5 reasons you need to watch Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia on Netflix

The third and final season of Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia is streaming on Netflix, so this is the perfect chance to catch up with the Emmy award-winning original series.

Created by Guillermo del Toro and DreamWorks Animation, Trollhunters takes the audience on a fantastical adventure. A teenager by the name of Jim Lake Jr. discovers a magical amulet and gets swept into a hidden realm inhabited by trolls and other magical creatures.

If that doesn’t sound enticing enough, here are five reasons to start watching.

Not just another Merlin story

Chosen by a magical amulet that comes with a wicked suit of armor and an enormous responsibility, Jim activates the mysterious device by reciting an oath, “For the glory of Merlin, daylight is mine to command.” Merlin is one of the roots of the story, having created the amulet to help the trolls defeat a main antagonist of the series, Gunmar the Black.

While the story of Merlin has been retold a thousand times over, Trollhunters takes what it needs here and there to build its own rich mythology and history. A history that has a way of coming back to haunt Jim and his friends, since Gunmar is not the only centuries-old bad guy in town.

Every season, the main characters face a new evil and each challenge comes with life-altering consequences.

Incredible world building and design

Guillermo del Toro is known for his vivid imagination and putting together intricate and immersive stories, so Trollhunters naturally includes elaborate world building. You’re tossed into a colorful world filled with troll lore and history. Nothing feels like an afterthought or something that’s been tacked on. Instead, everything feels authentic and rich in detail.

Not just that, but Trollhunters is aesthetically pleasing. It is praised by the fans for having exceptional character design and animation both of which look just as impressive as any big-budget animated film.

Characters have a direction

Each character has a distinct personality and approach, so the audience can easily identify with one character or another.

Jim is the protective one, Toby Domzalski is the comedic best friend, Claire Nuñez is both smart and determined, Blinkous Galadrigal is scholarly and eccentric, and Aarghaumont (also known as “AAARRRGGHH”!!!) is gentle and loyal.

Most importantly, the show never loses sight of its characters’ journeys and the relationships that define them. There’s also a sense of satisfaction upon reaching the end of the series and knowing that all of the characters have grown into more complex and compelling individuals.

Doesn’t hold back

The creators don’t shy away from taking the show to unexpected and intense places. It has plenty of lighthearted and humorous moments, but there are also dark and serious themes that aren’t commonly present in other animated shows.

With each season, the stakes feel more real and add more depth to the story so much so that you’ll find yourself on the edge of your seat, desperately wanting the next episode to find out what will happen next. Some of the major events of the series will even stir up strong emotions and bring you to tears.

Sister shows incoming

Trollhunters is just the tip of the iceberg. The series is actually the first chapter of a trilogy of shows envisioned by del Toro, so there’s no doubt that the next couple of years will bring more amazing content.

The second part of the trilogy, entitled 3Below, will continue as a science fiction story starring Diego Luna as Krel and Tatiana Maslany as Aja. These two aliens crash-land on Arcadia and have to blend in with society in order to avoid being captured by intergalactic bounty hunters. Their first kooky appearance happens in the third season of Trollhunters.

The trilogy will then end with Wizards, a fantasy series that will bring trolls, aliens, and wizards together in what will inevitably be an epic conclusion to the franchise.

If you’ve been craving quality storytelling, then don’t hesitate to add this beloved series to your must-watch list and watch the first 6 minutes from DreamWorks TV: