THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
This review will go over The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly parts of this show for me, but with the bad first, because it's more fun that way :)
THE BAD
Just like the first season of beastars, the second season begins promising and gradually propels itself to utter neanderthalic proportions. The beginning starts off with the mystery of who killed Tem, instigated by a giant snake security guard who just loves to slither in the air vents, and scare passing students, which is great. Sadly enough this character doesn’t appear past the first couple of episodes, Legoshi just decides to put her in the background, even though she’s the main reason he begins the task of finding the killer. Either way the killer is found, no spoilers here. Now we move on to the 2nd of what I believe to be 3 arcs in this season .
The Legoshi batman training arc. Working out, fighting crackheads in the black market, and winning through the power of… respecting animals? How is him training himself to not crave meat making him stronger? What kind of stupid gimmick is the power of believing in the circle of life? This is the supposedly legitimate, but realistically stupid training regiment bestowed upon Legoshi from Lord Panda Sensei. He done did him dirty too, considering how many times Legoshi gets his ass beat in this season. I audibly laughed when panda man made him eat a grub worm that then mythically turned into a moth angel once killed, telling Legoshi his bitch ass better not throw up, because that grub worm could have been beautiful! Achievement Unlocked! The Circle of Life, so what’s next?
The 4 or 5 different fights between Legoshi and the killer, each stupider than the next. It’s honestly surprising how fast their motivations disappear into mid-air after fighting, deciding to talk it out for a few seconds and move along, often in the middle of fights, not to mention how recurring this event is! At first it’s fresh, it’s new, the killer jumps Legoshi in the lockers, with a raw, brute, and sudden viciousness. But all this tension is broken away after the third or arguably even second meeting, when they start scheduling their fights after class like a couple of middle schoolers, neither finding the energy to end it, like it’s just a casual thing, it’s just whatever. Half the time I’m waiting on them to end the episode with an embracing kiss promptly followed by the credits rolling. That's how ridiculous it gets.
THE GOOD
Louis becomes the leader of the Leos(This is in episode 1 mind you so I’m not spoiling much). It’s a badass thing to be sure, though they do little with it besides meddling with a strip club(not joking). The real beauty in it is the mental struggle Louis has, and the slow and subtle rise in his influence with the gang, especially between Louis and Ibuki. It really becomes an intriguing, and well written relationship by the end.
Louis and Legoshi finally recognize the feelings behind their rivalry through the distance Louis made when he left. Their absence in each other’s lives unveils how much deeper their friendship was than they thought. So when Legoshi finally goes after Louis, the careful build up feels deserved, and that tail wag Legoshi does when he finally sees Louis is insanely delightful to witness.
Pina the sheep is introduced this season, filling the void of Louis in the drama club, and he is my favorite character by far in this series. He’s cocky, but in a sly way. When he pisses you off, it’s in a way that you grow respect for him. His mental games with Legoshi, and consistent mental torture he lays on the killer, making his life extremely stressful, adds some much needed, and very much enjoyed tension in this show.
THE UGLY
God the last episode. Why did Ibuki try to kill Louis? These guys practically became best buds over the course of the season, and Even if that’s not the case, if Louis is leaving anyways, guess who becomes the new number one? It just seems like forced plot fodder to make the ending feel more “dramatic”. Guess what though? Panda Sensei’s training came through. In what I can only describe as a mushroom-induced delusion, griz is blinded by Legoshi’s beautiful aura of respect for all animals, as he gets hit, hard. Wow! Amazing! Immediately after Legoshi gets his teeth kicked in, though, which is even funnier. Btw there’s about 3 or 4 talk breaks in this fight. It was bad before, but in this episode particularly, it was overbearing. Then for some reason, Louis arrives all dramatically, and is like “Legoshi, eat my foot.” Then Legoshi does! Why? Because Louis hates his brand? Because it’s what Louis wants? Either way, Legoshi uncharacteristically decides, “Let me forgo my training, and eat my best friend’s foot, so I can win this fight for the love of all animals!.” So stupid. And guess what! He doesn’t even win! They take yet another pause in their fight, and both get arrested! This whole episode is like a toilet clogged to the brim full of plot fodder.
