HOLY SHIT THE SKY HAS PARTED AND THE ANIME GODS HAVE SEEN FIT TO FINALLY BLESS US WITH
ANOTHER SEASON OF ATTACK ON TITAN.
BE PRAISED FOR THERE IS SOME GOOD IN THIS WORLD.
It’s only been what?
4 years?
We’ve been sitting on that cliffhanger for 4 FREAKING YEARS?
No wonder so many people bailed, hoping for a sequel and just read the manga.
Though that was probably the intent.
Gotta sell those books somehow, because the art sure as hell won’t do it for you.
The question I posed previously in my anticipation video was something along the lines of: Would
Attack on Titan season 2 be worth it?
Short version?
Not really.
Well, in actuality it depends.
My excitement for the series, I will admit, was quite a bit farther down then it would
have been if S2 came out like 3 years ago.
That said however, after three episodes I’m right back where I was excitement wise.
Or I would be if the manga wasn’t hanging over my head.
Oh hi mark.
See the biggest problem I have with Attack on Titan S2 outside of me not being able to
talk about it with anyone (which I will get back to later) is not the story, the development
of its characters (at least, yet), or even the fact that it’s only going to be one
cour of 12 episode though really I MEAN COME ON!
My big problem is the atmosphere.
It’s a bit difficult to explain, but something felt a bit odd watching the second season,
almost like something was missing.
Sure, the same brutal character deaths, the music, and everything else superficially was
all physically present, and it wasn’t until I looked at the staff and realized that Tetsuro
Araki was no longer in the director’s chair that everything clicked.
Yes, he’s still the “chief director” in the credits, but we don’t know the extent
of that job, because clearly, his directorial style wasn’t there.
It’s no secret Araki made an impact with his high-energy direction and Attack on Titan
season 2 was missing the magic that season 1 captured.
At times it felt like the artistic direction was compensated by having the characters yell
more than they already do to really drive the fear of living in their world home.
Araki’s talent lied in making the mundane situations feel dramatic.,
THE OTHER PROBLEM it’s the fact I can’t theorize about it with anyone.
Attack on Titan is a show that is extremely good at foreshadowing.
It hides its plot elements so far in advance to when they become relevant.
To the point where even innocent conversations, or a tiny hint of steam here or there
can hint to to massive consequences down the line.
You really don’t know what could and could not be foreshadowing at this point and that’s
what makes it exciting.
Especially now that after S1 and the reveal of humans potentially being secret titans has come
into play.
Suddenly it’s a witch hunt.
Because you know, you just KNOW that there are more titans hidden in the humans.
We just don’t know who.
UNLESS YOU READ THE MANGA AND SPOIL IT FOR PEOPLE.
Not that I’m bitter or anything.
The series still has some of its other main draws: the gore, the lack of plot armor
for the entire supporting cast, the action of the fights in tandem with the musical score.
But being able to theorize and try to predict what might happen before the show reveals
it to you, to me, is one of the big if not biggest draws.
But because of how the show has been released that’s becoming very difficult to do.
Or rather it’s become difficult to share.
Sure I can theorize about Titan in my head all I want.
But if I want to share it, well then you need to get some kind of secret group of friends.
Friends who swear that they have not read the manga and won’t, friends I can rely on.
But I have to be very careful who I invite into this inner circle.
You never know who could suddenly decide to betray you and spoil everything you wish
you didn’t know!
However, there is one topic in relation that Attack on Titan season 2 that does put
doubt into people’s heads: Was having this second season worth it?
Was it worth waiting 4 years for a season 2 only to leave disappointed
that you’re only getting a fraction of what you originally got in the first season?
In my case, the hiatus could have been for the best thing because having it end in such a cliffhanger,
it provided some of the best advertising for any manga, despite my gripes for a more complete
conclusion.
So now, I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place, which makes this second season, not
much more than a leg up.
A way to just briefly revitalize the hype for the show, before once again crashing down
into a hiatus town causing even more people to give up and read the manga.
It’s a dastardly plan, one that I think will work.
I just don’t know if it will work on me.
I am going to continue watching this show, week by week, episode by episode until it
completes.
Because I do begrudgingly do enjoy watching it.
And for now, that’s good enough for me.
I just wish I had a better outlet, at times, for some of my thoughts.
If you want to watch the series beside me, and alongside everybody else who's watching it week by week there will be some links
down in the description if for whatever reason you don’t already know about them.
Links to watch the sub on Crunchyroll and the simuldub on Funimation for when that eventually comes
out, it'll all be down there.
So what did you guys think of Attack on Titan S2 so far?
Let me know down in the whatchama gig!
Not that I plan on reading it anyway because undoubtedly there will be manga spoilers down there.
Posted by assholes.
Which is just lovely.
Thank you for joining me on this First Reaction and until next time, ladies, gentlemen, and
others, stay frosty.