It's strange... two years passed between FFX and FFX-2.
But in those two years, Rikku seems to have lost a lot of the maturity, independence and intelligence she had in the original game.

I'm not going to comment on her appearance or attractiveness, but I found her character more appealing in the first game.

But then, X-2 shows how she is when there are fewer pressures, fewer deadly threats. A different, more exuberant side to her character. Not necessarily a bad thing.