"I am in love with you." -- the following is a brief paragraph on my overall thoughts, followed by spoilers concerning sideplots and the final episode (as well as a brief allusion to sao ii). reader discretion advised. -- Himuro-sama: Science is War, er, I mean... Science Fell in Love is back with another season that takes its perfectly good premise and squanders it by deciding to focus on other avenues that aren't as interesting as the central romance and shove in side characters that further hinder any enjoyment that could be had. The reason everyone enjoyed the last season is still here, but in a lesser capacityand side characters are fleshed out with some success but mostly failure. While I got through the first season with ease, watching this one became something of a dread every week despite ending every episode with "yeah, that wasn't too bad."
In the last season, Himuro and Yukimura finally achieved a kiss with the best 'mood level' and continue their antics to scientifically explain their affection towards one another. This season starts with a new useless couple in a different lab that come off as annoying and an excuse for more fanservice. In fact, this season explores a lot more love than just that between our two MCs which is a logical step in the right direction - 'Science' doesn't just refer to two people, people fall in and out of love on a daily basis. The relationship between Kosuke and Ibarada is explored more with that idea of childhood friendship blossoming into something more during adulthood, and a few other potential couples are introduced during a group experiment. Another sideplot of Yukimura becoming a tutor for a struggling highschooler is present, it's short and sweet with instilling an idea of preservation and the joys of education into a younger individual, but it speeds by and the two episodes containing it are so disconnected it feels like an afterthought.
The most vital plot and the one that actually ends up dominating the season is Kanade and her struggles with normalcy - or at least her own interpretation of what 'normal' is. From a young age it's explained that she wasn't like other people, a usual trope for any character in any medium, and since then she's done her best to try and blend in. Conforming to society's ideals is a frequent thing and can lead to damaging one's own sense of self, and, although it's less interesting and I don't like this plot as much as Yukimura & Himuro's, it's done with relative success. The problem with it lies in it being hard to root for Kanade and how it's resolved in the final episode. She didn't seem to have any problems in who she was during the last season so this sudden extreme doubt and prominence of this is jarring. I like her as a character, the want to see her happy is obvious, but it isn't the same in terms of gripping like Ishigami from Kaguya's struggle with the same general idea.
Now, I was flirting with the idea of giving this a 7 before the final episode - the fence between a 6 and a 7 was where I stood. It wasn't my go-to first show on Fridays and I found it weaker than the last in an aspect I just couldn't pinpoint, but at the end of every episode I was feeling fine and enjoyed how my time was spent. This last episode though, oh do I have an idea of how to absolutely crush a relatively wholesome show.
The last episode starts with a warning, a "the following program contains violence and depictions of sexual assault or rape and may not be suitable for all audiences."
... yeah. It's uh, horrendous. Suddenly, the dude who's been courting Kanade, trying to woo her, turns into Shinkawa (Recon II as I call him) from SAO II in that a somewhat stalky character goes off the deep-end. Kanade is kidnapped, brought to a dark building surrounded by strange men, and the whole spiel about being a 'nice guy' and it turning into a 'forceful' relationship now... why? Why flip the script in such an abrupt manner and even then, who would find this as an acceptable play of events ESPECIALLY as a way to resolve Kanade's doubt in herself and - get this - a way to make this a harem as she realizes she also has feelings for Yukimura. On top of this blatantly bad writing decision, it tries to create an emotional and comical scene with Yukimura explaining to these criminals who Kanade is.
I just can't get over this show's direction in the last episode. It has a rocky start, a fun and standard middle, and a last episode that plunges it down to the gutters of some of the worst this medium has to offer.
It's really a shame that I'll probably go on to remember this season mainly for that final episode and nothing else. The slightest of recommendations for those who've seen the first, and a no-go for people who're thinking about picking it up - a missed opportunity for sure.
Not Recommended
Spoiler ahead. Its good and enjoyable until episode 7 when Kanade drama start to kick in and it goes downhill since then. The drama is irritating to watch. The first 6 episode is enjoyable for me and at halfway on episode 6 the romance between Yukimura and Himuro is kinda resolve when they finally admit that they in love with each other. So you think by this time they should start going out and become a couple right? We will get more Yukimura/Himuro fluff right? No, the next day for some reason now they want to start a new research to determine how strong their loveis and whether they love is romantic or not. WTF? You just literally head over heel for each other and making out yesterday and now you still have a doubt that you love each other romantically or not? So, no they did not become couple. The author just want to drag out the relationship even more. Its start become frustrating to watch.
Now episode 7 begin and the start of the infamous Kanade "Normal" arc. Boy oh boy, its awful. It start kinda okay because there is "nice" looking guy that appear briefly in season 1 come and confess to Kanade. Because this is romcom anime, I thought maybe this is a new opportunity to give kanade her own love interest because she keep complaining want to find her own love in a past episode. So, by the end of this unnecessary long drama 6 episode arc did Kanade find her own love interest and become happy? Nahh. The author decide to turn the last episode into psychological mess and turn that nice guy into obsess yandere that try to gangrape Kanade with his thug friend and have Yukimura come to save the day with his Powerpoint presentation.
