Hanma Baki: Son of Ogre 2nd Season

Having finished this season I have to say, this anime was a blast. Maybe this will sound a bit contradictory but, this anime is not the best I have seen, but it's definitely one of the funnest. Especially the second part of this season I enjoyed immensely.

Interesting characters, compelling story, excellent animation, fitting sound effects are all there. This all combined with Baki's unique style of over-explaining everything make this show an unforgettable experience for any action/martial art anime enjoyer. Of course, dynamic fighting sequences, innovating (fabricated) fighting moves and styles, funny expressions, super-detailed masculine figures and crooked jaw lines are all include in the ... package, as per Baki.

Thought it felt like the ending was a bit rushed, it was still more than satisfying preserving the hype till the last second. Every character was there, every moment they shared with each other felt like it counted. Definitely a must-watch!

Baki has always been a bit of a mixed bag for me. I think it peaked in terms of interesting dynamics and having multiple incredible fights back during the Great Raitai Tournament Saga two seasons ago, and even then, this is mostly just a fight fest. Absurd body proportions, detail on crazy move sets, and any excuse to fight are the name of the game, and I honestly don’t think this series even does that best (I prefer the Kengan series).

From here on, I'll break this review into two halves, one coming from the first half of the season and the other coming from the ... latter half.

I will say that they really put the dynamics of a fight under a magnifying glass this season, which is awesome... but they're all against a single opponent, one whose entire history of fighting starts and ends with "he lived with, fought and ate dinosaurs." When you have a set of characters who use a wide variety of interesting tactics and have demonstrated them over previous seasons, having everyone test themselves against a physical monster who is just absurdly powerful and fast just feels like a let down. Doesn’t help that the whole premise of “caveman awakes in our time” is basically just Encino Man, but instead of goofy antics, dude just wants to fight (admittedly with some interesting nuances) and eat. Really doesn’t help that some earlier scenes in this show other things he wants that just… aren’t good. The general response of the military and scientific community are all baffling.

It's good to see the development of a couple of characters through this and to see some real maimings that result from fighting this particular opponent, but it still feels empty of actual risk to their lives, despite the series repeated attempts to make us think that more could happen. But that’s a problem I have with Baki as a whole. Ends up around a 6.3/10 for me.

Onto the second half of the season.

I would say that it’s a substantial improvement. Despite the fact this portion involved fewer fights, focusing instead on the relationship between Baki and Yujirou, it does such a deep dive into the dynamics between them that I was actually pretty invested in the characters. Each of the moves themselves are drawn out to the nth degree, which makes sense when you’re talking about the kind of fight that has been built up to for the whole series.

That being said, this still is just one fight with a lot of people standing around making clear how important it is. For all that these two characters come into it with the mentality that it’s a father-son match built on years of turmoil, tragedy and torture, it becomes an absolute event. It becomes kind of absurd how the whole thing is carved into the wall of some ancient temple to boot and how people are traveling countless miles to literally pray to Yujirou. I get that absurdity is kind of this series’ strength, but even so, this was a little much for me. I think this fight is at its best when it is about their relationship and showcasing it through the moves that Baki, in particular, learned to utilize over all this time, but for every moment that demonstrates the strength of the story, there’s just so much absurdity that it’s hard to take it as seriously as it deserves. It raises the strength of the season for me. It just barely makes a 7/10 for me, even if some of the moments are 8/10.

This anime had me intrigued from the start, but as the episodes rolled on, my initial excitement turned into disappointment. I kept hoping for a deeper storyline to emerge, but alas, it remained a series primarily focused on relentless, often bewildering fights.

One of the main issues I encountered with this season was the lack of a cohesive narrative. While the previous seasons had some semblance of plot and character development, this instalment seemed to abandon that entirely. The show came across as a collection of random battles strung together with minimal context, leaving me longing for more substance.

Character development, a crucial element in any story-driven ... anime, felt almost non-existent in this season. With such a large and diverse cast of characters, there was ample opportunity to explore their backgrounds, motivations, and growth. Unfortunately, the majority of the characters remained stagnant, and their interactions lacked depth.

The fights themselves, while visually impressive and intense, often left me scratching my head. The lack of a clear purpose or stakes behind these confrontations made it challenging to become emotionally invested. It felt like the show's creators were more interested in showcasing exaggerated combat sequences than in crafting a compelling narrative.

In summary, this anime left me wanting more. While it delivers on the action front, it falls short in terms of storytelling and character development. If you're a fan of mindless, over-the-top fights, you might find enjoyment here, but those seeking a richer and more coherent narrative may come away unsatisfied.