Tokyo Ghoul :re starts out strong, even if not as outstanding as the original. There's (still) the man-eating species known as "ghouls" terrorizing modern Tokyo. There's (still) the Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG), a complex, very police-like organization tasked with protecting the populace from this menace. The job of a CCG investigator is hard: identifying a ghoul is only half the story, since ghouls will resist with superhuman abilities; prominently "kagune", predatory tentacle-like appendages.
While the original Tokyo Ghoul focussed on a group of "pacifistic" ghouls in hideout from merciless capture and extinction, the narrative focus of :re shifts, at first, to the CCG. We're introduced to a colorful palette of completely new investigators. There's timid outsider Mutsuki, likable simpleton Suzuki, lazy nerd Saiko (the only girl in the squad ... or is she?) and resentful careerist Urie. Our main character also appears in this underperforming CCG squad, as enthusiastic but ultimately unfit leader Haise Sasaki.
Gradually, the one-dimensional ghouls-vs-investigators massacres will make place for a twisted, unpredictable narrative. Since Haise Sasaki isn't just a mediocre investigator: figures from his past will resurface -- and they're not only investigators-gone-missing from the first part, but also ghouls with a game-changing agenda.
In particular, the namesake for the sequel is cafe :re, where old acquaintances are waiting for Haise to make his move. "re" may also reference to the one-eyed king: the legendary ghoul-human hybrid that will put an end to the dramatic inter-species war: but how? And what are the brutal ghouls of Aogiri, the human (?) elites of the CCG, the enigmatic V and the psychopathic Clowns up to? We'll find out, but as Kaneki from the original Tokyo Ghoul warned us: this story will become a tragedy.
Sounds like a fantastic anime? Well, it certainly could've been. If (!) the anime was well-produced and, more importantly, if (!) the source material (manga) had kept its shit together. My disappointment could not have been greater, as neither has proven to be true.
The :re anime repeats the exact mistake of previous Tokyo Ghoul adaptations, by running through at a breakneck pace, which doesn't let story or characters breathe. The mostly great character designs from the manga haven't been built and improved upon in the anime; instead, they have been colored in a rather flat and predictable fashion, as far as I can tell.
Yet, these minor complaints actually pale in comparison to my actual complaint: it's not about the anime-specific adaptation issues, as I may need more episodes to properly evaluate these. My actual complaints are about the source material, the Tokyo Ghoul :re manga series, whose deep flaws a middling anime adaption will only exacerbate.
See, the original manga series used to have it all: a flashy and well-executed concept of man-eating humans, iconic art direction with memorable and unique character designs, an engaging story with a multitude factions and facets, fascinating characters, tense edgy atmosphere, references to highbrow literature done right, and, last but not least, gory over-the-top action.
All of these perks placed the original Tokyo Ghoul manga far, far above yr average run-of-the-mill dragged-out-for-profit shonen action series (think of One Piece, or Bleach). Now, straight to the issue: what the sequel to the brilliant original, Tokyo Ghoul :re, turned out to be, is ... yr average run-of-the-mill dragged-out-for-profit shonen action series (think of One Piece, or Bleach).
:re, currently amassing 170 or so chapters, managed to stay good for about 60, decent for about 90 and tolerable with a grain of salt for about 120 chapters. With infuriating rigor, Ishida Sui murders his story and forcefully drags its mutilated corpse so far away from the original direction that leaving it to fan-fiction aficionados may have been a kinder fate for this once great series.
Starting with needless and anti-climactic deaths of his very best characters, Ishida proceeds to rush through long-awaited plot developments in the least satisfying way imaginable. Equally disappointing, populist and banal climaxes to formerly subtly blossoming romantic and personal relationships follow. What's left is a pointless and directionless exercise in continuing for the sake of continuation, as long as sales numbers permit.
Along the bumpy path to ruin, we will be served city-sized monsters and banal melodrama as surrogates for psychologically compelling writing. Formerly interesting female heroines will be reduced to subservient breeding cattle, in "best" shonen traditions.
Sound power balances will be abandoned; battles will be decided by kicks to the groin. In the increasingly rare case a confrontation becomes interesting, it HAS to end offscreen, lest this manga might become interesting again. Death flags will be ceremonially displayed in lame cliffhangers, but no one ACTUALLY dies in this manga. Unless it's an interesting and well-written character: then, its either offscreen butchering or poorly motivated suicide for ya.
At his worst, the main antagonist acknowledges he had no idea what he had been doing the last 60 chapters. Well, neither does the reader. The authors' self-awareness seems to slip through, as he ends his worst chapter so far with the line "Stop. Just stop."
I'm not exaggerating. Read the manga. Or, rather -- don't. It's a tragedy.
Super peace.
