Super Lovers 2

This review is long overdue. I had wrote one earlier but it got deleted so that's a shame. Anyhow, Super Lovers 2 takes off right after the completion of the first season. Those who have completed the first season should know by now that this relationship is between an adult and a minor. Who are step brothers by registry. So if you know that's not your cup of tea, don't give Super Lovers 2 the time of day. You'll only come to dislike it more because of the couple's new problems that arise in this season. Most of which yes, involve the age gap and ... the fact that Ren is still young when compared with Haru. Now if you're a fan, well that's great! You'll love how steamy it becomes between Haru and Ren. The second season covers the Natsuo arc almost flawlessly so his character is fleshed out and understandable.

I am writing this review as a gay individual so I don't want people to pull the “only gross straight females will enjoy this anime” because that is not the case. I don't go digging for “LGBT rep” in anime or manga and I especially don't look for any in BL or Yuri. I enjoy works that have good stories to tell and I don't base my likeability of the series on if the story has a canon gay couple or anything. If we're being honest, this is the only BL I've ever enjoyed. I've tried a few ever since I was younger but none appealed to me. Anyway, I want to make clear before I start this review that people can enjoy any piece of work they want no matter their sexuality or age. We shouldn't generalize people and I know it does happen but I've seen it happen more often than naught with BL works but that's the way the cookie crumbles. I know I'm preaching to the wind here but my thoughts and reviews are always full of heart. Enjoy!

The soundtrack was memorable for me! It had a nice country and slice of life feel to it. There were moments where if the scene was funny, a nice melody would play while if the scene was serious, an ominous track would play. I really love the music that was composed for Super Lovers. This season definitely made good use of all the melodies. There was never a moment where music wasn't playing which I am grateful for. Sometimes in a series, if something serious were to happen, no music would play and personally, I think adding music adds a layer of suspense to a scene. The soundtrack isn't elegant nor is it "one of its kind" but it definitely is unique. We rarely get such soft music in anime since it's frequently elegant strings or upbeat tones. I have no problem with either but this anime's soundtrack is immensely refreshing. Another thing I love about the music is how the actors sing the ending song and they take turns! I know it's a lot of work for some series to do this so just the fact that the director thought it would be a wonderful thing to do, which it was, isthe best! The ending song and opening song always left you feeling refreshed and in a cheery mood. At least for me. There are definitely some tracks I'm more of a fan of than others. I'm sure if you listen to the music while watching this anime, you'll find just what I'm talking about when I say a scene feels even better.

I've been watching anime since I was a baby so animation isn't a big deal to me. Though I have to admit, there were some sloppy parts but BL series never seem to get beautiful adaptations with the exceptions of the series being short. Thankfully, Super Lovers had cute end cards and illustrations to make up for such moments. Ahh, they're so pretty. I loved the ones from the first season so the fact that they did it with season 2 is even better. I believe my favorite animation slip-up is with Natsuo's mouth in episode 8. Though not too noticeable, it's there for like half a second. However, I gave it an 8 since the stupid animations got to me and I thought they were unique and laughable. To be honest, the animation could have been far worse. I'm sure we're all familiar with "yaoi" anatomy. So really, I'm just happy the anatomy was on point! Even in the manga, Abe's art is simply flawless and beautiful. One of my favorite manga artists really. I'm happy to that see the anime managed to make some moments beautiful. I especially love the shadow on Ren's nose, it's a very unique shading style. Tanuki had the best animation. All the budget went to the dog and I'm not even upset. A cute dog deserve grand animation. People that are saying it was horrendous and unwatchable are exaggerating. While the frames were anything but beautiful, it's not as if we had sliding characters or choppy animation. My only problems lies with the designs for some still frames but other than that, it was watchable and I didn't mind it at all!

The characters are memorable! I have so much to say about the relationship between Haru and Ren. We get to learn more about Haru’s past and his personality so that's definitely a ton of points from me. People complain about Haru going back and forth between viewing Ren as a brother or love interest but the real issue is hardly black or white. It lies within his mental state that even he can't crack. I don't blame Haru for not seeing Ren only as a love interest but I do agree that sometimes he can be rough. However, Ren is dense when it comes to other’s influences and the outside world. The Natsuo arc is especially full of this. Ren and Haru both make stupid decisions but I can without a doubt say that I've done just as much or even worse than what Ren has done. This season especially digs into Ren’s insecurities and doubtful attitude towards Haru. Ren really loves Haru and Haru really loves Ren but they both have such overwhelming emotions that, speaking from experience, can truly be difficult to convey to a loved one. It's not Haru’s fault for bouncing between the two feelings he has towards Ren because Haru has attachment issues while Ren knows he unfortunately can't fill the void in Haru’s heart of having a little brother and someone to take care of. Ren loves him and he just doesn't want to harm Haru emotionally because of Ren’s own feelings. I can say so much about Haru and Ren and why this season really digs deeper into their personalities and all the insecurities that surround them both as a couple and as brothers.

