Danganronpa - Episode 5 Discussion / Poll

[Triple_R]

Originally Posted by AntonKutovoi

Well, I can understand why players complain about episode, but as an anime-only viewer I found this episode to be pretty awsome. Quite emotional.

I agree with this.

For me, the chief source of enjoyment for this series is the very colorful personalities at play in the show, and how they bounce off of each other. This episode was excellent in that regard, in my opinion. The emotions and/or charisma coming out of Genocider Shou, Mondo, and especially Ishimaru, was just so engaging and even visceral.

I also really liked how the whole bit involving Genocider Shou and Togami was a red herring. I'm glad that this trail went through three different suspects before settling on the third, as I wouldn't want all the trials to be as straightforward as the first one was.

Finally, I admit some of my enjoyment in watching this show is similar to the enjoyment I used to get out of the TV show Survivor. It's just plain fun to have a contest setup like this, and watch the cast steadily whittle down one-by-one each week. There's a real tension over "Who's going to die next?" and/or "Who's the killer this time?" Since somebody is getting killed/executed each and every episode, the sense of momentum is strong and never breaks.


All of the above being said, Klash's posts make it clear just how much is being cut, so I can understand why source material fans aren't pleased. Still, this is only an one cour show, and they appear to be aiming to cover everything, so I think game fans might as well get used to the fact that the rushed nature of this adaptation is not going to change.

[ookamigirl]

This one kinda felt like that board game Clue ^^" at first.
It was pretty obvious since last time who the culprit was.
Guess being obvious doesn't mean it's right culprit.
Fukawa/Genocider Syo... multiple personalities disorder sure is a pain.
That Syo totally looked like something from The Exorcist..
Once again, there was no way I could guess the culprit.
That's probably why I like watching this anime. Keeps me guessing.

[Justice Knight]

not sure whether to continue this series or not, the way the obvious clue just blerp out in the 1st 2 case makes the other evidence useless and didnt explain the reason behind those actions.

[AC-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Justice Knight

not sure whether to continue this series or not, the way the obvious clue just blerp out in the 1st 2 case makes the other evidence useless and didnt explain the reason behind those actions.

The game explains everything a lot better;
And yeah its pretty hard to identify Mondo as the culöprit even in the game.
You get a hunch its him once the crime scene is discovered and talk to him, though thats really all there is to it. You really need to pay attention on a very small detail to really back up that he knew Fujisaki was male.

Fujisaki having a toolkit alone didn't really mean he was male btw, as there is no rule against lending them out.
- It was something that was not supposed to be there though. There were actually a few things added, while others such as Mondo referring to girls as
'chicks' while referring to boys as 'kid' got cut out.
(This was btw how Kirigiri found out it was him)

Case 3 will be pretty obvious again in my opinion, at least if you have even the slightest idea about mysteries.
Difficulty is slowly increasing between the cases, its just so obvious in the anime because they re-locate clues or don't show them at all.

The other thing is that not only story content but also the social links got cut, which enables people to look at it from an almost perfectly objective angle, thus making it easier than it already is.

So yeah playing the game is probably the better option.

[Seiryuu]

At the end of this ep, when everyone looked on at the aftermath of the execution, one vaguely familiar phrase popped into my brain: "Genocyder Syo IS NOT IMPRESSED." If only I had a screenshot image to go along with it...

[jeroz]

Guys, there's a difference between killing and murder. Please don't mix the two up.

[hamazura]

Originally Posted by jeroz

Guys, there's a difference between killing and murder. Please don't mix the two up.

please explain

[-Sho-]

What the hell , it was terrible...
Well , Fujisaki's trap was obvious with his voice. The only thing who keep me laughing is Sakura "Protein coffee" wonder if it's a trap

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by Dekart

I didn't like this episode much because it was impossible to deduce the culprit from the information given to us. I hope they reveal more clues to the audience in future episodes.

