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EP. REVIEW: Arifureta - From Commonplace to World's Strongest Season 2


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FilthyCasual



Joined: 01 Jun 2015
Posts: 2370
PostPosted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:32 pm Reply with quote
Enjoyable popcorn with entertaining interactions and reasonably drawn, if not particularly dynamic, combat.

I'm glad to have Arifureta back looking better than ever.
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Yttrbio



Joined: 09 Jun 2011
Posts: 3670
PostPosted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 8:44 pm Reply with quote
I don't know if there's a version of these fights that's engaging, but even the characters seem bored with the idea. I'm generally pretty "done" with anime fighting as it is, but this show's feels especially perfunctory. No passion, no stakes, no creativity. They really brought out the level of excitement "I guess I have to go farm 100 lava snakes at Hot Mountain for this quest" or "I wonder what it looks like when I use this new weapon" triggers when you encounter it in an MMO. Digging a hole came across as more interesting.

I stick around for the slightly-pointy banter, though, and hey, maybe what I assume is some kind of Angel Beam heralds something a bit more gripping.
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TarsTarkas



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 5928
Location: Virginia, United States
PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 3:46 am Reply with quote
As a fan of the franchise, the anime will still be a must watch for me, no matter how bad it could get.

My main concern is how the second season will handle the content, that was skipped over in the first season. Since the first season was nothing more than a travelogue.

spoiler[They glossed over Verbergen and skipped the encounters with the Hoelscher Empire.] It would be a shame if they excised these from the anime, since spoiler[ the blood bath in the Empire was a glorious moment in the light novel]
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Cryten



Joined: 19 Jan 2019
Posts: 1136
PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 6:13 am Reply with quote
Well I cant get as much fun dunking on the series anymore, since its actually competent now even if it doesnt stand out. Actually from the preview I thought it might be a bunch of stills again but we are normally getting at least a few frames of swinging a weapon animation now. Its a plus!

Though without it being atrocious it feels a bit more average now. Perhaps that is because we have had a few more of the chuni style wacky leads in the last 2 years. Like Kemono Michi, Combatants will be dispatched and quite a few I rule out as close to chuni but not overtly such as Reincarnated as a Spider and Fruit of Evolution.

For ep 2, I dont believe for a single second that Hajime could be threatened. More likely the old staple of getting his reward stolen to try and create a credible threat. Though I think the series would more likely go for just overwhelming a foe who thinks he's got him on the hop.
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borisdrakoni



Joined: 27 Apr 2019
Posts: 51
PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:17 am Reply with quote
TarsTarkas wrote:
As a fan of the franchise, the anime will still be a must watch for me, no matter how bad it could get.

My main concern is how the second season will handle the content, that was skipped over in the first season. Since the first season was nothing more than a travelogue.

spoiler[They glossed over Verbergen and skipped the encounters with the Hoelscher Empire.] It would be a shame if they excised these from the anime, since spoiler[ the blood bath in the Empire was a glorious moment in the light novel]

There's always the possibility that this season won't get to the part in the story where the skipped content from season 1 becomes relevant. The pacing so far has been fairly steady, and with only 12 aired episodes listed volume 6 would probably be a better stopping point. As far as the spoiler[Empire] is concerned, I wouldn't be too surprised if at least spoiler[Gahard] was retroactively introduced here in the next couple of episodes when the story checks in on the Hero party side since spoiler[they don't have much to do for awhile].

So far, I've been enjoying the second season. Though far from top tier, the animation quality is noticeably improved, and the writing doesn't seem to be in as big of a hurry as season 1 to speed run through the content. The new opening and ending themes are quite good, and Ryou Takahashi's work on the bgms is as on point as always. Of course, the return of the weekly Twitter shorts are also a welcome injection of comedy into the story. We'll have to see where things go, but from the first two episodes at least there's plenty of room for some cautious optimism.
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sadoldguy



Joined: 01 Aug 2009
Posts: 68
PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:07 am Reply with quote
"Make out" session, right. I tolerate the light novel and manga enough but never watched the first season, so my impression is that they upped the edgelord aspects but toned down the sex and violence.
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Picky33



Joined: 09 Jul 2021
Posts: 270
PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 4:34 pm Reply with quote
After how long it's been since the first season i was surprised to get another. I really enjoyed the first season. my only worry with the first episode is they haven't done any explaining so anyone who never read the LN, Manga, Watched the first season won't have any good understandings of what's going on.

