Story: The plot continues from Season 1 left off, showing the aftermath of Eren's second battle with the Female Titan and exploring the Wall Titan mystery that the season 1 finale introduced. Then, there's news that Wall Rose has been breached by Titans. As the military travels to warn soldiers and locate the hole, mayhem ensues when the Titans arrive. This is also where we are introduced to the Beast Titan, a mysterious, strong, and intelligent Titan that can talk and seems to have degree of command over other Titans. The Beast Titan is only around for a few scenes after it makes its debut in episode 1, but its presence alone is enough to heighten the sense of mystery and that feeling of "you do not want to mess with this guy." In the second half of the season, more antagonists are introduced, and what follows is some intense events that heighten the drama and the mystery.
The flashbacks this season can be hit or miss. Most of them did a good job establishing several characters' backstories and motivations. Characters like Ymir and Sasha definitely benefitted from them IMO. On the other hand, some of these flashbacks drag on for a little too long, which damages the pacing at some parts.
Speaking about pacing, there are times where it was still an issue. Episodes 3 and 8 definitely come to mind in that regard, as both episodes felt more like a slog compared to other episodes (namely that in episodes 3 and 8, the only parts that truly felt engaging to me were the beginning and ending scenes). Other than that, I thought the majority of the episodes were well-paced enough so that I didn't feel bored. Then again, I'm one of those people that understands Attack on Titan will be a longer-running series that definitely won't end at 50 episodes, so I have come to accept what will come from a show that is adapting what will be 100+ chapters.
As for everything else, Attack on Titan Season 2 follows the same story that Season 1 introduced. It still has that sense of a post-apocalyptic drama, and the Titans still have their horrifying charm. The deaths are still graphic. In fact, the first half of the season had some gut-wrenching deaths, especially the one in the first episode. There is also some shocking, big twists. One of these plot twists was shown in a very unique way that no other anime or movie I've seen has done before, and that made it very memorable as a result. Action is still a defining part of the plot, but there isn't as much of it as the first Season had. Yet, as the next part will discuss, this had a payoff.
Characters: One of the biggest criticisms I noticed regarding AoT is the characters, and I can see why. Back in Season 1, there was so much action going on that there wasn't much time left to develop the other characters. As a result, most of the characters felt one note and thus harder to get attached to. Even I will admit there weren't that many characters that I could truly care for back in season 1 except for a few.
Season 2, however, fixes this issue. Compared to the first season, Season 2 has less action so that it takes the time to give several characters that development they needed, making them feel more fleshed out than they previously did. The side characters are the ones that especially benefit from this. You liked Potato Girl Sasha back in Season 1? Then you will love the second episode of Season 2, because most of the episode gives her that backstory and character development she really needed. Other side-characters that receive more focus and development this season are Ymir, Reiner, Bertolt, Connie, and Krista (to some extent, as I would argue she really develops and gets fleshed out in the next arc). Because of the focus these characters get, you are more likely to be attached to them by the end of the season.
By focusing on the side characters, this also means our main protagonists, the EMA trio, get less screen time in the first half, to the point they take a backseat until Episode 6. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are largely the same from what they were in Season 1, so what your opinions of the three were in the first season will likely carry over to Season 2. Are you one of those people who likes Mikasa because she's badass, or are you one of those people who dislikes Mikasa because she revolves around Eren, doesn't have much development, and is just unnaturally OP? Either side you are on within the Mikasa debate, you will likely stay on that side because she's basically the same from who she was in the first season. I'm in the camp that doesn't care for Mikasa. There are moments when I root for her when she battles, but there are also moments where I wish she had that extra "ooomph" in character development. I will say though, there is one moment this season where I felt attached to her, but I won't spoil what it is.
Armin is still the calculated strategist that he was in Season 1. Unlike Season 1, there aren't any moments where he wimps out, but there is a later moment in the season that was pretty good for his character in my eyes, and I would argue that does develop him a bit. Like with Mikasa, what your opinion of Armin was from Season 1 will carry into Season 2's end. Personally, I did like him back in Season 1 (I'm a sucker for the underdog-type of characters like him), and I still like him now.
Eren is in a similar boat to Armin. He's still the same as he was in Season 1, but he does have moments of character development. During the main battle of the season, he thinks strategically during the fight rather than letting rage purely dictate his moves, the latter being very common in his first season battles. At the end of Season 2, he also develops in regards to his relationship with a certain character (without spoiling too much, this development is related to a flashback we see in the first episode of the second season). Am I saying Eren finally becomes a truly likable protagonist this season? No. Though he is mostly unchanged, he does have small sprinkles of development here and there that I appreciated. I can confirm Season 3 will do major justice in regards to his character, to the point your opinion of him will probably change for the better (I know it did for me, to the point he is one of my favorite characters now).
Animation: It is as awesome as the first season was. WIT Studio delivers with some intense actions scenes, especially in the battles. Even the CG Colossal Titan turned out to be better than I expected. To me, it didn't look too out of place with the background. I'd say it's one of the few times I've seen in TV shows and movies where CG is used correctly. There is only one moment where the animation looked jarring and that was with some 3DMG shenanigans in episode 10. Besides that, all the scenes are well-animated.
Soundtrack: Stellar just like Season 1. Hiroyuki Sawano proves he's a great music director yet again, with music that fits the mood of each scene. The opening intro isn't as good as the first two IMO, but it did grow on me after a while to the point I really like it now.
Overall thoughts:
Attack on Titan Season 2 was a fun ride. The character issue from Season 1 is fixed by placing more focus on the side characters this season. This allowed me to feel more attached to those characters than I previously had. The story remains the action-packed horror & mystery drama that many remember it for, so depending on what you look for in a plot, whether you like or dislike the story comes down to those preferences. To me, the story was what drew to me the series in the first place: there is something about that Titan mystery that allures me, and I want to see how these answers will unfold. The action and the music are still really good. The combination of these two created some heart-pounding moments.
As a manga-reader, I already knew what was coming, but this was an arc I was looking forward to seeing animated, and I think the anime adapted that manga arc really well. In fact, the anime helped improve some of the scenes by showing more of what was going on in certain moments. The only parts that I think the anime could've done a better job adapting were the first two episodes, where there were a few lines removals that, in the manga, helped develop some of the characters. Other than that, I thought this was a fantastic adaptation. Seeing the same scenes I read four years ago but now fully animated with a good soundtrack and stellar voice acting brought back those same emotions I experienced back then. I had my heart pound pretty hard, I had feels inside me, I was rooting for certain characters, you name it.
The second season of Attack on Titan ultimately ends on a pretty good cliffhanger that delivers hype for the next season. It's clear the series is far from over, but Season 2 still brought new mysteries, plot twists, and reveals that reminded me of what drew me to the series in the first place. I look forward to seeing Season 3 next year and the arcs that will be animated, because I know next season is when things get even more interesting and exciting for me, especially in that second arc following the one Season 2 covered.
Well, that was fun writing a review. It's been a while since I last wrote a full, overall review of a series/season.
