Reviews

Oct 3, 2022
Mixed Feelings
This season was such a disappointment. As someone who was pretty engaged in the first season (even though I scored the first season a low 7/10), the first season did a good job of keeping an air of mystery surrounding where the plot could go and also certain main characters (Ayanokouji, Horikita, the school president, the teacher, class C and A students, etc.) which is why I decided to watch season two.

To start, the first season was a tad bit confusing (I guess a lot was left out from the novel), but it was explained JUST well enough to keep me interested in following the theme of classroom of the elite: Make it to Class A. Which is the main motivation for MCs Horikita and Ayanokouji. The thrill of this theme while they compete in exams while battling other classes is a great plot, but this show could've definitely explored the "psychological" aspect more. I ignored the vague plot points and annoying fan service of S1 for the sake of the storyline. The best thing about season one is the deserted island special exam. We get to see important characters in action, giving us hope for the next season as it is believed the show WOULD explore each of these characters more.

Season two begins where the island exam ends. Holy crap, this was such a letdown. From the amount of hype it got, I expected the storyline to be wayyyy more detailed and intriguing because the way season 1 ends off, it feels like things are just getting started for character development. But nope - instead we get a season full of irrelevant characters and bland storylines. Which is why I rated this a six, I was going to give it a 5, but I was being nice.

I will focus more on the characters because the plot is so nonexistent it feels like its dragging. For example, the first exam of this season is the cruise exam with the planets. To sum it up, the goal of the exam was for each planet team to guess who their teams VIP was to earn points, each team would engage in dialogue to figure this out. Obviously, this is classroom of the elite, so loopholes will occur. But nothing happens during this exam. LITERALLY NOTHING. These types of shows usually allow the viewer to go along and get some sort of idea of how the strategy will go, even if you are blindsided in the end - but nothing. (Tomodachi game does a good job of allowing you to follow along with its psychological aspect, even if it blindsides you in the end which is the POINT - to add to the thrill). Some students from class A don't even participate and all we have is the blonde girl from class B leading empty discussions that we don't even hear. Then during this entire exam, they highlight the hell out of this bullying storyline to introduce the blandest character ever: Karuizawa (Class D's leader Hirata's girlfriend). I'm sure in the novel there is a point to these scenes but based on how they are portrayed in the anime it is wayyy to vague. The bullying scenes feel so random and out of place??

Another disappointment from this season is our MC - Ayanokouji. He had sooo much promise. In season one they left you wanting to see him more in action. We knew he is a type of mastermind to work behind the scenes, but I think the show takes BEHIND THE SCENES to a new level. We see him do BARELY anything. So, once the exams are over and he (once again) was the culprit to Class Ds victory or growth, it makes no sense or is a stretchhhh. Ayanokouji in S1 was interesting, in this season he is just boring. It's one of those situations that just drag and drag and then BOOM he works wonders, and you wonder if he really is this big mastermind or if the people surrounding him are just idiots. There is NO competition (from what I've seen in class D, or C, and maybe even including B. Class A is the only class that is interesting). The ONLY character who kept me engaged and was slight competition was Class C's Ryuen. Ryuen MADE this season bearable. He was super interesting and wicked. He was my main motivation for finishing this season. He honestly saved me from dropping it halfway through.

Some honorable mentions that I thought would be interesting this season, but literally showed NO importance were Class D's leader Hirata, the blonde buff guy Rokusuke, and Class B's leader Ichinose. They had so much potential, but this show failed them.

I will touch on Kushida quickly because I think she is so irrelevant. I thought they would expand on her more, but we actually see less of her until the end. The only thing going for her was her hatred for Horikita, but even when her personality is brought to the light it's MEH. Other than that, she is literally there for fan service. Also, the Sakura girl is so pointless its laughable. She literally was barely in this season; I honestly feel like they just wanted another cute girl with big tits who crushes on the MC. She's just so random, just like a lot of characters in this anime.

Now, to Horikita. They did her so dirty this season. In S1 I sort of saw her as someone who could potentially be up there in thinking with Ayanokouji (even though we know he is out of everyone's league) but she barely grows as a character. Instead, everything that happens in Class D's favor is because of Ayanokouji. For someone who wants to go to Class A and prove her brother wrong, the show does a horrible job at showing her worth a lot of the times. In S1 she was way more strategic, but I feel like they purposely dummed her down?? That goes back to my point where I said Ayanokouji literally has ZERO competition. The only person who gave him a run for this money was Ryuen.

I also want to touch on the fan service and harem elements. The fan service wasn't as bad this season - thank god, but the show plays at harem elements for Ayanokouji which make no sense to me. He doesn't even talk to the random girls who like him enough for them to be blushing at or crushing on him? I swear anytime he looks at a girl or helps a girl in a situation its implied they like him?? At least in actual harem shows there's usually a reason or build up to why said girls like the MC. Also, majority of the boys in the show are weird perverts - who are just there to fill space - and only care about dating/flirting with certain girls in the class. Just like multiple things in this show, this is pointless.

To sum it up, after about 5 episodes in I literally kept watching as background or while I was multitasking. It was extremely disappointing because S1 left enough promise for them to do great things this season. I saw they are doing a S3, but I honestly won't tune in. If I do force myself, it would only be to see if they ever get to Class A, other than that this season left a bad taste in my mouth which isn't good because the first season wasn't the best.

You should watch this if you're interested in psychological shows, but this anime tries too hard to be psychological and it comes across forced. Some like this show, others don't. I think because it started off so rocky and the characters are so bland I consider this mediocre at best.
Reviewer’s Rating: 6
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