I am conflicted while I write this. On one hand, I cannot deny the artistic brilliance that this season is infused with - from the multiple soundtracks that are beautifully touching, the amazing voice performances from every cast member, and the oh-so brilliant animation that so often has you in awe at the human capability to create art like this. On every technical front, it's absolutely amazing. The biggest issue with this season, which is unfortunately out of the control of everyone involved in the production of this amazing anime, is the appalling writing that flip-flops between mildly entertaining and downright unbelievably bad throughout the
...
entire of the second arc that this season covers. The writing is the only issue with this season, but it is the writing that serves as the rotten core to this anime that even the most breathtaking animation can't make up for. I love JJK and its characters and its power system and the awesome world its built, which is why I take no pleasure in saying this season falls short despite the marvel of every aspect to the show aside from its writing.
This review is split into two parts according to the two arcs that this season covered: Hidden Inventory and Shibuya Incident.
Hidden Inventory:
The first arc of the season takes us to 2006, over a decade before the events of the first season. This arc follows Gojo Satoru and Geto Suguru as classmates in Jujutsu High, long before the former mastered his Limitless technique and the latter became the villain that we know in season 1 and JJK0. We get to watch the personal struggles with these two characters and how their stories intertwine: Gojo coming to terms with what it means to be born the strongest sorcerer in the world, and the events that led him to want to restructure the entire Jujutsu world; and Geto, struggling with being a sorcerer in the first place, and the slow degradation of his morals to become the twisted villain that we know him as in the current day. You watch as the deep brotherhood they share at the start of the arc slowly drift apart, and the burning realisation in the back of Gojo's head realising that his friend will soon become his enemy is difficult but enthralling to watch.
The most exciting fights in this season are between Gojo and/or Satoru against Toji Fushiguro, Megumi's father who has no cursed energy himself. These fights keep you on the edge of your seat as Gojo hasn't quite perfected Limitless so there is a genuine tension with every fight he takes with this man. Every one of Gojo's and Geto's fights in this arc are beautifully animated, my personal favourites being the ones where Gojo fails to use Red and his final fight against Toji. The soundtrack shines through during the climactic battles of the arc, breathing even more life and emotion into these high-stakes battles as we watch them unfold before our very eyes. On all fronts, this is the best arc of the season. It is incredibly written, visually beautiful, and sounds incredible from voice performances to the soundtrack itself. The only issue I'd have with the season, which I admit is rather nitpicky, is that Geto's descent into deciding that all non-sorcerers must be removed from the Earth felt a bit rushed.
Shibuya Incident:
The premise of this arc is incredible. Geto and the special-grade curses hatch an elaborate plan involving causing a total blackout in Shibuya and threatening to kill thousands of innocent people all to incapacitate and capture Gojo Satoru in a cursed object called the Prison Realm. Because of the intensity of this attack on the public, almost every single character with cursed capabilities comes to take part in the action. While this concept is amazing and the fights are done justice with some of the best animation I've seen from a shonen, but the writing and the interactions between characters that you'd hope to see in an event like this fall short. And while I understand that Gege used this arc to display the sheer incompetence of Jujutsu sorcerers when not backed by Gojo, but damn it's really boring to see the good guys get whooped and mollywhopped over and over until the last four episodes of the season where things really pick up and become good again. Except for maybe three fights in this entire arc, every fight is so incredibly one-sided that its boring to watch. Important character deaths mean nothing because they happen so often that you don't have enough time to digest the last death you've just seen, which I understand Gege did on purpose. The issue is, it doesn't even feel like a bloodbath, it just feels like an excellent anime constantly shooting itself in the foot by killing its most interesting characters for shock value. There are also some other baffling decisions like making the last episode of the season, which is the climax of the arc where the world of JJK changes forever, really boring and plain text on-screen. I don't know if they thought this would be a dramatic way to communicate the after-effects of this arc we've just watched but it felt really uninspired.
Despite these questionable decisions, there are still some genuinely brilliant sequences and moments in this show that make me wish I could rate it higher. Sukuna’s reappearance in Shibuya was harrowing from music to voice performance to animation. Every second that this villain was on-screen oozed with passion that had my eyes glued to the screen from start to finish. Finally, Aoi Todo’s appearance at Shibuya was the highlight of the entire season for me. He’s the most likeable character in the series by far, and his interactions and fights with Yuuji this season were the best of the season by a million miles. Todo’s character and spirit breaths life and excitement to an arc where every good guy was just getting their shit rocked from start to finish. Hearing his iconic clap sound sent shivers down my spine, because I knew that Shibuya Incident could be saved from this point on. He was the exception to this arc’s awful writing.
I love JJK but the writing in Shibuya Incident was so horribly bad that not even some of the coolest animation, fight sequences, and sound design could save it. The only reason why I haven’t given it lower is because Hidden Inventory was near-perfect.
Dec 30, 2023
Jujutsu Kaisen 2nd Season
(Anime)
add
I am conflicted while I write this. On one hand, I cannot deny the artistic brilliance that this season is infused with - from the multiple soundtracks that are beautifully touching, the amazing voice performances from every cast member, and the oh-so brilliant animation that so often has you in awe at the human capability to create art like this. On every technical front, it's absolutely amazing. The biggest issue with this season, which is unfortunately out of the control of everyone involved in the production of this amazing anime, is the appalling writing that flip-flops between mildly entertaining and downright unbelievably bad throughout the
...
May 4, 2021
Mini Dragon
(Anime)
add
Mini Dragon is a series of two minute animated shorts that follows the antics of various characters from Dragon Maid. With little to no story, KyoAni have clearly only made this to add fuel to the hype train and get people excited for Season S. Mini Dragon does its job - it provides us with cute moments, and uses its weird story and characters to create fun situations. The art is just as surprisingly great as season 1's art, and the sound design is okay although it's nothing to write home about. If you enjoyed season 1, you'll definitely enjoy this.
Feb 9, 2021
Koi wa Ii kara Nemuritai!
(Manga)
add
Only read this manga if you love lap pillows and love them as a concept. Otherwise, this manga is a whole lot of nothing. However, I really really love it. The story follows a highschool student who loves sleep more than anything else, so much so that he spends literally all of his free time at school trying to sleep. There's just one problem: a really cute and annoying kouhai won't stop interrupting his sleeping time! Only five chapters have dropped, but it looks like a typical highschool harem romance manga. If you love lap pillows and cute moments that relate to sleep, this read
...
Feb 8, 2021
Yuru Camp△ Season 2
(Anime)
add
Smoking. Meditation. Masturbation. Lifting. These are all things people do to reduce stress, or to make them forget of the troubles in their life that haunt them. Me? I do all of these things, AND I watch Yuru Camp. Yuru Camp is slice of life in its most bare form, with the show focused on a cast of cute girls who go camping. That's all the show is. No drama, no romance, no major flaws in any of the characters - just cute girls camping. It's a mindless watch with bubbly lovable characters, beautiful art, and a fantastic soundtrack and sound design. This show cheers
...
Nov 8, 2020
A decade after its release, I finally got to experience the animated wonder that is K-On!! I'm not the first to admit this by any means, but originally I thought this show would be nothing more than a chick-flick that I'd find my 12 year old cousin watching. But if you cast those aspersions aside and give K-On a shot - you'll find a joyous tale of high schoolers than handle themselves so haphazardly you can't help but smile, laugh, and cry tears of joy along with them.
Usually I like to include a one paragraph summary of why you should or shouldn't watch the show. ... |