Disclaimer: I have not played the NieR games and so this review is based purely on what the anime has to offer as a standalone production

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ProductionIn terms of production the 2nd cour of NieR: Automata is very good all around. The animators continue to show off a consistent artistic vision that is showcased excellently through things like the background art, which is just so amazing at times and really helps in cementing the overall feel of the show, creating a visual experience that mirrors the tone of the plot perfectly. The combat scenes also proved to be a strong point for this cour, being quite flashy and showcasing some really fluid and fast paced choreography, though these scenes were few and far between, and often didn't last long enough to really make an impact.

Just like the first cour, the animation was backed by an even more impressive soundtrack. The soundtrack itself containing a wide variety of tracks that go a long way in setting the mood for many scenes, featuring some of the best singing I've heard in an anime soundtrack backed by equally fantastic compositions ranging from quieter, more heartfelt piano pieces to explosive and emotional orchestral arrangements that do a great job of pulling you in when necessary.

Plot & CharactersThe plot of the second cour differs quite a lot from the first, kicking right off with an event that changes the trajectory of the story as a whole. The plot also sees a change in scope, becoming much more character driven than the first cour. Of course, the first cour was already largely character driven, but the second cour differs in that it narrows the focus down to just two characters in particular, these characters separate journeys becoming the driving force for the action and also the emotional heart of the story.

The plot itself is quite entertaining, showcasing a nice parallel between the main characters that becomes more and more apparent as the episodes run on. This duality between the main characters is really where a lot of the intrigue comes from, as the main characters both begin to develop different outlooks on machine lifeforms and their own purpose, eventually becoming at odds with one another. The characters ideas and progression are central to some of the themes that are showcased throughout the show as well. I will say that the characters progression in general was fairly linear, which in turn made it kind of predictable. I don't think this hampered the experience in a major way but I did feel as though I had a general idea of where the plot was going only about halfway through. aside from the main duo, the character writing for the rest of the cast was good, if not fairly generic at some points, with cheesy dialogue and some more common tropes on display during some episodes. Still, the dialogue certainly had its more profound moments, especially on the topic of family.

NieR: Automata's second cour builds on the themes of humanity from the first, focusing more on the cycle of life and death and familial bonds, interweaving and exploring these topics through the characters interactions with each other. Many characters at different points talk about what family means to them, some of the dialogue that was centered on this topic was really beautiful and made some of the characters more tragic backstories hit a lot harder, I really felt deeply for some of the characters and what they had to go through and seeing them talk about their bonds with others just made it so much sadder when tragedy eventually befell them.

Let us now talk about a problem I had with the show, which was the pacing. The pacing of some episodes just felt off, there were a few times where it felt like the show was just stumbling through the events of the story a bit too fast, and as such it was a little harder to really process what all I had just watched. It wasn't so egregious as to make it utterly confusing, but I do think that it moved on too quickly from some more important or emotionally charged scenes, reducing the overall impact these scenes had.

ConclusionPROS: + Well done expansion of the themes from the first cour + Great all around production + Dialogue on the topic of family and life/death was great

CONS:

• Awkward pacing
• Fairly linear character progression/predictable at times
• Some cheesy moments, tropey dialogue

NieR: Automata, while not perfect, still provides a fairly emotional and intriguing story that is easy to get into, with lots of great theming and a truly unique world that make it more memorable than others.