Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Baki Hanma’ Season 2 on Netflix, Where a Prehistoric Powerhouse Takes On All Comers

Baki Hanma has cemented itself as one of Netflix’s best, most intriguing shonen series following a singular man who punches things until problems are solved. He’s ridiculously strong, sometimes a little too cocky, and one of the best fighters you’ll ever see. All of those things make the Netflix anime series of the same name an exciting watch. The first season was a glorious buffet of tightly choreographed fight scenes, expertly crafted character designs, and enough Baki to whet any fighting fan’s appetite. Now that it’s back for a new batch of episodes, there’s a lot more to take in, especially a strange new character who you’ll want to know more about right away. Is it worth diving into? That’s what we’re here to answer.

BAKI HANMA – SEASON 2: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: Baki (Troy Baker) is seen mid-kick while training before he lowers his leg and sighs, before apologizing to the Captain Gerry Strydum (Zeno Robinson) before keeping him waiting. The pair drink tea together as they discuss who the Captain wants him to meet.

The Gist: Baki is a tough customer. You just don’t mess with him. But even he meets his match when it comes to a human being who’s just been unthawed from the ice: Pickle. More powerful than a T-rex, Pickle escapes from the lab in which he’s been experimented on by other humans and decides to challenge some of the most proficient fighters in all of Tokyo.

While he blazes through most, he still needs to square off against Baki. But that will come at a later time once we’ve seen Pickle give it his absolute all, against a variety of familiar faces and brand new fighters, all of whom believe will be able to brave this ultimate challenge…but end up folding like wet cardboard.

That’s essentially it – nothing complicated here, no philosophical diatribes to get through, no evil masterminds to contend with, just a prehistoric man who’s got one seriously scary set of mitts on him, going through tons of guys and showing them what for. And you can and should be here for it.

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Baki is a shonen anime that centers on out-there brawls, but it’s also typically oozing with style. That means it has a lot in common with shows like the impossibly cool JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Record of Ragnarok. If you like what Baki is putting down, there’s a non-zero chance you’ll enjoy those shows as well. And it goes without saying if you enjoy shows like Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, or Yu Yu Hakusho, you’ll feel right at home here.

Our Take: For a series called “Baki Hanma”, this new arc focuses more on Pickle and how he interacts with all the ridiculously strong fighters in the Baki universe. So if you entered this season hoping for more of Baki and his super-powered escapades, you might end up being a bit frustrated. Still, that’s no reason to skip out on this arc, which has some of the best fighting and choreography of the series thus far.

Getting used to Pickle taking the spotlight for a while can make for a bit of a slow spot this season, but that doesn’t make this season any less worthy of your time and attention. We’re so used to seeing Baki make his enemies say “uncle” within minutes of a fight – but Pickles is a completely different type of guy, and every bit as powerful and terrifying. This new threat makes for a fun watch, especially seeing how everyone reacts to him.

The action comes fast and furious, with over-the-top brawls that wouldn’t be out of place in shonen classics like Dragon Ball Z, and Pickle is constantly getting stronger. Watching his skills evolve is one of the most exciting parts of this season, and well worth hanging in there for even as the season takes a bit to get the wind underneath its wings.

If you were invested in Baki before because of, well, Baki, you’d be forgiven for wondering what gives with all the Pickle action. But chill out and just watch what’s to come, because you won’t be disappointed with all the cracking skulls and insane fights that unfold before you. In that department, it may even be better than the first season.

Sex and Skin: None in these episodes. It’s the violence you’ll have to watch out for if you’re a sensitive viewer.

Parting Shot: Pickle sat in front of the Captain, who tells him “I want to know your story.” The Captain kindly advised him that he’d take him places that were “just like him” and took the man’s hand in his.

Sleeper Star: Zeno Robinson is perfectly cast as the Captain, who shows Pickle the kindness he believes he deserves, and to great effect. His gruff tone matches the character’s rough-around-the-edges personality quite well, but he also has a nice sense of camaraderie with Baki that viewers will appreciate.

Most Pilot-y Line: “I’m going to take you to a place where there are others just like you,” the Captain tells Pickle. “It’s called Japan,” he says as Pickle places his hand in the Captain’s. It sets the stage perfectly for what’s to come.

Our Call: STREAM IT. Baki Hanma Season 2 Part 1 is every bit as gripping as the first season, and then some. Even though it flips the script to put the focus on a different character, it’s a dynamic and intriguing watch that gives you a different character to root for and for different reasons. It sets up another season quite well for viewers, and by the end of the first episode, you’ll be ready to stand up and cheer for more.

Brittany Vincent has been covering video games and tech for over a decade for publications like G4, Popular Science, Playboy, Variety, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, GameSpot, and more. When she’s not writing or gaming, she’s collecting retro consoles and tech. Follow her on Twitter: @MolotovCupcake.