Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai? Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen

The second season of Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai: Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen, titled Kaguya-sama: Love is War?, takes the series' signature blend of humor, romance, and mind games to the next level. Following the comedic war of pride between Kaguya Shinomiya and Miyuki Shirogane, this season delves deeper into the characters' personal lives while maintaining the sharp wit and over-the-top scenarios that made the first season a hit.

One of the season’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance comedy with emotional depth. While the intricate "battles" between Kaguya and Miyuki remain a highlight, the series begins to explore their vulnerabilities and desires, making them even more ... relatable. This development extends to the supporting cast, particularly Yu Ishigami, whose backstory brings unexpected emotional weight to the series. His character arc is a standout, adding a level of sincerity that complements the otherwise lighthearted tone.

The animation, produced by A-1 Pictures, is vibrant and expressive, with creative visuals that enhance both the humor and emotional moments. The comedic timing is impeccable, aided by the narrator’s enthusiastic delivery, which heightens the absurdity of the situations. The character expressions are especially noteworthy, ranging from hilarious exaggerations to subtle emotional nuances.

Musically, the season does not disappoint. The opening theme, "DADDY! DADDY! DO!" by Masayuki Suzuki, is catchy and stylish, perfectly capturing the series' playful tone. The ending themes and background music also add to the overall charm, seamlessly blending into the narrative.

Despite its strengths, the season occasionally leans too heavily on its established formula, making some episodes feel predictable. However, the character growth and introduction of new dynamics help keep the story engaging and fresh.

In summary, Kaguya-sama: Love is War? successfully builds on the strengths of its predecessor while offering deeper emotional resonance and character development. Its mix of clever humor, heartfelt moments, and top-notch production makes it a must-watch for fans of the series.

For context I gave season one a 9/10, I loved it, hilarious stuff. But there is only so much non-progression I can take. Yes, it continues to have some very funny moments, but from the first ep to the last, we don't move an inch plot wise. So then I have to ask myself, why am I watching?
They do try to give a bit more depth and backstory so some of the side student council members, but this actually was even less enjoyable to watch as it had even less to do with the main romance plot. It's like they'll show us anything BUT main ... plot progression.

Will I watch season 3? Yes. But thats because I'm unemployed at the moment. Should you? If you like plot progression, probably not.

Unless you're also unemployed.

As I wrote in my review of season 1, Kaguya: Love is War feels like the characters were generated by a machine learning model prompted to create the most generic leads possible: Kaguya and Miyuki are even less compelling than stock tsunderes, Ishigami is your rinsed-and-repeat otaku, and Chika is the embodiment of every single deredere trait possible.

There's no story here: every single episodes starts and ends at the same place. The characters spend most of their time within the confines of the student council room, and little, if any, character development ever happens. The plot, of two characters attempting to convince the other to ... confess their love, is held together by the flimsiest twine possible The story relies on the cast acting like caricatures of real people, and the jokes fall as flat as the story.

But most of us need mindless entertainment, something to turn our brain off and enjoy. It's why sports are such a spectacle, Twilight's explosive and continued popularity. And two of my recent favorites can only be described as dumb: Kamisama Kiss and Promare. Promare is dumb, wholesome testosterone in an explosion of colors. And it is glorious.

But Kaguya: Love is War fails even when watching it with a single brain cell. Even if you ignore the barren wasteland of a plot and how the story falls apart at the slightest look, it still sucks when watching it nearly unconscious after a bender. We are constantly shown something and told another. We are told Kaguya is cold and calculating, only for her to freeze and collapse at the faintest hint of affection from Miyuki.

Chika is Schrodinger's idiot: the plot relies on her chaotic nature and her intelligence being the barren wasteland after nuclear war. And yet, she is likely the most intelligent member of the group, shown to be fluent in French and calculating in cheating at every board game she plays. She reads the emotions of others before they do, and designs scenarios for them to express these feelings.

Even if you fried every single brain worm you have, Kaguya still would be an insult to your intelligence. The only redeemable points, which are woefully average, are the art and the music. You know the intro soundtrack was crafted by a lounge singer with a wardrobe filled with a kaleidoscope of colors and the most ill-advised bowtie just by hearing his voice. And yet this soundtrack is quite possible the most original thought this show has ever contemplated.