By: Krow Smith | @coffeewithkrow

I have rewatched the first season of Bofuri: I Don’t Want To Get Hurt So I’ll Max Out My Defense countless times. It is one of my comfort shows and it never fails to put a smile on my face. So, needless to say, I was hyped for Season 2 back in 2023 and wanted to give myself ample time to watch it multiple times and form an opinion of it. As I went into Season 2, there was the expectation that there would be more of the same slow pace and silly shenanigans as Season 1.

Well, I was half right.… Let’s start with the positives, shall we?

The Positives

I loved how everyone is becoming overpowered alongside Maple. Not only by gaining skills to be used in creative ways, but also the ability to tame a monster companion of their own!

In the first season, it was mostly Maple raising her status as an overpowered player against the top ranking players. Whereas in Season 2, it feels like Maple’s guild, Maple Tree, as a whole is finding interesting ways to work together to be overpowered themselves.

I thoroughly enjoyed this aspect as it allows everyone else to grow and shine as their own characters instead of simply being there to be enamored with whatever new ability Maple acquired. It better showcases their individuality and allows for them to be inspired by Maple rather than trailing behind her. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think any of the guild members will ever rival Maple’s abilities. However, it is nice to see that they aren’t being completely left behind.

Another thing I really enjoyed is getting to know some of the characters, like Mii. It helps flesh out their personalities and makes me care about them in addition to Maple Tree. It is also nice to see the people from the bigger guilds becoming friends with Maple, allowing for less cutthroat rivalry and more friendly competition.

The Negatives

On the other side of the spectrum, there are the things I don’t particularly like about Season 2. One major aspect is the pacing, as it goes by so fast in the beginning. For example, in Episode 1 they just entered Level 4. Yet, in Episode 2 they had gone to the fifth floor and advanced to the sixth floor. I felt like there was no time spent on the fourth level, which is disappointing because I thought it was quite beautiful.

In Season 1, it felt like there was an event every few episodes and it was spread out evenly. For Season 2, they simply go straight to the sixth event in the first episode, while the seventh event happens a couple episodes after. Not only that, but right after that event, they then advance to another level! It feels like we don’t stay in one place for very long. In Season 1, there are three levels spread out over 12 episodes. While in Season 2, you’ve already gone through four floors by Episode 5!

It felt like they rushed through those floors in the first few episodes, leaving little to no room for achievements the rest of the season. It felt like I had whiplash before the halfway point because of this speedy progression.

Then there’s what happened in Episode 3. There was a random spot of CGI used for Maple and Sally, which was jarring and unnecessary. Especially since CGI wasn’t used for the characters before that point at all. Out of place, it made the two look strange and stiff.

Conclusion

Overall, I still enjoyed Season 2, just not to the extent I was hoping for. Regardless of my issues with it, it continues to be a comfort show for me. A show I can have on in the background while I work or zone out to, and have a laugh now and then. It will continue to bring me joy despite the fast pace and bad CGI.

What are your thoughts on Season 2 of Bofuri? Do you agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments below!

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Developmental edits: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting

Copyedited by: Katherine Cañeba | @kcserinlee