Anime 51180 Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi No Kyoushitsu E 3rd Season Reviews Filter Check 2

By this point you know what you’re going to get with these You Zitsu seasons. Good to great experience for anime onlies and an awful experience for fans of the source material. YZ season 3 is more of the same. If you’ve enjoyed the series to this point and are presumably anime only, you’ll love season 3. It covers the climax and conclusion of the first school year and has some of the hypest moments in the story. If you’re like me, a LN reader you’ll find this to be another abomination from Lerche and at this point are probably just watching to see ... how bad it gets.

As an anime only viewer this season will probably come off as really thrilling and engaging. There’s a lot of twists and turns and the exam stakes are upped tremendously. In particular, Suzune’s development as a leader and the external forces getting involved at the school are the big highlights. The students are placed in one perilous situation after another and as usual Ayanokouji pulls strings behind the scenes to get the result he wants.

But sadly, as a massive fan of YZ, I just can’t believe how awful a season this was. There were massive cuts to key story moments, emotional climaxes that didn’t hit because they weren’t properly built up to, exams being basically power point slides, rushing through entire volumes in an episode.. it was bad. And it’s hard to separate the anime only experience from the source reader/viewer experience because of how invested I am into this story. I really do love the characters and the exams and all the behind the scenes tactics Kiyo pulls, but the anime just doesn’t capture that. It makes Ayanokouji out to be so one dimensional and edgy. It makes the exams look like side points when they are the whole focus of entire volumes. There’s so much planning the students put into these to succeed and it just gets cut out. I do fully understand that in a dialogue heavy story you’re going to have omissions, but there’s still series like Oregairu(even though I hate it for other reasons) that do this very well. This just feels like a soulless cash grab that’s only YZ in name, but retains none of the heart and spirit that’s in the source material.

And we haven’t even touched on the production values. I think the only thing Lerche care about in this show is making sure the thighs look good, which is a plus, and making sure Suzune shots look beautiful. Other than that, the animation is pretty bad, character models can be quite off and the production in general is decent to subpar. One thing I will definitely compliment them on is the use of shadows and lighting in certain scenes. For some reason, Lerche like to change the background of certain LN scenes, maybe because it’s easier to animate, or less stress on the staff, but some of them are nice. Others not so much. The OST they use during hype moments is as usual on point. I will definitely compliment Lerche on their use of music throughout the YZ adaptation.

So, what’s the verdict on YZ season 3? Is it worth watching? Well, simple. If you’ve liked it up until this point you’ll love this. It’s the best arc so far, biggest stakes and the most interesting exams, not to mention the world opening up and exterior forces coming to challenge Ayanokouji. Up until now, he hasn’t had much competition, but that looks like it’s about to change. If you’re a LN reader, it’s probably worth just watching in the background while doing something else to just to laugh at how some of our favourite moments have been butchered. It’s definitely not going to make any new fans of the series. I’d encourage anyone at least remotely interested in this franchise to get the books.

YZ season 3, gets 6 out of 10

Well, after last season let's get something very, very clear, there is no point comparing the Anime to the Light Novel. Clearly both are their own separate entities. For instance, one of the most hype moments in the first part of the light novel was the rooftop scene, which as you'd expect DOESN'T exist in the Anime. So does many many many, and I can't emphasize this enough many key and hype moments. As for purely a standalone Anime, it's quite decent though. Anime onlys will probably find it much more enjoyable. Let's just not compare this to the source though.

Plot and Characters: There is ... nothing new to tell here since most of you who have followed thus far are pretty much aware of who's who and what's going on. Though, one notable thing to observe is the long anticipated crossing of paths between Ayanokoji and Sakayanagi, probably would be quite the watch.

Animation and music: The animation quality is decent, probably slight improvements here and there, a more polished product as a whole. As for music there isn't much to talk about save the opening and ending credits, which are again decent. Not much to complain here.

Enjoyment: If you have enjoyed it thus far, there is much more of the same in store for you.

The tangled web of academic intrigue and psychological gymnastics—a saga where the classroom becomes a battleground, and the stakes are as high as the Himalayas. Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu 3 beckons us once more into its labyrinth of schemes and secrets, leaving us grappling for meaning amidst the chaos.

The premise is as convoluted as a Rubik's Cube in a hurricane—an intricate dance of wits where high schoolers engage in mind games that would leave Sherlock Holmes scratching his head. Our protagonist, the MC, stands as the beacon of reason in this tumultuous sea of adolescent machinations, his intellect a lighthouse guiding his classmates ... through the storm.

