The conclusion of the Tower of God season 2 episode 13 marks the end of the Return of the Prince Arc, yet it presents an unimpressive and forgettable farewell. Officially launched on Sunday, September 29, 2024, this episode sees The Answer Studio inadvertently violate a key principle of cinematography right in its opening scene.
Unfortunately, Tower of God season 2 episode 13 fails to recover from this poor start, even though there are moments of directorial brilliance sprinkled throughout. However, these moments are overshadowed by stiff, lackluster animation that depicts little more than mouths moving as dialogue plays.
Tower of God season 2 episode 13 review: Khun and Wangnan’s dialogue and character development are the highlights
While Tower of God season 2 episode 13 contains some directorial successes, many are limited to a single moment. This is the scene in which Khun Aguero Agnes confers with Wangnan Ja regarding joining forces as one large team. The accompanying official soundtrack is well-suited, particularly highlighted when Khun mentions that pursuing Bam/Jue viole Grace effectively involves reaching out to their friend.
Visually, this scene impresses with its effective use of lens flares and sweeping camera pans, framing Khun and his proposal as a beacon of hope for the disoriented Wangnan. While it doesn’t compare to productions where studios pour all resources into such techniques, it serves as a refreshing change given the mediocrity of the season thus far. Although this may come off as a somewhat backhanded compliment, it is meant earnestly.
The episode shines again with the introduction of a potentially significant new character. The Answer Studio enriches its production with varied visual elements; however, it should be noted that this visual appeal still pales in comparison to the artistic decisions made by other studios.
Aside from this, the episode showcases significant character development for Wangnan’s team members. Characters like Prince, Yeo Miseng, and Yeon Yihwa particularly benefit, as their motivations and dedication are well-highlighted. Other characters receive subtler development, reinforcing their established traits more than expanding upon them.
The voice acting in Tower of God season 2 episode 13 is competent, avoiding both standout and particularly poor performances. As previously stated, the animation remains as wooden as ever; however, the absence of action scenes in this episode spares it from highlighting the art style’s deficiencies too harshly.
Tower of God season 2 episode 13 review: Issues with fundamentals, animation, and more
The finale of the Return of the Prince Arc contains its positives, but it falters at the outset by violating the 180-degree rule. The framing during Wangnan and Hwaryun’s dialogue leads to constant rule-breaking that disrupts viewer comprehension and results in a chaotic presentation, which may prompt many to abandon the episode entirely.
This conversation further underscores the animation shortcomings exhibited throughout the season. Despite addressing serious and tense topics, Tower of God season 2 episode 13 fails to convey the necessary emotional expressiveness expected from the characters. This problem runs throughout the episode, mirroring the issues prevalent in previous episodes, and remains a frustratingly unanswered critique of The Answer Studio.
Moreover, this latest installment fails to deliver substantial immediate narrative advancement, even with the Workshop Battle Arc looming nearby. While there are long-term plot elements being developed in anticipation of the upcoming storyline, there is nothing gripping enough to capture viewers’ immediate interest. This is particularly concerning as, overall, there is little incentive to keep tuning in weekly.
Tower of God season 2 episode 13 review: Final thoughts
While episode 13 does not present anything particularly offensive beyond the violation of the 180-degree rule, it continues to exude an uninspired essence. The Answer Studio appears reluctant to elevate the production quality despite what fans might expect, rendering the series a mediocre adaptation that shows no signs of improvement from the first season.
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