Horimiya: The Missing Pieces is More of a Good Thing

The first season of Horimiya is a brilliant slice-of-life romcom. Albeit an incomplete one. Large chunks of the manga had to be cut out in order to fill a twelve episode season. It’s like swiss cheese; delicious, but full of holes.

Season two, ‘The Missing Pieces’, aims to fill these holes. And it does so very well.

Now, normally, this is the point where I summarize the story. Give you a general idea of what the season is actually about. Hype up the narrative. Etc.

I kinda can’t do that this time. Namely because there really isn’t a plot to this season. It’s just more Horimiya. Like returning to a nice restaurant and ordering the meal you enjoyed last time, only for the chef to deliver the exact same plate. Delicious? Yes. New? Not so much.

That isn’t to say it doesn’t add anything. Characters who suffered from a lack of screen time in season one (namely Iura) are given ample development and time in the spotlight. We even get some of the bonus chapters get animated, like the backstory of Hori’s parents.

Even the presentation is basically the same. The animation style is completely unchanged and it’s just as nice now as it was before. This isn’t the kind of show to demand jaw-dropping sakuga, so don’t go expecting any of that. But at no point does the show ever look bad or lazily drawn.

Although the OP is a downgrade. Is that a pointless nitpick? Absolutely.

If you liked Horimiya and you just want more, then this season is exactly what you need. It’s simple, wholesome, and fun. We already had a good thing and now we have more of it. That’s good enough for me.

Even if it doesn’t leave me with much to say.