Episodes 1-3 – Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2

In these first three episodes of the new season, it’s safe to say things have gone to crap for our heroes. What started as a preemptive attack on the Demon Lord’s general has become a defensive battle. Boxxo’s village has been overrun by monsters. Much of the population has been killed, and only the guild headquarters remains safe. Now, our vending machine and his pals are doing all they can to stay alive and take back the village.

All this puts a much darker and more desperate tone on the series. Regardless of the danger in the dungeon, the village was always a safe place (other than a thief or two). Everyone was friendly towards Boxxo, and he, Lammis, and Hulemy had made a home for themselves in it. Now, all that is gone.

Lammis is very much the focal point of these episodes from a character standpoint. She is dealing with more than a bit of personal trauma. First, the idea that her best friend in the village, Munami, might have been killed while she was away proves to be a major distraction for her, to the point that she’s not allowed in combat. Then, when it’s revealed that Munami is among the survivors, Lammis almost immediately falls into a bout of survivor’s guilt.

This attack marks the second time that Lammis’ home village has been destroyed by monsters. Last time, only she and Hulemy survived. Now, at least, there are a handful left to protect. This drives her to massively overwork herself in an attempt to do now what she couldn’t then. It’s only Boxxo strengthening his connection to her, speaking to her in his own words for the first time, that breaks her out of her self-destruction.

But even that’s not all. In the third episode, Lammis and the others discover that the man behind the attack on the village—the one using magic to control the monsters—is the same person who destroyed Lammis’ village when she was a kid. This throws her into a rage, and it’s only Boxxo’s barrier, several strong adventurers, and the right words from Director Bear that stop her from murdering the man on the spot. And even then, it’s only Boxxo accidentally proposing to her that helps her regain a bit of mental stability.

As serious as all that is, the show still manages to switch back to a more lighthearted tone much of the time. Boxxo continues to support those around him, especially the refugees who have lost everything. He is the one bright spot in their lives, delivering food and snacks in addition to necessities like water.

This season also delivers more than a bit of action with Boxxo performing a new, signature aerial attack by turning into the world’s largest vending machine (a literal ice machine building) and falling on his enemies. These fights also serve to redefine Boxxo’s limitations, reinforcing how precious coins are and how expensive his new, powerful skills are.

All in all, this season is off to a good start. It’s got all the creativity of the first season and a lot of character development for Lammis. My only complaint so far is that so much happens to her over these three episodes, she never really has any time to realistically come to terms with her feelings before the next personal crisis takes over. Hopeful, when all this is said and done, she’ll have the time needed to sit down and sort herself out (and probably have a good, long cry).

Episode 1: Rating:

Episode 2: Rating:

Episode 3: Rating:

Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon Season 2 is currently streaming on
Crunchyroll.

Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. One or more of the companies mentioned in this article are part of the Kadokawa Group of Companies.