The first season of
GATE mostly focused on Itami and his adventures with the girls while performing his duties as a member of the JSDF. The second season, however, showcased more of the large ensemble of characters that it features, tackling various storylines in its twelve episodes.
Yao's appearance leads to Tuka's eventual breakdown, since she still hasn't accepted that her father has died and hallucinates that Itami is her father. Itami's group sets out to defeat the dragon in the hopes of helping Tuka overcome her psychological problems, while Lelei plans to earn her title as Master mage afterwards. Unbeknownst to Itami, a political turmoil is brewing in the capital, when Zorzal and Tyuule enact a plan that leads to the Emperor succumbing to a coma, giving way for Zorzal to take over as ruler. He immediately stops peace negotiations and start rounding up the Senators that Piña has convinced to ally with the JSDF, branding them as traitors.
There are many different characters and events at play to keep up with. When the focus isn't on Itami and the girls, the series tackles how Piña
struggles against her brother's decisions and how the JSDF struggle with waiting for orders to actually make a move when the Japanese government shows reluctance to make aggressive military actions in response to Zorzal's rule. There are times when it's a wholly different storytelling creature than the one they featured in the first season of
GATE, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
GATE has never been a straight up
comedy series, but it is known for its light moments. There's less comedy this time around, especially since Itami isn't always the focus of the second season. But it's something you learn to appreciate, given that the stakes are higher. Zorzal and his malleability under Tyuule's influence is a cause of concern, with his overconfidence in his ability to win against the JSDF with a conflicted army. While you know that the JSDF's superior firepower would have immediately quelled his efforts if not for the hesitation of the government to engage in warfare, you worry that the repercussions would haunt their empire for many years. Tyuule proved to be a more menacing figure than I initially thought, which made for an interesting ending because even if her plans ended up breaking up the empire like she wanted, the way that Itami and the JSDF handled the conflict with Zorzal left her feeling unfulfilled. It's a reminder that the storytelling in
GATE isn't quite as straightforward as you would think.
Many characters were given the chance at the spotlight, with Piña stuck at the Imperial Palace, her knights in the middle of the Japanese ambassadors and the
Oprichnina forces of Zorzal, Sherry Tyueri and Foreign Affairs official Sugawara Kouji's rather unusual engagement, and the JSDF's heroics in general. But, much like the first season,
GATE shines best when it comes to Itami and his singular form of heroics... the unlikely and unintentional kind, but the kind that isn't really surprising to those who have come to know him.
At the end of the second season of
GATE, it feels like there's much more to come. With Piña in the role of Crown Princess, this leaves her two brothers to stew over their loss and to scheme on regaining power. There's also the fact that season 2 revealed that the titular gate that bridged Japan to the Special Region is actually known throughout history for opening every now and then explaining why the region has different races. It also poses the question of how they will know when the gates would close, because the gaps between openings are generations long... I find the idea of the gate closing and Itami getting stuck in the Special Region without his doujinshi rather hilarious.
The series is generally favored by
anime viewers, which should encourage more seasons (although, anime production isn't really a lucrative business these days). And if the rumors are true, and the real JSDF would be interested in funding more seasons to promote their recruitment efforts, then we might end up with a third season... at some point. If we do get one, you know I'm on board.
Happy viewing!!