That's one of the things I hated about this arc in the anime. They removed all the clues Oowada was the culprit, making it completely meaningless for anime only watchers to speculate since they didn't have a fair chance of solving the case. If I were them, I would be pissed.

[Ledgem]

Originally Posted by Calca

Can we make it so people don't bash episodes right off the bat because it left stuff out the game has? It kind of clutters up the thread and if I wanted to know what happens in the game I'll go to the game thread.

Seconded. I also don't understand all of the complaining that this series is just a form of advertising to sell the game. Unless the series is going to end with a cliffhanger that can only be revealed by playing through the game (.hack//Sign style, in a way), what's the point in having a series that hits on all of the highlights and then reveals all of the mystery as a form of advertising? Who would buy the game after that? Is the gameplay really so appealing that people would buy the game and play through it even if they knew what was going to happen?

It's inevitable that any animation or movie will cut out some of the original source material, and that the pacing will seem rushed. As an anime-only viewer for this series I won't say that it's perfect, but it's enjoyable to watch through. I can't think of many other series that have this sort of premise. Let's appreciate it for what it is.

[White Manju Bun]

Originally Posted by Triple_R

I also really liked how the whole bit involving Genocider Shou and Togami was a red herring. I'm glad that this trail went through three different suspects before settling on the third, as I wouldn't want all the trials to be as straightforward as the first one was.

Shou definitely grabbed my attention, I thought she was great, espc throwing insults at Togami who obviously isnt used to them. Hoping she remains.

[Seiryuu]

Originally Posted by -Sho-

What the hell , it was terrible...
Well , Fujisaki's trap was obvious with his voice. The only thing who keep me laughing is Sakura "Protein coffee" wonder if it's a trap

In a different sense an inverted trap or double trick trap, since everyone who sees and hears that one thinks she's a boy trying to be a trap, but she's 100% female... on super steroids. Sort of like Saika in Yahari Ore no Seishun Love-Come wa Machigatteiru, who no one believes can really be a guy.

[Kirito]

Originally Posted by Kanon

That's one of the things I hated about this arc in the anime. They removed all the clues Oowada was the culprit, making it completely meaningless for anime only watchers to speculate since they didn't have a fair chance of solving the case. If I were them, I would be pissed.

It's quite the hassle considering that both the investigation and trial aspects seem to get to the destination instead of going through the journey on a constructive point. The only thing that really got me scratching my head this case was how can ElectroID's get broken. Kyoko briefly said it, but not at a level that was satisfying for the first time viewer ie. me to full grasp. I highly doubt that the pacing will change at this point, I find that worrying for the first time watchers, and for those who played the original source material. I'm enjoying the series, but I hope that the "journey" aspect can put into context on a level that can satisfy the watchers, if only to certain extents.

Originally Posted by White Manju Bun

Shou definitely grabbed my attention, I thought she was great, especially throwing insults at Togami who obviously inst used to them. Hoping she remains.

I'm sure there were case's when Mondo would insult and threaten the dude, if the latter was being too condescending or uncooperative, and brushed it off like it was nothing. I need to check on that, but they seemed to be on bad terms. I'm sure he wasn't expecting it from Shou due to the fact that her opposite seems to fancy him... pretty deeply at this point. The fact that she shared her dark secret with him can be evident to this.

[SquirrelLuvsPnut]

Originally Posted by serenade_beta

Er, so what exactly happened to the yankee? He got fried and turned into plasma? melted?
Ye... yea-~~h... ( -_-)

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Continuous heat combined with centrigufal force. This is actually how is performed the separation of water and fat from the solid, for food rendering.

Oh good. I was worried that I was the only one who didn't get what happened.

[ThereminVox]

Can I go ahead an expose myself as a failure in terms of following the threads here?

