Momoka Kuriki, our antagonist, is reminiscing about the events of the first season and plotting how to get her way at the same time. For her part, the usually boisterous Miki confronts the day after the world-shattering love confession that ended the first season. And so, The Ramparts of Ice elegantly gets us back up to speed while progressing the plot at the same time. And what a plot this is! As the rain falls on our characters, with the romantic tension at an all-time high, all roads seem to lead to doom. The stakes have never been higher. Kuriki is confident that she can outmaneuver our protagonist Kouyun and has started taking steps in that direction. And due to the seeds she planted last season and Minato’s flawed philosophy on romance and dating, she may very well be right! Meanwhile, Miki does not have it in her to reciprocate Youta’s feelings, and her perspective is more than understandable. And yet, how much it hurts to reject someone you care about that deeply… It all comes down to Kouyun and Miki having a series of heart-to-hearts. First, it’s Miki and Minato on a bench in the rain. Then, it’s Youta and Kouyun on the stairs near the school roof. And finally, Kouyun is ready to entrust her feelings to her best friend. But why did they have to pick the same fast-food joint where Minato and Youta are having their own conversation?

What a great anime episode! It kept me glued to the screen from beginning to end, and I’m sure it will remain with me in the days to come. In some ways, it was a difficult watch. Each of these four characters is an insecure teenager who has been deeply hurt in the past, with a compelling and perfectly captured inner voice. Their progress toward each other has only come through painstaking efforts, yet it can be lost in just a moment! Every single little regression hurts so much, but the show makes you clearly see how things cannot be any other way right now, while still leaving a window of hope. This is due to the respect the characters have for each other, which allows them to listen to difficult truths and often forces them to confront their own feelings and shortcomings. The heartbreaking music, the visual metaphors, and the moody colors come together beautifully and add to the force of the scenes, while the occasional moments of humor relieve the tension, which might otherwise become unbearable! Argh! The Ramparts of Ice is really an achievement to behold, a story in equal parts dark and inspiring, harsh and kind—and for me, it is the kindness that ultimately shines through. Between this stellar adaptation and the equally beautiful and insightful adaptation of You and I Are Polar Opposites, mangaka Koucha Agasawa is having a great year. This anime has already become one of my all-time favorites, and I’m pretty sure I’ll accompany each of these characters until, hopefully, they become fully visible to one another.

The Ramparts of Ice can be streamed on Netflix.