The following contains spoilers for Season 2, Episode 2 of The Rising of the Shield Hero, "Shaking Land," now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The Rising of the Shield Hero is an exciting isekai series of the Spring 2022 anime season, continuing the tale first told in Season 1 back in 2019. This anime stars the unfortunate, gritty underdog hero Naofumi Iwatani, who must overcome all odds and find success against the Waves as the namesake Shield Hero.
In Season 1, Naofumi was an off-beat isekai protagonist who fought back against unjustified hatred and incredible odds as a sympathetic underdog. Now in Season 2, Naofumi has truly risen as the great hero he was meant to be, but Shield Hero fans might have mixed feelings because in so doing, he's possibly robbed the entire anime of its magic.
The Changing Narrative Of Shield Hero
The first three episodes of Shield Hero Season 2 continue to emphasize Naofumi as the star as he temporarily leaves the kingdom of Melromarc on a new adventure to slay the massive Spirit Tortoise in a neighboring nation. Along the way he expands his party by recruiting Rishia the wizard, and takes part in a war council before marching into battle with the coalition army against the Spirit Tortoise. That battle sees Naofumi inspire and rally the troops with his mere presence, meaning he has finally become the symbol of hope he was always meant to be as a Cardinal Hero.
Some Shield Hero fans, however, might not like this. The anime's first season set itself apart from the isekai crowd by portraying an unfortunate, desperate hero who had to use his wits to survive against incredible odds, and many liked how much of a rugged, practical antihero he was. The prejudice against the Shield Hero and Naofumi's alienation set a unique tone for the story, but that's been lost by now. Queen Mirellia Melromarc aided Naofumi and cleared his name, and now the people are rallying to him instead of calling him the "Shield devil."
If this keeps up, some fans believe Naofumi will devolve into a generic power fantasy isekai hero or a fairly typical, JRPG-style protagonist who simply happens to use shields instead of large swords or bows. In many regards, Season 2 feels totally unlike Season , with all these changes taking place. Shield Hero may be doomed to feel generic and forgettable compared to what came before it, which may drive away some fans -- but it's not all bad.
How Naofumi Has Truly Risen As The Shield Hero
It's true that some Shield Hero fans may not like this shift in Season 2, and it certainly lacks the uniquely dark elements of Season 1. Then again, the story had to move on eventually; the show is about the rising of the Shield Hero, not just his survival. Naofumi may be a gritty underdog but even they might win eventually, and his character arc could become circular or stagnant if he doesn't start making important progress as an isekai hero. That's what Season 2 is all about.
Naofumi's story is progressing on two different levels in Season 2, and it was due for such changes. On one level, he has more influence and allies than ever before; he will need his newfound popularity and respect to face ever-greater challenges in the future, such as more Waves and the possible return of L'Arc and Glass. Naofumi is a creative and resourceful hero, but eventually he will need entire armies fighting by his side, and that's what's happening here. Otherwise he would fall behind and get overwhlemed, even with his Rage Shield on hand.
Secondly, this gives Naofumi a much-needed break emotionally, with his "Shield devil" stigma gone and more people than ever respecting him on a personal level. It's not as though he became happy-go-lucky overnight, but he is definitely a bit happier and more relaxed in Season 2. His high stress levels might have sabotaged him but now he has fewer mental burdens weighing him down -- which should help him truly rise as the great Shield Hero.
The trick is for Season 2 to continue this vital progress while not entirely abandoning the dark, gritty narrative that made Season 1 so intriguing. To stay true to itself, Shield Hero must find a proper balance -- let's see if Season 2 can pull it off.