Reviews for Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary Season 2

Where there were first cute self-contained stories, there is now S U S P E N S E. This show is drip-feeding me information and I am on the ground SLOBBERING it up. Osanai is standing over me. Smiling. There is a single overarching narrative now, and even though Osanai hardly gets any screentime, she's THERE. The entire time. In the background, you know she's there. The whole tone has shifted. Osanai is a manipulative MENACE. The suspense is palpable, and I feel like I've self-inflicted it somehow? There's not even THAT much going on every episode, yet the whole time I'm sitting there thinking "Whatthe fuck is she doing?? How far is she going to take... whatever this is?? How dangerous is she actually??". Every time she's on screen, she is the one in control. There is a scene in episode 3, and it is just, so good. How do you make DROPPING A PIECE OF PAPER ON THE GROUND so fucking scary?!! They made her scary in a way that I have not seen many other characters be scary. It's not "creepy" scary, it's "intimidating" scary, mentally intimidating. It's all just the right amount of "there's something really fucked up going on here but I JUST don't quite know what it is".

I'm so fucking hooked. It's rare for me to say that a second season is better than the first, usually shows that are interesting initially lose the magic they had because what made it interesting gets old, or drawn out. But not this. It's episode 3 and I'm way more invested in what's going on now than I was all of season one. If it can keep this level of suspense for the rest of the season AND lead to an interesting conclusion, I might have to change my rating to a 10.

9/10

Oh and it's still as cinematic and beautiful as the first season

“Do you promise that your detectives shall well and truly detect the crimes presented to them using those wits which it may please you to bestow upon them and not placing reliance on nor making use of Divine Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo Jumbo, Jiggery-Pokery, Coincidence or Act of God?” ~The Detection Club Oath When the mystery novel was establishing its own inner circle of authoritative figures, there were several rules which the “masters” insisted upon. Knox’s Commandments, as they were so-called, have been clung to not necessarily as immutable absolutes, but rather as a true way to “play fair” with the reading audience, that it is infact plausible to always present the reader with the chance to solve the mystery by making the game itself adhere to clear standards that should not be infringed. Therein lies a particular kind of glamour for both the story and the audience, that the detective exists beyond any emotional matters other than the sheer fun or love of “the chase” or “the answer,” and that the reader can congratulate themselves on staying on-track with the author or outsmarting their friends who are reading along as well. In this construction, the mystery novel is the greatest ego test as a reader. The consequence, however intentional or unintentionally it might be, is that they are ironically free of any consequence. The fiction and the reading experience became so much about “solving the mystery” that the detective assumed a lofty place both in and over the narrative itself. They were so untouchable as both an intellectual figure and an actual person inhabiting the story. The ego is unchecked.

To put it in other terms, the detective is involved, but only insofar as supreme judge in light of the facts. The Oath may have spoken about avoiding “Divine Revelation” and “Act of God,” but the detective as a figure was itself divine.

Yonezawa Honobu clearly loves detection club mysteries, but if *Hyouka* was any indication, he is not nearly so concerned with the whodunit aspect. That’s not to say that it’s unimportant (each mystery both in it and *Shoushimin* does have an answer that follows “the rules”), but rather that it’s not the point. Yonezawa loves clawing through the actual DNA and structure of mysteries as a larger phenomenon, understanding their pieces, people, and how they do, do not, and perhaps most significantly, how they SHOULD interact. It’s not for an answer – it’s for a meaning. *Hyouka* positioned Oreki Houtarou as someone who learns that mysteries occupy the everyday, and however mundane they may be, it’s always worth looking for The Future before it becomes The Past. He optimistically moves from impersonal to personal. Involved.

In that spirit, *Shoushimin* seasons one and two not only are more than worthy to stand alongside *Hyouka* as one of anime’s great mystery narratives, but I’d daresay that it’s perhaps an even grander display of Yonezawa’s dissection. In its ever-thicker and ever-thornier knotting, it doesn’t take long to get there. Caught within the aftermath of the kidnapping plot that closed season one, Osanai and Kobato have reached an impasse and gotten themselves involved with others, Urino and Tokiko respectively. Old habits die hard, as each aloof smile from Kobato or Swiss-clockmaker-precise dessert bite from Osanai so indicates. Fires break out, property gets destroyed, and Urino eyes an opportunity to investigate! And all the while, Tokiko tries having some kind of normal relationship with Kobato, but why the hell can’t he stop smiling or be even marginally upset?

*Shoushimin* season one prided itself on its intensive insularity. Regardless of whatever was happening at any given moment, mystery or otherwise, almost everything concerned its two leads (and occasionally Dojima). With the two leads now apart, the world opens to aerate the closed room, and with it, we see the sense of just who these two people are in reference to others. They do not exist in a vacuum, divorced from the weight of their words and consequences. Characters get mad. One-sided displays of affection are nearly acted upon. There’s a candid phone call about how a friendship is probably ending when the night is over. *Shoushimin* season two cares about how the detective perceives themselves and their interactions with the universe as actual tangible objects and spaces. It says that if you’re a detective, you are involved simply by existing as a detective (and a human being before that), and like it or not, things are royally going to suck for at least one person—if not more—in the midst, whoever they are. Compared to the days of Knox’s Commandments, the detective is, and causes, a mess, facing consequences for their relentless pursuit of the truth. You found the truth, but what actually happens here? Mysteries have never looked so glamourous with such deliberate lack of glamour.

