Normally I don't start a show mid-series like this (I tend to either start with the first season or not at all, like most people probably), but I had no problems jumping into this story midway and ended up really enjoying it.
- It's a self-contained story. Doing some reading around the internet, Season 1 seems to me a story that reached a definite conclusion (the consensus seems to be that not many were expecting a second season). Season 2 does involve a lot of the same characters, but it seems to be a new chapter in their lives, with a very different tone and themes, that also reaches a form of conclusion. Having finished Season 2, I will definitely check out Season 1 at some point, but I am by no means in a rush to do so out of frustration or unanswered questions.
- A significant amount of time has passed since Season 1. The returning characters seemed to have gone through quite a lot and ended up in a very different place than in Season 1. I felt that the show really takes the time to paint this new reality that the characters found themselves in, while also introducing new interesting characters, so that it's not constantly leaning on plot details from Season 1 to progress the story.
- There are quite a few flashbacks that give you glimpses at what happened in Season 1, but also what happened in the time between Season 1 and 2. They are told with care and spread out throughout the whole season, so that they don't feel like recaps purely out of necessity, and they add to the story in the moment instead of bogging it down.
- But most importantly, what the characters were going through in the present (in Season 2) felt very real, heartfelt, and interesting on its own. Yes, a lot of this story deals with what happened in the past: the curve-balls life threw at you, and the mistakes you made. But the story is even more about what you should do "today" and what you can work towards in the future: to heal from, to come to terms with, or to make up for the past. The fact that I was so engrossed in the story without worrying about details from the past is a testament to the show's strong storytelling and characters.
- As most other reviews have mentioned, the show in so many other ways sucked me in. The rugged, almost grimy art style that really feels different, beautiful art and character designs, impactful fight animation, great character acting, fascinating backdrop, and a soundtrack that adds so much to the atmosphere and drama.
I found Nomad to be an excellent self-contained story that one can enjoy and feel strongly for, even without having seen Season 1. Definitely worth your time and attention.
