Audiences are kept on their toes with unexpected twists, in the third installment of Netflix’s lightning-paced action-packed fantasy animated series Dragon Age: Absolution “The Serpent’s Coils.” Gripping romance, exciting danger, and a never-waning sense of fun accompany thrilling surprises that will leave you dying to find out more.
1. Action
The heist has gone awry, and the palace’s magical security alarm has summoned a horde of demons and undead to murder anyone in the hallways, friend or foe. One might be tempted to ask why anyone would consider that security, but one should resist such temptation, assume it seemed like a good idea at the time, and watch a band of plucky thieves fight, curse, and puzzle their way through an entire episode’s worth of exciting obstacles.
2. Romance
Throughout the heist escape, three very different couples each weave their own unique heartstrings-pulling thread. A huge success of Dragon Age: Absolution is its ability to build emotional investment in so many characters in so little time. Audiences come to care for each couple in their own way, with exceptional economy of screen time. Kimberly Brooks, Sumalee Montano, Phil LaMarr, Keston John, Zehra Fazal, and Josh Keaton each bring honesty, passion, and earnestness to these extremely cute relationships.
3. Fun
If only one word could describe Dragon Age: Absolution “The Serpent’s Coils” it would be “fun.” The animated flirting, fighting, and fleeing all bounce in a quick goes-down-easy rhythm. The whole cast is clearly having a great time, particularly Keston John as Lacklon the funnest grump, and no one is having more fun than Ashly Burch as the excitable Qwydion who is usually screaming and/or cursing like a sailor. There are darkly serious moments too, and the combination is its own kind of fun.
4. Surprise
Bioware, the company responsible for the Dragon Age video games and the birth of the Dragon Age franchise, is known for its own unique tropes. There will be a found family, there will be queer romance, there will be funny quips surrounding macabre themes, and there will be significant moral dilemmas. True to form, the show has all of those things, but it doesn’t feel tired or trite. The characters are new, the story is fresh, and the several invigoratingly surprising plot twists keep you alert and always guessing.
5. Design
When a satchel-full of bombs explode, they don’t create a lot of gray or brown dust or gray and brown debris from the gray stone walls and the brown wood furniture; they create big puffy clouds of bright blue, yellow, orange, and purple, flashing with bright white lightning. A saturated nocturnal backdrop sets the scene for a deeply unfair oppressive world, and the moments of glittering brightness are reminders that hope and magic exist here too.
Fans of the Dragon Age franchise and anyone who enjoys earnest geeky animated fun will find something delightful in “The Serpent’s Coils.” In it’s third installment, Dragon Age: Absolution exceeds expectations and thrives both as its own standalone work of art, and as another charming entry into the Dragon Age ouvre.
