The second season of Dan Da Dan is a sharp step down from its predecessor, not in production quality, but in execution. It abandons the eerie, unpredictable tension that made season one captivating and replaces it with formula, pastiche, and an over-reliance on bombastic set-pieces that increasingly feel like gimmicks. The result is a season that is drawn-out, repetitive, and drained of the energy that once set it apart.
Season one also leaned on rhythms (alien encounters, yokai threats, comic relief) but it established a strong thematic foundation around the human connections and emotional growth being forged by these episodic events. Its arcs were tightly paced
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and carried real consequences: Seiko’s nosebleed showed she wasn’t untouchable, Okarun’s missing balls reshaped his identity, and the Nessie battle forced the group to work together. By contrast, season two’s storytelling feels unfocused and repetitive. The Evil Eye arc is the clearest case. It opens well, with Jiji’s possession tied to a tragic backstory of sacrifice, but once the death worm climax and volcanic eruption resolve by episode 15, the arc drags on another half-season without real payoff.
At first, Evil Eye appears poised to become a meaningful foil. Yet by episodes 17-19, the conflict collapses into a repetitive gimmick: Jiji toggling between himself and Evil Eye with hot or cold liquid. Episode 18’s exorcism via a visual kei band epitomizes the problem: a novel spectacle with little emotional grounding. Evil Eye is clearly meant to mirror Turbo Granny, as another spirit twisted by trauma, but fails to deliver the same impact. Where Turbo Granny’s curse redefined the cast’s bonds and forced growth, Evil Eye mostly replays old beats; romance-fueled jealousy, Okarun’s drive to become stronger, the burden of possession. For an arc that spans half the season, the emotional return is disproportionate to the narrative space it consumes.
The greater casualty is the ensemble. In season one, fights reshaped characters: Okarun clawing out of insecurity, Momo proving her loyalty and resilience, Aira responding to trauma with surprising depth. But in season two, arcs have stalled; Okarun and Momo circle the same jealousies with little progress, Jiji spends most of the run as Evil Eye’s vessel, and Aira’s once raw, emotionally charged backstory is forgotten in favor of comic interjections and token combat assists. The characters become reactive pieces shuffled to make action beats work, rather than people transformed by events. When consequences do arrive, they land absurdly. The destruction of the Ayase home in episode 19 should have been pivotal, but its providential nanoskin rebuild in episode 21 trivializes the fallout. The weekly duel compromise in episode 21 may fit Evil Eye’s childlike framing, but as the culmination of half a season of possession, trauma, and collateral destruction, it feels contrived rather than cathartic.
Unrestrained spectacle only compounds the drift. Where season one balanced dread and absurdity, giving its monsters a supernatural edge that could tilt toward horror when needed, season two replaces that balance with overindulgent escalation: a volcanic eruption, all-powerful worm slime, a concert exorcism, a symphonic battle, a mecha fight. One could argue this crescendo is intentional, a backdrop of chaos against which the characters grow closer--and grow up. But the problem isn’t that spectacle exists; it’s that it consistently drowns out the tension and mood that once made that growth feel hard-won.
One might argue these arcs are “setting things up” for later; but good execution pays off immediately in theme and characterization, even if the larger plot point resolves down the line. Season two rarely manages that balance: it introduces conflict and spectacle, but without reinforcing the human core in the moment.
To its credit, the season does at least try to keep itself grounded in human themes. The Evil Eye arc touches on guilt, grudges, and generational trauma. Momo gets hints of complexity, balancing jealousy, responsibility, and agency. The group edges toward a found family around Jiji’s burden, and a few moments do manage to land: Okarun and Jiji bonding in episode 18, Seiko contemplating her protective role in episode 19, and a symbol of belonging emerging with the rebuilt house in episode 21. Yet these threads fray under poor pacing, repetitive beats, and spectacle that overwhelms atmosphere.
Season two isn’t a disaster, but it is a disappointment. Where the first season fused eccentric ideas with tight pacing, meaningful growth, and a distinct mood where the supernatural felt threatening as well as funny, this follow-up devolves into repetition and indulgence. Conflicts drag or fizzle, characters stall or flatten into caricature, and tonal shifts erode the show’s eerie edge. Even its strongest themes (Evil Eye’s burden, the bonds of a found family, Okarun’s coming-of-age) are drowned out by excess. The season sacrifices a thoughtful iteration on shounen tropes for empty farce, leaving behind the qualities that made its debut so striking.
Sep 23, 2025
Dandadan 2nd Season
(Anime)
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The second season of Dan Da Dan is a sharp step down from its predecessor, not in production quality, but in execution. It abandons the eerie, unpredictable tension that made season one captivating and replaces it with formula, pastiche, and an over-reliance on bombastic set-pieces that increasingly feel like gimmicks. The result is a season that is drawn-out, repetitive, and drained of the energy that once set it apart.
Season one also leaned on rhythms (alien encounters, yokai threats, comic relief) but it established a strong thematic foundation around the human connections and emotional growth being forged by these episodic events. Its arcs were tightly paced ... 
Aug 11, 2025
I have to say that Gojo is becoming thoroughly insufferable. While low self-worth is a legitimate and relatable character trait, this series leans on it as a canard to manufacture romantic tension. Instead of letting Gojo grow, the show rehashes the same insecurity episode after episode, and boy am I sick of it.
Yes, a girl said a mean thing to him once, attacking a core part of his identity and sending him spiraling. This was an event that could have been a poignant starting point for a meaningful arc, but instead it’s become the sole pillar of his personality. By this point in the show, ... 
Dec 30, 2019
This season was much better than the last couple of installments - mainly because the boring exposition was kept to a minimum, while the pacing and characterization was much better done. The art and animation was also far superior, with much more dynamic and engaging action scenes. Every episode felt like it was building towards something while developing one or more characters in some way. This series still isn't amazing or great, but it was a solid and enjoyable watch, especially compared to the prior seasons.
It still suffers from the harem nonsense, as well as a bunch of background lore that is only interesting to ... 
Jan 4, 2019
SSSS.Gridman
(Anime)
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This is a surprisingly good series that starts simple but quickly becomes rich with character complexity and development. People who are not able to appreciate the creativity and care that went into the series are smoking something.
Gridman is not a simple monster of the week beat-em-up as it might appear based on the first few episodes. On first watching the first three episodes feel almost formulaic, but soon it becomes clear that there is far more to the story. Aside from the character development, the standout aspect of this show is the cinematography and how it is used to effect visual storytelling. Nearly every shot is ... 
Feb 26, 2018
Darling in the FranXX
(Anime)
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(Episodes 1 - 6)
Darling in the Franxx has disappointed me so far. I can’t get past the fact that while this is an anime that I want to like, it has failed to draw me into an immersive story populated with interesting characters. Instead, each episode leaves me with the feeling that I am missing something, an absence which prevents me from fully enjoying what is happening in the story. In short, I want and expect more than what has been delivered. If Zero Two were any less interesting, I would probably stop watching altogether. # SOUND The music is generally serviceable, especially the tracks that play ... |
