Everytime you turn around, it looks like Hulu is adding more series to its catalog, especially ones that never saw streaming or were stuck behind a pay service. The latest one to make the leap comes from The Anime Network with the Sentai Filmworks release of Qwaser no Stigmata II, which ran for twelve episodes and all of which are now available on Hulu. The series, which was released subtitled-only, is also available for Hulu Plus members to stream directly to their supported TVs and through digital devices.
The first season of the series, which ran for twenty-four episodes as opposed to the twelve episodes of this season, was something of a guilty pleasure. Except that it was one I didn’t feel particularly guilty about. So many shows play up the sexuality but with something of a wink or a nod or an overtness that goes close to the edge, knowing it’s “wrong”, but not crossing the line. Qwaser of the Stigmata actually crosses that line with a whole lot of glee and just makes the sex a huge part of the violence, though it doesn’t go for the disturbing kind of violence. What we got in the first season was just a hell of a lot of fun for me and the second season takes all of that and just doubles down on it, but crosses the line too far in being too overt, too far gone to be enjoyable. At times, at least.
Plot concept: The relationship between a Qwaser and his Maria is strange, but as the battle for the High Circuit escalates, an unexpected question arises: Can exposure to superpowers be contagious? The answer may be deadly as Miyuri goes through an unexpected transformation! While Sasha slowly recovers from amnesia, Elizabeth must choose between Shin’ichiro and her friends. The survival of each pairing ultimately depends upon the courage within each maiden’s breasts in Qwaser of Stigmata!