Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Last time on Log Horizon Shiroe and Akatsuki both learned important lessons, caught a murderer, and solved the money crisis in the city while at the same time making the city defenseless and open to outside attacks. How will all these events effect the future? Let’s find out and take a look at the second half of Log Horizon.
Episodes 13-16
Not much to say about episode 13. It’s Valentine’s Day and Akatsuki and Minori are determined to find out who Shiroe really likes. Tetra tells them that that they should give Shiroe a coconia fruit a fruit that has a special effect on Valentine’s Day. It’s says that whoever eats this fruit on Valentine’s Day will answer any question ask of them such as what they’re favorite food or who they have a crush on. Akatsuki and Minori feed Shiroe this fruit after getting help from Nyanta but they’re too afraid to ask Shiroe so they decide to let it go (cowards). Other than that happening we get a funny moment involving Naotsugu as well as some plot developing. For starters we find out that Crusty has disappeared after being attacked by that weapon and the adviser with him lost her hand as a result of the attack (don’t worry Crusty’s putting it to good use). Akihabara is still safe despite being totally defenseless and we see that Nureha is actually just a puppet figure being used and abused by this other character named Intix who likes to talk down to Nureha and tells her how worthless, useless, and alone she is (Intix gets turned on from abusing others doesn’t see?).
In episode 14 we get introduced to Kanami the leader of the Tea Party Debauchery and just an all-around fun character (scene here: //youtu.be/C8ai6T8If78). We find out that she moved to America and quitted the game but came back and got sucked into the West servers where she partnered up with People of Land and met Leonardo a frog ninja (an obvious parody of TMNT). The episode is just basically Kanami journeying to the East and beating up baddies along the way while smiling. It’s a fun episode that feels like a parody of Journey to the West. We also see that Intix has created a bullet train and is planning on attacking Akihabara with Nureha (the villain in the glasses vs the villainess in the glasses. Who’s going to win?).
In the first half of episode 15 we get a little more backstory on Isuzu (man the anime is really bouncing around from character to character this season aren’t they?) who happens to be the daughter of a musician. Even though she never considered herself a great singer nor did she ever earn the praise of her father she still enjoys singing and playing the lure. In fact, this episode shows us that she’s gone the K.K Slider route and actually performs at a bar once a week and she’s gained a lot of fans from her singing (Chibi sings part time at the AI lounge every Thursday night. Come check her out she’s really good). In the second half Shiroe has decided that the rookie players including Serara have reached a high enough level that it’s time for them to go off on a journey by themselves to get the materials needed to craft their very own magic bag (if it’s like Felix the Cat’s magic bag than that thing is gonna be overpowered as hell). The rookie players are all excited and can’t wait to put their skills to the test (I’m excited for them too). The group helps get them set for their journey by helping them buy a wagon, give them a map with helpful hints and locations, and give them some sage advice. At the end of the episode they begin their journey and head east (where they will no doubt run into Kanami and the TMNT wannabe).
Episode 16 mostly focuses on the rookie players traveling together, talking amongst each other on how they’ve grown since coming to the game (//youtu.be/31euVMXSzOM), and how this trip has taught them a few lessons about traveling and how the roads are the way they are because it’s to help them pace themselves for their long journey (we also get some beautiful scenery of nature. I wouldn’t mind having a few these shots as the background on my desktop). Eventually they come to a plum forest where they save some People of the Land from goblins however they get attacked by high level ghosts and get saved by a new character named Roe 2 a powerful vampire summoner (that’s a unique combination) traveling south who looks an awful lot like Shiroe only female (scene here: //youtu.be/U3UjxqMN3Fo, the will of the glasses has appeared once again). We also get a few scenes back in Akihabara as a few of the characters are worried about Crusty since there’s still no lead on his whereabouts and his guild is slowly falling apart (well I’m glad to see a few people actually do care about the guy). In other related problems in Akihabara another guild called Honesty (honestly speaking that’s a lousy guild name) is having problems with leeches in their guild (either tell them to start doing something or get the hell out).
