presence in Devil May Cry Season 2, so at least part of the finale is devoted to nipping that attempted coup in the bud. Dante and Vergil have made their way to Makai, trying to reclaim Sparda’s sword so that they can use it to close the rift for good.
The big showdown is really between Argosax and Mundus, not the brothers, which probably makes a bit more sense in terms of scale. Mundus is able to gain the upper hand and rip Arius, who is cocooned inside Argosax, from his host. He executes Argosax and Arius expires, reassured by the fact that, however briefly, he got to play God after all.
Mundus vs Sparda
The finale technically kicks off with a 2000-years-earlier flashback to a showdown between Mundus and Sparda. In the present day, after Argosax’s defeat, Mundus provides a bit of backstory for that epic clash.
Back in the day, Sparda was Mundus’s most loyal ally, but eventually turned on him on account of his lust for conquest. The battle at the start ended in a stalemate and led to Sparda raising the barrier between Earth and Makai.
Mundus keeps needling the brothers, especially Vergil, by getting pretty personal. He confesses to being the one who had Eva killed to prevent her human influence from getting a grip on Dante and Vergil, which is a big part of the latter’s current motivation.
Vergil and Dante Disagree
As is slightly predictable for anyone who played the games or can read the writing on the wall, Dante and Vergil have different ideas about how to proceed. Vergil is consumed by vengeance, but he’s also very much Team Makai, since he hasn’t really been swayed by humankind in the way that his brother has. When it comes to a choice between retreating and remaining behind to challenge Mundus for control of Makai, Vergil is adamant about staying.
Naturally, this leads Dante and Vergil to fight, a scuffle that Vergil wins, stabbing his brother through the chest. He throws Dante through the rift along with the gem from Sparda’s sword, so Dante can close it from the other side. Vergil remains to fight Mundus for control of Makai, with the eventual intention of leading its armies against Earth.
The ending of Devil May Cry Season 2 doesn’t clarify who wins this fight, and leaves the rivalry between the brothers very much on the table for a third season. It’s obvious from Dante’s late flashback to their childhood that he still harbours a belief that their relationship can be repaired, but I wouldn’t be so sure.
Lady’s Father Is Jester
While Lady doesn’t have much to do in the finale, we do catch up with her at the very end. She’s still trying to hunt down the man who killed her mother. The big revelation here is that it was her father, Arkham, who did that and was subsequently transformed into Jester by DARKCOM.
Jester is DARKCOM’s mole on the inside of Makai, but this more explicit link creates more tension around him and Lady just in time for Season 3. By then, Vergil may well be ready to invade Earth, bringing him back into contact with his brother one more time.
