CYBERPUNK: EDGERUNNERS 2 dropped all 10 episodes on Netflix on October 20, and the verdict is already splitting the fandom — a gorgeous, heartbreaking return to Night City that can’t quite escape Season 1’s shadow. Studio TRIGGER’s new ensemble story has plenty to love, but living up to one of anime’s biggest modern phenomena was always going to be an impossible ask.
Roman (Credits: Studio TRIGGER)
A new crew in Night City
This time around, the story follows a fresh quartet: Roman, a 12-year-old cinephile whose camera becomes the show’s visual signature; Talia; D; and veteran edgerunner Weak Kingsley, a fallen legend whose glory days are clearly behind him. Kingsley’s brutal cyberpsychosis episode in the very first raid sets the tone — TRIGGER still depicts minds unraveling in ways that are as creative as they are horrifying.
Roman is the standout. The kid films everything, and his footage genuinely drives the plot — turning D’s revenge into a legend. He’s the most grounded character in the bunch, constantly risking himself to help people he barely knows. Watching him get pulled into D’s villain arc hurts precisely because he’s so young and convinced the man will snap out of it.
Where it falls short
The season’s biggest issue is breathing room. With only 10 episodes, characters like Kingsley never get the backstory their arcs need — we never learn enough about his downfall to fully buy into his devotion to Talia and the Avida cause. Talia herself is another frustration: after her shocking betrayal, her storyline loops on a single note of guilt without real change or resolution.
And yet, much of that criticism only lands because of how the show is viewed. Reviewed on its own terms — stripped of the comparisons — Edgerunners 2 is thrilling, beautifully animated, and emotionally devastating in classic TRIGGER fashion. It’s a great anime burdened by impossible expectations, which is probably the most Night City thing about it.
Also Read: Cyberpunk Edgerunners 2 Confirms the Popular Cyberpsychosis Theory From the Game, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 Reveals Global Release Times — All 10 Episodes Drop at Once on October 20
Source: Anime Corner — read the full story there.
