Food Wars: A Second Plate, season 2 of super-popular manga-turned-anime Food Wars, is airing now on Crunchyroll. Based on episode 1 and 2, currently out now, is season 2 of Food Wars worth a shot?

I tried to like season 1 of Food Wars, but the level of fanservice was way too much for me, turning a show that was laugh-out-loud funny at its best into an uncomfortable exercise in titty jiggle physics and endless sexual objectification. The worst part? How little Food Wars ever needed its relentlessly racy edge to be entertaining.

But is Food Wars: A Second Plate any different? Does Food Wars season 2 continue season 1’s uncomfortable tradition of waaaaay too much sexy humor in its culinary melange? Or does it shake off its edge of ecchi, leaving more time to showcase its strengths of actual humor and great production values?

So far, episode 1 and episode 2 of Food Wars season 2 continue the story of the first season without any pause to catch viewers up on what’s happened. If you haven’t watched season 1 of Food Wars , you’ll need to do so in order to keep up with what’s happening.

Season 2 of Food Wars throws us back into the Fall Elections’ main tournament at the elite Togetsu Tea House Culinary Academy, starring our hero Yukihira Soma and his almost unshakeable confidence. Food Wars season 2 appears to be heading down the same road as the first season: a funny show with insanely high production values that glories in depicting lusciousness of all kinds, from sexy curves to sexy food.

The fanservice is still there – we see Alice Nakiri, the headmaster’s granddaughter, lose herself to Soma’s cooking so completely that in her mind’s eye she’s nude and wriggling – and Food Wars isn’t exactly noted for its delicate restraint. It remains to be seen whether the fanservice will stay light enough to overlook. Still, a dab of fanservice is not enough on its own to sink the entire second season for me and what’s tasteless isn’t quite egregious yet. A point in season 2’s favor.

Another major problem I had with season 1 of Food Wars was the flatness of its characters and their lack of growth. Towards the end of season 1, Soma faces failure exactly once, and then continues to be exactly what he’s been since the beginning of the show: a cocky little shit who brings the heat every damn time. I said before and I’ll say it again: a character composed of non-stop win with no other challenges in his life except non-stop winning some more just isn’t that compelling. Comedy plays by different rules, and Soma’s nonchalance and confidence are played for laughs more than once, but it’s so much more satisfying to see someone win after they’ve overcome the ashes of defeat.

That’s where Megumi Tadokoro comes in to save the day. Her growth throughout season 1 was slow and steady, also providing some much-needed character moments for Soma. In season 2, she’s grown past the nerves that used to destroy her ability to perform, and we see her calm, focused and in control. That’s the kind of content I like to see.

In short: Should you watch Food Wars season 2?

This is very dependent on your feelings about season 1, since you really need to watch season 1 in order to appreciate and understand the plot of season 2.

Do you like fanservice or are you indifferent towards it? Then watch Food Wars season 1, get up to date, and start season 2 free of fear.

Do you like comedy anime? In that case, Food Wars really is a funny show and the production value is insane. The food always looks perfect, glossy and gleaming, and the hilarity of moments like episode 2’s JoJo tribute or the grand theatre of pulling on a cooking bandana doesn’t fail to deliver every time.

Do you dislike fanservice or do you prefer anime with strong character development? Even at its best, Food Wars doesn’t have especially strong characters and the fanservice verges on offensive. You’ll live without this in your queue.

Do you like Chopped and titty jiggle physics? Rev your engines. This is the show for you.

You can watch Food Wars: A Second Plate on Crunchyroll every Saturday at 10 AM EST here (episodes are available one week later for those without a premium subscription).