What do you desire the most? Riches? Power? Truth? All those things await you at the top of the Tower! Our protagonist has rejected that idea, yet he continues to climb, trying to comprehend the incomprehensible. The first season told us the story of Rachel, the girl with golden eyes who left everything to climb, desiring to shine like the stars, and of Bam, the boy who went after her without a desire of his own. This episode starts in the same scene the other left us with, in utmost darkness. Bam did make friends, became stronger, and reached high. His innocence won over Yuri of Jahad, who is now exchanging favors in her courtly family circle to find him. Faced with unspeakable betrayal, Bam must begin again from the bottom. He has the help of those who hate King Jahad, but has lost something of himself in the process. Now a hooded, emotionless, frightfully efficient fighter, Bam might just dispose of our new viewpoint character, Ja Wangnan, a young man so deep in debt that his organs might be collected by loan sharks if he fails again. Even if Bam is not overtly hostile, he is not the kind person he was. And we will find that out soon.
Tower of God returns with a bang! As a new and artsy opening tells you to “rise up,” we return to the unmistakable world of this inventive shōnen, one of my favorites. After again facing the darkness we uncovered last season, we get a glimpse of the cast, surrounded by light, unaware of what we know. A brief scene is enough for us to know all there is to know about them before we return to the bottom of the Tower and start climbing again. In 2020, this show gave me so much food for thought that I devoted an article to it, and I’m happy to report that it has come back in full form. We’re back to the colorful, distinct art style, to the myriad of interesting characters, to the deep themes and emotions, and to the intriguing fairytale logic of this story. As the protagonist ascends to the top yet again, new characters with fascinating viewpoints and motivations keep appearing and surprising us. Bam is back, with a demeanor both heartbreaking and convincing. Ja Wangnan is both a new Bam, with an innocent streak, but also sort of an opposite—a likable, down-on-his-luck young adult with surprisingly contemporary problems and worries. Everything is on point, and I’m so happy I get to inhabit this world again. Highly recommended.
Tower of God S2 can be streamed on Crunchyroll.
