I mean, did you think I wasn’t gonna keep watching Symphogear? Symphogear is goddamn awesome, of course I’m gonna keep watching it. G is actually even more “focused Symphogear” than the first season, which was really fun to talk about in a review context. The show plays in what might traditionally be considered “so bad it’s good” territory, where I find the drama as presented totally ineffective according to traditional storytelling metrics (I don’t actually care about the emotional problems of the characters, for example), but still brilliantly entertaining as narrative absurdity. And so I basically gave the show’s story a very fond C, where its very issues are what make it great. I could easily see the argument that this means the show’s story is successful, but considering either of these responses amount to “I had fun with it” and my review is overwhelmingly positive anyway, I think that’s a kind of hair-splitting distinction. Symphogear’s great, G was a solid sequel, bring on GX!
You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my episodic notes below!
Episode 1/2
The general music has improved this season – far more diverse instrumentation, including pieces that seem like they’re driven by fiddle and flute. A big upgrade over the synth-heavy first season, even if the actual Symphogear songs seem less interesting
The visuals also seem to receive an upgrade. More consistent animation, and some really dynamic direction. The fights are beautifully realized. The freeze frames for the new Symphogears unfortunately seem much less interesting than those of the first seasons’
The show starts off with a bang. Within two episodes, it’s featured a train heist, major idol concert, and battle royale between six symphogears. The show knows what it’s good at, and isn’t letting up
Also some cute scenes with all of the characters. They’ve apparently realized Chris is adorable
More great “GUNGNIR?!?!?!” reactions and whatnot from their master
Episode 3
Them leaning into how absurd the adults are is wonderful. Great self-aware humor
Nice backgrounds, still
Hibiki’s worried she’s “lying to herself”
Some solid animation and direction for this shower scene, as weird as that sounds
These antihero antagonists and their eyepatch leader are pretty endearingly edgy
The Nephilim, some dark mysterious thing they’re trying to control
More lore gobbledigook
It’s apparently some monster they’ve imprisoned
Shirabe and Kirika are the younger symphogear girls
Oh no, Dr. Ver’s DOUBLE EVIL
They’re really upping the Chris moe this season. Pouting, falling over, etc
Jeez, these backgrounds are so lovely. The ornate new school has got a great look, wonderful golden sunset colors
Chris is actually pretty approachable. Her dynamic with the other two is good individually and together
Chris’s transformation scene is great. As are the lyrics of her new song
The character art seems generally improved this season. More on-model, more animation
Oh my god, Ver with the condescending slow-clap
The Staff of Solomon summons Noise from the Treasury of Babylonia!
Tsubasa jumps off a breaching sub to katana-strike an escaping Noise-zeppelin. Yep, this is still Symphogear
Episode 4
This season’s barely wasted any time with non-action stuff so far, which is nice
Maria’s being referred to as the revived Fine
Awesome sequence of Tsubasa striking across the water
Tsubasa and Maria fight on the sub in a sequence with tons of animation
And the fight continues with the other symphogears, still nicely directed and fluidly animated
“What are you trying to do?” “Protect the things that justice cannot protect”
BLOOD COUGH
This season has more dynamic direction in general
“If you haven’t connected with her, keep slamming into her until you do!”
Anime girl wearing a ridiculous anime hat
The Nephilim feeds on relic fragments
Apparently each time Maria uses her powers, Fine’s soul awakens more
The colors for the non-battle segments are actually kinda flat compared to the first season. Both the sub scene and this school scene seem mundane relative to the first one
And there’s no architecture designs to match the first season yet, either
Chris does a predictably moe song performance for the class
This doesn’t really work as the conclusion to an arc? Chris fitting in was never really an issue here
Aaand now the other two girls challenge Chris in singing
Episode 5
I like how ragtag this season’s “villains” are. They’re pretty sympathetic for that and other reasons
Maria hesitates to use her power against regular humans
Dr. Ver just straight-up wasting soldiers
“Why do fellow singers have to fight one another?” Tsubasa asking the hard questions
The animation’s getting loose again
Man, there is no tension whatsoever in the scenes between the two younger new girls and the old team. The show can’t even begin to pretend they’re actual bad guys
“We’re a long way from activating Frontier” yeaaah enemy buzzwords
Serena was Maria’s friend from the old base, sacrifice yada yada
Ah, it was her sister. Cue the intro segment
A lot more just random clashing with the bad guys in this season. Less structure
So apparently the moon is going to crash into the earth
Really nice integration of Hibiki’s song with her attacks here. And another well-composed fight with the Nephilim
“What do your fists protect?!?”
Aaaaand the Nephilim bites off her arm. Well, that sure is a cliffhanger
Episode 6
“We’re doing the right thing, aren’t we?” Jeez I dunno guys
Oh dang, the visual effects for Hibiki’s Beast Mode have improved
Beast Hibiki regenerates her arm
And another great, well-animated fight, as Beast Hibiki goes wild
Apparently Hibiki was bullied at school for… surviving a Noise attack?
