A Certain Magical Index II #18 — Trading Spouses

February 11th, 2011

 

What a deep and important episode.

Impressions:

Another episode made for the sole purpose of filling up twenty minutes while making sure that absolutely nothing important happens. Shouldn’t we be building up to the final arc about now instead of watching at nuns grapple with washing machines or Accelerator stare at answering machines with murderous intent? The only even vague overture towards anything of import was Hyouka rematerializing partway through the episode. What does that have to do with the assassins sent after Touma two weeks ago? Nothing! And now here’s Touma holding Last Order upside down. Hoo-bloody-ray.

It still wasn’t a terrible episode, although the giant burst of recap with Accelerator was completely unpleasant. At least they stopped animating it entirely and then threw in a ton of flashbacks to let you know that nobody on the staff gave a crap about it. Misaka remains easily one of the best sources of humor in the show without actually breaking what flimsy character most of these people have. Still, this season’s arcs have been pretty weak compared to the first season. It’s a bit frustrating. when they so overtly press the pause button and bring everything to a total stop instead of actually… you know… trying. And yet, it’s still better than anyting Railgun ever did.

Preview:

Things covered in blood and/or saliva.

Posted in Index | 27 Comments »

27 Shouts From the Peanut Gallery

  • alex says:
    February 11, 2011 at 8:29 am

    that twintail loli nun looks like win

  • sage says:
    February 11, 2011 at 8:32 am

    Aroduc, there’s wet Laura in this episode. Your argument is invalid.

  • Ransom says:
    February 11, 2011 at 9:23 am

    At least with this episode all the main cast know one another.

    • Nanaya says:
      February 11, 2011 at 9:40 am

      Nah, Touma and Accelerator barely miss noticing each other. Which is probably good, given that if they meet again it would most likely be a deathmatch or something. Also, the series starts to divide around here with Accelerator focusing on the science side, and Touma the magic side.

      • Tylon says:
        February 11, 2011 at 10:56 am

        What if all this stuff did not happen, do you think Touma and Accelerator might become classmate?

      • Nanaya says:
        February 11, 2011 at 12:32 pm

        No. They’re too similar.

      • chad001 says:
        February 11, 2011 at 5:11 pm

        Spoiler: That’s EXACTLY what happens when they meet again, Touma’s prepping for WWIII, and Accelerator attacks him out of the blue.

      • Nanaya says:
        February 14, 2011 at 2:07 am

        To be fair, Accelerator just had the one thing that could really emotionally damage him happen just before that. He wasn’t exactly stable.

  • Mesousa says:
    February 11, 2011 at 9:36 am

    Misaka with striped panties = WIN

    • Yue says:
      February 12, 2011 at 6:05 am

      There’s 10,000 of those… so according to your equation that’s for every constant variable:

      [(Misaka with striped panties = WIN) x 10,000]

      10,000 Misaka with 10,000 striped panties = 10,000 WIN

      • Nanaya says:
        February 14, 2011 at 2:09 am

        The worst thing is, I know there are a ton of doujins based on that out there. Haven’t read any, but you know they exist.

        …Oh god, now I can’t stop imagining their 3rd person narratives in a sex scene. What have I done.

  • godlet says:
    February 11, 2011 at 10:03 am

    Totally disagree, this episode was full of character development and masterful plot progression…nevermind, even pretending this was anything other than fanservice hurts. But hey, next week…who doesn’t love some blood and saliva?

  • Amyable says:
    February 11, 2011 at 10:58 am

    I look forward to the inevitable broken-English-Index-whiteknighting comment. This episode was great because it’s in the canon, you guys. It’s just TOO COMPLECKS for any of you plebeians to understand.

    • Yue says:
      February 12, 2011 at 5:49 am

      We ARE not worthy in your presence, Your Majesty…

      …we are just but lowly infidels compared in your radiant beauty and unmatched wisdom. XD

  • Twi says:
    February 11, 2011 at 11:13 am

    Actually, it’s still on volume 12, which is comedy until the end. Next episode shows things get serious.

    Leaving that aside, the Loli-Exchange program is in full effect during this arc and the next few episodes.

    Also, anytime Hyouka rematerializes, it’s a sign that stuff is going down since she needs either a magician or large AIM field to manifest like that.

  • Aex says:
    February 11, 2011 at 12:18 pm

    Is it wrong that I loved this episode so much? I had a minor heart-attack at caption 17-18… and Misaka 10032 is win! Really enjoyed the comedy. Also enjoyed Styl being abused! XD

  • Nanaya says:
    February 11, 2011 at 12:35 pm

    Also, that washing machine is one of my favorite characters. Seriously, it’s a recurring character and is awesome.

    • Yue says:
      February 12, 2011 at 5:38 am

      Very suspicious… it’s a Crowley trap.

      • Nanaya says:
        February 14, 2011 at 2:12 am

        I doubt it, although it’s likely he sent it to torment them initially, it’s a pretty solid character. At one point, it even inspires Kanzaki when she’s having an existential crisis. I couldn’t stop laughing for twenty minutes.

  • Longhaul says:
    February 12, 2011 at 3:21 am

    “Shouldnt we be building up to the final arc”

    Granted the story is in fun times the last two episodes, but there have been several things already that are important for later arcs. As far as this episode goes in regards to this arc and leaving Accelerators motivations aside,
    -Stiyl super pissed about whats on that document.
    -Hyouka reappearing (which you mentioned).
    -Characters are being manouvered into position.

    • Yue says:
      February 12, 2011 at 8:00 am

      Yes and be better ready to explode. Fans will spill blood if it turns out to be a lackluster disastrous finale.

      But this episode just feels nice SINCE, you get to see opposite sides of the spectrum without distorting the current state of harmony [ooops… destroyed in the preview].

    • Aex says:
      February 12, 2011 at 8:11 am

      Stiyl is always super pissed, so a lot of the “impact” of that scene was kinda lost on me. That and I was distracted by dripping-wet Laura to care too much… :x

    • Nanaya says:
      February 14, 2011 at 2:16 am

      Meh, I’m looking forward to the s3 finale way more than this one, so I don’t particularly mind it at the moment. Vol 22 ended with the best boss fight to date, so that’s where I expect full effort.

  • The Phantom says:
    February 13, 2011 at 8:08 pm

    Last order was amusing, misaka and “the sister” were also good but nothing like the small devil, I love her voice too.