Dies Irae: To The Ring Incarnation

 Okay, I wasn`t wild about the first season of Dies Irae in the least, but being the completionist that I am, I've slotted it in nevertheless on the D of this years personal anime challenge.

 

 

It's a bit confusing wether this is a season 2, a continuation of season one, or even a full new series, as the numbering is different on about every website.

 

Fact is, as season 1 wasn`t "that great" to put it mildly, it was taken of the air and the final 6 episodes released purely online.  With an expansion to it's name, yet following the original numbering, but labelled second season.  In other words, a bit of a mess... like the series itself in season 1. 

A plan is revealed for Kraft, who wants to appoint his successor, while still breaking the boundaries between our world and the heavens.  And as such, it is up to Ren to avoid this from happening.  Together with his allies, they have to figure out the secret of the Grail.

This goes as far as in a flashback, a heap of children are coldbloodedly executed to bring Father Reinhard back into Brenner's fold.  Back in the present, he faces Herr Heydrich's lackeys as he shows his true face and the Spear of Longinus, as well as acturally wearing the Grail as an armour as he is possessed by hatred for the past.  But when the grail is defeated, Heydrich reincarnates.

Ren and his companions swear to defeat him, as he starts the Dies Irae, the stealing of the souls of people.  This is done by a device called Valhalla that floats above the city.  But the power of the reincarnated Heydrich is not to be laughed at, leaving Ren unable to overcome him.  As his friends and himself try to take care of his servants first, they battle towards the goal, but at great costs as his friends suffer heavily in battle one by one.

Ren faces Heydrich once again, Heydrich drawing on the powers of his defeated servants as well.  Their fight draws out Karl, who declares he already had decided his successor, Heydrich stopping the fight and walking towards his final death at last.  Ren follows him, where they discuss fate and strength before engaging in the final attack.  His lover from the first season is chosen by Karl to become the new god of the world though, as both Ren and Heydrich gravely wound each other.  But it is Ren whose strike is the fatal one, bringing the souls back to the world.

The second season was (marginally) better then the first, but the CGI detracts a lot from it sadly.  It just doesn`t really work for anime in my opinion (last year's Shield Hero's turtle-god anyone?), but for the rest it was visually appeasing to be honest.  But it will remain a series I will mostly remember for the excellent end theme more then for the anime itself.