While I was one that didn't mind how the original series ended with its final season, there was just no denying that this really reinvigorated the franchise more then I would've ever expected it to. I was rather lukewarm with the show when that first season came out earlier this year, especially But while I was a bit weirded out with the rather short length of time it took for the second season to come out, it was all the more worth the wait, especially after having watched it nightly in this latter half of October.
While it took place on Valentines Day, this really felt like something that was so dang befitting for the halloween season, especially with how much of a darker tone it took in comparison to the first season. Heck by the latter half I was really getting enthralled with the season as it went on too. With the added sense of mystery brought into this here, it really had you curious with how things were going to end. It was even here where the choice of making this an animated series really let this shinemore than the original series did too. While I was still iffy on the choice of it being a mostly modern CG series instead of a 2D one in the style of said 80s shows back when the first season was revealed, this second season really allowed the kids go all out with the added agility given to them, especially as they were going up against the big bad for this one during the second half. I also felt like it really escalated the fight scenes in a lot of it to where it makes the lot of them feel more packed and epic at times as well. Though I do admit the toned down language can be pretty dang noticeable in comparison as you can tell that the writers wanted a lot of these younger ones to swear a lot more often.
Nikki herself has really grown on me more than I expected her to as well. She may had been one of those sorts of OCs you'd expect to see in one of those games that shoehorn them in like in many anime games these days, but for what it's worth, she really pulled her weight more than expected to where she really became a lot more of a character that had a point existing overall. Not sure how the heck she fits into the rest of the canon of the whole timeline though since she's never mentioned at all in the original series.
Overall, while I'm one to not hate on the original show's final season, seeing this really makes it feel like said show would've fared better had it been remade as an animated series instead. At least almost.
Though on the other hand, it does really have me wishing that Telltale game was revived so it would go full circle overall here.