I loved season 1 of the promised neverland. I highly recommend it. It was well thought out, cute, and very wholesome while facing dark, sad things. It showed healthy relationships between siblings. It was so good. I was really excited to watch season 2 and when I did, well the first episodes were very underwhelming, and although I haven't read the manga I know most of the spoilers and people said it was straying away from the manga. I was okay with that. The manga ending kind of sucked. It was rushed and didn't feel as smart or well thought out as the beginning of the manga/show. Emma loses her memory, and lets just say that doesn't sit well with me. But anyways, forget the manga, we're talking about the anime here. After episode 5 when Norman came back, I had mixed feelings. I was excited to see my main man here, but I was also confused on why he was being all genocide like. So those episodes happened, and the timeskip was a little confusing, and everything was rushed, but I still thought, 'hey they can turn this around, right?'
Episode 9 was quality content. I loved episode 9. I actually felt with the characters and the music and the mood. I cried when Norman cried, and I really, really, liked that episode. I was so stoked to see something that could potentially be better than the manga and I thought they could end the 'norman betraying everyone again' arc and wrap up season 2 with them preparing a long preparation to save the kids still at the farms. Season 3 could of made this really good. There was hope.
but noooooo.
Episode 9 was a turning point. Everything was good.
Episode 10 decided to push everything leading up to this point off a cliff. It had crazy plot twists with no explanation, and things didn't make sense. Everything was turning out good. That's not what this show is about. Not everyone just gets saved. Its not like there's just no conflict. But that's what ep 10 and 11 did! There just wasn't conflict. I wasn't intrigued. I had to stop myself from constantly checking my phone. Even when there was an interesting plot, like norman possibly dying from the tests, it was quickly resolved that same episode, like what the heck?!?
Same thing happened with Peter Ratri. He could've been an interesting character. Had this been not the SERIES FINALE, I would've been interested in his character arc and his backstory. But 7 minutes into the last episode of the show and I'm so disappointed. He just had what I would call a naruto filler character backstory and died like that. I didn't even care.
So suddenly, Isabella's on their side. She was literally insane in season 1, and I thought she was going to hunt down the kids after what happened at the beginning of season 2. But instead she's grandma, and good, and how? (but i'll get the unanswered questions soon enough, dont worry) And everyone decides to forgive her. After an unhealthy relationship of pretending to give these kids a good life, they decide to love her? THEY WERE RUNNING FROM HER.
I wasn't liking this episode. At all. So suddenly, all random conflict that showed up is suddenly resolved out of nowhere confusingly, and more plot twists happen. Emma mentions this promise she would make and how she's going to stay behind and I'm like, "YES season 3 could turn this around and we could get some quality content! we can learn more about the characters and the demons!" although I was sad to see iconic characters like Gilda and Phil leave. It would be okay. Emma and Norman and Ray can be besties and have good moments again.
BUT NOOOOOOO.
They do a giant time skip with little flashes in between their lives, and though I thought it was cute, it was A TERRIBLE ENDING! WHAT EVEN HAPPENED?
Honestly I'm so unsatisfied. I feel like they really could've had potential and gone somewhere in season 2 but truly they failed at it terribly. It wasn't really a bad ending, but it was not good. I wish I could forget about it. I hate that it has to be over because of the ending.
unanswered questions time also dont mind me raging in the background
1. So what the heck was the whole promise thing that Emma was talking about?
2. Speaking of Emma, did she liberate the farms? What even happened in the timeskip?
3. More deep into the promise thing, why did they bring up this plot on the LAST EPISODE if they were just going to leave it unanswered? Was there a promise made?
4. What happened to Isabella? Did everyone find out that Ray was her child (and why the heck did they ignore that) and did she meet someone and get married?
5. How about Mujika and Sonju? Did they just feed everyone their blood and stuff or are the demons going to starve?
6. So yeah, what about the demons? (period- there's so many questions i could ask but I'm just going to leave it at that)
7. What about Emma and Norman? (i mean i don't want to get too deep into ships here but he did have a crush on her) What up with that?
8. What was with that shot of Emma and Mujika? I perceive it as friendship but what were the producers trying to tell us through that?
9. What was that whole season 1 deal with 'the one' and 'nafiri'? Why are they just throwing that out the window?
10. James Ratiri/William Minerva. What even were his goals? What happened to him (that small flashback explained nothing to be honest)
Psychologically, season 1 was so good.
Season 2 kind of ruined everything.
Obviously there were interesting good parts, but the cons just outweighed the pros.
(obviously this is my opinion so you guys can feel free to argue, and although im mad about the ending i feel its better than the manga ending, and i think after a week or so of being mad i'll be ready to accept that season 2 sucked and i'll move on to binge watching demon slayer
)
The episode just came out so there isn't a lot of news articles and such about it, but I liked this person's point of view on the series and I think you guys should read it:
https://butwhythopodcast.com/2021/03/25/review-the-promised-neverland-season-2-episode-11/
