Spare Me, Great Lord - Season 2

The first half of this season was undeniably weaker; not much seemed to unfold in the initial six episodes. The main hero was in the spotlight, poking fun at everyone around him, racking up points for all the negative emotions thanks to his skills. If the great action scene from the first season hadn't been mentioned right at the beginning, I might have found myself wondering what exactly made this series stand out, besides the humor. Thankfully, the second half brought back the exploration of ruins, this time in the form of a treacherous jungle teeming with dangerous flora and fauna hungry for blood. And, of course, some foreign spies have infiltrated the ranks of the local adventurers, needing to be stopped for the greater good of the country (yes, it's a Chinese series…). So, we finally get a lot of fights, where fantastic shots and sequences often alternate with others that show that Chinese animators still have some room for improvement. Despite this, the fights are usually a joy to watch - colorful, powerful, and fast-paced, though sometimes a bit chaotic (especially the final fight with a certain red spirit). However, this doesn't really detract from the overall impression; I simply enjoyed the action. Once again, the music was flawless - well-chosen and striking. It perfectly enhanced the atmosphere and elevated the experience. Most of the jokes also landed for me, though some were pretty silly. Often, I found myself just enjoying the hero's antics at the expense of other characters, but it was clear that the writers had a sense of humor and enjoyed crafting the dialogue. So, what would I criticize about the series? I wasn't completely captivated by its story. I just didn't have that sense of curiosity about what would happen next. Similarly, in terms of emotions, it only worked partially for me. Although I did begin to appreciate the nice sibling dynamic between the central duo, that was about the extent of it. There weren't many moments that elicited strong emotions from me. In the end, the second season managed to entertain me, perhaps even a bit more than the first one, but mainly thanks to its second half. 6.9/10 (2024.02.25)