We seem to be transitioning into a period where Shoushimin Series returns to something close to the format of the first season. That’s obviously a danger zone for me, given that I pretty much lost interest in it and would likely have dropped it were it not the Patron Pick that season. The underlying dynamic has changed, however. It’s much more clear that this series is pretty dark and twisted (like its protagonists). And the way it leans into that might potentially make it more interesting the second time around. We’ll see.

Truthfully, that’s the main draw for me right now – just how awful Jougorou and Yuki really are. Or rather, the curiosity factor over just what we’re supposed to think of them. It was interesting to me that a lot of viewers took Yuki’s side after the arson arc was concluded. More or less the view that Urino had it coming, that she was justified in doing what she did to him. Or slanting it that she was really being helpful to him, and not thinking about revenge. Bad takes from fans is certainly nothing new in anime, but the pertinent question is – what does Yonezawa want us to think about all this? What does he think about them himself?

The sidebar question to that is, of course, whether Takahiko actually did anything so terrible (hint: no) and what we’re meant to think about him. It’s kind of ironic in a series titled “How to Become Ordinary” that being ordinary is presented as pretty much the worst crime there is. And that’s Takahiko’s crime – he’s not a genius, he’s not deceitful, and unsurprisingly not good as spotting deceit. The reason Osanai gives Kobato for eviscerating him is that he tried to kiss her. OK, well – is that really that terrible a thing to do with your girlfriend? Presumptuous maybe – but to justify all this? His real crime surely is not being exceptional, which is certainly how Osanai views herself (and to a lesser extent, Kobato).

And that’s it, really, the gist of this whole thing – those two are pretty fucking ghastly. Humans are toys to them, to be experimented on and discarded. Their boredom with life, in their minds, justifies any action they might take. Whether Hiya fits into this mold too is hard to say given that we know far less about him, but he was another one who saw Urino’s mundanity as a source for potential amusement. Am I supposed to like these people? I can’t imagine I am but then, if not, what’s really the point of all this?

I do know this – watching Kobato and Osanai verbally fellate each other as she drools over some Japanese confection in a pretentious cafe is nails on a blackboard to me at this point. If that’s what we’re headed back to for reals Shoushimin Series is going to be a rough slog. It’s certainly amusing to hear Osanai say such hilariously twisted things as her deduction that Kobato was good enough to play with until someone better came along, but that only goes so far. What I really want, honestly, is for these two (especially Osanai) to get a full-on taste of their own medicine. But I don’t think Yonezawa wants us to feel that way, which would means the chances of me getting my wish are slim and none.