By the end of the arc, instead of giving Kanade her own love interest or just be happy being single, the author make her fall in love with Yukimura instead and turn this wholesome one on one romance into shitty love triangle. Oh I forgot to mention that in the course of 6 episode of Kanade arc, the author introduce new JK gyaru girl and make her fall in love with Yukimura just for the sake to add one more girl so Yukimara can have harem now. Yes. This is harem shit show now. Now I see why Yukimura and Himuro didn't become couple in episode 6 even though their romance should have been resolve. Turn out the author is planning to make this Harem all along.
I love Kanade character in season 1 because she is good wingwoman for Yukimura and Himuro relationship but after this arc, she become the least likeable character for me. It's a lot better if they resolve Yukimura/Himuro relationship in episode 6 and focus more on developing Ibarada/Kyosuke relationship instead of this Kanade arc mess. They should just stick with Yukimura/Himuro, Ibarada/Kyosuke, & Chris/Sui wholesome romance instead of forcing this series in to force shitty love triangle and soon to be harem when that JK girl start getting more screen time. Now I'm feel like I'm wasting my time watching this anime.
The first 6 episode is enjoyable to watch but rest is garbage. I'm pretty sure if this anime ever get season 3, it will turn into another shitty harem but instead of school setting, now it takes place in Uni instead.
3/10. Not recommend.
Enjoyable first 6 episode but it just goes downhill since then. Last episode is so bad and feel force. I hate that stupid ending.
Mixed Feelings
Where to begin? This anime is 100% a tale of two halves, as the first half would relate to what season 1 was more like as a fun cute romantic comedy. The second half however was rough, they tried taking a serious tone, while still implementing comedy. Overall i think the execution could have been better, so in my opinion, this season falls a little short compared to season 1. Art: 7 The art is nothing amazing, but the character designs are really good. I won't lie, I'm not really expecting top-tier animation or anything from this anime so the art is good enough for me,and is easily passible, as I enjoyed the overall design of the show. Character expressions were really good too.
Sound: 8
The sound design was pretty good, took me by surprise, but the real kickers are that the opening and endings unironically kind of go hard. It's very happy-go-lucky but sounds good nonetheless.
Characters: 6
The characters as a whole were good, however, with most of the second half of the season being focused on Kanede, it impacts this score, as honestly sometimes the scenes she was in would be hard to watch and not that enjoyable.
Story: 6
The first half was about what I expected, However, when they tried to go serious the execution was poor in my opinion and left a sour taste in my mouth in all honesty. If there is a season 3, I think it can be better.
NaNatsude_tanaka
June 17, 2022
Recommended
So, Rikei ga Koi ni Ochita no de Shoumei shitemita. Heart just finished airing and it was pretty enjoyable for the most part. To be honest, im so glad that i have watched this series because i didnt expect it to be good. Overall, this season is slightly better than the last just because of some reasons. I dont remember that much from last season but the fanservice for this season is really something else, they really went all out on this one ( probably just me). The one thing i was worried abt for this season was that i thought that they gonna only focuson the main couple and imo it will be a bit boring since its basically like the first season. Thankfully and surprisingly, this season they focus more on the side characters and im glad they have the chance to shine. Ibarada was one of the characters that i end up liking, maybe not best girl, because she was damn adorable and surprisingly she has her own problem and it sucks that they didnt really spend time on it since majority of us want to know more about her. Nonetheless, i was very content with the things that we covered in this season.
Of course, all anime is not perfect same goes to this anime. The one thing that i found that is still an issue from last season is the comedy. Everyone knows comedy is subjective and for me, the jokes werent the best. Although, this show is not comedy but a romance so its not big deal. Another one is , maybe its just me, but the art style in this anime is weird or ugly, idk what it is abt me not liking how the anime looks but whatever its a minor issue that i have. I have praise on how this season really delves into the side characters and how they make them more relevant than the last season BUT this one character really ruins the enjoyment that i have for this anime and that is Kanade. Dont get me wrong, the things that she went through was very understandable and its probably a Japan thing but she literally ruins the mood for this anime with her overdramatic issue. Kanade, for me, is an ok character but in this season i really find her annoying with her indecisive on what she wants? I think she's just a confused teenager or just going through puberty (lol). She even said that she doesnt want to cause problem to anyone yet she's making her senior worry abt her. The problem is that the show is going in a loop with her character and with her not wanting to find a solution to this problem makes it an infuriating to watch. I feel like its not really her fault but its more on the parents, like what the actual hell are they trying to force their own daughter doing things that she dont want to and its annoying because Kanade is not a child anymore so she couldve politely state on what she wanna do. Welp, idk i didnt like her arc at all not because i dont understand but it took way too long for her to realise that she actually can be weird.
Overall, this anime is good with minor issues.
