SPOILERS BEWARE Fruits Basket S2 continues on what the first season built but takes it a notch further by seriously trampling on our poor feelings and emotions with some excruciating painful and realistic backstories for quite a large number of the cast actually. One of Fruits Baskets strongest aspects is that it carries a huge cast along its phenomenal story and develops each and every single one for the most part to an incredible effect. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935245340905443408/unknown.png The very first episode of this season already introduces us to new characters that will be key later down the road I instantly knew Manabe and Machi would be crucial to some aspect of this series the moment they were suddenly dropped into the show as part of the student council and I was proved correct. Throughout this season Manabe had been a pain but also a great friend to Yuki at times while Machi stayed very quiet and mysterious for quite the lengthy time too. Its not till nearly the end of the season that we learn some backstory about her and what could potentially be causing her erratic behaviour. She had slight character development but knowing Fruits Basket there would be more planned for her in the future. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935244875258028112/unknown.png The 3rd episode presents us with Ayas dreamland shop for all weebs we didnt see it in the previous season so I wondered if it wasnt going to be adapted but like I mentioned before that the pacing and order was slightly different between the 2001 and 2019 adaptations. We do in fact get to see Aya and his shop in all its glory this episode was pretty much the same for the most part compared to the 2001 adaptation but one noticeable thing here was that both Kyos and Yukis parents seem pretty fuked up so I suspect this is what happens to parents that bear children of the zodiac. Either they abandon them like Yukis do or are extraordinarily overprotective like Kyos mum was his father is another story but well it is what it is. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935243618451587172/unknown.png The 9th episode which is also the final one of the trip to the Soma vacation house Kyo is finally invited by Akito and its his first meeting with him for a while. Following on from that meeting he decides to accept his fate living his days out with the girl he loves before they are torn apart furthermore he will likely not confess to not push his fate onto her because stubborn as Tohru is she would never let go of something like this and well the real reason will become much clearer down the road too. Kyo also did know Tohru from the past likewise like Yuki but theres still way more to this backstory that we dont know which will likely be answered in due time as well. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935243235545206844/unknown.png The 11th episode is another pretty breathtaking episode this one tells us more about Kyo and Kaguras relationship between each other and what really happened back when they were kids. Back when they were kids it was Kagura that triggered Kyos true form transformation as she was simply curious about the beads he was wearing on his arm as any girl could be and after all these years she was finally able to take a load of her shoulders by confessing her sin that shes been looking down on him all this time and well that she does really truly love him and not only in a way to atone for her act that day. Her sin was none other than running away from Kyo after he transformed and seeing Tohru run after Kyo back in the finale of S1 made herself feel all the worse as her love rival was able to give Kyo something she couldnt herself. There is quite a lot of emotional tension in this episode too but Kyo handles it extraordinarily well cool as ice. This gives Kagura closure to a degree as she now knows that her love is unrequited. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935240211766599690/unknown.png The 16th episode has another critical hit to our hearts while sneaking around the Soma estate and looking for Kureno Tohru happens to run into Momo who is Momijis little sister but her memories of her brother have been erased and thats when she drops the bomb in the form of Please ask Momiji if he can be my big brother. Its so painful because if only she knew the full picture then she would already know the answer to that question at least with this Momiji now knows that his family do still care about him even though he is keeping his distance to ensure their happiness. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935246036966998103/unknown.png The 4th episode introduces us to Rin the horse of the zodiac well we saw her very briefly at the end of the previous season but here is our first true encounter with her. It seemed like she was dating Haru and supposedly just broke up? In a later episode we find out her real name is Isuzu so Rin is a nickname referring to something I suppose. Later down the season in the 18th episode we get a pretty big picture at Rins backstory and as one would expect its utterly depressing and tragic. She made one wrong comment for her parents to completely despise her the hospital scene with them telling her to not exist is sickening saying that to a child is pretty scarring because they may be a child but they understand very well what such words mean. That incident where Haru defended her is likely the reason she fell in love with him and the breakup was all a farce in order to keep Haru safe till she finds a way to break the curse because as we know Akito really isnt fond of those kind of relationships. Finally that slowmo of her falling out of the window is breathtaking accompanied but truly a beautiful insert song Umareru Negai which really emphasises the effect of this stunning moment. This episode had me crippled and its only one of many that would start leaving me in such a state as we only plunge deeper and deeper into the real nature of the curse. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935242992523018310/unknown.png The following episode concludes Rins backstory and also shows us glimpses at Tohrus backstory and why she herself wants to break the curse. Isuzu asks her what is it thats most precious to you? but Tohru fails to give an answer. Normally her mother would be the immediate answer but not in this situation which means her hearts feelings are swaying. We of course know exactly why but Tohru seems to really beat herself up over this little incident. In fact the huge giveaway already happened at the end of S1 and if that isnt enough then her zodiac figurine collection should help too as the cat was much larger than the rest and stood in front of them in all its glory. Tohru had always adored and felt sorry for the cat ever she heard the story of the banquet and how it was betrayed by the rat so had the foreshadowing already been happening from so long ago I wonder? 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935243912744960030/unknown.png The 21st and 22nd episodes explore Yukis backstory from when he was a child even deeper and very nicely develop his character even further this episode also finally reveals the truth behind the incident of when Tohru lost herself as a child. That same day Yuki decided to open his heart instead of being swallowed up in darkness and leave the estate coincidently finding a lost Tohru and leading her back home. Another novelty is that it was indeed Kyos hat but he lost it and after Yuki touched it Kyo claimed it was no longer his hat as he was disgusted by the rat back when he was child. Yuki gives a pretty detailed monologue to Manabe who also happens to be the first person he tells this to about how Tohru was his salvation she offered him the words he most wanted to hear those being if my memories are ever erased then please make friends with me again. Yuki wanted to make some friends for the longest time so hearing such words brought him so much happiness. In the end what he most longed for was none other than a mothers love which is exactly what Tohru provided. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935252149556879390/unknown.png The 23rd episode has a noticeable incident as well during the play when Kyo who plays the prince is asked if hes okay to spend the rest of his life locked up in a castle all alone and he specially says that he wouldnt be hurting anyone thats when Tohrus real feelings came to show throwing herself out of character. The final few seconds of this episode are beautiful their love is mutual yet theyre the only ones that cant seem to realise it even with many hints from their friends. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935252931706486855/unknown.png And finally the final episode dropped even more truth bombs Kureno took it upon himself to see Tohru to tell her the truth about himself birds werent flocking to him which was already unusual seeing as he was the rooster. Thats when it hits us that his curse had broken Kureno was the first member to have his bond break and it happened quite a while ago but he secretly kept his identity in check while playing out the role of the rooster. He came to tell Tohru that he cant see Arisa anymore as he choose to stay by Akitos side until she doesnt need him anymore because Akito is indeed female after all Its plot twist after plot twist in this episode but seriously Akito being a woman is huge news and even though there may have been glimpses which foreshadowed this they stayed hidden for a while. Earlier in the season we did see Akito exchange kisses with Shigure and Kureno so it raised the question as to what their relationship was aside from the bond that they had and this episode clarifies everything. Finishing a season on such jaw dropping reveals took a bit of time to recover to prepare myself for the finale season which is still on the horizon. Im now only going in with the highest expectations at this point expecting to be completely stunned by what the final season has to offer. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/935257155521613834/unknown.png I REALLY REALLY LOVE THIS SERIES S1 Reviewhttps://anilist.co/review/15124 S3 Reviewhttps://anilist.co/review/15176 Movie Reviewhttps://anilist.co/review/16862