This review may contain spoilers
Choppy, repetitive, and forgot to include it's lead character
There were interesting story elements, but overall the script felt like it needed more time to bake in terms of pacing and build up for various plot points, as well as the development for the characters and their relationships. The first part of the season was extremely bogged down with fanservice scenes in place of actual character interactions that both deepens the connections and advances the story. There is so much wasted time that was needed for the immense cast that the season decided all gets an arc. That is everyone except for the main character Babe who essentially becomes a side lined, supporting love interest.
Most of Babe's scenes are just the aforementioned fanservice scenes. Aside from the scenes having to do with just sex or his relationship, he got to investigate Willy who is constantly sexually harassing him, but then even that plot gets folded into Charlie's and he is shut out. It's not until the final few episodes that Babe is finally in on the action when the entire cast is on the same page that we see why he's the lead character to begin with. What a waste of a second season to not further develop Babe's story from the first season, especially with the rare talent they have in Pavel is so incredibly underused who has a great range from emotional to action, it's mind boggling.
There are scenes that seems like it's missing and the direction of reactions of characters to certain moments don't match the severity of the situation. When Chris the scientist appears, Babe just assumes he's Way and Pete tries to go hug him. Babe is at least showing some shock, but Pete is way too calm. Nut breaths so much life into Chris, he eats the role up. I'm impressed how he's able to emit such dignified sass in his body language and line delivery. I love his rare scenes with Pavel, not only because Babe finally gets to interact with the rest of the world, but they have each have someone else who is also an good actor to react off of.
Later Dean crashes his race car and he's assumed dead, but everyone again is way under reacting. He and his kidnapped comatose self becomes the impetus for Alan to approach Tony and get powers from the serum. I thought Tony broke him out of jail, but he's not wanted by the police and is able to race for some reason. Jeff and Alan are in a carousel of characters, but especially for their storyline taking turns doing the stupid thing of keeping important information from each other. It's especially egregious because they used Alan at the beginning of the season teach the lesson that you should do that and he ends up doing that for the whole rest of the season. There was no particular pay off to Alan getting super strength other than his neck issue that no long requires surgery.
One of the rare positive change from the first season is that Charlie's overly cutesy acting got toned down, which makes his scenes more bearable to watch now. He's still so extremely green especially in all the scenes with Pavel. The show not only hits the secret twin trope with Chris and Way, but then gives Charlie amnesia. There is some build up to it at least, but the scenes just don't hit the emotional notes as it's a rehash of more of the same relationship angst through the entire season already. That's another result of the show not giving Babe something else to do and saving the heaviest of the relationship friction for the amnesia plot.
The first season showed the chemistry and potential of Kenta and Pete, but that's not explored here, which is not totally a bad thing. Kenta's story line probably plays out the best. He's in what essentially feels like the A plot that Babe should have been doing. Smoking is gross, but the scene where he shows up in front of Pete is pure aura. His investigation into Tony is dynamic compared to the stand still that the rest of the characters are stuck in. His pairing with Kim is surprisingly good with Kim's confident assertiveness, the ability to be observant, and thoughtfulness actually help Kenta open up. The fight scene that ends up with Kim showing up in a car to send goons flying off while he does donuts around Kenta was so cool. This is what the season could have been. There isn't really any romantic chemistry on immediate vibes with these characters, which I think might be both on the direction on Kim's actor's part to just give a bit more spark, but Kenta and Kim get to organically develop with their interactions in the story and it works. It was kind of weird that Kim leaves Kenta with a bro pat to the shoulder though they kept kissing. But it makes sense for Kenta to figure out who he is with the freedom he has now before jumping into a relationship.
Sonic and North's relationship or rather lack of is such a waste of screentime. Winner being turned into Tony's right hand man could have been very interesting, but there was no development there and they just let him get away despite torturing Kenta and doing murders. I think I saw him at Babe and Charlie's wedding at the end but I'm not sure. Kenta should have been allowed at least a punch before Winner slinks away. Willy also had the potential for a much more fleshed out interesting story as he's revealed to also be a victim of Tony's. It's also revealed that his creepiness towards Babe is 100% just him, Tony didn't tell him to do that. Babe seems to have a weird soft spot for him as well, being extremely forgiving. I think he was also at the wedding. The whole season seems really mismanaged somehow, the script all over the place. The cinematography of the show was always good though, they and the actors deserved better writing and directing to work with.