Episodes 17-20
In episode 17 the rookies escort the People of the Land to town with Roe where we find out that she’s traveling to get her vampire sub-class changed because she can’t survive in the sun (downside of being a vampire) and the only way to do that is to go to a town that’s close to Minami. After arriving in town Roe decides to travel with the group for a while in exchange for them calling her big sister (okay Roe’s got some interesting traits to her). Also, Roe is hinted to be pretty stacked breast wise so stack that she actually makes Minori and Isuzu cry a bit (wow, now I’m curious). The group passes through a mountainside where they run into more People of the Land who are stuck and Nureha disguised as a traveling story-teller (who Tohya has a secret crush on. I hate to tell ya this kid but she’s already in Shiroe’s camp along with your sister). They help get the People of the Land to safety and as they’re resting they spot a group of players known as the Odyssey Knights who work for Plant Hydren pass by carrying a mobile cathedral with them and just looking dead as ghost (well looks like those guys died quite a bit already). Back in Akihabara there seems to be a divide between players. It turns out players who are good at hunting and crafting are making a lot of money and getting richer while players who aren’t good in these areas are barely able to live (oh boo-hoo. Blame yourselves. You guys knew you were playing an adventure MMORPG and choose classes that were bad at combat. You guys want money than find a way to make your skills useful).
In episode 18 the group arrives in another town where Isuzu gives another concert making everyone happy (sing World is Mine). After the concert she and Rudy talk where we find out that People of the Land can’t invent new stuff (that’s actually pretty sad) and they only have 42 songs (even sadder). This gets Isuzu to feel a little down because all this time she’s been singing about love and hope light-heartedly so she shuts herself in her room and starts working on an original song that comes from the heart (or you could keep on doing what you’re doing right now and just start singing with more heart. I’m sure the audience would love that). The next day Tohya confronts the disguised Nureha about her fake smile and tells her he hates it (damn tell me how you really feel Tohya). Their conversation gets interrupted with the arrival of wyverns about to attack the town (well there’s something you don’t see everyday) and we see that Nyanta has been trailing them this whole time (the over protected parents syndrome) and opens his eyes (shit is about to get serious).
Things get pretty philosophical in episode 19. The wyverns are attacking but everyone is calm because the Odyssey Knights are there however their scene leads to the darkest and most disturbing scene in the anime. They are actually allowing themselves to get killed (let me repeat that. They are letting themselves get killed). Yes, and it’s not for fun or strategy they just really want to die because they’re fed up with this world and want to return to the real world and since when you die you get to re-visit the real world (which still confuses me) dying seems to be an addicting drug to them (and the wyverns are their suppliers). To make the situation even more hectic Nureha’s troops have developed a new gadget which allows players to gain experience by sending out these ghost like creatures who act as convoys for them all at the expense of using People of the Land (man this is a very dark and confusing episode). We get a little backstory into Tohya where we find out that due to an accident he’s unable to walk in the real world so he gets pretty upset at the Odyssey Knights for just throwing their lives away (yeah I’m pretty pissed too) and claiming that this world is fake (this world is fake? Here’s an idea, you’re the ones who keep coming back to life. Maybe you’re the fakes). Isuzu gets out of her funk and decides she’s going to change this world and allow the People of the Land to have more than 42 songs (instead they’ll now have 43 songs. Along with the remixes of other songs). Minori has a deep talk with Roe 2 about who she is (I’m sorry but are we forgetting the fucking wyverns and ghosts attacking the city? I think this takes top priority over everything else). She discovers that she wants to be like Shiroe and change this world for the better (good, you can start by getting rid of these wyverns and ghost). Nyanta discovers Nureha’s train and begins slicing through all the ghost that come out of it to end the episode.
