Noragami Aragoto

I figured I was right to expect great things from the sequel to Noragami (Stray God). I gave the first season an over all rating of 8, and predicted that I'd give the second season a 9. I was wrong... in a good way. Story: 10/10 With the setting being established and knowledge of how everything works in Noragami (first season) the story was now able to progress as much as it wanted to without confusing anyone. What I liked about this season is the character development. There were two arcs that focused on Bishamonten and Ebisu. Each arc focused on building on their assigned gods respectively but not without also developing the main characters as well. I love how the lead character's past life unfolded and he grew while we learnt more about Bishamon and Ebisu. Art: 9/10 As with the first season the art was awesome, but since this season had a more action I got to see it play out with intensity and beauty regardless of the art style. Sound: 10/10 Going along with the action sequences or the sad moments, the OST plays out really well, so you can feel the moments you watch with empathy or intensity. Character: 10/10 As mentioned before I truly appreciated the character development in this season. I cried at the end of the Bishamon arc and I cried at the end of the Ebisu arc. When there is good character development, I feel for them and that is what I can enjoy from a well development anime character. I love anime that make me feel for the characters. Overall 10/10 This anime developed so well for me, it went from an 8 in season one to a 10 for season two~! This anime was so good to me, I will buy all the manga and read them. This story is so awesome, thank you very much, Adachitoka!

Story: The story is really great. You have to watch the first season because it will help you to understand the story better. The best of all, in the second season, it revealed more info about yatogami. Interesting isn't it? The comedy is balanced with the action. It was well developed from the very start until the end. Art: The art is great and awesome! Sound: I am the biggest fan of the opening song. Kyouran Hey Kids!! It has become my earbug for ages since i first listening to it. Character: There is no character that i dislike in this anime. Everyone, whether they are bad or good. They are all well developed and well defined. Enjoyment: I really enjoy watching this series. I hope everyone will. :D

Noragami was one anime that I am charmed, so my expectations with his second season were high. There are no disappointment. The history is interesting enough, starting discovering Yato's past and that of Bishamon, though there were some chapters that turned out to be heavier, everything was enough good. The this animation well and Noragami's soundtrack always gives to speak (The OP might be considered of the best of the season). I liked characters enough in this season, showing a VERY MARKED evolution in the already mentioned "enemies" (Vena and Yaboku) of the series. Kazuma and Yukine also showed an evolution though minor. Enjoy it enough, I am waiting for a third season.

[First of All] This is going to be a combined review of Noragami and Noragami Aragoto. Since my feelings are the same for both seasons, this shouldn't be a problem. From now on, I will refer to season 1 as "Noragami" and season 2 as "Aragoto", just to further simplify things. Noragami the series is awesome. From beginning to end, this anime was a consistently good time. If there is any question about it, I highly recommend watching Noragami and Aragoto. [Writing] This story manages to fuse comedy and tragedy like no other. It's very rare to see an anime that strikes that perfect balance, but when it does, it really does add to the experience. I love comedies and I love tragedies, but there are heavy consequences to having them in the same place. One example of misusing the combination of tragedy and comedy is High School DXD. Yes, the fabled boobu festu anime. The writing is actually kind of good for an ecchi-harem anime, but the tone is all over the place. I mean, you can't go from having every girl get naked to killing off a protagonist in the same episode. Crazy tone shifts like that are what confuse the audience and thus kills any investment one might have in a series' story. In Noragami as well as Aragato, this isn't a problem. The comedy moderated to the point where the transition from tragedy to comedy is seamless. You never feel like the stakes are gone because comedy is usually done and dealt with before the drama starts to coalesce. That's only one possible result of misusing tragedy and comedy, though. While it is hard to strike that perfect balance between ROFL and ROFC, as a writer, you really should try. Having more than one tone for an anime will increase its longevity significantly. One example of this rule is Dororo (2019). Very well made anime, but it's stuck in tragedy mode for 24 episodes straight. The drama is truly compelling, but I felt the need to put it on hold because I was simply growing bored of the depressing atmosphere. Noragami and Aragoto have several tones within their separate 24 minute confines. That's just separately, though. Incidentally, the overall tone of the series from beginning to end is like a gradient from comedy to tragedy. This works well to the show's favor since comedy is more likely to attract viewers while drama is more likely to keep them enthralled. That's a trap that I don't mind falling into, and you shouldn't either. It's good writing. Now, I've rated the story 9/10 for a reason. Despite all my praise, there was a minor hiccup at the end of Aragoto. If you decide to watch, you'll notice that the pacing and character building become rushed in the final arc. This is minor and the ending is still very much watchable, but it's disappointing especially considering the fact that a 3rd season is unlikely at best. Now, onto the art (and sound) [I'll call it presentation]. [Presentation] Noragami is a beautiful, polished anime. To begin with, the art style is simply amazing. The emphasis on specific colors as identification is a very good way of marketing. I have a theory that the people behind designing this anime were actually very passionate about it (I know, shocking), so they tried their absolute hardest to make it a successful franchise. Think about it: Yato is a sharp light blue, Yukine is a burning orange, and Hiyori is a bright pink. Even the minor characters get their own colors. Purple, violet, green, black, red. All of them distinctly related to a specific character. This concept is further emphasized by the series' kickass OPs. All the color is flushed out to make the marketing turn into straight up art. Not to mention, the music choice is very suitable for both seasons of the anime. Delving further into the sound, the voice acting is superb. Full disclosure, I am biased; Hiroshi Kamiya is listed as a "favorite person" on my MAL page, but objectively speaking, I think he was well cast. He can deliver great performances as Happy Yato, Sad Yato, and everything in between. I only decided to mention Yato's voice actor since he's the one you'll be hearing the most of should you decide to watch. Overall, masterful presentation all around. Now onto the characters. [Characters] The characters in this anime are charming, relatable, and well written. Almost never do they break character for the sake of the story. The characters actually grow too- all of them. It's sort of amazing how an audience can like a character both before and after they change throughout a story. If only other writers would take note of this possibility and stop making garbage exposition deliverers, the industry would be even better. I don't have much else to say, since it'd be spoiling integral parts of the story, so now into the final stretch. [Overall] When I'd first watched this series when I was still a young buck. Back then, the best anime i'd seen was High School DXD because it did magical things to the state of my pants. Now, roughly 4 years later, I've decided to re-watch to see if this series was worth the 10/10 I'd originally given it. Yes, it was. Noragami and Aragoto are great anime and you definitely should watch them.

