See how easy that was? Season 2 of ‘Little Witch Academia’ is an improvement

Hope all my American readers had a good Thanksgiving. Personally, mine went pretty well. I’m feeling pretty relaxed; it was great to have a long weekend to relax and recharge.

I kind of wish I had a bit longer, but a four-day break isn’t bad. I shouldn’t complain.

Just so you know, this review is a follow up to: What is so hard about making a series based off something else? Frustrated thoughts about “Little Witch Academia” Season One.

Especially since the trip back home gave me plenty of time to finish Season 2 (technically Season 1, Part 2 but let’s not get into that) of Little Witch Academia. I binged several episodes in a row and maybe that helped shaped my view, but I think, it’s a huge step up from the first season, in many ways. I absolutely love the new intro, Netflix doesn’t have subtitles for the songs which sucks because I have no idea what they’re saying. My Japanese isn’t great to start with, but when it’s being sung? Forget about it.

When it comes to the show itself, I found much better paced, with each episode more clearly affecting the next. Akko’s race to find the Seven Words becomes a lot more urgent, after Professor Croix, who focuses on magic and technology comes to Luna Nova and is quite clearly up to no good.

Croix is an interesting character, though not necessarily an excellent villain. She wants to open the Grand Triskelion, a seal that holds world altering magic, but that can only be unlocked through the Shiny Rod. Her plan is to do this by gathering people’s emotions through a phone app, to power her invention. I don’t totally get it, but it’s interesting and relevant since internet trolls played a role in some first season issues.

However, despite this, Croix doesn’t face any consequences for actions after her experiment goes awry. Nor does she face any consequences for being the one responsible for Akko’s lack of magical talent.

And I’m sad that the show never gave her a chance to interact with Constanze, who herself is a magitek wiz. Croix could have taken the girl under her wing and tried to make her into her successor, but the show never really has the two even speak to each other.

I can’t say that she doesn’t have good motivation though. Because of the disappearing magic, she needed to find a new way to keep magic and even developed magical routers to help, but mostly, she was upset that the seemingly unworthy Chariot was awarded the Shiny Rod instead of her, since she found Chariot’s dream to perform for the masses to be unworthy and childish.

So…she tries making her own dark version, and fails epically leaving it up to Akko, and her friends to save the day. And like the previous showings, the show also makes use out of Ursula’s showmanship by getting the entire world (or most of the country) to cheer on the girls, allowing them to use magic.

So basically, the power of belief save the day. Like in Peter Pan.

But, it works. Strangely enough, it doesn’t feel cheesy, childish or ridiculous. I think it’s mostly because it doesn’t give them any weird power, or makes them super strong, instead it just amplifies their existing power. Plus it’s kind of heartwarming to see a bunch of people, including Andrew, cheer the girls on.

It’s sweet.

And it’s also sweet how Akko and Ursula make up; Ursula feels responsible for Akko’s lack of magical talent because, the technique she performed at the show Akko went to, that Croix gave her, stripped the audience of their magical ability. Which caused Ursula/Chariot to give up her dream, but never would have been a major issue had Akko never decided to be a witch.

I mean, it’s an interesting that should have gotten a lot more focus, I think. But it also doesn’t.

Really explain the difference between witches and muggles in the universe, since everybody has some kind of magical ability but I guess witches have more? I’m still confused.

I guess it’s not necessary to explain but it would help to me to clarify some of the inner workings of this world. But I would say that’s still my biggest gripe with the series. It doesn’t really clarify the difference between witches and non-witches. I know witches can use magic, and that magic is weak, so they need to be near a sorcerer’s stone or ley line or have a magical router, but what determines a witch if they don’t need to come from a family and how do witches from non-magical families figure it out?

And how they characterize Diana in this season is great. I love her.

Overall, I really enjoyed it and thought it felt distinctly different from Season 1, so I can understand why they chose to divide. I still have a lot of unanswered questions and some confusion over how some aspects of the world work, so clarification would be nice. If they decide to make another season, I will absolutely watch it.

If not, I think the show did end on a wonderful point and it accomplished everything it set out to. I do think there will be another season, I don’t know what they will do but I’m interested.

And that’s the scoop.

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Score: 8/10

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If you liked this review read: 100% cotton underwear makes for a near 100% film. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie review  

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Length: 12 episodes, 25 minutes each

Rating: TV-Y7

Released:  2017

Available: Netflix Exclusive

Director: Yoh Yoshinari

Producer: Studio Trigger

Voice Actors: Megumi Han, Fumiko Orikasa, Michiyo Murase, Yoko Hikasa, Arisa Shida, Rie Murakawa, Reina Ueda, Ryosuke Kanemoto, Junko Takeuchi, Noriko Hidaka