Hayate
no Gotoku:
Season 2
Number of episodes: 13
Production Studio: J.C. Staff
Fansub Release Viewed: SS-Eclipse
Likelihood of US Release:
Streaming at Crunchyroll.com
The comedy/romance/parody/harem series returns for a second season, in this story of an unfortunate teenage boy turned butler for a high-maintenance teenage girl otaku.
Episode Summary
This series is available streaming for free on Crunchyroll. I have just used the fansubbed version in order to get screen captures.
Ayasaki Hayate was a hard-luck case when his parents left him with a 150 million Yen debt to the Yakuza. A botched kidnapping attempt turned into an employment opportunity when rich girl Sanzenin Nagi offered him a job as her head butler and paid off his debt. Now the annual Hakuou Academy school marathon is coming up, and Hayate is attempting to help Nagi train up for it. When Klaus, the other Sanzenin butler, scolds Hayate for not keeping his mistress in shape, Nagi blurts out that she’ll get first place in the marathon, putting an even greater weight on Hayate’s shoulders. While doing recon regarding Nagi’s chief rival, Hinagiku, Hayate learns of a returning event this year — the Freestyle Marathon, where competitors compete in groups of two for the prize of 150 million Yen. With that, Hayate could pay back Nagi’s kindness.
After some intense training, the day of the marathon finally arrives. After a false start, Nagi and Hayate begin. Since shortcuts are allowed in this race, they cut through the woods only to meet various adversaries along the way. Finally Hayate faces off against Hinagiku, while Nagi races to the finish line. As she nears her goal, her feet get lighter and she discovers the joy of sports, only to have the prize taken away from her at the last second by a booze-hungry Katsura-Sensei.
Thoughts
While the original Hayate no Gotoku was an enjoyable parody-filled comedy, the sequel takes the odd approach of beginning on a filler episode, seemingly only to reintroduce the cast, most of whom appear for the central event. This proves somewhat entertaining, although mostly unsatisfying for those of us excited for more anime parodies and fourth-wall-breaking mayhem. Of course, there are still a few funny moments, including Maria and Saki (Nagi and Wataru’s maids, respectively) appearing in costume as “Maid Black Max-Heart and Maid White Max-Heart” to rescue Nagi and Hayate from Taiga and Himuro in the forest. And, as usual, the expected ending turns out not to come true — any time Hayate can get down on his luck somehow, it usually happens, if only briefly. Who knows if Klaus will forgive him from letting Nagi lose the race.
The visuals are on par with the original series, which is to say that the character designs are a bit blocky and simplistic, but have their own cute qualities, and the animation is serviceable. In a series which could very easily have focused on the assets of all the maids/female characters in general or ramped up the fanservice to over 9000, I’ve always been satisfied with the more subdued level at which the creators have kept this aspect of the show. It’s one of the few shows that I can call a “harem comedy” and still enjoy watching.
Familiarity with the original isn’t a necessity by any means, and the first episode here does an okay job of reintroducing the frequently-occurring characters to the audience, but since the first season is coming to DVD in the US later this summer, it might be worth it to wait and watch that that. Not only will the character interaction have more meaning with context to rely on, there are some extremely funny season one episodes that shouldn’t be missed.
Season 2 could have started off with more of a bang, but I still anticipate some great comedy from this series as the second season unfolds.
Pros
- The main characters all get an introduction, however brief
Cons
- The series doesn’t seem to be back in full-on comedy mode yet
