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Dragon Age: Absolution contains more than just dragons, guts, and glory, with a plethora of references to the larger franchise, namely the games and the rich lore they are entrenched in.
9 The Blight
As part of their infiltration, the lovable, gentle giant Qwydion visits a merchant to buy magical weapons and potions to aid them in their endeavors. While the merchant seems dubious as to why all the equipment is necessary, Qwydion displays surprising cunning which seems in direct contradiction to her usual genteel nature, claiming she is arming her master for an impending Blight.
Of course, Dragon Age fans would know of the Blight from the main series, having been the focal story point of Dragon Age: Origins, and referenced in other games through idle conversations or in codex entries. The Blight is a threat Fereldians are constantly wary of ever since the first, making it the perfect lie and the perfect easter egg.
8 Sky… Something?
With Fairbank’s betrayal and death, there is upheaval in the fellowship, including the question of what to do with the artifact. Several options are present to them: take it to Orlais as Fairbanks arranged, follow Hira’s plan to take it to her mysterious contact, or as Roland suggests, take it to what is left of the Inquisition.
There are a handful of references to the Inquisition that places the events of Absolution after the third installment, and one of these is Roland’s suggestion to travel straight to their headquarters of “Sky-something” in his own words, as he cannot recall the full name. Die-hard fans will instantly know he means Skyhold, the Inquisition hub featured in Dragon Age: Inquisition.
7 The Hanged Man
As one of the possibilities of what the party could do with the artifact, Hira mentions off the cuff they could take it to Kirkwall as she has a contact within The Hanged Man, which is a nod to the famed tavern players will encounter on multiple occasions throughout Dragon Age 2.
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This is one of the few ties to the second installment, and fans would have been chomping at the bit to guess who Hira’s confidential contact is within the city, as the character with the strongest connection to The Hanged Man in the series was novelist sharpshooter Varric. However, given where in the timeline Absolution takes place it is unlikely to be him, leaving people to concoct their own predictions.
6 The Events of Inquisition
Partway through the first episode the events of Inquisition, namely the Breach and how the Herald of Andraste sealed it and defeated Corypheus, are brought up in an argument between ex-lovers Hira and Miriam.
Though it is partially an exposition dump to remind fans of events from the games and to inform those less familiar, it is cleverly woven into their dialogue as Hira tries to use it as an excuse for leaving, and Miriam counters with the fact the Herald saved the world, not Hira, and people like them never become saviors, not knowing of the future they would face in which they do become the heroes they only hear about in stories.
5 In the Words of Cassandra Pentaghast
Absolution transitions from mere references to Dragon Age: Inquisition to featuring a brief scene with two of its pivotal characters—Cassandra and Leliana, who tasked Hira and Fairbanks with recovering the Circulum Infinitus in fear of what it could do if it falls into the wrong hands.
They are not the only characters from the game to make an appearance, however, with others from across the series making brief cameos, and no doubt exciting fans with the return of some of their favorites in anime form.
4 The Traditions of Tevinter
Later in the series, viewers are given a surface look into the politics and culture of the Tevinter Imperium. During her capture, Hira reveals her father was murdered by the Venatori, despite their family being affluent.
Hira claims no one is above the morally grey law in Tevinter when it comes to the Venatori, as even the rich and influential can be made example of for interfering with slavery, which is rife and legal within Tevinter. But both she and Tassia voice distaste for the Venatori, Tassia even revealing there is some unrest among Tevinter denizens regarding the cold-blooded organization.
3 A View of Kirkwall
Viewers are treated to a look at Kirkwall in the last episode as the story takes us within its walls. The towering slave statues situated on the city’s docks are shown, perfectly replicated in the studios’ art style.
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Those who have played Dragon Age 2 will immediately recognize where the scene is transitioning to even with just a momentary glimpse, and those who have not will still feel the oppressive and chilling effect the statues have on those passing between them to gain entry, setting up a scene equally as chilling.
2 Fairbanks
Avid Dragon Age fans or fans with an impressive memory of details may recognize Fairbanks is not an original character created specifically for Absolution, but an NPC from Inquisition. Players can physically meet him if they partake in the Freeman of the Dales quest in the Emerald Graves.
In Inquisiton, Fairbanks appears to be a good-natured gentleman, offering most of his wealth to aid refugees of the war, which makes his double-agent nature in Absolution peculiar, as he is revealed to have been a traitor all along. Hopefully, with a second season hinted from the series crescendo, more about Fairbanks and his motives will come to light.
1 The Return of Meredith
The climax of the entire show itself reveals an easter egg that no delight will delight fans of Dragon Age far and wide with the confirmation Knight Commander Meredith survived the events of Dragon Age 2, but the corruption of the red lyrium has spread to surround her entire body and further poison her mind to more dangerous ideals.
Meredith orders red lyrium templars to retrieve the artifact and bring it directly to her, claiming she would have her war. This is undoubtedly setting up the events to follow if Absolution is renewed for a second season, and with the exciting revelation in mind, chances are likely fans will be seeing more in the near future.
Dragon Age: Absolution is now streaming on Netflix.
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