Review of Banished From The Hero's Party, I Decided To Live A Quiet Life In The Countryside Season 2
Round 2 of Banished from the Hero's Party - Welcome back...to staleness that doesn't compare and even uphold to its prequel counterpart. Like the majority, I loved Shin no Nakama a.k.a Banished from the Hero's Party when Season 1 came out in Fall 2021, that showcased a different side to the Hero's Party fantasy shtick that left me wanting for more. And now that Season 2 is out, the unfortunate reality (as is everyone concurring) is that novelist Zappon's story elements...do not hold up to the standards of the prequel. A retrospective, otherwise, it's where to really begin with Season 2's content. The continuation with Volume 5of the LN and beyond (to God knows where) with Ruti finally acknowledging her older brother Red's intention to settle down with Rit in Zoltan and live the life of freedom away from trouble, she, along with her bestie Tisse, also settles down in Zoltan, trying to make sense of the freedom that Red, Rit and the others like elf Yarandrala and giant Danan are now living. The sense of letting go of the troubles of a Heroic life, it's getting used to a slow life where the mundane becomes precious time spent with friends, it's a new feeling for Ruti and Tisse, that swords and shields are nothing compared to baths and meals, at the obvious expense of lives lost against moral company. And to be fair, it's a renewed feeling that it takes time getting used to, which Season 2 showcases a lot more from the brocon and her trusty loyal assistant's POV.
The things above ain't that bad...until you consider who the antagonist really is for Season 2. The whole trip about Ares and him getting served back in Season 1, really make for a good antagonist worth hating and seeing him get his karma and ass being beaten, it's such a treat. And the sequel here...opted for a new Hero who thinks that the Goddess has enshrined his Blessings to him, and that he must be loyal to her cause for the sake of others' Blessings being a nuisance. It's clear as day that the Hero in question, Van, is being brainwashed himself, but to the extent of being worse than Ares is not something I can complement about, being a weaker antagonist than the former leader who's all sorts of messed up. I mean, we get it that "life is not a bed of roses", but this sequel just gave me the feeling that the story elements past Season 1, which I thought would be good (until it wasn't), it's just a shame that the writing suffered tremendously here.
Even without the help of Wolfsbane for the studio collaboration, Studio Flad made decent use of sticking close to Season 1's quality, which it did, and makes me feel relieved. Not like I've expected animation to carry the show with its good storytelling (from the prequel) but being largely unchanged...when you think about it, it's likely for the better.
The OST may still be the same, but the theme songs have gotten worse. The same pairings of Yui Nishio and JYOCHO are back, though I find that the former's OP song is a decent fit given the change of POV, but the latter's ED song...is a very messy song that though carries the spirit of Season 1's musically sound and great song, does not translate well onto here.
Dear good golly God, Shin no Nakama, you've could've been great or at least back up the quality of Season 1, but Season 2 here just does not give you justice. For a lack of a better story plot, despite the slow life being just as prevalent as it does the second time around, it's just a disappointment of a follow-up.
Just watch Season 1 only, and close the anime gate from there on out.