The Tragic Fate of Sequels
Following up on a big hit comes with a great number of difficulties. This applies to many different things in life. For example, if a football team wins the Super Bowl, the expectations for the team’s success will obviously be quite high for the following season. It’s only natural to feel that what comes next is greater than what came before. These assumptions cannot be helped; to a certain extent, they are subconscious and out of our control. As human beings, we just can’t help it.
The Promised Neverland and its first season on the big screen took the world by storm. The series was intricately woven together and seemed to do very little wrong, while doing almost everything right. It had a compelling premise with dynamic, fleshed out, characters. These factors, paired with the sound & art combination, was a recipe for immersing audiences. The world of the children from Grace Field House is something people (myself included) couldn’t get enough of.
Thesis
The second season of The Promised Neverland came at a time when fans were left wanting for more. The first season gave birth to an overwhelming hype--a thirst for a continuation of the torrential and stressful, yet heartwarming, journey of the Grace Field kids. There were a lot of expectations for this second season. It might even be accurate to say that the first season established some unrealistic standards. Regardless, The Promised Neverland season 2 was very underwhelming. I honestly think that loyal fans of the series deserved better.
Story
The anime picks up directly off of the end of the first season after they avoided Isabella’s clutches and grasp. The 15 children having escaped from Grace Field House, now being beyond the wall, are in search of the “Neverland” with the indirect guidance of Minerva. This is thanks to the pen that Norman left behind. It doesn’t take long for the kids to realize how brutal the outside world is. Being chased by monsters and demons becomes routine. They have to figure out how to survive on their own now. Their continued survival and progress only becomes possible due to acquaintances they encounter along their journey. Thus, they press on toward their destination while keeping the rest of their brothers and sisters back home in mind.
Unpacking the Issue(s)
Written above is a generic summation of the anime’s plot. It in no way, shape, or form provides a detailed account of the show’s narrative structure. Through my words alone, I am not able to completely illustrate how and in what ways that this show is lacking. One has to watch the show for these issues to become more clear. There are different faults that can be pointed out in this anime, but what stood out most to me was the blatant incongruity between episodes and how the timeline was incomprehensive.
If I remember correctly, it was announced after the 3rd or 4th episode that the series would deviate from the manga and follow an “anime original” plotline. I have not read the manga myself, but I empathize with those that are manga readers. News like this being brought to light doesn’t automatically mean the show is/was destined for disaster, but it can be a hint toward that direction (e.g. Tokyo Ghoul). I didn’t mind it deviating from its source material, honestly. As long as the story is compelling and keeps going, I’ll keep watching it. That was my thought process.
Through the first few episodes, it became obvious to me that this show was not going to be as compelling as its first season. I had an inkling that it wasn’t going to live up to the bar that S1 set. Despite this being the case, S2 seemed to be off to a good start. The rising action through the progression of the first few episodes had potential. It set the tone for emotionally-captivating moments to unwind later on in the final episodes of the show. I was ready to witness the drastic changes that were about to take place in the lives of the kids. The side characters that were being introduced helped to keep the show interesting as well. Their existence created possibilities for external conflicts and obstacles that the children would need to overcome later in the future. The first half of the season gave me that impression, yet these things did not turn out at all how I thought they would.
Everything changed about midway through the series. In my eyes, there was a genuine paradigm shift. I’m avoiding spoilers, so all I will say is that there was a massive jump in the timeline paired with a lack of explanation of the children’s newly acquired knowledge & abilities. The way the later episodes of the show are handled makes everything else seem disingenuous. I didn’t like the feeling that I was supposed to blindly accept everything that happened offscreen while also witnessing all of their problems wither away and vanish with very little resistance from the opposition.
When the grim reality of their existence became known in S1 (specifically to Norman, Emma, and Ray), there was a truth that was undeniable to both the characters and the audience: the enemy (i.e. demons) that threatened their lives and happiness was inexplicably powerful. The forces that opposed them were tremendous, almost beyond comprehension. This was a sort of truth that was established since the beginning of the story, but this became less and less concrete as the second season progressed. It felt like the story skipped from the 1st act to the 5th act, while pretending that there is nothing to be confused about. It tried to show and tell without even showing or telling. It was a really bizarre watching experience, one that left behind a bad aftertaste.
Quality
The art isn’t bad, objectively speaking, but it pales in comparison to the first season. I hate to keep comparing everything to S1, but I can hardly help it. S2's animation is pretty sharp, but it is not as vibrant as it once was. I can't exactly put my finger on it, but a certain je nais se quois is missing. I can't recall any sakuga or moments where I was in awe of the animation like I had been with S1. There were also some weird CGI moments (specifically when the kids were being chased by the monster in the forests) that took me out of the story for a second. It wasn't the worst use of CGI, but it definitely wasn't the best.
They killed it with the music...again. The OP is solid, and the ED is just as good--if not even better. Have zero complaints about the music and sound design. I can't recall anywhere they might have dropped the ball--in terms of sound. The only thing I could think of would be related to some of the scenes where the VAs had to deliver lines in melodramatic scenes that made very little sense, etc. But again, this was not an issue. Even if it were, it would be more of a writing and pacing issue. Overall, they did a good job with the music and the sound design.
Final Thoughts
It’s not necessary to be familiar with the manga to realize that there is something missing with The Promised Neverland Season 2. Although the creators announced that they would be taking the story down a route independent of the source material, the announcement came mid-season. I'm not so sure that this was the best decision. The storyline for S2 was stated as being an "original," but it honestly just feels like they skipped the majority of the original story (i.e. the manga) and slightly altered the ending.
I know that the creator(s) must have had their reasons for altering the anime plotline, but I honestly don't understand it. The Promised Neverland had it made, from the way I see it. If they went down the road of adapting the manga fully, it would have proven to be more successful. From what little I understand, this seems to be the desire of most fans of the series as well.
As a stand-alone, S2 is not necessarily a bad show. Context matters, as with all things. Setting the negligence of its source material aside, what further makes this anime such a disappointment is its complete disregard for details. S2 really seemed to forget its roots, and left its fans behind without ever elaborating on anything. The only way one can truly understand this sentiment is by watching it for themselves. Not everyone will find this to be a letdown, but a majority of the viewership will. As for me, The Promised Neverland Season 2 was a definite underwhelming mediocre-piece.