Episode 20 is Nyanta’s badass moment. He jumps onto the moving train and fights against a mage character named Londock who tells Nyanta that some People of the Land want to go to war to dwindle down their numbers, just because it’s fun (The Major is your leader isn’t he?), and going up against players who can’t die makes for the perfect enemies. Londock even expresses his hatred saying that he didn’t chose to come here he was forced here (so was everyone else but hey they’re making the best of it). Londock gets killed by a crazy woman named Mizufa who is the commander of the train and loves war. She takes on Nyanta where even though she’s strong Nyanta seems to be able to beat her. Just when he’s about to go in for the final hit a samurai appears known as Kazuhiko a friend of Nyanta who was another member of the Tea Party Debauchery. Kazuhiko doesn’t want Nyanta to kill any People of the Land so he detaches a cart with Nyanta on it and escapes. Back in the city Roe goes badass on us and summons one badass angel or god (I don’t know) to kill a bunch of wyverns with ease. After that the episode pretty much becomes meh and ends with Isuzu’s new song among all the chaos which while not bad wasn’t worth the wait.
Episodes 21-25
In episode 21 the fighting finally ends with pretty much half the city destroyed (man this place looks as bad as Pittsburgh). The group is a little bummed about not being able to protect the city and a few of the People of Land aren’t impressed with their work (I’m sorry where were you again?). The Odyssey Knights leave to get more death drugs and Roe and Nureaha leave as well (aww I’m gonna miss Roe 2. Hopefully she comes back in season 3). The group packs up all of their things and sets out on foot where we see the only good thing that came out of this battle was Isuzu’s song being spread all across the city. We see children and the town’s people humming it (that is so touching. She gave this world a new song). As they set out on foot Nyanta shows up to take them back home (I feel bad for that griffon) and Minori gives Shiroe a letter from Roe. We also see that there’s a bit of apathy in Akihabara between players and People of the Land.
Episode 22 explains just about everything we’ve seen these lasted few episodes. Where to begin? Let’s start with the strange monsters called Geniuses. In the last few episodes there have been these strange monsters known as Geniuses who are much stronger and different than the average monsters and bosses from the game appearing in the city. If I had to describe them they’re more video game like than regular monsters (if that makes sense). These Geniuses have strange powers and can take the form of People of the Land to blend into society and fight other players. So the strange monster Kanami and the ninja turtle wannabe fought in their episode was a Genius and they’ve been attacking Akihabara these few episodes for some reason. We find out who exactly Roe 2 is. Roe 2 is actually Shiroe’s second avatar (oh Shiroe why?) which he created to test the new moon server. Someone calling themselves a Navigator has took over Roe 2 and is using her to explore the world. She says she’s a third entity that isn’t a player or an NPC but instead a Navigator who is searching the world for empathions (no doubt something to do with emotions). She says she has no idea how she or the others got to this world but she says that if Shiroe can find a way to talk to her people on the moon he might just find a way to get back to their world (alright no problem. Go to a dungeon and get yourselves killed. But just know you will be losing a fragment of your memories in the process). She also warns them about Harvesters, beings just like the Navigators who were sent to this world to also search for empathions however they’re not to be trusted. Shiroe believes the Harvesters are the Geniuses in disguise and he along with the senior members of Log Horizon start working on plans to reach the moon.
Episode 23 focuses on Issac and Iselus the younger brother of Lenessia. Iselus’ birthday is coming up and Sergiatte has told Issac that at the party he’s going to name Iselus heir to the throne. Why not Lenessia you ask? Well because according to him ruling the country is a man’s job (wow! You are sexist man. Feminist reading this blog you have my permission to bash this character all you want and use him in your video game arguments). Sergiatte wants Issac to teach Iselus about adventurers and he says okay. Iselus quickly takes a shine to Issac and after a while Issac starts to a shine to him. At first Issac thought he was just some rich kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth (or in this case programed with a silver spoon in his mouth) but no Iselus does show and have the makings of a king. He listens to his servants and their problems, respects the people, cares about helping the people, and even when he’s training with Issac he doesn’t give up after the first strike he gets back up and continues fighting him (alright so far Iselus is impressing me). At the night of Iselus’ party Lenessia comes in and warns him to stay away from adventurers with glasses (geez I wonder why she would say that?). After the announcement is made about Iselus being heir to the throne assassins from Yamato who serve the kingdom of Westelande try to kill him but Issac is there to save him and defeat the assassins easily thanks to an earring that allows him to tell when an assassination attempt is about to happen (a lot of people in Assassin’s Creed could of used that earring). Back in Akihabara Regan returns to meet Shiroe and tells him of a possible way to use the transport gates as a way to communicate with the moon. Before we can get more depth about that all of the People of the Land begin collapsing because of some yellow dust falling from the sky.