Being a detective, by necessity, brings friction, which Yonezawa and director Kanbe Mamoru exploit to deliciously tizzying ends. The cast glimpse mysteries with the same kind of innate thrill, but the vibrations in the air chart perpendicular courses. Urino’s full-fledged and unapologetic charge to find the arsonist setting all those fires is stoking not only his own ego, but likewise burning many others he’s coming across. As Dojima says point blank in episode one, “You’re too quick to jump the gun.” And given how irked Urino is that the greenhouse fire is small-scale, he has to follow the trail in the hope that it validates his own effort and time sink. Shouldn’t EVERYONE want to get behind him, to stop such damages? And besides, it’s not as though the fires are his fault since he’s so unconnected.

After all, he’s just the detective!

But for all the supposed non-involvement of The Detectives™, *Shoushimin’s* visual language pointedly involves them with their detached constructions of reality. There is a certain kind of perverse pleasure in Gifu as a setting: it is physical and with the thickest of tight art direction but, paradoxically, empty. Its spaces, its denizens, and even its denizens’ memories are employed as tools to reconstruct the closed room reality of the mystery, the real world treated itself like toys. Brazenly theatre-driven blocking with abstraction and lighting staging (something that I readily confess an aesthetic weakness for), freezing reality, and observing horror from a distance with a kind of calmness and pristinity too weird to be normal. It is in this realm that *Shoushimin*, driven by Kanbe’s sheer confidence in its ideas and theming, claims its territory. So long as any of the characters feel some kind of detachment, they can be at home here. The time there is fleeting though, and eventually, you or somebody else will have to answer for all the tinkering you did there.

In Kanbe’s hands, Yonezawa’s story splays everything in both the macro and the micro, allowing its slew of mysteries and detectives to chart their courses and dirty the sandbox. The fate of Tokiko and Kobato’s relationship may not have the same gravitas as fires sprouting everywhere and the eager beaver gumshoe springing into action, or an incident that happened several years ago seemingly repeating itself. But wherever there is a mystery, there is someone trying to solve it, and it’s only a matter of time before the world itself or its people get effected because of the detective. An arbiter or investigator of justice, ready to point the finger at “the answer,” must by necessity dirty themselves. A popular light novel series once said that the detective was already dead. *Shoushimin* says that the detective, or ANY detective for that matter, simply existing causes problems.

Just don’t let one of those problems be messing with Osanai, okay?

Shoshimin season 2 is a perfect example of why you have to watch shows all the way through before passing judgement. I was a huge fan of the first season and really liked the first half of this season as well. Then there’s a big turning point around episode 7 or so that wraps up the first big case of the season and I HATED it. To the point I sorta became totally disinterested in the show, but the last 2 episodes completely changed my opinion on this season. I can now confidently say it’s better than season 1 by a big margin. If youcan get through the at-times slow moving serial arson case, you’ll have one of the most satisfying conclusions to a season waiting on you. I mean my jaw was on the floor for the last two weeks with this one and now I am desperately awaiting an adaptation of the 6th volume. This is a must watch for any Hyouka fan or fans of well written stories with great dialogue and direction. Shoshimin doesn’t really feel like an anime, it has such a nice cinematic feel to it that transports you somewhere else and allows you to fully immerse yourself in the story. Not to be overly dramatic, but this really is “absolute cinema”

My experience with this second season of Shoshimin was such a mixed bag until the final arc. I loved seeing Kobato and Osanai dating other people because I felt their relationship in the first season was very toxic and bordered on codependency. Additionally, with their mental.. issues(to say the least), I felt like them being around each other would only encourage their bad tendencies and that they wouldn’t grow as characters/people. Guess who was wrong? Well, half wrong anyway. This season is pretty much one big build up to the realization that Osanai and Kobato are perfect for each other. They’re both deeply messed up individuals with a plethora of undiagnosed mental conditions, but they just work together so well. They compliment each other perfectly and by the end of this season it’s apparent, there’s no other partner for either of them. If it seems like I’m focusing intently on our two leads’ relationship, that’s because I am. It’s the very core of this series and what makes every episode so special. Their chemistry is undeniable, the way they exchange subtle jibes and the snarky replies, the attention to detail the author put into this story is amazing and it helps you fall in love with these characters.

There’s really two big cases in this season in contrast to last season where it felt like we had one every week or every other week. The first one, the serial arsonist case was enjoyable until the last third where I felt it started to drag. Could’ve done with it being an episode or two shorter. It ended up really just showing why our two leads belong together. The second, the hit and run incident is easily the best in the whole franchise. For the first time, the seemingly always in control Kobato and Osanai are genuinely stumped by a case and the twists at the end had me damn near jumping off my couch. I learned a lot about Osanai in particular during that arc that changed my perception of her, making the overall relationship and series even better. There’s so many subtle details and the sudden reveals.. just perfection.

Production values have always been one of my favourite aspects of this show and something that sets it apart from other seasonal anime. The letterboxd ratio giving it that film look, the subdued colors, the down to earth voice acting performances that feel believable, character designs, scene composition and direction.. this is a masterclass. If you’re a film nerd like me, enjoy the whole creative process, you’ll really find a lot of things to praise in this series.

I could gush on and on about the writing, characters and cinematic aspects of Shoushimin, but honestly if you’re reading a season 2 review, you probably already know what to expect from this show. It’s one of the best mystery anime and season 2 is even better than the first. A must watch for any mystery fan and a needed continuation for anyone who watched the first. It’s that simple. They might be completely unhinged, but Osanai and Kobato will always be iconic.

