The Rising of the Shield Hero initially aired in early 2019 and quickly made waves through the anime community. Immediately after airing, it was announced that there would be a 2nd season for the hit show. The Rising of the Shield Hero follows Naofumi who has been summoned to a brand-new world. Upon arrival, he is immediately declared, the Shield Hero.
To his dismay, the Shield Hero is looked down upon in this new world and is constantly treated like dirt. Cast aside, Naofumi sets off on his adventure, determined to fend for himself. Along the way, he meets Raphtalia, a raccoon demi-human, and Filo, an enormous traveling bird. Fighting against the invasions of this fantasy world, called ‘Waves’, Naofumi slowly builds up a reputation by protecting the townsfolk. After fighting some invaders, the 1st season closed with the reveal that there are heroes from another world that accompany the Waves. Coming off this huge reveal, here is what is in store for the 2nd season.
Rishia Joins The Party
At the end of the 1st season of Shield Hero, Naofumi and his party are introduced to Rishia, a member of Iwatani’s party. After helping the Shield Hero, Iwatani’s party framed her for breaking Iwatani’s favorite accessory and kicked her out of the group. Devastated, Rishia tries to drown herself, only to be saved by Filo. Rishia believes herself to be weak and useless, but Naofumi believes she can become strong, inviting her to his party.
During the 2nd season, we get a lot more exposure to Rishia and her past. The viewers begin to understand why Rishia is so infatuated with Iwatani, despite being treated like a servant. Importantly, Rishia begins to grow stronger and unlock some of her latent power due to Naofumi’s help. Even though Rishia may remain timid, she undergoes a lot of growth and rises to the same ranks as Raphtalia and Filo.
The Most Intense Battle Yet
The Rising of the Shield Hero’s 1st season featured some intense battles. The showdown between Naofumi and the Pope of the Three Heroes pushed Naofumi and his party to their very limits. The final fight between the invading heroes at the end of the 1st season was equally thrilling. However, Shield Hero still has more exciting fights up its sleeve.
Shield Hero’s 2nd season faces off against the strongest enemy yet. Compared to the last fights, the up-and-coming battle took place between 2 light novels. The adaptation will likely dedicate multiple episodes to fighting this fearsome foe. It will require Naofumi and his party to push themselves to their very limits and use every single option available to them.
The Heroes Face Serious Consequences
After using the Curse Series in the 1st season of Shield Hero, we learn that Naofumi suffers a debuff for a while. When pushing himself to the limits against the new, terrifying foe, Naofumi will suffer harsh punishment. This debilitating curse will pose a tough challenge for Naofumi to overcome.
However, Naofumi won’t be the only one that is hit with grave consequences. The other heroes pay a steep price when challenging the new enemy, leaving all of them with serious repercussions. So far, none of the other heroes have faced any challenges and treat the new world as if it’s a game. The upcoming season will come with a serious wake-up call for the rest of the heroes. Many viewers will be excited to see the haughty, antagonizing cast get their just deserts.
New Developments
So far, The Rising of the Shield Hero has raised a lot of questions about the nature of the Waves. They seem to be connected to another world, but there is little information about that world. In the 2nd season, it will have some developments surrounding the new world and give more insight into the connection between the two worlds.
Not only will the viewers learn more about the new world, but also more about the current world that Naofumi lives in. As it turns out, there is more to the hero system than previously let on. This opens up a whole new avenue for development and new characters which will spice up the story.
The 2nd season of The Rising of the Shield Hero is set to only have 13 episodes. This means it will likely cover only volumes 6 & 7 of the light novel. The first season, which was 25 episodes, covers volumes 1-5. This means that the second season will have more breathing room in adapting the light novel. The extra room could also mean some anime-only content to the surprise of many light novel readers.
The Rising of the Shield Hero’s 2nd season is set to air on April 6th this year.