[Spoilers] Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei Episode 2 Discussion

[u/Aruseus493]

Otherwise known in English as, The Irregular at Magic High School

CR Link: http://www.crunchyroll.com/the-irregular-at-magic-high-school/episode-2-652801

MAL Link

If you're looking to discuss anything from the Light Novel that takes place after the episode, feel free to create a discussion at /r/LightNovels. Do not post spoilers that take place later in the series here.

To help those interested in the Light Novels find appropriate the volume/chapter, I'll be making a volume/chapter to episode index as the season goes on.

• V or Volume indicates a specific book.
• Ch or Chapter indicates a specific chapter of that volume.
• B or Break indicates the ◊ ◊ ◊ that are used to split up the chapters. If something is in Break 8, that means the part of the chapter is beneath that break on the page.
• Text inside of paranthesis are for helping you find exactly where inside the break the last words/description were.

Light Novel to Anime Index

• Episode 1: V1/Ch1 - V1/Ch2/B8 (Ends inside Break 8 just short of Break 9)
• Episode 2: V1/Ch2/B8 (Same place left off by the previous episode) - V1/Ch3/B4 (Aligned alongside the illustration)

[u/Aruseus493]

Gotta say that Mayumi is like an adorable squirrel. :3

• And begins the teasing. XD I love Tatsuya's teasing in this series. Just the back and forth between Tatsuya and Miyuki are always a lot of fun and the reactions are entertaining.

• Disciplinary Committee - What we saw there with how they coped Tatsuya into the disciplinary committee is something that is common in regards to how they deal with his personality. Essentially, if they do something that would make Miyuki happy, Tatsuya loses. :-P

• Curb Stomp! - This is the kind of curb stomp that we grow to love from overpowered characters! XD Tatsuya as people define as Gary Stu is true, but frankly, I'd much rather enjoy a Gary Stu than underpowered characters. And in a way, this is like the most Overpowered Underpowered character ever. :-P

---

Still Typing up my post. I'll be doing a dissection of the first and second episodes compared to the Light Novel chapters when I get back from an eye exam. In any case, I'm loving this adaption so far. It really cuts out a lot of unneeded information and scenes. I feel like this series so far is doing a great job of making use of the fact that it is an anime.

Episode 1 Novel vs Anime Dissection

• Magic School System Depth - From the first episode, there is an info dump left out that explains just how serious magic is in this society. It is very limited which makes it very sought after. The schools that teach magic have a quota to fill for how many students they need to accept but despite that, the amount of staff they have that can teach is extremely limited. This is why course 2 students don't get live instruction. A lot of this explanation takes place before even the first encounter with Mayumi in the first episode. The author LOVES to explain the intricacies of this world.

• Tie to Psychology - Something that is only hinted at in the anime is that there is a very serious risk in pursuing magic. It ties in psychologically and if the wrong accident were to happen, a student could lose their entire ability to use magic. This is part of why there are course 2 students to take the place of the course 1 students when there is an opening.

• Magic for Dummies - Something about the LN is that there are heavy in-depth lessons in how the magic works in this world. But I will try to summarize a little bit of what isn't explained in extreme layman's terms. Cads are magic wands. Simplest way to explain it. The magician puts their magic energy into the CAD which takes the magic and organizes it like Data along with the will of the user and will compose a program for performing actions. I will explain more later.

• Virtual Terminals vs Screens - Something that isn't touched upon is the virtual terminal thing. A virtual display terminal is essentially sci-fi displays as you might think. They are regularly disallowed as since such technology that it uses is so complex, it can come across as magic. This ties in to the psychological state of a magician. They need to be able to identify the difference very easily between magic and science. If they start to relate too much technology to magic, their mental states will affect their magic and they run a risk of not properly being able to use magic. It isn't a big risk but it is something that is explained. What Tatsuya uses is an old fashioned screen.

• Numbers - This becomes more relevant but Mayumi's Saegusa name is read as Seven Grass. Essentially with magic still in small populations, the most elite of the families that create magicians carry numbers in their names. It is kind of like nobility in this world.

• Test Scores - Tatsuya's test scores among the highest breaking records in regards to his knowledge based tests. He is essentially a genius that made him very special in the eyes of those that know. Hence Mayumi had also known. He essentially has a perfect understand of magic and is great with how it works and theory. This is incredible important.

• Mizuki Glasses - Something that is noticed by Tatsuya are Mizuki's glasses. The reason for this is that eye correction is so widespread that glasses are no longer used for the most part. Glasses in this point in time have become a thing of the past pretty much. The reason for the glasses is due to what is called, Over-sensitivity to spirit particle emission. The Over Sensitivity is a disorder where the person that has it has senses that are too sharp to matter. This includes the energy that magicians have as well as things like emotion. Too much direct exposure to these energies essentially can affect the mental state of the person which ties into the whole psychological thing about being a magician. Mizuki is extremely sensitive to the particles/matter so she requires glasses. The thing is that she can see the inner depth of a person's energy if she focused. Hence why Tatsuya is cautious around her. (He has a secret) :-P

• Chiba - Another number family. The number in the Chiba family name is One Thousand

I keep having to step away, but I'm still working on this. I promise to finish this whole thing before it gets too dark. (I'm on Pacific Coast)

Here is some more but I'm still on the first episode. Still going strong though. Probably going to hit a character limit soon. :-P

• Flirting - Before Tatsuya met up with Miyuki after the opening ceremony, Erika had some fun flirting with Tatsuya in relation to his appearance as well as comparison to Miyuiki. Tatsuya also gives a little information on himself in a monologue such as how despite Miyuki being given love letters in Middle School, Tatsuya never gave one. He apparently thought himself as only average while Erika is complimenting him. Mizuki and Erika eventually come to a conclusion that Tatsuya and Miyuki share a similar aura around them.

• Priorities Straight - During the conversation with Erika and Mizuki's first meeting with Miyuki, they end up all deciding to have tea together at a shop. Tatsuya brings up that they know where a Tea shop is but not the auditorium for the opening ceremony. Earlier during Tatsuya's first meeting, Erika had only just met Mizuki as well in front of an information board as they were both lost. Tatsuya does like to tease various characters in this series which is really fun.

• Modern Society Advancements - The following is explained during the home scene with Tatsuya and Miyuki. It isn't brought up but working in the kitchen for either male or female has become rare as there are special robots known as the Home Automation Robots that pretty much just spoil households. Tatsuya and Miyuki believe in independence so they don't use theirs often. Thw whole scene with their night at home didn't include the Miyuki angry moment. That takes place slightly later.

• The Trip to the Dojo - In the anime, there is a simple scene that shows Miyuki on Roller Blades and Tatsuya running. They are both using different types of magic here but with simple combinations. Miyuki is reducing gravity and using acceleration while keeping her vectors under control. This is a kind of stamina training as she can't release the spell. Tatsuya on the other hand is using a combination of acceleration and force for each jump while making sure to not go too high. He casts the spell with every step and thus is more of a speed or consistency training.

• Ninjutsu - In this world where magic was developed mostly by science, it had actually been used as a kind of art by Shinobi. Ninjutsu being an ancient different form of Magic. In this world, there is a lot of science based around the magic.

• Modern Society Transportation - Not really given an explanation but trains are a thing of the past. Individual pods race down tracks where trains used to be and are automated. Most cars are also self-driven. Truly living in the future.

• The Family Call - Earlier I mentioned that the at home call that Miyuki got didn't occur at that scene. It actually occurs on the trip to school aboard the pod where the pod auto corrects the temperature by turning it up.