Shoshimin season 2 gets 10 out of 10

A good psychological thriller can be fast paced, action-packed, and flashy, but a great psychological thriller is often excruciatingly slow, indefinably tense, and subtle. Shoushimin Series, along with several other things that are super fun but also probably kind of bad for your immortal soul (in a delightful way, of course), belongs on the short list of things that are better because they take forever to get to the point. The first series of this show has the same presentation and pacing, and again is all the better for it (and needs to be watched before this one, PLEASE), but the second season has turnedup the metaphorical volume to maximum while at the same time maintaining the same tone of quiet, inexplicable, dread that permeated the first. In the same way that a whisper can sometimes be much more impactful than a shout, Shoushimin goes so much harder than many shows that seem to be trying so much harder.

Like Hyouka, a previous work by the author, Shoushimin Series is essentially a collection of mundane mysteries strung together by a character study of the people who get involved with them. The main difference between the two is that, while Hyouka presents us with a charming and heartwarming story of a group of misfits who come together to better the world around them, Shoushimin tells us the sinister and disturbing story of a group of misfits who come together to (sometimes literally) set the world around them on fire and watch it burn.

It both stories, we have an emotionally distant though outwardly pleasant male lead who sees the world around him and the people in it as no more than pieces of a puzzle that is begging to be solved, but in Shoushimin we acknowledge that this type of behavior is manipulative, maladaptive, and potentially dangerous to those who get involved with him. In both stories, we have an adorable female lead who is ruled by her curiosity and never takes no for an answer, but in Shoushimin we quickly realize that this behavior, when taken to extremes, is the kind of behavior that consistently gets relatively innocent people hurt. In both stories, the mystery is the most important thing in the characters' worlds. In Shoushimin, it is clear that this means that the happiness and wellbeing of their friends and family consistently come a distant second in importance to the "heroes" of the tale.

All that being said, the characters miraculously remain relatable and sympathetic. It is clear that Kobato and Osanai are suffering just as much as the people that they pull into their bullshit, and we (or I, at least), are still rooting for them. They are messy and chaotic and dangerous, but so is life. They are imperfect, but so are we. They have the potential to grow, which they may or may not do, but I will definitely keep watching to find out.

It doesn't hurt that it's beautiful to look at, very well scored, and contains great voice acting.

If you liked Hyouka or other slow-paced, character-driven mystery series, you'll love Shoushimin Series. If you didn't, don't, or can't bring yourself to sit through it, I don't blame you in the slightest, but I do kind of feel for you that you won't get to experience what this show has to offer. If you're on the fence, give it a try! You'll know pretty quickly if it's for you or not.

The first season of Shoshimin: How to become Ordinary was mundane and calming, but left me with a sense of curiosity at what was coming next. This second season departed from more of the slice of life elements, and went into a more full-fledged mystery anime. Maybe some would wonder why this series did not start with the more high tension mysteries to draw a bigger crowd in to watch it, but to that, I would say that this season only worked so well because of the slower elements of its predecessor, as well as the character building from that. Before the events of this season,we know that Jougorou and Yuki split up, and through the events of this season, we learn just how much they are attached at the hip. Everything that happens feels like it is a destined event to eventually get them back together, because, as “ordinary” as they are trying to be, they are drawn to mysteries, and cannot look away from them. To me, their relationship is one of the most interesting around, and when they work together on something, they are as formidable as can be in how sociopathic and cold they are.

As for the mystery itself, it is a very intriguing way to go about it. Firstly, everything that happens in the story is important in some way, whether it is foreshadowing, character development, or just a seemingly random detail to something, which I really enjoyed. Secondly, when we watch a mystery anime or a mystery novel, especially ones that involve a culprit, one would want a definitive answer right? Yes, the anime provides the viewer with some, but that is not the focus of it. Who the culprit is does not matter in the grand scheme of things, but it is the process, the way the beholder sees the environments around him that is of greater importance. The way the anime is directed and framed makes it feel like you yourself are in the shot with the detective, and perhaps, YOU are the detective, and you’ll come up with an answer. The anime will give you some, but the answer that you came up with yourself could be just as valid, and some things you’ll just never know. It always leaves you curious.

To compliment the already amazing storytelling, I was in awe with how the already great looking visual direction from the first season was elevated to even greater heights in the second season. If it was not already clear from the opening song visuals, the effort in the backgrounds made the mysteries as immersive as they could be, so much so it made it feel like each episode was only five minutes long. It makes a big difference when an anime commits to a visual style that works with the genre perfectly.

The centerpiece to my liking for this anime would have to be the cute and cunning Yuki Osanai. What’s not to like about her? She loves sweets and is so passionate about them, and always teeters between being adorable and being the biggest menace you have ever seen, absolutely mauling poor boys like the wolf she is. It has been a joy to watch her little revenge tales unfold between both seasons of the anime. Also, by golly, her voice actress, Hina Youmiya, has been killing it recently with her voice acting performances. I do not think there could have been a better casting than her with Yuki.

The relationship between the two main leads was also very endearing, and handled in a subtle but impactful way. As the mysteries, backstories, and the rest of the plot got told, Jougorou and Yuki’s relationship and developments, whether they were together or separate, slowly but surely blossomed into something quite special.

In my review of the first season I began with this: “Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary* is quite a curious title. With it being a mystery anime, even just its title leads me to question things. “Shoshimin”, is translated as the petite bourgeoisie, which refers to someone in the lower middle class. So indeed, that might be what constitutes an “ordinary person” in a financial sense. Who or what is trying to be ordinary though? The characters? The whole plot itself?”

