Spoiler Warning (Of Course)
Let's get going, alright. Love Is War season 2 starts off literally where season 1 ended but honestly it doesn't feel like a continuation at all as it feels like we are just getting more of the same stuff. I would say I enjoyed it but not to the extend of season 1. Why so is because I felt season 1 was something refreshing, something that occurs once in a blue moon. A funny and hilarious romance that is hard to get right in anime. So what did I think of season 2? I would say it's a bit draggy if I am going to be honest, I felt that the main objective here (which is to get either one to confess) is being dragged and bounced around. More on that later.
So from the starting episodes, we get to see the gang's year 1 coming to an end. They are stepping down and moving on to what was thought to be their last days as being student council. However, while I did enjoy it, this segment was way too long as the conclusion was straight up them get becoming year 2 in the student council. I don't mind them getting the position again it's just that season 2 has only 12 episodes and this segment alone literally felt like throwing a ball upstream just for it to flow back down without any change. We did get the introduction to new characters, Osaragi and Iino but even I have some problems with them as well.
What I found the issue about them was that they felt so damn irrelevant. Not that they are bad characters it's that they get so little screen time in season 2 that it's a shame and Iino especially doesn't feel fully incorporated into the student council yet. While I am sure we will see more of her in season 3 just the thought of me waiting for that seems kinda annoying. The thought 'We have to wait another season just to see more of a new character' just comes to mind.
Apart from the bad time management and pacing, there are still the same old Love Is War moments that really define the series. Hilarious moments, out of character scenes that throw off viewers, yeah, the good old Love Is War. Plus we did get a wider overview of mostly each character (not much on Chika sadly). We got an insight into Shirogane's family, seeing his sister in her 'rebel phase' for a while but nothing else but more especially on his dad, DIO er... I mean SHIROGANE, FATHER. That I must say must be one of the high points of the show and certainly entries to an abundant of memes. Plus as well as a bit more of Kaguya's family but I felt that was already mostly touched on in season 1.
We also did get that heartbreaking and emotion episode 11 all about Ishigami. I really felt this is the best episode in the whole show as it's such a victory in terms of Ishigami's character and his screen-time-justice. While emotional and impactful, it really just paints a picture of why Ishigami's like that and really just make amazing character development. But this brings to my next (probably last) issue I had. The fluctuation between emotions or feelings in scenes.
You might be thinking about those out of character moments or the sudden change of serious to dumbfounded, but no. I am talking about the whole episode in general. Like when there is a sad scene, it's just sad upon sad and depression. Even though the matter might be somewhat minuscule. In short, what I am saying is that some of the sad parts are a bit too emotional and overemphasize. I know overemphasizing is what makes something powerful but you can't just brush off something that is a big problem with jokes and laughter right. Like what I am saying is that the contrast of funny and depression moments are kind of big at times, in some cases it works but other times it doesn't.
-SCORES-
Character- 8/10: It's literally the same gang with Iino just thrown into the bunch. Generally, those 4 make good chemistry together and I don't really see big issues involving them.
Art- 7/10: I know they want to capture the art style of the manga and that's fine, but sometimes I feel as if the characters' bodies are too stiff or it's not really proportional and feels off.
Writing- 8/10: Jokes are great and well written, scenes are funny and emotional. The only real issue I feel is the pace. Definitely, they could have cramp more stuff in this season instead of making us wait another year or 2 for the next. I can certainly see my enjoyment going down if they do intend to milk the series and try their best to drag it as long as possible, that would truly be a shame.
Sound- 8/10: While we didn't get 'OH LOVE ME MISTA-A-AA' we did get 'DA-BI-DA-BI DOO'. At first, I wasn't as pleased as the first season's intro, it has grown on me and it's a great intro nevertheless. OST-wise, I wish the cut it out with the cliche emotional music because I really didn't like those moments too much. Outro's fine I guess, the intro literally outshines it.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed it. Not to the extent of the first one but still, a great show nevertheless. I must say it's not a 10 though, I feel the hype is getting to people out there. Certainly, season 1 is better.
Decent to Light 8
