To Aru Kagaku no Railgun - Episode 2 Discussion / Poll

[dahak]

Originally Posted by Shinji103

What "character interaction development?" At the end of the episode, and all the way through it, nothing has changed; Mikoto is still rejective of Kuroko's advances, Kuroko is still Oneesama-obsessed, Uiharu still looks up to Mikoto, and Saten still gets along with them. There's no development on any level or in any form.

I think while episode 1 was a better version of chapter 1, the second half of this episode was more meaningful in the chapter 17 of the manga.

Entirely due what had happened in the previous chapters and the segment of chapter 17 that lead to the having to clean the pool.

In this episode Kuroko is a spoiled brat who can't cope with Mikoto becoming friends with her friends. Or manage to act friendly to those friends. In the Manga she had more reason for getting herself into a state over her doubts and while logic on planet Kuroko is still bent wildly out of alignment with reality, there were more signs of self awareness and extenuating factors.

Originally Posted by Namihana

It's not impossible. A lot of girls from the series have fallen for Touma so...I wouldn't rule out Kuroko yet. Yet.

I think I'd rather see her fall for Style Magnus. Or Accelerator. Or 19090.

[Patriot's Blade]

Originally Posted by MeisterBabylon

So Kuroko, after some arc in future, falls for Touma. I can see it now...

Originally Posted by Namihana

It's not impossible. A lot of girls from the series have fallen for Touma so...I wouldn't rule out Kuroko yet. Yet.

Originally Posted by Shinji103

Second that.

Originally Posted by Wilfriback

+3
Touma = capturing god???
I can see the ending.

then, all the sudden, Touma looks much sexier than Accelarator,
complete with the flying rose petals

Spoiler for *cough* a harem girl's vision *cough*:

[b0nyb0y]

Though in the first ep. the "ojou sama" misconception already started to crumble, I feel that it's really this ep. that brought the girls closer to one another.

During the time when they were looking at Mikoto photo album, besides Moe overloaded, the part that I really interested me was when Saten realized that Mikoto started out from Level 1 just like anybody else. To me, this fact alone is quite significant. For one, it means that when those scientists asked for her DNA to create MISAKA network, she was still at Level 1, so it's kinda puzzling how they chose her over the rest of the Level 1 children in the city. Second, I believe this realization will bring more of Saten development. From the very start, it seems Saten's been giving herself excuse that she's stuck at Level 0 because others are just gifted. Knowing that Mikoto becomes who she is from hard work, such excuse is now being nullified. Thus, by knowing this fact, besides making herself looking at Mikoto in a new light (and relate to Mikoto better), it also put her self-awareness into a new perspective as well.

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by DRAGUN H.E.X.

then, all the sudden, Touma looks much sexier than Accelarator,
complete with the flying rose petals

Spoiler for *cough* a harem girl's vision *cough*:

I gotta admit, I kinda like the way Touma looks there better; he seems too much of a spikey-head in his final character design.

Originally Posted by b0nyb0y

During the time when they were looking at Mikoto photo album, besides Moe overloaded, the part that I really interested me was when Saten realized that Mikoto started out from Level 1 just like anybody else. To me, this fact alone is quite significant. For one, it means that when those scientists asked for her DNA to create MISAKA network, she was still at Level 1, so it's kinda puzzling how they chose her over the rest of the Level 1 children in the city. Second, I believe this realization will bring more of Saten development. From the very start, it seems Saten's been giving herself excuse that she's stuck at Level 0 because others are just gifted. Knowing that Mikoto becomes who she is from hard work, such excuse is now being nullified. Thus, by knowing this fact, besides making herself looking at Mikoto in a new light (and relate to Mikoto better), it also put her self-awareness into a new perspective as well.

I thought that was the same for everybody; Uiharu got chewed out by her teachers in episode 1 for not having grown past level 1, which suggests that Espers start out there and work their way up. All Espers probably start out at level 1, then grow from there. (or at the very least, it's just normal, with few exceptions like maybe Accelerator) Otherwise if they're just born at a certain level of power and stay there, there'd be no point in holding regular scans.

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by DRAGUN H.E.X.