Accompanied by a harem of support females, each as unique as a snowflake in a blizzard, our hero navigates the treacherous waters of academia with the finesse of a tightrope walker, balancing the scales of victory against the weight of expectation.

Yet, amidst the swirling maelstrom of characters and plotlines, one finds oneself adrift in a sea of confusion, struggling to discern friend from foe, ally from adversary. The cast of characters ebbs and flows like the tides, leaving us grasping for a lifeline in the tumultuous waters of narrative ambiguity.

It's a veritable juggling act of intrigue and suspense, where the line between brilliance and bewilderment blurs with each passing episode. I find myself lost in the labyrinth of plot twists and character arcs, desperately seeking the light at the end of the tunnel.

Classroom of the Elite is a series that tests the limits of patience and perseverance—a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows that leaves us questioning whether the journey is worth the destination. Will Season 3 deliver the closure we seek, or will it leave us stranded in the wilderness of unresolved plotlines? Only time will tell, my friends. Only time will tell.

Both individual growth and personal relationships develop through frequent communication and interaction with others. The primary focus of Classroom Of The Elite III explores action, or the lack of it, and the effect it has on people. As such, the foundation heavily relies on the character writing to carry the weight. However, the adequate quality of writing does not fully justify the mediocre standard set by other categories, such as animation, art, and music, despite having some genuinely interesting themes. Expect a good understanding of interpersonal connections and relatable character struggles, hindered by the lack of expected enhancements in the presentation from the source material.

“Those ... who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Redemption from our past errors through genuine effort is something most people desire. We strive to learn from our mistakes and become better people in the future. However, despite our constant struggle, we often reproduce our anxieties despite our continuous improvement. “We never forget what we endeavor to forget.” These quotes, aptly included in various episode titles, identify the core message found in this season. Various characters grapple with their previous actions and learn to understand their shortcomings for what they are: human. This is compelling material. Unfortunately, the anime does little to produce additional emotions in comparison to the vastly more detailed and in-depth light novel, which has no descriptive limitations. The already low bar for animation and art is missed with inconsistent segments, rigid mouth flaps, and sometimes below-average production quality. This disadvantageous approach detracts attention away from the solid writing. Furthermore, a few pieces in the soundtrack, while good, are used in great repetition. Nothing felt memorable, except what was used much too often, which does not incite immersion. None of the additional improvements from source material to animation stood out. They were average.

In all things considered, this production is a sequel to an anime that many already enjoy. While nothing except the writing stood out from other shows in the medium, it still was not entirely a disappointment. If you can handle the lower aspects of quality, you likely will enjoy the core substance as seen in previous seasons, and the high peaks the writing achieves. When watching, make an effort to focus on the messages laid within. The themes of redemption, regret, and growth are truly well done here. We each have the opportunity to overcome past mistakes and create a version of ourselves we can be proud of. “The strongest principle of growth lies in the human choice.”

This season is a big downgrade to previous ones.

Main reason is that Sakanayagi is just not a good villain. Compared to Ryuuen, there just isn’t a reason to feel any dread from her when she appears on screen. We are 5 episodes deep and I already forgot what led up to the latest episodes. They are that boring. It’s been mostly dialogue and the payoff for the latest arc didn’t feel satisfying as it seemed such a trivial matter.

We are exploring other characters this season, but they just aren’t as interesting as Kushida, Horikita, and Karuizawa, so frankly, it makes for a detached ... viewing experience.

There is time to turn this season around. I am waiting for a meaningful conflict to happen with some of that S1/S2 magic, but if that doesn’t happen, I can only recommend you watch this season with very low expectations.

I think the problem for me about all 3 seasons of classroom of the elite is that it constantly feels like its hit its ceiling. The mystery and competition of each class is a great premise, but each situation ends the same with ayanokoji being the ring leader making invisible decisions and showing how its done, I think the main problem is it never goes anywhere, you dont see it improve who he is as a person or change his perspective. We know as much about him now as we did in season one, and although yes, there is other interesting characters, they all feel ... like they have hit there ceiling, every one of them ready to fall in love with Ayanakoji for what for the most part is silly reasons. Every bit of it feels like it has hit its height, and although it could prove me wrong with 5 episodes to go. I just dont see it playing out any differently to the rest of the anime so far, there will be another test, which will look like Class C is going to lose, Then Ayanakoji will pull some strings and win, The only thing so far I would say has been character growth for Ayanakoji is the end of season 2. Which I feel has been let down with season 3 so far.