After watching this season, I still do not have a proper answer for this, but I do find it worthy of note that while both Jougorou and Yuki are always tangled in mysteries and cases, when they themselves are not the subjects of the case, they rarely influence the end result from the culprit. If by chance, they did however, they would never do it intentionally. Their detective prowesses are not foolproof, and that is what it means to be a normal person. Early on in the first season, it was said that “an ordinary person must never stand out. They must spend every day in peace and do everything possible to avoid anything that interferes with that.” Whether or not Jougorou and Yuki followed this motto, only they really know if they did. In the end, we as the viewer are merely the observer. I do like how questions are unanswered though, because it lets us stay curious.

Overall, this season was a marked improvement to the first in terms of the tension, as it stepped outside the mundane mysteries from the first season. Every episode had me thoroughly immersed, and I grew to love the characters more and more, with the excellent dialogue and visual storytelling. As Yuki clearly motioned toward her sundae in episode ten, this was indeed “absolute cinema”.

Overall style is very pleasant to watch and it suits the story as well as the characters and their development. Although a mean score of 7.67 is good, it still surprises me and i think it is too low. It is a very unique anime, which is based on a manga, that is respectively based on a novel. If you are a vivid anime watcher, you will feel that this anime, among the rest of the seasonal anime series, feels out of tune, but that is exactly where its strength is. It has a different pace. At first glance, it seems very slow, but ifyou are willing, and open to it, it makes you think about what is going on and if you see Kobato as Holmes, Osanai as Moriarty and Doujima as Watson, man, you will hear yourself saying: "episode 6?! Its going way too fast!!!"

Treat yourself to this series. As Osanai does with her sweets and Kobato with his mysteries.

Season one of Shoushimin started as a great, slowly paced exploration of a pair with something not quite right. They were both off, trying to be a little less sociopathic and trying to fit in. Season 2 more or less drops this. They've both become full sociopaths. You could argue that the male lead is still trying to fit in but his way of doing so is beyond broken in how little he actually cares about anything. This is interesting still, if it was the focus. Instead it gets relegated to a side plot while the main story is about a new character on apower trip. The plot proceeds to humble him and our characters look awesomer for it! But...

Honestly? That's when it became a boring powerfantasy which is fine there's plenty of that to go around with so many of the isekai slop. For me I was hoping for something a little more out of a mystery anime though, than autism wank where the main character's autism is a superpower. I don't want to spoil anything but its basically two main stories in this season. The first one stretches itself too long, but sets up potentially interesting dynamics for our main characters at the very least. And the second one just drops the ball hard, has probably the worst mystery and motivations of the series. Most of this is in service of trying to make the MCs look cool and smart by instead making everyone else kinda dumb or nonsensical. Instead of exploring these two very destructive people embracing their bad tendencies and the consquences, it celebrates them by making others seem even more insane/worse by comparison and ignoring anyone who's even relatively normal.

Visually it's a step down from the early visuals of the first season. Story telling remains slow when it should be ramping up, and focuses on possibly the weakest aspects of the show. Characters are poorly utilitzed. Don't recommend.

Shoshimin: How to Become Ordinary, the 2nd Sweet Bite — The second bite is not so sweet now, eh? If I have anything better to say about how the novelist of Hyouka, Honobu Yonezawa, took his work and elevated it with the Shoshimin Series, over the course of the 2 seasons that we got for the past year, it is the literal definition of "a second bite at the cherry." An opportunity: a second chance to do something, especially if the first fails outright. If you're not impressed with how the series' nuance of sweet things comes into play back in Season 1 last Summer, Season2 changes things and takes it up ten notches, much for the better. This slightly longer 12-episode season has not one second of it that is mundane, if ever at all.

With Season 2 adapting the later released novels of Volume 3 and 4's Shuki Gentei Kuri Kinton Jiken a.k.a The Case of the Autumn-time Limited-Edition Candied Chestnuts and Sweet Potatoes, as well as Volume 6's Toki Gentei Bonbon Chocolat Jiken a.k.a The Case of the Wintertime Limited-Edition Chocolate Bonbons, which essentially brings the anime up to date with the original source material. If you thought that Season 1 looked plenty fine with all of the warm, fuzzy feelings of mystery cases that are only limited to their surroundings, then Season 2 will be quite the whiplash, bringing another two more cases that will inevitably bring you for a wild ride, as the Shoushimin name of the series gets quite the "show, not tell" attitude of more nuanced storytelling that'll blindside you every step of the way.

If anything, I appreciate Season 2 more because of how the seemingly "ordinary" cases have been given much oomph in story and structure, and this tightly run "train wreck" of a psychological thriller story has so many moving parts that it leaves essentially no space for error to be committed. In fact, while the "regularly ordinary" citizens of Yuki Osanai and Kobato Jogoro seem like the perfect couple for each other, being two sides of the same coin, it's not until the sequel that their misfit friendship is tested to the limit, with the new characters that come to make their spot in the ever-growing trend of sinister cases that always seem to never end with their clues, theories, and resolutions somehow being sideswiped all at the same time.

