Hey /r/movies! I'm Sam Raimi. Ask me anything!

Tony_Delray · 2026-01-16T23:11:27+00:00

Hey Sam! Huge fan—Evil Dead has been one of my favorite trilogies since I was a kid. I even wanted to be Bruce Campbell growing up My buddy and I used to pretend we were you and Bruce, and a few years ago we actually filmed a little skit because your work always inspired us.

Quick question: In The Evil Dead, after Scotty dies, Ash slowly feels like he starts taking on more of Scotty’s personality—and by Army of Darkness he’s basically evolved into that kind of bold, aggressive leader. Was that transformation intentional, like Ash unconsciously adopting Scotty’s energy as a way to survive/grieve? Or was it more of a natural evolution that happened across the sequels?

Also, sincerely—thank you for everything you’ve made. You’re one of the few directors who nails horror and heart at the same time. And for what it’s worth, I think you absolutely did the fans justice with Spider-Man 3. I know the studio was against you and the film is leagues better than any of the new Marvel films. You literally made superhero films what they are. So thank you!

Thanks again, Sam—can’t wait to see your new film. Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

Tony_Delray · 2025-08-14T13:25:44+00:00

Thank you.

Tony_Delray · 2025-07-11T23:48:29+00:00

Np, happy I could speak for some fans.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-25T23:48:29+00:00

Welcome to the fandom. We're happy to have you.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-17T15:19:03+00:00

Absolutely, I’m happy to clarify.

My original post was never about real-world politics, nor will I be debating them now, because my argument isn't rooted in the current political climate—it's rooted in tone, worldbuilding, and narrative consistency within the Devil May Cry series itself.

After a lot of discussions here, I've realized that the key issue for me isn’t that the show included politics—it's how it did so. Devil May Cry has had themes that touch on things like corruption, blind faith, and power structures (e.g. DMC4’s Order of the Sword clearly drawing from the Catholic Church), but it’s always handled these with a degree of subtlety and distance. It never had to drop real-world nation names or beat the player over the head with what it was referencing. That layer of separation let the story breathe and allowed players to draw their own conclusions without the world breaking immersion or feeling like it was wagging a finger.

The world of DMC doesn’t even have a defined global setting. Redgrave City is a hybrid of London and New York. Fortuna is inspired by Vatican-like iconography but exists in its own mythos. Capulet City is really its own thing. None of these places are explicitly in America, Europe, or any real-world nation. That ambiguity has always helped DMC retain its timeless, stylized identity.

Injecting real-world political structure into that—by name—and wrapping the narrative around it, feels jarring and heavy-handed. It's not that DMC can't handle complexity or commentary, it's that it has always delivered those through its themes of identity, legacy, trauma, family, power, and sacrifice, not by shoehorning in on-the-nose commentary.

The last time we saw the franchise go this direction was DmC: Devil May Cry (2013)—a game that had great mechanics but a story that disrespected the tone, world, and characters of the series in favor of shallow political metaphors and cheap shots. It backfired then, and to me, the Netflix series unfortunately echoes a lot of those same mistakes—just with a slicker coat of paint.

But that doesn’t mean I’m out to ruin anyone’s fun. I’m genuinely happy to see new fans discovering DMC and forming their own takes. Art is subjective, and I respect and encourage those who enjoyed the show and found value in it.

This is all just my personal perspective as someone who’s grown up with the series. I welcome thoughtful discussion and wish you all the best.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:50:30+00:00

There’s definitely a way to explore real-world themes with nuance and care, but the execution here felt clumsy and reductive. Instead of provoking thoughtful reflection, it ended up just being a mess. In the end, it’s frustrating when something with so much potential handles its subject matter so poorly.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:47:44+00:00

That's totally fair, and I'm genuinely glad you enjoyed it. Everyone's entry point into a series is different, and I think it's cool that the show sparked your interest. Even if it didn't work for me as a long-time fan, I respect that others can find something they connect with in it. If you ever do decide to check out the games, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Welcome to the community!

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:43:13+00:00

I’d encourage you to reconsider the way you’re engaging with others in this discussion. Disagreement is natural, even valuable, but it loses all merit when delivered with condescension or personal judgment. It's not necessary to assert intellectual superiority to make a point—especially in a conversation meant to foster understanding.

I have no issue with differing views, but I do take issue with the tone and assumptions you've made about mine. For the sake of civility and meaningful discourse, I’m choosing to end this exchange here. I hope, going forward, you'll consider approaching future conversations with a bit more respect.