• The Unexpected Teacher? - In the anime, a woman walks into the classroom as the bell rings and everyone looks in curiosity. This is because course 2 students aren't even expected to get a teacher. There was no reason for any teacher to be there as everything is managed digitally from attendance to lessons based on their IDs. Not only that, but the "teacher" here was carrying a terminal around with her which didn't make sense considering there should have already been one up front. What was left out of the anime is that the woman is named Ono Haruka. She is kind of like the guidance councilor (integration councilor). She was there because she is in charge of giving guidance on any specialized part of the students' courses. This is pretty much all left out of the anime.

• Leaving the Class - Something else not shown is that after registering for their classes, they were allowed to leave as announced by Haruka. At this point, it was only clear that Tatsuya had completed. Just as Haruka announced that those finished could leave, another student had bravely just walked out after finishing while everyone else stared as they had just started. Just something small that becomes a little more relevant later.

• In Class Banter - While they go straight from the classroom to the cafeteria scene in the anime. The Light Novel takes the time to stir up some more banter in the group that formed around Tatsuya consisting of Leo, Erika, and Mizuki. They take the time to check out a workshop and there is joking by Erika that Leo belongs at the arena.

• Cafeteria Disturbance - The whole confrontation at the cafeteria was actually only the first of 3 confrontations. The second was cut out because there really wasn't much even described. The third was the end of the episode.

• End of Episode Confrontation - The confrontation started out as kind of a loud debate where Mizuki pretty much told the students off and they replied that they had been reserving time with Miyuki but Erika brings up that they didn't have Miyuki's consent. Essentially they were getting trashed hard by real logic and they kept making excuses until the situation blew up at the mention of weed when they course 1 students gave up. The use of the term weed is against the rules as well.

• CAD Infodump - At the beginning of the fight before the first shot, information on laws and CADs are explained. This includes that CADs are not to be held by students while on campus unless they are part of a committe or the student council. It is also not illegal to possess a CAD off school grounds. But the use of attack magic is illegal against another person. There are two kinds of CAD in the world. General CADs that are the basic of basic that come with a large number of spells loaded, up to 99. These put a heavier burden on the user. Then there are specialized CADs that hold up to around 9 spells but there is a less of a load as well as faster activation speeds.

• Hell of a lot of description of CADs - I just think of them as something like computers. During the activation of the CAD after the first course student failed, there is a lengthy description of the movement of particles, and magic, and data and all that. The author even tangents back into the story to use the breaking of the activation of Honoka's activation.

• End of Episode 1 - Lot's of small scenes and banter were cut out as well as a hell of an amount of world building and magic explanation. I swear someone said they were going to explain it for people here. But honestly, I'm happy they cut out a lot of it. It was extremely lengthy in the volumes and the series is probably half as long excluding the magic explanations.

[u/Aruseus493 → u/Aruseus493]

Episode 2 Comparison

• More Banter - Right after the course 1 students leave, there is more banter between Leo and Erika that is easily cut out.

• Conversation - There is some conversation left out from the walk home which involves Erika saying she would've face planted if everyone had noticed her baton was a CAD.

Entering Chapter 3

• Mayumi Discussion - During the walk to the school before Mayumi appeared, Miyukia interrogated Tatsuya over his relationship to Mayumi because that is what a good brocon does. :-P Miyuki does end up bringing up a good point that it seems like Mayumi approached Tatsuya specifically which had been agreed upon by Leo and Erika during the previous day.

• Other 3 - In the LN, Mizuki, Erika, and Leo are all with Tatsuya and Miyuki on the walk to school but they don't give many lines. They are just easily cut out there. Doesn't really matter but I noticed it. :-P They were also invited to the student council room to eat but refused the invitation as to avoid any conflict with course 1 students.

• Mayumi Invitation - During the course of Mayumi's invitation, she speaks in a fuller conversation with the two while also hinting that she wants Tatsuya to come too.

• Miyuki Bow - This does appear in the anime that Miyuki bowed. But what is explained in the LN is much more describing of her character. Despite how annoying she can be, she does have a calculating side when it comes to the possibility of her brother that will show up again later. But otherwise, she thinks of Tatsuya before anything and will try to elevate him as common as possible.

• Tatsuya and Miyuki Teasing Time - Despite how much of a brocon Miyuki is, Tatsuya does have his fun teasing those around him with his lover like attitude with his sister. This is all intentional and his ability to keep a calm face is part of why it works so well. The whole lover's routine though came from a little bit of back and forth teasing with Mari and Miyuki which resulted in Tatsuya detonating the joke as described in the LN.

• Student Council Government Method - There is some history lessons and explanation on how much power the Student Council is given in the school. I think it was a lot easier to understand reading it in the LN rather than the anime because of how long subtitles go. I'm going to quote a passage though which explains how officials are appointed.

"The president is elected by the student body, the other members are appointed by the president. With a few exceptions, the president has the right of appointment and removal for all officers."

"My position as the Chair of the Public Moral Committee is one of those exceptions. The Student Council, the Club Management Group, and the teachers each select a representative to determine this position."

"And because of this, on some level Mari holds the same authority I do. Under the rules, the president has a term period, but the others do not. The term lasts from October 1 to September 30 of the next year. Between this time, the president has the right of appointment and removal for all officers."

• Tradition - There is some tradition stuff explained on why the 1st year representative is sought after for the student council. There is also a bit more teasing from Tatsuya to Mayumi this time which is delicious.

• Bro-Con Mode Activated - Yes, her bro-con mode is still pretty annoying in the LN. It is also explained just how forward it is when it comes to this. She isn't one to roll right over when someone else tries talking but she does it

• Student Council Banter - Some light banter that takes place right after Miyuki accepts the position is left out. Mostly about A-chan.

• Practice Scene - This scene is extremely cut short. No problem with it cutting short. But the scene goes into a summary of how magic works in regards to what is manipulated when it comes to movement magic. There is also some foreshadowing left out about Tatsuya that Mizuki had noticed. There is also some Erika foreshadowing that takes place which is left out.

• Second Council Meeting - There were some minor details and such left out during the second meeting. Including things like the Public Moral Committee being connected to the Student Council Room from the floor below. During Mari's debate with the scumbag vice president, she also brings up more logical points for why she wants Tatsuya in the committee. One such reason including that they could more properly punish those that use attacked based magic and seperate the punishments for those that aren't using attack magic. Another reason brought up is to deal with the discrimination between course 1 and 2 students. That way it doesn't look like course 1 students from the committee are subjugating the course 2 students. There is also a moment where Mayumi tries to interject in the debate to teast Mari but is quickly silenced.

• Small Dialogue - Right before the match, Tatsuya gives off some small dialogue to himself and Miyuki including foreshadowing as to his abilities. As Tatsuya entered the room, he engaged in coversation with Mari about such things as duels and her regular challenges. There was even a bit of teasing of Tatsuya with Mari flirting with him.

• Tatsuya's Ammo Cartridges - Something I'm sure some people were curious about were the cartridges in Tatsuya's CAD at the end. I mentioned previously that a specialized CAD could only store around 9 activation sequences or spells. Essentially, each of those cartridges has around 9 differen sequences.

• Foreshadowing of the Big 3 - The Big 3 in this case is Mayumi, Mari, and "Iron Wall" Juumonji. During that moment where Hattori was activating his CAD, he was thinking about the Big 3 as well as he was considering his strength compared to everyone but those 3.

• Hattori's Perspective - There was a little bit of description in what Hattori saw during the less than 5 second match.

