It’s been eight years since BioWare and EA released it Dragon Age: Inquisition And fans of the series were excited for the next chapter. Dragon Age: Dreddwolf On the horizon, but fans can return to Thedas in the manner of the new animated series Dragon Age: Absolution Because it hits Netflix. The six-episode series has proven to be a handy temporary solution for those fans who simply crave more stories set in the Dragon Age universe and might interest uninitiated viewers who are fans of similar properties.
Dragon Age: Absolution between Dragon Age: Inquisition And the Dragon Age: Dreddwolf. The story focuses on Miriam, a dwarf who escaped from slavery in the Tevinter Imperium and became a mercenary. Miriam must confront her past when an old friend catches up with her on one last mission from the Inquisition to the Imperium.
Dragon Age: Absolution It stands apart from games in terms of size. It doesn’t tell the kind of epic, world-shaking saga the games are known for. Instead, its structure is relatively simple and short, centering around a heist as Miriam and her party try to break into Tevinter Palace and steal a relic. It shares its ambience with the Dungeons and Dragons Adventure or fellow animated series Vox Machina legendwhich is a refreshing change of pace for the franchise.
Without those high stakes, the series relies on personal drama to fuel the story. Miriam wants to help her love interest, agent of the Inquisition Hera (Somali Montanu), but she never wants to set foot in Tevinter again. Her emotions and how those around her soothe or take advantage of her drive the conflict.
But with a story so focused on Miriam, it leaves the supporting cast without much for themselves. Miriam, Hera and Fairbanks (Matthew Mercer), the leader of the group, are caught up in a game of intrigue involving ambitious Tevinter Magister Rezarin (Josh Keaton). Orlesian mercenary Roland (Phil LaMarr), Qunari mage Quedion (Ahsley Burch), and skeptical dwarf Lachlon (Keystone John) are mostly there to fill in the fight scenes while providing the occasional comic relief and making eyes on each other. The performances are strong, and every character makes a case for further exploration, but this series leaves a lot of group potential on the table.
Visually, the series is excellent, if familiar. Action scenes involve a lot of cuts and fast action, sometimes marked by moments of slow motion to emphasize the dramatic turn. There are a few scenes where things slow down enough to appreciate the careful work put into the characters’ fighting stances and maneuvers. There’s also a fun unique to Dragon Age in seeing specific skills, spells, and items without all of the gameplay trickery. Again, The Legend of Vox Machina is an easy point of comparison, with Absolution being less slapstick and featuring more polished animation.
The biggest frustration with Absolution is that it tries to have things both ways with how it ends. BioWare forgiveness as an introduction to drydolph. It certainly is, but for that to work, the series concludes on an unresolved note. Miriam’s personal story ends somewhat, but it’s not entirely satisfying since there is only a slight tension in her arc. While there is growth, there is never any doubt in which direction it is headed. This makes sense given its past and current options, but it doesn’t offer much of a hook. Without giving too much away, the writers try to place Miriam between two other characters, but her attitudes towards these two characters never change, and so there is no ups or downs in the drama. One relationship ends as expected, and the other doesn’t end much at all.
Dragon Age: Absolution is a fun story set in Thedas that is unlikely to surprise anyone but fans will enjoy it. If you’re already interested in Absolution because it’s Dragon Age, it’s probably worth spending three hours watching as long as you understand its smaller scope and role in knowing what’s coming. Genre fans who give it a try may find themselves with a newfound interest in BioWare’s franchise.
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