MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 review: Kanata honors his mentor's techniques as he qualifies for MFG

MF Ghost season 2 episode 1, titled The White Reaper Descends, aired on Monday, October 7, 2024, in Japan. This episode focuses on Kanata Katagiri's performance in the MFG qualifying race.

Despite driving a low-horsepower car in a sport dominated by wealthy competitors with supreme racing cars, Kanata has already earned a reputation for his exceptional driving skills. In this episode, his talent is further recognized as he demonstrates all that he has learned from his mentor, the legendary Fujiwara Takumi.

Produced by Felix Films, the anime is based on Shuichi Shigeno's Japanese manga series of the same name. The first season, which consisted of 12 episodes, was released in 2023 and ended on a cliffhanger with Kanata about to start his qualifying race in MFG.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers.

Kanata secures an impressive qualifying position in MF Ghost season 2 episode 1

Brief highlights

Ren and her father as seen in MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 (Image via Felix Film)

In MF Ghost season 2 episode 1, viewers see Kanata racing on the Ashinoko GT course, which is known for being challenging. Ren and her father are watching, but Ren's mother opts out because Kanata's driving makes her too anxious. Ren suggests to her father that he should be less formal when addressing Kanata, but he feels that Kanata's talent deserves a high level of respect.

On the race course, Kanata's Toyota 86 zooms along, kicking up dust. Aiba observes that the volcanic ash from Mount Fuji will soon make the scenery turn completely white, as it accumulates in the area and makes the road slippery. This phenomenon is known as the Descent of the White Reaper and the Slip Trap.

Ogata gives Kanata a heads-up about the death zone up ahead, and Kanata calmly responds that he will adjust his driving to suit the track conditions. He then makes his way through the death zone using Fujiwara Takumi's zero-control steer drift technique.

Kanata manages to climb to seventh place, but in the final uphill stretch of the track, his underpowered car causes him to lose ground, and he finishes in eighth place. At the end of the day, he is in ninth place.

Kanata as seen in MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 (Image via Felix Film)

After the race, Kanata explains that he learned to drift from his mentor, who was a master at the academy. They had special after-class lessons where Fujiwara would take Kanata to rally courses with cars that had soft suspension, which helped him develop a feel for weight shifting.

Hearing Kanata talk about his mentor, who was also like a father figure to him, brings tears to everyone's eyes. They then decide to celebrate Kanata's MFG qualification at a Japanese restaurant.

The next day, Ren asks Kanata to meet her after work so they can head to Kamakura together. Kanata is also keen to try shirasu-don. Meanwhile, it is the final day of the MFG qualification round, and Beckenbauer is finally competing.

He keeps a fraction of a second behind Koki Sawatari's record, driving steadily until the last stretch where he accelerates and secures the first position. Sawatari, who is watching, remains unfazed because he considers Kanata to be a more formidable competitor, even though Kanata is currently in the tenth position.

MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 review

Kanata's Toyota 86 as seen in MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 (Image via Felix Film)

To start with, the animation style in MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 is visually impressive as always. However, the issue persists with the racing scenes which lack impact, as they appear too smooth and polished. Fortunately, the soundtrack makes up for this shortcoming. Another negative aspect of the episode is of course the fan service as there is a bit too much focus on the MFG Angels.

Beyond the intricate details that car and racing enthusiasts will appreciate, MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 also takes a deeper dive into the thoughts and approaches of some of the racers in MFG. It explores their perspectives on racing and their opinions about the rising star Kanata, who is poised to dominate the scene.

This gives viewers insight into the different stakes each racer has in the competition. Not everyone shares the same level of dedication; for instance, Fujin Ishigami must prove himself despite the challenges of aging as he does not want to be embarrassed by younger racers. Meanwhile, Sawatari, as previously established, participates primarily for the money.

Final Thoughts

Sawatari as seen in MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 (Image via Felix Film)

In conclusion, MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 manages well to get viewers excited again for the racing drama. The pacing is really good, without dragging Kanata’s run for the entire episode, they allot half the episode to him, and the rest to Ishigami and Beckenbauer.

The balance between the technical aspects of racing and the emotional side of life adds depth to the storyline and prevents it from becoming monotonous. Viewers will thus be waiting to see the Lake race in the next episode.

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Edited by Subhayan Basu