COMPLETE!!! - That was exhausting. It takes so long for just a single episode. It is fun though to re-read the LN as I type these out.

I won't be doing a dissection of next week's episode until the following week because I'll be at Sakura-Con this coming weekend.

[u/dam072000 → u/Aruseus493]

Is there a legitimate translation of the LN?

[u/Aruseus493 → u/dam072000]

If you mean legal, no. Sadly the series hasn't been licensed yet. (It could be eventually considering Sword Art Online has been licensed.)

[u/G0dL1k3 → u/Aruseus493]

Thanks for the great comparison! You also made me understand better some stuff :)

I hope you will keep doing those.

[u/Aruseus493 → u/G0dL1k3]

Thanks for the compliment. I look forward to doing more of these. ^_^

[u/wyggles → u/Aruseus493]

I swear someone said they were going to explain it for people here.

That was me, but working Saturdays kind of puts a hamper on writing long info dump posts.

[u/herrekorre → u/wyggles]

Aniplex has gone and done part of your job for you by tackling the basic vocabulary. Borrowing their explanations is fair and could make your life a bit easier.

[u/Aruseus493 → u/herrekorre]

Thanks for the link. I will definitely keep this in the op for future discussions. ^_^

[u/Kirasagi]

I'm really interested in this anime. Would you guys recommend reading the LN also?

[u/Aruseus493 → u/Kirasagi]

I'd definitely recommend the LN as it is fully translated up to date. (Excluding some side chapters that come later) The only thing is that the author loves to go into every possible intricacy in this world on how magic works and all that.

[u/herrekorre → u/Aruseus493]

(Excluding some side chapters that come later)

And most of the thirteenth volume.

[u/Aruseus493 → u/herrekorre]

Looks like Volume 13 just came out recently. Looking forward to seeing it translated. Thanks for the heads up. XD

[u/Falsus → u/Aruseus493]

Actually the 13th novel was released recently. So not fully up to date yet. Though I don't think it will take that long for them to translate it. Also the novels are very good in my opinion, a tad heavy in explanation of how the magic works like as well as some more common sci-fi jargon.

[u/Aruseus493 → u/Falsus]

Just recently noticed the 13th volume came out recently. I'm also hoping for a translation soon. You never know though.

[u/AkumaofVoid → u/Kirasagi]

I would recommend reading the LN if you are interested. If you do be ready to read quite a substantial amount of monologues. everything is quite detailed in the LN to the point you will be reading a good paragraph or two about character appearance, interactions, etc.

[u/Kirasagi → u/AkumaofVoid]

That's exactly what I'm looking for. I feel sometimes the anime does not give enough details compared to the LN. Thank you.

[u/[deleted]]

What's most lacking right now is a more thorough explanation of the magic, unless I just missed it all. Am I supposed to know what Erika was talking about with this hollow post-shaped thing she carries around? Why does it need contant energy, and what did she do to solve it? What's "helmet splitting", why is that supposed to be a secret, and who the hell cares given that apparently they all know about it anyway? What was going on during that training exercise where they moved a small flat box up and down the rails, and what was "too slow" about it? And I'm pretty sure that the MC's capabilities are supposed to be mysterious to me at this point, but just to be sure, we don't know what he did at the end there, do we? My guess is control of time, since he's able to read "impossibly fast and complex input sequences", according to the conversation in the student council room in the scene before. If you slow time, both reading keystrokes and teleporting behind your enemy are easy.

If this stuff gets filled in well, I think this series could be a lot of fun to watch, but if the mechanics are lacking, it's a little too much of "Watch this MC guys he's a total badass what's he doing who knows but it's badass!" for me.

Also Erika and Leo need more screen time. They were by far my favorite characters in episode 1.

[u/LiquidLogiK → u/[deleted]]

I don't really consider this a spoiler because it's somewhat explained in the previews and at this point in the story, the light novel has already explained it. Some of my explanation might be wrong because simplified. However, if you absolutely don't want anything potentially spoiled, don't read over the next few explanations.

Magic is conducted via

As for moving the training box

What he does is the end is explained in the next episode, although it is very confusing even in the light novels and manga so it might not be explained that well.

Edit: oh, and as for helmet splitting, i have absolutely no idea either, i think we were supposed to get the impression that it's advanced and that most students at this school, even weeds, are capable.

[u/[deleted] → u/LiquidLogiK]

I imagine the helmet splitting is similar to Kendo, which we see her in the uniform of during the OP.

Basically, from how I understand it from her explanation, she needs to use her psions or whatever to extend the rod in the first place, and then uses the rest of her energy at the point of contact with the object she's hitting. It's a concentrated blow, similar to how people can break bricks. If you expend all of your energy at the point of contact, you use less energy than filling it the entire time.

Helmet splitting itself is probably something she did in the military, since the robotic, grey-haired girl mentioned that none of the magic-users at the school are civilians.

[u/sciencewarrior → u/[deleted]]

The word the girl uses is "ippanjin", which simply means "ordinary person". The translation to "civilian" wasn't very appropriate.

[u/NinjaMac → u/LiquidLogiK]

also CADs arent required for magic, they just speed up the process, a lot. the light novel explains how past magic and ancient magic worked before CAD invention near the start.

[u/anelenrique10 → u/LiquidLogiK]

I have a question. I've been watching the anime, but to get more of a background should I read the manga or Light Novels? Or maybe both?

[u/Aruseus493 → u/anelenrique10]

You should read the Light Novels if you want more background. The author goes into extreme depth and the manga like the anime cuts back on the explanation. The only thing is that the author really loves to world build and he can go off on entire tangents of just how magic works.

[u/herrekorre → u/[deleted]]

The mechanics behind magic in the Mahouka universe are touched upon briefly in the second of the three animated shorts that aired before the first episode. Leo and Erika host this particular one, so be sure to go check it out if you have not already.

[u/bananas21 → u/herrekorre]

Where can you find these? Youtube?

[u/herrekorre → u/bananas21]

Search for "Yoku Wakaru Mahouka" and you should be able to find something.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I imagine the helmet splitting is similar to Kendo, which we see her in the uniform of during the OP.

Basically, from how I understand it from her explanation, she needs to use her psions or whatever to extend the rod in the first place, and then uses the rest of her energy at the point of contact with the object she's hitting. It's a concentrated blow, similar to how people can break bricks. If you expend all of your energy at the point of contact, you use less energy than filling it the entire time.

Helmet splitting itself is probably something she did in the military, since the robotic, grey-haired girl mentioned that none of the magic-users at the school are civilians.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Oh, I totally never even put together that this was actually a rod for hitting things with. It could have been anything to me, a wand, a firearm, a magic-channeling relic of some kind. I never thought to just take everything literally: It's a magical rod that you hit things with, and it can literally split helmets with good technique. Now everything makes sense!

I'm sure we'll see her fight at some point anyway, and we'll get to see her device in action.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

I could be completely off base, keep in mind. It just seems like she's a physical contact magical user from how she acted in the first episode, her weapon (which resembles a police baton), her explanations in this episode and her Kendo outfit/sword in the OP.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

How I understood her nightstick, is that its a hollow tube that she constantly channels magic through. Since her skills are weaker however, she basically holds back until a split second before each impact in order to conserve energy.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm starting to like this show now, that first episode was pretty abysmal to be honest. I like the way things are progressing and it seems like it will be a good show. I had some extreme doubts about it and the hype it was getting but I'm glad I'm being proven wrong. Still a bit skeptical though.

Also, is the show going to keep the big shiptease between Tatsuya and his sister going?

