(L) Hataraku Maou-sama!

[Clarste]

Are you talking about when a customer asked her for a smile? From what I can remember, that's a famous MacDonald's PR campaign: all their employees are expected to be able to smile on command because "a smile is free". Of course, they're also supposed to be smiling all the time anyway, just for being a part of the service industry, so we see her awkwardly try to smile more.

[leokiko]

Originally Posted by Clarste

Are you talking about when a customer asked her for a smile? From what I can remember, that's a famous MacDonald's PR campaign: all their employees are expected to be able to smile on command because "a smile is free". Of course, they're also supposed to be smiling all the time anyway, just for being a part of the service industry, so we see her awkwardly try to smile more.

Didn't know about that, lol.

thx.

[Kakkou]

Originally Posted by leokiko

2 random things happened in this episode.

1 - The Eartquake

Earthquakes of that level are common in countries prone to experiencing them like Japan, often enough that it's shrugged off by the public, which is exactly what happened in the episode. It's likely just another aspect of living in Japan that the story is trying to present and to also enforce how settled in Maou and Ashiya have become. It's admittedly something you don't see often in anime, not even slice-of-life ones, so maybe it's a plot point but for now just treat it just like the characters did: no big deal.

[Haiprbim]

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[Clarste]

Originally Posted by Kakkou

Earthquakes of that level are common in countries prone to experiencing them like Japan, often enough that it's shrugged off by the public, which is exactly what happened in the episode. It's likely just another aspect of living in Japan that the story is trying to present and to also enforce how settled in Maou and Ashiya have become. It's admittedly something you don't see often in anime, not even slice-of-life ones, so maybe it's a plot point but for now just treat it just like the characters did: no big deal.

Although frankly this sort of thing is so ordinary that usually you wouldn't even mention it in a story unless it's important. I've seen it a few times on American TV to establish the setting (ie: it's in San Francisco so there's an earthquake), but since the audience for this is Japanese I'm not sure they'd even consider a small earthquake unusual enough to be an aspect of living in Japan. It's too ordinary.

So it'll probably be important later, somehow.

[Anime Online]

Originally Posted by Clarste

Are you talking about when a customer asked her for a smile? From what I can remember, that's a famous MacDonald's PR campaign: all their employees are expected to be able to smile on command because "a smile is free". Of course, they're also supposed to be smiling all the time anyway, just for being a part of the service industry, so we see her awkwardly try to smile more.

I believe it's a reflection of how, when you are working in the service industry, you'll always meet some mouth-breathing jerk of a customer. Chiho was already smiling. Notice the snorting from the customer as he laughs with his mouth closed. It's the same kind of immature loser who thinks he can bully and make fun of low-wage workers.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by GundamZZ

My questions is they used certain language. Which Eastern European language are they using? Someone may understand it.

No Eastern European language that I recognized, and I live here... According to the web radio it's something the writer of the LN made up.

Originally Posted by Nork22

Speculating on my part as it shows Emi in their apartment. Unless Emi has her own place already.

Actually, it's in the title of the next episode that she'll stay at Satan's (and Alciel's XD) place.

[jeroz]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

Actually, it's in the title of the next episode that she'll stay at Satan's (and Alciel's XD) place.

they should just hook up and have a kid already. A nice family between the two (formerly) most powerful entities would be awesome to watch. Comes with a nice butler as well.

[Chaos2Frozen]

The way my friend spoke about it I thought it would be a silly slapstick show that would knock me on my ass laughing.

While my ass is relatively unknocked, I was surprise that this turns out to be a pretty solid story in terms of presentation Not over the top silly, but definitely very... Respectable

Something that you can recommend to people and not needing them to have... Acquired taste

[Midonin]

Originally Posted by jeroz

A nice family between the two (formerly) most powerful entities would be awesome to watch.

I think it's a little late for a Zettai★Maou adaptation.

[Dark Faith]

First part of the episode was great. I honestly loved the bit at Satan's home realm (why can't other fantasy shows look that awesome? *sigh*) and their arrival on earth was pretty fun as well (the bit about whatshisname trying to use magic and "summoning" a taxi instead brought a smile to my lips).
My interest quickly faded by the second half though. One moment they're struggling to adapt to life on Earth, then scene changes and Satan's lounging at home reading manga? Riding a bike to work? Being nice to random people in the street?

