And we’re back at it again with reviews of Tokyo Ghoul‘s new season! A lot happened in the second episode, including several things that were quite unexpected. Our first review of the season was spoiler-free, but unfortunately, I can no longer discuss everything I would like without discussing the events of the episode. In other words, spoilers for Part 2 of Tokyo Ghoul :re ahead.

The Cochlea Raid

Just like episode 4 of √A, this episode starts off with the raid on Cochlea. Unlike √A, however, we actually know why Kaneki is here (and we probably care a bit more about the captives, given that both Hinami and Eto are imprisoned in the facility). The animation is decent, although not as good as it was in season 1 of the original Tokyo Ghoul.

It’s nice to see Ayato’s new look, as well as his newfound maturity and leadership skills. That being said, it feels like his adulthood has come out of nowhere. Admittedly, that’s partially because of the time skip between the end of √A and the beginning of :re; but also partially because of the incredibly fast pace of the show. While a fast pace definitely keeps the tension high, there’s quite a bit that cut out in regards to character development. (I know I said that last week, but it bears repeating.)

Rushed Development

The effects of this aren’t limited to Ayato. Kaneki feels similarly underdeveloped. We see very little of his thought process when he decides to save Hinami and betray the CCG, and we get nothing of his development from the cold and ruthless Black Reaper to the man who’s willing to die at Arima’s hands just to give his friends time to escape. His hair color is also back to white, another event that’s fairly important but was rushed and barely addressed.

My biggest issue was Kaneki’s skill with his kakuja. Last time we saw him try to use it, he went ballistic, but somehow he summons it during his fight with Arima. He’s seemingly learned how to wield it without losing his (admittedly dubious) hold on sanity, but how and when he did so is unclear.

Additionally, he pulled a lot of new tricks with his kagune. He detached parts of it, created full lattice structures to try and trap Arima, and was all around a far better fighter than we’ve ever seen. Where did this skill come from? I’m assuming he trained with his kagune to some degree during his time as Haise, but the show never makes that clear. As far as we know, Kaneki pulled this new skill out of thin air. The anime definitely could’ve benefited from more expansion on Kaneki’s growth and development, both as a fighter and a person.

The Good Bits

The character development we did get was centered around Yomo, and it was great. He’s been a major mystery since season 1, and it was fantastic to finally get some background for his character. It was well-executed, ramping up the tension to the point that I legitimately thought he was going to die horribly protecting Touka and Ayato.

Fortunately, Kaneki showed up at the last minute to save the day. Finally, we got the reunion that we’ve been eagerly awaiting for years; Kaneki and Touka have found each other again. Given the circumstances, however, their happy reunion is short-lived. Kaneki squares off against Arima as Touka goes to rescue Hinami. Although the reunion is short, it works surprisingly well for these two. Neither of them is particularly prone to emotional or dramatic displays, and I think a reunion that’s short and practical, but still warm, is the best fit for their personalities at the moment.

My Favorite Son Has Returned

The best thing about this show, Hideyoshi Nagachika, has FINALLY returned and I COULD NOT BE HAPPIER. Of course, he’s not back in person yet, but I’ll take what I can get. Kaneki hallucinating his seemingly dead best friend telling him to live was an emotional punch in the gut for me. (Possibly because I have a lot of Feelings about Hide, and I was admittedly ecstatic when :re seemingly retconned √A by listing him as missing instead of Killed In Action.) Kaneki’s “reunion” with Hide was especially poignant so soon after his reunion with Touka. Hide has always been Kaneki’s rock. For so many years, Hide was the one who kept Kaneki from falling into anxiety and loneliness, so having him back to curb Kaneki’s more self-destructive tendencies is a breath of fresh air.

Admittedly, the fact that Kaneki is hallucinating his dead best friend is should probably cause some concern. One could write entire essays on how Tokyo Ghoul deals with issues of mental health, especially in relation to Kaneki — just look at how ready he was to die at Arima’s hands. Unfortunately, that’s a bit beyond the scope of this review. Maybe in a future post.

Overall Thoughts

All in all, I really liked this episode. Although the animation wasn’t as clean as it could’ve been, the fights were at least interesting and well-choreographed. Although Kaneki’s development felt rushed and lacking, there were also some great, well-executed character moments. Not to mention that ending! That took me completely by surprise and instantly ramped up the stakes for the next episode. Despite its shortcomings, I’m looking forward to continuing the series.

And also Hide.