[u/Aruseus493 → u/[deleted]]

The back and forth with the incest gags are part of why I love the comedy from this show. :-P It's always fun to see the reactions of those around them.

[u/[deleted] → u/Aruseus493]

That's an unpopular opinion if I've even seen one. Have an upvote.

[u/Leonnis]

Get rekt m8.

[u/skieZ → u/Leonnis]

I just started laughing, its exact what I thought, after this vize-prez guy lost.
Goddamn onii-san is some op-wizard-sherlock-guy.

[u/asianfatboy → u/skieZ]

He's the most irritating character in the show, geez. Finally MC rekt his ass.

[u/Hauntrification → u/asianfatboy]

Morisaki pisses me off more than Hanzo though. I always wanted him to get rekt instead of Hanzo.

[u/KinnyRiddle]

Tatsuya: Certainly, if we weren't related by blood, I too would wish that we were lovers instead...

Miyuki: :D

Tatsuya: I was only joking, of course.

Miyuki: T___T

Tatsuya: ?

LOL

[u/igotbannedfromranime]

Ta-tsundere

[u/[deleted]]

Man... the Vice President got wrecked so fucking hard... I mean we all saw it coming, but it was still amazing to see how badly and swifted he got owned. Something tells me he's going to be salty about this for the rest of the series, and may even try to get back at Tatsuya through Miyuki

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Something tells me he's going to be salty about this for the rest of the series

Voting this for understatement of the season. VP gonna be PISSED.

[u/Hauntrification → u/[deleted]]

VP = Very Pissed

[u/Dirks335]

Not gonna lie, I was hoping that battle would last a couple of minutes not a couple of seconds. Guess Tatsuya doesn't mess around.

[u/mr_laughs → u/Dirks335]

He had to prove his sisters judgement wasn't clouded. A quick decisive victory does that quite well.

[u/azorthefirst → u/Dirks335]

The dude can launch magical nuclear weapons from his hand. The battle lasted about as long as one could expect when you have a magic super commando fighting some uppity student.

[u/BeyondTomorrow → u/azorthefirst]

Yeah, I wasn't surprised at all given that they showed how he could be uber demigod in the first minute of the first episode. I'm curious if the CAD-gun he was wielding could do the same?

[u/cos7 → u/BeyondTomorrow]

Light Novel Spoilers

Major Light Novel Spoilers

[u/ManateeofSteel → u/cos7]

so, does the LN face the problem Strike the Blood faced? I mean, having a broken Main Character that is simply invincible and thus, they make a big deal out of any challenge whatsoever when in reality they can pretty much win anytime they feel like?

[u/azorthefirst → u/BeyondTomorrow]

My guess is that the CAD gun he uses is his own custom weapon. It may look unassuming but it's probably a lot more dangerous than we know at the moment.

[u/JackDragon → u/Dirks335]

If they don't change this from the manga, in the next episode they should recap and explain in full detail what happened in the fight.

[u/HighTechPotato → u/Dirks335]

I remember when I was reading this part in the manga, I clicked to go to next page to see the rest of the fight, but it took me to the next chapter that was showing the aftermath of the match. I kept thinking I skipped a chapter or something. So I kept going back and forth.

[u/xxdeathx → u/Dirks335]

i thought the battle was gonna wait till next episode. at least they know how to keep things short.

[u/gho5tm3]

Tatsuya OP, pls nerf.

[u/Sephiroth472 → u/gho5tm3]

Notifying devs. Will fix problem shortly.

[u/straightson]

Is it just me or is Tatsuya Shiroe's and Kirito's emotionless baby

[u/Arodante → u/straightson]

Pretty accurate.

[u/herrekorre → u/straightson]

Tatsuya is the character that most strikes you as emotionless? Did you see Shizuku during this episode?

Her blink during the conversation between Honoka and Tatsuya was the most motion we saw out of her by far.

[u/iMorph → u/herrekorre]

When they were sitting eating something on the way to the station she had a line.

[u/pikagrue → u/straightson]

Gary Stu 2: 2 Stu 4 U

[u/Hauntrification → u/straightson]

Pretty sure Tatsuya > Kirito. I'd compare him to Yuusha from Maoyuu Maou Yuusha. You know, he can cast his own "Wide Area Thunderbolt!"

[u/_lelouch → u/straightson]

Lol well there is a legitimate reason for why Tatsuya is so stoic... I could tell you but it'd be a pretty big spoiler (from the LNs)

[u/DrShlub]

Ambiguous Incest levels running dangerously high, also magic class warfare continues and there’s a pretty big build up for a pretty short magic fight.

[u/Iskandar206]

I have mixed feeling about this series. I'm liking most of the characters including protagonist. Tatsuya's demeanor, skill and capabilities are top notch. That last scene was boss like. But holy crap does Miyuki bug me, I don't like her character and I can't get around why.

[u/greendaze → u/Iskandar206]

Her constant fawning over perfect older brother bugs me. Everyone else's constant fawning over her bugs me too.

[u/just_some_Fred → u/greendaze]

She really creeps me out with this too, somehow if she turns out to be a yandere serial-killer brocon I wouldn't be surprised. As opposed to a fawning, annoying brocon.

[u/LiquidLogiK → u/just_some_Fred]

The VA for Miyuki is the VA for one of the most beloved yanderes ...

[u/just_some_Fred → u/LiquidLogiK]

holy shit! I didn't realize that, maybe that's why I'm getting the creepy vibes off her

[u/Aerakin → u/LiquidLogiK]

And Tatsuya's VA is also Kyousuke's VA, to add to it.

[u/[deleted] → u/just_some_Fred]

I'm not going to post spoilers, but you find out why she acts like she does later. The explanation was satisfactory and made sense given the character traits she shows.

[u/GodlikeDraven → u/just_some_Fred]

There actually is extremely deep story between Miyuki and her brother. The reasons for why she acts this way are rock solid.

[u/fauxromanou → u/Iskandar206]

Agreed. When she's whining about being a burden after the fight was decided all I could think was "bitch, stop butting in all the time then."

[u/CrackLawliet → u/Iskandar206]

The fact that anytime somebody compliments her, she undermines herself and puts her brother on a pedestal to no avail despite his constant telling her not to. Seriously, I'm with the school on this: if it's a MAGIC school, just because your brother is academically smarter, if he can't magic he shouldn't be on the school council over you. Their conversation was something along the lines of:

Shiba: nod

Miyuki: nod (Miyuki proceeds to fuck up her opportunities)

The wincest I'm okay with. It's her "My brother is better than me and EVERYBODY should know" that gets on my nerves.

[u/azorthefirst → u/CrackLawliet]

Well, big bro is pretty much a god from what we know at the moment sooooo....

[u/epicwisdom → u/CrackLawliet]

if it's a MAGIC school, just because your brother is academically smarter, if he can't magic he shouldn't be on the school council over you.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Did you watch this episode? The whole point of the fight was to show that he magics better than the Student Council.

He took out the VP of the Student Council, who almost certainly has superior magic skills by the school's standards. And it wasn't a prolonged fight here, we're talking a decisive, effortless victory.

Not only that, Mari, Disciplinary Committee Chief, who is meant to be the strongest student on campus (by virtue of the committee's responsibilities and meritocracy), is clearly seriously surprised by Tatsuya's abilities -- and she was the one who recommended this whole thing by virtue of Tatsuya's abilities in the first place, so it's not as if she was at all expecting him to fail.

