The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 2

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 2

Planning for War

I know a lot of people really like The Rising of the Shield Hero, but this review is going to be all about how garbage it is. It’s not garbage because the protagonist owns slaves. I don’t care about that. It’s garbage because of how terrible the writing is.

This episode was so boring that I was seriously considering dropping the series as I watched it. What happened in this episode? We got some pointless dialogue, another bad character was introduced, and we were reminded of who the pink-haired background character is.

However, I’m slightly surprised that, so far, Season 2 has a lower rating than Season 1 on MyAnimeList. Both seasons are grossly overrated, of course. But I’m glad to see that people are recognizing that this season is worse so far.

Naofumi meeting with the local rulers from the anime series The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 2
Naofumi meeting with the local rulers

The entire first portion of the episode doesn’t really matter. This is when Naofumi is sitting in on the meeting with the local rulers as they decide how to defeat the Spirit Tortoise. Or, at least, that’s what the meeting is officially about.

In reality, this is just a dick-measuring contest. Each of the rulers talks up their own country/military and then declares that they’ll be the ones to play the most important role in the upcoming battle. Obviously, none of them really matter. We know it’s just going to be Naofumi’s party doing all the work in the end.

And, I’m going to predict right now that Naofumi’s party will kill the Spirit Tortoise from the inside. It seems to be the size of a mountain, so they should have no problem getting swallowed. Also, it looks like the OP (which is horrendous, by the way) shows them fighting inside of it.

The Spirit Tortoise’s Concubine

Okay, so the first portion of the episode was extremely boring and pointless. But at least we’re introduced to a new character, right? At least there’s a cute, new girl for us to look at. Well, let me tell you how disappointed I am with Ost Hourai.

The first problem with Ost Hourai is that her introduction itself is supposed to be a twist. She appeared before Naofumi and asked him to kill her before disappearing. And then, when she’s actually introduced, all the rulers in the meeting know her as the concubine of the former King of the Spirit Tortoise Kingdom.

But, the twist is that she’s actually not the concubine of the former King. Instead, she’s the familiar of the Spirit Tortoise itself. That could have been a good twist to reveal in another 3 or 4 episodes. However, revealing it literally seconds after her introduction defeats the purpose.

Ost Hourai, familiar of the Spirit Tortoise from the anime series The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 2
Ost Hourai, familiar of the Spirit Tortoise

Alright, so the big reveal about Ost Hourai failed. Fine. But, now that we know who she really is, we’re going to get some good information from her, right? Wrong. The only previously-unknown information she provides is a contradictory account of the Spirit Tortoise’s purpose.

Ost Hourai claims that the Spirit Tortoise is the defender of the land; it prevents the Waves from occurring. That’s great. Except, the way it does this is by killing everyone and using their souls to stop the Waves. Okay, so it’s not defending everyone then, is it?

Also, even though the Spirit Tortoise is currently stopping the Waves, which is its job, it wants to be killed by the Heroes to prevent itself from killing off humanity. And also once the Heroes kill the Spirit Tortoise, it expects them to continue its job of killing off humanity to prevent the Waves.

Am I the only one who’s not following this? None of that makes sense.

The Harem Grows

Moving on to the final portion of the episode, we’re (re-)introduced to Eclair Seyaette. Honestly, I still have no idea if this woman was in Season 1. Part of me wants to say she was and this was supposed to be a reminder. But another part of me wants to say this is her being retconned into the story.

If you remember Eclair from the first season, let me know. I feel like I should remember her since I tend to like pink-haired characters. But I really have no recollection of her — or the old woman frequently seen with her.

Alright, so I actually looked up Eclair on MyAnimeList after writing that, and according to their database, she did not appear in the first season. Maybe MyAnimeList is wrong. But for now, I’m going to take that as evidence that I’m correct about her being retconned into the story.

Rishia wearing a Filolial kigurumi from the anime series The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 2
Rishia wearing a Filolial kigurumi

In Season 2 Episode 1, we added Rishia to Naofumi’s harem. And in Episode 2, it looks like we’ve added both Eclair and Ost Hourai. Eclair I don’t mind (yet). Rishia and Ost Hourai are a different story.

I already complained about Rishia in the previous episode review, so I won’t do that again here. But just know that all the same complaints still apply — even if I was somewhat joking about them.

Ost Hourai brings a, let’s say “not so bright,” concubine to the harem. Despite being the Spirit Tortoise’s familiar, she’s completely useless when it comes to dealing with it. All she’s done so far is bring some implied ecchi to the harem by telling Rishia to seduce the Bow Hero. Good contribution. Very cool and deep character.

Conclusion

If you’re enjoying The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2, even Episode 2, good for you. Don’t let me tell you what and what not to like. But at the same time, I want you to recognize that the anime you like is garbage. It’s okay to admit that. I admit I love watching trash incest anime.

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My review of Episode 3 is available now.

One Reply to “The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 2 Episode 2”

  1. So I guess your one of those ppl that just immediately adds any new female characters to some imaginary harem of women that wants the mc’s nuts eh? So was the intent to put down the show because harems are bad? Mmkayy?
    If you dont like something no one will care, but i dont get the assumptions here if not to write off an isekai as a harem because you dont like neither. I can admit that usually im one of the first to augment a characters interactions, intent, dialogue, and emotions to justify or reinforce my thoughts betwren characters, but idk why in the actual f you were looking at. But…In retrospect how foolish/wrong do you feel? Rishia? Claire? Ost? At this point I’m not sure if you know what a harem even Is my dude. Even currently, zero romantic anything has occurred between any of these characters nor does It seem like any of them like the shield and vice versa.

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