To Aru Kagaku no Railgun Discussion Thread

[HitokiriShadow]

Another episode focused on a minor character, but this time the main girls, particularly Kuroko, played a much bigger role. I was kind of hoping they wouldn't go for the (entirely expected; Edit: in terms of it not working out; who he was actually talking about was still a surprise) "twist" at the end, but I was happy with how they ended it. I was a little worried it would end with her taking out her frustration on Kuroko (and possibly the others), so I was happy to see it end on a much quieter and more poignant note.

There were also some interesting little plot tidbits worked into it, reminding us of earlier events and helping connect things to the mystery earthquake girl from the previous episode.

[HitokiriShadow]

- ...I don't think Kuroko told anyone what this plan was actually going to involve. :sd:

I'm pretty sure Kuroko was making it up as she went.

[HitokiriShadow]

Uhhhh, well then, that was amusing. It was completely nuts and I wasn't sure what they were referencing most of the time, but it was pretty funny. Especially the last segment with Mikoto's conspiracy theories followed by everyone just accepting that aliens could be invovled and it wouldn't be surprising. And then ending with a series of insane Mikoto electricity conservation notices and I'm not sure what most of that paragraph at the end said but I was highly amused at what was translated: "Conserve CO2: Breath less."

[Fencedude]

Mikoto and Kuroko's dorm is having a festival, and that of course means THEY ALL DRESS LIKE MAIDS!

Kazari going absolutely nuts over everything was hilarious, and Ruiko had some good moments as well. Cameos by a few of the expected people, including SPINMAID, who got more lines in this episode than she did in all of INDEX.

Topped off by a violin solo by Mikoto, which was surprisingly good (if you like Violin solos. I don't, really).

A few more hints about where we are in the larger timeline, as HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED appears.

[Fudce]

HE WHO SHALL NOT BE NAMED appears.

Aha, but he positively influenced the episode as it meant we got violin-Mikoto, so I'll forgive him.

[Shiroi Hane]

Things looked a little different this episode - Uiharu and Saten in particular looked younger than usual. I don't know if it was due to the chief animation director; the only other episode he played a major part in was episode 12 but I don't have a copy to hand to compare.

[ilmaestro]

This episode was off my communicable scale of awesome, within the context of the type of episode it was. Will need to rewatch to work out what my favorite bits were, but in the mean time if someone would like to make me a gif of Saten fidgeting with her feet that would go nicely with the prosecution's case against me.

[Nork22]

Yay to Touma showing up to distract Mikoto.

But I got the greatest laugh when Uiharu was complimented about her bed of flowers, and she is like, what are you talking about? Proof her powers have to do with those flowers on her head. In fact, this episode made Uiharu act like Yui.

[Sly05]

Mikoto's the idol of her school as well as being multi-talented. It was cool to see that she's also a skilled violinist.

Uiharu made the episode this time with her hyperactive excitement about seeing how rich girls live. She had a lot of hilarious moments this episode like her conversation with the flower arrangers and adopting a Lillian-esque demeanor.

[mk2000]

I enjoy the characters as usual, though I wish we could get back on a larger plot point. Not that the girls in Maid costumes is anything to complain about. :sweat:

[something]

Episode 19:

- Oh yes you do need to dress up like that, Mikoto! Episode is already awesome.
- Go go Kuroko! Record the event for all the ages!
- Awesome, it's spinning trash can maid!! The better half of the Tsuchimikado siblings! And now all I'm hearing when she speaks is Hidamari's Natsume... But also Yoshika, Yumina, Yami...
- Kazari had her limiter removed!
- Hahahah! Kazari isn't aware at all that the flowers are on her head? :sd: Or rather, they're not fake..
- Oh god, Kazari starts talking like Kuroko. Ruiko brings her back to earth with a skirt flip!
- Man she's just owning this episode (since there's not much Kuroko to compete
- Ah, it's the orphans.
- Mikoto's... performance? =D Want to see!
- A glutton... Index? No, wait, Hisa? If they're selling hamburgers...
- TEN THOUSAND YEN! XD Maid Kuroko! YES!!
- Holy shit, Mitsuko's outfit is awesome. She also brings us Wannai and Awatsuki!
- You can just read the "how and when the hell did we becomes her lackeys?" on Wannai and Awatsuki's faces. :sd:
- Aw, poor nervous Mikoto. And... ah crap I just remembered that I'd already seen what she was going to do. I had forgotten until this moment.
- Oooh, looking quite pretty in that dress, Mikoto.
- Huh, for a split second I swore there was some guy on screen, but my fingers instantly hit the "skip 10 seconds" hotkey a couple times and he mysteriously disappeared! How bizarre! I must have been seeing things. =D
- Hah. The glutton was Index after all. Guess they weren't serving hamburgers at the prestigious Tokiwadai.

Oh wow. Best part of the episode: Kuroko is so taken in by Mikoto's performance that she doesn't even remember to use her camera.

Next week... more earthquakes?

[Fudce]

but in the mean time if someone would like to make me a gif of Saten fidgeting with her feet that would go nicely with the prosecution's case against me.

