I have COVID so I binge watched the first and second season while lying in bed without previously knowing anything about this franchise, let alone being interested in card games in general. I'm here to say it was totally worth watching. Season 2 is better than season 1 in every aspect and I really liked season 1. You can check out my review for season 1 here: https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ghrln/reviews TL; DR - overDress S1 is for people who is not familiar with the franchise - overDress S1 is not about Vanguard, it is about people who play Vanguard and their relationships with others - super adorable main character and sidecharacters who are extremely straightforward with affection for each other
- plot is entirely incomprehensible at times but you just have to go along with the flow
- protip: if you are not familiar with vanguard the card game, i suggest you skim through the card game scenes just enough to understand the context

Now my review for season 2...

Section 1: Story is now comprehensible
I would say the biggest hurdle for S1 was that it was sorta confusing and incomprehensible at times. Character motivations weren't really clear and things just.... happened for no reason. Like why did Danji declare his retirement after playing with Yuuyu? No idea but I kind of accepted it and moved on.

No more of that problem in S2. With a proper introduction to Danji's backstory, his actions start to make sense and almost everything that conspires because of his past makes sense from a logical standpoint!

Section 2: Mirei
Mirei is a wonderful character. Seeing a visibly disabled character is always a welcome since we really need more representation in that front. As a disabled person myself (I am not hard of seeing though), I was extremely excited. Honestly I would want blind person's opinion on how they portray Mirei but here's my take.

The ways that Mirei made the card game which mostly relies on visible cues accessible to herself was incredible. She uses little stickers and puts them on cards. She feels the shape of the stickers to understand what cards she has. The game actually acknowledges her needs as a blind players are different and puts effort into animating her feeling the stickers with her fingertips. She does require some aid when playing the game but the most part she is able to play independently! She also uses braille as a way to write and she reads it off with her fingertips when talking to Danji.

She also does not like loud noises and hates it when people offer to help when she is fine (or she does not want to receive help from that person). I really relate to that as a disabled person. Please do not help us before asking and. if we say we are fine, leave us alone.

One of the other things that I really like about her is that she's a child that acts like a child and is allowed to do so. She's immature and selfish but also incredible kind and deserving of respect. She does not understand that what Danji did was for her sake in the long run. She isn't able to understand the complexity of the situation and despises Danji for his actions. If I am being honest, her suffering is caused by people forcing a role onto her, not because of what Danji did. If that "incident" did not happen (trying to avoid spoilers here), then another person would have forced a role onto her regardless. But that's okay. She's a child. She allowed to be mad at Danji for what he did because it did make her suffer. It is very selfish of anyone to ask her, a literal child, to be understanding. Danji also understands this so that's why the conflict for season 2 is so interesting.

Section 3: Touya is unironically insane
This man is insane. He literally dropped out of med school to play card games. What a dedication. Also, I find that he is such a good leader and having him become the next leader for Blackout was a good decision from Danji's end. Him slowly making connections with Blackout members, fixing the merry go around that he destroyed , earning everyone's trust and getting Megumi back… It was a slow process but I am really proud of him. I especially liked how Yuuyu helped him all the way throughout. Yuuyu is such a sweet child and I think being around such a person really helps. Also he literally is unphased by crossdressing and compliments Yuuyu’s makeup skills. That’s it — he’s the manliest man in the entire cast of overDress.

Touya is kind, caring, emotionally secure, extremely secure in his gender, and smart. What can else can you ask for in a leader?

Conclusion:

If you liked S1, you will like S2 more. Just watch it!