Record of Ragnarok III | Official Trailer 3 | Netflix
Look, if you liked the loud, gladiatorial energy of the earlier seasons, this one leans into that full throttle. The premise hasn't changed - gods versus humans, one-on-one, winner takes a future - but Season 3 feels like it was built to turn those matchups into set-piece punches. Record of Ragnarok III is messy in the best way: big, brash, and designed to make you cheer and flinch in the same scene.
And the lineup is spicy. We're talking Qin Shi Huang (movies and tv series) locked in with Hades, Tesla stepping up against Beelzebub, and Leonidas squaring off with Apollo. Those pairings give the fights real personality: different styles, different stakes. Think about it this way - the show is less interested in subtlety and more about theatrical, cinematic moments that land hard.
What stood out
- Cast performances: The new and returning voices carry a lot of weight. Kaito Ishikawa (movies and tv series) as Qin Shi Huang and Miyuki Sawashiro (movies and tv series) back as Brunhilde are steady anchors. Makoto Furukawa (movies and tv series) as Tesla and Daisuke Namikawa (movies and tv series) as Beelzebub bring fresh energy - their scenes pop. I'm not sure, but some lines land even better than I expected because of the delivery.
- Music and tone: Yasuharu Takanashi's score gives the fights a pulse. The opening number from GLAY is a huge adrenaline hit - it sets the mood before a single blow is thrown. The ending theme offers a quieter, almost bittersweet counterpoint, which works nicely after the chaos.
- Production shift: With Yumeta Company × MARU animation and a new director at the helm, there's a discernible push for bolder visuals. Lots of stylized frames. Lots of flashing impact shots. Sometimes it looks gorgeous. Other times it leans too hard on 3D trickery.
What didn't quite work for me
- CGI still shows its teeth. It's better in places but inconsistent. You get breathtaking sequences, then a jarring cut back to choppy motion. Frustrating. But also kind of part of the show's charm - it's trying things, even if they don't all land.
- Pacing can feel rushed. When you're juggling mythic stakes and a parade of legends, a few scenes skim where they'd benefit from breathing room. If you like bite-sized carnage, you'll be fine. If you want character slow burns, maybe temper your expectations.
- Some of the dialogue is gloriously over the top. That can be fun. It can also make the emotional beats feel stagey. Your mileage will vary.
Still, here's what I mean when I say it's worth a watch: when the show hits, it really hits. A single fight sequence can be cinematic, inventive, and emotionally satisfying in a way that surprises you - even if the road there has rough patches. The new matchups bring actual stakes and character contrast, which keeps the tournament format from going stale.
Final take
Record of Ragnarok III | Official Trailer 3 | Netflix is loud, confident, and occasionally uneven. If you're in for spectacle, mythic showdowns, and a voice cast that sells the theatrics, you'll probably have a blast. If you need pristine, flawless animation and quiet emotional nuance every episode, this might leave you wanting. I lean toward recommending it though - because there's a kind of reckless joy here that's contagious. Watch it for the fights. Stay for the moments that surprise you.
And hey - December 10, 2025 is the drop. Mark it if you're into big, messy, mythic entertainment.
