Today Funimation posted the subtitled version of the final episode of Black Butler II on their streaming site. So, since Friday I have pretty much avoiding the internet in order to not get spoiled. Because I am a kind, compassionate human being, all the spoilers are after the jump. So here's what I thought of the second season:

Follow up:

First off, I liked the ending waaaay more than the first season's ending. I thought the first season was both dragged out and long and at the same time deeply unsatisfying, the ending of this season isn't what I'd call happy, but felt far more resolved and final. It was open enough for a third season, but it won't bug me if there isn't. The new characters were cool too, even though I absolutely hated Alois, his storyline ended in a bittersweet way and by the end, I didn't want to pimpslap the little pain. However, this season was filled with a lot of problems, and a LOT of GAPING plot holes.

First off, the series was way too short at only 12 episodes so there was more focus on action than characters. Alois is barely developed before he bites it, showing up again only after the 5 episode, and dying in the 9th. So you really don't get a chance to sympathize or like him or barely tolerate him Claude isn't developed at all, neither are the triplets and all the side characters from last season barely get cameos in this season. Pretty much the only reoccurring character from last season with any regularity was Grell, but whenever Grell showed up he was awesome, so it was okay. There were some genuinely hilarious moments, but there seemed to be way too much focus on fan service. It seemed every few moments Ciel, Alois, Claude, Sebastian and Hannah were is some pose or moment that existed only to make fangirls drool. What was so great about the first season was that it was all subtext, anything between Ciel and Sebastian was really subtle, which made the tension so great. This season was so all over the place and so in your face that that lovely subtlety all went away except in the last two episodes. The thing that really bugged me was the huge, enormous plotholes.

Mega Plothole #1 Ciel's memory loss.
It's never explained *why* Ciel lost his memories of the year Sebastian was with him and fought against Ash/Angela. Ciel's memory loss was a nice little Deus Ex Machina for bringing Ciel back to life and having a second season, but it's never explained why he lost the memories to begin with. Why of only the last year? Why not his entire life? Never explained.

Mega Plothole #2 Why Sebastian didn't eat Ciel's soul.
Sebastian explains that when he lost his *left* arm in the battle with Ash he lost the contract seal, allowing Claude to be able to steal Ciel's soul. Except...for the entirety of the first season, the first few eps of the second season and the manga, Sebastian's contract seal was on his *right* hand. If they hadn't brought it up at all, it wouldn't have mattered.

Mega Plothole #3 Demon mortality.
In the last episode Hannah explains demons cannot be killed, but their souls can be damaged (wait, demons have souls? moving on, let's just call this one #4). So...what happened to the triplets? Your guess is as good as mine.

Mega Plothole #5 Claude's timing.
Alois came to power as the Earl of Trancy 3 years before the time of the last season, meaning that Alois met Claude the year before. Ciel only got Sebastian 2 years before the start of the season. Yet, Claude told Alois that Sebastian Michaelis was the one responsible for the village deaths, and now belonged to Ciel Phantonhive--except that would mean Claude was Alois's butler 2 years before Ciel even met Sebastian. TIMING!

These plotholes and problems aside, I still enjoyed watching the series. Keep in mind that Black Butler derails off the manga pretty much after episode 5, none of it's canon anyway. The music is really good, the animation is fair (not as good as the first season, but the last few eps worked out well) and it's a fun ride.