BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai

-It keeps very well that exaggerated, absurd, and violent identity that defines Baki, when it goes into confrontation mode it does transmit that strange, almost mythical sense of danger, Musashi doesnt feel like just another rival but like an anomaly within Baki's world, which gives him a different aura, I like that this installment doesnt abandon its mix of brutality, martial speeches, and that ridiculous yet serious tone only this franchise can handle, but thats also part of the problem, as an anime series it sometimes feels too dependent on already knowing and accepting Baki's bizarre rules, if youre a fan many things are forgivenor even enjoyed, if not it can seem chaotic, overexplained, or simply strange without enough context, there are moments when the series hits hard in concept and presence, but not always in execution, it feels powerful in the idea before some scenes but not equally powerful in staging, its an enjoyable entry, with a very interesting rival and with that madness so unique to Baki that makes it stand out, but at the same time i dont see it as fully rounded or as forceful as it could be, well have to wait and see how it continues in the next part, it suffers from some rigidity in animation and from the fact that much of its strength depends heavily on already being invested in the franchise. (ESP) Mantiene muy bien esa identidad tan exagerada, absurda y violenta que define a Baki, cuando entra en modo confrontación, si transmite esa sensación de peligro raro y casi mítico, Musashi no se siente como un rival más, sino como una anomalía dentro del mundo de Baki, y eso le da un aura distinta, me gusta que esta entrega no abandone su mezcla de brutalidad, discursos marciales y un tono casi ridículo y serio que solo esta franquicia sabe manejar, pero ahí mismo esta parte del problema, como serie de anime, a ratos se siente demasiado dependiente de que ya conozcas y aceptes las reglas rarísimas de Baki, si eres fan, muchas cosas se perdonan o incluso se disfrutan, si no, puede parecerte caótica, sobreexplicada o directamente extraña sin suficiente contexto, hay momentos en que la serie pega duro por concepto y presencia, pero no siempre por ejecución, se siente potente en la idea que presenta antes de algunas escenas, pero no siempre igual de potente en puesta en escena, es una entrega disfrutable, con un rival muy interesante y con esa locura tan propia de Baki que la hace destacar, pero al mismo tiempo no la veo tan redonda ni tan contundente como para más, habrá que esperar a ver como sigue en la siguiente parte, le pesa cierta rigidez de animación y le pesa que parte de su fuerza dependa mucho de venir ya invertido en la franquicia.

