(L) Shokugeki no Soma [Manga]

[ReaperxKingx]

Its tough in this situation. As a judge, do you judge base on which dish has more emphasis on the theme or a dish that is within the theme though not overly saturated, but has a higher satisfaction eating it?

In that situation, how would you guys judge?

[DevilHighDxD]

It a curry and it taste better, it no obvious choice which one is gonna get picked by the majority.

[Nightengale]

Souma never strayed from the theme though. Swirl moustache was right in the sense that the theme was just 'curry dishes', and how the spices were applied to said dishes is merely a route to developing a food suited for the theme.

I was wondering what Souma meant back when he said 'spices were important, but that's not all there is to it' back when he first met Hayama. It's suprising how simple the answer was. Just because Souma's food will not have the same 'Level 80 Spice Mastery' in his curry doesn't immediately mean that his dish will be inferior in taste.

Just because the a dish has the most masterful of spice artisanship doesn't make it a better curry than the one with less craft.

I would judge on the food that has the best balance between the theme and satisfaction. With that being said, it's not wrong either that Hayama's food was judged the way it is, either.

[kenjtr]

A big dissapointment .

[Sixth]

I just skimmed a Chinese websites, and the reactions for this chapter were pretty same as me.

"Disappointed".

Some of them even called him a dog-level, because he has same score with Alice's mad dog.

Some of those comments were hilarious although in a negative manner.

[nosaer]

I can understand everyone's strong desire to see our protagonist destroy the competition, but honestly it would probably be a very boring story if he just crushed everyone with no difficulty. Its the struggle to make it to the top that keeps it interesting. Besides while not taking first place, to place second out of hundreds of students is still extraordinary. and if it had been left to a vote instead of points, Souma would have won. Thats an interesting way to hold him back don't you think?

[DevilHighDxD]

Originally Posted by nosaer

I can understand everyone's strong desire to see our protagonist destroy the competition, but honestly it would probably be a very boring story if he just crushed everyone with no difficulty. Its the struggle to make it to the top that keeps it interesting. Besides while not taking first place, to place second out of hundreds of students is still extraordinary. and if it had been left to a vote instead of points, Souma would have won. Thats an interesting way to hold him back don't you think?

Crushing everyone? No, clearly we have no problem for Soma to lose to the like of his father and to some extent the alumni as well. But these are students, not some haxz like his father or to certain extent Shinomiya, it very reasonable for Soma to blow through these fodders. Since after all, the final goal and the final boss is his father who is on a league way too above these people in term of culinary skill.

[ellifeedn]

Technically Souma won the preliminary. Next is the actual tournament where matches are one-on-one and winning is more serious.

[DevilHighDxD]

Other than Alice and maybe to some extent Hayama and Kurokiba, rest of the people won't be much of a match for Soma. Honesty I really want to see the next match up is Soma against Megumi, since most of the known character has a match with Soma except for her and the thought of her being crushed by none other than Soma is really turning my sadist-side on~

[GreyZone]

The chapter clearly showed that these little point-differences are not saying anything. Souma was just unlucky, that he didn't hit the judges' personal preferences better and that is something you cannot blame him for. If you look at the chapter, you see how Souma and Curry guy stopped being fired up about the competetition because of the childishness of the judges, i.e. Curry guy didn't say anything like "ha! I have 1 point more than you noob!", but instead just remained silent and Souma also hoped that the next time, the judges won't argue with each other again.

I do understand though that Souma having the same score as one of Souma's rivals' "aide", is something that makes people feel disappointed. But as I said, there is no reason to take the scores at face-value.

[huynhlan]

The main problem I have with this score is that,Alice who is also no spice expert like souma yet she can beat hayama so how can souma possible beat her in the final. If he did,a lot of people would be piss unless souma went through some kind of training otherwise it would be random power up out of nowhere like some other series. Souma should be the best out of all the first year right now or equal to erina so he can focus on the second and third year which make more sense.

[larethian]

Originally Posted by GreyZone

The chapter clearly showed that these little point-differences are not saying anything. Souma was just unlucky, that he didn't hit the judges' personal preferences better and that is something you cannot blame him for. If you look at the chapter, you see how Souma and Curry guy stopped being fired up about the competetition because of the childishness of the judges, i.e. Curry guy didn't say anything like "ha! I have 1 point more than you noob!", but instead just remained silent and Souma also hoped that the next time, the judges won't argue with each other again.

I do understand though that Souma having the same score as one of Souma's rivals' "aide", is something that makes people feel disappointed. But as I said, there is no reason to take the scores at face-value.

+1. As I mentioned yesterday as well, technically this. The chapter shows very well, or at least suggests strongly, to the reader that Souma is the better chef. But instead of applauding this which is more important imo, people are missing the point and getting hung up on other stuff, partly because of what Souma said previously, I suppose. To each his own.