Unique to Season 2 are the new characters of Takahiko Urino, Tokiko Nakamaru, and Yuto Hiya. Given Jogoro's time with the Newspaper Club's president, Kengo Dojima, and how Season 1 basically set up the premise of how they print newsworthy articles for their own school, only for seemingly minor inconveniences that would result in the ousting of Jogoro's only confidante (outside of Osanai herself), the addition of the trio adds even more layers to what is already the result of, or rather, the outcome of mankind's malice and intimidation. The addition of outsiders into the cases just opens up a new can of worms for the usual cases ranging from arson to murder, being given the element of unpredictability as to where the story beats from every critical point in time, right till the finality of the matter that WILL inevitably result in at least someone getting hurt, intentional or not. Of course, Osanai and Jogoro are more than just jigs in a somewhat never-ending puzzle to still try and figure out how "ordinary" they can become, where they've clearly known that they've gone beyond the point of no return, but with a sliver of hope that people can accept them for who they are, much less the "couple" who are thinking minds alike. And most certainly, the inclusion of the one always playing the act of "heroism", his good and best friend confidante, as well as the femme fatale, playing good hosts to the regular crew, being obstacles stopping them from achieving what is best for each other.

Otherwise, pretty much everything about the sequel here remains the same, from the immense captivity from series director Mamoru Kanbe's outstanding directorialship to Lapin Track's cinematic hue of production that doesn't miss the series' overarching feelings that remain just the same as its prequel. The only difference is with the change of the OP/ED theme songs, and while going from Eve to Yorushika for the OP evokes much subtlety that the latter does better vocal-wise, the other half from Ammo to Nagi Yanagi feels the same, but something tells my gut that Ammo did it better.

If you have been on the fence about the Shoshimin Series ever since the premiere debut last Summer, this is more than just a P.S.A. that Season 2 just does everything better, execution-wise. I find it even harder to believe that it took 15 years for the author himself to once again concoct another story from the difference in time comparing the Autumn-time and Wintertime cases, but believe me that these two cases will absolutely show you why this series is, once again, like Hyouka came out to be, another masterclass of writing from Honobu Yonezawa.

A mystery show, for the Ordinary, by the Ordinary, but one that'll keep you on your feet towards the end.

It's not often a second season surpasses the first, but Shoushimin Series pulls it off, and then some, raising the bar significantly. While Season 1 offered enjoyable yet ordinary everyday mysteries, Season 2 shifts gears into a full-on psychological suspense, delivering an experience that's both gripping and deeply satisfying. The slow-burn storytelling and detailed build-up of tension are executed incredibly well, especially during the second arc. I found myself completely locked in every episode, trying to piece together what on earth was going on. When everything finally clicked perfectly into place, it made the payoff all the more rewarding. Just like Season 1, this season has anincredible opening and ending, featuring great songs and captivating visuals. It's genuinely surprising how overlooked these gems have been.

If you enjoyed the first season or simply love a compelling mystery, don't miss out on this. Shoushimin Series Season 2 is a bold and successful follow-up that actually does something different and pulls it off.

Comforting mysteries, subtle tension, and quiet heartbreak—Season 2 made me feel even more. This season was splendid! Absolute cinema✋😌🤚 Shoushimin Series Season 2 did way better than the first season. Every episode was mind-blowing. The mysteries felt more mysterious than ever, packed with twists you could scarcely imagine. Every single episode was layered with obfuscation, and I found myself glued to the screen. It required me to keep my mind active all the time to catch the nuances, and that's how a true mystery show should be. This season gave us more insight into Kobato and Osanai—the main characters of the story, yet ones we knew surprisinglylittle about. We got to see new sides of their personalities, along with more depth in their relationship and their past, balancing with mystery and thriller perfectly.

Not to mention, the side characters also shined this season. The first arc focused almost entirely on a side character, and it was great to see the story from someone else’s perspective for a change.

So overall, I have nothing negative to say about this show. Season 2 was a truly incredible experience.

10/10

"Why don't we go get some sweets to celebrate?" - Yuki Osanai the GOAT! Shoshimin : How To Become Ordinary Season 2 Continuation of season 1 about Yuki Osanai and Kobato Jogoro daily life to become Shoshimin Story : If you enjoyed the subtle charm of Shoshimin's first season, then you are pleased that this new season elevates the series significantly. The narrative embraces a more serious and intricate mystery, which brilliantly serves as a catalyst for Kobato and Osanai's growth. Their journey to become 'ordinary people' is more compelling than ever, with their relationship deepening organically through shared experiences. This season skillfully adapts two new cases, preservingthe unique Shoshimin atmosphere while offering sharper pacing and a meticulous attention to the nuances of every character's dialogue and actions. It's a truly rewarding watch for fans eager to see these characters develop. (9/10)

Characters : I personally love the dynamics between Kobato and Osanai, about them helping and support each other in every cases. I would say that their dynamics become richer and emotionally deeper. Kobato is Holmes wannabe with his habit pry with others problem and loves solving mysteries. Osanai is the Moriarty female version, she continue her manipulative pulse and become more "evil" this season and i love that she is devious and sly like a wolf. She is scary tho. Side characters like Tokiko, Umino and Hisaka are essential for developing our mains to ordinary people but well they can't because Kobato and Osanai are not Shoshimin for now. (10/10)

Music : Opening from Yorushika is PEAK musically and visually breathtaking. Suis voice and the instruments are so good and eargasm. Best Opening in Spring 2025 in my opinion. I can say same with ending song SugaRiddle by Yanagi Nagi, this song is so fun and they continue to mix the IRL footage with Osanai and Kobato there is such an amazing touch. (10/10)

Animation : I can say Shoshimin art and animation is aesthetic and such nice treatment for my eyes. The animation can capture the vibes of any scene occured in the anime. This is same level of enjoyment of Hibike Euphonium beauty in terms of visuals. (9.5/10)

Shoshimin Season 2 is not just continuation of Season 1 of Osanai and Kobato solving mysteries in their small town but this season offers with its sharp writing, masterful storytelling, and cinematic tone, it elevates the seemingly mundane into something truly memorable. The series doesn’t rely on dramatic flair or loud twists. Instead, it leans into subtlety, letting its quiet tension and emotional undercurrents speak volumes. I am glad that i decided to watch this series and hopefully for more of Osanai and Kobato journey to become the real Shoshimin in University. They are really made each other!

