2012-03-16, 08:40 | Link #1063 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
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The last few episodes have been really, really surprisingly strong, but unfortunately, the weakness and terrible character development of the first few episodes rob the premise of the execution it deserves.
The primary issue it seems to me is simply pacing. We are given to little time to sympathize with the cast, with the secondary problem that their cast is quite weakly written. In any case, the premise of BRS reminds me strongly of Madoka Magica. Truth to be told, under more competent directing early on, and a slightly clearer and more organized and well paced plot, I'd dare say that this anime could have had the potential at least to be a good anime based on the atmosphere and sub-genre of magical girl and fantasy that Madoka Magica carved a niche for itself in. I'd really like to see a season 2 here, more properly paced (preferably with two cour), better directed, with better characterization, and with the premise even more thoroughly explored. They have ended with a very, very good premise to spin off potentially well written stories out of. Considering that Guilty Crown netted excellent sales.... and the vast legion of fans BRS likely has, I think that BD sales might well be high enough for a second season exploring deeper into the premise that the BRS anime attempted to build up and establish. It's a shame, but I think BRS is yet another example why certain plots are very exceedingly difficult to be told in a single cour, let alone 8 episodes. In that manner, I think it suffers from a similar problem to Angel Beats - excellent premise, potentially interesting character but terrifyingly atrocious pacing and very rushed and compressed plot. |
2012-03-16, 08:42 | Link #1064 | |
Romance Expert
Join Date: Feb 2012
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physical pain heals within minutes in the otherworld(as we clearly see), while psychological pain lasts a long time wherever you are(as IRL). plus, we dont actually see yuu's character in the flashback as someone who's doing things(or rather, not doing anything with her situation) "because she's nice". feels a lot more to me as "someone who has given up on life". it brings quite a contrast with mato's own situation and way of coping. |
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2012-03-16, 09:00 | Link #1066 |
is this so?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Gradius Home World
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Episode 7 really good. More information about the other world is revealed, and also some character development for Strength.. she's surprisingly kind for someone who fights a lot - possibly a hint that other world beings can actually live in human society? Or maybe Strength is an exception because she learned how to feel emotions. The others would probably just proceed to attack the first human they see.
And yes, so glad that Dead Master seems to have some life back in her. I wonder how this will effect events in the final episode? Hoping for a nice conclusion to everything.
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2012-03-16, 10:00 | Link #1067 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
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Mato's "Somebody else endures my pain so I will never be truly hurt" and Yuu's "Somebody else endures my pain so she has to make sure I don't suffer more" both pretty selfish, but understandable when you consider their history. |
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2012-03-16, 10:28 | Link #1069 | ||
Scribe
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Calico Towers, San Serriffe
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And also, when STR tells Mato that BRS "isn't you" - is she just telling her to assert her own personality, or is she saying that BRS really isn't Mato's counterpart in the Otherworld, that she's actually something else? If she's not Mato's counterpart it would help to explain why STR first becomes aware of her way back in the past (in real world terms). (Oh, and slightly tongue in cheek, it struck me that the philosophy of BRS TV is fundamentally Evangelion x Madoka, i.e. "Suffering comes from other people" x "Teenage girls are magical!" )
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2012-03-16, 10:47 | Link #1070 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
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well, Mato would be around 4-5 when STR awakened. Yuu and Saya couldn't have met for longer than 10 years if we go by the console they are playing with and the calendar in Saya's apartment.
also, remember how back in episode 5 Yuu and Mato agreed that it would be better to face their problems and fix them through the work of everybody? yeah... EDIT: actually, you know what? A 6 year old Mato could have found the Little Bird book and fixated on it. She probably understood the message of the book in a way that spawned BRS for the first time, leading to her ideology of fixing other people problems to save them from their pain and save HER from suffering their pain. She mentioned that Rock WAS the Black bird for her... this would also fit with the beginning of Mato's memories of growing up with Yuu... Last edited by dan-heron; 2012-03-16 at 11:09. |
2012-03-16, 11:06 | Link #1071 |
Longtime Lurker
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: The Inland Empire
Age: 40
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Episode 07 was excellent!
Yomi remembers her love for Mato! Deadmaster returns from death! I mean the ending credits made me cry, I was so happy. Who would have thought that an eye twich would mean so much! Hurry Yomi, your wife needs you! Though I wonder what will happen now that Kagari is starting to remember her love too. So it turns out the "kill emotions" idea was originally Black Rock Shooter's? (By the way, I rather loved the art style used in Strength's flashback.) I wonder, will Yuu ever return to the regular world? I really hope if she does, Strength doesn't disappear from the regular world. Damn, I really, really can't wait until next week.
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2012-03-16, 12:18 | Link #1072 |
Scribe
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Calico Towers, San Serriffe
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Good call on the ages. I'd been assuming that Saya meeting STR was earlier, but 10 years (or so) would be more consistent with the evidence. That puts BRS first appearing around the time of Yuu's house fire (which may, or may not, have some connection).
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2012-03-16, 13:06 | Link #1073 | ||
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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She did react rather violently to BRS's stabbing of DM. Perhaps because it's not the first time she saw such a scene. |
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2012-03-16, 13:15 | Link #1074 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
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dawww, Klashikari, I was about to post an incredibly relevant statement and a downsized version... honest....
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Yuu at least knew about the Otherworld long enough that she could tell when Str was about to die and order her not to. I'm thinking Mato was around 5-6 when she first reads the Little Bird, which makes her turn Rock into the Black Bird's representation .... she can see events in Otherworld through her dreams... it's very likely she initially saw Herself killing others and that drove her to think that Rock was somebody else rather than her darker self. |
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2012-03-16, 15:34 | Link #1076 |
Longtime Lurker
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: The Inland Empire
Age: 40
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The only person that can save her is Yomi. Remember all this started because Mato believes she killed Deadmaster. Once she knows Yomi/Deadmaster is alive, I believe she will be able to snap BRS out of her insanity and return to the regular world.
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2012-03-16, 17:11 | Link #1077 | |
Kana Hanazawa ♥
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: France
Age: 37
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2012-03-16, 17:28 | Link #1078 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: California
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2012-03-16, 18:51 | Link #1079 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
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That's where the chronology breaks down here. |
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action, slice of life |
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