It’s been a long time since the last Log Horizon series came out. That series ended with several mysteries still in play, and several new plot hooks set up, like Krusty having been teleported to the Chinese server, and the introduction of Geniuses – more powerful monsters with their own weird, metagame logic sent by whoever on the moon server had brought them to this world in the first place. This season doesn’t resolve those issues particularly, but it does push some plot developments forward in that regard, particularly related to the characters’ plot development.

The title of this season is slightly misleading – as it’s less about the destruction and dissolution of the Round Table, and more the reformation and reorganization of the Round Table – in particular with the first arc of the season getting into the question of what form the Round Table will take, with the Safe Zone controls around Akiba being loosened in the previous series, as well as DDD’s leader – Krusty, now being effectively out of reach. The various powers of the People of the Land are starting to take a more active interest in what direction Akiba takes, since, as one of the larger clusters of Adventurers on the island, and with its current semi-neutrality, it can become a politically destabilizing force.

We also get a distressingly short mini-arc following Krusty, and his linking up with Kanami’s merry band of misfits as they Journey To The East. I say distressingly short because this arc is really fun, and there’s a whole bunch of material apparently from that novel that got skipped over, which I’d really hope gets some coverage in a later season.

The third and final arc basically puts some focus on the junior members of Log Horizon, particularly Minori, coming into their own, as a Genius turns Akiba into a Raid Zone, and the junior members are the only ones in a position to take on the boss, with Minori having to use everything she’s learned from Shirou to save the day – taking command of the raid, with Akatsuki being on hand (and down-leveled due to the Apprentice System) to assist.

On the one hand, all of this is More Log Horizon – which is good, because I like Log Horizon a lot and will gladly watch more of it if given. On the other though, this barely moves forward the plot. We get some additional worldbuilding, some addition of some new characters, and moderate shifts to the general power structure, but setting wise everything here was a slight variation of where things were when the second season ended. Kanami’s still heading towards Japan, and she’s now joined up with Krusty. The membership of the Round Table Council has changed (and arguably there has been the introduction of the concept of Democracy to the People of the Land, but with no repercussions to that as yet).

Probably the biggest plot development in this season is a development to the Minori/Akatasuki/Shirou love triangle that could basically resolve that part of the plot, but that’s it. I’m glad this season was made, and that I watched it. However, it’s not a good re-introduction to Log Horizon for new viewers, and there’s not a lot here that makes it worth picking up if you’re not already on board. Maybe if a fourth season develops these plot elements in an interesting fashion, I might revise my verdict on this season.

Log Horizon: Destruction of the Round Table is currently available for streaming on Funimation, and has a dub.

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