One of the most watched anime’s and a massive fan favourite returned on the weekend for season two, thanks to Anime Lab. Attack On Titan Season Two premiered with a thumping new OP and great action to boot in just the first episode. Farrah and Japandaman break down episode 1, Beast Titan.
Japandaman Breakdown
Ok, I’ll try to keep this spoiler free but first off…Titans have been hiding where?? Right from the first minute, revelations and more questions are raised so if you thought answers were coming after season one, we may have to wait a bit longer. It’s great to see that some fan favourites are back even though we’re yet to see them in action. Also good to see some new characters introduced straight away with some substance to them. The episode starts nicely building the tension and drama that we’ve become accustomed to, however it isn’t long before the Titans show up and start wreaking havoc. We find out early on that Wall Rose has been breached which transitions nicely into some action for the rest of the episode without letting up the pace.
Miche is a character that kicks some ass during this action sequence who we learn is only second to Levi for his fighting skills, he’s amazing. Whether or not he’s around for a while for us to get used to, well… There’s a nice flashback scene with Eren and Mikasa before cutting back to the main storyline but we’re yet to see them in action this early on. The Titans as usual are creepy, scary and just have all sorts of wrong expressions on their faces and yes, there’s already a variety of different ones in the first episode. The animation on the horses when there’s lots happening on screen is quite stunning and the 3D effect comes across very cleanly with an exceptionally high level of wow factor thrown in.
It’s obviously very early in the season but if the rest of the episodes follow the action and tension of this first episode, then anime fans are definitely in for a treat. And oh yeah, keep an eye for the Titan who the episode is named after. He’s something very different in more ways than one. I can wait and see what direction they take him in, I really hope there’s a cool story arc in there around him.
4.5/5
Farrah Breakdown
Attack on Titan is back baby!
I am going to keep this short and sweet and avoid using spoilers because I feel that it wouldn’t be right. If there was one show that made you feel like you have been punched in the face from pure brilliance it was the premiering episode for season two. This show managed to capture my interest from the very start. The slight recap of what has happened previously was welcomed, as it has been many years since the original series has been shown.
The show has this new intensity that I haven’t felt in a while watching an action filled anime. The characters show a new depth and have clearly developed which is something I did wonder we would see. The interesting thing for me though is even though you know that there is some clear progression it still feels like we have never been apart from this world for long.
This first episode was gruesome as hell. If I were to compare this show with a live action this show would clearly be the anime version of ‘The Walking Dead’. Unexpected deaths and shock value hit you straight away (that poor horse). The show is already establishing that things are dark, things are depressing, and that there is the need for a hero.
If I had to find some faults for this episode I would probably say it was the opening theme song. It just didn’t have that same iconic feel as oppose to the previous season but it does seem like a theme that people will grow to love as the series goes on.
It is definitely a show I can see myself watching week after week, leaving me desperately wanting more. I am so glad that we have this show back in our lives and that we have this unique story being unfolded through this medium. It had the right amount of comedy to balance out the seriousness of the story.
For a first impression I give this show a 4/5
Welcome back Attack on Titan, we have missed you.