Warning: Indirect Spoilers I just finished watching this, and it’s amazing! Don’t take my word for it, tho, lol, but I just really love the well-outlined plot and character development! While I find it unfortunate that some of the featured characters end up having to back up later on (specifically Hiyori & Bishamon), how the plot flowed and got the characters was wonderful! It’s been quite a long time since I got to scream while watching or reading like that, ahaha,,, Hnnngh I’m running out of things to say. Well... some flaws I’d like to point out is 1. Hiyori’s character. It’s nice and all, and luckily not too pressed in my opinion, but I feel like she haven’t really developed much as a character at all. Sure, her arc’s already done with, so there’s not much need, but wasn’t her role generally just being Yato’s motivation and reminder to live and stay justified? Her cliché bath scenes are starting to get a little tiring, too, even if it lacks fanservice (I mean, we literally only see whatever’s above her chest, no sideview of the naked butt or something, see). Just... it could be better ^^ 2. Cliché reactions to angsty horrible things. How many times has we seen a character or two let out a taken-aback gasp as they lean forwards, stretching their hand forwards as whatever just happened causes their eyes to turn shineless? The shineless eyes themselves are a bit repetitive at any case. Still, a lot of horrific things happened, so it’s pretty understandable. 3. The switching between Hiyori’s perspective and Yato’s perspective when Yato was stuck in... well, you know. The anime could’ve at least showed one perspective first, not switch back and forth. It slightly kills the mood to see Yato wringing in blight only to switch back to Hiyori laughing with her friends and then getting angsty again. Just saying,,, 4. The pushed YaTori (Yato x Hiyori). Don’t get me wrong, I do like YaTori; it’s pretty cute and is a good ship with how it develops and works and all! It’s just that it’s a little... forced, maybe? Anyone who watched this could tell Hiyori really cared for Yato (Yukine, too, but Yato especially) and meant the world to Yato in return. It kind of came to the point where I felt a little bad for the people who don’t like that ship... Mmm I can’t really think of anything more significant, but basically, it’s just the notable clichés that bother me. I’m not the kind of person who dwells on flaws more than pros in an enjoyable anime, though, especially with an anime t h i s good! I mean, wicked character development! Intense plot! Cliffhangers that’ll make me scream! Cryable scenes (not that I cried much, but as a person lacking empathetic and affectionate feelings, I still cried and got a little upset a couple of short times-)! The lack of difficulty in understanding emotions and what’s going on! The admirable devotion & loyalty the characters have! Just,,, certainly recommendable! This is something I can look forward to showing my sister once I start rewatching the Noragami series with my sister (since it’ll be her first time watching it)! Hope you enjoyed this series, too, if you already watched it! <3

Wow. What an epic rollercoaster ride. After finishing Noragami, I was so hooked that I just had to watch the second season ASAP. I’ve found the cute, quirky moments have gotten way less frequent in this feature as we figure out more about Yato’s past and the show has a dark and sombre feeling for the majority of the episodes, embedded with fast-paced, visually stunning battle scenes. The opening song is absolutely addictive also. Firstly, I would like to talk about how the group dynamics between Yato, Hiyori and Yukine have shifted in this season. Yato appears to be getting more reliant on Hiyori to help him get over how much he hates his past and keep from becoming the person he used to be. I feel like Yato is more devoted to protecting Hiyori’s admiration and memories of him as a God, rather than the emotional development of their relationship being the focus. I say this, because for a vast majority of the show, Yato and Hiyori are apart and they need each other, because their bonds are tied to their identities (Yato’s as a God and Hiyori as a half-phantom). Hiyori feels conflict over building a relationship with a admiring stranger because her familial/romantic devotion to Yato and therefore Yukine seems to be coming through in this anime, though because of their separation, all we really see with their relationship dynamics is: Yato’s turmoil over involving Hiyori and Yukine in his dangerous past affairs and Hiyori’s desire to ensure that Yato stays alive and her God-Regalia-phantom family stays intact. So in summary, there is not a huge focus on the development of Yato-Hiyori relationship growth (romantic or otherwise), but the Yato-Yukine relationship really undergoes some major changes. Yukine shows his devotion towards being there for Yato and making sure that Hiyori can stay protected by aiming to improve his magic and keeping the group strong. I just missed the Yato-Yukine-Hiyori unity as a group and would love to see them fighting their demons together. Don’t get me wrong though, some cute Hiyori-Yato scenes are definitely sprinkled in there.. Speaking of improving magic, I forgot to mention this in the last review, but Hiyori can sometimes feel like a useless character. When she knows that she will be encountering more evil phantoms/Gods if she stays with Yato, then why doesn’t she work on improving her fighting skills as a phantom? Her role in this season did not really win me over because she was most of the time either scared of Yato disappearing, was looking for Yato or was pretty much just standing and watching during the action scenes. It was like she was the cheerleading mom of the group and I was not impressed. Especially the scene in which she attempted to fight the phantom, ripped her skirt and then that suddenly meant that she could fight no longer. I mean REALLY. Now, moving away from my dissatisfaction with the changes in the group dynamics compared to the first season, the plot of Noragami Aragoto really takes the cake. It is basically set up into two major complications; the first involving answers to why Bishamon hates Yato and the truth behind Yato’s seemingly dark actions of the past. I must say though that this plot complication wouldn’t even have existed if Kazuma (Bishamon’s Regalia) had been honest to her eons ago, which kind of irked me that he wasn’t able to be truthful to save all the drama that followed as a result. Putting the validity of the plot complication aside, I really preferred the first six episodes as it was back to the same old teamwork dynamics with Hiyori captured (she really needs to get more powerful) and Yato and Yukine coming to her rescue. The second complication is where a whole secret door to the world of Noragami which you didn’t even know existed is unlocked. Here we are exposed to the colloquy of Gods where all the powerful and remembered Gods gather to discuss heavenly affairs and the plot complication of someone tampering with the phantoms of the underworld is raised. During this part of the show, Yato is also separated from Hiyori and Yukine which I absolutely hated and we are exposed to how absolutely vile Nora is. In the final part of the show, it focuses on Yato’s allure of the dark past and how he struggles to choose justice as the quality which he will adopt as a God. The focus on the character of Ebisu really didn’t strike my fancy as well, because the secrets that I wanted answered about the ties of Yato to some briefly mentioned characters like ‘Father’ were taken up by screen time from him. He provided a pivotal role for Yato’s growth, but I would have appreciated more about Yato’s past. The battle scenes were better than ever before and my eyes were glued to the screen. They were especially stunning as multiple Gods including Kofuku and Bishamon got involved and the fighting was so fluid and just plain old bad ass that it did not leave me wanting more. In summary, I cannot dislike this anime because the things I used to love are still there and some improvements from the first season in some areas are also present, BUT a lot of things took an unwanted turn for me in this season. This is still highly recommended though, because it opens up the world of Noragami so much more…and I absolutely love the world now. I am invested. Oh, and there is a major plot-twist, cliff hanger at the end which is seriously urging me to read the manga. I am certainly hoping that Yato and Hiyori sort out their feelings in the manga…*sigh*

The anime is so good. The characters also not bad. The story is amazing and I really enjoyed watching both season. I hope there's a third season. Totally one of the best anime i have ever seen. The characters is equal both males and females. Not all females have big boobs. There's not really any "Overpowered" character. The fights are not boring. And overall, such a good amazing and enjoyable anime. The ending is also quite satisfying and not awkward. The art and sound is really nice too. I hope I get to see the third season. Because like i said before, I enjoyed watching both season. 10/10