The twins are important. Just as the first season, they're both Haru and Ren’s pillars of support. They make sure Haru doesn't cross over the line too far while also keeping Ren steady emotionally. They're like real brothers to Ren and Ren finds a deal of great comfort and reliance on them. Haru on the other hand will try his best as he takes the harsh but truthful words from his brothers. Aki and Shima don't beat around the bush and are there to support the couple in whatever way possible. The characters are hardly bland and nor is there “no development” because in season one, Aki was more possessive of Haru and seemed to not care one ounce for Ren but this season, he connects with Ren and even provides support for him while agreeing that this time, Haru is the one at fault. Natsuo plays a major role since he pretty much tests Ren’s feelings towards Haru and isn't afraid to cause an uproar. Compared to the first season which only consisted of minor arguments between Haru and Ren, the second season involves everyone around them. It's not just their own little world anymore. Natsuo is there to poke at it and challenge them in as many ways as possible. However, Natsuo is hardly just a “fanservice” character. His past is important in providing sufficient evidence for why Haru acts the way he does.

All in all, don't overlook the side characters and don't think the creator doesn't know what she's doing. If you just take the time to understand Haru and Ren's feelings and even listen to what the therapist has to say about them, you'll see why they're simply perfect for each other no matter the challenges they come to face. Haru isn't manipulative and this season further amplifies just how far Ren is willing to go in order to “possess” Haru. He wants this man no matter the cost and will try everything in his power in order to make it happen. Ren is one intelligent individual who knows how to get Haru riled up but some people seem to overlook just how much Ren seems to control what happens behind the scenes. If it wasn't for Ren and Haru’s insecurities and back and forward personalities than Super Lovers would truly be a bland and generic BL series. Abe makes sure to keep attitudes and reactions realistic to some degree. You have Kiyoka and Juuzen’s initial reactions to Haru and Ren’s relationship and then you have Aki and Shima who eventually accepted the feelings between the two. There are many others but these are a few, minus manga only characters, that immediately come to mind.

Overall, I really enjoyed this season because all of Ren and Haru’s fights felt so realistic in a sense. Relationships aren't all candies and rainbows nor are conflicts resolved so easily. I see people getting angry at the fact that conflicts remained unresolved but I'm just confused as to what isn't resolved? Without spoiling, I can say that no conflict is annoying or childish or overused. The problems that arise really interest me because of how fitting they are with the characters. Ren reacts to a conflict in his own way while Haru tries to understand why Ren did this or that. What I really love is when they both apologize or one apologizes first and that's hardly anything you see in series. Not just anime or manga but it really reminds of the laughable trope that you can silence your partner if they're angry just by kissing them. I was never a fan of that because the conflicts were never resolved and it felt like the feelings beforehand were never carried over to their partner. That really isn't the case for Super Lovers. Haru and Ren care for each other, they value each other’s feelings, they want to support one another in anyway possible and they are both willing to take the blame for anything that goes wrong even if it's not their fault. That's a difficult thing to do considering pride exists but both do not care if it means the other will be fine and comfortable again.

This is my review of season 2! I may add on when I feel like it but I thank anyone so much for reading this far. I say give this season a shot if you liked season one because this one is just a wild ride in general!! Many characters, development and situations that will indeed leave you fulfilled!

I was really looking forward to seeing this anime. I absolutely loved Season 1 so I had high expectations for this one.

I ended up being disappointed.

It went quite downhill from the first season. Character development is non-existent and it's just the same events recurring in different scenarios. While I do understand that the anime is revolved around Haru, being the eldest brother, and Ren, being the youngest brother, having some sort of relationship between them, it was still very confusing. I couldn't tell throughout the whole anime if they're in a relationship, brotherly love or just desperate for lust. I'm going with the third ... one though.

Every time there's sexual tension between Haru and Ren, something interrupts them and it was getting quite boring. I get it, it's Shounen Ai not Yaoi but the scenes were quite silly.

They were traits of manipulation coming from Haru and while Ren was trying to be rebellious, he still fell for Haru. This is what I meant when I said character development is non-existent and the same events. It's just; Ren wants to do it with Haru, Haru doesn't YET he leads him on, Ren rebels, Haru punishes and the cycle repeats itself.

I hope they will work more on Season 3 [if there will be one]. I'm not giving up on his anime.