An excellent sequel that truly leaves you wanting more. This is a direct continuation of Baki, adapting the Miyamoto Musashi saga right after the events involving Pickle. The change in focus brings a very different atmosphere from the previous one. If before we followed an almost primal and instinctive force, here we have an antagonist who carries not only absurd power, but also a historical weight, honor, and an imposing presence that dominates every scene in which he appears. The Musashi saga is incredibly fun to follow precisely because of this change in tone. The character is not just another excessively strong fighter; he commands respect. Hisposture, his philosophy, and the way he approaches combat create a different tension, more strategic and, at the same time, more brutal. He doesn't fight just out of instinct or ego, but for his own concept of battle, almost as if he were constantly measuring the modern world with the yardstick of his time. This contrast is one of the season's greatest strengths. The animation continues to be a spectacle in itself. It maintains the same level of quality as the previous season, with fluid fights, well-transmitted impact, and that characteristic Baki visual identity: exaggerated muscles, intense expressions, and dramatic framing. The combat scenes are dynamic and weighty, perfectly conveying the stylized violence that is the trademark of the work. There are no perceptible drops in quality; on the contrary, the direction knows how to highlight each important confrontation. As for the story, it's an absurd journey, but we're talking about Baki; the bizarreness is part of the package. The very premise of the saga demands a good dose of suspension of disbelief. However, if you can accept this premise and embark on the madness, the experience becomes extremely engaging. In my case, I managed to ignore the exaggerations and thoroughly enjoy the journey. The narrative isn't afraid to embrace exaggeration, and that ends up being part of the series' charm. The only point that really bothered me was the season's length. Despite having epic confrontations and important moments for the plot's development, it feels like something was missing. It seems the story was interrupted midway, as if there were still room for at least three more episodes to delve deeper into certain conflicts and provide a more robust conclusion. The season ends leaving a clear sense of imminent continuation, which can be positive, but also causes that frustration of wanting more content immediately. Still, it's impossible to deny the impact of the presented confrontations. Each fight carries narrative weight and contributes to the growth of the series' universe. However, as a fan, there's a desire for more duels, more interactions, and more time to explore the consequences of these clashes. My final rating is 7/10. It's a very good, fun, and technically competent season, but it left the feeling that it could have gone further. Some confrontations were missing, a little more development was needed, and, to be honest… I'm still bitter about the fact that Jack Hanma ends up being a punching bag too often. He deserves more respect! Overall, it's a strong sequel that maintains the essence of Baki and prepares the ground for something even bigger, and I definitely want to see what comes next. =================================================================================================================Versão em Português===================================== Uma excelente sequência que realmente deixa aquele gostinho de “quero mais”. Esta é a continuação direta de Baki, adaptando a saga de Miyamoto Musashi logo após os acontecimentos envolvendo Pickle. A mudança de foco traz uma atmosfera bem diferente da anterior. Se antes acompanhávamos uma força quase primal e instintiva, aqui temos um antagonista que carrega não apenas poder absurdo, mas também um peso histórico, honra e uma presença imponente que dominam cada cena em que aparece. A saga de Musashi é incrivelmente divertida de acompanhar justamente por essa mudança de tom. O personagem não é apenas mais um lutador exageradamente forte, ele impõe respeito. Sua postura, sua filosofia e a forma como encara os combates criam uma tensão diferente, mais estratégica e, ao mesmo tempo, mais brutal. Ele não luta apenas por instinto ou ego, mas por um conceito próprio de batalha, quase como se estivesse constantemente medindo o mundo moderno com a régua de sua época. Esse contraste é um dos grandes trunfos da temporada. A animação continua um espetáculo à parte. Mantém o mesmo nível de qualidade da temporada anterior, com lutas fluidas, impacto bem transmitido e aquela identidade visual característica de Baki: músculos exagerados, expressões intensas e enquadramentos dramáticos. As cenas de combate são dinâmicas e carregadas de peso, transmitindo perfeitamente a violência estilizada que é marca registrada da obra. Não há quedas perceptíveis na qualidade, pelo contrário, a direção sabe valorizar cada confronto importante. Quanto à história, é uma viagem absurda mas estamos falando de Baki, a bizarrice faz parte do pacote. A própria premissa da saga já exige uma boa dose de suspensão de descrença. Porém, se você consegue aceitar essa proposta e embarcar na loucura, a experiência se torna extremamente envolvente. No meu caso, consegui ignorar os exageros e aproveitar bastante a jornada. A narrativa não tem medo de abraçar o exagero, e isso acaba sendo parte do charme da série. O único ponto que realmente me incomodou foi a duração da temporada. Apesar de termos confrontos épicos e momentos importantes para o desenvolvimento da trama, a sensação é de que faltou algo. Parece que a história foi interrompida no meio, como se ainda houvesse espaço para pelo menos mais três episódios que aprofundassem certos embates e dessem um fechamento mais robusto. A temporada termina deixando uma sensação clara de continuação iminente, o que pode ser positivo, mas também causa aquela frustração de querer mais conteúdo imediatamente. Ainda assim, é impossível negar o impacto dos confrontos apresentados. Cada luta carrega peso narrativo e contribui para o crescimento do universo da série. Porém, como fã, fica aquele desejo por mais duelos, mais interações e mais tempo para explorar as consequências desses embates. Minha avaliação final é 7/10. É uma temporada muito boa, divertida e tecnicamente competente, mas que deixou a sensação de que poderia ter ido além. Faltaram alguns confrontos, um pouco mais de desenvolvimento e, sendo bem honesto… ainda fico amargurado com o fato de Jack Hanma acabar servindo de saco de pancadas com frequência demais. Ele merece mais respeito! No geral, é uma sequência forte, que mantém a essência de Baki e prepara o terreno para algo ainda maior, e eu, definitivamente, quero ver o que vem a seguir.

The best thing about Baki is not taking it seriously. The Itagaki family has a serious problem with illicit substances. Which I appreciate, because it gives us gems of internet meme culture. Baki is the ultimate meme breeding ground in the anime community. So, the excitement for a new season is always genuine. You know you're not going to find the best fights, the best characters, or the best stories. Even so, how entertaining Baki is is indescribable. Between the grotesque visual style and the exaggerated amount of testosterone as everyone competes to see who's the toughest, it's pure entertainment. The crazy thing about this season isbringing Musashi Miyamoto back to life. Hell yeah, I want some of what the Itagaki family calls Sunday family breakfast. You can tell they have a really good time eating Beelzebub's grass. Miyamoto has been one of my favorite antagonists in Baki. Just watching him, standing there, humiliating the rest of the characters, is brilliant. The season can be summed up by the phrase "that jerk doesn't last long." Watching those who boasted about their strength in previous seasons fall like flies before Miyamoto. The Musashi vs. Yujiro fight is just too good. Not because of the choreography, the soundtrack, or the outcome. But because of the atmosphere. When you see those two monsters face to face, you truly believe they are the strongest. You become part of the audience during that fight. And then it all ends with them having a whiskey with their buddies. Pure cinema. The worst thing you can do with Baki is take it seriously. Go get a magic brownie and just consume the anime the way it was written: high.