Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers [Season 1 Episode 2]

Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers – Episode 2 Review: A Mixed Bag of Action and Frustration

The second episode of Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers dropped on April 12, 2025, and it’s safe to say the reactions are as fiery as Sol Badguy’s sword. Picking up where the first episode left off, this installment dives deeper into Sin Kiske’s journey, his rivalry with Unika, and the chaotic world of Guilty Gear. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s break it down, with a little help from the internet’s most passionate fans.

The Good: Action, Style, and Waifus

One thing everyone seems to agree on is that the action sequences are the highlight of this episode. The clash between Sin and Unika is a visual spectacle, even if it’s not always smooth. As one fan put it, “Great characters, evolving motivations, and over-the-top action more than make up for subpar choices with lore exploration.” The fight scenes, though occasionally stiff, capture the essence of the Guilty Gear games—fast, flashy, and full of personality.

Baiken’s appearance was another crowd-pleaser. Fans were hyped to see her in action, even if some were disappointed by the lack of… physics. (“At least we finally saw the busty Baiken in action—would’ve been better if they jiggled, though.”) Meanwhile, Bridget’s debut had fans swooning, with one commenter declaring, “Got my BRISKET fix in ep 2 & she was perfect, so frankly, I’ve got no complaints.”

And let’s not forget Axl Low. The time-traveling legend made a brief but memorable appearance, prompting one fan to scream, “AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH MY FUARKING GOAT AXL LOW, THE GOAT OF ALL GOATS, THE STRONGEST CHARACTER IN THIS ENTIRE FRANCHISE BAR NONE!” Clearly, Axl’s charm is timeless.

The Bad: Animation Woes and Character Quirks

Unfortunately, not everything landed well. The animation quality was a major point of contention. While some moments were beautifully animated (like Sol’s swordplay), others felt like a slideshow. “We have animation like in PowerPoint, and we have good quality animation,” one fan noted. Another complained, “For an anime based on a fighting game, I want to see nicely animated fight scenes, not zoomed-in faces.”

Sin’s character also divided the audience. Some found his personality mismatched with his buff physique (“His personality doesn’t match his buffed-up body”), while others defended him, pointing out that “Sin acts like this because he’s canonically a 10-year-old—it’s his gears that sped up his physical aging process.”

Unika, on the other hand, was a lightning rod for criticism. Many found her annoying (“This Unika girl is annoying. Girl, if the war isn’t over yet, instead of acting like a terrorist, prove something”), though others speculated there might be more to her story (“Unika is more likely a slave to her ‘father.'”).

The Ugly: Fan Service and Fandom Drama

Ah, fan service—the eternal debate. Some viewers were frustrated by what they saw as unnecessary additions (“to add unnecessary fan services to/in/for heroines and ultimately destroys her character and personality”), while others shrugged it off as part of the genre.

Then there’s the fandom drama. The discussion threads were… lively, to say the least. From debates about Bridget’s gender (“Bridget has always been such an adorable character design… too bad it’s a dude”) to heated arguments about animation quality, the comments section was a battlefield of opinions. One user even called out the toxicity: “MAL forum posts so transphobic they’ve started ‘he/him’ing Unika as well—you can’t make this stuff up.”

Final Verdict: A Step Up, But Room to Improve

Compared to the first episode, Dual Rulers Episode 2 is a step in the right direction. The action is fun, the characters are starting to shine (or annoy, depending on who you ask), and the lore is slowly unfolding. But the inconsistent animation and polarizing characterizations hold it back from greatness.

As one fan summed it up: “Two episodes is more than enough for me. Not enjoying this as much as I’d hoped.” Meanwhile, another countered, “This was a good episode… I am more interested in Unika now after what happened during her fight with Sin.”

Whether you’re here for the fights, the waifus, or the chaos, Guilty Gear Strive: Dual Rulers is definitely a ride. Just don’t expect it to be a smooth one.

Rating: 7/10 – Flawed but Fun.

Catch it on Crunchyroll if you’re curious—and maybe bring some popcorn for the comment section drama.