Noragami is one of those series that managed to bring a set of conflicting feelings inside my heart, especially when it comes to this second season. Usually, I don't get conflicted easily, but this season managed to do it through several elements. Story - 6 Noragami Aragato was the season of conclusions regarding several situations left open from the last series, patching up/ breaking relationships, moving on and introducing and developing new themes to the already fascinating world of Noragami; in particular I'm referring to the constant contrast between "corruption" and "loyalty". Normally, we'd think that falling into corruption is one of the few sins that one can commit in Noragami, however the story proved that loyalty can be as much of a sharp blade, if not even more than "evil" and "temptation". It was something that was executed extremely well during the entirety of the show and I kept getting reminded by it through most of the Regalia characters. Their roles were also set in stone more clearly than in the first season which I appreciated because I was left with the impression that Regalias were nothing more than "tools" (which to a certain extent they are, but it's not the ultimate truth and not for all Regalias). Another recurring thing was the line "Gods can never do wrong.". While momentarily confused with Yato's statement and thinking that he's definitely wrong and he's a hypocrite to say that because we all know what type of havoc and destruction Gods can bring, I managed to understand after giving it some thought. In the Noragami realm, Gods get born out of people's wishes. Ultimately, Gods are born with a goal and a nature that humans give them, but they don't have any morals or distinction between good and evil or life and death like a human does. However, realizing this, also makes me think that Yato probably didn't try to be a hypocrite, but similarly to Veena he partly tried to justify himself in some way to be able to deal with his own past and partly making her try to move on by using a more productive and positive mean. It's also to note that humans as well believe that Gods can indeed do no wrong and what they do, is because it's needed. Ebisu follows this exact line to the letter as well. The God Council is also the same even if ultimately we might find their judgement unfair; at the current time, they indeed did no wrong, only what was believed to be needed for the best of everybody. This season covered only two arcs of the story and as such it felt as preparing grounds for something bigger. The story was very character driven and what did happen was executed fairly well up to episode 8. After that point (episode 9 if I remember right) we had this time skip that I just didn't know how to take; suddenly time passed, some characters moved on, others decided to cut ties with their pasts, some others were introduced-wait... I found it simply unforgivable how out of place this time skip resulted to be. It felt as they started a new story altogether and seeing the good pacing that it had during half of the series, I felt ripped from the Noragami-reality and thrown into a dream...where some important people were suddenly "abandoned", Hiyori added a spark of convenient dramatical-angst trying to horribly foreshadow something that happened at the end of the season, while Yato was chasing his Luck (literally) together with SPOILER-somebody while avoiding to get devoured by a skeleton lady. Hurray! "Wait. What? My natural story and character development and pacing committed suicide"-I thought. Then the romance, you ask? Bulshitting me for whole blighted 3 episodes (9-11). I'm a big HiyorixYato fangirl, I really am; shipping them is really easy, but not even then did I manage to justify any of the convenient-forced-angst around the situation (and no, I do not blame a certain light brown-haired guy, differently from other people). Another thing that bothered me was the ambiguity between Yato and his father. I don't care that it gets explained properly in the manga, in the anime i just couldn't see what was up. Surprisingly though, I managed to empathize with Ebisu and understand certain motivations and justifications during the last 2 episodes of the show, so while part of 8, 9,10,11 were painful, 12 and 13 partially redeemed the story in my eyes, making me excited for an eventual third season, if it will ever be made...If not, well I do plan to buy the manga. Characters: 7.5 Let me just start and say that Yato is one of the most likable and unforgettable shonen protagonist ever. He is such because he's not valorous; despite being a God, Yato shows much more human behavior traits than other Gods and this became more obvious to me during this second season: he's greedy, lazy, sometimes not thankful, sometimes selfish and sometimes sneaky. Actually, this is another reason why this season made me conflicted. I started questioning the real nature of the characters that I thought I knew. Are the good guys really that good? Are the bad guys really just bad guys? The answer is no. Everybody is selfish and stubborn in their own ways, starting with Veena (which just plain confuses me on a side and on the other I want to pat her head). The good-natured characters become painfully aware of their "imperfections" during this show and actually try to find motivation to become better people instead of keep standing on the same step. The antagonists on the other hand are more complicated. I'll start with Kugaha (the Rabo copy lol) and I'm going to say that he was a surprisingly well-made side-villain. While I didn't exactly care for him more than a pain in the ass at the beginning, he ultimately made me question his real thoughts. Did he do everything for power? Or for good? Do the results excuse the means? After him, the anime constantly tried to put other characters in question, everybody besides Kazuma and Yukine and several Regalias. I was sad with the way that he was ultimately treated though. it's to see what happens to him later. Secondly, there's Nora. In the first season I simply disliked her, not as a character, but as a person. In this one, I was again conflicted. She is also painfully selfish, but I was surprised to see another side of her that can actually become likable to a certain degree and even making me feel sorry for her. Her connection with Yato and loyalty for him was deeper than I imagined on an emotional level (which I partly liked, partly disliked because I expected something else), but while she just simply wants her life with Yato back, her means are morally questionable. However, I'm not ready to dislike her anymore. Going to Kazuma and Yukine, while the first didn't go through a radical change, but more coming to terms with his past with Veena, Yukine genuinely surprised me. Remember that bratty kid from the first season that kept nagging and stealing and having perverted thoughts over Hiyori? Well...he's nowhere to be seen in this season. The way his character was treated was simply amazing and looking back, I've felt like my child has just grown into an adult. Ebisu was hard to sympathize with because at the time he appears in the Underworld I was already annoyed by the time skip, so I couldn't care less who he was and what his role was, while the comedy regarding him seemed simply misplaced. Indeed I didn't manage to actually care for him till episode 12 when it was already too late. However, the nice contrast and relationship formed between him and Yato was definitely one of the focal points that redeemed part of the story for me. Then there's Hiyori which I almost forgot about. I find her likable, however there's little to say about her this season. She continues being Yato's drive for becoming a better person and...that's just it. She might have realized that her place near Yato and Yukine is not secured and she doesn't make part of their world, but for romance purposes, of course, this will get dra…

