AnimeSuki Forums

Dr. Casey · 2013-03-09, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa547

I know. There's so much to cover yet so little time, and some people are expecting either some more of the girls' backstories or a more coherent plot or both.

Yeah... if Next Stage is indeed the end to the franchise, I find it hard to imagine that the story will ultimately end up being a coherent one. The original series was about four girls trying to join the idol band they admired as children and their early trials and misadventures as part of said band, the second is about a competition to ascend to some rank named Center Nova, and then... the end? Story over? In PlayStation RPG terms, Yuko sacrificing herself at the end of 'Decisive Battle on Akibastar' would be like the climax of Disk 1. Considering how much ground there is to cover, how little ground has been covered, and the unevenness with which said ground has been traversed, it's hard to imagine AKB0048 being a properly-told story with a beginning, middle, and end. I'm hoping for at least another season or two.

Random Wanderer · 2013-03-09, 21:11

Ok, that one was a little strange. At least they made a little progress on utilizing dualium out of it.

Chi-er-i... I just said last week that you wouldn't run off and leave your friends behind when they might need you, and here you are doing just that. Do you really think your father's going to say "Oh, I'm sorry my daughter, I didn't realize my galaxy-spanning reign of corporate oppression, terror, xenocide, and murder were against your will. Of course I'll stop doing all those things right away."? How well do you even know your father if you really think you're going to be able to work this out by talking?

Kazu-kun · 2013-03-09, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

How well do you even know your father if you really think you're going to be able to work this out by talking?

Well, she's an idol. She's got to believe that her song and feelings can reach him no matter how impossible it seems (and yeah, I know that sounds cheesy as hell).

I'm worried for her though, specially since Nagisa's tagging along and Chieri has the "bad" habit of putting her life on the line for her friends....

Random Wanderer · 2013-03-09, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Casey

Yeah... if Next Stage is indeed the end to the franchise, I find it hard to imagine that the story will ultimately end up being a coherent one. The original series was about four girls trying to join the idol band they admired as children and their early trials and misadventures as part of said band, the second is about a competition to ascend to some rank named Center Nova, and then... the end? Story over? In PlayStation RPG terms, Yuko sacrificing herself at the end of 'Decisive Battle on Akibastar' would be like the climax of Disk 1. Considering how much ground there is to cover, how little ground has been covered, and the unevenness with which said ground has been traversed, it's hard to imagine AKB0048 being a properly-told story with a beginning, middle, and end. I'm hoping for at least another season or two.

I would say the whole story of both seasons has actually been about the disappearing center novae and the kirara. The girls have just been mostly unaware of that fact until recently.

That said, I do feel that season two has felt a bit disjointed compared to season 1. It feels like it has had less of a coherent path through it.

Quote:

Well, she's an idol. She's got to believe that her song and feelings can reach him no matter how impossible it seems (and yeah, I know that sounds cheesy as hell).

I'm worried for her though, specially since Nagisa's coming along and Chieri has the "bad" habit of putting her life on the line for her friends....

Neither of them is going to fare well on Sagittariusstar. A pair of idols with center nova potential? Odds are both of them will end up in a lab, being experimented on.

Ascaloth · 2013-03-09, 22:33

Welp, Kawamori's really hitting the shrooms this episode.

sa547 · 2013-03-09, 23:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ascaloth

Welp, Kawamori's really hitting the shrooms this episode.

Hahaha! Suzuko had the equivalent of her first bong hit.

Ascaloth · 2013-03-09, 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa547

Hahaha! Suzuko had the equivalent of her first bong hit.

Tell me about it. When I saw Suzuko get puffed by that shroom, I just knew somehow that Kawamori did exactly the same thing to himself when he was making this episode. It certainly showed in his final output, too.

sa547 · 2013-03-09, 23:50

The Funghi are no doubt the Wookies of the 0048 universe.

Now if they could get one of them aboard, then given an armored carapace, a full-sized Funghi would be relentless as a tank should the girls try to liberate Akibastar.

Had to be one of the most amusing episodes this far, and I'm trying hard not to laugh too loud.

FlareKnight · 2013-03-10, 00:03

This was pretty damn silly. Not sure it was a good idea considering how many episodes they have left to work with. Though I suppose we needed to be reminded that Orine exists

. This is the most focus she's gotten then last seasons finale episodes.

Random Wanderer · 2013-03-10, 00:46

During the song, the girls thought something that caught my attention. "I can feel it. The forest... all of us... are becoming one!" This sounds very similar to what they felt during their concert on Lancastar, just before the bit where it seemed like they were pushing themselves too far and they were going to disappear into the light. "We can feel it! Our song. Everyone's feelings. They're resonating and becoming one."

That moment on Lancastar they certainly seemed to be pushing themselves into the beginnings, at least, of the center nova phenomenon. All of them. And here, when a similar feeling overcame them, and when they are again in the presence of massive amounts of dualium, they accomplished something only a center nova (Yuuko) had ever done before. I may be off-base on this and the writers haven't planned to go this deep, but personally I'm thinking that this may be the key. Isolated, the center nova can reach this level of power, but they can't handle it on their own, and they're pulled across into the other world. I think Mii-chan's statement that the center nova has to be alone is actually the biggest fallacy, and what we're seeing here is the proof of it. To truly accomplish what they want to accomplish, they don't need a single star who burns herself out in the attempt, but a true radiant team of idols who support each other as a unified whole, and who can together accomplish these incredible feats without needing the sacrifices the center novae have made.

