After many months as the Great Demon King, Yuri has finally achieved the first steps towards peace between the nations. He is coming into his role as King quite nicely, and even his loyal subjects are allowing his Highness to take the lead on negotiations and decision making (which really helps when trying to wield supreme authority). However, when situations arise that necessitate Yuri’s return to earth, along with the obligatory personal retinue, his brother Shori still refuses to believe that his “precious little brother” doesn’t require Shori’s protection and guidance. His parents are also no help when it comes to extricating Yuri from his accidental engagement to Lord Wolfram von Spitzweig, who takes to his “in-laws” immediately and has become strangely attached to Yuri (at which point we must assume the constant name-calling and mean-spirited taunts as ham-fisted attempts at flirting?) and prone to jealousy. I bow my head before you, readers, as this refusal to end the engagement and awkward attempts to profess “care” for Yuri means there is now yaoi (yay!) in my anime, even if it isn’t very romantic. I’m not sorry, and neither should you be.
However, darker motives are rolling across the landscape, as a mysterious entity seems to be placing well-crafted obstacles in Yuri’s path to peace. Holy Swords being used for destruction, Kings being manipulated into kidnapping and war, and finally a monumental confrontation with the very essences that once held the entire land in a constant state of chaos and darkness! Will Yuri alone be able to conquer the very forces that killed the Great One? Is Ken, who can remember his past lives (0including his life as the Great Wise one, advisor to the Great One himself), taking sides in this conflict, and if so, with whom will he stand when the final word is spoken?
Still, despite the more dramatic tone of the story aracs, this lighthearted series continues in the same vein as season one (in fact, beginning in the middle of a story arc from the first season), and provides just as many laughs and adventures as before, if with a better sense of character direction and familiarity. Don’t let the gentle touch of the writers fool you, however: This riveting series is highly addictive. Stereotypical of the best series in all the best ways, Kyo Kara Maoh! can provide you with magic-wielding fantasy adventure and evil-possessed megalomaniacal would-be world destroyer while also providing a fantastic selection of bishoujo character types beloved the world over. (Wolfram: The jealous love interest; Gwendal: The strong, silent type with a cuddly streak sixteen hand-knitted stuffed animals wide; Gunter: The beautiful yet air-headed hanger-on; Conrart: the all-around awesome dude with a dark past; Ken: The best friend who seems on the level, but may be harboring secrets; and all centered on Yuri: the “average” cute boy whose innocence and morality improve everyone around him. The studio even included the “protective big brother” in this season, for an added bonus!
With fantastic voice acting in either language, and a wonderfully coherent art style, this second season does an excellent job of rounding out and finalizing many of the storyline opened in season one, ending with a finality that satisfies while leaving an opening for future growth in another series.