I'll keep this review short. There were many things that I would like to address, but I figured it would be best to keep it simple.

At first glance, I disliked how CoTE put up a facade that wanted to appear smart with the promises of psychological warfare and used dirty tactics just to get more merit over the other. Until then, I have reached the point where I enjoyed the journey of what the 1st year saga has to encapsulate. The anime's story, in its own right, is not bad. Of course, there is some downtime that could have been removed for more quality character ... moments and there's not much to talk about the cast, but it's still not messy junk where the plot happens for no reason, it still remembers to set some things up and make it pay off later as the story progresses.

The issue that continues to this day is how there's a severe lack of context or buildup to any conflict that you're unable to fully grasp what is happening without relying on LN spoilers. In this season, they somewhat can provide enough context, but rarely does it feel sufficient when it reaches its climax.

I'd say for a plus, the animation looked better than what we've gotten in the previous season (S2 EP2 was laughably terrible) and it was, to a certain degree, enjoyable to watch while it lasted. Usually, anime like this can fail miserably when dialogues, script, or pacing is not kept in check, but here the staff has done a good job and you won't have to suffer from unnecessary quips or shenanigans. It's tolerable and decent, to say the least.

Thank you for reading.

Classroom of the Elite season three is... fine. It's funny, somewhat endearing, gives off the illusion of intelligence, and is overall an excusable package for the most part. But it honestly falls short of expectations. And to be blunt, is a disappointment. After the first season I had expectations of building quality, and after the second one I had expectations of decent quality and a lot of fun, but this installment offered neither of those and instead a frustrating drama that tried to be deep but felt shallow, leading me to wonder if there was anything there in the first place.

In terms of plot, this ... season doesn't pick up literal minutes after the previous ends like that of season two, it begins with the crew, now class C, arriving at the scene of their next test, a mixed training camp. This is a test including students from all three years which allows characters like Manabu Horikita, Suzune's brother, sometime in the spotlight. This arc is pretty fun, it sets the stage for the main focus of this season, Sakayanagi, for some reason. I figured this anime would be like 4 seasons, this one would be about Class B and Ichinose, and then there would be a final season focusing on Class A. That's far from the case though. It's going to be much, much longer than that... Overall, this season carries the plot forward fine. It's always trying out new ideas and I appreciate that, but going into the season it had a feel that this was something of a conclusion, if not of the series at least of a beginning saga, and it definitely had its moments, but that conclusion in and of itself kind of fell flat. It essentially confirms all the things I was afraid of; I gave many of the unsavory tropes of the first two seasons the benefit of the doubt, it's become apparent this show is just frustratingly written.

In terms of writing quality, it disappointed me in many ways, especially character writing. I keep giving Ayanokoji the benefit of the doubt because of all the acclaim his character garners, I can't shake the feeling that there is depth in his character, it's just taking a long, long time to get there it seems, it can be rather bothersome to wait though as he seems like a very bland and honestly frustrating attempt at a "dark cool character who's more than meets the eye", Perhaps I just have to let it play out. The closest parallel I can draw is "Big Dog" Roman Reigns. Not the Tribal Chief (Whom I acknowledge for the record), the version that was bland and constantly won for other reason besides "being a winner makes people like you" or something like that. Sakayanagi and Ichinose were two characters who left me rather underwhelmed. Much less in Sakayanagi's instance, she's a good character that I just had lofty expectations for. It somewhat feels like Ayanokoji being the annoying way he is hurts Sakayanagi and stunts her development. Going further into this enters spoiler territory, so I'll leave it at that. Ichinose is a much worse case, however. It makes it apparent the frustrating flaws this show has in writing female characters that don't show their heads with every one of them, but the majority. Sakayanagi and Horikita are somewhat outliers. Going into minor spoiler territory, the biggest issue in character writing is the fact that they undermine the intelligence and legitimacy of every single character besides two of them, every single character besides those two feels rather unimportant after that. Among first year students, anyway.

In terms of visuals and music, it looks relatively the same as the other ones, which is good, not much to say on this matter, no complaints here though. The opening is... not great, the first two openings by ZAQ were pretty good, but this one failed to live up to the standard those set up, it's just so loud and for what? The endings, both by Yui Ninomiya, are good, the second one "Fixer" is my personal favorite.

