Story (6/10)
The conflict the new direction of the story is intriguing and interesting in the start. Now we see the outcome of the protagonists', the Celestial Beings or the Gundam Meisters, idealistic military interventions. Even with all their efforts, the world is at a bad, or even worse state as before.
With this backdrop, secrets are finally revealed one by one. But though the revelations are in tandem with excellent gundam battles, the character involvement makes it very bland. The tactics, teamwork and science involve are as excellent (but later on, replaced with godlike gundams) as before but character "developments" are too rushed, unrealistic and insignificant in general. Gone are the deep connection to the root of mankind's actions, the radical characters that show it, and the tackling of current societal issue such as religion, energy crisis, ethnic differences, terrorism and others.
They were replaced by the repetitive portrayal "the antagonists have a logical and probably good intention for the world but in reality they're evil." What happens is that each episode or arc we see the same themes over and over again.
Art (10/10)
The best in the series: high definition animation. And the gundams are in the peak of our current mecha designs. Each part of the frame are detailed: hair, eyes, clothing and especially, the mechanical parts. the colors are beautiful and bright and the light of the GN Drive is very memorable.
The endings of the anime must be praised for their symbolism and artistry.
Sound (8/10)
I must say that the music in this series features the same genre as the first season: modern pop ballads and alternative rock. Because the setting is Anno Domini, I think the moods they give is appropriate.
The background music has improved and they are not repetitive. However, though they are appropriate, they don't give a lasting impression.
Character (5/10)
I say the character of the series and the characters themselves have become mediocre.
The main characters were developed greatly in the first season but the second season is supposed to be the room for their interaction: And we get a very big mess.
Setsuna and Marina's bond is unique and in a way beautiful but their interaction in the second season are insignificant and offers no substance. The potential result of their differences of beliefs are sublimated. Setsuna is still a almost emotionless badass, but his interaction with the many mediocre characters dimmed his remaining good quality
Allelujah/Hallelujah is one of the most interesting characters because of his psychology but in the second season he screams "Marie!" 50% or more of the time and the other dialogues he's involve in does not add to the overall drama. Soma screams "Colonel!" And it's the same as Saji, who also screams "Louise!" most of the time, and Louise, who psychotically screams "Celestial Being!" Marina says "Setsuna..." all the time. In short, these characters, and others too, long for another in different ways yet their internal conflicts are cliche or lacks screen time.
We expect something different from the new Lockon Stratos with his connections but we get little. His role, aside from being a Meister,is to add drama which slapped on and poorly developed. Tieria involvement and development is the only notable thing in this section, are crucial, but somehow he offers blatant fanservice .
The new characters with spotlights in the series does not leave impacts at all, and I find them insignificant in general. Beside from adding angst, evil or action, their purpose is to pilot the new gundam models that is of course, advertisement. The main antagonist is well...bland. He lacks badassery.
The character is the greatest weakness of the show. Also an interesting note, this show has abused binary pairs the most- too many characters has pairs, look-alikes, clones, alter egos that are explored little.
Enjoyment:
I enjoyed it because of the action and suspense. But the story makes me cry in disappointment. The characters have great potential in them but 25 episodes as too short for them. If they were only explored more and interacted in a slower, more cinematic manner with lots of meaningful dialogues this series will have definitely improved.
OVERALL: 6
