Because sometimes, you just cannot help liking a bad show…

There are guilty pleasures and then there are guilty pleasures. You can say watching shows like Happiness or Yoake Mae Yori Ruri Iro Na would be guilty pleasures, but I’m talking about indulging in a truly lackluster show. I doubt many would disagree–Sisters of Wellber sucked. The story was overly dramatic, didn’t make that much sense, was rushed, wasted Takahashi Mikako’s voice talent, had an anticlimactic ending, and left us feeling incomplete. I mean, DAMN, what a bastard! Thinking about it should make you want to punch someone in the face.

Yet, here I am EXCITED that I’m finally watching the SECOND season of Sisters of Wellber. The talking tank, the genital-less fairy thinggy, the crappy CG horses, delicious Tina, and double-dip-delicious shorter-haired Rita-hime… all back for another 13 episodes.

The primary reason I enjoyed the first season was because of the characters. The first story premise was actually an interesting one (albeit cliche); however, the first Sisters of Wellber completely failed at telling the story. The biggest problem with the first season was how jumpy and inconsistent it felt. There were times when it was overly dramatic and slow, as well as times when it was rushed. Also there episodes that felt incredibly shallow and others that were too convoluted. Worst of all, the ending was rushed and anticlimactic almost as if someone suddenly realized, “Onoes! We only have 1 episode left! Let’s just end it and save any content for season 2.” Sisters of Wellber was honestly chugging along, brought up a new plot line, it suddenly ended the first plot line, and then I sat around wondering, “That’s it?” Yes, a lot of stuff happened–people died, crap blew up, characters went a bit emo–but what for?

Pretty much everything that happened in the first season seemed to be in order to set up the second. Looking back on it, it was almost like those short quests you get at the beginning of an RPG. It was like stumbling upon some far off evil empire chasing a runaway girl who only speaks in screwy characters, while exploring that abandoned mine at the edge of town. You just had to be there, and now you’re going to be thrown into a massive adventure (cue main theme). A lot happened, yes, but most of it was introducing characters and setting up future adventures. We see Galahad’s past and his rise and fall. We see Rita and Tina bond. We see Rita grow as a person. But other than Rita and Tina, there is little interaction or even much character development beyond what was necessary to the story at hand. In the end, you feel cheated because stuff happened, but all the (apparently) good stuff happens in the next series.

Enter Zwei.

Through 5 episodes, it’s pretty much more of the same, just with a different plot focus. The plot picks up immediately where the first season ended and we go right back to traveling the countryside trying to get somewhere, while Rita and Tina, and now Galahad grow closer to one another. There just isn’t an impending war to think about (yet).

In a number of ways, Zwei has already been more enjoyable that the first season because all the character introductions are out of the way. Thankfully, Production IG jumped right into the new plot without much dilly-dally. What Zwei has that the first season lacked is momentum. We know what Tina has set out to do, so now it’s a matter her carrying it out. Unlike last time with Rita needing to get to Greedom, Zwei can afford to take sidetracks and delve deeper into the characters and expand upon them. Often time, the first season would try that, but it would end feeling wasteful and clunky.

Also, Zwei has a few different plot lines to follow instead of the war prevention plot last season. Other than Tina’s revenge, war again looks to be looming and there is the whole love triangle between Rita, Tina, and Galahad. With the war, I don’t think it will be as deflated because it’s probably going to happen, instead of looming on the horizon. And love triangles always rear their heads into the story no matter what. Overall, there is just more to get interested about. And again, with the characters already introduced, it’s more about seeing their relationships grow and change.

What all that said, I’m still not fully convinced Wellber Zwei will be significantly better than the first season. The pacing is still way too episodic and slow for its own good. I have only seen 5 episodes, so things can still change, but it the series keep dragging its feet we’re more than likely going to see a rushed ending. I truly believe that if Sisters of Wellber had originally been written as a full 26 episode series instead of 2 seasons of 13 episodes it wouldn’t be this choppy and slow. What’s most disappointing is that the plot premise seems quite good and the characters can be an interesting group. Unfortunately, Sisters of Wellber was divided into 2 separate stories instead of being weaved into 2 story arcs that played off each other.

But alas, it’s pointless to wonder “what if” at this point. Wellber Zwei ended back in March of this year, so it’s just me finishing the trip. I really do like Rita and Tina, so if anything, I just want to see how all of this ends, even if I am one of the crazy few still interested in this series’ conclusion.