Assassination Classroom: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		3.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

Talk about "extracurricular activities." How about “repeated government sanctioned attempted murder” on the old college application?

Reviewed by Martin Liebman October 28, 2018

Some series spoilers, or hints that might be considered spoilers, follow.

Assassination Classroom's first season introduced audiences to a tentacled, octopus-like alien given the name "Koro-sensei," an all-powerful being who has destroyed most of earth's moon and has promised to do the same to the earth in one year's time. The alien, which can move at mach 20 and dodge any incoming projectile weapon, had been placed in charge of a classroom full of rejects and underachievers who have been given one simple assignment: figure out a way to kill the alien. But as their attempts, as creative as they may be, continue to fail, something strange happened on the way to the world's end: the grew fond of their teacher, who is the only one to ever give them a real chance at making a real life, ironically as the clock counts down towards the world's destruction. Season two sees the story evolve towards an emotional, difficult close as the relationships between teacher and students blossoms and the world's fate draws ever more near.

Official synopsis: Time is running out to save the world. But as the class grows closer to Koro Sensei, the decision to take him out becomes more difficult. Though for some, it may not be that hard of a choice after all. One student's true intentions come out and unveil an unexpected link to Koro Sensei, unlocking the secrets of their teacher's past. Koro Sensei's story, his real intentions...what is the truth behind their mission and their teacher? Once they finally know, everything shifts and the class splits -- between those who still want to kill and those who want to save him. It's up to a battle of skill and determination to decide on the class' objective. But Shiro and the government have their own agendas that change everything. When the timer counts down, the absolute choice must be made. Blade in hand, the moment is right -- do they make the final blow?

In season two, the students of class 3-E, and a number of outsiders, of course, try out new and increasingly elaborate means of killing off Koro-Sensei, including baking a bomb into a massive caramel pudding. But beyond more trickery to get the job done, Koro-Sensei’s evolving and increasingly friendly relationship with and positive influence on his students eventually leads them into a serious moral quandary about how to go about their task, which ultimately leads to confrontation amongst the class and a one-on-one showdown between two of the most critical cogs amongst them who find themselves on opposite sides of the question. It’s in a way reminiscent of that famous line from Star Trek about whether the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...or the one. The show’s growing moral quandary is a logical evolution from the free spirited fun that defined so much of the first season, particularly early on when the show thrived on various, and almost always fruitless, attempts on the alien’s life. As that season evolved, things grew darker and more elaborate, as they do here, but season two doesn’t completely do away with the more fun and frivolous work, too, like that pudding episode.

It’s more than a little amazing that a show so patently weird as this can reach such an emotional conclusion. Indeed, once beyond the initial curiosity and frivolity the concept engenders and engages in, respectively, Assassination Classroom evolves to feature plenty of feeling and heart and very real human ideals in a show that is superficially so far out of left field the concept barely feels relatable. It helps that season two explores and expands on the characters, particularly Koro-Sensei, whose true origins are revealed (and were hinted early in season one for anyone paying attention) and the cover story wiped away, making the potential act of killing him in some ways easier and in some ways harder.

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 features a 1080p transfer that is a seamless continuation of that seen in season one. Both detailing and color satisfy in every episode and scene, regardless of place or time. Characters are well defined throughout, with positive definition, clean lines, and fluid movement that is not hindered by any serious abnormalities. The image never struggles to reveal and maintain crispness considering elements beyond characters, too, such as various environmental supports that merely fill the frame's background or play a more prominent role in any given episode or moment. Colors enjoy impressive core accuracy and transitional attention to detail. From natural greens to warmer woods, from flesh tones to colorful character hair, every shade enjoys full, robust saturation. Like season one, banding can be a troublesome component, but the image is otherwise very stout and highly enjoyable.

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 features a pair of soundtrack options, an English dub Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless presentation and a native Japanese two-channel TrueHD track. Much like season one, season two's 5.1 track is more front-heavy than it is intensely surround reliant. The back channels are engaged, but not often with obvious, swooping, prominent implementation. Front end clarity is fine, though, particularly considering music, which stretches a good bit to the far reaches. Light atmospherics are nicely integrated, as are more prominent action elements, though the lack of more obviously engaged surround usage limits the opportunities for the track to truly draw the listener in. The two-channel Japanese track isn't all that different. The lack of a low end component leaves music and effects a little wanting, but not much. Clarity and front-end width are strong points, and dialogue images nicely towards the center. Note that languages cannot be changed "on the fly" or in-program via remote button press. A return to the main menu is required.

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 contains some scattered extras across the four-disc set, highlighted by a few audio commentary tracks. A FUNimation digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• Audio Commentaries: Commentaries for Episode 3 Itona Horibe Time and episode 5 Leader Time.

Disc Two:

• The Many Faces of Koro Sensei (1080p, 6:06): Various individuals, including Koro Sensei Voice Actor Sonny Strait, discuss not just the different colors and markings that appear on the character's face but also what they mean and how they define the character in a moment and within the character's larger arc.
• Textless Opening Song "QUESTION" Ver. 1 (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Textless Opening Song "QUESTION" Ver. 2 (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Textless Opening Song "QUESTION" Ver. 3 (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Texteless Closing Song "Waning Moon" (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Previews (1080p, 3:24): Rapid-fire previews for various Assassination Classroom episodes. In Japanese with English subtitles.
• Trailers (1080p): Additional FUNimation properties: Dangan Ronpa, Unbreakable Machine Doll, Death Parade, Nobunagun, Scrapped Princess, and Attack on Titan: The Complete First Season.

Disc Three:

• Audio Commentary: Commentary for Episode 15 Confession Time.

Disc Four:

• Audio Commentary: Commentary for Episode 23 Final Boss Time.
• Top Ten Moments: Assassination Classroom Season 2 (1080p, 7:05): A narrator offers up a countdown of a few favorite moments from the show.
• Textless Opening Song "QUESTION" (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Textless Opening Song "Bye Bye, Yesterday" (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Textless Closing Song "Waning Moon" (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Textless Closing Song "The Day I Can See You Again" (1080p, 1:32): With English subtitles.
• Previews (1080p, 3:24): Rapid-fire previews for various Assassination Classroom episodes. In Japanese with English subtitles.
• Trailers (1080p): Additional FUNimation properties: Code Geass: Akito the Exiled, The Seven Deadly Sins, My Hero Academia, Dragon Ball Z The Final Chapters, Gangsta, and Pandora in the Crimson Shell: Ghost Urn.

Assassination Classroom: Season 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Assassination Classroom's second season embraces both ends of the spectrum that make the show a delight. It's both off-the-cuff hilarious, at times, but it's also deeply personal, emotional, and unafraid of exploring complex emotional quandaries. For as odd as the premise may be, the show is actually quite good and very human and season two only improves on the first. FUNimation's Blu-ray delivers pleasing video and audio alongside a fairly lengthy collection of extra content. Highly recommended.