Knights of Sidonia: Battle for Planet Nine
Synopsis
After barely escaping a collision with a gigantic Gauna at the cost of many human lives, Kobayashi—the captain of the spaceship Sidonia—is prompted to change her political paradigm. Once she seizes full power, Kobayashi aims to eradicate the Gaunas from the Lem system where former Sidonians have recently established a colony. Her ambition is justified by two breakthroughs: the development of highly effective, long-range anti-Gauna weapons, and the creation of Tsumugi Shiraui—the first human-Gauna chimera possessing great destructive power. Facing hostility toward chimeras and her uncertain large-scale military expedition, Kobayashi enlists the help of the new elite pilot Nagate Tanikaze. Due to his personal experiences with Shizuka Hoshijiro and Benisuzume's placenta, Tanikaze soon develops a close bond with Tsumugi. As the final battle against humanity's most formidable opponent approaches, Tanikaze tries to enjoy the last days of peace with his friend Izana Shinatose—all while Kobayashi secretly pursues the development of an experimental weapon that could very well lead to the complete destruction of Sidonia. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The second season of Sidonia no Kishi is a visually stunning and action-packed continuation of the story, although its shift in tone towards slice-of-life elements and romance has divided audiences. Some appreciate the added character development and plot twists, while others feel it detracts from the darker, more serious atmosphere of the first season. Overall, the season is considered a worthwhile watch but doesn't quite live up to the expectations set by its predecessor for some viewers.
Strengths
- Excellent sound direction and realistic sound effects.
- Beautiful visuals and well-done CGI, particularly in battle scenes.
- Intense and engaging storyline with character development.
- Addresses unanswered questions and plot twists from the first season.
Weaknesses
- Shift in tone towards slice-of-life and romance elements may disappoint fans of the darker first season.
- Some find the love triangle/harem aspects to be childish and detracting from the plot.
- The CGI style may be off-putting to some viewers.
- Unexplored character stories mentioned, such as Kunato and Ochiai.