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So to anyone who hasn't seen the season 1 since it's airing ended a little less than 4 years ago, this sequel might seem quite good. We finally get a continuation from where the story left off. But, as someone who didn't remember the story that well and decided to binge season 1, the sequel has many, well not problems per say, but differences. Now most of these differences are subtle and play into the ''feel'' of a character, some characters act in ways and say things which they never would, based on the story progression and season 1. There is also the art direction/art ... style difference. The latter may be subjective, but the character details and expressions are muted and really unimpressive compared to season one. It's like those mobile game ads you see everywhere, where season 1 Iska would be the level 100 mafia boss, and season 2 Iska the level 1 crook. The same goes form Alice, and Iska's crew. The only character that could be argued to have better features in season 2, would be Sisbell, but sadly that doesn't even matter because of the next point:

As the ''feel'' of a character goes, the biggest change is in, guess who, Sisbell. In season one we got to know her as the shy little girl who couldn't trust anyone but his butler and Iska. Well what do we know, season 2 arrives and she's just brimming with confidence. She could explain why the earth is flat, and nobody would be able to tell if she actually believes it, or is joking. She doesn't have an inch of distrust left in her, with Iska's crew or the random lady who brought her a drink at the restaurant. Now this may be reading a little too deep into one specific instance, but there really is no way to explain how a character feels. If you watch 12 episodes of an anime, you learn how the characters interact, how they express themselves, what they would and would never do in a situation, unless there's a plot twist, and in this case there were no hints to that during season 1. Sadly it isn't only Sisbell that acts differently, it's also Mismis, Alice and Rin, and to some extent Iska. Mismis seemed to have a thing for Jhin in season 1, in season 2 she's jealous that Sisbell is touching Iska's arm. Speaking of jealousy, Rin is jealous of Alice's bazoogie woogies, that is kind of out of character, but it's not like it ruins anything, but then again, the maid who was always in a maid outfit, always being proper and acting noble, is wearing a stupid hat at the end of episode 1. Then there's Alice, and well she just bleeds disappointment. From season 1 you kind of get the feeling that Alice is a small klutz, she often got lost in thought, just to get embarrassed over some little things, or having Iska in mind. And then there's season 2. She fully, straight up, explains to her mother, why there's no way she knows who Iska is and proceeds to name drop him and add location as to where they totally didn't meet at. Was this supposed to be a humorous bit for comedic relief? Uhm maybe? But there was no self awareness, or anything to explain why she would do that. It could've very well been character development, but all I can say is that it feels off and that she would never. There were similar moments in season 1, but this one was basically making fun of the viewer, by the level of absurdness it goes through.

And so with that all in mind, looking at the production team and studios, you may realise, that they only added crunchyroll to production and studio palette, latter of which well, could explain something (it's the studio responsible for the KamiKatsu harvester scene).

For the story, there is not a lot to say at the moment, until the season ends, will there be another cliffhanger? Probably, but the story in itself is decent, and the art direction shouldn't take away from that. The pacing does seem kind of off at some points, but nothing major, just some buildings randomly blowing up without any warnings and a fight breaking out, with no music build up, in the matter of a few seconds.

TL;DR
Characters feel off and act in ways that are confusing and immersion breaking, they feel like empty shells with painted on personalities.
Artstyle is different compared to season 1 and could be seen as cheaper and less detailed.
Story and plot is fine, but at moments pacing is off.

If you have seen season 1 and enjoyed it, you'll enjoy this one just as much, if not more.

The only way to describe this show is a roller coaster that never stops. There are plot twists everywhere. Cid is still an edgelord and I absolutely love it. To only say that this show fully embraces the cringe is not enough, it adds toppings. And this cringe is not the one that makes you pause the show and bury your head in pillows - it's the cringe that makes you smile and smirk, while hoping that the show would never end.

The Eminence in Shadow is ... truly a rare find in the genre that isekai and fantasy. Rarely is there a show with this much fun to be had while also having an interesting plot and a great main character.


Is this a power fantasy?
Yes.

Does the MC get hella girls?
Yes.

How entertaining is the show?
Yes.

This is the best anime I've ever seen.

If it was possible I would rate this 11 out of 10. The style of the anime, the art, the characters, the voice acting - it's all impossibly close to perfect. It isn't scared of trying new things and it maintains a cool yet often hilarious plot. After every episode it just kept getting better, so it made me sad to see other reviewers watching only a few episodes and not reccomending it, because it was ''just another boring isekai''. The anime is so much more than that.

This is the only time while watching actively an ... airing series and being sad that one moment it will end. This will most likely be forever my favourite anime ever.