Just skipped through scenes after that, feeling my interest quickly fading away. I'm hoping that the introduction of the hero at the end of the episode will spice things up.

[leokiko]

Originally Posted by Kakkou

Earthquakes of that level are common in countries prone to experiencing them like Japan, often enough that it's shrugged off by the public, which is exactly what happened in the episode. It's likely just another aspect of living in Japan that the story is trying to present and to also enforce how settled in Maou and Ashiya have become. It's admittedly something you don't see often in anime, not even slice-of-life ones, so maybe it's a plot point but for now just treat it just like the characters did: no big deal.

I know it's normal, I meant it because of this:

Originally Posted by Kakkou

so maybe it's a plot point

Originally Posted by Dark Faith

One moment they're struggling to adapt to life on Earth, then scene changes and Satan's lounging at home reading manga? Riding a bike to work? Being nice to random people in the street?

There was a time-skip at that point, that should be obvious. And it was basically just him adaptating to life at Earth.

[Kirarakim]

Originally Posted by jeroz

they should just hook up and have a kid already. A nice family between the two (formerly) most powerful entities would be awesome to watch. Comes with a nice butler as well.

You just spoiled the whole anime Jeroz.


Anyways I find it interesting the disconnect between the people who preferred the first and second half more.

Personally I was happy he readjusted quickly because I couldn't stand the fake guttural language.

[Dark Faith]

Originally Posted by leokiko

There was a time-skip at that point, that should be obvious. And it was basically just him adaptating to life at Earth.

It was obvious. My issue was that the transition from "badass demon lord" to "average young adult on earth" felt too quick and uninteresting.
Just hoping that next few episodes spice things a bit, that's all.

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by Dark Faith

It was obvious. My issue was that the transition from "badass demon lord" to "average young adult on earth" felt too quick and uninteresting.

Yeah, that's the part I didn't like either. I guess the point is that fundamentally Satan is a nice guy who enjoys a simple life (but then how did he manage to be king of all demons?), but time skip or no time skip, it's still bit hard to swallow how he went from king of all demons to customer-centric, hard-working MgRonald's slave who doesn't even grumble about his job or the humans he has to work with, experiences no culture clash, etc.

I expected a significant percentage of the humor in this show to come from the absurd situation of a demon king living the infuriatingly mundane life of an average part-time worker, so while this episode was funny, I wonder what will be the basis of the comedy from now on. I hope it won't be a love triangle or something (unless it involves Alciel in some way, he's funny).

[mangamuscle]

Originally Posted by kuromitsu

Yeah, that's the part I didn't like either. I guess the point is that fundamentally Satan is a nice guy who enjoys a simple life (but then how did he manage to be king of all demons?)

Seems to me some people are not getting the gist that if given the power most would become a demon lord and therefore if depowered would become no different from your average joe (unless he is psychotic or your run of the mill 2D villain).

[DragoonKain3]

Originally Posted by Shadow5YA

Huh? How did you get that out of the preview?

"The Hero stays at the Dark Lord's Stronghold for Work Reasons" as the next episode title... how can you not?

[chaos_animagic]

LOL... best spoilerific official Title ever? LOL

[Sumeragi]

Originally Posted by ogon_bat

Seems to me some people are not getting the gist that if given the power most would become a demon lord and therefore if depowered would become no different from your average joe (unless he is psychotic or your run of the mill 2D villain).

Quite true. That's also the "banality of evil".

[kuromitsu]

Originally Posted by ogon_bat

Seems to me some people are not getting the gist that if given the power most would become a demon lord and therefore if depowered would become no different from your average joe (unless he is psychotic or your run of the mill 2D villain).

Er, from what I gathered Satan is a "demon lord" or rather "king of demons" because he's a demon by ethnicity/race and he's the leader of his race of demons. Hence he's the king of demons. ("Satan" is apparently his given name, like Jack or Brian.) Alciel also lost his demon form on Earth, and they speculate that it's due ot their magic that they had a demon form in the first place.