One of the best shows of the last few years and I barely see anyone talk about it. Brilliant direction, rich and subtle character work, mysteries so well presented and crafted that make me watch the same episodes multiple times just so I'm sure I don't miss anything. You know a show is perfectly written and directed if it is able to keep you glued to the screen no matter how slow it is. Shoshimin does that in EVERY EPISODE. This show is a masterclass in how to deliver information without exposition: it uses shot composition, character acting and subtle dialogue to give you just theright amount of information that you can figure it out, but not too much so that you don't get surprised by the end.

Season 2 manages to surpass even season 1 because it gives more time to each one of its mysteries, this time around, there are only 2, but each one of them builds up so well it makes the ending of each arc that much more satisfying.

This season we also get a more thorough exploration of our main characters and their relationship. Which is essential for a second season, and Shoshimin just nails it.

I can't praise this show enough, not giving it a 10 just yet because I need to sit with it a little more but for now its the highest 9 I can give

Within the title, "Shoshimin: How To Become Ordinary", I feel this series really did its best to reinforce how our main leads are definitely NOT ordinary. Especially within this season, I felt it was highlighted VERY WELL how they differ from other people in different situations. With the introduction of 2 new characters, and their juxtaposed relationships with the 2 main leads, It really paints the picture that "oh, they're just crazy". How different they act, think, and navigate different obstacles. It really showcases just how different they are, and why they fit so well together. As a character driven show, it's by far oneof my absolute favorites now, with the storytelling coupled with the characters, it's such a wonderful bundle of mysteries. Also as always, Lapin Track delivers with the animation cause ITS SO PRETTY. genuinely also reminds me a bit of how shaft directs their shows too.

also........*drum roll 🥁*......... This show has been crowned my Anime of the Season!! 👑🙌🙌🙌 this is my only 10/10 for the season so if that says anything, it's a wonderful show :)

*I'm covering both seasons in this review. I think they're too linked to each other to speak about separately. Also, spoiler warnings for Shoshimin's basic story. Shoshimin's a show fundamentally about coming of age - it's about two teenagers growing to understand that what they try to do, however well-intentioned, isn't devoid of consequence, with the fundamental message being that attempting to even bother worrying about what is or isn't normal is ultimately pointless, but being unaware of other people's feelings to satiate said curiosity is flawed and incorrect. The series spends two entire seasons through its semi-episodic mysteries exploring its two main leads masquerade as normalpeople while clearly establishing the ways they aren't conventional to other people. For Osanai, it's her delinquency and sadism when provoked - and for Kobato, it's his endless curiosity to get to the truth behind a mystery, irrespective of other people's feelings. Both of these characters start of the series aware of these flaws, operating under the assumption that they can temper each other's worst habits; instead, they feed into each other, with both characters relapsing into the character flaws they tried to prevent in each other. Rather than fully solve their problems, they opt to put distance between each other, meet new people and simply not interact with each other, which sets the stage for where the series goes thematically.

Distance is handled distinctly between Shoshimin's story arcs; the first season has the most we ever see of the main duo interacting with each other, yet until the last arc they hardly ever speak to each other about their personal problems and instead enjoy each other's company, masks fully intact both towards each other and the viewers. The final arc of S1 is where said mask slips entirely, where we gain an understanding of what had already been clear for the earlier part of the show; these two characters are not normal and Osanai in particular - who I think the series does an especially good job mystifying - shows what her true colors are capable of. In the flawed resolution to S1 is the unspoken implication that these are two wounded characters who desperately seek to move past their wounds but don't know how, and as a result hurt themselves and each other in the process.

The second season is where this distance is agonizingly emphasized in its first story arc. As opposed to awkward silence, conversations about sweets and basic attempts by the two to read each other out, there's them awkwardly pretending to ignore that the other even exists for a whole arc. New characters - Urino, who foils the worst of Kobato's curiosity, and Nakamaru, who foils the worst of Osanai's emotional immaturity and rashness - are introduced, and there's a carefully crafted mystery chasing an arson case as Osanai's character presence looms large over the narrative as everyone except Kobato is initially unassuming over the magnitude of events happening. What this arc ends with, however, is moving past immaturity for the two main leads onto acceptance after a period of self-reflection - we are, in a way, back where we started, but the characters have learned more about themselves and each other in the process of separation, bringing them closer than they were.

The final arc of the second season is where this is all brought together. The idea of past actions chasing the characters was already established in the final arc of the first season with Osanai, but the second season emphasizes it better by telling two mysteries (one past, one present) next to each other, with Osanai and especially Kobato's failure contrasted with the current approach they are taking with the present mystery, and their growth is especially focused on. Here, it's the duo's lack of ability to communicate and rashness in assuming that are put front and center, both towards each other and especially towards the victims of the past case - karma, disproportionate and unfair, has caught up with them, and their lack of normalcy compared to their surroundings are emphasized once more again. This time, it's portrayed positively, as in spite of flawed past actions, said actions are what brought them together, and there'll be time for the two to bond and mend them together instead of running away like they did before.

