Review of Steins;Gate 0

I feel a bit bad for Steins Gate 0 because it had to live up to the popularity and expectations created by Steins Gate. For a fair portion of Zero, it seemed to have gotten the same flair. It even integrated more cliche-y anime scenes with relatively good effect, particularly developing emotional scenes through characters crying or confessing their love. But in reality, there were too many issues and inconsistencies that I overlooked for most of the season because it was the SEQUEL TO STEINS GATE. Some of the seemingly important characters ended up being fillers whose backstories meant almost nothing. It might have justbeen me, but Hououin Kyouma's return was so... anticlimactic. I almost didn't want him to return if it was like that.

If Steins Gate 0 were the first season to a new anime, I think it would have done pretty well. I mean... the reviews are still generally positive, but for those who placed enormous expectations on the second season because of Steins Gate the original, the second season may be a bit more disappointing.