WARNING: This review contains spoilers for The Dragon Prince Season 6.
The Dragon Prince returns with a season filled with rich character moments and new exciting lore. The series finally fives more insight into its main villain Aaravos and I must say it is a tricky one.
Viren's Redemption
The standout storyline of the season is Viren's emotional turmoil. Devastated by the realization that he has led his daughter Claudia down a path of darkness and corruption, Viren is overcome with remorse. He has also failed his son, Soren, in his quest to save Aaravos. Desperate to make things right, Viren surrenders to Katolis and is imprisoned.
While in prison, Viren pleads with Soren, but Soren rightfully refuses to forgive him. It is revealed that Viren began using dark magic to save Soren when he was a baby suffering from a severe illness. This desperate act initiated his corruption and ultimately drove his wife away. Years of darkness and corruption have clouded Viren's memory of why he started down this path in the first place. Viren's cruelty toward his son and his influence on Claudia to follow his dark path weigh heavily on him. He now remembers his original intentions and regrets everything he has done. In a heartwrenching moment, he tells Claudia, "You do anything for your children, not the other way around." Despite recognizing his mistakes, he still neglects to address Claudia, who is almost beyond saving.
Viren wants to explain to Soren why he did what he did but realizes that the truth would only burden his son. It wouldn't make Soren feel better; instead, it would make him feel terrible for being the cause of all the bloodshed and catastrophes. In this moment, Viren finally acts like a father and chooses to protect his son from further pain. And Viren finally gets his redemption by sacrificing himself to protect innocent people.
Callum and Rayla: Quest For Love
Callum and Rayla go on a quest to stop Aaravos and save Rayla's parents. This adventure, however, is as much about their personal journey as it is about their mission. Deep down, it is about Callum and Rayla coming to terms with their love for each other and learning to accept it. As they set out on their quest, the tension between their sense of duty and their love for each other becomes increasingly apparent. Callum, always the supportive partner, stands by Rayla's side, but he cannot ignore the emotional distance that her dedication to larger causes often creates. Rayla, torn between her commitment to the greater good and her feelings for Callum, struggles to find a balance.
During their journey, Rayla discovers the diary of Esmeralda, a legendary captain who once faced a similar dilemma. Esmeralda chose adventure over love and was left with a lifetime of regret. Her writings resonate deeply with Rayla, who sees a reflection of her own life in Esmeralda's story. Rayla has abandoned Callum before, prioritizing her mission over their relationship. The diary becomes a mirror that shows Rayla the potential consequences of continuing down that path. When they eventually reach to The Starscraper, we get to see that the darkness and doubt inside Callum is fixed by one big truth: his love for Rayla.
However, the journey to the Starscraper offers much more than personal revelations. It introduces the Celestial Elves. The design and aesthetics of the Celestial Elves, the Starscraper, and the surrounding heavens are nothing short of stunning and make this mystical place feel both ancient and otherworldly. The ethereal beauty and intricate details of these elements elevate the series' fairytale-like nature.
Claudia and Aaravos: "However dangerous, however vile..."
Being abandoned by her mother, brother, friends, and father, Claudia faces a profound identity crisis. Racquel Belmonte brings incredible depth and emotion to the character, you have no choice but to feel sympathy for her plight despite her terrible actions. While there is a glimpse of hope for her character when she decides to give up dark magic, it lasts until she finds her dad's body under the ruins and she falls for Aaravos's manipulations once again.
Aaravos, the master manipulator, is great at influencing not only the characters within the series but also the audience. His tragic backstory—losing his daughter, the sea of Castout being formed from his tears of a hundred years, and his prison being his daughter's carcass—paints a picture of sorrow and evokes so much sympathy for the character. I felt bad for him, but then again he didn't even give Claudia time to grief before starting to use her for his own gain. Even Terry suggests that the narrative is twisted and driven by revenge, there must be more to Aaravos's story than what is initially presented. There was a point where I thought the series nuanced portrayal of the characters would extend to Aaravos as well, but I believe we have to wait for the final season to find that out.
The penultimate season of The Dragon Prince delivers a captivating blend of emotional depth, rich character development and world-building. The series continues to make the audience empathize with almost every character by providing thoughtful backstories and compelling motivations. It's refreshing to see a narrative where characters are not portrayed as evil for the sake of being evil, but rather as complex individuals shaped by their experiences and choices.
Rating: 4/5
The Dragon Prince Season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.
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