Shoshimin brings together its entire thematic weight by having absolutely masterful character chemistry between its two main leads. Kobato's curiosity is both at times clever and others legitimately infectious and the audience is under no mystery for why Osanai likes his presence - he has a way of making the mundane or, well, ordinary (see what I did there?) interesting, and most of the first season is buildup highlighting not only his character flaws but also his virtues. While initially I didn't click with Kobato as much as I did Oreki from Hyouka (relevant to mention as that's the author's other major work), with time I honestly grew to like him quite a bit. His growth by the final mystery in the second season was especially remarkable in reevaluating my view of him as a character and honestly left him as an outstanding character in his own right.

Osanai is bar none the star of the series. She's a sadistic, teasing former delinquent that in spite of being much more successful than Kobato ever was in passing for ordinary, nonetheless shines through in her more rash and direct approach to problems, confronting them head on in spite of her unassuming quiet facade. The finale of the first season works as well as it does specifically because of how well the series does with lowering your guard around her, only for the mask to slip as it does, setting the stage for her dominating presence in the second season, where you're left constantly wondering what she'll do in response to any given situation. She's both incredibly likeable and the driving force behind most of the story, and I'd be lying if I didn't say her increasingly more openly protective, even occasionally affectionate attitude towards Kobato by the final case in the second season wasn't incredibly endearing.

The side cast are honestly the weakest link of the series - Dojima works well enough as Kobato's friend giving him sane advice and had some solid character presence, and I think Urino and Nakamaru are fine for the roles they fit into in the second season's first arc, but they're a far cry from Hyouka's more dynamic side cast that both were more memorable and had stronger character interactions with the main quartet in that series. This isn't a major flaw considering the focus of the story on distance and emphasis on the increased authenticity of the main duo's bond with each other, but it made considerable portions of the first season especially when focusing outside the main duo comparatively much less interesting. The second season's first arc is an exception to this, and I'd say it's all the better for it, while the second arc told a personable story that while did develop its side cast well, was centered more strongly (for the better, mind you) on the main duo's past. I don't doubt that were more novels of the series released in an orderly manner and eventually adapted this gripe would fade, especially as this series was never aiming for a larger side cast receiving more focus as Hyouka did to an extent. Truthfully, I can see myself caring about this less on a rewatch.

The art direction and animation quality are to be praised to high heavens. Yonezawa's struck gold twice with both adaptations of his works to date, as the show's beautiful, character designs are stunning and the direction is especially worth praising; shots emphasizing distance in abundance here, with Kobato's imagination being brought to life through use of clever perspective shots where he'd imagine himself as the victim or speaking to whichever character he's speaking to, from whichever place or point of view he's imagining. It helps highlights the dissonance between Kobato's perspective and others extremely well and this shares a place with Hyouka as one of very few anime where exposition is legitimately engaging to listen to. Full credit to both the director and animation staff for their work bringing this to life.

Also, second season opening is one of my favorite OPs ever. Just putting it out there.

I watched Shoshimin only wanting to try out another one of Yonezawa's works as a Hyouka fan, with the burden of expectation that the late Takemoto's adaptation of Hyouka is one of my favorite pieces of media of all time. Now, I have two series I've loved from him. All of this is to say that Shoshimin's a great show that I'll one day revisit.

Thank you for reading my review, any and all feedback would be appreciated.

‘Shoushimin: How to become ordinary Season 2’ continues where Season 1 left off. At the beginning, Kobato and Osanai chose to go their separate ways because of what Osanai did in Season 1. § There are some changes that I liked and some changes that I dislike. §§ Season 1 was already great in terms of the use of the visual elements. It seems that a higher budget is poured into this season, leading someone casually looking at the visuals as better and more pleasing to the eyes. For example, Season 1's OP seems to resemble the quality of Makoto Shinkai's Your Name. In Season2's OP, it's a nice surprise to see the use of abstract images.

§§ Speaking of the OP and ED, they’re good. They might not be one’s preferences in one’s musickal playlist, but they’re great as they are and only complement that craft poured into it by the staff.

§§ A lot of people who dropped the first season would have been pleased with how Season 2 is structured. Instead of the episodic nature of the early episodes of Season 1, there's an overarching mystery per part, which probably reflects the novels being adapted. This makes it easier to binge-watch for people who are watching this anime after its air date, and for those who saw this anime as it aired, it gave them reason to look forward to the next episode.

§§ I didn't like how its signature use of nondiegetick sequences seems to have disappeared or at least minimised. It turns out that much of it depends on Kobato's relationship with Osanai.

This may not be apparent if you're not observing the visual elements, so this aspect may or may not affect your appreciation for this show. I'm just pointing out that it's there.

§§ I prefer the cinematography in Season 1 despite the fact that, to the casual eye, Season 2 looks better. There are a lot of shots in Season 1 that are pregnant in meaning, such as how Osanai and Kobato are framed together or put as separate by a line motif.

§§ Each part has a climax that represents the climax of a volume the anime covered. Each climax of the arc, or even if we take both of these climaxes together, doesn't exceed or even match the revelation of what Osanai had been pulling throughout Season 1.

§ My Judgement

I'm giving this a rating of 8 out of 10. It's still a great show, but it doesn't hold a candle to the impact of Season 1 due to Osanai.

NOTA BENE: A grade of 8 out of 10 means that I find this anime is very good and three notches above average. I enjoyed watching it.

