Yuki Yuna is a Hero Season 2

Episode 5

Prior to this episode, I wasn't paying much attention to the closer, so only this week did I finally notice that its visuals have been updating with every episode. The first two featured differing versions of the three Heroes together in class (as seen through a window from the outside), but episode 4's version featured only Gin and episode 5's version features just Washio and Sonoko. That led me to finally notice that the opener has also been updating every episode, with the few seconds between Washio firing the shot bordered by blue bands across the sky and the three girls laying on the grass being a brief preview of the episode. In retrospect, this shouldn't have been unexpected, as the original series occasionally updated its closer's visuals too, but such touches are a pleasing sign of extra effort on the part of the production staff.

Given how great Gin's character was, it's ironic that the episode involving the aftermath of her death may be this season's best so far. Or perhaps it's fitting after all, since Gin's presence pervades the episode even though she only appears during her funeral, where Washio and Sonoko ceremonially lay flowers on her body in its coffin. Her presence is also felt in the fight against the Vertex that arises during her funeral, where Washio and Sonoko vent their anger over her death as they go after the Vertex with a level of fierceness and tenacity we have not previously seen from them. It's also there in simpler scenes, like the moment at the festival where Sonoko wins the top prize with Washio's help and then trades it for a trio of matching charms coordinated to their Hero colors – which Washio immediately seems to understand. Gin's also present in their teacher's sympathy and the way her death spurs classmates to ask Sonoko and Washio about what they actually do for the first time. The last scene also verifies the supposition I made in last episode's review; the fairies and Mankai system will be implemented in response to Gin's death. At least their teacher is suitably disturbed by the potential consequences of this, which confirms that the adults knew all about it but did not deign to inform the girls.

Highlights can be found everywhere in the episode. The grand funeral scene demonstrates the solemnity with which the girls and their duties are regarded, whether it's the elaborate robes they wear or the auditorium-filling turn-out. (This also makes for another stark comparison to the original series, where nothing of the girls' role was out in the open.) Both the girls' actions and the disruption caused by Gin's brother strike poignant notes. The battle scene against the Vertex, though short, was possibly the sharpest yet in terms of musical support and technical execution, and the way that Washio and Sonoko come together to support each other and vow to push on is reassuring, as is their teacher clearly being worried about them. Attempts to console others over a lost family member can ring hollow when talking about “doing her duty” or a "brave sacrifice" are also painfully evident, while the way the girls' classmates tentatively approach them about these matters beyond their knowledge is touching.

Though this season has been good, I felt it was underachieving compared to the first season so far. Combining this episode with the end of last episode puts this installment on a distinctly upward trajectory to the level of quality that the first series achieved.

Rating: A-

Yuki Yuna is A Hero Season 2 is currently streaming on Amazon's Anime Strike.