[Dextro]

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

That would be an epic example of trolling the fanbase. I suspect we can mostly blame Urobuchi Gen for the fact that so many people expect this to turn dark, though. If his name hadn't been attatched to the project, would we have been so quick to theorize that things are going to go bad?

I think it would be a very big troll cause if you disregard the fact that Urobushi has such a track record you still get left with a very odd-looking show that "feels" like something's off, it's not just the origins of the story but the story itself that has given plenty of reasons so far to speculate it'll turn dark.

Originally Posted by broken270

Spoiler:

Apparently the way to become a magical girl is to have a wish that one would risk their life to make true. During a chat in the top of the schook, Homura confronts with Madoka once again, informing her to recollect their conversation from before. Saying that it was too late for her to be convincing at this stage, Homura simply leaves them alone. Madoka and Sayaka began to witness first-hand witch fighting. Sayaka bringing a bat was natural; Madoka drawing her clothes were cute. Mami begins her fight with the witch, an odd-looking creature, and efeats it with her rifles. While Sayaka continues to dislike Homura, Madoka cannot help but feel that something is odd about all of this, yet shrugs it off.

Speculation:

Spoiler:

I can't help but think that there is an even bidder price to pay other than just risking one's life when becoming a magic girl. That grief seed that Mami collects after her fight with the witch, I cannot help but think that it is just another Soul Gem but overcome with darkness. In fact, the fact that the Soul gem releasing its darkness and passes it onto the already tainted gem heightens my fear. The balance between witches and magic girls...could it be that the girls are the witches once their soul gem "dims" into a Grief Seed?

Spoiler for speculation:

That's the theory I'm entertaining myself as well but I don't know if the mahou shoujo turn to majou will be present, they might stick with simple death of the soul gem bearer.

As for the "time loop" theory I find it hard to believe, I think it's something a lot simpler: Madoka got caught up in one of Homura's fights and then someone (probably Homura herself) went out of her way to get her out of there safely. Then she woke up the next day (possibly because she blacked out or something) wondering if it wasn't just a dream. That's my theory so far but I wouldn't be surprised if it's something a bit closer to the time loop idea in the end.