More from The Quintessential Quintuplets series:
Original Run: January 8, 2021 - March 26, 2021 Number of Episodes: 12 Genre: Comedy, Harem, Romance Based on the Series Created By: Negi Haruba
***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for The Quintessential Quintuplets 2. Reader discretion is advised.***
Series Synopsis
Fuutarou Uesugi (voiced by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) continues his job of tutoring the Nakano quintuplets:
- Ichika (voiced by Kana Hanazawa)
- Nino (voiced by Ayana Taketatsu)
- Miku (voiced by Miku Itou)
- Yotsuba (voiced by Ayane Sakura)
- Itsuki (voiced by Inori Minase)
However, these tutoring sessions are coming to an end. This eventuality calls into question Fuutarou’s relationship with the five sisters. Are they only teacher and students, or can they become something more?
Series Positives
“I do not expect this series to get a second season. I also don’t expect I will remember it all that long after this review goes live. Hell, despite my impending recommendation, I don’t even expect this post to compel people to go out of their way to watch The Quintessential Quintuplets.”
– Anime Hajime Review: The Quintessential Quintuplets (April 2019)
Consider this me eating my words. Don’t get me wrong; I stand by my review of The Quintessential Quintuplets (QQ1). It was a satisfactory but unremarkable series that didn’t leave much of an impression, let alone a justification for a sequel. Clearly, enough people didn’t see things the way I did, and a sequel we got.
Not only that, before watching this continuation, I knew this series would be getting a film follow-up, which, at the time of this review, is scheduled for a 2022 release. Therefore, I couldn’t help thinking, was there something I missed?
Sitting here now, no, I don’t think there was. The original wasn’t some hidden gem. The Quintessential Quintuplets 2 (QQ2) was just so much better.
I won’t lie; at first, I didn’t understand why QQ2 existed. It started out much like its predecessor – decent but bland. It felt like more of the same. However, I can tell you the exact moment when this series jumped to the next level and became a show that is now worth remembering.
What I am about to say is a spoiler, but I don’t see how I can get around it. After this scene, QQ2 became a very different show. It went from a gimmicky harem comedy to an engaging romance anime.
The scene I am referring to was Nino Nakano’s confession to Fuutarou Uesugi.
What made this moment such a turning point was how brash it was. I don’t get to feel this often anymore, but what Nino did took me by complete surprise, which I have to imagine was the entire point.
At the end of QQ1, only two of the quintuplets gave any real, concrete indication they had developed feelings for Fuutarou: Miku and Ichika. (For the record, Miku is the one I am rooting for the most)
It wasn’t until QQ2 that Nino started putting up a fight. And I use the word “fight” because by the end of this season that was pretty much what was going on, and it was Nino who delivered the first punch.
Before Nino’s confession, Miku was the one most blatantly enamored with Fuutarou; although, she had yet to tell him that to his face. Ichika was more reserved; she decided she would play the good-big-sister role and not stand in Miku’s way.
As such, there was a balance – Miku couldn’t find the courage to speak up, and Ichika had convinced herself she was unworthy. Things might have stayed that way, too. That was until Nino shattered the status quo with her direct, can-not-be-misinterpreted confession.
This lit a fire that wasn’t there before.
Once this happened, QQ2 then proceeded to do away with the entire reason why Fuutarou and the quintuplets met – there were no more exams the girls needed to pass. With their clearly defined link gone, none of the Nakano’s could hide behind the flimsy teacher-student relationship they once had.
This led to two fantastic (let’s call them) ordeals: the hot springs vacation and the school trip to Kyoto.
Without discussing the nitty-gritty details (which hopefully will give you an incentive to check this season out), let me just say one thing. The latter half of QQ2 did everything it could to pull away from the genericness of season one.
Additionally, QQ2 did a far better job at making all the main characters feel essential to the story. Sure, Miku, Ichika, and Nino were the spearheads of this series’ romantic side. Still, Itsuki and Yotsuba were not background figures. I have to suspect the two youngest Nakano sisters will have something to add in the continuation film.
Then there was Fuutarou, whose face I legitimately forgot when starting this season (I had no recollection of who he was). He might have been the most paint-by-numbers character of the series. Nevertheless, Fuutarou demonstrated much more personality in this installment. For example, he admitted to Nino, after her confession, that he had never experienced anything like that before, and thus, could not give her a proper answer right away.
This showed that Fuutarou was much more than the love interest. There was a lot more to his character than being the person the five pretty girls fell for.
Needless to say, but by the end of this season, I was shocked by the turnaround. When QQ2 began, I couldn’t understand the sudden praise this series was getting; the original simply wasn’t that good. Then when this installment’s last episode hit, my god, did it HIT.
I assumed I was going to be watching the movie out of obligation. Now, I can tell you that I am very much looking forward to it. And the fact that I am saying that is blowing my mind.
Sequels don’t always mean chapter two. Sometimes they mean a second chance.
Series Negatives
Power through the first five episodes. You need to make it to Nino’s confession. Once you get past that, this season really begins to open up.
That isn’t to say the start of QQ2 was terrible. Instead, it was simply more of the same. The problem with that, though, if you thought season one was meh (like me), I suspect you’re going to want to give up on this installment like it’s not worth your time.
Believe me; it does get better.
With that said, the first few episodes of season two were a bit annoying, and they didn’t do Fuutarou any favors.
There was a scene early on when Fuutarou had all the girls put their hair up. He was trying to determine if he could tell them apart with just their face. He failed.
This instance was annoying because the Nakano sisters still had their unique hair color, accessories, and clothes. It should have been no problem whatsoever for Fuutarou to figure out who was who. Later in the season, there was a moment when the five girls wore the same wig, and then it was impossible to tell them apart.
I don’t know what point QQ2 was trying to make initially, but it sure didn’t feel like it said what it wanted to say.
Regardless, get through the opening episodes of this season. You’ll most likely find yourself in the position I was in – pleasantly surprised.
Final Thoughts
This was a reset if I’ve ever seen one.
Again, the first season wasn’t awful, just forgettable; and certainly not deserving of a sequel. But a sequel it got nonetheless.
In this installment, the characters were more interesting, the story was more engaging, and everything landed so much harder. I cannot wait to see what comes next.
The Quintessential Quintuplets 2 gets a recommendation.
But these were just my thoughts. What are yours? Have you seen this series? How would you advise The Quintessential Quintuplets 2? Leave a comment down below because I would love to hear what you have to say.
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For Anime Hajime, I’m LofZOdyssey, and I’ll see you next time.
More From The Quintessential Quintuplets Series
I would’ve been more influenced by Nino’s confession, but I can’t stand the overt tsundere characters. I know some people love them, but I can’t get past it. Still, I know that and Miku’s moment at the end were THE moments in S2.
I didn’t like how Yotsuba ended being Rena. I thought that was contrived and weird. Although I know she wasn’t the “only” Rena, but still, that whole explanation bugged me.
I enjoyed the series. I kind of liked S1 better, but with their many good VAs you could hardly not enjoy this series on some level.
Go Ichika ;p