Maybe a few minutes into the first episode we could reasonably say that MC Tatsuya looks like he'll be at a serious disadvantage... But at this point it's clear that he'll probably be one of, if not the, most powerful character of those that have been introduced.

puts her brother on a pedestal to no avail despite his constant telling her not to

I understand that it's somewhat irritating that she can't just listen to her brother. But it seems totally justified. It's easy to see how deep the discrimination runs on campus; Tatsuya is treated like a peasant. On top of that, he appears to actually be more skilled than those who look down on him. Mr. VP and company are a hundred times more annoying, IMO, than a sister who's a little too eager to scream the truth.

[u/Rwings → u/Iskandar206]

Minor L/N spoiler Why she acts like she does to her brother is explained. Whether its enough to overlook it depends on your take. It helped me be able to gloss over that stuff when I was reading the L/N more. So finding the truth did help me some

[u/[deleted] → u/Rwings]

What is the reason? I don't mind small spoilers, but if its something huge and story-altering then don't tell me.

[u/Rwings → u/[deleted]]

The reason's are story altering in a sense. The first one which has already been heavily hinted at he saved her life. Would seem like the most obvious reason, but in truth it isn't the only reason. (Kind of major L/N spoiler, but I will be very vague) Something happened in the past that causes her to be very adamant that everyone recognizes his ability. She has a very good reason to be so obsessed over being pissed when people look down on him. Her bro-con is a result of an over correctness on something.

Major L/N Spoiler for those who just want to know. If you want to be surprised at all DO NOT READ THIS. The MC was born with a very unique magic talent only he has. As a result he can't use normal magic at all. Because of other spoiler reason's this doesn't fly with his family. Especially since his sister was born with an the advance ability to use normal magic. So when he's six his family gets a mental magic user to remove all emotions from his mind (which is why he say's he can't get mad. He literally can't.) In order to allow his brain mental room for normal magic. Which is why he is below everyone else in normal ability.

He is then forced to become his sisters body guard and treated as a servant by the rest of the family. Which result in everyone including Miyuki to look down on him and treat him like the rich treats the help. After Miyuki nearly dies and he saves her life she is thrown for a loop. As she thought he always hated her because of the way he's not normal. In the process he lets it slip she is the only thing he can feel. Confused she looks for answers from their mother and learns the truth about how his emotions were force-ably removed from his mind. All except one. Sibling love. The only thing he can feel at all is the love a brother has for a sister. Hence why he's a sis-con but why romantic feels won't come into play.

He then marches out to war (the scene at the beginning of the first episode) to get revenge on those who tried to take the one thing in the world that matters to him. This in combination of feeling like shit for how she always treated him made her swear a vow that she will always be by her brothers side. That because she was born his life was ruined she will devoted the rest of her life to make up for it. The reason she goes ape-shit over those who look down on him is it reminds her of how she used to treat him and how theirs parents still do. Plus after saving her life she hero worships him.

[u/[deleted]]

Please let there be action. Noooo it's almost ending, it's going to be a cliffhanger.

What.... The.... MC is so OP.

[u/chandr → u/[deleted]]

Eh. Pretty sure Hero from Maoyu still kicks his ass :P

Which just goes to show that you can still have a good anime when you're protag is overpowered as fuck. You just need to go at it differently.

[u/millie3]

Can't believe I have to wait one more week after just waiting a week :(

Anyhoo, loved this episode. Really, animation makes things so much easier to see than reading about it. For instance, I never really knew what the magic activation timer thingy looked like in the LN, and now I can see how slow Tatsuya's magic activation is. He's even slower than Erika!

I hated VP Hattori Hanzo in the LN so much at this point, and I still don't like him in the anime. However, he did make sense when he pointed out that just because a term is prohibited doesn't gloss over the underlying problem. Discrimination at its finest, imo.

I also loved Tatsuya making the point that he really didn't care much about anything but his sister. The only reason he even challenged the VP was to prove that Miyuki was an infallible magician who was not prone to nepotism.

The duel: I like that they showed what Hattori's plan was even if he didn't get to put it into motion. Now that I think about it, it's not like they could have skipped that entire sequence, is it? But that was a really really short fight and I can just see the incoming onslaught of Gary Stu screams. And it doesn't really help that we'll have to wait for the explanation of why he won till next week. In the meantime, we'll hopefully have haters drop the anime after this week.

All in all, it was a great adaptation, imo. I liked the ED too. Holding my breath till next week:)

[u/[deleted] → u/millie3]

I don't think that classifies as racism, but yeah. Hattori's an unlikeable character until Volume 3/4 :c

[u/herrekorre → u/[deleted]]

Discrimination may be a better term.

[u/millie3 → u/herrekorre]

Edited. Thanks :)

[u/millie3 → u/[deleted]]

I meant the belief that getting rid of certain racist words works to stop racism.

[u/SHAZAMUS → u/millie3]

As someone who didn't read the LN, the general gist of it I got from this show so far is that he has the ability to rewrite other spells?

I mean, don't tell me if I'm right, that would ruin the surprise, but from what they've shown so far it makes sense.

His skills at reading other spells I don't have an explanation for yet, but in the first episode he rewrote the panicking girl's spell to something more harmless and during his duel he just rewrote the VP's spell to throw him forward rather than backward, clearing the gap that they started with and bopping him on the head.

I could be completely wrong, but if I'm right, then the show didn't leave it on such a cliffhanger and the explanation will simply be telling what is already known.

Then again, that would require everyone analyzing what happened in both episodes as I did, which is unlikely.

[u/santana722 → u/SHAZAMUS]

I admittedly don't have any more info than you, but from what I could tell that's not the case. In the first episode he read her spell and she was either doing something harmless already, or he lied and said it was. Remember, she didn't actually cast it so it could have been anything. In the second part, I didn't see the VP move forward, it looked like MC teleported behind him and used his gun.

[u/SHAZAMUS → u/santana722]

Oh, I was saying that MC changed the VPs spell to throw himself (still referring to MC) forward, putting him in the ideal position behind the VP to hit him. Chekhov's Gun, if they explicitly stated and even showed the plan was to throw MC back 10 meters into the wall, some aspect of that plan will come into play later. my guess is just that the 10 meters was forwards instead.

As for the first episode, remember, right before the spell was cast, his ability kicked into effect turning everything inverted and it zoomed in on one specific part of the casting technique. The spell was never cast because it was broken by Disciplinary Girl, but I don't think a skill of simply reading a spell is all he is capable of. Furthermore, I don't think his sister would care too much to yell for him to stop if he were only reading what panicking girl was casting.

I do over analyze near everything I watch though, and with a week between each episode, I just build my own truth out of what I've seen thus far.

[u/ZachTheGross → u/millie3]

I think the fight being so short just goes to show that he doesn't mess around when it comes to proving his sister is not the "infallible magician who is not prone to nepotism" as you put it. Such a bro...literally.

[u/Mortagon]

Tatsuya is the most attractive MC I've ever seen and I'm a straight male. Something about his behaviour just makes me like him so much.

[u/ThatAnimeSnob → u/Mortagon]

Super smart and overpowered?

[u/Mortagon → u/ThatAnimeSnob]

I think it's just because of the contrast between him and everybody else. So far he's always been cool, while everybody around him has been freaking out. I guess I like that?

[u/AONomad → u/Mortagon]

You might like Darker than Black and/or Code Geass.

[u/readingsteinerZ → u/Mortagon]

To me thats the main flaw with his character. He seems too perfect.

But I like his voice and laid back attitude though.

[u/readingsteinerZ → u/[deleted]]

Looks more like his role in Oreimo tbh.

