Infinite Stratos - Episode 02 Discussion / Poll

[Sixth]

Originally Posted by Otsdarva

That, or the Sixth Ranger comes along and helps the Protagonist with their Moment of Awesome... Or steals it.

Anyways, I'm about to watch this episode, I wonder if its really that cliche as everyone says it is?

It is a generic anime series. But then, I only here to watch Cecilia and Chinese Girl.

[Otsdarva]

Yes, it's cliche. I give it a 7/10

[thundrakkon]

Originally Posted by Gohan78

Sorry but Eisenstein != Einstein.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenstein_prime

uh... errr... I think I need glasses again...

I am surprised that none of my other topics I brought up has not been discussed more. I know that novel readers can't comment on them since they are potential spoilers but still surprise, nonetheless.

[Hooves]

Originally Posted by Haak

You didn't find anything about the fight a bit standard?

Antagonist: I'm so much better than you. Take this!
Protagonist: Crap! I'm in trouble but atleast I can keep up!
Antagonis! No way! He can keep up? No one has been able to do that before!
Protagonist: IMMA GONNA BEAT YOU NOW!
Antagonist: Don't underestimate me! *Reveals secret technique!*
Protagonist: Oh shit, IT'S A PIIIIINNNNCH!
*Protagonist powers up*
Antagonist: No way! He was holding back the entire time! What awesome power!
Protagonist: *insert idealistic speech before giving the final blow*
Antagonist: *Defeat Means Friendship*

Basically this is what I found cliche about it only so far. But what can you do about it it can only get better later on.

[I_am_Kami]

Originally Posted by Haak

You didn't find anything about the fight a bit standard?

Antagonist: I'm so much better than you. Take this!
Protagonist: Crap! I'm in trouble but atleast I can keep up!
Antagonis! No way! He can keep up? No one has been able to do that before!
Protagonist: IMMA GONNA BEAT YOU NOW!
Antagonist: Don't underestimate me! *Reveals secret technique!*
Protagonist: Oh shit, IT'S A PIIIIINNNNCH!
*Protagonist powers up*
Antagonist: No way! He was holding back the entire time! What awesome power!
Protagonist: *insert idealistic speech before giving the final blow*
Antagonist: *Defeat Means Friendship*

What fight ISN'T like that. What they have to do is make it look cool in between the lines. Even to aru majutsu no index has cliche fights.

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by I_am_Kami

What fight ISN'T like that. What they have to do is make it look cool in between the lines. Even to aru majutsu no index has cliche fights.

Actually no. It highly depends how they portray the characters and their reactions in battle. The cool factor doesn't actually force you to lead to this kind of trend (otherwise, even stuff like KnK would be affected).
"Even"? No at all: most fights in To Aru is pretty down to this trend (the fight composition is majorly this way, but that's another topic).

[I_am_Kami]

Originally Posted by Haak

You didn't find anything about the fight a bit standard?

Antagonist: I'm so much better than you. Take this!
Protagonist: Crap! I'm in trouble but atleast I can keep up!
Antagonis! No way! He can keep up? No one has been able to do that before!
Protagonist: IMMA GONNA BEAT YOU NOW!
Antagonist: Don't underestimate me! *Reveals secret technique!*
Protagonist: Oh shit, IT'S A PIIIIINNNNCH!
*Protagonist powers up*
Antagonist: No way! He was holding back the entire time! What awesome power!
Protagonist: *insert idealistic speech before giving the final blow*
Antagonist: *Defeat Means Friendship*

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Actually no. It highly depends how they portray the characters and their reactions in battle.
"Even"? No at all: most fights in To Aru is pretty down to this trend (the fight composition is majorly this way, but that's another topic).

Its no different than a cliche story. Say the prince saves the princess. HOw many shows have that boy save girl sandwich. Alot, even good ones im sure. Though if u add more to the sandwich (interesting characters,the quest to get there,etc. ) It makes one hell of a story.

[Spectacular_Insanity]

Hahaha, such a typical harem setup (only man among countless females), but it's nevertheless an entertaining show.

Too bad I can already see Cecilia's character decay from the second episode. THE SECOND-FIDDLE WOMAN HAS APPEARED!

That being said, Cecilia's attitude annoys me... I am irritated by the stereotypical way Cecilia is portrayed as an arrogant English woman.

[hoarfrost]

Originally Posted by I_am_Kami

besides the harem cliche, what was cliche about the story?

