Lelouch, exiled prince, planning a rebellion against his father's reign. Mecha battles, chessgame strategies and deep, bitter rivalries were the core of R1. So the question is, does R2 hold that same standard?
In the risk of sounding blasphemous...yes. R2, though it has it's faults and PLENTY of them will still leave all but the most critical viewer satisfied by the end, even if they felt a little jostled along the ride.
Characters- R2 brings in a whole new load of characters, as well as all the originals from the first season. This is often a point of contempt among fans because at times, the new cast can be overwhelming. However, I don't feel as though it's something that actually harms the show and is more a matter of persona taste than true quality.
Plot- The begging of R2 was solid, and the ending was almost at the same par. It's the middle where you hit shaky ground. To avoid possible spoilers, let me just say there are about 4 mini plotlines in the middle of R2 that didn't seem to really go. Had they narrowed it down to two plots and expanded on them, it would have been more effective.
The way the preexisting characters are handled also breaks base. Suzaku is one of the best examples of this, though Lelouch has his moments. Some may feel as though the characters have been rather ass-raped, ding things they normally would never do.
The twists- Another big point of contention. It's the twists that can be seen listed as both Crowning Moments of Awesome AND as Wallbangers. While most of them WORKED (I am a fan of the 1 million Zero's, and consider it a Crowning Moment) it felt like overkill at times. Almost as if they're twisting the plot JUST for the sake of a twist. The plot with Marianne is a PRIME example of this.
Overall, I feel like R2 moved too quickly with too many subplots and needs some duct tape for those plotholes
BUT
It's also still a very emotional, moving and exciting series. I feel one of the reasons R2 is held to be such a "flop" is because R1 was just so good. It set the bar very high for itself, and when it couldn't quite reach it, it left a bitter taste in the fan's mouths.
Despite it's flaws, R2 is still compelling and satisfying. Your enjoyment will rely entirely on how you chose to view it.
R2 in Review
Oh R2, what have you done to this fandom?
Split it right down the middle, that's what.
Lelouch, exiled prince, planning a rebellion against his father's reign. Mecha battles, chessgame strategies and deep, bitter rivalries were the core of R1. So the question is, does R2 hold that same standard?
In the risk of sounding blasphemous...yes. R2, though it has it's faults and PLENTY of them will still leave all but the most critical viewer satisfied by the end, even if they felt a little jostled along the ride.
Characters- R2 brings in a whole new load of characters, as well as all the originals from the first season. This is often a point of contempt among fans because at times, the new cast can be overwhelming. However, I don't feel as though it's something that actually harms the show and is more a matter of persona taste than true quality.
Plot- The begging of R2 was solid, and the ending was almost at the same par. It's the middle where you hit shaky ground. To avoid possible spoilers, let me just say there are about 4 mini plotlines in the middle of R2 that didn't seem to really go. Had they narrowed it down to two plots and expanded on them, it would have been more effective.
The way the preexisting characters are handled also breaks base. Suzaku is one of the best examples of this, though Lelouch has his moments. Some may feel as though the characters have been rather ass-raped, ding things they normally would never do.
The twists- Another big point of contention. It's the twists that can be seen listed as both Crowning Moments of Awesome AND as Wallbangers. While most of them WORKED (I am a fan of the 1 million Zero's, and consider it a Crowning Moment) it felt like overkill at times. Almost as if they're twisting the plot JUST for the sake of a twist. The plot with Marianne is a PRIME example of this.
Overall, I feel like R2 moved too quickly with too many subplots and needs some duct tape for those plotholes
BUT
It's also still a very emotional, moving and exciting series. I feel one of the reasons R2 is held to be such a "flop" is because R1 was just so good. It set the bar very high for itself, and when it couldn't quite reach it, it left a bitter taste in the fan's mouths.
Despite it's flaws, R2 is still compelling and satisfying. Your enjoyment will rely entirely on how you chose to view it.