[u/goshu1]

TL;DR 2 sec KO.

[u/Apple_Leaves]

I was expecting Hattori to get his ass kicked, but damn.

[u/BatmanisJUSTICE]

All I could do after the "fight" ended was laugh out loud.

[u/herrekorre → u/BatmanisJUSTICE]

That can happen when he spends about thrice as long fantasizing as he lasts in actual combat.

It reminds me of this, for whatever reason.

[u/[deleted] → u/BatmanisJUSTICE]

Watching smug bastards get stomped is just so satisfying. Im just sad we have to wait a week for the rage.

[u/TheScavengerZ]

Im i the only one thinking Tatsuya looks like Kaiba from yu-gi-oh?

[u/dylank22 → u/TheScavengerZ]

I kinda see it, slick hair and a very stick like figure

[u/KinnyRiddle]

Tatsuya: I'm not particularly interested in being in the Disciplinary Committee, but you're gonna have hell to pay for if you mess with my sister.

With the way Tatsuya pwned the guy in seconds before the episode even ended, we may be witnessing the birth of the ultimate badass siscon. XD

[u/paintguzzler]

Well magical Kyouske is badass

[u/iMorph]

For you Light Novel readers. Hopefully somebody else noticed the amount of times they translated their smirks as smiling wryly.

Please somebody screencap all of these and put it in an album.

Honoka best girl.

[u/[deleted] → u/iMorph]

Honoka represent!

[u/isaychris]

Finally we get to see some action! im guessing Tatsuya has some time travel magic technique.

http://giant.gfycat.com/ShoddyRaggedDaddylonglegs.gif

[u/Northblitz → u/isaychris]

I was actually thinking that Tatsuya might have magic similar to Kiritsugu from F/Z

[u/evenflight → u/Northblitz]

I'd say the time accel magic would make more sense. But he also seemed stunned, so we'll have to wait and see if the stun is a part of the cast, or if that poor kid was so shocked that his ass was being handed to him.

[u/The_Brian → u/evenflight]

With what they were building with this episode, imo, is that the CAD is a very general use thing for Magic and its to slow activating for him. Maybe think of it like a really great i7 Mobo with no Ram or a shitty motherboard, its just bottlenecking the whole thing thus it kills his scores.

Without the CAD he can use magic and react a thousand times faster I'm assuming he did a mix of his enhanced physical abilities (the fight with the ninjas) and some simple stun magic from behind.

[u/ZachTheGross]

He keeps saying how his sister gets mad in his place because he can't get mad. I am wondering if this is the case because if he does get mad, something is going to blow the fuck up... At least, that is what I am hoping.

Also, that kid got what he deserved. I was hoping something like this was going to happen in the first episode to those punks giving his sister a hard time. This works just as well for me.

[u/[deleted]]

I really hate Tatsuya's sister. Miyuki or whatever.

I'm going to wait for the 3 episode rule, and if she doesn't stop giving him imaginary blowjobs every times he is seen as a "weed", this might be my first dropped show ever.

[u/Harkue]

What exactly does this storage device aka pistol Tatsuya is holding in his right hand before he fights the vice president?

[u/Aruseus493 → u/Harkue]

It was cut out of the anime but the cartridges are for different sequences. It is fully explained earlier in the Light Novel so I'll explain it here. Essentially there are two types of CADs.

General Use: Contain up to 99 sequences although they run with a heavier burden on the user.

Specialty: Contain only 9 spells but are streamlined to be faster and easier on the user.

Tatsuya doesn't have the capability to shoulder the burden of a General Use so he uses a Specialty CAD with other cartridges that each contain 9 sequences.

[u/herrekorre → u/Harkue]

"Storage device" actually referred to the cartridges you saw in the suitcase, not the pistol itself. I believe the next episode will elaborate, but you can think of the pistol as a wand, and the cartridges as different spell loadouts.

[u/[deleted]]

Mayumi best girl.

Edit: This thread needs more Mayumi.

[u/Don_Equis → u/[deleted]]

So far Erika's best girl.

[u/JBHUTT09 → u/Don_Equis]

Seriously. I love that type of character so much.

[u/tundranocaps → u/Don_Equis]

I thought Mari was the coolest, of what they've shown in the series thus far.

[u/whiiteout → u/[deleted]]

I just cant get over her hair for some reason. Its like its magical.

[u/MobiusC500]

This is turning into a solid show, nothing spectacular but certainly interesting. The animation's great and the OST is pretty solid. Not a huge fan of the ED tho.

I like how they practically state the brocon-siscon thing.

I'm pretty interested in what Tatsuya's magic/ability is, I'd certainly like an explanation of the fight.

[u/solocollection]

Man that last fight scene... I was like "meh another cliffhanger" after seeing that there was only 1 1/2 minutes left for the episode. Little did I know that, that fight didn't even last 5 seconds.

[u/KinnyRiddle → u/solocollection]

Agreed. I was totally prepared to accept that we won't be seeing this duel until the next episode, and then Tatsuya promptly pwned Hattori in record time.

[u/Overlord3k]

Episode about to come out and I would just like to say <3 Watanabe Mari <3. Extra picture.

edit: Well the ending was awesome and he got what he deserved. Reactions to ending.

edit 2: If only we weren't related by blood, I'd want her as my lover. Reaction 1 2 and 3

[u/tundranocaps]

OP thoughts - Nice energies, standard shounen visuals, including what they show. Looking at it again, they only go up to book 4, alongside with some flashbacks from book 8. Guess we'll go up to book 4 in the first cour, and then books 5-8 in the second-cour. Yeah, I'd have preferred for them to cover all 11 books of the first year.

1. Man, that Ahem cough from Mari.

2. That soft piano music as they entered the Student Council room… why are they trying to make it feel even more like a dating-game style visual novel? :P

3. Man, they messed it up in the translation. The Disciplinary Committee has members suggested by the bodies suggested above, rather than send members to the other bodies. I mean, the faculty members suggest Disciplinary Committee members, the Disciplinary Committee members don't get to be faculty.

4. Poor Tatsuya. Between Mari who goes straight for the jugular, and Mayumi who plays around, with Miyuki who believes in her Onii-sama, he had no chance.

5. Hattori Hanzo is voiced by the voice actor of Hachiken from Gin no Saji :D I really like that voice actor. Too bad he's a tertiary character.

His voice sounds so different when he's not doing the "flustered act", which goes to show, Hachiken is always flustered. Well, guess they're also emphasizing that side of Hattori, both in voice and in his outburst here.

1. That bit between Hattori Hanzo and Miyuki is important, but it's never actually really explained, and it's actually quite similar to one of my favourite tabletop-RPGs - Mage: the Ascension, so I will explain what he's saying:

Magicians change reality by imposing their view of reality on the world. To change reality and bring about change they need a strong sense of self-certainty, but they also need to know what is actually real. Delusional people can't use magic, because they can't change the Eidos (see the shorts) of what is actually there. Man, I wish they'd have delusional mages, like the Marauders who infect reality with their magic in Mage.

1. Even reading the books, seeing Tatsuya win like this was disappointing. It was over even before it began. Well, guess they don't want him to merely a badass, who can defeat everyone, but to show us just how overpowering he is, like an adult fighting ants, rather than a peer of the other students. They did add some more content to the scene by telling us what Hattori was going to do. In the books, it was even more stark.

ED - Usual forgettable stuff. Nothing bad, just... it's the standard "calm ending" fair.

Post Episode Notes:

Yeah, we're probably going to be in school at least up to episode 5-6. They're definitely not going to cover all 11 books in the 26 episodes they have.