Most of Babe's scenes are just the aforementioned fanservice scenes. Aside from the scenes having to do with just sex or his relationship, he got to investigate Willy who is constantly sexually harassing him, but then even that plot gets folded into Charlie's and he is shut out. It's not until the final few episodes that Babe is finally in on the action when the entire cast is on the same page that we see why he's the lead character to begin with. What a waste of a second season to not further develop Babe's story from the first season, especially with the rare talent they have in Pavel is so incredibly underused who has a great range from emotional to action, it's mind boggling.
There are scenes that seems like it's missing and the direction of reactions of characters to certain moments don't match the severity of the situation. When Chris the scientist appears, Babe just assumes he's Way and Pete tries to go hug him. Babe is at least showing some shock, but Pete is way too calm. Nut breaths so much life into Chris, he eats the role up. I'm impressed how he's able to emit such dignified sass in his body language and line delivery. I love his rare scenes with Pavel, not only because Babe finally gets to interact with the rest of the world, but they have each have someone else who is also an good actor to react off of.
Later Dean crashes his race car and he's assumed dead, but everyone again is way under reacting. He and his kidnapped comatose self becomes the impetus for Alan to approach Tony and get powers from the serum. I thought Tony broke him out of jail, but he's not wanted by the police and is able to race for some reason. Jeff and Alan are in a carousel of characters, but especially for their storyline taking turns doing the stupid thing of keeping important information from each other. It's especially egregious because they used Alan at the beginning of the season teach the lesson that you should do that and he ends up doing that for the whole rest of the season. There was no particular pay off to Alan getting super strength other than his neck issue that no long requires surgery.
One of the rare positive change from the first season is that Charlie's overly cutesy acting got toned down, which makes his scenes more bearable to watch now. He's still so extremely green especially in all the scenes with Pavel. The show not only hits the secret twin trope with Chris and Way, but then gives Charlie amnesia. There is some build up to it at least, but the scenes just don't hit the emotional notes as it's a rehash of more of the same relationship angst through the entire season already. That's another result of the show not giving Babe something else to do and saving the heaviest of the relationship friction for the amnesia plot.
The first season showed the chemistry and potential of Kenta and Pete, but that's not explored here, which is not totally a bad thing. Kenta's story line probably plays out the best. He's in what essentially feels like the A plot that Babe should have been doing. Smoking is gross, but the scene where he shows up in front of Pete is pure aura. His investigation into Tony is dynamic compared to the stand still that the rest of the characters are stuck in. His pairing with Kim is surprisingly good with Kim's confident assertiveness, the ability to be observant, and thoughtfulness actually help Kenta open up. The fight scene that ends up with Kim showing up in a car to send goons flying off while he does donuts around Kenta was so cool. This is what the season could have been. There isn't really any romantic chemistry on immediate vibes with these characters, which I think might be both on the direction on Kim's actor's part to just give a bit more spark, but Kenta and Kim get to organically develop with their interactions in the story and it works. It was kind of weird that Kim leaves Kenta with a bro pat to the shoulder though they kept kissing. But it makes sense for Kenta to figure out who he is with the freedom he has now before jumping into a relationship.
Sonic and North's relationship or rather lack of is such a waste of screentime. Winner being turned into Tony's right hand man could have been very interesting, but there was no development there and they just let him get away despite torturing Kenta and doing murders. I think I saw him at Babe and Charlie's wedding at the end but I'm not sure. Kenta should have been allowed at least a punch before Winner slinks away. Willy also had the potential for a much more fleshed out interesting story as he's revealed to also be a victim of Tony's. It's also revealed that his creepiness towards Babe is 100% just him, Tony didn't tell him to do that. Babe seems to have a weird soft spot for him as well, being extremely forgiving. I think he was also at the wedding. The whole season seems really mismanaged somehow, the script all over the place. The cinematography of the show was always good though, they and the actors deserved better writing and directing to work with.
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