This review will contain no spoilers for neither Noragami Aragoto nor Noragami. Noragami Aragoto is a huge step up from its predecessor. I had my fair share of issues with the first season, mainly relegated to flat characters and slight lack of development and intrigue. Above all else, Noragami Aragoto has established an identity with better writing in general, greater organization, and a more refined sense of self. The change in quality is immediately evident within the first three episodes, and the entirety of the first half of the show is an impeccably strong showing in comparison to the first season of Noragami. If you are on the fence as to whether Noragami Aragoto is worth the watch (be it that you were not pleased with the first season or not sure if the second season is a great enough pay-off to watch the first), I would definitely recommend the watch for the first seven episodes alone. The well-constructed first half certainly does overshadow the weaker second half, but the second half still grabbed my interest. Noragami Aragoto is split into two arcs. Both of which focus on the idea of being forgotten, and the central message of not letting your past define you shines through with this season. As with the last season, Phantoms are at large, but corruption in the heavens and the controlling of such Phantoms have become a larger issue than the Phantoms themselves. This season focuses a lot more on characters and the conflicts between them, which is a welcome improvement. While I still retained my qualms with Yukine, who feels almost like a cut-out character, he actually grew on me a bit even within the first two episodes. I absolutely loved the episode with Suzuha (Yukine's friend, the boy who cared for the tree), as it brought to light Yukine's growth as a character. I think the reason why I can accept Yukine's character growth as opposed to in the first season is that growth is reasonable with time, and it feels as though some time passed between the first and second season. This growth is in direct opposition to his prior immediate and awkward forced character development from the first season. I loved Yato's character in the first season and I love it again here. His multi-faceted personality allows him to provide both humor and austerity which I felt necessary to the show. Yato brought both comedic relief and chills; truly a rounded character. This time, though, Yato was not the only character to shine nor the lone carrier of the show. Bishamon and her team of Regalia alongside Kugaha really gripped me. For once, it felt like characters had reasoning behind their unwavering drive. Bishamon's intent was thoroughly explained with great pacing. Whereas the enemies throughout the first season of Noragami felt as if their only trait was 'evil,' Kugaha, the villain of the first arc, is cunning and actually has a goal. Kugaha is smart and employs strategy instead of brute force. While not all characters were well written nor fleshed out, those who were really impressed me. The one character who annoyed me most in the previous season grew on me, and that was certainly part of why I enjoyed this season more than the last. Again, above all else, the portion of the anime which stood out the most was the phenomenal soundtrack. The OP is super catchy and every track fits well with what is presented. I enjoyed this season a lot more than the first. The weaker second half did damper my score, but it is certainly a daunting task to follow the phenomenal Bishamon arc. The last few seconds of Noragami Aragoto allow some hope that there will be a new season eventually, and I'll definitely be there to watch it.

Its sorta hard to predict how any anime by Studio Bones is going to turn out. Sometimes they could end up being rather passable, or even incredibly memorable and well written (i.e Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood, Darker than Black). On the other hand, they could end up being complete and utter failures (i.e Zetsuen no Tempest). Noragami fits nicely between the two; a mediator amidst the good and the bad. Let it be known that I found the first season to be somewhat of a mediocrity. As far as urban fantasy goes, it didn’t do much to stand out from its peers and felt a tad bit too similar to other shows of the same genre. Sure, I mean there were some interesting concepts and some witty character interactions here and there, but it never felt like the show executed them as effectively as I would have hoped. The series, after all, is what would happen if you decided to mesh both ‘Bleach’ and ‘Soul Eater’ together. For most of its runtime, it was mainly filler, and the story arc it dealt with deviated way too much from its source material as it got closer to the end. Not to mention, it was rushed beyond belief. With 12 episodes, and only a fraction of it having anything to do with fleshing out the world and its characters, it barely felt like Noragami even amounted to much. With Aragoto however, Bones finally catches up to its source material and adds more substance that, honestly, should have existed in the first season beforehand. Viewers should be aware that this is a direct sequel, and newcomers stumbling across this with little to no knowledge of that will be confused and lost. The highlight of the story this time around, is that there is less focus on the various “side jobs” the main heroes must pursue, and more of an overarching storyline. This, thankfully, removes a lot of the filler elements that the first season toyed around with. I mean sure fellas, its nice and all to watch Yato and co goof around while pulling off comedic chibi faces every now and then, but it becomes bothersome when that is literally 80% of the show. The show is split into two arcs, which are aptly named the “Bishamon arc,” and the “Ebisu arc” respectively. Both are quite different in their own right with the first one being a rather emotional insight into Bishamon’s character and her conflict with Yato, and the second one introducing a location known as “The Underworld” into the mix. Both arcs exhibit higher stakes compared to the first season, which I highly appreciate. At least now, people die this season, and there’s this feeling that not everybody, not even the main cast, is safe. However, problems soon arise when you try to dig deeper into the show on a less superficial level. For one, there were many moments where the writers seemed to have just pulled out random explanations from their asses to justify a certain event happening on screen that would otherwise seem implausible. Without spoiling anything, there’s this one scene where a character is dragged into the underworld and is suddenly brought back up into the real world through some half-assed plot contrivance. There were also multiple other moments like that which grinded my critical mind, but that situation was particularly distracting. The biggest issue I have with Aragoto, was that it doesn’t seem to be any different from other shonen titles I’ve been willingly exposed to. The story is rather predictable, and you can tell how the events are going to coincide from the very first episode or so. It is also lacking tremendously when it comes to worldbuilding. The human world is still given higher priority over the lands that the deities originate from, which wouldn’t have posed a problem if the human world were any bit interesting. Though it’s not nearly as prevalent as the first season, I just felt like there wasn’t enough screentime or insight into some of the mystical locales. Much like other shonen titles, there’s a lot of infodumping and monologuing that often takes me out of the mood it’s trying to set up. Nothing is conveyed with any degree of subtlety, and the characters often stop dead in their tracks to explain to viewers in a highly explanatory fashion, as if they have no respect for our intelligence. Like jeez, we get it, we know… The same goes for the monologues. Though monologuing can be a useful storytelling technique (‘March comes like a Lion’ is a recent example of a great anime that takes advantage of it to build up its main character and let audiences in on his mentality on a more personal level), oftentimes it’s highly abused by a vast number of titles. It should be used to get us to relate on a deeper level to their thoughts, not to convey information that us audience members have clearly just witnessed happen on screen. To give an example, a character would get attacked, and immediately another character would think to himself aloud, “holy shit, that guy just got attacked!” Its lazy and insulting to the viewer’s intelligence. And the problem with this, is that it’s used commonly in most anime. And it completely bugs me. Show don’t tell, guys! The cast thankfully have a lot more development this time around. Yato’s and Bishamon’s backstories are explored in much greater depth than ever before, leading to both actually developing as characters. In fact, a lot of the characters from the first season have their backgrounds and personalities expanded upon. Yato is basically just himself for most of the time, so if you like Hiyoshi Kamiya channelling his inner Koyomi Araragi, then you’ll find much solace here. But we do get greater insight into his relationship with other characters, therefore allowing us to see him grow from this egotistical doofus into a loyal friend who would do anything for his companions. The bond between him, Yukine, and Hiyori feels more palpable this time around as audiences will further bear witness to their interactions. Yukine in particular, grows from a whiny, spineless git into a headstrong, self-assured spirit weapon who’s more devoted to his master than ever. Hiyori is just bloody useless though. She barely does anything in the sequel, apart from yelling Yato’s name here and there. I wouldn’t be surprised if she becomes the next Orihime or Lucy or Sakura in the next season. Her arc, which is basically a romantic subplot, is just too sappy for my tastes and adds very little to the overall plot. Seriously, why do most shows these days, not just anime, feel the desire to shoehorn in love triangles? Some characters also feel like they’ve gotten shafted. Kofuku and her regalia for example, still feel shallow in contrast to our main heroes and exist solely for comic relief. The show also tries to introduce more and more characters as the episodes fly by, most of which get little to no screentime. There’s this one fella that befriends Yukine in an earlier episode, but then gets axed brutally like around two episodes later. His death is prolonged in a very dramatic manner, as if the writers expect us to care on an emotional level for him. Sorry, but it had barely any effect on me. I mean, I barely even knew the fella. He’s like a stranger to me. But so far, characterization is a massive improvement from the first series and hopefully, the third season will improve on it. But that’s not saying much, because the first season barely had any characterization. Animation is pretty much on par for Bones standards. The backgrounds are very rich and detailed, with a lot of emphasis to making them look absolutely gorgeous. The Underworld for example, is given a much-needed feeling of helplessness, isolation and dread to complement its grim atmosphere. Animation quality is usually very good as expected of Bones, but the first episode does have some glaring off model shots. For instance, there were numerous creepy shots of with practically no faces. This would annoy a lot of the viewers on their first go, and probably creep out others. It could act as an effective way to give pe…

