To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S - Episode 7 Discussion / Poll

[s07195]

I really liked this episode. Even as a manga reader. Even though it's filler and anime original.

Mikoto and Kuroko's strained relationship was done quite well.

EDIT: Any info on the ending song? It's stuck in my head, much like 'only my railgun'. On the other hand, I don't like Railgun S's OP as much.

[Ilidsor]

Originally Posted by relentlessflame

But they're necessary because, otherwise, the arc would be over in 6 or 7 episodes, and this is a 24-episode show (with at least 12 for this arc). So often I find myself frustrated by stories moving too quickly and being condensed to the bone to fit a really short timeframe. (I used to rather dislike 1-cour shows for this reason.) So I really appreciate that this story is able to operate at a slightly slower pace and flesh things out (and fill out perspectives that help keep continuity with the first Railgun anime's approach). I think that, in the end, these extra perspectives will actually enhance the overall "atmosphere" since it provides a stronger foundation.

When all this is done, I suppose someone ambitious will probably re-edit the content to condense it down into an action-packed movie, and that will no doubt appeal to people who keep wanting the story to move forward. But I also appreciate what they're doing here. They have extra time and they're using it, in my opinion, pretty well. I don't think Railgun was ever trying to strictly be an "action show".

Nah the atmosphere for the Sister's arc is really more "despair and tenseness" then anything else, so I don't see how taking time away to focus on others helps. If somebody does make that edit I would love to see that.

All that being said I'm withholding judgment on this episode until I can watch the whole thing as I only had time to watch the main stuff while skipping past the filler.

The tiny bit of terrorist Misaka at the end was nice.

[Dark Faith]

"Those who believe shall be saved" ...yeah, that unscientific reasoning's why you're still a Level 0.

Dull episode, in my opinion, thanks to Saten and her antics. It's not like I dislike her character, but I feel she doesn't have a place when the mood is serious. On one hand we have Misaka overworking herself to bring down the experiments, Kuroko being worried about her onee-sama and trying to do what she can to help her...and then we have Saten with her talk of cakes, skirt lifting and money card chasing.

Just doesn't fit. And it really had a negative impact on my enjoyment of this episode.

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Dark Faith

"Those who believe shall be saved" ...yeah, that unscientific reasoning's why you're still a Level 0.
...
It's not like I dislike her character...

I never would've guessed...

Originally Posted by Dark Faith

and then we have Saten with her talk of cakes, skirt lifting and money card chasing.

And trying to make her friends feel better by showing she's there for them...

As much as I find Saten's (and Uiharu's) use in this story simplistic and repetitive, there is still a purpose behind it. That at least should be acknowledged.

[Shadrala]

Hmmm well, for me, I find that through Saten and Uiharu's carefree cheeriness, Kuroko and Mikoto's strained relationship becomes amplified, as well as the dark situation Mikoto's currently stuck in. I think they illustrate how Mikoto has isolated herself away from her friends to not burden them- which is what this episode is all about.

[ReddyRedWolf]

Originally Posted by alunde

It doesn't make sense for her to be attacking alone, when she has a roommate who would gladly (and usefully) assist her.

The advantages of using a teleport over just hacking or burning out the locks, seem obvious.

Don't you get it? When Mikoto starts these terrorist attacks she has made Academy City her enemy.

To involve her friends they would be fugitives from the law. As the law mean nothing in Academy City than a tool not a force for justice.

Remember Harumi? She couldn't do a damn thing against the persons who experimented on her kids or save them on her own as Academy City bosses are assholes.

That is the reality of Academy City.

[Dark Faith]

Originally Posted by Haak

I never would've guessed...

You really wouldn't. Because I don't. If anything I find Uiharu more annoying than she is.

I thought Saten was great in Season 1 since that season it felt a lot more light hearted than the current one, though she also played a nice role during the level upper incident... but now? She feels out of place.

Originally Posted by Haak

As much as I find Saten's (and Uiharu's) use in this story simplistic and repetitive, there is still a purpose behind it. That at least should be acknowledged.

It's not that I don't acknowledge it, but given the heavy dramatic tone of the last few episodes, any extended segment with Saten and Uiharu in them feels out of place because they change the mood so quickly.

Kuroko manages to show that she cares and tries to do something about it while keeping the overall mood of the show...and that's something, considering how she's usually the punching bag for jokes.

[ninryu]

I love this anime. I seriously fucking love this anime. FINALLY Kuroko gets her precious screentime. People can bitch all they want, but in my book - every episode of this anime is brilliant.

