Dragon Age Absolution is finally out on Netflix and it shares a lot of the same DNA as the Dragon Age video games. The animated series takes place in the same world in the franchise telling a cohesive story about a band of mercenaries who attempt to steal an ancient artifact called the Circulum Infinitus in the city of Tevinter, an important location in the Dragon Age games. There are a lot of Easter eggs throughout the animated series that fans can spot that show just how connected Dragon Age Absolution is to the bigger world of Dragon Age.
The series takes place after the conclusion of Dragon Age Inquisition, but right before the events of the upcoming sequel Dragon Age Dreadwolf. So viewers can expect some references to be made from Inquisition but also set the stage for what’s to come in the next title in the franchise. There’s a lot to unpack within the six episodes of the first season as the audience gets to know each of these characters and their motivations. There are certain implications of what this band of mercenaries goes through on this journey.
Just like the games, Dragon Age Absolution takes place in the fictional world of Thedas. The series taps into the Dragon Age lore by expanding its setting to Tevinter Imperium, which is a nation located in the northern region of Thedas. At the end of Inquisition, players will remember where the game ends, so the series just picks up right after that event. The animated series also references other familiar locations like Kirkwall and Nessum, which is what viewers see at the beginning and end of the Netflix series. With Tevinter being the setting of the series, it also becomes the possibility of where Dragon Age Dreadwolf would touch base once the game starts.
The events of Inquisition are mentioned quite a lot throughout Dragon Age Absolution. The human mage character Hira is revealed to be a former member of the Inquisition and continues to fight for the good of the realm. She works alongside Fairbanks, a freedom fighter who had a minor role in Inquisition. As fans may know, the Inquisition was formed to defend Thedas from the dangers of magic and heretics. It is led by Cassandra Pentaghast, a character in the games who does make an appearance in the first episode giving Fairbanks and Hira their mission to retrieve the Circulum. There’s also some backstory regarding Hira when viewers first learn that she lost her parents during the events of the game and requests the Inquisition to help her in taking revenge but is denied to take on the task to prevent further bloodshed. It’s in this flashback scene where Leliana is spotted, another character from the games.
It is perhaps towards the end that the Crimson Knight is shown, a character who Hira mentions and is on her way to meet after the first season. What is revealed is that the Crimson Knight converses with a figure who turns out to be Meredith Stannard herself, who fans remember was the villain of Inquisition who gets vanquished by the player. Her appearance means that she somehow survived her death and her consciousness has made its way to the red lyrium. The red lyrium, it can make any user mad and crazy with power, which is perhaps what has happened with Meredith. It will be something that the next season or even the upcoming Dreadwolf could tap into down the line.
Dragon Age Absolution is now streaming on Netflix.