Really? What about it isn't cliche? The characters, concepts, and plots so far are all as shallow and predictable as they could possibly be. Certainly, a trope or two has to be expected and even tolerated, but it might be an easier task to list what about IS isn't just an excuse to invoke a cliche plot device: The mechs not being used for warfare, rather for sports, the only IS academy in the world being in a Japanese high school, Ichika being the only male pilot and having amazing and inexplicable talent beyond that of girls who have been trained for this sport their entire lives, despite not even having read the manual.

It's clearly not an intriguing new take on an established concept like Madoka, it's not a self conscious parody like Kore wa Zombie, it doesn't have an air of mystery or unpredictability and it doesn't even have rewarding fanservice or moe to fall back on like most shows of its league. Will someone tell me what this has going for it at all? I don't really get the hype.

[kramerica]

IMO it's the execution of the cliche elements that this show has going for it. Plus expectations from what the LN fans have provided.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by I_am_Kami

What fight ISN'T like that.

I think there are plenty of shows that don't follow that trend too similarly. Klashikari is right. I think it depends on what the background to the fight is, what emotions are involved and invoked and what the characters reactions are as well as what it means to them. To Aru Majutsu no Index is definitely not what I'd consider to be a good example since I consider it to be rather standard aswell most of the time.

Originally Posted by I_am_Kami

Its no different than a cliche story. Say the prince saves the princess. HOw many shows have that boy save girl sandwich. Alot, even good ones im sure. Though if u add more to the sandwich (interesting characters,the quest to get there,etc. ) It makes one hell of a story.

Yes it does depend on how it's done, which I think is linked to what other plot elements/tropes/whatever are invoked to give it more depth or uniqueness. However I can't think of anything Infinite Stratos did to give it it's own flavour besides the mecha.

[strawberrypop]

7/10 I was looking forward to the battle scene more than anything, and it was good enough to keep me watching. I'm starting to like the characters a bit more now. Looking forward to next episode.

[Eisdrache]

Originally Posted by Reckoner

Hmm. Checked out this series due its popularity. It is pretty bad I must say.

Every single scene is so cliche it might as well have been the patching together of scenes from 10000 average anime shows.

Jesus Christ so it is cliche. So what. The setting is solid, the characters interesting, the male lead isn't as dense as a rock, the animation is fluid, the visuals are appealing and the show has a certain 'something' that is appealing to the viewer.

People really are bothered by minor issues these days.

[Haak]

Most likely Reckoner is just like me and doesn't find the setting solid, characters interesting, nor believes that the show has a certain 'something' that is appealing to him.

It's all about perspective. What some people would blieve to be minor issues, other would believe to be major.

And I think the male lead is as dense as a rock. He could see nothing that could go wrong with aksing to be a girl's roommate...

[CrowKenobi]

Originally Posted by Haak

And I think the male lead is as dense as a rock. He could see nothing that could go wrong with aksing to be a girl's roommate...

You're forgetting that he didn't ask! He was as surprised as Houki was!

I've always thought that his sister had something to do with it...

[Haak]

Oh I see. When Ichika said "no joking", I thought he meant "no shit"...

[Reckoner]

Originally Posted by Eisdrache

Jesus Christ so it is cliche. So what. The setting is solid, the characters interesting, the male lead isn't as dense as a rock, the animation is fluid, the visuals are appealing and the show has a certain 'something' that is appealing to the viewer.

People really are bothered by minor issues these days.

While Haak summarized my stance on this show I'll explain a little more.

The problem with a show being cliche for me is that I've seen TONS of anime. I do not particularly care for the 100000000th rendition of the same stock characters and archetypes and tropes without anything special to add to it. Right now this show has absolutely nothing going for it. The characters are extremely flat. The gags are not funny. The setting is rather bland.

Also, I don't find the visuals particularly appealing, and the action scene was lackluster so any amount of frames wouldn't do any better for it.

I am unable to see what this "something" is for viewers. The harem + action setup always seems to generate tons of interest. The anime community eats up this kind of garbage easily.

The show is a sad joke to me. That is all. Probably going to drop it in 1-2 more episodes if it cannot offer anything else.

[Eisdrache]

Well I can see your reasoning but can't help to wonder why you continue to watch anime since you will run into the same problem every single time you start a show. Well that's nothing to do with me so best wishes with being frustrated for the majority of your remaining anime life I guess.

[fertygo]

Who cares about the cliche ?
You should know that's what series like this or Strike Witches offer from the start lol.

This is a nice series if its fit your expectation.

Trope galore + eye candy, that its.

[Village Idiot]

Eh, who cares about it being obviously cliche?

Its nothing revolutionary or ground breaking. Its not Index, nor Clannad, nor Kara no Kyoukai, but you know what?

Its still a fun watch, and thats enough.