There's not actually all that much to say about Season Two of Junjo Romantica, except that in the main story line, Misaki, who seems to have a knack for falling into improbable situations, manages to meet both Usagi's older brother and his father -- on the train. Otherwise, it's all about resolution. But then, that's half the fun.
Aside from the family interference -- and that's of a magnitude that could only happen to Usagi and Misaki -- Misaki is getting closer and closer to finally admitting to himself that he loves Usagi. The season is worth watching just for the wonderful scene on the Ferris wheel in episode 9 (episode 21 of the complete anime), when Misaki finally lets the cat out of the bag. After watching several times, I've come to have a lot more appreciation for Misaki and understand his character better. I still want to grab him and shake him sometimes, though, particularly in a couple of scenes with Isaki and "Usagi-chichi" ((Usagi's father), who are trying to break them up. The key to understanding Misaki is that he doesn't want to make trouble for anyone -- to the extent of always putting himself last, even when it would be better not to.
Nowaki and Hiroki, in "Junjo Egoist," have their own problems, as always stemming from their seemingly complete inability to communicate with each other. The draw here is in watching Hiroki as he finally starts to get it: he's dense enough that he has to be beaten over the head with Nowaki's insecurity before it finally dawns on him that it's a problem for them. "Dense" and "grouchy" sort of summarize Hiroki, but there is some movement here.
The final installment of "Junjo Terrorist" (Episode 8 [20]) is just wonderful. This is the episode that won me over to Miyagi: we get a good look at his history and some good depth in his character, and a couple of great scenes for Shinobu, who really comes to life here. Another one that makes it worth watching the season.
I'm one who likes to see relationships and character develop, so there's no question that I'm very fond of this anime. There's enough here that you start wishing for a Season Three -- I do, at least. (And just to refresh your memory, here's the RiB for Season One.) I can't find an American distributor listed anyplace, so this may not be out on DVD for a while. (It hit Japanese TV last fall, from what I can dig up.)
Staff:
Director: Chiaki Kon
Script: Michiko Yokote (ep 2, 4, 8, 10), Rika Nakase (ep 1, 6, 9, 12), Yoshiko Nakamura (ep 3, 5, 7, 11)
Original creator: Shungiku Nakamura
Character Design: Yoko Kikuchi
Art director: Junichi Higashi, Junko Shimizu
Sound director: Hozumi Gôda
Theme Song Performance: pigstar (OP)
Cast:
Isshin Chiba as Keiichi Sumi
Ai Hayasaka as Female student (ep 5), TV newscaster (ep 10)
Aiko Aihashi as TV anchorwoman (ep 4)
Asumi Kodama as Woman (ep 7)
Daisuke Kishio as Takatsuki Shinobu
Hatsumi Takada as Child (ep 6)
Hikaru Hanada as Usami Akihiko
Hiroka Nishizawa as Announcer (ep 6), Reporter (ep 10)
Hiroshi Yamamoto as Guest (ep 5) , Man (ep 11)
Hitomi Harada as Woman (ep 3)
Hozumi Gôda as Kyou Ijuuin (ep 12)
Juurouta Kosugi as Usami Fuyuhiko
Kazuhiko Inoue as Miyagi You
Kazutaka Ishii as Student (ep 5)
Kenta Miyake as Tanaka (ep 3, 11)
Kentarou Itou as Kamijyou Hiroki
Kishô Taniyama as Takahashi Takahiro
Kousuke Toriumi as Usami Haruhiko
Mayumi Asano as Risako Takatsuki (ep 8)
Miki Suga as Female student (ep 5), Nurse (ep 6)
Nami Mizuno as Child (ep 6)
Nana Mizuki as Kaoruko Usami (ep 10)
Nobutoshi Canna as Kusama Nowaki
Noriko Namiki as Aikawa Eri
Reiko Sasakawa as Sensei's mother (ep 8)
Ryotaro Okiayu as Asahina Kaoru
Saori Seto as Maid (ep 3)
Susumu Chiba as Tsumori
Takahiro Sakurai as Takahashi Misaki
Tetsya Kakihara as Shinobu's friend (ep 8)
Toshiyuki Morikawa as Isaka Ryuuichirou
Yuki Masuda as Sensei (ep 8)
Yukito Souma as Editor (ep 12)
Yuuko Nishihara as Woman (ep 3, 7)
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