Synopsis

After a heist to steal the Circulum Infinitus – an artifact fueled by blood magic – goes wrong, the mercenaries tasked with acquiring the artifact deal with the fallout.^[1][2][3]

Setting

The series is set in Thedas, a fictional world created for BioWare's video game series Dragon Age. The story will focus on characters within the Tevinter Imperium^[4] – a nation in the northern region of Thedas, which once subjugated southern Thedas during ancient times, and is governed by a powerful oligarchy of magic-wielding magisters led by an Imperial Archon.^[5][6][7] The Imperium is known for its strict caste system, which includes slavery. It is also known for its mages who practice sacrificial and forbidden blood magic.^[4][6][7]

Chronologically, Absolution takes place after the conclusion of Dragon Age: Inquisition, as characters make reference to events in that game, but before the events of the upcoming video game Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.^[8][9]

Production

Dragon Age: Absolution, an animated series set within BioWare's Dragon Age fictional universe, was announced at Netflix's June 2022 Geeked Week event. It was also announced that the show would be produced by Canadian company BioWare and Korean animation studio Red Dog Culture House and helmed by showrunner Mairghread Scott.^[10][11][12]

Pre-release

Ash Parrish, for The Verge after the release of the trailer in November 2022, was optimistic about the quality animation and voice acting but was also curious about how the series might relate to the upcoming Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. Parrish highlighted that BioWare has done several series based on their various video game franchises, such as Dragon Age: Dawn of the Seeker and Dragon Age: Redemption, which feature characters who later appear in the corresponding video game series. She speculated that a character from the series could appear in some form in the forthcoming game as either a companion or an NPC, highlighting Miriam as a possibility for her narrative as a former elven slave.^[15]

Sisi Jiang, for Kotaku, commented that based on Cassandra Pentaghast's appearance in the trailer, they assume that Dragon Age: Absolution occurs after the video game Dragon Age: Inquisition. Jiang noted BioWare's prior incorporation of spin-off elements into Inquisition side quests, and thought the same could happen for Dragon Age: Dreadwolf.^[4]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of 12 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.40/10.^[16]

Petrana Radulovic, for Polygon, commented that focus on characters is part of what makes the Dragon Age video game series "compelling"; likewise, the characters of this animated show jump "off the screen with stellar animation and superb voice acting" and that "while the characters are individually delightful, it's their relationships with one another that seal the deal".^[17] Radulovic called the show an "accessible [...] way into the franchise, teasing what makes it special without changing too much".^[17] However, she also commented on the short run of episodes and the "limited framework" the show has to work in to not make "assumptions" on player choices in previous games.^[17]

Alana Joli Abbott, for Paste, rated Absolution a 9.5/10 and stated that fans of the Dragon Age video game series will enjoy the "trip back to Thedas" while waiting for Dreadwolf; Abbott felt that newcomers who are "fans of adult narrative cartoons and fantasy" would also find "plenty" to enjoy in this show.^[18] Abbott highlighted the narratives featuring "LGBTQ romances and characters" as a particular draw to the show – she wrote that "the chemistry between Roland and Lacklon [...] is particularly well developed".^[18] Abbott also highlighted Qwydion who acts as "comic relief without ever undermining her character" and called Miriam "a compelling lead".^[18] She commented that Absolution has "vibes that mix" shows such as Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005), Carmen Sandiego (2019), and The Legend of Vox Machina (2022) and that the show "uses what's best in both fantasy and heist stories to create a compelling and character driven narrative".^[18]

Rafael Motamayor, for /Film, called the show "a hoot" and "a true gift to fans of the games" even though it wasn't as accessible for newcomers – he wrote that "it recreates the experience of playing an RPG, from the many kinds of romances, to the action almost feeling like it's turn-based, with a main party composed of your archetypical RPG classes".^[19] He commented that the heist story has an Ocean's Eleven (2001) feel and that the comedy seems similar in tone to Critical Role. Motamayor highlighted the kinetic animation by Red Dog Culture House with "dynamic fight choreography and camera work that feels distinct" from other animated shows such as Castlevania (2017) and The Legend of Vox Machina (2022).^[19]

Alyssa Mora, for IGN, stated that the show is a "memorable installment in the fantasy franchise" with an "excellent" cast and "compelling story beats"; she rated it a 7/10.^[20] However, Mora felt Absolution was "inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the series" unlike other animated adaptations such as Arcane (2021) and The Legend of Vox Machina (2022).^[20] Mora also commented on the limited time the show has which leaves "little room to breathe" as the characters go through their mission and that the relationship development between characters feels "fast-forwarded" – she wrote that "it only speaks to the strength of the writing that we're left wanting to see so much more".^[20]

Lauren Morton, for PC Gamer, also felt the show was inaccessible and in a rush as "Absolution just doesn't have enough time for its entire ensemble cast. It barely has enough time to string along its central plot, let alone three romantic relationships and a handful of flashbacks in less time than Robert Pattinson spent on screen as Batman this year".^[21] Morton commented that the Dragon Age video game series hinges on its characters and with fewer characters, any character in Absolution could have been "a new fan favorite".^[21] She did not feel the show was memorable which was "a real shame" especially as "Dragon Age spinoffs have historically been great".^[21]