Benigmatica · 2013-03-10, 01:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by sa547

The Funghi are no doubt the Wookies of the 0048 universe.

Now if they could get one of them aboard, then given an armored carapace, a full-sized Funghi would be relentless as a tank should the girls try to liberate Akibastar.

Had to be one of the most amusing episodes this far, and I'm trying hard not to laugh too loud.

Good thing they didn't transform into monstrosities like the Vajra from Macross Frontier.

Azuma Denton · 2013-03-10, 01:30

Deculture !!!
Once again, the song helps human and alien understand each other.
Well, this is Kawamori's skill, so it's nothing to be surprised.

And like others, i feel this is like a filler episode. Kinda like a calm before storm.

Midonin · 2013-03-10, 10:31

AKB0048 23 - The Second-to-Last Rainforest

This episode felt so much familiar, not because I've seen it in Japanese media, but because I've seen it in American media. Protecting a natural forest environment and cute, friendly creatures (Mofufu is adorable) from a corporation? Ferngully, Avatar, whatever you call it, it's a familiar story. I am glad that Mofufu didn't end up living through a Bambi situation. That song sequence at the end was wonderful. Suzu's mushroom fantasy was also hilarious. Next thing she knows she'll be whisked off to a castle and need to be rescued by a plumber. While it felt very different from past episodes of the series, it still carried the story forward. The return of S4 was pretty cool - I'm sure it still has one or two prophecies left - and it looks like Chieri's setting herself up for the endgame. Or is it? These last few episodes have been really, really exciting.

mechdra · 2013-03-10, 11:20

I like this episode very much as it gives that relaxing kind of feeling. The music is fun and Kawamori did a good job. This episode kind of reminds me of Macross 7 and Macross Frontier.

Looking at the list of songs so far, it seems like they had played songs from Team A and Team K. Will we be hearing Team B's songs for the coming episode.

Requiem-x · 2013-03-10, 11:45

Not exactly the most happening of episode, but hey, Orine got some very needed spotlight (And Shizuko got high

), and we finally got set up for a final battle in both fronts. Chieri is finally ready to comfront her douchebag of a dad, and if someone can help her with that, is Nagisa. Go girls! Show them what happens when you two shine together! (Anyone else expecting mega yuri moment?)

Also, why is the least focused sucessor the one with the coolest kirara?

And is Sensei a collective thought mass now? Not just from akibastar, but from the whole damn agalaxy, because that's the impression I got

chaos_animagic · 2013-03-10, 14:00

Quote:

Yeah... if Next Stage is indeed the end to the franchise, I find it hard to imagine that the story will ultimately end up being a coherent one.

Which is quite interesting if you look at the Title...

AKB0048 First Stage
AKB0048 Next Stage

so... shouldn't there be at least an AKB0048 Last Stage? LOL

Sol Falling · 2013-03-10, 18:29

Wow, this was a great episode. The unusual planetscape, as well as the new (I think) bgm that played during the middle of the episode, really gave it a unique atmosphere and caught my attention. The story development was not bad either, sending Chieri and Nagisa off on a separate path for the finale. Nagisa and Chieri's implicit connection was also really nice, I found it startling how Chieri just naturally accepted (or expected) Nagisa's tagging along as she went off to SagittariuStar. Although they didn't make a big show of it, this is really quite a massive change from earlier on in the series, where Chieri struggled so much alone with the idea of leaving AKB0048.

sa547 · 2013-03-10, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by chaos_animagic

Which is quite interesting if you look at the Title...

AKB0048 First Stage
AKB0048 Next Stage

so... shouldn't there be at least an AKB0048 Last Stage? LOL

There's little chance of a third season, due to Nakaya just left to audition for the next installment of Milky Holmes, with Hata to leave next month for seiyuu school and Yagami within six months.

Master_Yoma · 2013-03-10, 21:15

Wow some alien lifeforms and some trippy mushrooms but the babys are cute weird they grow up to look like a sasquatch

sa547 · 2013-03-11, 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Master_Yoma

Wow some alien lifeforms and some trippy mushrooms but the babys are cute weird they grow up to look like a sasquatch

Reminds you firmly that this is a Kawamori production.

Need more shrooms?