Warning possible Spoilers After season 1 I was a little unsure where this season would go, but to my surprise it surpassed the first season on both story and character. The story continues with Yato who carries on doing jobs for only 5 yen, but Bishamon is looking for revenge and wants to finally finish the fight she and Yato have had for centuries. Th story kinda paces just like a season of High School DxD as the first half concentrates on Bishamon while the second half concentrates more on Yato's past and Ebisu the God of Fortune. Now I really enjoyed both arcs, Bishamon was someone who was underused in the first season so concentrating on her was a good move plus you get to find out more about her character like the tortured past she has suffered and the extraordinary kindness she has for Regalia's shows she is a complex and emotional character, but it doesn't just focus on her it also focuses on Kazuma and how he is really the reason for Bishamon's suffering and not Yato, the first half really brought out the relationship between Bishamon and her Regalia's. The second half decided to concentrate more on Yato's past and Ebisu, it was interesting how Ebisu's character developed in the little time that was left in the show and it really created some emotional moments that were very well done and you also get to see why Yato wanted to change from taking lives to saving lives so he can become a likeable God. This season was much more intense and action heavy, but this was a good thing since the fights were lacking a bit in the first season, plus we got to see more of the God's world and how it worked with their own society and we even got to see the depths of the Underworld which seemed pretty damn terrifying. Now the characters definitely improved from the first season with soome characters who either didn't get enough screentime or were a little annoying certainly got better this season. Yato continued to be the lovable God we all know, but we find out his funny personality is a barrier of what truly lies within since he is a very scarred person and really wants to change his image from a God that kills to a God that saves people. Bishamon finally gets some concentration and you see the complex character she is, despite being a God of War she cares for her Regalia's and doesn't wish to lose them like she did before, you also see that the hatred she has for Yato is actually misplaced, but is technically what saved her life in the past. Ebisu who is the God of Fortune is a character that certainly throws you off, you think he is a bad guy, but really he is surprisingly a good guy as his main objective is to be a God that can protect humanity and you feel sorry for his character for what happens in the end. Kazuma who is Bishamon's oldest Regalia also gets some concentration as you find out he is a person full of guilt considering he was the one who turned to Yato to massacre Bishamon's clan, but he is very protective of Bishamon and wishes for her and the other Regalia's to be safe. Yukine and Hiyori don't get much development, but Yukine is a much better character in this series now that he has his new found loyalty to Yato and is willing to protect him and Hiyori from the threats that put them in danger, Hiyori continues to be Hiyori not much happens with her other than a few instances with another classmate, but other than that she pretty much remains the same. The artstyle is given new expansions in this series with the inclusion of the underworld which looked like somewhere you don't want to get lost in and you also get to see more of the God's realm which oddly reminded me of Asgard for some reason. The comedy was good yet again with moments like Yato running away from Hiyori in a trash can which was a favourite of mine that worked very well, however the comedy is much less than season 1 which isn't a bad thing since the series concentrates on more serious subjects like Bishamon and Yato's past along with Ebisu's true goal as a God which had some emotional moments and had a lot of suspenseful and thrilling moments that did keep on my toes. Now there is also a cliffhanger at the end and this'll obviously make some people annoyed, but to me it was predictable and surprising with what it reveals and I am certainly looking forward to season 3 if it ever happens. Overall the second season was definitely better than the first every episode kept me hooked so if you enjoyed the first season then you'll definitely enjoy this season.

Story: I will try to keep this spoiler free, but the story is really really good. the story was better then the first noragami, answering a lot of questions. also, the anime is really sad, I am not a person who cries when watching a anime, but I got close to crying, I wont say what the sad moments are because of spoilers, but when you watch it, grab a tissue box. Art: In my opinion, this anime has the best art of any anime. its cartoonish like no game, no life or gurren lagann, but its also not realistic like flower of evil or parasyte. and I love this style. soundtrack: I found the soundtrack of this anime really fitting having a sci-fi/fantasy feeling. and that opening is awesome, the first noragami had a good opening, and same with aragoto, hopes for the third noragami having a good opening characters: I found the characters of this anime really enjoyable. whether its yato with his sided personality, yukine with him just trying to enjoy himself, bishamon trying to keep her shenkis alive or kofuko being legit waifu material. the characters are really enjoyable. overall: I love this anime. the main reason I watch anime is to escape from reality, and this anime did a great job at it. and critically, its godly(no pun intended) for all the reasons I have listed off. I enjoyed this anime a lot(so much so that its my favorite anime)which is why I give it a 10/10