Spoiler for *cough* a harem girl's vision *cough*:

fufufufu, I saw an ilustration of Touma wet in the novel thread and he looks more sexy in that way

Originally Posted by b0nyb0y

During the time when they were looking at Mikoto photo album, besides Moe overloaded, the part that I really interested me was when Saten realized that Mikoto started out from Level 1 just like anybody else. To me, this fact alone is quite significant. For one, it means that when those scientists asked for her DNA to create MISAKA network, she was still at Level 1, so it's kinda puzzling how they chose her over the rest of the Level 1 children in the city. Second, I believe this realization will bring more of Saten development. From the very start, it seems Saten's been giving herself excuse that she's stuck at Level 0 because others are just gifted. Knowing that Mikoto becomes who she is from hard work, such excuse is now being nullified. Thus, by knowing this fact, besides making herself looking at Mikoto in a new light (and relate to Mikoto better), it also put her self-awareness into a new perspective as well.

More impressive is the case of a Lvl.0 who grew up to Lvl.5
Well, the lvl. 6 project started years later, the scientists choosed her because they already had her DNA, and ask Accelerator or the N°2 to get their DNA is a big risk(of the scientists lifes).

[scr]

Son, i'm disappoint.

Spoiler for eps02:

Just what the heck is the purpose of this episode?! It's full of annoying Kuroko! (Especially her voice)
(from personal experiences, i can't stand people like her IRL or elsewhere).

[b0nyb0y]

Originally Posted by Shinji103

I thought that was the same for everybody; Uiharu got chewed out by her teachers in episode 1 for not having grown past level 1, which suggests that Espers start out there and work their way up. All Espers probably start out at level 1, then grow from there. (or at the very least, it's just normal, with few exceptions like maybe Accelerator) Otherwise if they're just born at a certain level of power and stay there, there'd be no point in holding regular scans.

Yeah, the point is that Mikoto isn't all high-and-mighty genius who falls into that "few exceptions". Knowing that Mikoto isn't part of that group helps Saten dispelling her misconception regarding Mikoto -- and that's pretty much what I was trying to say.

[Shinji103]

Originally Posted by b0nyb0y

Yeah, the point is that Mikoto isn't all high-and-mighty genius who falls into that "few exceptions". Knowing that Mikoto isn't part of that group helps Saten dispelling her misconception regarding Mikoto -- and that's pretty much what I was trying to say.

Well I know what you meant but that had already been done; Uiharu and Saten had already realized Mikoto wasn't a high-and-mighty rich girl and was cool in episode 1.

[b0nyb0y]

Originally Posted by Shinji103

Well I know what you meant but that had already been done; Uiharu and Saten had already realized Mikoto wasn't a high-and-mighty rich girl and was cool in episode 1.

The first episode covers the part about Mikoto being down-to-earth and friendly despite her ojou-sama status. It's just that the second ep. built on that about Mikoto being who she is through effort and started climbing from Level 1 like most students. The two realizations are related for sure, but that doesn't mean all is explained in the first ep. IMO.

[Joe_fh]

When the scientist asked Misaka for the DNA she wasn't a level 1 anymore. She started from there but she worked hard and advanced quickly. She was a level 5 when they cloned her - otherwise there would be no point in doing that since they needed 128 real level 5s like her in oreder to "level up" Accelerator. If they could have gone with 128 level 1s or even 3 they wouldn't have cloned anyone. They would have just found some kids and tossed them at Acc.

And from all the level 5s Accelerator is the strongest so he's the easiest to level up I guess. That's why they chose him.

And about the episode - they're focusing on things that aren't really that important. Sure maybe they're doing that for the people that have never watched anything related to these characters but still. They're developing those relationships way too much. I mean they knew each other at the start of the manga. Here the timeline and events are quite mixed and out of order.

And episode 2 actually didn't show anything. But I like tha characters so I really don't mind it for now.

[Keroko]

Spoiler for Index spoilers:

Even if we assume the scientists were asking for Mikoto for the Accelerator (who's to say their offer wasn't genuine, but they ended up using her data for Accelerator later on?) Mikoto didn't need to be at level 5, all they needed was a talented psychic. Mikoto may have started out as a level 1, but she was still very tallented considering there are plenty people stuck at level 1 even at her age, while she was already at least a level 1 when she was just a small kid.

I think assuming Mikoto was a level 1 at such a young age is jumping to conclusions, not to mention contradictionary to what we are being told. That she worked hard to achieve level 5.

[ReddyRedWolf]

Originally Posted by scr

Son, i'm disappoint.

Spoiler for eps02:

Just what the heck is the purpose of this episode?! It's full of annoying Kuroko! (Especially her voice)
(from personal experiences, i can't stand people like her IRL or elsewhere).

You've had a clingy perverted lesbian?

[darkmaster074]

Originally Posted by scr

Son, i'm disappoint.