My enjoyment spectrum lies from 4 to 10. If I have scored an anime below 4, I actively dislike it.

I found this last episode to be excellent. It was an incredibly well rounded case that tied everything together beautifully. If you enjoy stories built around logical puzzles, mystery, and suspense, this series might be right up your alley. What caught my attention was the complete absence of Urino in this final episode. He vanished from the narrative. While he’s still mentioned, he no longer speaks or takes any action. He lost all agency. Instead, the spotlight shifted fully onto Osanai, who turns out to be a much more complex character than we initially thought. This arc has been guiding us, as viewers, in a particular direction,only to ultimately reveal a bigger picture where everything makes sense. Even the smallest details, like the sound of the train, were used meaningfully to analyze the underlying reasons and motives behind each character’s behavior. It was all logical, perfectly constructed, and deeply satisfying.

Shoushimin Series ( how to become Ordinary) One of the mysterious anime I have watched last 2 years or (last years). If we talk about Shoushimin Series 2nd Season, I can only say it's perfect, solid thoughts,good plotting story, good characters, good opening and ending song and also production. There's no any tiny problem or thing in second season. Last three months I have really enjoyed the story that His presentation in the second season of the arsonist and the hit-and-run incident was very well done, especially the story of “the arsonist.”Characters was developed about the style, way-of-thinking and change of character of some of.

Kobato and Osanai is weirdest characters I've see in anime those days or the all of the time.

The production plays a important role here.

Until first episode of Season 1 and and last episode of Season 2, I really in love of a good art and animation of this anime.

Their dialogues, the way they move from one place to another, and the explanation of what happened as it happened in reality and place is something very amazing.

I learned a nice habit from both Kobato and Osanai.

Kobato loves reading while Osani loves going out and drinking tea, sweets, and parfaits and things like that.

And their way of thinking. I don't believe these two people are talking and telling me that they are trying to be normal people! This is a joke to me.

Overall Good anime I have recommendation to watch it guys, claiming and enjoying the new idea the And the other details are very interesting.

Rated it 8/10 and waiting, looking for the Season 3 if came. either I will losing my time reading the Novel.

Good anime I say.

Shoshimin is no mystery masterpiece, in the sense that it blows itself up to a wide-scoping scale with countless moving pieces akin to something like Apothecary Diaries. But what it does have is a much smaller and contained, personal form of mysteries, where the mystery itself serves to tell you more about the characters than the events that have transpired. Not to discredit the mysteries of course, the clues are planted expertly to be able to put together the answer before it's revealed, especially in this season where the mysteries stick to a bigger scale of two mystery arcs over it's 12 episodes. But in theend what kept me watching Shoshimin every week was the characters, in particular Kobato and Osanai. They're a truly magical duo to watch as they converse, share thoughts and by proxy of their owh overthinking selves, understand what the other is saying before they even say it. Others would, and definitely find it annoying, to hang out with someone like Kobato, that predicts what you say and want rather than to just ask you, or like Osanai, who says too little, expecting you to understand her intentions and feelings through the few things she does say. It's seeing these two intellectual, frankly pompous and definitely presumptuous extremes interact that makes Shoshimin so enthralling to watch, because they have a connection on the psychological level, an understanding and bond that somehow starts in the indescribable and slowly manifests into something else.

And beyond the characters, the production value of this series is amazing, it all feels like watching an anime movie rather than a series. The lighting, the composition, the background and environments all have this vivid, detailed and "yeah, yeah that's what that store would look like" kinda feeling to it. Cafés and restaurants, libraries and hospitals, it's all presented so incredibly well for the scenes and context in the series. And I also must comment on the wardrobes, the characters in Shoshimin, especially Osanai, have TONS of different pieces of clothing and designs, it's wonderful!

In the end, again, this is nothing that you can parade as the greatest thing mystery has ever seen, far from it. But Shoshimin makes itself truly unique through the main duo, and they make you stay for more until the final time you get to witness that wonderful opening and ending sequence.

If the first season of Shoushimin was like a calm breeze, this second season was a strong wind, bringing along a lot of great ideas and a continuation of a great, friendly cat-and-mouse game between Kobato and Osanai. This season felt like more of an exploration of Kobato and Osanai's strangeness in a world that isn't adjusted to such acts - all through the eyes of two seemingly ordinary people who become acquainted with the pair for a while. Honobu Yonezawa is a master at the feel of a mystery. The story really makes me want to stay within the investigating, clue searching, and contemplating thatOsanai and Kobato were doing. Paired with the subtle, but nice to hear soundtrack and it makes for an enjoyable experience.

The art style continues to shine over and over again. It's so gorgeous and gives a lot of characters their own flair. Again, this is a must-watch for Hyouka enjoyers. It's the same feeling of chasing the mystery that made me really love Hyouka.

It might feel a bit daunting - especially with how the first case functions - but I hope that by the end you can see what I've seen: a really great cat and mouse game between the oddest of people.

The entire time feels like I am watching a MOVIE, it's my first time encountering an anime like this. The scene changes when they are talking or explaining something was new to my eyes. The characters are very well made and wonderful. After watching this I am now terrified of woman, especially one who's like Osanai, the cunningness, intelligence and the manipulations are so scary but the execution is quite good. I reccommend this anime if you want a slow paced but still makes your heart race. I was disappointed that they got separated in the earlier episodes but I'm glad, I finished the wholeanime. It took me one day to finish the remaining half of season 1 and season 2. Again, I am afraid of Osanai, how she manipulate is truly scary but I love her character.