“Even if I do my best, is hurting people all I can do?” This internal conflict is completely absurd, but at least it’s not taking up much episode time
Hibiki’s fusing with her Symphogear, which might kill her or “will she still even be human”
Tsubasa decides Hibiki shouldn’t fight anymore, and of course relays this to her in the stupidest way possible: “you’re only slowing us down, weakling!” Hurray for bad drama
Episode 7
If this were a show where I cared about the storytelling, I’d probably criticize how the simultaneous introduction of these three new Symphogear users is both drama-destroying (since it’s clear they’re good guys) and cluttered (since the two younger ones don’t really add anything to the narrative). I’d also criticize how the conflicts within the original three seem wholly contrived this time, in comparison to the original series’ naturally integrated arcs. But I don’t
Hibiki now radiates heat
Hibiki’s song this season is better, which is pretty important, since you hear it a lot
Ver powers up the two girls past their limits so they can fight Hibiki
It’s nice that Hibiki’s basically the antagonist here
Hibiki steals their energy to prevent their Climax Song
Miku’s gotta protect Hibiki!
Maria sure is a lot like Tsubasa
“Losing who you are” is the theme of this season, for both Maria and Hibiki
This season is so full of ridiculous momentary cliffhangers
Episode 8
The soundtrack continues to be more diverse – nice flutes and guitars
“A sword has no need for tears” dammit Tsubasa
So much of the dialogue is just direct exposition this season. Either that or angst
Mom meets with the Americans. but they betray her! Tricksy Americans!
Miku in jeopardy! Explosions!
Miku was told to save Hibiki, and now she’s literally holding her off a building. EVERYTHING MUST BE LITERAL
Episode 9
I suddenly realize Maria’s name has both Maria and Eve in it, somehow. Great work, Symphogear
Oh my god, Rocky training montage with the coach singing his own training song. And then Hibiki starts singing along. This show is magical
Maria’s capital-E Evil now
Tsubasa and Chris feeling concern for Hibiki rings true, at least
EVIL MIKU DUN DUN DUN
Episode 10
The fight with Miku is great, and her song is basically a love confession, of course
Just a bunch of super confused and angsty girls getting pushed around by a mad scientist
Welp, looks like Ogawa just has superpowers now. Running on water
Kirika’s ridiculous chuuni lines are great. “DEATH!” “MUST DIE!”
“I’ll return alive, even if it kills me!” HIBIKIII
“You can’t use numbers to describe something you just came up with!” Hibiki is so good
Fighting across exploding ships. More great animation
Hibiki’s shout-chorus songs from this season better match her voice
“She’s entering the danger zone” my god
“I’ll never let you go!”
And Hibiki drags them both into the relic-destroying beam, which will hopefully fix Hibiki too
Episode 11
Frontier rises. And Chris… shoots Tsubasa. Alright Symphogear, these stupid cliffhangers are getting out of hand
Chris back to her old ways with the “bad guys”
Some nice environments here
Yeah, the generator room looks lovely
Aaand Ver puts a giant palm on the moon
Ver commanding an evil death-laser island, just like he always knew he would
“I’ll be the last action hero of this world!” Damnit Ver
“Don’t worry. I’m used to standing on the stage alone.” Even Tsubasa’s boasts are emo as fuck
Sword-bike time!
Apparently Shirabe knew Coach
“I never showed you any movies where the hero talks back!” oh Coach
Chris and Tsubasa must fight! A whole bunch of this season is dedicated to establishing meaningless fights between Symphogear
Scythe girl’s freezeframe aesthetic is pretty great
Shirabe and Kirika battlin’ too
More nice animation
Episode 12
The two younger Symphogears screaming that they love each other as they fight. This Is Symphogear
“The one thing I want you to believe is that songs can become power!”
Chris has got one of those death-collars on, for some reason
Chris calls Tsubasa by her name! FRIENDSHIP
Tsubasa and Chris blow each other up
Crazy fight between the two younger ones
Man, their designs are so stupid
ono, Shirabe’s actually the Fine vessel!
oh my god the scythe hits Shirabe this is the most gloriously contrived bullshit imaginable
Tsubasa being accidentally emo again
Fine sacrifices herself for Shirabe!
Ver sends Mom to the moon and begins his evil villain speech. Then Hibiki arrives!
And Hibiki does some crazy song shit and now she’s got her Symphogear again
Episode 13
Ver runs away again
So now the entire island is basically a monster they’re fighting as they try to get to Frontier’s heart
Maria is visited by her sister as an actual angel from the sky, because of course she is
And their song gets all the phonic gain from all of the world and they get enough spirit energy to fix the moon and Mom is super proud of them
“It’s time for the curtain to rise on the greatest show in the world!”
All Symphogears unite!
Ver throwing a tantrum because he doesn’t get to die a hero. Ver is Ver to the end
And now the island is one giant Nephilim!
Oh god Shirabe’s outfit got even stupider
Chris opens the gate of Babylonia to seal the Nephilim inside
oh my god, their hand-holding power combines to form a giant hand-holding mech to smash Nephilim
Wow, Miku chucks the staff like a thousand miles into the gate. Miku strong
Coach’s training montage song isn’t his own song. It’s actually the theme to one of Jackie Chan’s old Hong Kong movies, Police Story. Also known as Glass Story for the ridiculous quantity of glass that gets broken throughout the finale.
Tsubasa IMMEDIATELY wraps around to camp. I love how, even in a place of emotional stability, she’s spouting the most emo shit about her sword metphor.
I also like how anime and Jpop’s weird musical stagnation means that we get shows unapologetically rocking metal compositions. (Even in the edm songs. Doesn’t that make them industrial?)
MEGADETH PARTY
That final song where they used the Climax Song melody was pretty great.
There are even more ensemble and counterpoint songs next season. Too bad the writing gets even more unwieldy, bad enough to start harshing on some of the compensating elements. But there are some super delicious villains.