So... we were supposed to think Chihiro was female? And that the class didn't know? Considering the absurd costumes everyone wears, I assumed from the first episode that the dress was just another eccentric outfit. A crossdresser hardly even seemed worth noting, compared to the other ridiculous garbs on display. Am I just an idiot? What else am I utterly mistaken about?

For example correct my take on things here: Togami just declared his intention to do whatever it takes to win. Can we assume "dying" would constitute a fail-state in his mind? Because from what I gather, he decided to tamper with evidence to alternately frame himself or Fukawa? With his own life being forfeit if he succeeded in either case? What? If people are just going to act in a completely arbitrary and self-defeating way to "test" each other, then what's the point of the murder mysteries at all? Providing cover for the murderer was supposed to "shake them up?" Really? Was he hoping they'd start sweating in terror that they were going to get away with it?

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by Ledgem

Seconded. I also don't understand all of the complaining that this series is just a form of advertising to sell the game. Unless the series is going to end with a cliffhanger that can only be revealed by playing through the game (.hack//Sign style, in a way), what's the point in having a series that hits on all of the highlights and then reveals all of the mystery as a form of advertising? Who would buy the game after that? Is the gameplay really so appealing that people would buy the game and play through it even if they knew what was going to happen?

It's inevitable that any animation or movie will cut out some of the original source material, and that the pacing will seem rushed. As an anime-only viewer for this series I won't say that it's perfect, but it's enjoyable to watch through. I can't think of many other series that have this sort of premise. Let's appreciate it for what it is.

The reasoning is flawed to me because it would actually forgive any adaptation mishaps, just because it is for the "sake of advertising". To begin with, an advertisement would rather not adapt the full franchise considering it would basically spoil the fun (an example of ad anime would be Corpse Party for instance).
It is even more important for mystery series because from a genre perspective, having everything already explained might deter people to play/read the actual source material because they already know everything, hence the element of surprise is lost for good (except if the adaptation is original).
An adaptation of that kind of series ought to be self sufficient, otherwise it really fails the initial purpose of being an adaptation.

DR issue isn't even the fact it "misses few things": pretty much like Umineko, the glaring issue with the adaptation is the missing clues, the characterization that would explain some motives and the different directing that make detective elements not optimal at all, which defeats the very genre of the said franchise.
At the very least, I keep my own rants under tags which means you are free to completely ignore them. It isn't like I expect people to "really not enjoying it as an anime only watcher", in fact it is rather reassuring for the franchise that anime watchers can enjoy it, but don't ask me to nod to things I sincerely think that are wrong.

Originally Posted by ThereminVox

So... we were supposed to think Chihiro was female? And that the class didn't know? Considering the absurd costumes everyone wears, I assumed from the first episode that the dress was just another eccentric outfit. A crossdresser hardly even seemed worth noting, compared to the other ridiculous garbs on display. Am I just an idiot? What else am I utterly mistaken about?

Perhaps you had the knack to see through this kind of disguise, I don't know. However, from the series context, it isn't far fetched to think Chihiro looks way more like a girl than a boy. And suffice to say, a lot of people were also fooled by that.

For example correct my take on things here: Togami just declared his intention to do whatever it takes to win. Can we assume "dying" would constitute a fail-state in his mind? Because from what I gather, he decided to tamper with evidence to alternately frame himself or Fukawa? With his own life being forfeit if he succeeded in either case? What? If people are just going to act in a completely arbitrary and self-defeating way to "test" each other, then what's the point of the murder mysteries at all? Providing cover for the murderer was supposed to "shake them up?" Really? Was he hoping they'd start sweating in terror that they were going to get away with it?

Byakuya's "actual reason" for this was mainly because he thought this case was boring, as he witnessed Mondo leaving the women changing room, thus he was fully aware who the culprit was.
Byakuya sees Monokuma's scheme just as a game, because he can't see himself losing at all. By extent, he fully realize what's at stake there, but since the concept of dying there is alien to him, that's just that.

