The remarkably dualistic nature of watching Blood Blockade Battlefront (& Beyond) continues unabated.  It’s striking how different this feels from the first season, yet never loses the connection that you’re watching the same show.  It’s a fascinating study between an impressionistic take from an auteur director and a faithful adaptation by a skilled craftsman – and I think those descriptors are fairly accurate to Matsumoto and Takayanagi-sensei.  Everyone assumed the big change was going to be in visual style, but in fact the delta in narrative choices is far more impactful for the viewer.

One thing we’re starting to see more and more as this season progresses is its role as a character study for Leo.  Even when he was at the center of events in the first season (which was often) Leo was frequently important mainly as a foil for other characters.  There are still times when that’s true, but Leonardo’s particular nature is more the point of this season.  In many ways he’s the worst possible person to try and get by in a place like Hellsalem’s Lot (though Riel-san gives him a run for his money) but that’s sort of the point.

Speaking of Riel, he’s now grown so massive that he dwarfs any building in town.  In inimitable fashion some of the locals have treated his rampage like a spectator sport, especially when the even-larger Gigafutamasiff shows up to challenge Riel (he promptly flees when a stray attack from a helicopter causes Riel to grow even bigger than he is).  Riel, it turns out, is conscious of what’s going on – and Gemnomo is in that massive head with him, egging him on to wreak his revenge on every relative giant who ever abused him.  That’s not the sort of guy Riel is – he’s full of fear and self-loathing, but not hate or anger.  Unfortunately for him, when Riel refuses to stomp out his vengeance Genmono taps directly into his brain stem to force his mega-hand.

I quite disagree with Zapp – I like seeing Leo (and Sonic) be the point-men for Libra’s plan here.  Mind you, that’s only because Chain is drunk out of her mind (again) with her werewolf squadron – Leo is definitely Plan B.  But Riel is his friend, and Leo is infinitely loyal to his friends – and braver and more reckless than his demeanor would have you believe.  With a little help from Gilbert and what looks like the world’s biggest Amazon delivery drone, Leo sets off to use Sonic and his God’s Eye to infiltrate Riel and free him from Genmono’s clutches.

I felt quite bad for Riel here at the end, falling into the Eternal Hollow – and even more after he’s snatched up by a hungry bird (that was rather a dark ending, even by Kekkai Sensen standards).  But for once, this one was more about Leo than Leo’s companions – he’s slowly settling into his role with Libra, become more assertive about being a working member of the team.  It’s a lot easier to be brave when one has crazy powers like Klaus or Steven or Chain than it is when you’re just a humble little chibisuke like Leo, but that makes his bravery that much more admirable.  And in the endgame of this series, Leo’s ability might just make him more powerful than anyone at Libra (more essential at the very least).