Since 2017, the anime Classroom of the Elite has become quite popular among its fanbase. Fair enough, the light novel is already quite a huge hit worldwide.
From where the previous season left off, Class D had emerged victorious from the Deserted Island Special Test. We have seen a glimpse of Ayanokoji's capabilities. The other classes have become aware of Class D. The road to Class A is still a long way. The summer exams are far from over. What come's next is a second exam held on the cruise. Things are starting to heat up.
Story (A review for the first three episodes)
The second season begins
...
with the introduction of another special exam, this time inside the cruise. That is the Planet Exam. However, in the light novel, it was called the zodiac exam, named after the zodiac animals. That provided a huge clue to understanding how the test worked and how the VIP was distributed. The first-year students were split into eight groups, named after a planet in the solar system. Mercury. Venus. Earth. Mars. Jupiter. Saturn. Uranus. Neptune. As for the test mechanics, one of the group members would be chosen as a VIP. The group will have a group discussion twice a day to find out the identity of the VIP, with a total of 6 group discussions in three days. Each student then submits their answer via email to the school, during a 30 mins interval after the final group discussion has ended. Afterwards, there are four outcomes of the test. The first outcome, share the identity of the VIP, and everyone clears the exam together. (+500k private points to each member, 1M private points to VIP) The second outcome, someone makes a mistake. (+500k private points to VIP) The third outcome, a traitor sends the name of the VIP to the school before the set time. (+500k private points and +50 class points to traitor, 50 class points deducted to VIP) The fourth outcome, a traitor sends the wrong name for the VIP to the school before the set time. (-500k private points and -50 class points to traitor, 50 class points added to VIP) That's the gist of it. So far it has an interesting premise.
Classroom of the Elite is a psychological thriller show. Supposedly, the audience intends to be engaged in the show. Given the nature of the special exam, it requires you to think and analyze the situation as if you are in the place of the characters. However, the show suffers from poor storytelling. It is difficult to take everything in with the show's rushed pacing, as they tried to cram a single volume of the light novel in three episodes. Thus with too much information presented and just passing by, it can be difficult for the viewers to keep track of everything. The audience may miss what the characters are even doing, and for what purpose are they doing that. Even the test rules might seem confusing and forgettable. Since the goal of the exam is to find the VIP, group discussions are important. However, screentime for those lasts for measly few minutes. There's no valuable information to process and create a hypothesis about the VIP's identity in the discussions since the characters decided to not communicate at all. It's obvious they are not trying to focus the psychological genre of the show on the actual discussion part. Despite, the nature of the exam. Instead, they want to highlight the fight over some childish reason between some high school girls to build up a plot and introduce Karuizawa. It feels more like a theater play with the drama transpiring. It doesn't even feel like they are in an actual test. The show purposely provides you lack of information so that when Ayanokouji performs his big brain move, turns the tables, and ends the exams victorious, you end up in amazement. The story is simply made to be convenient for Ayanokouji. A significant amount of information is cut down in the anime compared to the light novel, which thoroughly explains what's happening during the different situations in the test, this lessens the impact of some scenes in the anime. Especially, that "spread your legs" scene was toned down a lot. This is what the anime lack and the light novel series had done well, which makes it a good psychological thriller series initially. The anime Classroom of the Elite falls short in the genre and is not a carefully pieced psychological show as people rate it highly. There's nothing elite in here, given many of the students themselves act like idiots, that you can quickly focus your hate on. They exist to showcase how superior Ayanokouji is. Nothing more. Nothing less. This season is a product of a poor adaptation of the source material. It's just a mediocre power-tripping anime with the way it was presented.
Characters
The main reason why people would watch this show is Ayanokouji Kiyotaka. He is intelligent, proficient in martial arts, and manipulative. Many would assert he exemplifies the ideal protagonist. That's because there's a trend for intelligent kind of characters. As evidence, Lelouch and Light take first and sixth place in the top anime characters of MAL. However, Ayanokouji still suffers from the same illness as in the first season. It's difficult for the viewers to understand what he is plotting, what are the motives of his actions, without any monologue, especially for someone who shows no expression. Because of that, he appears to be an edge lord who show no weakness and secretly manipulates everybody at the end of the day, while the viewers casually accept everything along the way. He seems to have no character development from the first to the second season. He has the same stoic expression and personality as always, as someone who will readily sacrifice others and treat them as tools. For sure, he's badass, but without growth, he feels stagnant. The way the anime presented Ayanokouji is just another Mary Sue.
Suzune Horikita is the first ally of Ayanokouji and the needy heroine who had received most of the screentime in the previous season. Going back from what happened in the ending scene of the first season, where she warms up, and acts like a tsundere thanking Ayanokouji and acknowledging him as an ally. It was kind of funny to see in this second season, that she returns to treat him with a cold personality like nothing happened.
Kei Karuizawa is clearly the focus of the second season, known as Hirata's girlfriend and the central figure among the girls in their class. Belonging to the same planet group as Ayanokouji, the situation provided a perfect opportunity for Ayanokouji to groom another tool. This season fleshes out more of Karuizawa's character and her secret past. As a result, she will have more screen time this season. The most character development we'll have from the show possibly is from her. But any kind of development felt unnatural with the rushed pacing.