In conclusion, Classroom of the Elite season three was a letdown, but perhaps it was just me realizing all the negative things that were always true about the series. I've now come to the realization that this show isn't building to any masterful climax, and that this is just how this series is, what I mistakenly thought was flawed by design to eventually be expanded upon seems to just be shallow writing. It's not a bad anime, it's still all the dumb fun it was in season two, albeit to a lesser extent, it's safe to say I expected something more though. I saw a lot of Oregairu in this anime at first, but that comparison quickly dissolved as what seemed like intelligent writing in the first two seasons stops and never builds into anything more, leaving them as just interesting concepts and nothing more. And while there is some creativity in the challenges these kids face, every predicament ends in just the same way, slowly removing any semblance of stakes it ever had by giving every issue the same conclusion. Perhaps a payoff is coming, and it'll all make sense and I'll look like a fool, but I have little confidence in that happening at this point. Overall, this is a show in which the appeal lies in the ability to just enjoy rather ridiculous drama and have fun with it. And if that's what you're looking for, it's fun and you'll probably be happy with it, even though it's not as endearing as the first two seasons. However, if you're looking for something well written and thought-provoking, you'll be disappointed, as this is a very bland drama if you try to take it seriously, I still can't tell if you're supposed to or not, though. 6/10

Once again, we're plunged back into the intriguing world of our favorite psychopath in an unconventional high school setting. This season, like its predecessors, centers around Ayanokouji's tactical genius as he orchestrates victories from the shadows, manipulating events without ever taking center stage.

In terms of production, there have been no changes, which is a relief. However, a bit more action would have been welcome to spice things up.

Overall, this season serves as a solid continuation of the narrative. We delve deeper not only into Ayanokouji's complex character but also into those around him. While the storyline advances significantly, there are moments when it feels somewhat ... laborious. It's not that the intricate details provided this season aren't appreciated, but the predictability of each outcome saps some of the excitement from the viewing experience. Watching this season felt eerily similar to observing it through Ayanokouji's emotionless perspective.

On a positive note, watching the protagonist intricately weave his plots, adding new strands while maintaining the old ones, was quite fascinating. It's intriguing to see moments where he might actually seem benevolent, only to be reminded through his internal monologues that his manipulative and detached nature remains unchanged. His lack of empathy proves strangely captivating and adds a layer of depth to the story as each character perceives him through their own emotional lens.

I did find myself yearning for a dramatic revelation akin to those in the first two seasons. It appears that this season is more about strategically setting the stage for future developments—almost like preparing a chessboard for an impending game.

To sum up, while this season is a commendable addition to the series, I found my engagement mirroring the apathy of its lead character. Perhaps it's due to the lack of palpable stakes or the anticipation of a climactic twist that never comes. Nevertheless, the series remains true to its essence and characters, not forcing action where it doesn't belong, which, while it may detract from its immediate appeal, is praiseworthy in its own right.

I am just anime watcher, didn't read light novel but I am aware there are not some important scenes, yet I haven't been digging too deep for it.

As simple anime enjoyer I still see some story quality drop since season 2, which was amazing. It's not like this season is awful but I believe some things could be handled better, especially when you kinda know what to expect already.

Meanwhile season ends with a smaller/bigger cliffhanger in last ep and I know a bit why because of some spoilers, I don't think episodes before that are so enjoyable as in previous season. In fact I just ... saw a tons of missed opportunities for epic scenes and character development.

Kiyotaka himself doesn't feel as much involved deeply in many things as I would expect, which is a pitty.

On the other side, new chairman situation and also final episodes were really interesting and enjoyable, promising strong next season. So as things are now, I think it deserves 7/10 from me and I'll wait for the outcome in next season. But this anime can certainly hit higher standards than this.

As an anime, I think it delivers, but as an adaptation, it leaves something to be desired. From start to finish, events were omitted that, in my opinion, are dispensable but enriched the story and its characters. In the last episode, the episode where I expected a strong conclusion, it felt like they wanted to cover everything, albeit very superficially. That said, the closing song is GREAT.

As a follower of the story, I'm still hoping for a good comeback for the project. Yes, there will always be omitted scenes or changes because it's a different medium from the novel, but it can be enjoyed with ... a partner or with greater intensity. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing OVAs or a slightly slower pace to give more solidity to the story and its characters.