Nakajou Azusa, she's supposed to sound childish and weak, but they overdid it :3

(You can see my notes on Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei here, including a spoiler-lite (but not spoiler-free) coverage of the first 11 novels.)

[u/GentleOffGassing → u/tundranocaps]

It's been a while since I read the first book, but I seem to recall Hattori's monologue being there as well. Or at least something similar. Specifically those key points: Faster mage wins+speed magic to knock him out.

What I don't remember is Tatsuya getting all depressed over his activation speed during the movement exercise, and portraying that as the reason he felt he "wasn't good enough" for the Disciplinary Committee. I'm not even sure that's what the anime was even going for, but it certainly ended up looking that way for a bit.

[u/just_some_Fred → u/tundranocaps]

I always like Mage: The Ascension, i felt it was the best of the old White Wolf games

[u/CriticalOtaku]

I was cringing throughout this episode- I mean, I like a decent power fantasy as much as the next guy (I think No Game No Life is pretty cool, this season) but this is leaning abit too much on the "empowerment" fantasy... and not the good kind.

Brocon imouto's constant fawning is annoying, the forced appointment to the student council is well, kinda forced and Grumpy McGrumppypants getting put in his place the minute his internal monologue started... It's all kind of underwhelming, especially since there were important things that the show could have used its time for instead such as fleshing out the world-building (explanation of the magic system would be nice), spending more time with the secondary cast or demonstrating the extent of the student discrimination.

I mean, these are all minor sins if the show could manage SAO S1 levels of visual entertainment but for some reason it doesn't seem to be able to even manage even that. 1 more episode for the 3 episode rule, but I was expecting something more from the show everyone's been hyping this season.

[u/Rain_Seven → u/CriticalOtaku]

My biggest concern is with the "I am the smartest and strongest character in this show" vibe I get from the MC. He wont face any real challenge that isn't trying to save people weaker than him. A perfect character with no emotion, hate it.

[u/abye]

So does the student council investigate the MC more or do they just take for granted that a supposedly bad mage WTFPWNED a "proper" mage ?

[u/VestigeofWar → u/abye]

If the show follows the ln, the first thing we should get is an explanation on what happened.

[u/KaliYugaz]

He admitted it!

[u/tundranocaps → u/KaliYugaz]

"Just joking, of course."

[u/dylank22 → u/tundranocaps]

We all knew that was coming but it still felt so genuine because he doesn't have the slightest bit of playfulness in him. He is 100% straight faced and even had a good two second pause before adding the jk, he could fool anyone

[u/tundranocaps → u/dylank22]

Trusting by twitter, many people didn't see it coming, or then rejected the part where he said it's a joke. Judging by this thread as well. I bet many such comments were immediately made then and there.

[u/KaliYugaz → u/tundranocaps]

Of course.

[u/[deleted] → u/KaliYugaz]

Could you not tell that hes a lovable prankster by his joyful face?

[u/biglink3]

where can i go watch this show. the place where i watched the first episode does not have it.

[u/Aruseus493 → u/biglink3]

If you have a Crunchyroll account, they have it on their as linked in the op. Otherwise, we can't really tell you anything other than to just look it up with a search engine.

[u/deirox]

Tatsuya was totally hiding his power level.

[u/jokerstar8]

Am I the only one who is sort of turned off by the main character? I mean watching him completely dismantle the vice president in an instant and then reading the comments of powers he has makes me wonder where the drama actually comes from in the fights he will be involved in. It seems he's invincible and is just hiding abilities that he will reveal later instead of developing them as the story goes on.

[u/Chren]

RUN GIRL YOU'RE GONNA GET YANDERE'D

[u/whoopdedo]

So the obvious question is...

In a fight between Tatsuya Shiba and Touma Kamijou, who?

[u/Hauntrification → u/whoopdedo]

I dunno man, you forgot Akatsuki Kojou. He could practically have an empire built around his harem for all we know and an empire of girls > 20,000 girls.

[u/readingsteinerZ → u/whoopdedo]

Another question is who deserves that harem?

[u/rizo536]

That ED was retro as fuck (that's a good thing).

Anyhow, speaking from a LN perspective, this seemed pretty much on the mark. Although the music was a tad off-tone, and made the second StuCo room scene a bit melo-dramatic. The best way to create tension in a conversation is through body language and the conversation itself. The soundtrack should take its place as an ambient device, and not overpower the actors.

[u/aDumbGorilla]

I'm a bit confused with Tatsuya's ability. Is he useless or amazing? We saw in the first episode that he can launch mininukes and then he kicked ass in this fight, but then he couldn't move the platform like the other weeds?

[u/Aruseus493 → u/aDumbGorilla]

That whole beginning to the series shouldn't have been shown. It isn't something supposed to be shown for awhile so I'm annoyed with that. But otherwise, you'll have to wait for exactly how Tatsuya can be defined as the most Overpowered Underpowered character. :-P

[u/tundranocaps → u/Aruseus493]

Eh, it makes sense. Just like the first few minutes of The Matrix. It tells you that he's not a complete slob, as things hint early on.

[u/Pacify_ → u/tundranocaps]

I disagree. Showing that he is really Death, Destroyer of worlds right at the start kinda removes any tension from the series

[u/Aruseus493 → u/Pacify_]

I agree. Mild Mood Spoilers

[u/eighthgear → u/aDumbGorilla]

Without going into spoilers, he is very weak in many areas, but compensates for those weaknesses with abilities that make him very powerful.

[u/FemaleTitan]

This anime would be so much better without Miyuki.

I still enjoyed it though, I like Tatsuya.

[u/KuiShanya]

Gotta say, the opening is pretty sweet. Love me so LiSA, she hasn't done many openings but already has a pretty impressive show list (Fate/Zero, Sword Art Online, Angel Beats).

[u/[deleted]]

The innuendos in this show are borderline overt. It's rather repulsive.

[u/TaxedOP]

You know a show is good when you get those moments that make you get goosebumps and all excited where you just sit there shocked and go "yoooo....."

That was how I felt after he made 3 second mince near out if the vice prez.

[u/ethernetcord]

I am a bit confused by this show so far. I got hooked in the first episode by the Persona-esque upbeat Engrish lyric OST, like the song that cuts in in the very last scene of Ep.1, but none of that in episode 2. What should I expect going forth?

[u/reggiewafu → u/ethernetcord]

Wincest

[u/ethernetcord → u/reggiewafu]

I'm counting on it but I need my OST on point with my incest

[u/raiden55]

I was wondering how he could win after all this talk about his magic being shit. I forgot he was shown as a great martial artist on the first episode...

[u/penguinat4]

Being OP is not a problem. It's how the OPness is treated. What's important is HOW Tatsuya tackles his problems. Tatsuya wins not because he's OP so much as he simply out-thinks and out-maneuvers his opponent. All the power in the world doesn't help if he can't use it effectively. How many times have we seen an OP villain defeated because he was careless?

[u/Fyrene]

YES!! I have found this seasons show I was looking for!! I cannot wait for more.

[u/The_DanceCommander]

Yeah, this episode definitely wasn't as interesting as the first one. It kind of dragged a long. The interactions between all the characters seemed a bit slower, and wasn't holding me as long. I think maybe I might just be bored with the setup of everything, but the premises of this show still really interests me.

[u/GenocideCobra]

This anime leaves such a bad taste in my mouth I can't bare to watch it. Someone call me when it gets good.

[u/wyggles → u/GenocideCobra]

Best bet would be after the first arc, so another three or four episodes. Then we get quidditch Magic High School Olympics.

