I put this one off for literally years because I couldn't replicate the experience of watching the first one with three very good friends. Our shared obsession and rituals of swapping theories and weeping and laughing made the original one of my favorite shows ever. I feared (especially after watching the abhorrent Conqueror of Shamballa movie) that watching this one would only cheapen that.
But, to be honest, I had been through some sub par anime and was in the mood for something epic. So I toughed through the first half season or so that just seemed like a lame imitation of my favorite show, and finally got to enjoy this new adventures. I did really like most of the characters this show added and I loved that it kept the same blend of lighthearted humor with intense action and some drama.
The ending had a lot of stuff I felt like was a Deus ex Machina cheap shot so they could have the final boss be as OP as possible while still being defeatable.
I really liked this one. It's obviously one of the best shows out there and it was fun to take the trip back down memory lane. God what a ridiculously great franchise.
