Jul 5, 2018
Kekkai Sensen & Beyond is just what you would expect from Leo and Libra, a mixture of action, comedy and mystery, but with the added benefit of answering some of lingering questions of the previous season !
Story: (7/10)
I DISAGREE wholeheartedly with the other reviews that argue that S2 has no plot. Kekkai Sensen in general is a melting pot of sensory overload, from the monsters, explosions to everyday mundane life in the city.
Both season 1 and 2 do not follow an overarching plot format until strictly speaking ep 10-12 for S1 and ep 11-12 for S2. In both seasons, there are episodes dedicated to
...
certain characters, although S2 takes a more direct approach. What &Beyond does better though is that they follow the source material more accurately, without the anime original characters like White and Black that come off as a bit forced IMO.
Aside: Ep 3 of S2 essentially encapsulates the greatness of Kekkai Sensen; a story about Libra members, who are constantly exposing themselves and those close to them in danger, which to us viewers is exciting, but also puts into perspective the challenge of their nichijou.
Art: (8/10)
The art was one of the most consistent aspects of both seasons. Bones does a really great job with keeping the character designs clean and detailed for the action scenes. S2 Episode 2 especially, it felt like I was watching a Kekkai Sensen movie. The combination of art and sound was quite marvelous, you will have to wait and see for yourself guys!
Sound: (7/10)
To be fair, S1 had more OSTs that stood out for me, especially On My Own by Ai Ninomiya during the burger episode! Still, this season still delivers, albeit not at the level of S1.
Character: (9/10)
Wow!
What this second season does so well, which was lacking from the first is some context for what each character is about, their circumstances as well as their struggle with everyday life. What do I mean by this?
The first season dabbled in what it meant to be a member of Libra. We see that characters for the most part are balancing their jobs with surviving in Hellsalem's Lot. But where it falls short is what happens behind the scenes... who are these people? why are they in Libra at all, and what makes them interesting to begin with. In season 2 we FINALLY get episodes dedicated to certain characters that shed some light on who they are when they aren't playing advocates for peace.
Enjoyment: (8/10)
The separate episodes to dedicated Libra members was definitely a breath of fresh air, and gives perspective into a side of them which we did not see previously. 9/10
Episode 3 on Stephen, Leo and Chain was done exceptionally well and deserves merit.
Still, the ending arc, which is quite pivotal to the storyline felt a little rushed. 7/10
All in all, I feel this season is a good segway into future material.
Overall: (8/10)
While the first season focuses more on Leo and the anime original storyline with White and Black, the second delves further into the separate Libra members, and gives us more depth into character development. Both seasons have their appeal, although I preferred S2 more for how it seemed to fit the series better. Would definitely recommend to watch!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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