In episode 24 we find out the People of the Land have collapsed because of these rare moths who are dropping yellow dust (don’t eat it) which drains MP and continues to drain MP so that it doesn’t have time to recover. Eventually the moths’ dust starts to effect the players and everyone believes that these moths are Geniuses in disguise. They find the moths’ base in Shibuya TV station which has been transformed into a moth nest (disgusting) and a raid zone (time for another raid). A raid team is formed composing of players of all levels to investigate the station and destroy the moths. Shiroe assumes leader of the group but his head isn’t in the game as he’s making bad decisions and second guessing himself all through the raid where they’re attack by rabbits, minotaurs, and hydras (this is one crazy dungeon). The reason for this is because Shiroe is unsure of what to save. The TV station which holds the way back to their world and probably the only way back to their world or the People of the Land. After transporting to a safe zone Henrietta smacks Shiroe and the others tell him it’s okay if the station gets destroyed they’ll find another way back home and it’ll still give them time to think about if they really do wanna go back or not. This helps Shiroe regain his composure and he works out a plan where they’ll not only destroy the moths and clear the dungeon in 30 minutes but they’ll save the station as well as the People of the Land (scene here: //youtu.be/wYFPjhB4bp4).
In the final episode the raid team reach the raid boss and it is an awesome fight. The guy keeps changing appearance on them (each one being cool) and the fight is just intense where Shiroe shows off once again how great he is as a strategist taking all of these players who he hasn’t fought with, have different levels and abilities, and just brings them all together to beat this boss (scene here: //youtu.be/Iqcr0roKY1o). They defeat the boss as well as keep the communication tower intact (he did it! He pulled through once again) and get the tower working where they establish contact with Kanami on the Chinese server where she reveals that she’s married and has a daughter who just turned 3 (she’s married? Must be one hell of a guy to keep up with that woman’s energy). She also tells Shiroe that she wants to bring her daughter to this world and have her go on her own adventure and make friends. Hearing this opens Shiroe’s eyes and he decides to create a third option for the group. Instead of deciding between staying here and going home they can connect the two worlds together allowing access from both sides (not a bad idea). She also reveals that Crusty is with her and her team (oh thank God they finally remembered him) and he’s carrying around the arm of his assistant (well at least his nights have been fun. Scene here: //youtu.be/JY04MLHrI70). They lose communication but they now have a clear idea on what they want to do in future (kick ass and connect the worlds. And we’re all out of worlds to connect). They all return to their guild and have a hearty breakfast celebrating their victory to end the season.
Final Thoughts
So that was Log Horizon season 2 how was it? Well let’s review each half to give it a fair review. The first half was enjoyable to watch. While it mainly focuses on Shiroe and Akatsuki it was good character development on both their parts. Shiroe and Akatsuki were both suffering from the same thing. Not trusting others and trying to carry on the burden themselves when they didn’t need to. They do a good job balancing out both of their stories giving the right amount of time to both with plenty of action in both stories. I personally likes Shiroe’s story more mostly because they do a good job showing how intense raids can be and giving us that epic speech about being a gamer. Akatsuki’s story is good too as it’s nice to see all these female players come together and beat this murderer. The new character Tetra is a little annoying and William is a true gamer. Like I said I love the speech this guy did. It is so true and inspiring. I also enjoyed seeing Demikas again and it’s nice to see that despite the two not liking each other there’s a level of mutual respect between Shiroe and Demikas.
