Yada Yada Girls in a Dungeon #01 — “Let Me Check My Power Levels”

April 3rd, 2015

  

Yes, read off a character sheet. Now that’s character growth.

Impressions:

It’s probably not a good thing when you’re trying to pretend to be an adventure show and the episode peaks about 90 seconds in. ViVid and Re-Kan actually did a decent job preparing me for this, because it does a whole hell of a lot of the same godawful things that they did, only not quite as awfully. The terrible exposition for nobody in particular isn’t done as internal narration, nor is it repeated obnoxiously, and there are a few things that could actually be jokes instead of simply things screamed at the screen. Maybe most importantly, something sort of happened and it set things up and provided the quest that will supposedly drive events. It’s ironic then that said hero’s quest is as hackneyed and insubstantial as “gotta get better.”

Which is not in any way to say that these things were done well. They explain things to characters who clearly already know them, some of those things being imbecilic power level nonsense, random background nobodies announce characters who walk in, and half the jokes are that the protagonist is thicker than a black hole, with the other half being overreaction screaming. The protagonist’s entire personality is “Gotta work hard!” and “Gotta get stronger!” Basically, he’s Wil from Kamidori except all the ‘work’ gets done off-screen and somehow even more oblivious. There’s even a ridiculous bully to rant about how weak he is and explicitly announce to the world “That guy needs to get stronger if he wants to be with you, his crush.” So while it may take somewhat less of a sledgehammer to the audience than those other two did, it’s still swinging some kind of large, heavy, blunt object. What might really bother me the most though is that the dungeon and adventuring around which everything in this show supposedly revolves, are just used as plot devices; a place to go/thing to do for montages so a character can come back with their epiphany or training complete or whatever. It’s like they’re deliberately avoiding the one place where anything could actually happen, and that does not make me hopeful for the future. 

So despite its many, many failings, this somehow wins the award for the least incompetent of the first three shows I’ve watched in this new season. I really doubt it’ll hold onto that title for very long, but hey, the only other things up today are a Haruhi spinoff sans anything happening, and yet another Jump cooking tournament show, so the day is young and the competition is already tripping over the starting line!

Posted in Anime | 4 Comments »

4 Shouts From the Peanut Gallery

  • The Phantom says:

    This gives me Druaga vibes which is not a bad thing, I liked the start of that series quite a lot, so long the keep the melodrama under control and focus on the dungeon grind count me in, the loli at home or ´goddess´ was also cute but I suspect she has fake human form and is probably not human at all.

    Anyway was a good start hopefully things will remain drama free next episode.

  • kenuran says:

    I remember reading the manga adaptation of this and it mainly consisted of the boy grinding it out in the same dungeon and getting stronger while the loli-tits girl laments over not being able to screw him while the plot never really goes anywhere. I look at the OP of this anime and it seems like there still wont be any sort of over arching plot to speak of as it seems to have no real antagonist looking character in it. Maybe I’m wrong but i doubt I will be.

  • Germanguy says:

    Ep 02:

    Yes this Anime is making progress. A Boy that must play the Hero and Protect the one dear to him. But let us admit it, the UbbaKnife made personal from a another Goddess, will miracle find the Way into his Hand and he will be able to Defend this Monster. And looks like not all Goddess are friendly each other, there also Rivals and someones that want to Kill. But looks like, we have not only Female Goddess.. The Head Master of this Guild with the event, is a Male.. Even with a Long…. Nose :)

    Again *Bow of forgiveness*

    • Germanguy says:

      Oh, and the Name for the Female Goddess.. Looks like the Director is a Fan of Valhalla and Greek Goddess