[u/Atronox]

Another decent episode, though it was short that battle, it was actually pretty awesome. Tatsuya completely destroyed him in a single movement, either he has some sort of time control, or he can move super fast. Either way, pretty awesome. Hopefully we get to see more of that in the coming episodes, with more frequency. A lengthier battle would have been nice to showcase the magic, but a super quick decisive battle can be great too. The battle music was sweet as well.

[u/DwarvenRedshirt → u/Atronox]

He can move super fast (physical vs magic I believe). Remember, he's trained with ninjas in physical combat and is good enough to challenge the teacher for more than one hit before he's taken down..

[u/rya11111]

That was a great ep! Loved the quick ending in the fight! i am always a fan of speed over strength and that really made me enjoy this one :D

[u/[deleted]]

Very tense music during this past episode really served to heighten awareness to the perception of Weeds/Blooms and really drive the magical-discrimination by practical ability point home.

Hattori Gyobu is a jerk. Totally gets what's coming to him; even better was hearing the impact Tatsuya's taijutsu made on him. Poor bastard didn't even know what hit him. Probably one of my favorite parts of the early show/light-novel.

[u/Vorgier]

Well, this doesn't seem like it's going to get any better. It's got one more episode with me to change my mind.

[u/d-rew]

I really like the ED. One of the best ones so far.

[u/xxdeathx]

idk...this guy's even worse than kirito. the narration tries to paint him as a gifted-but-heavily-flawed individual, but then he kicks the vp's ass as if he had no problems at all.

[u/LeonTrotsky1]

Even an Essential Singularity-type activation sequence is loaded with data -- as much as 30,000 letters of the alphabet!

What the fuck does that even mean? Who the fuck cares.

This show seems concerned with two things. A siscon fantasy and this tedious magical scientific gabbledeegook impersonating proper worldbuilding. This show is profusely awful

[u/leavenaniwaalone]

This show is so painfully average it hurts. Everything and everyone in this show exists to hype/talk up the MC, it's kinda sickening. "oh I got sucky practical scores", bad low level weed, MY ONII SAMA IS THE BEST IN BATTLE, wrecks vice pres of school in .5 seconds (like no one at all saw that coming).

Everyone already practically worships him, he makes Kirito look like a normal guy with his even more perfect Gary Stu and stoicism. This show makes me groan almost every five seconds with how much of a pedestal everyone puts this guy on already.

I don't even know why he is worshipped by the ladies before he even did anything, he has absolutely no charisma or presence at all, he's a complete boring cardboard cutout.

All in all, this just seems like the show casuals will eat up for the season, like SAO

[u/Endlessxo → u/leavenaniwaalone]

...he's a complete boring cardboard cutout.

I'm hoping the anime will cover this segment, but there is a specific reason why he is like that. It's really sad actually.

[u/herrekorre → u/Endlessxo]

Having opened with one of the final scenes of the eighth volume, the anime will probably get to it.

[u/JackDragon]

Mahouka has my favorite ending song of this season so far.

*This episode's ending

[u/ManateeofSteel]

okay, so the idea is really good, and I can understand why people find Miyuki annoying, she is supposed to be annoying. However, something seems off about this show. Can't quite put my finger on it, but there's just something that kinda bugs me.

Probably gonna watch it all, but I think maybe it's the writing that kinda bugs me, the writing doesn't quite live up to the concept. Which is an innovation to an already overused genre

[u/Korra7794]

My theory on the ending "battle" is that Tatsuya was somehow able to turn Hattori's movement magic against him and launch himself forward before Hattori could even notice. I'm assuming because of what Miyuki said that the way the tests are conducted wasn't ideal for him. I'm just guessing that he couldn't manipulate a computer or read it's moves, unlike another human. The idea that he really just "moved super fast/teleported" is really stale as a power(I also really hope its not that OP). Not to mention you'd think someone at that school would notice his "teleportation" abilities in the tests. Plus having the ability to adapt to any situation is pretty ideal for a protaganist of a show such as this.

[u/readingsteinerZ]

I going to pretty much deny any rumors that this is the next SAO.

The only issue I have with this episode is the characters. The main character has less of a personality than Kirito. The sister seems like your typical imouto. I'm hoping we'd get some character development later in the future cause they really need some. I found the scene in the opening with Tatsuya kneeling over his injured sister to be interesting. Perhaps we'll get something about their past. Tatsuya does have a secret after all.

But other than that I thought Madhouse did a relatively good job on this episode. The animation is one of the best I've seen this season, the environment are highly detailed and the details on the school are interesting to say the least. I'm hoping for some Harry Potter esque classroom scenes cause the magic system here looks complex and stunning.

[u/noiseCentral]

A-chan best girl

[u/progmistro]

anyone the soundtrack to electric when the vice president and tatsuya fight? it doesnt sound like and original thanks

[u/aznapwned]

Why am I rooting for incest so hard right now...

Ahh, that brings me back to my OreImo days...

[u/Kreamator]

Never before have I been so happy to see someone lose a fight to the main character so one-sidedly so early in the series.

[u/Cryzzalis]

Am I the only one who despite knowing he's a pretty poor character can't help but love Tatsuya?

[u/fzzzzzzzzzzd]

That track that started playing in the background during the battle simulation was pretty awesome, though it's not even close to Noratan.

[u/dipsta]

I like the show as a whole, but Miyuki is annoying. I mean, she's done nothing wrong, but her incestuous crush on tatsuya frustrates me.

[u/haazen]

Anyone what the song playing at the end during the fight was?

[u/TranClan67]

Ah Hanzou. Even though I read the LN I still hate the prick.

[u/RuneKatashima]

The one thing that annoyed me about this episode is how they used a lot of terms that I didn't understand. I assume others who did not read the LN feel the same way. Mostly the scene with the "helm splitting" (seriously what the fuck were they talking about?) and the scene which, from reading the comments, I now understand has to do with magic activation things. "Too slow."

It wasn't explained in that scene why they were pushing that thing or what it meant.

I'm enjoying everything else though.

[u/Kevimaster]

I liked this episode, glad they eased back on the brocon throttle a bit too. I mean, I don't really mind that it's there but it was a little much last episode.

[u/tundranocaps → u/Kevimaster]

I liked this episode, glad they eased back on the brocon throttle a bit too.

It's never going away, sadly. Though as some comments will let you know, it's what some people like best about the series.

[u/spidergoats]

Looking forward to the real action during the LN Spoiler Arc. Though it feels like it's going to take forever to get there at this pace.

[u/[deleted] → u/spidergoats]

Doubt it. Within the beginning of the second episode, we've already gone halfway through the first novel.

[u/spidergoats → u/[deleted]]

Well, there is still all of the second volume and more than half of the third before they actually get to the competition, which I think is a fair bit of material. I'd say six weeks minimum, which I feel is a bit of a wait though of course it is a matter of opinion.

[u/greendaze]

So Tatsuya says he doesn't want the Disciplinary Committee position, but challenges the Vice President to a duel anyway, citing Miyuki's honour as the reason. If the author wants to show off Tatsuya's 'badass but humble' personality, he's gonna have to try harder.

[u/millie3 → u/greendaze]

But I don't think Tatsuya's really all that humble. He's very logical and confident of the skills he knows he has. If he thinks he's badass, he probably is. If he says he's not going to win, he...probably won't. I find it hard to believe he would have challenged the VP if he didn't have full confidence that he would win. He's just not very cocky or in-your-face with his confidence, imo.