The second half of the anime is where my problems arise with this season. While it’s not bad the anime tries to throw a lot at you in the second half. We keep bouncing around between characters and stories that it’s hard to keep track of them all and the stories that you’re interested in aren’t focus on all that much. While we explore with the rookie players we never get a chance to see them really fight enemies or do any of their quest stuff which was a huge letdown because I really do enjoy watching these characters fight together and I was looking forward to seeing them take on their first real dungeon now that their training is complete. The stuff with Nureha’s troops, what were they up to or rather what are they planning to do? I what to know more about them. The good stuff in this half is the introduction to Kanami who is a downright enjoyable character to see and be around. I really do wish the rookie players ran into her on their journey it would have made for a good interaction. Not to say Roe 2 wasn’t interesting because she was also good and I hope to see her again in the future. The stuff with the Geniuses has gotten my interest big time. It’s nice to see a third party come into play and see possibly the real enemies of this series. The anime may not have gone much in-depth about them this season but the stuff they did with them was awesome and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out.
The animation this time around is okay. There are a few mistakes here and there but nothing too distracting if you ask me. It may not be good as Satelight’s but I can tolerate it. The action this time around varies. The raid fights are good I like how intense and strategic they are. They do have one unbelievable moment where the characters just stop and talk but I really didn’t mind it. One on one fights are pretty good. Akatsuki’s fight against the murderer was good but Nyanta’s fight left much to be desired and was cut way too short. The final fight with the town defense involving the rookie players could have done a better job at showing action and the issues between the characters. Music is mostly the same as last season so nothing much to say there. Humor is still good and gets a laugh out of me and I like how the world is constantly changing and the players are learning to adapt to it.
Is it better than the first season
It’s a close call but I still like the first season more than the second season. While both seasons are good I feel that the first season did a better balancing out its stories, giving each of them the right of time, good introduction and use of characters, and presented you with the right amount of information without dumping too much on you at one time. I will say however that the action in the second season is better than the action in the first season and I do like how the second season developed some of its characters.
Final Score
For the first half of Log Horizon season 2 I give it an 8/10 for character development on the part of Shiroe and Akatsuki, good stories for both of them, cool fights, and an epic speech that I will never forget. The second half earns a 6/10. It presents some new characters, enemies, ideas, and advanced the story as well as a gave us a good fight in the last episode but it dumped a lot of information on us that was hard to keep track of, a lot of stories that were all over the place and wasn’t given a enough time to explore them. Adding those two scores together and averaging them out, we get a 7/10 as the final score for this season of Log Horizon. It made some mistakes in the second half but all-around it’s a still a good season that’s a good follow-up to the first season and I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj and wouldn’t you know it the month is almost over and nothing bad has happened to me. No crazy attacks or nothing.
(Isis): I don’t know master it’s still too early to celebrate.
(Seras): Yeah a calm usually comes before the storm.
(Nitsuj): Oh you girls are just being paranoid.
(Shizuku): But you do have one week left.
(Yin-Yang): Yeah a lot can happen in that week.
(Mira): You never know what tomorrow will bring.
(Chibi Isis): Nii-chan is jinxing himself.
(Nitsuj): Oh come on! Next week all I’m doing is a versus blog and nothing else. And it’s just one more week what could possibly happen in that time frame? Who could possibly inflict any amount of physical or mental pain on me?
*Somewhere near one of the many lakes of Michigan, something has crashed into one of them. A fisherman leaves his cabin to see what happened only to see a man wearing a suit of armor emerge from the lake*
(???): Excuse me, do you know the way to Ohio?
(Fisherman): Yes.
*The Fisherman points the man down a road which he says will lead him to Ohio*
(???): Thank you.
*As the man in the suit of armor leaves he notices that the Fisherman was watching BloodRayne in his cabin*
(???): Good movie right?
(Fisherman): Not really. It’s a pretty bad interpretation of-
*The man in the suit of armor vaporizes the Fisherman and destroys the cabin. He takes off his helmet to reveal himself to be Uwe Boll*
(Boll): I didn’t ask for the opinion of a fucking idiot.
*He continues to walk towards down the road that will lead him to Ohio*
To be continued
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Thanks for reading. As always feel free to leave a comment, feedback, or request down belong or send to iamprojectnitsuj@gmail.com