Story 1/10: This is all within the first episode and if spoiling the first episodes anti-climactic and nonsensical theme is enough to scare someone away from this disaster, so be it.
By the end of the first episode, for no actual reason, he decides to screw off and join the terrorists that just beat all his friends up, trashed their workplace, kidnapped him and tortured him for days. And he announces it to probably the most pinnacle character to him, Touka, which causes an emotional breakdown considering the development between them so far.
I figured it was going to be a plotline where he eventually comes back around from a poor choice through interacting with the friends and girl he left behind. But it proved time and time again that the main character was now a plot device for other characters. The closest we get to a main character is Touka, the basically-girlfriend whom gets no development besides other people forcing her decisions while ironically telling her to choose her own path.
And that ending... Oh my god this is actually the worst and most contrived ending I have ever actually seen in my entire life to any kind of story.
The manga apparently has an equally dumbfounding "ending" for the same general story arc, but with that exasperatingly cliche and old memory loss gimmick. At least it leaves it open for continuing the pre-existing romantic tension, and it has already hinted at doing precisely that.
Art 4/10: It was decent enough and better than alot of anime, but compared to the last season the budget was most definitely cut or allocated strictly for the finale fights. Everything else is regular, and every other fight scene is rigid and nonsensical.
Sound 3/10: Kaneki's only dialogue is screaming. Touka's only dialogue is her wondering why Kaneki is being an angsty prick to her when literally everyone can see the budding relationship, even his best friend internally monologues that he has to treat her better or else he'll lose her.
Character 1/10: Written by an autistic midget who sharpened their pencil with their teeth. In otherwords, godawful and insulting to the previous season. Even more insulting to the manga.
Enjoyment 2/10: My enjoyment towards the series was a roller coaster that basically coasted on literally zero. Then suddenly at weird times it gave the idea that Kaneki might stop being a faggot and come back to Touka and by extension the cafe. In fact it basically did push coming back for Touka and even hints it in the epilogue scene that she remains waiting.
The hope that Kaneki would come to his senses and the possible continuation of the romantic subplot that was realistically developing was the only thing that kept me pushing through this horrible, almost spinoff quality trash heap. Something that it never actually delivers despite constantly hinting it and characters hoping that precisely that would happen.
Overall 2/10: Do not watch. Read the Manga lest ye need chemo therapy afterwords.
