Season 1 of Assassination Classroom was a very pleasant surprise, and everyone I know says the second and final season is even better. So that means Season 2's gotta be an unconditional improvement, right? Well, not really, but it was still really good.
The first half of Season 2 of Assassination Classroom was honestly really mixed in terms of quality, arguably the weakest stretch of episodes across both seasons. Where Season 1 felt purposefully crafted to introduce and develop each class member at a good pace, and even the early episodes set up plot points that would get resolved by the end of the season, Season 2A jumped between inconsequential standalones and important plot episodes at an almost disjointed pace and an uneven level of quality. There were absolutely some high points throughout the first half, like the hilarious codename episode and the finals arc that capped off the cour, and the fact that the cast had all been introduced meant the show could play around with fun combinations of characters. However, there were also plenty of low points, most notably the way some antagonists were forgiven way too easily. Both Nagisa's mom and Asano Sr were let off super quickly like they hadn't been committing constant abuse to their respective kids and it really left a bad taste in my mouth.
Thankfully, the moment Season 2B started, the season took a massive spike in quality as all of the show's biggest plot points finally reached a head. The moment the second cour starts, we get a wild three two-parters in rapid succession, each progressively pulling back the curtain on the series' backstory, irreparably changing the viewers' perceptions of certain characters, and completely shifting the course of the series from "kill Koro-Sensei" to "save Koro-Sensei". It's a truly stellar streak of episodes that bring back that feeling of everything being meticulously planned out that the first half of the season had been missing. While the rest of Season 2B wasn't quite as intense and mind-blowing, it brings the series to a really satisfying and emotional conclusion that wraps everything up on a nice bow and even corrects some of 2A's issues like giving Asano Sr the proper comeuppance. While it had some bumps getting there, Season 2 of Assassination Classroom very much sticks the landing.
Highlights:
Secret Identity/Confession Time: So you know that meme about the Top 10 Anime Betrayals? Yeah, Kaede Kayano's betrayal was voted as #1 by Japanese audiences, and it's not hard to see why. It's a great twist that was set up remarkably, and Class 3-E dealing with her turnaround and racing to save her from her own tentacle implants is both compelling dramatic and tense (and briefly hilarious when Nagisa snaps her out of it by kissing her). It also opens the floodgates for...
Confession/Past Time: ...Koro-Sensei's past finally being revealed! Like with the Kaede twist, it feels entirely planned out from the very start and everything makes sense in hindsight. Koro being the original Reaper and the one from earlier in the season being his protege, sure! The promise Koro made being to the previous teacher of 3-E (and Kaede's sister), makes sense! Koro-Sensei having to uncontrollably destroy the Earth unless he's put down, makes his original deal make all the more sense.
Discord/Outcome Time: Assassination Classroom: Civil War! In case the Kaede and backstory arcs weren't good enough, we get this fantastic storyline about Class 3-E facing off against each other to decide whether they should kill or try to save Koro-Sensei. It's the perfect blend of fun action and compelling drama, and utilizes the entirety of the cast so well that it's hard for me to care. And the big fight between Nagisa and Karma absolutely lived up to expectations, stellar choreography, banger music, and two season's worth of character build-up paid off in spectacular fashion.
Happy Birthday Time: RIP Koro-Sensei's cake, you will be remembered.
Graduation Time: What can I say about this episode that hasn't already been said? Graduation Time is pretty much an episode-long farewell to Koro-Sensei as the students finally have to kill them, and it's incredibly sad. It took a bit to really get me but once everyone started to break down in tears by the end, even the hard-headed ones like Terasaka and Karma, it did make me tear up.
Future Time: Future Time is a good, satisfying finale that ends everything on a satisfying note, maybe even a bit too satisfying? Nagisa's parents getting back together is admittedly kind of ridiculous, but otherwise, Asano getting kicked off and starting a cram school, Class 3-E using the bounty to buy the classroom, and Nagisa becoming a teacher like Koro-Sensei are good endings. I especially like the time jump and how melancholic it feels.
Dishonorable Mentions:
Round Two Time: Why did Nagisa forgive his mother? She physically and verbally abuses him, forces him to dress up and look like a girl, guilt-trips Nagisa relentlessly, drugs him, tries to force him to commit arson, and Nagisa ends up forgiving her?! Why does anime keep doing this, man?
Overall, Season 2 of Assassination Classroom is a season with high highs and low lows. While it suffers a slow start, some poorly-executed redemptions, and some occasional weak standalones, the cast is as fun to watch as always, and it still manages to end the series on the best possible note with a truly stellar second half.
4/5 Stars
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