Anyway, I think if you go along with the light novel, you'll enjoy Youkoso in a different way. Although, if that's not the case and you've only seen the anime... well, you know, it's average.

*

Como anime creo que cumple pero como adaptación deja que desear. De principio a fin se omitieron eventos que, a mi parecer, son prescindibles pero que enriquecían la historia y a sus personajes. En el último episodio, episodio donde yo esperaba un final contundente, se vió como si quisieran abarcar todo, aunque muy por encima. Eso sí, la canción de cierre es GENIAL.

Como seguidor de la historia, sigo esperando un buen "come back" para el proyecto. Sí, siempre habrá escenas omitidas o cambios porque se trata de un medio distinto a la novela, pero que se puede disfrutar con pareja o mayor intensidad, aún así no me molestaría ver OVAS o un ritmo un poco más lento con el fin de darle más solidez a la historia y a sus personajes.

En fin, creo que si vas al margen con la novela ligera disfrutes de una manera distinta de Youkoso. Aunque, si no es el caso y solo has visto el anime… ya lo sabes, es regular.

I binged this anime from the first season the last few days and, like many of the other mixed reviewers, found it to be acceptable but a bit shallow. It has all these philosophical quotes about human nature and behavior, but never really goes beyond the MC feeling apathy and acting in a mildly manipulative way over a set of episodes unfolding at a very slow place. I don't think this show is bad at all, but I'd be hard-pressed to recommend it. This show has no hype moments whatsoever. Everything is understated and there are no masterful genius displays by our MC, or anything ... like that. As far as just the psychological drama genius aspect of this goes, I think you'd be better served watching something like Kakegurui. Even though I'd say this series is better on the whole, I think that one is more enjoyable as something psychological. This anime, I think, is ultimately a slice of life with a pretty meager side of psychological drama. It's not bad and keeps your attention, but it's more made up of the illusion that something smart will happen than anything that actually does.

Overall: Going into this show, I expected something different. Each subsequent season seems to stray further and further from the coherent social experiment-style psychological premise established in the first season. There isn't much big-picture plot development at all, with the only concrete changes since the start being in the maturity of the minor and supporting characters in MC's class. MC's backstory, rather than aiding the psychological side of the story, actually gets in the way of the interesting parts of the story, namely the internal competition of the classes and the strategizing. The secret genius grown in a lab MC is okay, but a bit underwhelming given the potential of someone with his apparent skills. All in all, I don't think this will be an anime I return to or really think about ever again after I finish documenting my opinion here. Worth it for passing a few hours, but I think this is the kind of show that has a high floor and a low ceiling when it comes to enjoyability. Nothing to knock your socks off, but nothing egregiously terrible or offensive to make you drop it.

Main Character: MC frequently makes comments that he'd betray anyone at any time if it benefited his interests, but he largely acts like a neutral good in the show and doesn't seem to have an overarching goal besides "living a normal life," which is completely boring as a life motivation in anything but quirky comedy. What's worse, the good things that he does basically work to create a harem, even if it's not presented exactly that way. The show builds him up like some kind of genius emotionless mastermind, but his strategies are things like switcheroos and beating someone up with random fighting skills that don't seem to match his studying and playing chess all the time backstory. I don't think the writing quality is strong enough to convincingly portray a clever character as clever. This show creates a vibe that some kind of psychological angle to going to be explored, but it's really just air with little actual substance in its plot. The main character, though he's presented as smart, does not have any strong goals or motivations. The result is that everything feels a bit pointless, or lacking in palpable stakes for him. He builds a network of connections and hides his influence to not stand out, but he doesn't have any legitimate internal goal that gives those actions personal meaning for him. He's like an emotional-less "genius" running on auto-pilot who simply responds to the stimuli around him. I think your overall thoughts on this show will be determined by how into the MC you are. I've seen too many characters just like him to get that excited, but some might like his backstory and think "living a normal life" is a compelling motivation for him.