[Random Wanderer]

I think the review of this episode over at Random Curiosity did a pretty good job of explaining the mood of this episode and how well it fits. And those of you who insist that this isn't the mood it's supposed to have, I have to tell you that you are wrong on one very important count. This isn't your Railgun manga. This is the Railgun anime. It is, therefore, not the thing you think it is. You do not know what mood it is supposed to have, because the anime is different from the manga deliberately. Who are you to say this is the "wrong" mood, when it may well be precisely the mood the creators intend for the show to be giving at this point? You folks are judging this by the wrong set of values. You need to stop expecting the anime to be the manga. They are separate entities. If you can't do that, it will be your own expectations that limit your ability to enjoy this series.

[Miraluka]

...Kawaiso...

Originally Posted by ReddyRedWolf

Don't you get it? When Mikoto starts these terrorist attacks she has made Academy City her enemy.

To involve her friends they would be fugitives from the law. As the law mean nothing in Academy City than a tool not a force for justice.

Remember Harumi? She couldn't do a damn thing against the persons who experimented on her kids or save them on her own as Academy City bosses are assholes.

That is the reality of Academy City.

That reminds me how they skipped a critical line from Harumi after her defeat.

Something like that:
"The situation I'm in is not different from yours."

[Haak]

Originally Posted by Dark Faith

You really wouldn't. Because I don't. If anything I find Uiharu more annoying than she is.

Then why were you only blaming Saten if you thought Uiharu was even more annoying?

I thought Saten was great in Season 1 since that season it felt a lot more light hearted than the current one, though she also played a nice role during the level upper incident... but now? She feels out of place.

It's not that I don't acknowledge it, but given the heavy dramatic tone of the last few episodes, any extended segment with Saten and Uiharu in them feels out of place because they change the mood so quickly.

Kuroko manages to show that she cares and tries to do something about it while keeping the overall mood of the show...and that's something, considering how she's usually the punching bag for jokes.

That's fair enough. If you have a problem with Saten's role in this show then you wouldn't be the only one. But to act like she ruined the entire episode on her own is a bit extreme don't you think?

[ninryu]

. . . Am I the only one who actually likes Ruiko and her antics?

[Random Wanderer]

Originally Posted by ninryu

. . . Am I the only one who actually likes Ruiko and her antics?

No. I like her and them, but I didn't watch Index and didn't read the manga/novels, so I get the feeling I'm being dismissed by the "serious" fans.

[Sackett]

Originally Posted by Ilidsor

Nah the atmosphere for the Sister's arc is really more "despair and tenseness" then anything else, so I don't see how taking time away to focus on others helps. If somebody does make that edit I would love to see that.

All that being said I'm withholding judgment on this episode until I can watch the whole thing as I only had time to watch the main stuff while skipping past the filler.

The tiny bit of terrorist Misaka at the end was nice.

Look I would have preferred to go on to the main part of the story, but the atmosphere this episode was not some slice of life fluff. It was sad and melancholy. A friend is in trouble, you know she is, and yet you can do nothing to help her.

That fits with the story, it doesn't conflict.

The legitimate criticism is that it slows down the story during a build up to a climax. But in my mind even that is a matter of taste. This was the right place for a slow down if you want to tell the story that way.

Originally Posted by Dark Faith

"Those who believe shall be saved" ...yeah, that unscientific reasoning's why you're still a Level 0.

I swear it is a reference to something.

[Jaden]

I really like this arc, Mikoto going full terrorist is unexpected but a great thing for her character

[ninryu]

Also, Mikoto looks really good in ponytail. Why can't I look that good?

[DorkingtonPugsly]

The original content's inevitable so I just take it as is. Sure it sorta takes away from the originally intended vibes the arc's supposed to have but it's not bad. Just sorta lame and boring... (for me)

And yeah they have to fill up the cour anyways so might as well put in a few relative friendship/feelings scenes.

Originally Posted by Chaos2Frozen

You know, that seems to be the catch phrase for this season... >_>

Unfortunately so...

[R.LocK]

An awesome episode for a filler. Great atmosphere, nice pacing and the theme is explored brilliantly even though they used a cliche story. Yay for little good cliche, eh?

I found the researcher shutting just one of his eyes a tad creepy. My mind went blank when I saw his face at that moment because it ruined my mental images of cute girls with one eye closed. Damned researcher.

Seeing Misaka in her current outdoor clothes was refreshing in and of itself. First, it meant serious business. Second, I just liked how she looked in those clothes. And third, I do not like Tokiwadai school uniform. So plain.

And the preview. Oh, that preview. Made the episode even better. [mod edit: removed details about future content]

By the way, maybe it is because I watched just raws, I did not like the pacing of ep.6 nearly as much as of this episode. And I would consider myself a decent Railgun manga fan. Does it make me a black sheep among a stock of white sheep?

[classic]

Boring episode with boring plot and boring characters. Total waste of time(

[Haak]

Originally Posted by ninryu

. . . Am I the only one who actually likes Ruiko and her antics?

I like Ruiko and her antics, but the more it emphasises them the more I worry about her role. I'd elaborate but my perception is based on a spoiler so no dice.