Tonikaku Kawaii 2nd Season

Tonikawa is a great watch for those times if you are feeling lonely. The show’s purpose is very clear and it doesn’t deviate from it. You know exactly what you are going to get and the question becomes a matter of whether you want it or not. Plot [6/10]: Each episode has its own plot whether that be playing video games or going camping. Honestly speaking, it’s kind of impressive that tonikawa manages to maintain its popularity with literally 0 plot. It’s not even as if they are stringing episodes together to create arcs of any sort. The conflict/main event introduced at the beginning ofthe episode is 100% of the time, resolved at the end of the episode. It’s really just focused on creating “cute” couple moments between Nasa and Tsukasa, the main attraction of the series. I want to add that the show’s comedy is decent. Sometimes it's cringe because Nasa and Tsukasa act so unrealistic which each other, i.e. whenever Tsukasa acts bashfully towards indulging Nasa’s requests to be intimate. She acts embarrassed but never says no to him lmao. However, they manage to stay creative enough in the comedy department that the show isn’t a bad watch, because if it weren’t for the comedy, the show would be unwatchable, even for romance lovers. Characters: [7/10]: I mean really the same as last season, in the sense that there isn’t really any character development, but I’ll say that there is a large variety of characters this season, both new and old, that elevates the show and keeps them watchable. This includes his old teacher, Tsukasa’s caretaker, Kaname’s friend, and Nasa’s high school friend. Even if it’s the same old Nasa and Tsukasa, even if they annoy you by being repetitive/unrealistic, it’s hard to hate them. If you watched season one, it was probably for them after all, like I said, you know what you are getting with tonikawa: sugar-sweet romance. Animation/Art [7/10]: The art is really well done in certain moments whenever they want to create cool scenery for Nasa and Tsukasa, like a bath scene or night sky. The art is easy on the eye in my opinion. It’s a more chibi style but it fits the “cute” theme of the series. The animation is good enough, maybe a little choppy but does the job for a romance/slice–of–life. The sound effects and comedic effects were good too. Soundtrack/Voice Acting [6/10]: The comedic nature of the series really means the voice actors don’t have much to do, it’s pretty much the same throughout, with little variation unless you are Nasa or Tsukasa. Kaname has some decent moments here but it's pretty average. I wish tonikawa would do more in the soundtrack department, it’s kinda stale with the same lighthearted soundtrack. Overall, pretty average here, the opening is good for the first few seconds then turns into some EDM song that sounds terrible smh. Conclusion: I think it’s a fun watch as a rom-com fan. Just because the show is nothing to write home about doesn’t mean it’s not good. I think that Tonikawa is an average rom-com, but without the drama, harems, and triangles. It really gives off slice-of-life vibes. The whole Nasa and Tsukasa are a new couple thing does wear off but you have to keep in mind that they got married as teenagers and are a new couple. Their lack of intimacy is unrealistic and becomes boring because they are already married, there really isn’t any room for further development. The side cast is decent enough and makes up for Nasa and Tsukasa’s faults for the most part, even though they get well over half of the screen time every episode. As mentioned previously, Tonikawa has one job: sugar-sweet romance, and if you want a cute and heartwarming watch, and enjoyed Season One, Tonikawa: Season Two gets the job done.

The heartwarming lovey-dovey rom-com that transcends the universe is back for a second round, though this time, is more nuance than you can expect...and it requires a tad bit more attention than ever before. To put it simply: mangaka Kenjiro Hata's Tonikaku Kawaii a.k.a. Fly Me to the Moon was a masterpiece work then and is STILL a masterpiece work now. Hot on the heels of studio Seven Arcs and director Ikehata Hiroshi's adequate showing back in Fall 2020 for its premiere season, Tonikawa is back for the much-awaited sequel, progressing the relationship of the married couple of Nasa Yuzaki and Tsukasa, along with the memorable sidecharacters of the Arisugawa sisters Kaname and Aya, as well as Chitose and her band of maids. But there is one person that anchors this sequel in an influential way that exposes part of the mystery of the series: the old grandma of Tokiko Tsukuyomi, Tsukasa and Chitose's legal guardian. If you can recall, Tokiko only briefly shows up at the start of the Yuzaki's marriage life in Season 1, revealing herself to the married couple, but seemingly like an annoyance or thought, since all that the couple needed was her stamped name on the legal binding marriage document to acknowledge the marriage. The relationship between wife and guardian was iffy back then, since we didn't know how deep the connection between both characters would turn out to be. And now, with Season 2, the worrisomeness of Tokiko is justified by the fact that she knows that Tsukasa is some sort of celestial being, someone who would transcend time and the universe. But Nasa would still be the one and the same gigachad you know from Season 1, that love is stronger than the universe, and belief is his heart of the matter when it comes to Tsukasa. Otherwise, there is not much difference when it comes to comparisons between both seasons, with the same staff team from the prequel now helming the sequel in the same unchanging fashion. Although the OST got a refresh for the sequel, I've gotta admit that I take back what I said about Season 1's OP being a banger, it's that for sure, but to me, it's alright. I actually prefer Season 2's OP a lot more due to its down-to-Earth vibes with Tsukasa's VA, now paired with the music collab that's done with Neko Hacker, which is a more palatable song. The ED...I'll take it or leave it, since my feelings of the manga-to-anime conversion are a bit more grounded now as compared to the "fan bias" lashing out back in Fall 2020. At the end of the day, it's still Tonikawa at the heart of it all, and it remains one of the best rom-coms of the modern era, whether you've picked up the manga since Season 1's end or are awaiting the arrival of the sequel 2+ years later. I have enjoyed the manga once through and have surpassed the anime's stopping point, though the adaptation has gotten a 'tad better this time. Still, check out the anime adaptations first before going back to the manga, the expressions are much better the second time around.

One of the sweetest and most infuriating experiences I’ve seen in years. This second season takes to the extreme the waste of time to explain the origin of Tsukasa and replaces it with endless hours of corniness and much, much sugar, which becomes unpleasant. Important characters like Tokiko appear and try to solve the mystery of Tsukasa, but there are always interruptions that prevent this from happening. Of the 12 episodes of this season, only 2 are worth it, and only partially, since the rest of the time they fill it with situations that cause a diabetic coma. I’m a fan of romantic stories, but this series is gettingclose to absurd, so it gets a 5/10, and I’m being very generous.

This is one of those cases where I watch the sequel to something and begin to wonder: “What did I even like about the first installment?” It’s namely exactly the same as before. More of the same even. Absolutely nothing to push the envelope, if you will. Identical to the contents of the first season, perhaps. A homogeneous sludge, if you feel so inclined. An uninteresting repeat of already established intrigues, as one might say. 3 / 10, I don’t even have anything to say. Nothing’s enjoyable about this show anymore. I am free from the waifu bait, let this serve as enlightenment to you too.

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