First review so please bear with me. Please feel free to give tips on how to improve my writing for these, as this one will be a jumbled mess. This is a very quick review and I don't get that much in depth, just giving my overall feelings of the series. Light spoiler warning as well!
So, March Comes in Like a Lion is one of my favorite series of all time and has given me the most emotional impact of any series. However, season
...
2 is not perfect for me. The writing is still good, but the focus of that writing is what I did not care for during portions.
(Mini rant. Skip ahead for review if you want) I honestly have no idea how this season is rated so much higher than the first, which I thought was a damn near masterpiece. This is all my opinion and I don't believe much in objectivity regarding reviewing anime/tv series, so please don't come for my head and keep it civil if you want to chat. If you're smart enough to enjoy this amazing series, then you are smart enough to have a mature conversation! (Objectivity certainly exists, but the primary focus for me when I watch a series is all about enjoyment and character investment. The plot is definitely important and can definitely hook me before the characters do, but that is just the last thing I look for. If I can't even get somewhat invested in characters, then it's not for me).
So, the first half of the story is very Hina focused, which I did not find appealing at all even in the manga, where I first read it. The story was very simple with average execution. Going from the excellent story arcs involving Kiriyama (and his dynamics with Kyouko, foster father, Goto, the three sisters, Nikaido, and other great side characters) to an arc about Hina being bullied was something that just did not work for me.
I found it extremely hard to be emotionally invested during this section of the story, especially compared to S1. The reason is that, while Rei is still heavily focused and develops through Hinata (which is a plus), I just found the whole thing to be overly dramatic; topped off with some horribly misplaced comedic elements.
Don't get me wrong, the bullying is taken extremely seriously; and Umino-sensei does an excellent job at conveying this throughout the series. Hina's new teacher is defnitely a stand out character this season. It is still good story telling overall, but I simply wasn't as interested or entertained by this portion of the story.
Everything else in this season is still extremely solid and comparable with season 1's quality for me. Burnt field was solid. Rei and Souya storyline was very good stuff. Nikaido and Rei's intertwined arcs are still amazing. The little we got from Kyouko/Goto was great; and the last episode with Rei's foster mom really hit me in the feels.
Overall this is still a very solid season and I highly recommend this series as a whole. Although I did not like bullying arc, the emotional highs can still hit me in the feels. When Rei shows up for Hina when she's alone in Kyoto for the school trip, it was a very beautiful and touching moment. As well as the scene where Rei calls Hina his savior (even though I personally would disagree with it as a narrative choice). I'd personally prefer his dynamic with Akari being the forefront and thought that would make for a much better arc (I'm not fully caught up with the manga, so maybe it happens eventually). Hina should still get her shine, just not this way imo.
Anyways, read the manga and enjoy this masterpiece. It is very much worth it. The Family arc after this season is incredibly well done. Thank you Umino-Sensei for this inspiring piece of young adult literature.
(quick ratings for story elements):
Plot: 7/10
Characters: 8/10
Writing: 8/10
Animation: 9/10
Art: 9/10
Music: 10/10
Enjoyment: 5/10
Pacing: 6/10
(ratings for S1)
Plot: 8/10
Characters: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Animation/Art: 8/10
Music: 10/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Pacing: 7/10
(Bonus Random thoughts with bad grammar from me): 1st episode is a pretty boring transitional episode that should've probably just been included at the end of last season, if not heavily condensed. This makes the transition into the bullying arc kind of jarring for me... Has pacing issues, which was a problem in season 1 too (as well as random tangents with drunk old men and kitty shogi classes). I really want more of Goto and Kyouko. Anything involving either of them are always high points of the series. Kai is kind of a boring character, still enjoy him at times, but don't think he should ever be the main highlight of an arc. Nikaidou really grows on me. Akari reminds of a better version of Fiona from Shameless (better morally, not writing wise. Both are great). Akari's great. Rei x Kyouko would've been spicy. Nothing really came out of that implied molesting and tension between them so far.
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Oct 13, 2022
3-gatsu no Lion 2nd Season
(Anime)
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First review so please bear with me. Please feel free to give tips on how to improve my writing for these, as this one will be a jumbled mess. This is a very quick review and I don't get that much in depth, just giving my overall feelings of the series. Light spoiler warning as well!
So, March Comes in Like a Lion is one of my favorite series of all time and has given me the most emotional impact of any series. However, season ... |
