Papai Ghosh

So damn good ahhh we want season 3 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭👑👑👑👑👑👑👍🏻👍🏻

The first season was amazing, unique, and probably the most grounded anime I have ever seen. I even teared up a time or two. This second season, however, takes an even more realistic approach to the consequences of war -not only on nations, but on the victims and victors alike. This season also does an amazing job of tackling these issues by providing us with a deeply personal look at the psychological impact of our actions when we are not doing everything in our power to take the lives and feelings of others into consideration before every decision, and every action we take. This story does not rely on plot twists, but rather the impact that every major event has on the characters, as it makes us question the direction and message of the larger overall narrative. This series is also not at its heart an action-focused story (as is illustrated by its beautifully orchestrated original score). While there are plenty of graphically violent scenes throughout, this violence -and at times, an intentional lack there of- only serves as a mere tool to drive the characters ever closer to the brink of insanity, until the person they once were becomes a long-dormant memory. In doing so, we get to see the age-old concept of toxic masculinity tackled in a way that makes us question what it means to be a "true warrior." Oh, and remember when I said season one made me tear up a time or two? Well, following in the footsteps of the main character, Thorfinn, I'm man enough to admit that season two had me straight up shedding tears on more occasions than I can count. And it's not like I don't currently have enough drama in my life right now to contend with, but stories like these -rare as they might be- help me to process these emotions in a safe environment. So for that, I would like to thank everyone who worked on this story and made the anime and its source material such a masterfully crafted work of art. 10/10