ef ~ a tale of melodies - Second verse, better than the first

Synopsis: Like in the previous installation, this series tells two different storylines albeit in different time periods. You'll also see some characters who are related to the characters in the first installment of ef too.

All of the mysteries behind Yuu's past (you'll remember him as the white-haired guy in Memories who was Chihiro's guardian) finally get revealed and we see that he had once known Yuuko (girl in screenshot 3) and even more surprising, knew Hiro Hirono's sister Nagi, who, like her brother, is an eccentric artist and can be found in the school's art room in a state of undress as she paints herself nude. As the story explores Yuu's past further, we see the tragedy that occurred early on in his life, how he meets and befriends Yuuko (and how his feelings for her change), and why he's turned into the lone wolf that he's become.

The second story takes place in the modern setting and it revolves around Mizuki, who is Renji's cousin and how she meets with Kuze, a violinist who is also Yuu's friend and owns a lot of fetishy outfits (you should remember this guy from Memories). The two become fast friends despite the age differences and Mizuki ends up visiting him every day. Although Kuze is fairly cheerful and affable, he uses that as a sort of mask to hide his health problems, which will become central to Mizuki's portion of the plot.

Thoughts: I didn't see anyone really talking about ef ~ a tale of memories much on here, but then again, I didn't exactly hang out on IRC anyhow. The first season was filled with a whole lot of drama, but was also stellar when it came to the weird camera tricks which worked to create the mood and atmosphere.

The second season is already starting off more impressively than the first. The plot is a massive improvement and the characters are just a bit more interesting this time around (not that they weren't before). Personality quirks, like Nagi Hirono's tendency to paint herself nude certainly brings to mind the eccentricities of the aspiring artist and Kuze's womanizing tendencies in spite of his health issues create an interesting motive behind his character. Mizuki is also quite a character with her upbeat and cheerful personality and I'd say that her story revolving around her interactions with Kuze looks to be pretty good.

When all's said and done, I think Melodies will be even better than its predecessor. Everything that you loved about the first season is better in almost every way. Of course, this show will probably only be of interest to those who enjoy their dramas and watching the tragedy and/or character conflicts unfold, but for those who do, this series delivers in spades with its powerful scenes and excellent camera work (as usual).

Links:
Menclave's subs
Episode 1
Episode 2

Chihiro's subs
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
Episode 4

Jam it back in, in the dark.