5.) Golden Experience
While easily the worst part of the anime so far, it says something about the show that it's still enjoyable to watch. I do love Mista, Abbachio, and Bruno. Though you also have to deal with Giorno, who doesn't even feel like the main character, and the other two who I just thought were boring.
The fights are still fantastic and creative, though what weighs this part down for me is how dull and borderline nonsensical the actual story is. The whole plot focuses on trying to discover the bosses' secret identity, and when you finally learn what it was it doesn't even matter, it's just some guy you never heard of before and know it doesn't get them any closer to winning. It all comes down to who can get the magic murder arrow first.
Also, this has two of the three worst openings of the series. Fighting Gold is fine, but Traitors Requiem is just boring.
4.) Stardust Crusaders
This ranks low because it's probably the worst case of any of the currently animated Jojo parts. Jotaro is largely uninteresting, Kakoyin doesn't do much of anything the majority of the series, and up until the Petshop fight, Iggy is insufferable. There is the shining light that is old man Joseph and his endless spree of catchphrases, which makes up for a lot.
I was also a bit sad when the show abandoned Hamon in favor of Stands, but at the same time, it was a good idea. The stands may have become more interesting in later parts, but it was a great way to start. Like any other Jojo part, there are a lot of fun fights, even if they aren't as creative here.
What ranks this part above Golden Experience is Dio, who remains the greatest villain of Jojo. I don't care if he's entirely one-note, he hits it so well it doesn't matter. He does come across as intimidating and threatening as he seems to think he is, and that makes him an absolute joy.
Also, I'd put every opening song somewhere in the middle of the series in terms of quality, End of the World I'd probably call the fourth-best Jojo opening, and the other two coming behind it somewhere.
3.) Phantom Blood
I do get a lot of the criticism of this part, especially in relation to Jonathan being a bit of a one-note character. At the same time, however, he kind of works because his foil is Dio. You kind of have this situation where you have an absolute force for good versus an absolute force of evil, and they play off each other well enough that I can forgive that aspect of it.
That said, the driving force behind Phantom Blood is the same as Stardust, and that is Dio himself. At first, you see Dio as being arrogant, spiteful, and at times downright petty. At the same time though, he seems distinctly human. That is important because when the show kicks off is when he puts on the stone mask that is the centerpiece of the narrative, and he delivers the line 'I Reject my humanity, Jojo!'
In many ways, those previous aspects of his personality remain, but he distinctly stops feeling human. It's not just a power upgrade, the idea that those who put on that mask become monsters feels real with Dio becoming a Vampire.
And Sono Chi No Sadame remains the greatest Jojo opening and I will hear no argument against this.
2.) Diamond is Unbreakable
Oddly enough on my first viewing, this was my least favorite part (Golden Wind wasn't out yet), and I think in part it's because the change was so jarring at first. That said, as time went on I realized more and more how much I loved it. It's possibly the best overall cast of the whole series and a fantastic villain. I may still think Dio is the Best Villain of the series, but Kira is still an absolute delight, and appropriately terrifying.
I like the focus on Community as a theme, and how it does feel like a team effort of the cast to take down Kira. It's something I feel they tried to do with the final fight with Dio in Stardust, but it didn't feel like anything more than just Jotaro verses Dio. The fights also started getting a lot more creative in this part with Stands having all kinds of strange and bizarre powers. Pretty much every fight is a delight.
If there is a flaw here, it's a lot of this part kind of feels like filler. You could probably cut about twenty percent of the episodes and not lose much at all. I don't like that part of it, but at the same time, it's still a lot of fun just to see what the show throws at you.
This part also has both the third-best opening with Great Days and the worst with Chase, the only opening of the series I just don't like at all. Crazy Noisy Bizarre Town is also great.
1.) Battle Tendency
Joseph Joestar is the greatest Jojo. It was such a departure from what you saw from Jonathan. A lovable rogue, Joseph doesn't believe in fighting fair. Rather than relying on his power exclusively, he relies on a quick wit and deceptive tactics. He regularly beats foes who are noticeably stronger than he is because of how hard it is for anyone to keep up with his constant barrage of antics. He still, however, has Jonathan's strong sense of righteousness.
This part also made me unironically love a Nazi. Stroheim is possibly my favorite character in this entire show, and anytime he is on screen he steals the show. Truly there is no limits to what German science is capable of. I mean yes, he's kind of an asshole, but he is dedicated to his convictions in a way you'd expect out of Jonathan, the original Jojo.
The characters are leagues better in part two than one, it is where Araki seemed to get to grow into his own in the series, and it did set the bar for what Jojo could be. Fights using Haman got a lot more creative, the humor was great with the plethora of Joseph related catchphrases, and at the same time, it's still easy to take the plot seriously.
I could see why other people would prefer other parts, but Joseph and Stroheim cement this as my favorite part.
And because I mentioned the music everywhere else, Bloody Stream is the second-best Jojo opening.