Evanescence’s ‘Afterlife’ Music Video Sneaks in a Devil May Cry Season 2 First Look
Netflix’s Devil May Cry anime has become the epitome of early aughts edge thanks to its fittingly bold choice to infuse the soundtrack with iconic emo and nu-metal acts like Limp Bizkit, Papa Roach, and Evanescence. Now, the symbiotic relationship between the show and its music has taken on new forms because the music video for Evanescence’s latest track is giving fans a first look at what its titular demon-killing hero will look like in the show’s upcoming second season.
Scattered throughout Evanescence’s music video for “Afterlife” are glimpses of Dante’s fresh look, a fitting tease for fans eagerly awaiting the second season of Devil May Cry. The song itself left a lasting impact on the anime, earning praise for its emotional weight in the anime’s best episode and swiftly inspiring Netflix’s own AMV tribute. While Netflix’s announcement poster had already hinted at Dante’s post-timeskip appearance—subtly revealing longer hair and possibly his rightful ownership of the legendary pistols, Ebony and Ivory—the music video offers the clearest look yet. Granted, it’s through a clip projected onto a hanging blanket sheet, but as the fighting game community likes to say, we take those.
Between striking, moody atmospheric shots of frontwoman Amy Lee passionately belting out lyrics to “Afterlife” alongside her bandmates in a crimson-lit room, the music video cuts to Dante effortlessly showcasing his gunslinging prowess at a shooting range. He’s pulling off every flashy trick in the book—flipping his pistols behind his back, flashing a cocky grin as if Google Earth is always watching—while a nameless Darkcom soldier and researcher observe from the sidelines. While the music video appears not to offer much outside sneaky video game easter egg nods to Tony Redgrave—Dante’s alias— it does leave some crumbs of story details following the show’s explosive finale, which saw Dante frozen in a cryogenic chamber.
Picking up on the few clues the music video has laid out, Darkcom Uno reversed their season finale decision, ditching their plan to sideline Dante for humanity’s sake and instead reuniting with him to once again take on the fate of the world. Given that Lady is nowhere to be seen during this pivotal moment, there’s no doubt Dante will take the opportunity to serve up an all-you-can-eat buffet of “I told you so’s” once Devil May Cry’s second season arrives.
In io9’s review for Devil May Cry season 1, we said Netflix and studio Mir hit the jackpot with its new adaptation of Capcom’s hack-and-slash franchise, writing, “in eight episodes, Devil May Cry reinvents the Capcom video game series, offering an adaptation that seamlessly integrates essential elements of its established canon while introducing novel and unique aspects into the show’s DNA that are so captivating they demand a second season.”
All eight episodes of Devil May Cry are streaming on Netflix.
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