Originally Posted by huynhlan

The main problem I have with this score is that,Alice who is also no spice expert like souma yet she can beat hayama so how can souma possible beat her in the final. If he did,a lot of people would be piss unless souma went through some kind of training otherwise it would be random power up out of nowhere like some other series. Souma should be the best out of all the first year right now or equal to erina so he can focus on the second and third year which make more sense.

But isn't Alice in a different block? Things are relative. We should not take that to mean that Alice is better than Hayama and Souma in the absolute sense imo. At least I won't. This chapter should have impressed on us this. To reiterate GreyZone, "The chapter clearly showed that these little point-differences are not saying anything", but to each his own.

[huynhlan]

Originally Posted by larethian

But isn't Alice in a different block? Things are relative. We should not take that to mean that Alice is better than Hayama and Souma in the absolute sense imo. At least I won't. This chapter should have impressed on us this. To reiterate GreyZone, "The chapter clearly showed that these little point-differences are not saying anything", but to each his own.

Yes, differen block but since this is a manga, the judge of both block are basically the same, it's the way for the autor show you the powerlevel of each character. Yes this chapter show that a one point different especially in souma and hayama case is meaningless, but between alice and souma there is a two point different and that mean alot, has she also gotten a 94 like hayama then we have this chapter, then it would have been more believable when souma beat alice in the final, but now when that happen alot of people is going to call bs unless souma get some training in between the round. The author mess up on Alice score.

[Sarun]

It is clearly said in chapter 53 by people (characters) who seen judging in both blocks judging in Block A (Hayama, Soma) is lot more harsher than judging in Block B (Alice, Megumi).

So much reaching in here to argue that mangaka haven't made any effort to point out there are differences in judging not just within judges in same block but also judges of the 2 blocks.

[dark44]

well he is no longer bad ass main character lost to some fodders

[HayashiTakara]

Originally Posted by nosaer

I can understand everyone's strong desire to see our protagonist destroy the competition, but honestly it would probably be a very boring story if he just crushed everyone with no difficulty. Its the struggle to make it to the top that keeps it interesting. Besides while not taking first place, to place second out of hundreds of students is still extraordinary. and if it had been left to a vote instead of points, Souma would have won. Thats an interesting way to hold him back don't you think?

I wouldn't call it boring, because its virtually non-existent to have a hero that completely ass-pounds everyone. It's almost always a "heroes journey" or "boy's journey to manhood" type of story, and honestly after decades of being exposed to that kinda archetype, it's rather... old.

[Sarun]

I don't think fodders got into 90's. No, Hayama is no fodder.*

Don't expect Soma to challenge top level 2nd year or 3rd years yet.

This school stuff will be tough for and he was challenged by his dad to survive in the school. Soma will eventually go one step better by becoming #1 (by somewhere in his 2nd or 3rd year) and graduate from the school. Towards, the end of the series, he will probably be built up to beat top level chefs and then finally beat his dead.

Along the way, he will find (a) girl(s) that will make him give all the food he wants to.


* Though I wonder if Hayama will be exposed in non-curry theme.

[Proto]

I wouldn't call it boring, because its virtually non-existent to have a hero that completely ass-pounds everyone. It's almost always a "heroes journey" or "boy's journey to manhood" type of story, and honestly after decades of being exposed to that kinda archetype, it's rather... old.

Well, I'm surprised everyone here is ignoring Yakitake Japan. Trust me, it's horrible, the worst experience and extremely boring when the protagonist is this invincible monster who no one can even hope to be close to.

[DevilHighDxD]

Originally Posted by Proto

Well, I'm surprised everyone here is ignoring Yakitake Japan. Trust me, it's horrible, the worst experience and extremely boring when the protagonist is this invincible monster who no one can even hope to be close to.

In contrast, Mondaiji is enjoyable because of Izayoi being the invincible badass that he is. Soma is in the same category with Izayoi, who is this designated badass protagonist. We aren't asking Soma to be all mighty and supreme skilled, you do see any of us complained when Soma lose to his father? No, because that lost is acceptable because his father haxz and but when it come to these student, they are fodders and steps to his path to reach his father and defeat him.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by huynhlan

The main problem I have with this score is that,Alice who is also no spice expert like souma yet she can beat hayama so how can souma possible beat her in the final. If he did,a lot of people would be piss unless souma went through some kind of training otherwise it would be random power up out of nowhere like some other series. Souma should be the best out of all the first year right now or equal to erina so he can focus on the second and third year which make more sense.

Why do you assume Souma will beat Alice in the final? Because I'm pretty sure he won't.