To be honest, this season shone as well as outshone the first season in ways more than one. I thought the animation was neat, the voice acting was top notch, and the action sequences interwoven with twists and turns were delivered brutally. With the episode count slashed in comparison to the first season, there was still a story and an urgency to tell it. It actually got a lot more twisted this time, and didn't even hold back in terms of getting darker.
The time travel aspect wasn't explained in detail, so those looking for a lot of intricacy might find themselves confused, while those willing to enjoy the show for what it is: a violent action drama about a guy struggling to save his ladylove and friends, would find less to complain about. The previous season took time to set the conflict up while this one cut to the chase faster. And when that happened, it served what it was meant to: pure, raw, unflinching action sequences. Whether it was a fight spanning four or five episodes or just a few kicks or punches spanning four or five seconds, the action made its presence felt in each and every episode.
Plus, the character drama was even stronger this time. Friendly, fraternal and romantic bonds were portrayed with sincerity, and Takemichi's crying didn't feel forced or overdone for the most part. it actually showed him grow up, even though not by leaps and bounds, which is natural and expected of a character like him. Other characters such as Chifuyu got more prominence than last time, and the message of never backing down irrespective of how weak or strong one is, was delivered with subtlety.
This season's ratings were lower and I felt there wasn't really a lot of discussion about how good this season was. In fact, I mostly saw people trashing the manga as a whole online, and loving this season made me realize some opinions are better left ignored. If you enjoyed the previous season, chances are you will end up feeling the same this time around. The lower episode count allows for a binge watch, which is great considering how most of the episodes will leave you wanting to know what happens next.
