Season 1 |
Season 2 |
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Episode Guide
Episode 1: Lunar Sickles -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2: Roaring Thunder -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 3: The Great Tree -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 4: Banked Fire -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5: Sea of Trees -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 6: The Divine Palace -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 7: The Empty Girl -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 8: Heavenly Beast -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 9: Lady Goddess -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 10: Lamplight -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Although many anime fans abandoned The Fire Hunter’s first season due to its slow-burn storytelling, and unsatisfying artistry, others chose to stick with this series because they wanted to see how its story would conclude. Season one closed on a thrilling cliffhanger and left many unanswered questions for fans to ponder until season 2 arrived in January 2024.
Many folks adored the old-school atmosphere The Fire Hunter evoked throughout Touko and her friends’ journey in season one. It reminded them of classics like Wolf’s Rain, Shinsekai Yori, and others. Despite The Fire Hunter Season Two having the same issues as Season One, it closes Touko’s tale on a decent note. Much like Season One, Season Two consists of ten episodes, with Signal M.D. in charge of the series’s production.
The story picks up where the previous season left off. It follows Touko, Kanata, and the others uncovering the mysteries of the bizarre yet atmospheric world they inhabit. They’ll have thrilling run-ins with this world’s divine clans, treefolks, gods, and other humanoids. Each episode offers something of significance. Whether it be a present or past conflict involving either party that our characters encounter.
Additionally, the series features subtle action segments to keep audiences invested in our cast’s affairs. From physical beatings to mental breakdowns, there are thrilling set pieces sprinkled throughout season two that’ll make viewers gasp or shed a tear. Moreover, The Fire Hunter’s world and its atmosphere remain one of its dominant qualities.
Some will appreciate learning more about each distinct party featured in this story, from the divine clans to the Spiders. Simultaneously, some chapters in season two, the info-dump-focused ones, contain content that’s easier to digest unlike the atrociously-paced chapters found in season one. Granted, some episodes will make you want to sleep, but you’ll find yourself having a simpler time comprehending matters in season two than in season one.
In addition to giving fans some interesting twists, cliffhangers, and a somewhat cozy conclusion, The Fire Hunter Season Two’s tale will leave a few viewers pleased. Despite its positives, the narrative has its downsides. As mentioned earlier, The Fire Hunter Season Two has similar pacing issues as the first. Many chapters will bombard viewers with an overabundance of intel, making situations difficult to grasp.
Also, some plot segments, feel dragged out, making matters feel like a chore to observe. For instance, there are two chapters or so dedicated to exploring Koushi’s inability to cope with the murders he caused via the cannon he created. While coming to terms with murder would be difficult for any human being, it felt like the narrative was beating a dead horse with this plot point.
On top of over-focused plot threads and poor pacing, The Fire Hunter Season Two jumped to and introduced multiple plot points frequently. Viewers would compare its structure to a frog hopping on different lily pads without taking the time to relax. Therefore, this story’s structure won’t appeal to many crowds.
As for the characters, The Fire Hunter Season 2 gives its main and supporting cast something to do in the narrative. Whether it’s Yuoshichi’s god-murdering spree or the divine clans capturing Kira to make her a vessel for the Flickering Flame, viewers will enjoy seeing them do something in this tale. Besides that, most supporting cast members serve meaningless roles, with some only returning to the narrative to offer our cast obvious yet encouraging words.
The main cast from Touko to Koushi have their stand-out moments. Whether it be Touko slaying several fiends or Koushi struggling to come to terms with his actions, you’ll find their affairs enjoyable. Unfortunately, due to the story’s jumbled and foggy nature, the characters don’t get explored in ways that leave audiences in awe. Like its story, some characters will please you and others will leave you mildly disappointed.
If only The Fire Hunter’s second season’s visuals could provide audiences with similar results. After a year break, many hoped Signal.MD would get their butts into gear with the show’s animation and visual quality. As with Season One, this season provided audiences with a lackluster viewing experience. From stiff movements to weird facial proportions, it’s unfortunate that many will compare this work to a child’s MS Paint project.
As with our coverage of Season One, it’d be great if the anime opted for fascinating and gripping visuals found in its first season’s opening sequence. If the anime had gone that route with its visuals and animation, many folks wouldn’t have written it off or left it behind to wither. While there are scenes in Season Two that are acceptable and intriguing, those are like a needle in a haystack as far as The Fire Hunter Season Two is concerned.
The soundtrack is one of The Fire Hunter’s second season’s best aspects. From its voice acting to its background music, everything felt natural, impactful, and satisfying to listen to. The voice acting elevated every scene, regardless of whether the characters looked like disproportionate figurines. Viewers will acknowledge and appreciate actors like Misaki Kuno (Touko) and Kenta Miyake (Yuoshichi) for bringing out these characters’ emotions.
Like the voice acting, the background music carried the atmosphere you’d expect from a specific scene. Whether it was a scene involving brutal murder or pleasant chatter, the composers involved with this project deserve praise. While the opening and ending theme songs weren’t as memorable or enjoyable to listen to as the first season’s offerings, others may find them to their liking.
The Fire Hunter Season One received great fanfare when it first aired, however, after several episodes many viewers turned a blind eye toward it because of its sluggish pacing, heavy expositional focus, and displeasing production quality. Nonetheless, there were those, like myself, who stood by this anime, hoping Season Two would repair the issues Season One left behind.
Unfortunately, while The Fire Hunter Season Two offers viewers an easy-going wrap-up to Touko’s journey, anime enthusiasts might want to check out an official light novel release rather than experience her tale via this production.
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Verdict - 6/10
6/10