The rest of the students of Class D are forgettable since they do not deliver much of an impression. There's no screentime to introduce them and build upon their character.
Art
The studio may be on a tight budget due to the simultaneous announcement of seasons 2 and 3. The animation has suffered clearly as a result. There is a significant drop in overall quality compared to the previous season. For instance, there are some weird angles where the characters look plain bad. It feels like watching a slideshow. Given the five-year interval, the animation is no improvement from the first season.
Sound
The opening song "Dance In The Game" by ZAQ is a banger. The ending song "Hito Shibai" by Mai Fuchigami is beautiful. I have no qualms with the sounds.
Overall
Classroom of the Elite II is a mediocre show. It tumbles out of the psychological genre. It is enjoyable if you like power-tripping shows.
All (7)BadgesFantasy Anime League Fantasy Anime League MALoween Mansion (Trapped Soul) Fantasy Anime League MAL Expo Lite MALoween Mansion (Trapped Soul) Fantasy Anime League All (148)FriendsCyroseHadionImagine_BreakrLICK_IT_GOODtsumetai-asashinKaijurinoRyou__the__midLunyRemBeastyAnimefanMii7ad
Also Available atRSS Feeds |
Jul 18, 2022
Since 2017, the anime Classroom of the Elite has become quite popular among its fanbase. Fair enough, the light novel is already quite a huge hit worldwide.
From where the previous season left off, Class D had emerged victorious from the Deserted Island Special Test. We have seen a glimpse of Ayanokoji's capabilities. The other classes have become aware of Class D. The road to Class A is still a long way. The summer exams are far from over. What come's next is a second exam held on the cruise. Things are starting to heat up. Story (A review for the first three episodes) The second season begins ... 
Jul 16, 2022
Lycoris Recoil
(Anime)
add
Welcome to the new age of Japan, where they train orphaned middle school girls to replace the country's military force. That is Lycoris, a secret syndicate with the purpose of uphelding public safety in Japan.
After ignoring the orders of her superiors, Takina Inoue has transferred to Cafe LycoReco, where she can learn from Chisato Nishikigi, one of the top-tier Lycoris. Takina is a realist who desires results, while Chisato is cheerful and brimming with life. Together the eccentric pair have teamed-up to do all sorts of mission, from serving in a cafe to bodyguard duties, etc. Takina hopes to return back to her designation, ... 
Jan 6, 2022
Kanojo, Okarishimasu
(Manga)
add
I got into Kanojo Okarishimasu when the anime was airing. The manga got me hooked at first, and I would catch up with the weekly manga updates. The first parts of the manga were fun with the comedy and romance between Kazuya and Chizuru in hiding their rental gf secret. The art is beautiful and one of the reasons why I loved this series initially. However, to anyone planning to read the manga, I recommend you not to do so. Especially given how the story is currently being dragged by the author. Kazuya being indecisive was all dumb and funny at first. However, his personality
...
Oct 27, 2021
World's Finest Assassin seems to be nothing special in the genre of Isekai. We have an overpowered MC with anti-hero vibes surrounded by a bunch of cute girls for his harem. It has a dark theme from killing and torture, but fortunately, it doesn't go to the extremes. The fanservice is not the kind where the MC assaults every girl he encounters. The girls show signs of interest in the MC like sneaking into his bed, but the MC simply uses the girls for his mission. Since his main focus is getting stronger. It is more fantasy and action-oriented, surprisingly a well written one, and
...
Oct 27, 2021
Shin no Nakama ja Nai to Yuusha no Party wo Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita
(Anime)
add
To be honest. I thought I would sleep on this slow-life anime. It seems like a plain fantasy adventure anime with nothing special in it to make me continue watching. I was wrong.
The story is simple. Red is formerly a member of the Hero's party who got pushed out for being a liability in the party. He then decided to open an apothecary and live a quiet life in a town named Zoltan. There Rit, a friend from his past adventuring days, shows up and asks to move in with him in exchange for helping out in his business. Surprisingly, it has something to offer ... 
Apr 19, 2021
Koi to Yobu ni wa Kimochi Warui
(Anime)
add
"I don‘t regret what I did for him that day. As for what I said to him that day… I have nothing but regrets." -Ichika Arima. What does the message of this quote from Ichika want to express? You have to watch the entire show to know. :)
The show wouldn't be your realistic nor typical romantic comedy. But who cares. It's Anime. What seems like a weird and creepy show is a sweet and wholesome one. Ryou is a 27yo handsome office worker and is loose with women. After being saved by Ichika, a 17yo typical high schooler. He suddenly meets her again as his sister’s ... 
Oct 23, 2020
Majo no Tabitabi
(Anime)
add
Watching The Journey of Elaina feels like reading a storybook. It is about Elaina, a traveler from a faraway distant land, and her journey as she travels to lots of different places and encounters new people. The show seemed like a happy go lucky anime at first, surprisingly it has a darker tone. It shows how harsh reality and the truth could be as Elaina journeys around the world. It is like the fairy tale you read as a child however not all fairy tales have happy endings.
When Elaina encounters problems along the way. She may seem not to care but she does. She ... |
