Japan does this a lot in movies and animes. The former protagonist returns to play a supporting/2nd lead to the current protagonist. Ex: Maxman movies 1 to 3( a lot of toku alumni star in this)

Finally had time to sit down and watch the first episode of season 2 and I was really surprised by what we're getting here. I largely avoided spoilers for this series; I knew Neo was going to be in this, but I didn't realize he was going to be the protagonist and that, so far at least, we're focusing largely on a whole new cast of characters instead of the returning characters from season 1. I like that; it feels like a new show while still being a continuation of the previous season.

If I'm being honest, I'm not really digging Chihiro as a main character so far, but I'm not concerned by that yet. It took me a few episodes to get into Haruka last year, and so far Chihiro reminds me a lot of early Haruka: kinda passive and emotionally withdrawn. I'm sure we'll see more dimension to his character as the show progresses.

Not sure about the Neo suit, though. I like the silver parts and how it looks more like a cyborg skin placed over the base Amazon design. I just wish the more organic bits blended into the silver better. Something about the blue and the stripes just isn't working for me. I can't quite put my finger on what it is, but I find it vaguely off-putting and the suit overall doesn't work for me nearly as well as Alpha or Omega. I like the concept behind the sword, but in execution it just looks awkward and I can't imagine how effective that would actually be to wield.

I forgot how idiosyncratic this show's cinematography can be. There are a lot of extreme close-ups and dutch angles in here. It largely works, but sometimes you get scenes like the one with the new hunting group - 4C, I guess? - hanging out and the whole thing feels really weirdly staged. I'm not sure if that works for me or not, but it certainly stands out.

Nice to see that church with the double stairs again. One of the cooler, less overused stock locations.

Really curious to see where this goes next and how they fit the returning characters into this new set-up.

Welp, Haruka showed up and remembering the last episodes of season one, he has fully embraced his Amazonity so he is the villain now. Kinda like Dante from DMC. Although judging from Fukuda's comments from the previous episode, the previous team fell apart because the members misunderstood each other, not because Haruka and Mamoru were Amazons. So maybe, reconciliation is possible.

And the only person I like from this new cast is Iyu.

Haruka is just fulfilling his duty as the reaper of feral Amazons since Chihiro maybe probably ate his own mother.

Oh my god! Did anyone else get chills when Haruka arrived then transformed!? The first episode of season 2 was pretty bad to be honest, but episode 2 was a huge improvement. The scene with Iyu and her family was probably the most messed up scene in Amazons so far in my opinion. Episode 3 seems to be a good one as well, I can't wait.

Not sure if anyone noticed, but Iyu's father is Toru Hojo from Agito, Centipede Orphenoch from Faiz and that one police guy killed by Brain in Drive's Type: Tokujo.

Beside the very first Amazonz, who seems to be a mix between lion and cheetah and a few unseen amazonz, I have managed to indentify all of the current season 2 Amazonz's motif:

The bride is Stag Beetle, the three bridesmaids in order of them being killed by Iyu are Mantis, Snake and Rhino
Taku, the member of Team X turned into a Monkey (or atleast primate, judging from the lack of tail) Amazonz, Sea Urchin at Aroma Ozone (oh hey, another amazon pun) and Iyu's father is Vulture, which is kinda fitting since both of them are birds.

I fucking knew it! When I saw that prick in Agito I knew he would eventually kill his whole family and eat his daughters eyeball! :lol

I liked episode 2 by the way, it's slowly but surely picking up speed now. Haruka at the end was a huge "Oh shit"-moment.

Also: The bridesmaids bodies kinda hardened after they were defeated. Did anybody else expect they would evolve?

That's pretty much exactly what I was thinking of, actually.

It's even more fitting considering that Vultures are also known for eating dead animals.

Yep, both Crows and Vultures are carrion birds. Also, unlike Vultures (at least to my knowledge), Crows will kill another creature if it can. But it usually won't do it unless it's p a rt of a flock. Or a Murder, as the term is. :lol