Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid 10/10

The FMP franchise goes back to it's dramatic roots in fine fashion.

Character designs: 10/10

Same as the first two series so points for not messing with a good thing. The villains look particularly good in FMP.

Art consistency: 10/10

Very consistent, no complaints.

OP theme 1: 7/10

It's OK but the show is so good I skipped it most of the time. A little too happy for the dramatic subject matter.

ED theme 1: 7/10

OK as well but skipped for the same reason.

Voice acting (Japanese): 10/10

Great, great, great. All the new characters were excellent. I love the voice of Kaname's friend on the alarm clock.

Story: 10/10

I'm going to skip the back story here but you HAVE to watch the first 2 seasons to really follow what's going on. My FMP: Fumoffu? review has a basic outline so go read that if you want.

Sousuke is not yet capable of operating the Lambda driver on a consistent basis so he is removed from protecting Kaname and has to return to base. Meanwhile, the bad guys, in the form of 2 teenage sisters with a penchant for nude embraces, are out to not capture Kaname this time but to kill her. Also, more of the Lambda driver equipped mechs have been showing up and are killing members of Mithril during their missions. What will HAPPEN!?

Verdict: 10/10

Some funny bits. Some violent bits. Some nipplage. The series takes a dark turn and gets a lot more violent. During Fumoffu? the danger Kaname has been in was somewhat forgotten, well not here. She has to come to grips with Sousuke being gone and has to fend for herself and there's a real reinforcement of that earlier danger here. We also see Sousuke and Kaname react very emotionally to their separation. With a great Sousuke/Tessa confrontation over Sousuke's new orders, the character development so lacking earlier comes along nicely. This is a great, great show. I hope there's more someday.