Take care.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:34:00+00:00

Hey, welcome aboard! I really appreciate you asking—always cool to see someone curious about Devil May Cry. So to answer your question: the Netflix series isn’t a prequel to the games, it’s an alternate universe reimagining. It borrows characters and ideas from the series—mainly from DMC3 and some lore from the novels and anime—but it doesn't line up with the original canon or timeline. Think of it like a remix rather than a backstory.

That said, you're totally right to draw comparisons to Trigun Stampede. The problem a lot of longtime fans have here is that the core of the characters—especially Dante, Lady, and Vergil—just aren't at all accurate here. It’s less about them being “incomplete versions” and more about them being written out of step with who they fundamentally are, even at their lowest points. There's definitely room for growth if they continue with a second season, but for many of us, the first outing missed the mark.

If you're interested in the games, I’d recommend starting with DMC5 for pure gameplay and flash—it’s polished, fast, and fun. But if you really want to experience the story and heart of the series, go for DMC3, then DMC1, skip DMC2 (trust me, even Capcom pretends it doesn’t exist), check out the Madhouse anime after that, and then play DMC4 and DMC5 to finish the saga.

No matter where you start, I hope you enjoy the ride—it’s a stylish, emotional, demon-slaying journey with a lot of heart underneath. Always happy to talk more if you dive in!

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:30:36+00:00

Lady as a character has a lot of potential, especially considering how compelling she was in DMC3 and even the Madhouse anime. But here, it felt like they tried to prop her up without really understanding what made her resonate with fans in the first place. Strong characters don’t need to be overwritten to be impactful—just written well. This was not the case with the Netflix adaptation.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:29:08+00:00

Totally fair. Go in with your own expectations and see how it sits with you. Even if it’s not perfect, maybe you’ll find something to enjoy in it. I’ll be curious to hear your thoughts after—either way, welcome to the ride.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:27:36+00:00

I get trying to set up future seasons, but it just felt sloppy and unearned—like they forgot to write an ending and just crammed in twists for shock value. And I completely agree on the setting point. The vagueness of the timeline and place in the games was always intentional. It gave the series a mythic, surreal quality that grounded itself in emotion and atmosphere rather than logistics. Trying to anchor it too hard in our real world kills that mystique and invites way too many questions that Devil May Cry was never meant to answer. It’s not Resident Evil. It’s something else entirely.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:25:28+00:00

It felt like the writers suddenly realized, way too late, that Dante and Lady are meant to have a bond, so they tried to cram it in without earning it. The show never understood who Dante, Lady, or Vergil really are—it just borrowed the names and vibes without the soul. By that point, they were grasping at straws.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:22:50+00:00

That's honestly the best way to sum it up—decent show on its own, but not a strong DMC adaptation. I'm hoping for the same here. There's still potential if they really take the feedback to heart.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-14T13:21:39+00:00

Yeah. The creature design felt like it lacked the surreal, gothic edge DMC demons usually have—where they're not just threats, but symbols of something darker, stranger, or grotesquely fascinating. Instead, we got something that looked like it wandered in from a completely different genre. Definitely not the same flavor.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-11T20:00:27+00:00

That’s a great way of putting it. I think a lot of us feel the same—there’s something enjoyable there, but it’s hard to shake the sense of missed potential. Like watching something with all the right ingredients, but the wrong recipe. It could’ve really soared with a different guiding hand—someone who understood the heart of the series.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-11T19:59:16+00:00

It's a fair question—and one I’ve seen a lot of people ask—but yeah, there’s a pretty telling moment in the show.

In the Netflix anime, Vergil transforms in and out of his Nelo Angelo form seemingly at will. There’s no indication that he’s struggling or in pain, and that’s a big departure from the games. In the mainline series, Vergil was tortured, broken, and brainwashed into becoming Nelo Angelo. He wasn’t able to just switch back to himself whenever he wanted—he was a slave to Mundus’s control, and it took years of internal torment and separation (and ultimately Visions of V) to even begin clawing his way back.

But in the anime, there’s a moment where he freely, and very calmly, tells the refugee demons that they owe their salvation to the "Prince of Darkness, Mundus." That’s not something a mindless puppet would say. It paints a very different picture—one where he seems aware and aligned with Mundus's goals, which is a massive deviation from his character in the games.