Plot: Another big issue with this anime is that it feels like it should feel like it's building to something, but there aren't really any highs during the entire run. The pacing is too much like a high school drama as opposed to a psychological thriller. For instance, the stated goal of the anime, if not the MC, is for class D to reach class A. Guess where the class ends up after year one (3 seasons)? It's got the slice of life dynamic whereby just about any time the MC or his class could actually win, they lose; or, if they do win, it's a two steps forward one step back kind of win. The only time they advanced at all was because of MC's physical violence. Any victory they attain is a shallow, short-term one. The economy of the school with points was interesting in the first season, but slowly becomes a non-issue and loses a lot of focus. Then, the traitor classmate who was the biggest obstacle for much of the show's run becomes a total non-factor. And now, there's some annoying and unnecessary plot-line about the politics and management of the school that seems to contradict the public, government-funded structure established early on. The plot just doesn't seem focused and consistent in the way it should. The individual tests are fine, for the most part, and it's interesting to see how the MC navigates the plotting and backstabbing of other classes, but this is most interesting in the first season, with the tests getting less and less interesting with each passing season.

World-building/Cast: The best part of this show is the network of relationships it includes, which makes you consider the number of factors involved in every test. Teamwork, alliances, and leadership are all well-conveyed in this story, and so you get a sense of traits and approaches that will work well within the school. The varying personalities are well-depicted and you get a sense of the class dynamics. I didn't really have much of a problem with this aspect of the anime, but several characters had pretty ridiculous secret histories, and sometimes female characters approach and flock to MC like any run-of-the-mill harem protagonist, which is obviously a negative when it comes to organic characterization. Several characters do grow and change in a "growing up as a highschooler" type of way, which is an overall positive, but again, supports my claim that this story is ultimately a slice of life rather than psychological story.

I dont know like how to explain this but this season felt kind of disappointing and last episode was somewhat off compared to others but still cote legacy is there so i guess i go with a rating of 8
story was unique as always but like it was too predictable and aynokouji was especially somewhat bad looking but other character were very good expecially ichinose and horikita
it was realistic as always studying in school where you can experience dirty adult world and shit
i have somewhat mixed feeling after watching so many good anime past years and this year

Aah shit I don't know.

The second season was a huge let down after the intriguing first season. This, I can't make my mind. First thing, it is better than the second season imo. Secondly, It's still a bit trash. I really want to like it more but it is not that great.

The whole show feels like a complete waste of a premise. The premise is a gemstone. The execution is a pebble stuck to my really nice boots.

It might be because of the visual setting but it also feels super repetitive. It's becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate between different 'arcs'.

Ayanokoji would still ... be imo one of the best MC's if the show he's in wouldn't have failed.

I will watch it till the end but unless there's going to be some major plot twist that I won't expect, then I believe my impression of this won't change.

This is the ultimate "Making fun of while watching with friends" anime. Me and my friend had a good time doing just that with the third season of Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e. Admittedly while watching the previous seasons I hadn't gotten over how downright abysmal this show is so now that I'm over that, I managed to enjoy this one purely because of how dumb it is. It even fails to be funny when it makes an attempt at being funny. I understand that this is not a comedy anime but a few joke attempts were made and I could not believe ... that not even once it was able to be intentionally funny. I'm not about to go deep into why it's trash but in short it thinks it's smart and well thought-out but in reality it's just not. Not really anything changed since the first season except the harem growing. Which is nice. Ayanogoat deserves it. Other than that it's the same pretentious stuff.

tl;dr: Bluds think they're smart (they're not). :skull:

Score: 5 - More of the same, but worse.

Nothing in this season has stood out to me at all in any other way than it just not being as good as the previous two seasons.

The reveal of Ayonokoji's true past and a completely one-sided and uninteresting rivalry between him and Class A's leader does not do much for the story. The same can be said for Horikita's relationship with her brother which started out with an initial insane introduction and then deflated into nothing across three seasons, giving her some arbitrary growth but keeping her annoying personality. I can respect them for ditching the ... initial impression of their relationship and going another direction, but sadly it didn't become more interesting.

There's a huge drama about a student elimination and it begs belief that the classmates care so much and kick up such a fuss about it, one student becoming practically a PTSD psychopath over it, another spending absurd amounts of money on it. The special exams feel like a kick in the nuts, much of it being overcomplicated and then boiled down so hard that all tactics for the viewer fly out the window with extremely unsatisfying results.

Finally there's a bigger overarching plot and another hurdle placed in the way of our protagonist which also begs belief. Apparently the best and most prestigious school in the country is just incompetent on all levels with no fail safes, no invested staff to sound the alarm or intervene in any way.

Stories like this need positives to keep the viewer engaged and this season really lacks it. If there's a fourth season, it has a lot it needs to salvage.