REVIEW: ‘Tower of God’ Season 2 Episode 14 — “Meeting The Traveler”

The best thing to come from Tower of God Season 2 Episode 14 is the continued reminder of why Khun (Nobuhiko Okamoto) is such a beloved character: that, and the steady reintroduction of Season 1 characters back into the plot. But honestly, without Khun’s brand of humor concerning those around him and his cunning, “Meeting The Traveler” would be a much slower installment to get through. The official start of the second cour, which centers around the Workshop Battle, is mainly set up. Characters move from point A to point B to be of best use once the real action begins, teased by the episode ends.

The qualified teams are ready for the start of the mission. While the density of the plot has often been a highlight in Tower of God, here, it’s a bit of a hindrance. There’s a pattern within the series where convoluted steps weigh down the characters’ specific challenges. So, in this case, they’re told that there are only so many spots on the ship that will take them to the game. All contestants are provided a gun. They can either shoot their opponents to ensure a spot or steal bullets—the writing, however, flounders in its path to getting to the point.

It’s hard not to glaze over in these instances. Tower of God Season 2 Episode 14 is at its best when moving away from dialogue-heavy exposition. This is why little character moments — from Khun in particular — help alleviate its weight. His reaction to Dan (Yū Hayashi) and Wangnan (Yuma Uchida) fawning over Endorsi is hilarious because we know how much time he’s spent working with her and knowing her real personality. He can’t fathom their reactions because he knows the real her.

We get pieces of the other main characters from Season 1, though not enough to reestablish their real personalities. As one of the Princesses of Jahad, Endorsi has become more self-centered since Bam’s death, reveling in the spotlight her status grants her. The rest of the team moves under Shibisu’s leadership. Unfortunately, while it’s nice to see these characters again since the Season 2 crop hasn’t made as much of an impression, their designs, like the rest of the show, have flattened. What gave them such complexity of design and rough-around-the-edges personality is now streamlined and smooth.

While the teams all scatter to ensure their places on the ship in Tower of God Season 2 Episode 14, Bam/Viole (Taichi Ichikawa) spends it on the run with the Traveler he helped save. We learn more about the upcoming Workshop Battle through the two of them. Once again, we’re reminded that the Tower and its many power-scaling tactics are more insidious than the characters were once led to believe. The Traveler himself is mysterious in his reasoning for being there, telling Viole — who introduces himself as the 25th Bam — that he’s looking for the one he loves.

Viole/Bam understands his motive as he helps escape those looking to capture him. But as they look for a new route, Viole learns the real impetus behind the Workshop Battle. The prize is a human being, which opens up a whole litany of questions about what it means to participate.

The series’ most engaging element has always been how the layers slowly unfold to reveal darker secrets held within the Tower. This is what made Rachel’s storyline in Season 1 so intriguing: Here was a girl who thought her dreams were within reach only to be cruelly told no. It’s refreshing to see the series once again leaning into that darkness.

Tower of God Season 2 Episode 14 isn’t going to bring back any fans who left due to clunky animation and poorly paced storylines. That said, if you’ve stuck it out, the series is at least setting up a more exciting storyline as we move forward. Elements work even if the whole picture is still clumsily put together.

Tower of God Season 2 Episode 14 is out now on Crunchyroll.