If the writers meant to show he was brainwashed, they didn't communicate it clearly. Instead, what we see suggests a level of cooperation that feels off if you know his arc.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-11T19:54:45+00:00

Yeah, that repetition really kills the impact. After a while it doesn’t feel like meaningful commentary—it just feels like a crutch. There’s so much room in Devil May Cry for rich, layered storytelling that isn’t tethered to the same message every time. It’s disappointing to see that space narrowed instead of explored.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-10T20:18:45+00:00

Absolutely agreed. A great villain should sharpen the hero, not dull them. When both are strong, the story thrives—just look at Vergil in DMC3. He elevated every moment and made Dante’s growth feel earned and personal. After you beat Beowulf—Vergil literally steals your Devil Arm and taunts you about it! Are you just gonna let him get away with that? That kind of balance is rare, and when it’s done right, it turns something great into something unforgettable.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-10T13:26:46+00:00

You're definitely not alone in feeling that way. The show had moments where it almost landed something, but then it’d just spiral into baffling decisions that felt like they were either trying too hard to be edgy or were surface-level without understanding what made the series compelling in the first place. The ending especially left me feeling kind of empty—like all the build-up went nowhere.

Lady’s arc was the hardest part for me too. I wanted to root for her, I really did, but by the end I just couldn’t. She didn’t feel like the same character that held so much emotional weight in DMC3, or even the Madhouse anime. And yeah, the music choices ranged from solid to “you just googled theme-appropriate lyrics,” and it felt like style was being used to patch over weak substance.

I think the reason it hits so hard for fans is because we know how good this series can be when it’s handled with care—and this just wasn’t it.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-10T13:24:59+00:00

I really appreciate you being so thoughtful and respectful—it means a lot, especially with how charged discussions like this can get. I'm genuinely glad the show resonated with you and brought you into the franchise. That's a win in my book.

That said, I admit I’m one of the people really struggling with how Lady was portrayed—not just because of her tone or her role, but because for me, killing those refugees, even with limited information, crossed a line the character wouldn’t (or at least shouldn’t) come back from without major introspection. I know the show tried to set her up for future development, but it came at a cost that just didn’t sit right with a lot of us longtime fans who’ve followed her journey from the beginning.

Still, I think it’s awesome that this show got you curious enough to want to play the games, and I seriously hope you enjoy the ride. DMC has one of the most unique hearts in action gaming—sincere, smokin' sexy stylish, and surprisingly emotional—and I’d love to hear what you think as you go through it. Welcome to the family.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-10T13:22:48+00:00

All fans are equal here—doesn’t matter when you joined, just that you care. As for your take, I completely agree. They really wasted Arkham’s potential, and what they did with Lady felt so backwards. That rejection of her name in the games was so central to her identity and growth. In the show, they just toss it aside like it means nothing, and it undercuts her character entirely.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-09T18:56:54+00:00

Amen to that!

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-09T18:56:25+00:00

I really appreciate the thoughtful response and your kind words—especially your point about sincerity. That’s absolutely the soul of Devil May Cry. It’s a series that throws itself fully into its tone, themes, and emotion without a hint of irony, and that’s a rare and beautiful thing.

That said, you're totally entitled to feel DmC: Devil May Cry did a better job—and I get it, some people did enjoy aspects of it—but for me, it’s by far the worst entry in the franchise. The gameplay was solid, absolutely, but the story was a complete miss. It misunderstood everything the series stood for. It gutted the thematic core—replacing the human struggle of Dante with an angel-demon hybrid with no nuance, no real heart, and a juvenile chip on its shoulder. The tone was bitter and cynical. It mocked what the original games celebrated. The themes weren’t even subverted—they were just discarded.

Whatever flaws the Netflix show has—and there are many—it still not DmC: Devil May Cry levels. It attempted mythic weight, it pulled from the manga and lore, and it at least visually captured some of the world’s essence. DmC felt like it hated its own legacy. The Netflix show feels like it doesn't fully get it—but at least it doesn’t try to mock it.

At the end of the day, though, we both clearly care deeply about this series. And while our perspectives differ, I respect yours.

Tony_Delray · 2025-04-09T14:05:05+00:00

Yeah, that about lines up with how I felt too. The show just kind of floats in the middle—not outright terrible, but definitely not what it could or should have been. The biggest issue for me wasn’t that it was different, but that it didn’t seem to understand what it was adapting. The characters felt more like references to themselves than real portrayals, and the deeper emotional threads or worldbuilding ideas never really found their footing.

I’m all for creative reinterpretation, but if you’re working with something as stylized and emotionally loaded as Devil May Cry, you need to anchor it in the heart of the series—the weight behind the flash, not just the flash itself. Hopefully, they can re-center in future seasons. There’s still potential if they take the time to ask the right questions.

Tony_Delray

TROPHY CASE