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Warning: SPOILERS for Shangri-La Frontier season 2 episode #1
Shangri-La Frontierwas one of the best anime to debut in the Fall 2023 season, laying out its grand yet lighthearted premise of an isekai-lite adventure where Rakuro Hizutome, as his game handle Sunraku, dives into the titular game. The series' excellent animation, consistently good music, and roster of lovable characters is a near-guaranteed experience most viewers will like, as shown by its highly-regarded first season. ButasShangri-La Frontierseason 2 began, it wasa somewhat disappointing returnby no fault of its own, remaining one of the best anime of the Fall 2024 season.
Sunraku’s adventures inShangri-La Frontierare unique. They tell the story of a trash game enthusiast who brings his unique insight from beating unplayable games to the world of the “God-tier game"SLF.The series is not a traditional isekai in that Sunraku can leaveSLFat any point, so it avoids predictable orproblematic tropes of other contemporary isekai anime. But it also results in a rather low-stakes introduction toShangri-La Frontierseason 2, taking mild liberties while adapting the manga yet not having the same impact as the glorious season 1 premiere.
Shangri-La Frontier Season 2 Premiere Falls Short of Series Debut
The Series Is Unlikely to Have a Sophomore Slump, However
Shangri-La Frontierseason 2, episode #1 starts as appropriately as possible,picking up where season 1 left offwith Sunraku embarking on a quest to cultivate Bilac as an Ancient Craftsman. It’s a fairly accurate adaptation of the manga events, reaching chapter #61, but it hardly feels as novel or as exciting as the concepts introduced in the season 1 premiere. Realistically, it’s just as good as season 1, butShangri-La Frontier’ssecond season premiere embodies the Sophomore Slumpas defined byTV Tropes, that is, a second season “that either feels suspiciously like the last or just isn’t as good.”
Examples of the Sophomore Slump entail cases likeDigimon Adventure 02orPsycho-Passseason 2, and are not to be confused with Second Season Downfall, the case ofThe Promised Neverland.
Part of this issue is an inherent flaw in creating seasonal anime based on weekly manga, as each installment might not have the same gravitas when adapted six and a half months after the previous set. Simply put, the second season picked up at a rather plain moment of the story, which feels underwhelming for a premiere.Shangri-La Frontierisn’t at fault as a series for this occurring, but it might feelsomewhat slow for fans craving instantly gratifying action like the epic Wethermon battlethat ended season 1. But another factor that might disengage viewers is a more complicated set of paths for Sunraku in this new season.
Sunraku’s Journey Is Taking on Too Many Side Quests
A Classic RPG Solo Player Issue
Shangri-La Frontierseason 2 teases viewers with multiple plot threads as the series adapts the Ether Reactor Arc. At the same time, Professor entices Sunraku to join The Library. a guild that wants to unveil the secret history of SLF’s world, while his friends catch onto his actions without him.It’s a classic case of single-player gamers or solo RPG players exploring all the side content firstwithout carving a main route. It is enormously rewarding for Sunraku but frustrating for viewers to follow. While these are traditionally seen as subplots, they come off as distractions when Sunraku blows off The Library to fix the Ether Reactor.
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This creative choice is certainly allowed, and Sunraku’s adventures with Bilac, Emul, and Aramys are still entertaining inShangri-La Frontierseason 2. Still, other compelling plot threads are left hanging as a result. With Sunraku as the protagonist, it’s easily explained as him experiencing the world as he wants, another wayShangri-La Frontierdiffers from other, more serious isekai anime, buta lack of a fixed direction can be jarring. But once viewers embrace this as a slice-of-life aspect of the series, they’ll understand the true value ofShangri-La Frontieras an anime.
Shangri-La Frontier Is an Isekai-Lite Slice-of-Life Anime
The Series Is Best Enjoyed By Not Taking It Too Seriously
For anyone disappointed byShangri-La Frontierseason 2’s premiere, the series will continue to get exciting, yet enjoy smaller installments like this one occasionally. Such is the nature of stories that build impressive worlds with deep lore while balancing comedy, romance, and adventure, like an evenmore lightheartedSpy x Family.Sunraku is only ever in a virtual world, not a physically alternate universe like most isekai adventures, sothe stakes are never truly high. Yet, viewers are still treated to thrilling battles with the game’s unique monsters and endearing connections with other players.
The joy of watchingShangri-La Frontierisakin to watching a favorite live streamer play a hit gamelikeElden Ring,where viewers can live vicariously as Sunraku experiences its world without ever being at risk. Sunraku brings his unique insight and lateral thinking through playing buggy messes, honing his skills in a powerfully unorthodox way to keep viewers guessing what he’ll do next. So, whileShangri-La Frontierseason 2’s premiere may feel underwhelming, viewers will soon get sucked in by the comfortable yet exciting adventures of Sunraku.
Shangri-La Frontier
Cast
Rakurō Hizutome, a high school student known for mastering poorly made games, takes on the challenge of a highly rated VR MMORPG. Diving into the complex and immersive world, he bypasses tutorials and jumps straight into action, uncovering hidden secrets and formidable monsters along the way.
