Bastard!! Ankoku no Hakaishin: Jigoku no Chinkonka-hen

Everyone's problematic fave is back and it was a really good season. The stakes were high, the Jump tropes were in full bloom, and it was an enjoyable season. Of course there were the typical pitfalls of any manga from its time period but I overlooked these flaws in favor of the larger story as a whole. I think the best part of this season was how it illustrated how the characters have grown since the first batch of episodes with occasional exception. I also liked the hints of where the story will go from here if we get another season, which I really hope ... we do because despite its flaws, the characters and overall plot points are engaging and I want more.

If you liked the previous installments then you're going to like this one. It's definitely worth the watch.

I’m going back and fourth on my rating for this. Normally when weighing a show you add up all the elements and get your number, but in this case it seems like all the elements are opposed to each other and can’t be seen together. Like liquids with different densities. My general range would be around 4-6, which is what I rated it on MAL.

Now the details. Firstly, there is very little change at all from the first season. The personalities, the art, the theme, the structure, the tropes, the rampant over the top fanservice, the horrible music ALL OF IT. But this isn’t a ... bad thing. It feels like what it is. A continuation. And in that regard it keeps you interested in an odd sort of way with its lack of change from the first season. I didn’t even write a review for the first season, because literally everything I’m about to say would be the exact same for that too. That’s just about where all the praise ends.

The first complaint is the just insane level of lewdness. Ontop of the constant groping, sexual angles and nudity comes outright sex scenes too. This was present in the first season too, but guys, come on. Do better.

The second is about the characters. There are far too many. Dark Schneider (possibly the worst name in all of anime) and his close circle are all easy to recognize and understand, but by the end of the show there are like 20 something people, all with some kind of role and it’s just completely unnecessary. They just add confusion to the already hard to follow story, and leave you wondering who is who from their generic designs. They’re also completely invincible. If you’re not just a normal human (who the writers love slaughtering) it is nearly impossible to die. The plot armour is at an overwhelming level. Which I understand you need your main characters to be, you know, alive. But instead of having them be completely invincible maybe you could write scenarios in which they don’t always end up in inescapable peril which they manage to survive every time.

The story broadly is very difficult to follow and only gets harder as you get towards the end. The oddly named characters, the very large amount of landscapes and landmarks, all of it. But when you change your perspective, that doesn’t matter. I was viewing the show through a serious storytelling lens which is why I was so negative about it, but about halfway through the second season I realized I was looking at it wrong. When you see it much more as an over the top comedy, you get much more enjoyment from it. And that’s the one thing I’d like people to know above else. DONT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY and you’ll have a good time.

While there are some good things here: The characters well rounded particularly Yoko and Dark Schneider. Yoko has her moments where she has to be a tough fierce leader and her moments of soft vulnerability. And DS has a soft loving side underneath his cocky exterior. The characters are diverse in representation and design; Arshes & Gara having darker skin and hair and using fashion styles and fighting styles unique from the other characters. I truly believe they react to situations in a realistic way given the setting and world building. But I shouldn't have to sing the praises of characters, setting and world building ... that haven't changed in-between seasons
TL:DR everything good about season one is present in season two.
My huge issue here is with the characters standing around expositing the story to us and each other. I understand the source material and know what I complained about was the storytelling style of the time; but been there, done that, don't want it no more. Speaking of source material, MAL won't let me post this review without mentioning there are overt sexist and misogynistic scenes and themes in this series. Again something you'd know if you watched the first season. I cannot imagine why I have to mention that in a review for season two of a show when all those sexist and misogynistic element were present in the first season. I gave this season a bonus point because of the fan service, I like fan service and it shouldn't be denigrated to spare the feelings of those who could easily avoid such themes.
I Like it because of the dark and adult themes, plus I find the characters well rounded and diverse. But I don't like the archaic storytelling formula. I can appreciate the fan service while others might find it terrifying, vile and offensive.