Despite the success ofPromised Neverland: Yakusoku no Neverland’s2019 debut, the Shōnen Jump title short-changed its potential through a grossly underwhelming sequel that destroyed the franchise’s foundation in multiple ways. Premiering as a psychological thriller, with unpredictable twists, sinister characters, and genius protagonists, the anime eventually overturns every trait that contributed to the first season’s achievements.
Season 2 ofPromised Neverlandis at the steering wheel of the franchise’s downward swerve to a lackluster ending. CloverWorks’ patchy adaptation of an already controversial manga worsens the franchise’s setbacks; it brings a smeared plot to the big screen, instead of sticking to the central narrative and eliminating the bottlenecks in the original story.
Promised Neverland Season 1 Was An Entertaining Goldmine
It Competed with Demon Slayer and Other Successful Titles for Anime of the Year Award
Season 1 ofPromised Neverlandwas masterfully executed; the story was remarkably unprecedented and refreshing that the anime was nominated for Crunchyroll’s Anime of the Year award, competing with hit titles – Ufotable’sDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaandShinichirō Watanabe’sCarole & Tuesday.
ThePromised Neverlandstory is set in a child-rearing orphanage home, revealed to be a gourmet breeding ground for man-eating humanoid monsters that relish the taste of younger humans. Through Sister Isabella,Promised Neverlandoriginally presents a religion-driven premise that gives way to the divergent purposes of Grace Field Orphanage.
Eventually, three of Grace Field’s brightest minds — Norman, Emma, and Ray — discover the sinister goal of the orphanage, forcing them to come up with an escape plan that guarantees their safety. This revelation pushes the trio to devise strategies to outwit Isabella without her realizing their intentions.
Promised NeverlandSeason 1 uses the children’s unyielding escape efforts to consistently deliver mind-bending twists that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Regardless, Isabella gets a sharp whiff of the children’s plottings and frustrates their efforts repeatedly. However, a strong will to survive is not something that can easily be quashed;Promised NeverlandSeason 1 uses the children’s unyielding escape efforts toconsistently deliver mind-bending twiststhat keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
Genius inventions, tactical strategies, and mind games:Promised Neverland’sfirst season climactic developments kept fans on a rollercoaster ride of betrayal, friendship, and the unexpected. Consequently, the stellar nature of the anime’s opening season is what makes the franchise’s fall from grace a bitter pill to swallow.
The Second Season Skips The Goldy Pond Arcs From The Manga That Answer Many Questions About the Story’s Antagonists
Skipping Crucial Storylines Affected the Anime in Different Unflattering Ways
Season 2 ofPromised Neverlandsignificantly underdelivers; the sequel doesn’t share any of the first season’s lovable qualities. Even for fans that aren’t familiar with the manga series the adaptation is based on, Season 2 repeatedly falters in terms of plot, character development, and questionable occurrences.
One noticeable trait the sequel takes away is the suspense.Promised Neverlandstarted on a thriller premise, surprising fans every episode with occurrences no one saw coming. Season 2 takes many steps back in this regard, and this isn’t surprising whenthe adaptation haphazardly adapts 145 chapters into an 11-episode anime.
The first season ofPromised Neverlandspans roughly 36 chapters of the manga. Hence, the plot was tight, character progressions were visible, and the adaptation was faithful. Conversely, Season 2 is the polar opposite; the anime skips the “Goldy Pond” arc that reveals the true horrors of the Demon World and impacts Emma’s characterization.
In the Goldy Pond arc, Emma learns to “kill” for survival – a sharp turn that influences the character’s pure-hearted nature, turning her into a battle-hardened, morally-conflicted leader. The arc also introduces Mister (Yuugo) and Lucas, underscoring the realization that Emma’s group members are not the only escapees from the breeding farms.
In the Goldy Pond arc, Emma learns to “kill” for survival – a sharp turn that influences the character’s pure-hearted nature, turning her into a battle-hardened, morally-conflicted leader.
By removing such a central arc from the anime, it gives the story a poor foundation to build on, creating glaring plot holes in the form of unexplained developments that significantly contribute toPromised Neverland’sworldbuilding lore. It’s an unsettling subtraction that adds to the many problems of the show.
Alongside Questionable Pacing, Season 2 Changes Pivotal Events From The Manga That Compromises the Show’s Quality
These Changes Made A Controversial Ending Even Worse
The removal of the Goldy Pond arc, alongside “Ayshe Arc” and the “Seven Walls arc”, contributes to the uneven pacing of the anime’s sequel.The final season undeniably looks and feels rushed, with too many unexplained and underdeveloped central occurrences. However, to make matters worse, theanime also changes the narration of the manga’s eventsto a horrifying degree.
The leading change is the early reveal of the young, charismatic Norman, who played a vital role in the escape from Grace Farm in the first season. The escapees were under the impression that Norman had been sacrificed to the demons since it was part of Isabella’s ploy to destabilize the children’s plans.
Consequently, this discovery had a weighty impact on the story’s narrative, which is why it carried much meaning in the manga; the timing was right. The anime, however, underutilizes this truth bomb, revealing the character much earlier, stealing the chances of a more satisfactory reunion among the children.
The manga ending ofPromised Neverlandwasalready prone to controversies and criticismsdue to the story’s choice of a wrap-up. The anime takes the poor ending and makes it even worse, with Emma’s sacrifice to stay in the demon world. Furthermore, Isabella’s redemption lacks a genuine feel to it, and many other central characters are portrayed unsatisfactorily.
Promised Neverlandproblems start and end with Season 2 – a similar problem fans witnessed inTokyo Ghouland anime remakes that were full of promise. It’s not an exaggeration to callPromised Neverland: Yakusoku no NeverlandShōnen Jump’s worst title ever, as the anime proved that straying from the source cheapens the adaptation.
