The first season of My Dress-Up Darling brought in a huge wave of fans for various (and valid) reasons, one of which is breaking the bounds of an ecchi series—which has traditionally been treated as male gaze with barely any relevance to its plot. The show managed to incorporate ecchi elements in an earnest fashion by making them one of the driving forces of the story, as Marin Kitagawa (Hina Suguta) aspires to cosplay her favorite characters with the help of Wakana Gojou (Shouya Ishige). This is paired with its insanely detailed and informative aspects of costume-making and the culture of cosplay in general, along with a couple of genuinely laughable moments in between.

Added with Marin and Wakana’s chemistry—and a generous sprinkle of romance—this series became one of the most engaging romance shows of the decade. The first season was a densely filled adventure that made the most of its 12-episode run. But will Season 2—arriving after three years of waiting—live up to the hype? Short answer: definitely. ***

For one thing, despite its three-year gap, the second season immediately feels like a natural continuation of Season 1. Episode 1 alone felt like Episode 13 of the first season, as it retained Season 1’s comedy-driven elements, its heart and soul over the subject matter of cosplaying, makeup, and such, its ecchi elements, its heartfelt moments, and, most of all, the magical spark between Marin and Wakana. It’s as if the three-year wait was just washed away.

But despite firmly retaining its original elements, there are also parts that have drastically improved—one being the animation and direction. While there was nothing wrong with Season 1, which was already considered a high-quality production by 2022 standards, Season 2 stepped it up by providing far more expressive animation for the characters, along with a lot more creative opportunities in conveying sequences or reactive elements, with some sequences that are cinema-coded that keeps you engaged with the series even if it's just a simple tracking shot of a character walking. This is further complemented by its editing, whether the scene focuses on the main characters or minor ones.

In my opinion, Season 2 incorporates sweeter elements into Marin and Wakana’s relationship—whether it’s Wakana standing up for Marin in dire situations or something as domestic as cooking a warm meal when Marin is sick, or the subtle advances Marin makes so that Wakana picks up on her feelings. It all feels more endearing.

Another notable improvement is the introduction of new side characters, who were presented in better taste compared to Season 1. The Inui Sisters in Season 1 were some people’s favorite characters, but their introduction was rather distasteful and heavily leaned toward the male gaze. In Season 2, the approach is far more respectable and impactful.

One instance is the character of Chitose Amano (Ayumu Murase), who was introduced as a cross-dresser. Instead of leaning toward the degenerate side, the portrayal leaned toward the more emotional side, expressing the difficulties of being a cross-dresser while also showing the huge fulfillment and satisfaction that comes from doing what you love. This is by far one of the most inspiring aspects to come out of the second season, and it captures the heart and soul of My Dress-Up Darling—celebrating people who are passionate about their hobbies. Having this aspect improved in Season 2 adds even more heart to the series.

As for everything else, it remained the same: its informative nature about cosplaying and its obstacles is still engaging, and the presentation of its ecchi elements is kept low—not as intrusive, unpurposeful, or downright annoying as its contemporaries, And most importantly of all, the second season retained its inclusiveness across genders and hobbies, while breaking stereotypes—making many of its audience members feel seen, encouraged, and included, just like in the first season. Overall, the vibes and experience of watching Season 2 just feel like the same as Season 1 with improved elements. ***

Season 2 of My Dress-Up Darling crossed the threshold and won the lottery against the “season 2 curse,” delivering a respectable sequel. Though it’s not groundbreaking, nor does it present moments that drastically change the course of the series, it also doesn’t provide an inferior product to the first season. Instead, this second season stays firm to its roots, offering a high-quality comfort series for its loyal viewers—nowhere near the point of feeling burned out. ***