Tokyo Revengers Season 2, Christmas Showdown Arc could have come close to its predecessor. But it failed for faults that were not their own. The most awaited Season 2 of the anime series Tokyo Revengers, was released on January 8, 202,3 and finished airing on April 2, 2023.

The LidenFilms production can now be considered a definite failure. The show started strong and was about to break the “Second Season” curse. But along the way, Tokyo Revengers Season 2 lost its footing and fell victim to the very curse it was supposed to break. Now where did it go wrong? Let us find out!

What You Need To Know

Tokyo Revengers is an Anime Series based on the manga of the same name by mangaka, Ken Wakui. It has released 31 volumes, consisting of 278 chapters. The manga was adapted into an Anime Television Series, An Original Net Animation called ChibiReve, A Live Action Film, a spin-off and an official parody manga.

The series follows Hanagaki Takemichi, a seeming loser who was once a delinquent back in his middle school days. Due to a misunderstanding, Takemichi and his friends end up on the wrong side of the Tokyo Manjiro Gang, also known as Toman. Being bullied, traumatized and abused by them on a daily basis, Takemichi lost his self-confidence, switched places and spent the rest of his life apologizing to everyone for every little and no fault at all.

12 years later, now an adult and a part-timer, Takemichi learns that his ex-girlfriend from his middle school, Hinata Tachibana was killed alongside her brother, Naoto by Toman, now an organized crime syndicate. On his way home from work, Takemichi was pushed by someone in front of the train. Before the train hit him, he went 12 years into the past. Despite the past being seemingly unchanged, Takemichi was able to warn Hina’s brother about the future and suddenly returned to the present.

Character Chronicles

Tokyo Revengers mostly centers on Takemichi who navigates his way into the Toman, from being used as their toy for one of the members of the gang to becoming a Squad Captain. It is a Shonen Anime with all the necessary Tropes that somehow went under my radar. Tokyo Revengers gained a strong following and was liked by many. And it also had a unique yet confusing concept towards time travel.

Another one of the strengths of Tokyo Revengers is the characters. We have our protagonist, Hanagaki Takemichi who is known to everyone as the Crybaby Hero. Despite not being the most powerful, and always having his face beaten to a pulp, you can’t bring yourself to hate him. Instead, you root for him, cheer for him, and rejoice when he is able to overcome a challenge.

Then there’s Mikey. Named Majiro Sano, the leader and founder of Toman and the most overpowered character in the series. If Saitama is One Punch Man, Mikey is One Kick Man! Because there is no foe that he can’t take down with one kick. Then we have Draken, a founding member of Toman and Mikey’s Right-hand man. Being a tall giant and the same age as Mikey, he is a very mature character and is Mikey’s moral support and the barrier that keeps him from being a criminal.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Shonen Anime if there are no antagonists. And the one holding that important mante is Kisaki Tetta. A man of mystery and a face that you want to desperately punch, Kisaki’s motive is unclear. However, his influence is no joke. This man had not one, not two, but three organizations under him including Toman. And when Toman was recognized as a crime syndicate, he was known as Mikey’s right-hand and co-founder. He is someone who easily manipulates and corrupts people and is the one responsible for Hinata’s death in multiple timelines.

Tokyo Revengers Season 2, Christmas Showdown

Tokyo Revengers Season 2 is titled, “Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown.” The story takes place from where it left off. In the current present timeline, Takemichi witnesses the death of Chifuyu at the hands of Kisaki. Just as he was about to be killed off, Takemichi is rescued by someone he saved in the past, it was Kazutora. From him, Takemichi learns of the changes he made to the past, and what exactly he needs to change in order to prevent the timeline from existing.

Takemichi reunites with Naoto and learns some heartbreaking truths that make him want to give up. But Naoto reminds him of the changes he had made and the lives that he had changed with his abilities. So Takemichi decides to give it another shot. Back in the past, Takemichi meets with the Vice-Captain of Squad 2, Shiba Hakkai who becomes the leader of the Black Dragon Gang, which is one of the core reasons why Toman became corrupted. Takemichi befriends him and gets to know about his connections with the Black Dragon Gang.

It turns out, Shiba Hakkai is the younger brother to the Black Dragon leader, Shiba Taiju, who abuses him on a regular basis, to the point that Hakkai freezes up in front of him. Takemichi knows the future that Hakkai becomes the leader after killing his elder brother, for reasons unknown and has it absorbed under Toman. With the knowledge he has gained from the future, Takemichi takes it upon himself to prevent Hakkai from killing his older brother to prevent Toman from being corrupted.

What Went Wrong In Tokyo Revengers Season 2?!!

If anyone were to ask, what was so great about season 1, that Tokyo Revengers Season 2 failed to deliver? My answer is Gang War and Mikey. Season 1 of the show had two gang wars against Toman in the form of Moebius and Valhalla. But Season 2 had none, even though the rival gangs presented were strong and their leaders were no joke either. However, they had their reason as to why they have avoided a war even though that was what the audience wished to see.

Another reason why Tokyo Revengers season 2 failed to live up to its hype is because of Mikey’s screen time. Even if it is essentially Takemichi’s story, people prefer to watch it because of Mikey. Like Kakashi Hatake or Gojo Satoru, Mikey is in a league of his own within the show as he runs Toman and is a sort of brotherly figure to Takemichi because he sees his own deceased brother within him.

Then, of course, there’s the stretched ending of Tokyo Revengers Season 2. With the final battle taking place in episodes 10 and 11, Tokyo Revengers Season 2 had to stretch to two more episodes to describe where Takemichi went wrong and introduce the antagonist for the next season in the form of Tenjiku. The attempt at a cliffhanger ending to the season failed miserably.

What People Failed To See?!!

Now, we are all human beings and would mostly choose to see the failures than the prosperity of something. Because of this depression, mental health issues and many other problems exist. And the same can be said in regard to Tokyo Revengers Season 2. People went to watch it with Season 1 in mind and failed to detect the potential that they could have witnessed.

Tokyo Revengers Season 2 has its own strengths and it starts with the Antagonists in the form of the Black Dragon Gang and their leader, Shiba Taiju. Unlike Hanma of Season 1, Shiba Taiju exudes fear with just his presence alone. And his introduction is no joke as he pummels Takemichi to a near-death experience and forces Hakkai to leave Toman to join Black Dragon.

Another one of the strengths of the show is the depiction of the challenges Takemichi faces in his path. His struggles grow so much that he can’t help but come clean to Chifuyu, his right-hand man. Then there’s the difficult decision Chifuyu and Takemichi have to make as they have to pair up with Kisaki and Hanma because they won’t receive support from anyone within Toman, which goes as well as anyone would expect.

Then there’s episode 11, which one could say is the most alluring episode in the series. And it is so, for various reasons. However, I’ll say it in this short description: It was the ending Tokyo Revengers Season 2 deserved instead of episode 13.

My Thoughts

If you are to view Tokyo Revengers Season 2 with an expectation against the previous season, then it wouldn’t live up to what you had expected. However, if you are to watch it without any overhyped expectations, if you are to view it as a show in its own right, then you will see the strengths of the show, and possibly enjoy it as well.

Btw, do read my reviews on Demon Slayer Season 3 if you liked this piece!