English Dub Review: Record Of Ragnarok II Part One

Overview:

After a nearly 2 year hiatus, Netflix’s epic 1v1 battle-centric anime is back and ready to test humanity’s fighting prowess against a selection of some of the most powerful gods ever known. Record Of Ragnarok depicts the epic battles between humanity and classic gods who want to decide the fate of humanity in a series of 13 battles, all of which are fights to the death. 

Season 1 of Record Of Ragnarok saw humanity pushed to the brink as they faced nearly unbeatable opponents who possessed otherworldly strength and unparalleled ability. Thor and Zeus were each victorious in their battles against worthy yet clearly outmatched challengers. But in an act of redemption for humanity, Kojiro Sasaki managed to defeat Poseidon, the god of the sea, offering a glimmer of hope for the mortal world and a dose of cruel reality to the gods who thought of themselves as invincible beings. 

Record Of Ragnarok’s second season continues the story of humanity’s seemingly impossible fight for survival against the gods. With each fight being more intense than the last, the tension is palpable and the stakes become increasingly high. As humanity struggles to survive against its powerful adversaries, the fighters must rely on their courage and strength in order to prevail in this epic battle for their future. 

Our Take:

Much like in season 1, Record Of Ragnarok Season 2 is anchored by its cast of colorful characters with booming personalities that hit almost as hard as the fighter’s attacks. The writing is wonderfully irreverent with a story that is anchored with equal amounts of humor and impactful moments of touching character-building. Record Of Ragnarok excels in creating engaging stories captured within the overarching narrative. The show latches onto a theme and weaves its individual tales around that theme. But just when you think the show has become predictable or stale, it reaches into its magical bag of tricks and takes off in a new direction. It always finds a way to remain fresh without becoming desperate. Record Of Ragnarok takes a fun concept and allows its viewers to join in on that fun. The show remains true to the manga while giving itself a unique voice and direction. 

Starting right out of the gate with “Good vs. Evil” set the tone for the rest of the season. With the gods’ pride in shambles after the death of Poseidon, they decide to regain control and send Hercules into the 4th battle. The human and god hybrid has no choice but to match up against a human opponent, but the powerful god has plans of his own before stepping into the arena. He makes it known that he intends to ask for humanity to be spared after his battle, showcasing his desire for justice. But there can’t be righteous paladins without those who seek nothing but pain and suffering, right? Humanity chooses Jack The Ripper as its next champion, touted as one of the most despicable humans to ever walk the planet. And during his battle with Hercules, Jack certainly lives up to his less-than-stellar reputation.  

Is the theme of good vs. evil a little too on the nose? Most definitely. But that’s what makes this show so unique and entertaining. Record Of Ragnarok is not a show that takes itself too seriously. Yes, there are monologues and dramatic arguments that scream self-serving pretentiousness, but that’s all part of the act. Hercules is beside himself when he sees who his challenger is. And rightfully so. It’s an insult to someone who craves honor. And that’s part of the brilliance of the selection of Jack The Ripper. His appearance is much more of a psychological attack on the god than it is physical. Much like how Poseidon underestimated Kojiro Sasaki, Hercules lets his passion for justice and disdain for Jack The Ripper cloud his head and interfere with his abilities. His anger may be justified, but it is a masterful stroke of cunning by Brunhilde to throw the god off of his game. But was the move worth it? At what point is humanity worth saving if we are desperate enough to send people like Jack The Ripper to represent us? 

The dub voicework is outstanding. It’s hammy, it’s over-the-top, and it just works perfectly for this show. It is hard to find a performance that doesn’t fit the character. Each actor takes their role and runs with it with electrifying results. Laura Post (Brunhilde) and Anairis Quinones (Göll) continue to do a wonderful job with their characters, bringing rich layers of personality and depth. The voice work for both the god and human fighters is very strong as well. None of the dialogue feels particularly out of place and each character feels unique with their own quirky speech patterns and vocabulary. Dubs can make or break a show, and the voicework in Record Of Ragnarok makes the show all the more enjoyable. 

Record Of Ragnarok’s animation is engaging and top-notch. The characters’ models are sleek and captivating while the world around them is immersive and brimming with detail. The color palette may be a touch too muted, but that can be easily overlooked with the explosion of personality that leaps off of the screen. The animation also keeps the action exciting and the narrative fresh. In the fifth fight, both humanity and the gods are pushed to their limits as Shiva and Raiden continue their colossal fight that offers spectacular visuals when the two mammoth warriors exchange attacks. The battle is enormous and stylish, making the most of Record Of Ragnarok’s promise of excitement. 

With loud and colorful characters and writing that never settles for boring, Record Of Ragnarok is a highly entertaining show that displays impressive growth from its first season. It’s funny, it’s violent, and it has heaping spoonfuls of weirdness that allows the show to stand out on its own. Record Of Ragnarok has a strong cast that delivers great performances with eccentric characters and an array of interesting stories. This show may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is well worth the watch.