Note: This review assumes you've read my review for the first season. Therefore, I would recommend reading that review first. Overview: The first season of "Noragami" was certainly fun to watch, but you couldn't help but believe that it had to think bigger with the concept. After all, in a world of god and ghosts, the possibilities are pretty much endless, right? Thankfully, Bones wasn't quite done with the series. "Noragami Aragoto" is the second season of the series which aired only in the autumn and winter of last year and I'm happy to report that, in several ways, this new season is even stronger than its predecessor. Story & World (8.5/10): "Noragami Aragoto" continues where the first season left off- Yato is still doing jobs for humans (then blowing the money on useless trinkets), Yukine continues to serve his Regalia and Hiyori continues to slip out of her body on occasion and become a half-Phantom. This time, however, the stakes are much higher as Hiyori and Yukine's worth to Yato starts to come into question, as he is still unable to escape from his dark, mysterious past. The story is split into two story arcs- the first revolves around Bishamon and her conflict with Yato, while the second revolves around Yato's past as well as the fortune god Ebisu. The story is a huge improvement on the first season, as it greatly expands on the world of "Noragami", introducing many new gods as well as Takamagahara, the place where gods dwell. We also learn that gods aren't quite as above good and evil as Yato claims and that gods who commit vile acts (such as stuff involving Phantoms) are punished by a group of authoritarian gods known simply as the Heavens. The problem is that these Heavens are extremely paranoid and don't seem to be able to grasp the concept of doing the wrong things for the right reasons. However, to go into that would be a huge spoiler. All in all, with this season, the series finally starts to take full advantage of its awesome concept and brings some plot points from the first season to a satisfying conclusion. Add in a large amount of character development, backstory and hilarious comedy and you've got yourself a highly engrossing story that, unfortunately, ends on a cliffhanger which will leave you begging for a third season. Art & Animation (8/10): "Noragami Aragoto" looks EXACTLY the same as the first season. From the characters to the environments to the Phantoms, everything about the visuals has stood completely still. And considering the first season of "Noragami" wasn't exactly a looker in its day, this is a problem. The rather basic character models, overuse of wacky facial expressions and occasional stiff animations look even more out of place two years down the line. That's not to say it isn't still nice to look at, with the awesome-looking Phantoms still being present. It's just that there are still all the same issues I had hoped they would have rectified. Sound & Dialogue (9/10): The soundtrack largely consists of tracks from the first season, but it also has more than a few new tracks, including the new opening and ending themes, just to keep things from getting stale. The voice acting is no better or worse than in the first season, and like that season I watched both the subbed and dubbed versions. I must say, though, the fact that Bryn Apprill is able to consistently match or even surpass Jason Liebrecht scene for scene, despite him being more than twice her age and been voice acting for much longer is extremely impressive. I guess you could call it natural born talent. Characters (9/10): "Noragami Aragoto" features a ton of returning faces. Besides the main trio, we also have the God of Poverty Kofuku and her Regalia Daikoku, as well as the God of Combat Bishamon and her exemplar (as in, most treasured Regalia) Kazuma. The first arc puts a large focus on developing the latter pair. We know from the first season that Bishamon holds a serious grudge against Yato for killing her Regalias. However, it's soon revealed that the situation is a lot more complicated than it seems and that there are secrets that Kazuma has been keeping from her all these years. The arc brings Yato and Bishamon's conflict to a satisfying conclusion and results in some great development for both her and Kazuma, as well as some serious ship tease. However, there really is no denying that Bishamon is unbelievably stupid, to the point that Kazuma pretty much does all the thinking for her. The second arc focuses on developing Yato as he deals with his past. While in the first season, he came off as a greedy buffoon who did jobs for humans just so he could build a shrine and be worshipped by the masses, here his desire for a shrine is cast in a much more sympathetic light. He is also forced to settle matters with his childhood friend-turned-stalker, Nora. At the same time, Yukine also has to deal with serious insecurities, questioning his worth as Yato's Regalia due to him having another Regalia for much longer (Nora). He also becomes an advisor to Yato, due to being his exemplar in the same vein that Kazuma is to Bishamon. Another focus is the ever-growing feelings between Yato and Hiyori. While there were hints there was a romance blossoming between the two in the first season, it is proven beyond doubt. Hiyori's desire to become fully human again hasn't changed, but even so she refuses to sever her ties with Yato (which would cause her to forget all the time she spent with him and Yukine) just so she can spend more time with him. At one point, Yato even says that he'll make Hiyori the happiest girl in the world. And while Hiyori doesn't do an awful lot in the way of fighting (though she certainly can if she has to), she does definitely help out Yato in other ways. Ultimately, the characters in general are brilliant, though Hiyori and Yato are easily my favourites. Enjoyment (9/10): While the first season was very enjoyable, it could also be a bit boring due to the lack of anything significant happening for several episodes. Not true for this new season. This time, every single episode adds something new and the story is always moving forward, though the constant cliffhangers could get rather annoying. The comedy is also arguably even funnier than in the first season, especially considering none of Yato's friends seem to have any faith in him (when Hiyori sees Yato with a pile of money, her first thought is that he robbed a bank). This is definitely something you will want to see to the end. Overall: The first season of "Noragami" was certainly great in its own right, but "Noragami Aragoto" is easily superior. It's far more fast-paced and takes full advantage of the series' great concept, as well as giving us some great character development and the same hilarious comedy, only better. Unfortunately, the season ends on a serious cliffhanger, so hopefully we will be getting a third season sometime in the near future. In the meantime, if you enjoyed the first season, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn't watch this one. I guarantee you will be rewarded. Score: 8.5+8+9+9+9=43.5/50=8.7/10 Overall Series Score: 8.5/10

I was so happy to watch season 2 of Noragami. The season continues with the story and shows more of Yato's past. Again the story still has flaws in it. It's divided with 2 stories which both are equally as good. The transistion between the stories continues flawless, so it doesn't feel like 2 seperate stories (eventhough they are) The character interaction is less questionable in this season. It was really one of the strongest points of this season. Especially the interaction between Yato and Ebisu. I never felt so much compassion for a character as Ebisu before. The other characters show more of their personality, maybe it's because I see more of them now, that I understand them better now, Overall season 2 is as enjoyable as season 1. Which rarely happens. I'm kinda bummed the season ended with a cliffhanger about Yato's past. Can't wait for season 3!

Overall, I really liked this series once it kicked into the more serious plot of the second season. The first season was a modest beginning to an action anime with some unique plot devices and reasonably good quality characters. The comedy loses some punch as the same jokes repeat often. That said, the comedy is timed well so that it doesn't interfere with serious moments (and occasionally provides much needed relief of tension). The characters are each memorable in a way that most anime just can't manage. I really appreciated that the plot is 'small' enough that solid closure and denouement were possible. The ending is very satisfying because it was done with finesse, but it leaves you wanting to hear more stories from the noragami universe. The plot isn't fantastic, but the character development maintained a great lock-step with plot advancement. Despite the great character advancement, many of the characters having the emotional maturity of a 6 year old throwing a tantrum. Artistically, the style is well-developed and comfortably shifts between the realism of serious plot points and the cartoonishness of the comedic relief. There is enough good content in the anime to make it memorable, but there are some oversights. The framework of this series is remarkably mature and healthy, but unfortunately the execution of the manga wasn't always able to do it justice.

I get bored with anime quite quickly nowadays but I found this show surprisingly fun and well paced. To start with the good things, the character design is gorgeous along with the animation. There aren't that many varied tracks for this anime but the opening themes are amazing. I don't think I ever skipped them as I was marathon-ing this series. For the bad part, there isn't that much depth in the story and character growth is almost non existent. Because of that, the story is quite predictable and there aren't that many plot twists or tension. However, I still liked the characters a lot and they had their moments, especially in the second season. Overall, I just wanted something entertaining and this anime was it! It was such an easy watch and now that I've seen all of it, I kind of miss it. It's not ground breaking by any means, but it was fun in its own way and I'll be looking forward to season 3 if it happens!

