Despite its many merits, the first season had its issues particularly regarding the repetition of the duels and the excessive school drama. It proves, however, that this was just a prelude, with the rather impactful events that closed it essentially being an indicator of what was about to follow, with the drama, the interfamilial fighting and the violence (both psychological and physical) being the main ingredients of the second.
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Two weeks after the incident at Plant Quetta, Suletta spends her days in school, dueling as usual, while anticipating Miorine's return. She, however, has to deal with her father's condition and a necessity to take over his place in the Benerit Group eventually. As the residents of Earth House are preoccupied with their respective troubles, two members of Dawn of Fold—the perpetrators of the attack—secretly infiltrate the school, putting Suletta and her friends at risk. Meanwhile, Prospera gradually reveals her true goals revolving around the “Quiet Zero” project and her antagonism regarding control over Suletta with Miorin takes a rather dramatic turn. In the meantime, the people on Earth are fed up with the tactics of the Spacians and particularly the Benerit Group, who have sent forces to Earth after the Quetta incident, resulting in the violence and subsequently, the protests, becoming even more intense. Lastly, Guel, following the events of the first season has turned into a truly tragic figure, while his younger brother Lauda has taken over the company, with dire consequences.
The way violence creeped into the first season was shocking, but this time it is truly shattering, particularly in the ways it affects kids (teenagers if you prefer) in Asticassia Academy in the attack by the terrorists, children on Earth by the tactics of the Benerit Group, as much as a number of innocent individuals who just happen to themselves in the middle of the opposing forces. The experiments that also involve teenagers, and the fact that they reach limits that they feel they have to sacrifice themselves despite the fact that they are knowing the consequences, adds even more to this aspect, as violence turns into drama in the most impactful way.
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Furthermore, the way grown ups seem to take advantage and exploit the youths is another impactful source of drama here, as much as the effort of a number of them to break the ties with the adults (frequently their family), with Miorin and Guel being the ones that mostly stand out in that regard. The fact that they frequently fail, with episode 20 highlighting the fact in the most impactful fashion, stresses their circumstances quite eloquently (they are too young for the responsibilities they carry after all) while moving into paths that can only be described as tragic.
The way Miorin decides to sacrifice herself and her relationship with Suletta in order to protect her, and the fact that the latter does not know what is happening transforms their relationship in a way that puts it in the background, in a choice that definitely works well for the narrative. At the same time, this aspect allows for more exploration of the two characters, which follow antithetical paths. Suletta cannot move beyond what perceives as a betrayal from her fiance's part, stagnating in a way that the creators of the series, quite smartly, have also mirrored in her appearance, with her being the only one not changing in contrast to the people around her. Miorin on the other hand, changes in both aspects, with her becoming more mature in both demeanour and appearance, while her disillusionment with what is happening in the world is a rude awakening that also functions as a coming of age for her.
The revelation of a number of secrets adds depth to the story in the most impressive fashion, while highlighting the tragic situations of a number of characters. Prospera and the secret behind Aerial, Nika and her forced betrayal, and the role of Ms Winston who repeatedly becomes a pawn, highlight the depth and quality of the story. It is this focus on the secondary characters that makes “The Witch from Mercury” stand out, in one of the best scripts we have seen recently in anime.
Marie Tagashira and Juri Toida's character design continues on the high level of the first season, with the change on some of the main characters as they grow older being especially appealing as much as the “revelation” of Prospera. Suletta does not change in particular, but the fact that her colours in particularly resemble that of the tomato, and the way they creators use the fruit as a metaphor in parallel with her is also quite smart, additionally in the way it is mirrored in the design. The fights are more intense and dramatic this season, since there are no school rules this time around, and this is also mirrored in the animation by Sunrise, which is even better than the previous 12 episodes. This prowess also benefits the most by the way some large spaceships become part of the battles, while the mecha ones are as impressive as in the first season.
Not much more to say, “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury Season 2” improves on the few issues of the first season, resulting in one of the best series of the year so far.
