English Dub Season Review: I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince so I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability Season Two

When I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince was released last summer, it got struck with one of the most baffling controversies in anime history regarding its shotacon approach.  The target of this controversy was the show’s OP protagonist, Lloyd (Meg McClain), the seventh prince of the Kingdom of Saloum, for which viewers criticized the show for making his design “sexualized”, including his exposed legs.  It also didn’t help that the show’s humor consisted of multiple characters putting him in uncomfortable situations, especially when his own sister kissed him.  Seriously, how did the writers think that was okay?  Regardless of the issue at hand, the series is essentially another reincarnation/isekai anime that offers nothing new to the genre and is hindered by its bland protagonist and questionable humor.  Even though it was elevated slightly by its voice cast and vibrant animation, I wasn’t very fond of what the concept delivered in terms of narrative.

But apparently, the magic we learned from the first season was only just a taste of what’s to come in Lloyd’s journey.  With the second season of Reincarnated as the 7th Prince, the anime sees Lloyd continuing his pursuit to enhance his magical prowess, accompanied by both old and new allies.  This time, he has his eyes set on the town’s church, which contains divine sorcery magic.  While the church is less welcoming towards Lloyd due to an incident that led to his expulsion, that hasn’t stopped the young prince from gaining control of this holy magic.  Of course, his latest venture results in him confronting a dangerous plot to unleash hell on Earth by a villainous pastor with shape-shifting abilities.  Along with Grim (Sara Ragsdale), Sylpha (Morgan Berry), and the Assassin’s Guild, Lloyd joins forces with some new allies, including a stubborn angel named Jihriel (Reagan Murdock), generous nun Escher (Whitney Rodgers), and his older sister Saria, to subdue the pastor’s unholy wrath.

Given my experience with season one, I initially figured that its second season would be more of the same regarding its humor.  Lloyd’s exposed legs still retain their sexual appeal, which I have honestly grown more accustomed to compared to the previous season.  The only element that made me nervous was the possibility of him getting into more uncomfortable scenarios with older female characters, particularly with the new additions of Escher and Saria.  With the inclusion of the show’s religious aspect through divine sorcery and the church, it’s understandable that this season would further dampen the show’s appeal with its sexual innuendos.  However, upon viewing the first few episodes, it surprisingly turned out not to be the case, providing a miracle that I didn’t know I needed.

Granted, the series still has its share of narrative flaws seen in season one, including its protagonist and formulaic plot elements.  Fortunately, amid those familiar shortcomings, season two managed to focus less on Lloyd’s awkward confrontations with older female characters in favor of an arc that’s more stakes-worthy than the first season.  One reason was the season’s antagonist, Guitane, a mysterious priest whose own beliefs pose a threat to the church.  Additionally, his shape-shifting abilities make him a formidable adversary for Lloyd’s allies, catching the attention of the young yet powerful prince.  Regarding those traits, Guitane marks a solid improvement over the first season’s demon lord, Guisarme, as the former’s presence is better explored compared to Guisarme’s last-minute appearance.  Although not as groundbreaking narratively, Guitane provided a solid enough challenge to test the skills and resilience of Lloyd and his allies. 

Another reason is the show’s supporting characters.  Undoubtedly, 7th Prince offered plenty of flashy moments involving Lloyd’s overpowered abilities in season one, yet it didn’t deliver similar expectations for his allies.  The only exception to the case was Sylpha, who also continues to showcase her badass skills in season two, though not as riveting as those in “Sylpha’s Blade”.  Season two was able to correct that mistake by putting more focus on the Assassin’s Guild members and their respective battles, notably in the season’s final five episodes.  These episodes featured Sylpha, Tao (Veronica Laux), and the Assassin’s Guild battling Guitane’s chimeras while protecting the bishops during the Great Advent Festival.  One episode that handled this direction the best was “The Moon and Tonkatsu”, where Babylon subdues a regenerating pig chimera by making its meat taste delicious.  It not only showcased Babylon’s cooking skills in action but also delivered the best uses of the show’s tone and humor, with its fourth-wall-breaking jokes drawing out the biggest laughs.  “Invasion” also highlighted Tao’s resilience against a six-armed chimera, though its rushed pacing prevented her arc from reaching the same potential as her overwhelming chi.  While the characters may not have much narrative prowess, their skills on the battlefield were enough to make the season a bit more watchable than just having Lloyd do all the heavy lifting.  The new characters also had enough moments to make them tolerable, with the standout being Escher, whose internal struggles and emotional range were conveyed suitably by Whitney Rodgers’s performance.

The first season of I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince offered more of the same as other reincarnation isekai shows regarding its narrative.  The only difference was that it’s less comforting and more questionable in its humor compared to others.  With season two, it expanded upon not just the world Lloyd has reincarnated in, thanks to the addition of divine sorcery, but also the characters and his quest to study magic.  The result is what you expect from the previous season, but it also provides a surprising amount of intrigue in its narrative stakes to master the magical charm of a young OP prince.  It retains the similar issues seen in season one, notably its formulaic ideas and middling execution of its humor. However, the animation from Tsumugi Akita Animation Lab still looks dazzling, particularly when Escher sings.  With the shift in focus to its season’s antagonist and supporting characters, season two of 7th Prince marks an occasion where the series found its footing in its premise, even if its narrative magic is far from unique.  If you’re not a fan of season one for similar reasons, its second season may help you change your mind about the anime, though given Lloyd’s questionable design, it’s unlikely it might do the same for everyone else.