Looking at the first episode without any context it's hard to follow along. Hopefully that improves in subsequent episodes (only watched the first so far).
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TarsTarkas



Joined: 20 Dec 2007
Posts: 5928
Location: Virginia, United States
PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2022 1:42 am Reply with quote
I watched the first two episodes, so this definitely is a step up from the first season. Wished that the OP was a bit more exciting, but at least this OP was slightly better than the first season's horrible OP.
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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13719
PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 12:17 am Reply with quote
Even if it was because he got the drop on him, it's nice to see an antagonist that's actually giving Hajime some trouble for once.

It was nice to see some Tio spotlight and to see her proclaim her love for Hajime. I wonder if Shea will get a spotlight episode this season.

Seems like there's intrigue back with Hajime's old classmates...I almost forgot about the conspiracy going on. Dude really just doesn't get how little Hajime cares about the attempted murder or Kaori going along with him, but now he's basically asking for Hajime to kill him.

Shizuku's one weakness...cats. Catgirl Shizuku was adorable.
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Fallout3Boi



Joined: 05 Feb 2022
Posts: 1
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2022 5:14 am Reply with quote
My only thought? Remia's hair looks darker in the LN.

On another note though, at this point in season 2. Remia is only pretending to like Hajime as so not to hurt Myuu's feelings.
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MFrontier



Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Posts: 13719
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2022 10:48 am Reply with quote
I love Yue just casually sitting on Hajime's crotch and undressing so she and Hajime could have sub sex. That's couple goals.

Poor Shea gives up her blood and then has to catch Hajime and Yue at the end of their lovemaking. Throw her a bone, Hajime!

I love how Kaori finally gets her moment with Hajime only for Tio to interrupt it and shove Hajime into her boobs.

Sayaka Ohara playing a hot anime mom. It's almost becoming her thing as much as it is Kikuko Inoue's. What's funny is I was reminded on reddit that she had already played Shea's mom in a flashback, which implies that either they forgot about it and just cast her as another mom or Sayaka Ohara is going to play every characters' mom.

Really curious where the intrigue in the kingdom is going and if it'll intersect with Hajime's story at all this season...and now Shizuku knows Hajime did something to Ai-chan.
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borisdrakoni



Joined: 27 Apr 2019
Posts: 51
PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2022 11:54 am Reply with quote
MFrontier wrote:

Sayaka Ohara playing a hot anime mom. It's almost becoming her thing as much as it is Kikuko Inoue's. What's funny is I was reminded on reddit that she had already played Shea's mom in a flashback, which implies that either they forgot about it and just cast her as another mom or Sayaka Ohara is going to play every characters' mom.

I imagine it was more of an intentional casting because Alicia Florence from the Aria franchise, also played by Sayaka Ohara, was the direct inspiration for Remia. Those sorts of Easter eggs are always fun to catch when watching a show.
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Yttrbio



Joined: 09 Jun 2011
Posts: 3670
PostPosted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 1:23 pm Reply with quote
I liked the discussion at the end just in terms of its applicability to these harems in general. Every show has a clear "first place girl" but it's never acknowledged like it is here.
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Kamijou Touma



Joined: 01 Oct 2017
Posts: 150
Location: Gakuen Toshi
PostPosted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 2:29 pm Reply with quote
I love this weeks episode. Finally Hajime told Kaori what had to be said. I am glad that Satou Rina's character finally appeared.
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Cryten



Joined: 19 Jan 2019
Posts: 1136
PostPosted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 5:40 pm Reply with quote
Overall an interesting episode, mostly for struggling Kaori. Without it I fear that the only interesting part was the slime / jelly fish monster with nothing for them to kill. I am glad they decided to leave as the show rarely considers battles where the Chuni team does anything but overwhelm their opponents.

The speed of the naval battle moment really makes me wonder what actually happened. I mean if magic can destroy the illusion couldnt they just use the smallest beads of magic and spread them out? But no we just get a quip about destroying them all and cut to blank. That was unsatisfying to me. I like battles where triumph comes through technique.

Its been a few years since season 1, can someone reminds me how he got the crystal eye thing? I dont remember it ever being a factor before now. It really is very sterotypically chuni. The eye of darkness that must remain sealed kinda thing but with a cheap pirate eyepatch from a kids dress up store.
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