(SPOILERS)

Okay, I just finished the last episode today, and all I can say is that I was incredibly disappointed. When I watched the first season of Super Lovers, I can definitely say that I was intrigued. The plot was somewhat interesting and it was a yaoi (i tend to have a huge interest and liking in this genre). But boy oh boy, this season was complete.... trash. I am so disappointed to say that, but I can't lie to myself and say that I enjoyed it, because I really really wanted to. I had to give such low scores because honestly, that is exactly what ... I felt. As I watched each episode as they came out week by week, I would try to hard to hold back my cringes and push them to the side, but now I am just coming out and confronting them.

First things first, let's begin with the story. Okay, so if I'm wrong, the main focus is centered around Haru and Ren's relationship as a... couple? Brotherly love? Honestly, I don't even know. I continued to stay confused throughout the entire season because it would go back and fourth between each "conflict". One time, Haru would be talking about how Ren is his brother, and then the next time he would be kissing him and talking about something that doesn't even really correlate to the story? Oh, and speaking of Haru, things got somewhat interesting as the conflict with his parents came up. He had to go see a psychologist and he was faced with a REAL problem. But... they never really touched on it after that? I mean, it was brought up and he was being asked to go back, but after that, there was really no more insight. And when episode 10 finished up, the final shot came up on the screen that read "Thank you for watching Super Lovers", and I was soooo confused. It was over? Already? I felt so incomplete and just... incredibly disappointed. I literally had to search up if it really ended there, and when I found out it did, I instantly deflated. What about Natsu? What about Haru and Ren's relationship? What about Ren in general? I was left completely empty. There were so many plot holes in this series, it is almost impossible to count. I gave the story a rating of 3, and that's just being considerate to all of the things that aren't included in everything that was WRONG with the story.

Okay, moving onto art. I gave this a rating of 2 because JESUS... It is so... dreadful. Please tell me I am not the only one who thinks this.. I wish I could insert pictures of screenshots of all the scenes that I cringed at. The art was so bad that I was legitimately wondering if it had been messily sketched and colored the night before by someone who was running off of 5 cups of coffee and energy drinks. Jesus, in most of the scenes, Haru's nose was completely MISSING and everyone's eyes were a solid block of color. The only decent art was in the opening and closings, SOME close-ups, and scenes where Haru and Ren were being "intimate". I really don't have much to say further than just WOW.

I'm skipping sound because.. Idk what I can say about that?

Character, I gave a 4. I wasn't too sure how to rate this because I wasn't sure if my judgement is worthy of any score lower. This was probably the most confusing rating I can give because of all of the plot holes and missing information I don't have. Throughout the series, Haru acted like a piece of trash that treated Ren like he was his lost puppy. The whole "clueless overprotective dad" scheme he put on throughout the episodes made me want to jump off of my house, and the way Ren really NEVER stood up for himself made it even worse. Haru has a really trash-like personality and the way that it was never resolved bugs the hell out of me! When the series ended, I kind of laughed because there was absolutely ZERO character development. I guess that just means that Haru really is just a stingy clueless man. Ren is a smart boy, but sometimes the things he did made me stuff a pillow in my face and question why the universe had made me this way. Like, why couldn't I just be as dumb as him and think "yeah, this is a good idea!" specifically, I'm talking about the whole "sex with natsu because haru wont have sex with me" ordeal. Instant facepalm. And this is a little off-topic, but Haru's constant whining about Ren not sleeping with him would always annoy the hell out of me.

ANYWAYS, this anime gave me a really sad and empty feeling. You know when you haven't eaten in a couple hours and there's no food around so you kind of have to just sulk and deal with it? Yeah, that's how it made me feel. I can't really do anything about how I am feeling because there's nothing to fill that empty hole with.
I can compare this to an anime like Say I Love You or Orange. They are both romance animes with conflict (like Super Lovers). The only difference with those animes and this one is that yes, they had conflict, but they were RESOLVED and actually made sense without leaving me a confused mess. When it comes to Super Lovers, I have no idea if their conflict was resolved or not... In episode ten, was Natsu kissing Haru and Ren getting upset and yelling "This is mine!!!" the resolution? It's the only conclusion I can come up with.

I am so sad that it had to be this way, because I genuinely wanted to like this anime.. I think the main issue here was that there was only 10 episodes in this season. There could've been so much more growth and development with the characters and story line if it had the regular 25 episodes like most animes, but I understand if it was money issues or something related that hindered that from being able to happen.. I don't really have anything else to say except that I am really sad that I didn't get to grow attached to this anime. The direction and overall theme or whatever that the anime is mainly 'about' goes right up my alley! If only it was better and more carefully written, I really could see the potential and success it could've had.