(L) Majo no Tabitabi (The Journey of Elaina)

[Kanon]

I have to agree with serenade.

Honestly, that felt pretty stupid. The brooch is their only way to prove they're witches and it's a unique object, and they don't even have a spell to locate it in case they lose it?

And yeah, the fact this was the country of mages was completely irrelevant. That story could have happened anywhere. They didn't focus that much on Elaina's teaching either. The only good moment was the callback to the first episode with her bullshitting Saya into eating her mushrooms.

Quite a disappointment after last week's strong episode.

[mangamuscle]

Originally Posted by Kanon

The brooch is their only way to prove they're witches and it's a unique object, and they don't even have a spell to locate it in case they lose it?

Standard disclaimer, I haven't read the original material. Now, it is logic to think there must be a simple magic spell to locate objects. But it is a giant leap to think everyone knows it, in D&D only clerics (not wizards) know such an spell. Also, let's suppose that in this world everyone that dabbles in little magic can use it, wouldn't then be logical to cast an spell to block such scrying? Otherwise you can be easily found "in the radar" (since you always carry said brooch with you) and I can think of a ton of situations where a magic user would not want that to happen.

[Marcus H.]

Speculation: A generic search for an item like that won't work because such an object is not unique. They are in a country of magic users. If someone wants to search for an item owned by someone, the witch would probably need a piece of the owner's hair or something and use that to sniff out the item from residual energy that matches the catalyst. [Disclaimer: I am not a witch.]

Regardless: the practitioner's name and title is engraved in the brooch. Someone else taking the brooch and using it as her own doesn't really work in a country filled with witches. Saya probably knows this and her entire stint involved keeping a witch to herself.

[Kazu-kun]

I don't get the criticism. I think the episode was fine.

I think people misunderstand the show. This is a character-driven show, so it's to be expected they didn't explore the setting and whatnot, and instead focused on Saya and her situation. It's that kind of show. If that's not to your liking, stop watching it now.

[FlareKnight]

I thought the episode was ok. Honestly I kind of thought it would have a more comical conclusion to the missing broach. Part of me figured it fell off and then she trapped it underneath the roof tiles when undoing the previous damage . That the other girl took it to 'trap her' made sense though.

The episode was fine and I enjoyed it in general. The start of a long journey for Elaina.

[Dharma]

It seems to be just lighthearted story. Kinda hope it will stay this way.
I assumed PV was just a joke, but episode itself got quite a dose of yuribait.
Hearing Saya (and Akudama) made me realize I am missing Kumiko, need to watch something with her...

[arkhangelsk]

Originally Posted by Marina2

Eh......She's 18 at the end of previous ep.

Oh I've rewatched it. You are right. Like fine print in a contract, they stuck it in in the ED portion with the song and credits.

But I don't think that really damages my criticism, because they've just established the character using most of episode 1 and she was a lot more bouncy and frankly interesting thing to watch. Once you've established a character, you can't just say "OK, 3 years have passed" in tiny print, effectively change the character to something more "mature" (subdued) and expect that to go well.

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

I think people misunderstand the show. This is a character-driven show, so it's to be expected they didn't explore the setting and whatnot, and instead focused on Saya and her situation. It's that kind of show. If that's not to your liking, stop watching it now.

I watched this as a "chaaracter-driven" show and didn't think too hard about things like using Search magic. I did, however, feel that neither Saya nor the protagonist were particularly interesting. Saya's scenario feels quite worn with no interesting twists nor is Saya interesting to watch (she isn't for example particularly clumsy which might be good for a couple of laughs), and since Elaina is too mature, she doesn't have snappy comebacks or anything to spice up the scene. It wasn't comedy and it wasn't drama. So it is frankly pretty "meh".

[Marina2]

Originally Posted by arkhangelsk

Oh I've rewatched it. You are right. Like fine print in a contract, they stuck it in in the ED portion with the song and credits.

But I don't think that really damages my criticism, because they've just established the character using most of episode 1 and she was a lot more bouncy and frankly interesting thing to watch. Once you've established a character, you can't just say "OK, 3 years have passed" in tiny print, effectively change the character to something more "mature" (subdued) and expect that to go well.

I guess this is one problem with anime version decision to tell the story in chronological order then. In LN, the mage city is the first arc which introduces Elena character and some of the world. Her childhood part in ep.1 of anime is actually the content that readers will read later in the LN. From LN reader POV, they will know 'present' Elena before knowing how she was in the past.

Still, I don't think she changed that much in three years. It more like how she acts differently around different people.

[Kazu-kun]

Originally Posted by arkhangelsk

It wasn't comedy and it wasn't drama. So it is frankly pretty "meh".

