Season 2 of Beastars wastes absolutely no time in answering the probing questions left by the previous season, and does a great job in setting up the tension and throughline for its second outing, all while stunning with its unique blend of animation styles.
Tem’s killer is finally revealed, which sets off a sequence of events that tests the willpower of young Legoshi. Louis, meanwhile, finds himself in the lions’ den (literally), and we’re introduced to new anthropomorphic animals that change the dynamic between existing characters.
Legoshi’s main objective from the first season remains the same in season 2. He’s on a mission to find out who murdered his fellow drama club member, Tem, and how he can bring them to justice. The murder mystery aspect of Beastars season 2 is further heightened by the presence of a somewhat eccentric and elusive rattlesnake security guard named Rokume. While not a main character in the overarching narrative, the scenes with Rokume are pretty impactful to the ongoing mystery of solving Tem’s murder. Plus, Rokume’s interactions with Legoshi are fun to watch, even if they are somewhat creepy.
Though the main plot of Beastars season 2 is focused on Tem’s killer, the anime is rife with other stories and narratives that are just as unique and engaging to follow. Legoshi sets out to become a stronger protector to Haru, although his obsession just pushes her further away. While one relationship seems to drift throughout season 2, we see Legoshi become somewhat closer to his strong-armed, bamboo-eating trainer, Gohin. This gives the mysterious panda some more screen time as he drops sage words of wisdom that’ll likely come in handy for Legoshi in his journey.
Out of all the narratives in season 2 of Beastars, Louis’ story is the most interesting to follow. We left off in season 1 with Louis killing the leader of the Shishigumi criminal organization. In season 2, we now see what has become of Louis, and the unpredictable situation his actions have found him in. His unique position as an herbivore in The Black Market -- a place where herbivores are sold by carnivores as food -- presents its own set of conflicts as Louis navigates through this often dangerous environment. The implications of his actions now have him performing tasks that make him question his allegiance to his own kind. As a result, season 2 of Beastars shows a more vulnerable and conflicted Louis, which is a stark contrast from his arrogant and fearless self back in season 1. The new episodes also reveal more about his backstory, which humanizes this young red deer even more. Even his rivalry with Legoshi begins to evolve, which strips away the arrogant facade the character was once known for.
Louis’ story is the most interesting to follow.
The main antagonist of Beastars season 2 is Tem’s killer, who is uniquely layered and complex in their own right. Unlike many other anime antagonists who often act out of selfish reasons, Beastars’ big baddie was driven by pure animal instinct. After all, these ARE still actual wild animals. Without spoiling the reveal, those who keep up with the manga likely already know who was behind Tem’s death. The anime series does a great job in dropping subtle clues as to who the culprit is, without overtly revealing the suspect until a pivotal moment. Much like Legoshi and his classmates throughout the series, you’ll find yourself side-eyeing every member of the drama club.
The final episode in season 1 hinted at who the murderer was, but unless you were already invested in the manga, it wasn’t a dead giveaway. As for the climactic final battle, if you’re going into this expecting a Shonen-style fight between good vs. evil, I’d urge you to temper those expectations. While quite the rollercoaster, the final fight scene leaves much to be desired. What we do get that’s unique in Beastars is small bouts and interactions throughout the series between Legoshi and Tem’s murderer that remind you that we’re dealing with teenagers in school who ultimately don’t want to risk getting expelled for fighting, let alone murdering a classmate. We may not get a glorious payoff toward the end, but we get a perfect and fitting resolution that’ll have you wondering where season 3 might go from here.
Animation studio Orange returns to bring Paru Itagaki’s manga series to life with a unique style of hand-drawn and CG animation. Although many anime fans have had gripes with Netflix anime shows leaning on CG animation, Orange manages to find the perfect balance between traditional animation and CGI, using both to enhance the visuals. Anyone that’s seen Beastars or Godzilla: Singular Point, co-produced by Orange and studio Bones, can tell that the studio values both traditional and computer animation as the perfect way to bring these vibrant stories and characters to life.
Verdict
Beastars season 2 capitalizes on the momentum set by the first season right out of the gate, delving deeper into the trials and tribulations of its main cast. We learn more about what shaped Louis into the deer we see today, and get to see his relationship with Legoshi become stronger. Legoshi’s relationship with Haru is also strained, along with Gohin testing Legoshi’s limits through his training to become stronger without depending on meat consumption. Even the murderer behind Tem’s death is explored in a way that evokes empathy for the character. The character development and storyline in season 2 is remarkable, and while we’re delivered something atypical for most Shonen in regards to the final fight, season 2 of Beastars is a magnificent entry into a standout anime series about talking animals with feelings.
