Sound! Euphonium 2 Episode 1
Yeah, I'm not too sure this justified the extra twenty minutes. An extra ten, maybe, but not twenty.
The pacing that the show goes at works better for shorter episodes, I think. By the end of this I was just kinda exhaused, and aside from a couple of introductions to new characters, I don't feel much really happened.
The ramifications of the incident of the previous year are palpable, so I'm at least glad the new characters might be pushing that plot point along. That things aren't all super duper happy after last season is good as well.
The aesthetics of the show have been praised to death, so I won't delve too deeply here. I do feel the VA deserves the recognition as well. 'Naturalistic" is an overused adjective, but it does fit.
Kumiko is still an excellent protagonist, though I admit I'm getting tired of her interactions with Shuichi and her sister. Not that they're bad or anything, I just feel they're getting a tad repetitive. She's always indifferent/slightly rude...well, okay that's fine, but considering how much she's developed as a whole, her interactions with these two almost always feel like a retreading.
This isn't really down to her though, and I put this more down to pacing and choice of focus than anything - something that is exacerbated by the running time - but I'd like to see some progress on these scores. That's not to say there's none in this episode, but I'm worried that it will take forever for any significant change. Not a big deal on the whole, just a niggling concern.
That being said, Kumiko is still great, as are the majority of the cast: Reina, Asuka, Hazuki, Natsuki etc. The new characters have the potential to bring some interesting development, so I'm excited to see what theu bring. I feel Midori is still the weak link though - there's not much to her aside from a running gag which wasn't particularly funny the first time. Again though, I think is more down to the focus being elsewhere than anything wrong with the character.
Focus of course being on Kumiko/Reina in terms of characters. I'll go into more depth when I write my Season 1 review, but I feel this relationship and the way it's framed teeters constantly between "wonderfully realised relationship with chemistry off the charts" or "a misguided waste of time that harms not only the two involved but the narrative and characters around them".
I dislike feeling that way, because it's more dependent on what course KyoAni decide to take as opposed to anything wrong with the scenes themselves. The nagging suspicion always remains though, and I think it would be in the best interests of the show to not take too long in clearing it up.
That said, the fireworks scene between the two was great, and I liked the hint of conflict between the two amongst all the sweet talk. Could have done without the whole "I wish I could bottle this moment up forever" shtick at the end, but whatever.
I did enjoy myself though, as negative as this post sounds. I enjoyed the first season to such an extent that I want it to exceed the high standards that it set, even if that is a little unfair.
Still, I'm hooked and ready for the next piece. Bring it on!
EDIT: Sorry for the ramble, heh.