2013-03-09, 21:11	Link #3562
Random Wanderer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007	Ok, that one was a little strange. At least they made a little progress on utilizing dualium out of it. Chi-er-i... I just said last week that you wouldn't run off and leave your friends behind when they might need you, and here you are doing just that. Do you really think your father's going to say "Oh, I'm sorry my daughter, I didn't realize my galaxy-spanning reign of corporate oppression, terror, xenocide, and murder were against your will. Of course I'll stop doing all those things right away."? How well do you even know your father if you really think you're going to be able to work this out by talking? __________________

2013-03-09, 23:50	Link #3568
sa547 Senior Member Author Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Philippines Age: 47	The Funghi are no doubt the Wookies of the 0048 universe. Now if they could get one of them aboard, then given an armored carapace, a full-sized Funghi would be relentless as a tank should the girls try to liberate Akibastar. Had to be one of the most amusing episodes this far, and I'm trying hard not to laugh too loud. __________________

2013-03-10, 00:03	Link #3569
FlareKnight User of the "Fast Draw" Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Canada	This was pretty damn silly. Not sure it was a good idea considering how many episodes they have left to work with. Though I suppose we needed to be reminded that Orine exists . This is the most focus she's gotten then last seasons finale episodes. __________________ Anime-Evo

2013-03-10, 00:46	Link #3570
Random Wanderer Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007	During the song, the girls thought something that caught my attention. "I can feel it. The forest... all of us... are becoming one!" This sounds very similar to what they felt during their concert on Lancastar, just before the bit where it seemed like they were pushing themselves too far and they were going to disappear into the light. "We can feel it! Our song. Everyone's feelings. They're resonating and becoming one." That moment on Lancastar they certainly seemed to be pushing themselves into the beginnings, at least, of the center nova phenomenon. All of them. And here, when a similar feeling overcame them, and when they are again in the presence of massive amounts of dualium, they accomplished something only a center nova (Yuuko) had ever done before. I may be off-base on this and the writers haven't planned to go this deep, but personally I'm thinking that this may be the key. Isolated, the center nova can reach this level of power, but they can't handle it on their own, and they're pulled across into the other world. I think Mii-chan's statement that the center nova has to be alone is actually the biggest fallacy, and what we're seeing here is the proof of it. To truly accomplish what they want to accomplish, they don't need a single star who burns herself out in the attempt, but a true radiant team of idols who support each other as a unified whole, and who can together accomplish these incredible feats without needing the sacrifices the center novae have made. __________________

2013-03-10, 11:45	Link #3575
Requiem-x The slacking one Join Date: Apr 2012	Not exactly the most happening of episode, but hey, Orine got some very needed spotlight (And Shizuko got high), and we finally got set up for a final battle in both fronts. Chieri is finally ready to comfront her douchebag of a dad, and if someone can help her with that, is Nagisa. Go girls! Show them what happens when you two shine together! (Anyone else expecting mega yuri moment?) Also, why is the least focused sucessor the one with the coolest kirara? And is Sensei a collective thought mass now? Not just from akibastar, but from the whole damn agalaxy, because that's the impression I got

2013-03-09, 22:33	Link #3565
Ascaloth I don't give a damn, dude Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In Despair Age: 37	Welp, Kawamori's really hitting the shrooms this episode.

2013-03-10, 01:30	Link #3572
Azuma Denton ~AD~ Join Date: Oct 2006	Deculture !!! Once again, the song helps human and alien understand each other. Well, this is Kawamori's skill, so it's nothing to be surprised. And like others, i feel this is like a filler episode. Kinda like a calm before storm.

2013-03-10, 10:31	Link #3573
Midonin Last Engage Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Florida	AKB0048 23 - The Second-to-Last Rainforest This episode felt so much familiar, not because I've seen it in Japanese media, but because I've seen it in American media. Protecting a natural forest environment and cute, friendly creatures (Mofufu is adorable) from a corporation? Ferngully, Avatar, whatever you call it, it's a familiar story. I am glad that Mofufu didn't end up living through a Bambi situation. That song sequence at the end was wonderful. Suzu's mushroom fantasy was also hilarious. Next thing she knows she'll be whisked off to a castle and need to be rescued by a plumber. While it felt very different from past episodes of the series, it still carried the story forward. The return of S4 was pretty cool - I'm sure it still has one or two prophecies left - and it looks like Chieri's setting herself up for the endgame. Or is it? These last few episodes have been really, really exciting.

2013-03-10, 11:20	Link #3574
mechdra Senior Member Join Date: May 2006	I like this episode very much as it gives that relaxing kind of feeling. The music is fun and Kawamori did a good job. This episode kind of reminds me of Macross 7 and Macross Frontier. Looking at the list of songs so far, it seems like they had played songs from Team A and Team K. Will we be hearing Team B's songs for the coming episode.

2013-03-10, 18:29	Link #3577
Sol Falling Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 35	Wow, this was a great episode. The unusual planetscape, as well as the new (I think) bgm that played during the middle of the episode, really gave it a unique atmosphere and caught my attention. The story development was not bad either, sending Chieri and Nagisa off on a separate path for the finale. Nagisa and Chieri's implicit connection was also really nice, I found it startling how Chieri just naturally accepted (or expected) Nagisa's tagging along as she went off to SagittariuStar. Although they didn't make a big show of it, this is really quite a massive change from earlier on in the series, where Chieri struggled so much alone with the idea of leaving AKB0048.

2013-03-10, 21:15	Link #3579
Master_Yoma Nekokota Festival Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Lost in the Fairy Forest	Wow some alien lifeforms and some trippy mushrooms but the babys are cute weird they grow up to look like a sasquatch __________________