Quote:
Originally Posted by garbage
I feel the ending is somewhat pandering, that's why it felt a bit off and forced. I suspect the writers are trying to please so many people and groups that in the end it just felt a bit disconnected.
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I had that feeling throughout much of Next Stage. The whole premise of the show concerning freedom and repression got lost for a while during the general election episodes. Okada's script for the first season seemed more focused than this one. Like you, I expect Kawamori and Okada found themselves having to negotiate a lot more fan and commercial pressures this season than the one before, when no one knew what to expect of AKB0048.
And, really, someone assassinates Chieri's dad, and that's it? I don't think the motive was ever made especially clear either.
Still this show was entertaining and often fun to watch. If I were giving scores I'd rank the first season an 8, but this one just a 6.