Coming into this season after having watched season 1, I expected to be met with the same cuteness and carefree whimsy that season 1 gave me. For the most part, that was what I received. What I wasn't prepared for was just how much I grew to love each and every character and their personalities.
From an outside perspective, the members of the Light Music Club seem a bit bland and a bit TOO normal, but that's a huge strength: relatability. These characters are the kinds of people you may have known in high school, or you yourself may have had a very similar personality to any one of them. They feel incredibly real and their experiences as a silly group of friends resonates with many as experiences that an untold number of us have had: sleepovers, final exams, preparing for some sort of school event like a play or concert, etc. Through experiences that many viewers can understand and relate to, K-On effectively conveys the emotions associated with such an amazing and wholesome friendship.
One of the best ways the show gets its message across is through the absolutely beautiful soundtrack. K-On's use of music as a vehicle through which the emotional effect is conveyed is second to none as far as anime I've watched. I've heard amazing OPs and amazing EDs but the overall soundtrack to this series is absolutely superb. Songs like "U&I" and "Tenshi Ni Furetayo!" hit you in the feels like an 18-wheeler when they play because of the buildup to their performances, and the meanings behind the lyrics. "Tenshi Ni Furetayo!" especially hit me so hard whenever it played that I could hardly see my monitor through the tears, which is such a rare occurrence for me that I 100% knew this season was getting a 10 the instant the song ended.
Another great strength of K-On is the fact that it's a show that you can't really be spoiled on. You know they're gonna have music concerts. You know they're going to graduate high school. The enjoyment in this series isn't entirely derived from those big moments, but the journey the girls take to get there. The destination may be just as beautiful, but you'll learn to cherish the adventure leading up to it just as much.
I think one of the main takeaways from this series as a whole is to cherish your relationships with those closest to you. The joy that comes with being with your best friends is hard to beat. You must never forget that you are loved, and you have people who cherish you. Everyone will find their own Light Music Club eventually, and true happiness is achievable for all of us.
And remember, graduation is never the end.