Spoiler for eps02:

Just what the heck is the purpose of this episode?! It's full of annoying Kuroko! (Especially her voice)
(from personal experiences, i can't stand people like her IRL or elsewhere).

i agree with you

[Joe_fh]

Spoiler:

Well she was asked by them for her DNA at an early age for something quite different but she should have already advanced more than level 3 at least. I mean it's highly unlikely that from 1.8 people only she has such an ability. Probably many others have similar ones. And it was said that there's no way to tell if someone could e a level 5 or not. Thus there's no way to say if you have a strong ability or not unless you actually reach the level.

Now this is the strange thing. They never actually said the needed her to level up Acc. They needed many level 5 espers. And since they had her DNA they calculated with her. Since she's the 3rd strongest esper there wasn't a need to get the DNA of someone else. If she was let's say the 7th they would probably have asked the 2nd for DNA.

As far as I remmber they asked for her DNA for something about people who are paralyzed or something similar since brain impulses are basically electricity. But there is no evidence they were telling the truth. They probably weren't judjing form all the things those scients are doing around the city.

[Keroko]

Spoiler for Index spoilers:

Mikoto in that scene had just recently discovered her powers, if she were already a level 3 in such a short time, that wouldn't be hard work, that would be natural tallent, making Mikoto a child genius, not a hard worker, which flies directly in the face of everything we are told. And who is to say Mikoto was the only electro master they asked? Heck, was the Level 6 experiment even running by then?

Like I said, it's jumping to conclusions. It's also perfectly possible their offer was genuine, and that when the Accelerator experiment started, Mikoto had risen to such heights that she was perfect for the experiment. And since they already had her genetic template, they could quickly begin pressing out the clones.

[Joe_fh]

Spoiler:

Haha you're right it's just jumpicng to coclusions and it's a far strech at that but I like speculating about things

And we have no info when she discovered her poewrs and when the asked her. The only thing we know was that when they asked her they said she was famous. And that leads me to believe she was already more than a level 1 or 2 at that point. She was just working really hard from an early age. Afeter all she's still very young and has been a level 5 or quite some time.

I agree with the part about the genetic template though. Like I said earlier thay only used her because they already had her DNA and she was really strong.

But hey that's only speculation again.
It's actually quite interesting to have someone to talk to about that stuff^^

[Mentar]

To make it short and sweet: Funny episode on its own which was completely misplaced as episode 2. Why? Because this is when you're supposed to make your case for the plot of your show. Instead, we got sidetracked.

In the manga, this episode was placed in between two main arcs, and this is where it belongs. Kuroko's antics, the further development of the connection to Uiharu/Saten, and Mikoto's rejection of Kuroko's lewd-yuri attacks while at the same time displaying affection and appreciation for her anyway.

My heart is bleeding for Kuroko a bit. Why? Because overall, she is much more than just the hardwired oneesama fetishist. She's smart, capable and brave _in addition_ to her yuri fixation, but episodes 1 and particularly 2 reduce her to the latter.

I sure hope that beginning with ep3, we're delving into the level upper arc without turning Kuroko (who in my opinion is the MVP and real star of the Railgun franchise) into more of a mere caricature than they already did ^_^;

[Joe_fh]

I agree with Mentar. But from the preview of the next episode it doesn't really look like something major will happen next episode. And if it's indeed only 12 episode long I don't really like that idea.

Actually most of the first arc is based around Kuroko and Uiharu. Misaka is still the main character but much more development in concentrated on those two. We still got a lot of action frm Biri-Biri though especially at the end. Either way it's a fact that they're misplacing episodes and kind of turning this into a yuri fanservice anime. Especially on Kuyoko's part.

[Namihana]

I'm guessing they're putting all the story that has nothing to do with the main arc in the first few episodes. If it's really all just 12 episodes, then putting all those things first, then the main arc later.

Railgun only has one arc...right?

[spawnofthejudge]

Not a bad episode. Odd placement, but I liked the build on the development started in episode 1. Saten-san is still my favorite of the girls; at this point I doubt that'll change.

Moment of the ep: Saten looks up Uiharu's skirt to calm herself.

Originally Posted by klare

the OP seems to show no villains, is this series simply slice of life story of the 4 girls?

As a non-manga reader, I am baffled how you thought this. There's a clear person they're intending [me] to think is the villain from the OP, I think. The fact that said character has yet to show up in an episode proper yet...

I'm getting impatient to actually see some more of the people in the OP besides our ensemble protagonist (it doesn't seem like this is about just Ms. Railgun, or even Kuroko and Railgun).