I fully admit my preferance for Season 1 is that I watched Kenshin for the more down to earth fights compared to a lot of other anime.

There were a couple times it ramped it up, yes, especially with the dude who basically paralyzed people with fear. But Season 2 had that nutty sword that was all wobbly and stretched around things, and the guy whose sword was covered in fat so it ignited into flames from the friction.

Season used the somewhat sureal stuff it had to basically enhance the atmosphere and lore of the show. While the fights and story in season 2 are awesome, it wasn't really what I got into Kenshin for.

I felt the best part of Season one was 'The Spell of the Oni-Waban', which I am sure I am spelling wrong, where people swore they were dodging the guys attacks correctly, but still the hit would land. Turn's out the 'spell' was an obtical illusion from the pattern printed on his arm to make it appear shorter then it was.