So basically it's crossing Ken'ichi with Tower of Druaga? (Holy crap has it already been almost a decade since either show?)
Thoroughly impressed by this episode. With the resurgence of OP MC's in the recent years, it's a nice change of pace to have an underdog MC who has to start from scratch. I really like how they portrayed him; it was touching without being overdone. Definitely my favourite character so far, which is saying something, because as a moefag, I usually tend to favour female characters. (Can't say I'm particularly impressed by either heroine, though I'd take Bell's hyperactiveness over Kenki's stoicness.)
Production values seems to be off the roof as well, because while I love JC Staff as a studio, outstanding art/animation outside of Index isn't one of the reasons why I adore them. In fact, Shokugeki no Soma's art is what I usually expect of them, so if it wasn't for that series I would've questioned if they were abducted by aliens or something.
