My first impression was that the show is cheap (production value), but the story from episode 3 onward makes up for it. I like all the main characters, but wouldn't have started watching it without seeing so much of Kyuubee here on danbooru.
My favorite character died in ep. 3, but from that point on, the angst keeps me in it. Also, Sayaka seems to be a hot candidate for the mindbroken good girl type and I always loved that cliche. Angsty mahou shoujo is the best guilty pleasure, period.
Heparine said: My favorite character died in ep. 3, but from that point on, the angst keeps me in it. Also, Sayaka seems to be a hot candidate for the mindbroken good girl type and I always loved that cliche. Angsty mahou shoujo is the best guilty pleasure, period.
I didn't get a real angsty vibe, at least not an excessive one. Given what the different characters go through, they adjust through normally. For a teenage girl, seeing what you view as a mentor and role-model get brutally killed and not being able to share these experiences with anyone else, that is going to do a lot to someone's psyche, especially if they are from what appears to be a lifestyle far removed from any real serious issues. I'll admit that I already knew she was going to die since my friend spoiled that when I asked him what the show was about, but I still felt sad.
Anelaid said: For a teenage girl, seeing what you view as a mentor and role-model get brutally killed and not being able to share these experiences with anyone else...
Shaft gonna Shaft, that was a brilliant move if they wanted to troll the fuck out of the fans right from the beginning. As I said, Mami was my favorite, but the effect of her death was definitely worth it (and I say we're going to see her again anyway, one way or another).
Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean the usual wannabe grimdark bullshit, but rather the specific vibe to the shows where you expect a light-hearted atmosphere and you get it, but then at a certain point everything goes down the gutter. This is why I loved the second half of Mai-HiME, despite the mediocre lolconspiracy plot, and also why Mami's death put a shit-eating grin on my face - I saw where Shaft was going and I liked it. Is it bad to enjoy watching little girls go batshit after they're put through things that would break the mind of a grown up man? Yes, probably. But who cares, killing your best friends is intense.