Well, generally it's slice of life which is neither comedy nor manga, so that's to be expected too.

In any case, all I see is wrong expectations causing negative reactions. Adjust those expectations and you'll be fine. Or maybe the show is just not for you. If that's the case, drop it now.

[serenade_beta]

Originally Posted by Kazu-kun

Well, generally it's slice of life which is neither comedy nor manga, so that's to be expected too.

In any case, all I see is wrong expectations causing negative reactions. Adjust those expectations and you'll be fine. Or maybe the show is just not for you. If that's the case, drop it now.

Don't worry, I'm sure a lot of people dro... I mean, "adjusted" their expectations for the show after ep 2.

[stray]

I dunno about expectations but I was recommended the series on Discord because Elaina was apparently great character but she just seems kind of bland so far. Maybe she's just not my type of waifu but if her charisma is supposed to carry the show I don't know if its succeeding. I do like the art anyway.

[Kanon]

I definitely had the wrong expectations, I totally thought it was going to be Kino no tabi with magic. So yeah, I'll adjust them.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

.......................wow, I certainly didn't expect this slice-of-life anime to spark some real arguments .

[myopius]

My thoughts on the first episode... it's a truly Japanese story. Instead of directly telling your daughter she shouldn't act dismissive of less talented and/or hardworking people, or otherwise teaching her better consideration in the 14 years you raised her... just arrange for a stranger to quietly bully her for a month, then make her feel like she's about to be brutally murdered while mocking her verbally.

I get that having the power of a witch is a huge responsibility and her parents worry a lot about whether she's mature enough to handle it, but psychological torture is a grossly inefficient educational method (outside of anime, it will obviously give you PTSD most of the time) so I view Nora first month with her as the author deliberately employing the most dramatic as possible plot device to convey the theme that being a witch is a heavy responsibility.

It's also quite "Japanese" how before leaving the house, her mother makes sure to tell her "if you're in danger, run away" and "you're the same as everyone else, don't think of yourself as special". Disavowing individual responsibility or individual worth... It should be said that everyone is special in different ways.

[Blueknight78]

Originally Posted by myopius

My thoughts on the first episode... it's a truly Japanese story. Instead of directly telling your daughter she shouldn't act dismissive of less talented and/or hardworking people, or otherwise teaching her better consideration in the 14 years you raised her... just arrange for a stranger to quietly bully her for a month, then make her feel like she's about to be brutally murdered while mocking her verbally.

I get that having the power of a witch is a huge responsibility and her parents worry a lot about whether she's mature enough to handle it, but psychological torture is a grossly inefficient educational method (outside of anime, it will obviously give you PTSD most of the time) so I view Nora first month with her as the author deliberately employing the most dramatic as possible plot device to convey the theme that being a witch is a heavy responsibility.

It's also quite "Japanese" how before leaving the house, her mother makes sure to tell her "if you're in danger, run away" and "you're the same as everyone else, don't think of yourself as special". Disavowing individual responsibility or individual worth... It should be said that everyone is special in different ways.

i would say i disagree a lot with you, some peoples do think a better way to teach is put the person in a situation let's say "close" to the real one to make that person know the issue, it's not bad as you make is just a different aproach, it not only give pstd as you claim since here in my country it was pretty common and you don't have everyone with ptsd.

also that "its japonese" indeed this "special" argument only make things worse in my opnion specially if that said person is not really special in the sence of being a "talent", for me is better be "realistic and prepar your kid to be strong than just "be kind" and turn that person in a "millenium person" which things which everything is a paradise dream lands you never gonna have dificults every person is "kind" believe in everyone and bla bla bla, this only make peoples easy target for bad peoples trying to take advantage of the children.

i really don't feel like her parents were "cruel or anything as you are making and i'm not "japanese" brasilian here.

it's just about "be ready for real life" and all the crap can come with it.

[EroKing]

What the hell, that just got fucking dark out of nowhere

[Nachtwandler]

Originally Posted by EroKing

What the hell, that just got fucking dark out of nowhere

It's clearly inspired by "Kino's Journey" so nothig strange here.

[EroKing]

Originally Posted by Nachtwandler

It's clearly inspired by "Kino's Journey" so nothig strange here.

Sure, nothing strange about the random pedophilia in a supposed SoL series...

[Random Wanderer]

I dropped the manga after reading the flower story. That was... just too dark for me.

[arkhangelsk]

Originally Posted by EroKing

What the hell, that just got fucking dark out of nowhere

Indeed.

On other notes, our heroine is reacting very calmly to those plants. I was watching it through the screen and I think my facial muscles twitched more.

And the last part I managed to guess when I saw the actual content of the jar.