Ehh. :< So it was alright, just kinda meh, nothing really outstanding for me, a bit mediocre even. The second season seems to be split in two; In the first half, it deals with Bishamon. There's treachery among the midst, Kazuma gets development, Hiyori gets kidnapped (again), and Yato is gonna kick some butt. There were some cool interactions and developments, but in the end, the majority of the conflict I found lacking. It could have been solved easily with a little bit of talking. I feel like the conflict was very fabricated and fake, and so I couldn't really get into it. I'm sad Hiyori once again got to do nothing. She was built up to be a strong female protagonist, and I like her, but in the end she was less than a side character, which is a shame. The villain reveal was meh, I don't understand them, I don't get why Nora was involved, and the villain conclusion I didn't care for. So basically, the storytelling didn't draw me in, or even connect at all. More than that, there are no consequences to any of it, other than "we're friends now I guess", which I don't like - especially not after what they built up. I'm fine with happy endings, but if that's what you're going for, you probably shouldn't do what they did-- I never like when there are no consequences to massive wrong decisions, that just kind of takes the oomph out of any show. It means nothing bad will ever happen, so what's the danger? In the second half, we learn of a new god named Ebisu who tries to buy Yukine (that goes nowhere - feels like they just kind of forgot about this) and who travels to the Underworld to try and find a way to control phantoms. Again, the concept is interesting, and some cool things happen, and there are some really sweet moments, but to me, it gets held back, because... Yato gets kidnapped, somehow, and for some reason he can't escape, and no-one cares. Again, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Maybe in the manga, but not here. The villain from before is back, then trips and falls for no reason and is gone. Like a total afterthought. Nora is being spooky mysterious for reasons. Hiyori is used as a plot device and nothing more (as before) There's not enough (screen)time to really care about Ebisu before the end. Which is the biggest crutch. There are just not enough episodes to really build the guy's character before.. And then it's over! It's definitely not finished yet, either. Yato finally cuts some ties and makes a decision how to move forward, Yukine gets super saiyan and stops being whiny, Hiyori is kinda there, everyone is alive, and there is mention of a mysterious father figure + an after-credits scene. But ehh; I felt it just wasn't cohesive enough, the conflicts felt fabricated and mutter mutter I'll just go back to my shed. Please enjoy it if you like it, but it wasn't my cup of coffee. ^^;

First time writing a review here, about a series which does have the value to talk about it over and over even in years from now too, noragami is a series which in my opinion anyone can have their own level of perception on. there involves elements of life in everyday's points of view and the message here is simply put (you are no different than a god when you let everything in and you belong to none of it. an aspect of taoism which there lies life among everything. black in white and white in black. this is a must watch series for every person.

The second season of a show is usually one of two things, more of the same or an extension of the original premise. Only the very best shows are able to include both of these things without seeming overlong or, even worse, the product of filler. Noragami Aragoto is one of those shows that IS able to pull this off with resounding success. Not only that, but Noragami Aragoto expands from the original, focuses on the loose ends that were left from last season and finally gets over the teenage angst that pretty much drowned out the first half of the first season. Noragami Aragoto is the story of an unknown war god known as Yato and his band of misfits. In the previous season, there was very little team spirit between the main cast. The first arc was all about Yukine and there was a lot of disconnect between him, Yato and the rest of the world. The second arc, which was much shorter, had a very vague and all around detached plot about Yato's past which didn't really reveal too much and left some incredibly interesting characters hanging. On top of that, the first season portrayed Yukine as a whiny, hormonal b*tch and it rendered the rest of the anime very 'slice of lifey' which, for such a cool premise, didn't do it justice. Noragami Aragoto fixes ALL OF THIS Story - As mentioned just then, Noragami Aragoto has a far superior plot to its predecessor. This is because it provides us with historical relevance, modern events, past problems and current solutions - It possesses everything you need for a decent story that fits in perfectly with the world that's been built around us. The first arc is all about Bishamon and Yato. Something that has been brought up in the past but never really been indulged in, at least not further than a light scuffle. This arc is jam-packed full of action and could probably be named my favourite arc of all time. Besides the characters, which I will discuss later, the plot behind this arc demonstrates an extreme amount of competence towards the overarching story and most of all satisfies every loose end left over from the first season. It's overwhelmingly satisfying to watch because of its as if the creators knew exactly what they needed to improve on in order to provide the most intriguing, bad-ass and cohesive arc possible. The second arc, while providing less Yato, is just as satisfying. Much like the first one, it serves to tie up loose ends, provide a satisfying climax and put as many characters as possible on the show. It also does well to give us a peek into the politics of the gods. I personally loved this because it showed us how even the gods are accountable for their actions and are therefore vulnerable to the nature and condemnation of hierarchies. Overall, there is very little I could scrutinise Noragami Aragoto for when it comes to its plot. It maintained that sense of wonder from the first season while developing on that and eventually provided us with something that we couldn't have fathomed being any better. Art and Sound - The art is imaginative. From the design of the world to the depiction of the god's realm. As a side note, Bishamon's little corner of the world is depicted so well in this anime. It starts off as a paradise but slowly dissolves along with the story to the point where only chaos is left. Anyway, there are a few cut corners but overall, I was impressed by how fluid and colourful it was. Good job on that front. Sound wise? Hang on... let me just listen to its intro again..... F*ck yes. On my review for the last season, I mentioned how I disliked the soundtrack (Except for the intro, that shit is my strawberry JAM). The same distaste for the music applies here (Except for blah blah blah) except I have to say I grew fond of it simply because of how well applied it was. Although I disliked it, I feel as if I've been conditioned into enjoying it simply because of all the bad ass moments that come with it. Had I enjoyed the sound track from the get-go, I think I would have scored this topic higher. however, I can't ignore my opinion in a subjective review, now, can I? That would just be pandering. Character - Bishamon is probably one of my favourite characters in all of Noragami... and no, its not because she has her tits hanging out half the time. It's actually because she has such as strong demeanour but behind closed doors, she is caring, guilty, sympathetic, vulnerable and, in some cases, impulsive. This is another reason that I loved the first arc, all of this behaviour comes flooding out as the true history between her and Yato is revealed and it makes her so much better than a typical 'strong woman with power' that you often see in anime, who end up having very little humanity. So ya know, Bishamon, if you ever need a safe place from Tumblr or whatever, I'm a MAL comment away. Just saying. (No, I don't own a body pillow of Bishamon. Yes, this is a (bad) joke. Yes, I'm stable) Of course, many of the other characters are worth your time. Yukine finally got out of his emo phase and Yato is less like Gintoki (branching out, good for him). Hiyori is still the same despite a few existential crisis'. Overall I would say that What you get from these characters is an amazing variety of comedy, seriousness, intelligence, ignorance and fun... always fun. They have developed a lot from the first season and continue to do some in some extreme ways despite the short amount of time they are given to do it in. Enjoyment - You're probably getting just as bored of reading this as I am tired of writing this. Horizon: Zero Dawn unlocked a few days ago and It just got around to downloading it so I've got to get on that before I pass out in this chair. TLDR; I'll keep these next bits short. Yes. I loved Noragami Aragoto, Don't believe me? Then you clearly weren't reading. Its ability to bring so much to the table and truly distinguish itself from its predecessor is incredible and makes it so satisfying to watch. Conclusion - In summary, everything that matters is amazing (to me). [[Editing Note: I have no f*cking idea what that was supposed to mean.]] In summary, everything IN THIS SHOW is amazing (to me). I wholly recommend that you watch this season, even if you were ended up on the fence over the previous one, this is one of those few shows that rise above its first season and truly take you on a journey. Please, If you're even partially into this kind of genre or any neighbouring genres then this will be worth your time. Probably. (For real, though, the intro is so f*cking good. Everything from the music to the art is just incredible, Its the f*cking theme tune to my life... if only there were any interesting points in my life that could make for good intro scenes.... /cry)

