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Every other season, a new show like this comes out. A show which has a massive backing due largely to it's original fanbase from whatever is being adapted to create it instead of for the show itself. The show is pretty, that's inarguable, but your ability to enjoy this one will be mostly based on however much annoying plot contrivance, obvious 'rags-to-riches' structure, and 'overpowered MC' you're willing to tolerate. For me, it's not very much. Every beat can be predicted as soon as the first few episodes if you know the structure of these kinds of manhwa and the fantasy power fulfillment they aim ... to give the viewer. But at least it's pretty.

The first season of Bofuri succeeded because it had a lot of the most important elements in an anime: Likable characters, strong pacing, beautiful fight choreography, and excellent moments of art direction when it really was important (particularly in the second half of season 1). But so far, the second season massively falls short in terms of its ability to build upon the framework that the first season created. The thing that took me out of it more than anything was the MASSIVE drop in quality in terms of the pacing. Seriously, in season one whenever a new level was reached or a new boss ... was conquered it was a huge deal, and acquiring new skills on Maple felt like a genuine accomplishment.

In season two, they rush frantically from level to level, with level four (the Japanese shinto-themed one) barely lasting for longer than a single episode, with the boss to get to level 5 treated like an absolute joke and defeated off-screen. Despite the huge increase in art and animation quality, the framing and choreography of the fights feels much more plain than what I'd come to expect from season one. If there's one piece of advice I've give for a hypothetical Season 3, it'd be to slow the hell down and let the characters/events breathe in the narrative.

The characters, one of the highlights of the first season, feel much more one-dimensional in bland throughout what I've seen of Season 2. Bofuri was one of the highlights of my 2018 anime season largely because of the fun and likable characters, but in season 2 they all feel flanderized down to one or two elements of their characters.

The music still bangs, at least, a remnant from the first part of the series that I continued to enjoy in the second season as a really creative way of presenting large gaps in the storyline without feeling like they pass immediately. Oh, and not sure where else to put this, but the ending goes WAY harder than it has any right to.

The second season falls short of a lot of the promise established in season 1, with largely forgettable bosses and levels hampered by the shitty pacing which makes everything feel inconsequential. Some of the best parts of season 1 are kept, such as the music and moments of beautiful art direction, but it feels like a step down overall.