Let’s see if Classroom Of The Elite Season 2 Episode 8 continues the mid-season revival that seems to be becoming a trend in this show in this review!
Classroom Of The Elite Season 2 Episode 8 Overview
Classroom Of The Elite Season 2 is a drama and suspense series developed by Studio Lerche. Lerche is a studio that is very well known for developing popular anime such as Assassination Classroom, Given, and Monster Musume. It is based on a light novel illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose and written by Shougo Kinugasa. The series is also known as Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e Season 2 in original Japanese.
The series is being directed by Seiji Kishi, Yoshihito Nishouji, and Hiroyuki Hashimoto. They are known for directing projects the likes of Angel Beats, Assassination Classroom, and the first season of this show which came out in 2017. This episode is also referred to as Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e Season 2 Episode 8 in Japanese. Click here to read our review of the previous episode in the series.
– Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e Season 2 Episode 8 Review does not contain spoilers –
Classroom Of The Elite Season 2 Episode 8 Review- It Continues
This was a fantastic episode, the kind that this show has always been capable of but never tried hard enough to achieve. This was the kind of outing that gives justice to this being an adaptation of one of the most popular and highly rated mangas of all time. One wonders that if the showrunners are capable of doing something this well, why then do they not do it every week? Why are they content with making a bad adaptation when they can make something that pleases even the most ardent of manga readers?
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This episode featured an exhilarating look at the past of Kikyo Kushida, who has inadvertently but deservedly become the main antagonist of this season. After sabotaging the effort of Class D throughout this session’s tests, the time has now come to address her betrayal and her reasoning behind that. She was a pretty unique, if a little boring, character before this plot came to the forefront of the show, especially since Ayanokoji never seemed too bothered by any of her antics despite having his neck hanging in the balance after those sexual assault allegations.
However, there was a method to the madness that was not really unexpected but still deserving of all the intrigue that it generated. In a show full of unrealistic personalities and weird goals, Kushida’s tale was a hyper-realistic one in the current landscape where people make entire careers out of exploiting the attention they receive from other people. In this perpetually attention-starved world, Kikyo Kushida’s story isn’t very far-fetched and hit harder because of it. So much about her makes sense now, which also explains why she is a real and dangerous threat.
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This also brought the best out of both Ayanokoji and Horikita, who thrive under pressure. Horikita has been showing some initiative after so long, and Ayanokoji seems to finally have his head back into the game after all this time of not giving a damn about what happens to everyone around him. Ryuuen finding out his real nature was an interesting twist and made perfect sense based on the story the show is trying to tell. How long could he act behind everyone’s backs anyway, especially Horikita’s?
The production in Classroom Of The Elite Season 2 Episode 8 was also a step-up from where the series usually is, as the music in this episode was great and perfectly suited the reveal of Kushida. The different animation styles that accompanied the flashbacks suited it very well and made Kishida look just the right amount of sinister. The show is getting good again, just like it did the last time around. It’s funny how easily opinions can change, sometimes.
Verdict
Classroom Of The Elite Season 2 Episode 8 was a fantastic episode that tackled a very real topic in the current landscape and made it fascinating in the grand scheme.
Click here to read the review of the next episode!