A Certain Scientific Railgun #01 — Sexual Harassment

October 2nd, 2009

 

Girl on girl makes it silly!

Season Premier Disclaimer:

I like to check almost every new show out. The value of a show is in its execution, not its premise. That said, my tastes are mine and mine alone. Some things bother me, some things don’t. I will attempt to be as cogent as possible as to my complaints or compliments for each show, but be aware that my views skew heavily towards the center. Nothing is perfect, nothing is irredeemable. That said, my tastes and my opinions are mine and mine alone and should not be construed as fact or, god help us, some kind of erudite critical analysis of the entire series based on the show’s first 20 minutes. Feel free to leave your own thoughts on the show if you’d like, but invective and similar will be mocked or deleted depending on which amuses me more at the time.

Impressions:

AAAAAAAAAAARGH. I know that studios love their CG vehicles and I already knew about the city’s CG windmills, but the CG soda can with CG soda? Come on. I could still be a bit riled up from Bantorra’s abuse of CG, but I doubt it. Unfortunately, the removal of Touma and Index is kind of a mixed blessing for this show so far. Sure, the exposition and a lot of the magical nonsense is gone, but with it goes any notion of a plot. This episode was dull to the point of tedium until the last two or three minutes. The school takes an ESP test, Kuroko gropes Mikoto in the shower (okay, that part wasn’t that dull), and then they go out for crepes because Mikoto wants a frog charm. Damn you, JCStaff and your bloody detestable frogs. The direction in general was pretty weak all around, although I did find the crotch cam and the subtle messages clusmy enough to laugh at. That’s something, I guess

Production was more or less the same as the first season of Index otherwise, although there were a few minor shifts in art style. The music a bit better and we didn’t hear the weird techno themes at all, thankfully. The fight at the end was also decent, but it was still on par with what Kampfer did, just for about two minutes instead of closer to a third of the episode. And involved many different spinning CG items. Sometimes a coin, sometimes a car. At least Kuroko was very Nightcrawleresque in her teleportation martial arts. That certainly doesn’t forgive the other 95% of the episode for being as dull as dishwater, but it at least jolted me out of my stupor just in time for the ED/OP credits to roll.

Well, I guess I prefer it over Bantorra, but I’m not about to go singing its praises just yet either. Maybe if they can get a plot moving in the next episode, things will get a little more engaging. They’ve got the pieces here to make a good ol’ sentai show in either the vein of ZKC or I’d even settle for a Burn Up, but if this episode is indicative of the rest of the season, then I’m probably going to opt out early.

Preview:

Kuroko has more delusions.

Posted in Railgun | 20 Comments »

20 Shouts From the Peanut Gallery

  • Lero says:

    Kuroko is so manly, why she become lesbian for a tsundere ??

  • P-Dash says:

    WOOOOOO! I love me some railgun! Been looking forward to this months now.

  • Anonymous says:

    Wooo Touma, where are you? xD

  • Honoo says:

    I needs a Touma. But this is Railgun anime. But I needs a Touma. But this is Railgun anime. But I needs a Touma. But this is Railgun anime. But I needs a Touma. But this is Railgun anime. But I needs a Touma. But this is Railgun anime.

    … *endless loop* …

    Probably I’ll check this show again when that certain scientist who doesn’t seem to get that it’s bad for a woman to strip in public…

  • redlupine says:

    After the borefest that was Index, I’m really excited for this…. ok , maybe not that excited, but certainly hopeful

  • Shinji103 says:

    Errrr, well, if the manga keeps going like this Aroduc, I wouldn’t be horribly expectant for a major plot for a while. ^^b The anime is following the manga pretty well so far, although quite surprisingly, we only got through chapter 1 this episode.

    Although for those wanting it, next episode (assuming the anime keeps with the manga), brings Touma and some actual Touma vs Mikoto action, rather than the shorter sparring from Index. Those who liked the action this episode will like the Mikoto vs Touma fight (assumedly) coming up.

    As for me, I liked the episode, but I liked the manga, so that’s not a big surprise, lol.

  • Albedo says:

    maybe I’ll check in once Touma makes his entrance…
    I was always a fan of the Touma x Railgun relationship.

  • Ezekiel says:

    Touma should drop by in the third episode or something. And for me, THAT’s where the fun begins

  • Cross says:

    I honestly thought this episode was painfully boring.

    It had moments, and some fanservice, but other than that.

    I want 24 minutes of my life back.

  • TJ says:

    Yay for more Biri-biri, but agreed this was a pretty average episode. Too much Kuroko schtick for my tastes.

  • Tensho says:

    Touma appearance would be nice.

  • LoliSauce says:

    Once level upper gets introduced, shit should start taking off.

    Anyway, I’m glad that Railgun is airing, but honestly I want Index s2 a little more.

  • Yue says:

    Less jargons and more electrifying/teleporting girls for the win…

    More JCStaff cameos for the GOLD!! ^_^

  • Mentar says:

    This was an excellent start :)

  • Oslo says:

    I really enjoyed the first season of Index, and wouldn`t mind cameo-appearences from as many of those characters as possible. Touma, Index, that blonde guy etc.

    Touma and BiriBiri hopefully will get the action going. Some verbal sparring at the level of Bakemonogatari is perhaps asking for too much?

    The yuri-stuff from that kid-sister seems to be popular with many, but being more of a romantic kind-of-guy, I think I that i prefer a Touma plus BiriBiri-pairing.

    Hopefully this show will not be hijacked by the yuri-crowd with regard to the blogging community.

    I wonder if what is happening in this series is on the same time-line as the first season of Index? It would be fun to see the same confrontations between Touma and BiriBiri again, but this time from her perspective.

    Fingers crossed for a second season of Index.

  • The Phantom says:

    Seems like biri biri is back, this episode was alright but removing Touma from this anime pretty much removes the whole romantic subplot from it. It seems that without Touma misaka doesn’t show her full tsundere personality that is sooooo enjoyable and fun ^0^ . I at least expect touma to appear later and some awesome battles on top of that from this anime. This is by far my favorite show of the season. Biri Biri FTW!!

  • Anonymous says:

    I enjoy this alot, the voice acting for kuroko is pretty good and the pace is pretty nice.

    The OP/ED music is pretty nice too.

  • Solaris says:

    Come on this is an introduction episode. Fun (and plot) will grow up later.

  • passer-by says:

    Seeing as it should be following the manga… I suppose after 10 episodes we’ll see biribiri blasting that giant fleshy meat thingy with her railgun right? RIGHT?! Or are we going to see her side of white haired pretty boy’s arc?