Now, to go further: indeed, if things went south, he would be dead along with the other students if they were to vote for Touko or himself. That being said, he had enough cards under his sleeve should the situation spiral to the "expected result".
As such, he was basically expecting a game with "peons trying to guess left and right without having actual intelligence to see through the red herring", but Makoto basically saw through of it with Kyouko's involvement (Kyouko's major input was exposing Chihiro's gender, and puhsing the points with Mondo).
In the end, after the trial, Byakuya just says it was all a game, that he could save the day, but couldn't get his momentum because of Makoto. He was actually frustrated to have such result, hence he declared he knows whom to watch for should he commit a murder.

In conclusion, Byakuya is the type of character who wouldn't mind using cheap tricks and all to take advantage of people. He has basically no qualms to follow morale whatsoever. That's the very point he made by saying he would be ready to do anything to win, including deceptions and betrayals.

[White Manju Bun]

Originally Posted by ThereminVox

So... we were supposed to think Chihiro was female? And that the class didn't know? Considering the absurd costumes everyone wears, I assumed from the first episode that the dress was just another eccentric outfit. A crossdresser hardly even seemed worth noting, compared to the other ridiculous garbs on display. Am I just an idiot? What else am I utterly mistaken about?

If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck youre gonna think it's a duck
The minute I saw Fujisaki I said "oh there's the trap". Considering this anime/game has every single stereotype in it I think it's more the audience's decision as to what he was, some people saw it, others didn't. To the class he was suppose to be female so the unveiling was part of the plot.

[Triple_R]

Well, Chihiro fooled me.

This is for the following reasons:

1. Chihiro as generic moe girl archetype made sense to me.

2. Flat-chested girls are commonplace in anime.

3. I liked the idea of a female programming whiz, so I wasn't inclined to think that Chihiro was actually male.

4. I usually don't mind traps, but they're not a character type I'm particularly interested in. So I'm generally not "on the lookout" for them, I guess you could say.

[ThereminVox]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Perhaps you had the knack to see through this kind of disguise, I don't know. However, from the series context, it isn't far fetched to think Chihiro looks way more like a girl than a boy. And suffice to say, a lot of people were also fooled by that.

Well, I won't get a big head about it. After all, I thought Sakura Oogami was male until last week. In fact, that's exactly why I didn't bat an eye at Chihiro's cross-dressing in the first place.

So uhh.. at best, I scored a 1 out of 2 on that.

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Byakuya's "actual reason" for this was mainly because he thought this case was boring, as he witnessed Mondo leaving the women changing room, thus he was fully aware who the culprit was.
Byakuya sees Monokuma's scheme just as a game, because he can't see himself losing at all. By extent, he fully realize what's at stake there, but since the concept of dying there is alien to him, that's just that.

Okay, that's something at least. And I'll happily go along with that. It just seems like a terribly irrational plan, but if there's some reason for it, I can forgive some pretty absurd stuff.

[Iron Maw]

I think the phrase "I cannot believe it's not butter!" has a horrible new meaning now.

In hindsight considering how the show more or less spelled out Fukawa's dual personality last episode, her being the culprit (along with Togami) would have been too obvious.

Originally Posted by Dovahkyon

the reason for the murder seems pretty stupid

I agree that Oowada's reasons for killing Chihiro were less than sympathetic, but people have murdered others for dumber things IRL.

Originally Posted by AC-Phoenix

I just hope they don't try to rush ch 3 like that too...
Cause Chapter 3 is a tad longer than 2... Not to talk about ch 5 & 6...
Ch 4 is easy to rush though.
But yeah they need time for the fanservice lol

With the current format and way this show's going, don't get your hopes up. We're half through the cour here and sounds like we aren't even at the equivalent mid-point of the game. The show probably shouldn't have been slotted for 13 eps I guess.

Originally Posted by Triple_R

Well, Chihiro fooled me.

Same, but in my case, I admitting just wasn't really pay much attention "him".