Shixiong A Shixiong 2nd Season

My recommendation up front: Unless you’re just killing time while waiting for your favorite series to release, or you truly have nothing else to watch (like I did), Shixiong A Shixiong (My Senior Brother is too steady, all seasons) is dismissible. You can pass on this one. At 133 episodes, it’s a major time investment, and the series simply lacks that “x-factor” needed for most people to justify the commitment. I've tried my best to write an objective review to serve as a guidepost for those contemplating whether or not to embark on this series, as I didn't see many thorough reviews. Whether you're a fan of thisfranchise or not, please consider that the following still remains true: What this series does well: - Graphics (8/10): Solid for a 2023 release, though it doesn’t use the latest rendering engine. It does not compare to top-tier visuals like Beyond Time’s Gaze (10/10) or Eclipse of Illusion (9/10). - Romance: Good romantic development involving the MC in the 2nd season. Without this, I likely would have dropped the series early. - Production quality: You can tell real effort went into "all aspects" of the show. It avoids the sloppy execution seen in most xianxia releases. - MC personality: It’s refreshing to see a different kind of main character. Unlike most xianxia leads driven purely by revenge, this MC is carefree, humorous, and largely indifferent to everything around him. However, this indifference is a double-edged sword. It works in the show’s favor at times, but also contributes to its weakness, which I will get into later on. What this series does not do well: - Humor: Let’s address the elephant in the room. The chibi-style humor is the most commonly criticized aspect from reviewers. While I personally did not mind it, it does take some getting used to, and it is reused more often than necessary. That said, it is not nearly as bad as some make it out to be, and it is definitely not a deal-breaker. - Lack of seriousness: What is a deal breaker is the overall lack of seriousness in the story’s tone. The main character often treats the world, its stakes, or its villains as elements that are seemingly beneath him or played for jokes. When the protagonist does not take his own world seriously, it becomes difficult for the viewer to take it seriously as well. It's a bit tricky to articulate, but this becomes apparent once you start watching--a task not recommended for most. :) - No meaningful struggle or progression: The main character lacks meaningful struggle, and this series takes it even further. The MC starts off as a hidden prodigy right out of the gate. There is virtually no struggle. He naturally discovers techniques and abilities that appear out of nowhere, not learned, not taught, yet presented as if the viewer should somehow understand their origin. Because of this, there is little attachment to or appreciation for his abilities when they appear. On top of that, the series does a poor job tracking progression. The MC can remain at the same cultivation level for 50 or more episodes without clear reminders of where he stands. The cultivation levels of other characters are also poorly explained, and the gap between them and higher tiers like "Sages" is never clearly defined. - Without a sense of progression nor properly outlining it, it becomes difficult to draw the audience into this world. Had the series slowed down and invested in meaningful developmental struggles, it could have been significantly better. - The blatant overuse of "talismans" and "paper-mans," becomes an exhaustive experience for the audience. - The blatant overuse of the "Yin-Yang" symbol for a number of characters is extremely redundant. I get that it represents the "Dao," but seriously, there are no other symbols that can be used to differentiate between spells and other characters? - Weak world-building and lack of mystery: The best series in any genre tend to build expansive worlds or universes filled with meaningful and surprising mysteries. This is what creates a compelling narrative. My Senior Brother Is Too Steady does not deliver on this. The world feels extremely small, as if everything exists within arm’s reach. The main plot and central antagonist are introduced very early, leaving little room for intrigue or discovery. Additionally, the back-and-forth against the villains becomes extremely redundant and uninventive as the story progresses. It really makes one wonder, "is this it?" Overall: - There is simply not much to look forward to in this series. There is very little hype, minimal sense of progression, and almost nothing that feels earned or properly explained. The villains become repetitive very quickly, and the story lacks the depth needed to stay engaging. In the end, there just is not enough substance in the storytelling to confidently recommend this series to others. With that said, had they hired a different storyboard director, this series truly had the potential to be one of the greats, as nothing was done sloppily. Who this series is for: - If you've seen all the good xianxias, have absolutely nothing else to watch, or bored out of your mind, then this series is for you. - Or, if this is your very first xianxia, and you have an unbiased perspective, then this series might be a good segway into this genre. Who should NOT watch this series: - If you're a seasoned xianxia enthusiast and expect quality at the level of "Renegade Immortal" or "A Mortal's Journey to Immortality," then do yourself the favor and run away like it's the plague.