This is undoubtedly the BEST season of the entire series and yet it just barely reaches the average standard. Nanatsu no Taizai is not a bad anime/manga, it is simply so average that people either expect too much or are rejecting it from the start. Apart from the simplest shounen concepts and relatively decent background, this shounen offers nothing more.
One of the main reasons why this shounen didn't succeed was the lack of talent of the author to create actual situations and drama. Most of the scenes had actual potential, but it was just wasted. Fraudin could have been a very deep villain, instead, they tried to make him seem deep somehow in the last 2 minutes, which of course just seemed bad.
The hype around the 10 Commandments seems massively meaningless starting in episodes 7-8 and from then on you can hardly take them seriously. They were supposed to present the ultimate danger, but due to the poor power scaling and power system here, every character became situationally capable of overcoming whatever threat they were in. Good pacing and a few explanations could have made up for this more. Unfortunately, the author kept trying the same line like "Oh look how strong this character suddenly is and beats up the other one" and this on a continuous loop. Somehow it reminds me at the same time from Bleach, there was the same problem, when characters became permanently stronger just to make it equal to the plot and power progress.
Through this, many "threatening" scenes also lose charisma, let alone drama. You can put in as good Osts as you want, the fights and scenes just seem average. Except Escanor is there, but I'll get into that later.
Apart from all that, at least you have to be glad that this was the last well-animated season of the series before we switch to paint production.
[Story 4]
So what is the plot of this season?
It would be hard to put it into words any better, it's just a big fighting arc. The opponents are bathed in Hype, only for the hype to be ruined. Then there's fighting in various locations, not much really happening, and then the finale slowly arrives as well. The last fight between Meliodas and the antagonists was very respectable as well as interesting, which represents the highlight of the whole season.
Other than that, that's it, nothing more to come. The most important background and revelations to the story get in the next 2 seasons, but they should rather read the manga or watch a summary, instead of this pain too.
[Characters 5]
The characters are more convincing this season. Meliodas shows more of his true personality and his fears. Elizabeth stops being a one-dimensional character, at least she tries her best. King and Diane go more into their relationship and problems. Escanor is the biggest blessing of the series.
Honestly, one of the reasons I started this manga earlier was because of Escanor's existence. After knowing that this defined man exists, I tried my luck with the manga. And I don't regret it. He is simple, simply the manifested sin of pride. And that is what makes him so remarkable and surprising.
There is no need to look for great profundity here, it meets the approximate shounen standards.
[Music 8 / Animations 6]
The osts are still remarkably good and do a good job of handholding the weaker scenes. It's not much, but this still lifts dynamics and tension.
The animations were worse than in the first season, but clearly above average, at least for the beginning. From the midpoint of the season, they got weaker and weaker.
[Conclusion 5]
Nanatsu no Taizai is one of the most average shounen out there, with some notable strengths and many impressive weaknesses. It tries to look like it could be more than it is. What may be true, unfortunately, it lacked creativity and execution to make more out of this work. A fighting shounen, with decent characters and a reasonably interesting backstory. You can watch it, but this is the point where you should draw the line. Everything after this season can be better enjoyed in the manga.
[Enjoyment 5]