(This review has been adapted from its blog/reddit thread. Spoilers ahead!) Noragami, the first season, was actually one of the very first anime that I started following as it aired. I was a newbie back then, wondering what this strange, foreign medium had in store for me. I remember seeing the main visual for the anime – all three of them sitting atop a red-shrine entrance with the city far below and a gloomy sky at their backs. That instantly caught my attention (still does), and the anime ended up being favorable to me. Now, a few years later, with many more anime and hence more experience under my belt, Noragami Aragoto, the sequel to one of my starters, appears. And it’s nice to know that this one holds up about just as well. STORY Aragoto follows the first season, bringing back Yato, Hiyori, and Yukine for more god-related dilemmas. But this season, the anime splits itself up into two distinct arcs: Bishamon’s arc and Ebisu’s arc. Bishamon’s arc is easily the stronger of the two and, arguably, executed as well as it possibly could. As its name implies, these first six episodes revolve around Bishamon and her camp. Her role as a god of war, the Regalia she owns, and so on. Yato and his crew obviously take part – in more ways than one – but the true focus rests on the beautiful Bishamon. What’s seen, however, is anything but pretty. Major backstabbing amidst Bishamon’s group leads to deaths, misunderstandings, and turmoil. The loss of one of Bishamon’s lesser Regalia spurs thoughts about her current, incessant “generosity.” Bishamon exiles Kazuma, her closest and oldest partner, when she learns of him aiding her sworn-enemy Yato. And Bishamon’s almost-literal blind hatred for Yato made her unable to see the destruction happening within her own home. The strength of the arc comes from the clever use of the past. In cliché terms, history repeats itself. The destruction of Bishamon’s clan happened once before, so, ironically for this god of fortune, she goes through the same misfortune again. All the while, a theme on pain and protection persists. Pain pushes people to react. When someone touches a hot stove, he or she pulls his or her hand away. A toothache leads to a dentist appointment. A small cut or scrap gets an equally small Band-Aid. That is, pain is often seen as something unwanted, a negative. But Aragoto does not fully believe this sentiment. In the present, Bishamon suppresses her pain with medicine, rendering her unable to react to the needs of her numerous Regalia. By extension, her Regalia fake how they feel to make sure their master does not hurt, so them receiving a lack of attention continues. In other words, Aragato argues that pain can be a positive part of life. Yes, pain hurts, but it lets one learn and understand. It’s what makes people think twice about the actions they take. Protection has close ties to pain, for that’s what people do on a regular basis: protect themselves from pain. Seatbelts are worn while driving. People sit in comfy chairs at their desks. Feather beds, not hardwood floors, are used for sleeping. Naturally, people view protection as something wanted, a positive. Once again, however, Aragato does not fully believe that statement. Kazuma groveling at Yato’s feet protects Bishamon but leads to the destruction of hers and his family. Kugaha plotting to reincarnate Bishamon for her sake would protect her, albeit in a twisted manner. Even just Bishamon protecting as many stray souls as possible induces the problems at hand. That is, Aragoto argues that protection can be a negative. Yes, protection brings safety, but sometimes the cost to attain it cannot be justified. The two ideas intertwine, creating most of the conflict of this arc. It’s not until Bishamon embraces Aragoto’s arguments that the conflict subsides. I.e., she accepts the pain of her family by saving them with death by her own hands, and she releases Kugaha from her protection as a sign of pity and change. Sadly, Ebisu’s arc does not have the same level of execution as the first half. A lot of this weakness stems from the anime trying to do too much at once. Lots of new ideas are created, introduced, and accepted without any basis. For instance, an extremely minor character can talk to trees, the heavens have atom bombs, and the quite-convenient Soul Call method of saving gods. Then the weird writing choices. Kugaha, the villain from the first half, reappears and disappears within the span of five minutes, his only purpose to prove how both weak and strong Yukine is. The whole aside with Hiyori getting kissed, and then easily getting her memories back after it turned into such a huge issue for her, was lame since none of it mattered. And the even-more-than-quite-convenient finding of Yato’s true name during the Soul Call feels a bit unnatural. It all comes together as sloppy. A shame, especially after the first half did so swell. Even so, Aragoto’s second half still has many parts worth praising. The second half capitalizes on the idea of reincarnation that got introduced in the first half. Parallelism exists between the first and second half, such as with the releasing of Regalia and the inkling feelings of love between humans and gods. And even something as simple as Bishamon using Aiha in battle (the suit of armor Bishamon wears in the second half) reinforces the idea that a new leaf has been turned, a second chance given. The themes are also exempt from the problems. Loneliness, not giving up, and self-discovery do not have the same nuanced construction as the first half’s themes, but they still have connections. Yato, Yukine, and Hiyori are in separate plotlines (loneliness), doing their best to fight, train, or remember (not giving up) to better themselves (self-discovery). Granted, these details all rely on the first half setting them up, but they still help to bolster some of the weaknesses within Ebisu’s arc. Plus, the series’ signature comedy-and-drama mix persists. For example, Yukine, with money in his eyeballs, contemplates leaving Yato. Another example is Ebisu clumsily making eye contact with Phantoms in the underworld despite being told otherwise. Both examples demonstrate the show still knows when to and how to inject comedy at just the right moment. Altogether, it’s a tough call. A stellar first half leads into a mixed second half that’s more positive than negative, leading to a generally positive narrative. ANIMATION The character designs within Aragoto are technically simple, but they “say” a lot about the characters. Hiyori’s fading, pink tail highlights both her ghostly ability and her kindness. Yato’s sharp blue eyes reflect the hardened person within. And Yukine’s worker’s outfit indicates the amount of effort he puts into making himself a stronger Blessed Vessel. Bishamon and Ebisu have even better designs. Bishamon’s long, blonde hair, purple eyes, and fierce expression turn her into the battle-born beauty she happens to be. Also, her professional look when she visits the heavens, with her hair in a bun and a general’s outfit, is an awesome extra treat. Ebisu, by contrast, does not stick out: short, black hair, deadened-green eyes, and a plain buttoned shirt with tie. It’s quite symbolic – he constantly reincarnates, meaning his common appearance matches his repetitive life. Looking at the rest of the art tends to be tiresome. The locations visited, such as Koufuku’s home or Bishamon’s castle, are not that detailed. But the second half gets the worst of it when much of the setting takes place in purple-walled caverns, eliminating any chance for artistry. Lighting at least gets played with – different colored lights and an emphasis on darkness provide the anime with opportunities for flashiness. Animation as well does not keep up. Certain scenes, like Yato’s rending or a Phantom’s death, are reused. Battles include many explosions or cuts to give the illusion of fighting. And characters do no…