Ask and ye shall receive (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/blog.php?bt=23150#comment23150). Your foot fetish has really produced some strange avatars in the Railgun section of the Avatar Library (http://fudce.freehostia.com/avatars/index.php). :)

[Suwako Moriya]

I've come to the conclusion that certain battles in both Index and Railgun would have been much shorter if they had let the Dorm Manager handle things.

Actually characters like the Dorm Manager are curious. They tend to be invincible due to being part of comedy segments, but one has to wonder how "strong" they'd actually be if....

First, you removed the comedy element. Second, if their victims had no reason to hold back.

That different look for her was interesting and it was nice she had screen time involving something aside from being "Rules, snap neck, rules, snap neck, etc". Which then brings us to the next interesting thing to think about.

Sometimes you'll have a character that's essentially one tracked, but once they get an episode focused on them they do other things. However once the focus is over with, they return to being one tracked.

[Suwako Moriya]

The episode was clearly dominated by Kazari being awesome.

The violin segment with Mikoto was short, but nice.

I don't mind the fact he appeared. I mind the fact he talked about her, but we never actually got to see her. Yes, I would be focused on that part....

It's nice to see the spin maid get some screen time even if there was a lack of spinning.

[Suwako Moriya]

I never realized there were so many ways to conserve electricity.

[Nork22]

Actually characters like the Dorm Manager are curious. They tend to be invincible due to being part of comedy segments, but one has to wonder how "strong" they'd actually be if....
Seems like a lot of the adults are stronger than a lot of Level 4.

[Fencedude]

Oh man, I just can't decide which I like more, this or only my railgun. Both are really exceptional songs, and at first I was going to give it to railgun, but after listening to the full version of LEVEL 5 a few times, I'm starting to lean in that direction. I definitely think that the second OP sequence is better than the first (though strangely...uninformative, unlike the first), but the songs are just so close.

The B-side, memory of snow is pretty good too, I definitely think I like it more than late in autumn.

Still waiting for the Real Force single, but its full version was on ELISA's "Rouge Adolescence" album, and was quite good, definitely like it more than Dear My Friend -Mada Minu Mirai he-, though I'm curious to see if its B-Side will surpass Smile -You & Me-.

[Fencedude]

WARNING WARNING PLOT APPROACHES AT HIGH SPEED!

Kazari discovers that she's getting a roommate, one Haruue Eri, whom we met briefly a few episodes back.

The Earthquakes are increasing, a meeting between Justice and Anti-Skill reveals that the earthquakes are something known as the Poltergeist Phenomenon, which is...some sort of technobabble.

Anyway, our plucky foursome take Eri out to see the sights, culminating in a fireworks dispaly (a real one, not one courtesy of Mikoto). During the fireworks, a major Earthquake hits, and Kazari and Eri are barely saved by what is quite possibly the tackiest powered armor ever.

Oh yeah and we met mysterious candy eating woman, who was in said power armor and the meeting earlier.

Eri is very subdued, but quite cute. Ruiko compares her to how Kazari used to be.

[HitokiriShadow]

Heeeeey, its that maid that showed up in, like, two episodes of Index for no apparent reason! Er, her family name sounds very familiar. Wasn't that the name of one of Touma's friends? The one with the Hawaiin shirt that ended up playing a fairly decent role? ... yeah, I think so. There is someone else in the Index cast with that family name, at least.

Limits-Off Uiharu! She's just killing me this episode. She was always cute, but she's extra cute this episode. She was extra peppy and happy as soon as she appeared, and her "Aaah aaah aah!!!" when Saten age the sugar flower just slayed me. Then the sewing scene did it again. And then they asked about her flower hair band.... and she has no idea what they are talking about.

Mitsuko has an... interesting perspective on maids. Saten's face while watching the scene is priceless. I also love how the two girls from the photo shoot episode are standing behind her blushing the whole time.

Then Uiharu orgasms over the rich girls' paradise. Her aaaaahhh-ing in the background is too adorable.

Misaka looks just fantastic in that dress. And she's just so happy to see Touma. Another priceless face in an episode full of them.

It seemed like Mikoto was going to be doing something incredibly embarrassing.... but she actually does something quite normal: she plays the violin. Nice. And Kuroko is in heaven.

That was fantastic and the funnest episode of Railgun in some time (probably since the photo shoot episode, which I think was in the previous cour). Easily one of the best in the series. And probably the only one in which, for me at least, Uiharu contributed to at least half of the episode's amusement. She was just hilarious here.

I was hoping to be able to go straight into the next episode after this one, but apparently I'll need to wait another hour or two. Dammit.

[Sly05]

I agree with Saten that Eri does really come across as similar to Uiharu. Yukato are always nice so I enjoyed the scene with Saten helping Uiharu and Eri adjust the length on theirs. Mikoto was also really cute with her heart shaped eyes when buying the frog mask.

During the fireworks, a major Earthquake hits, and Kazari and Eri are barely saved by what is quite possibly the tackiest powered armor ever.
Pink camo really isn't very flattering. :P

[something]

Episode 20:

- Another earthquake... and strange things going on in Mitsuko's room. And hah, the snake...
- Ahhhh! It's the girl's sister! And she's going to be rooming with Kazari! Eri-chaaaan~! Haruue Erii sounds like a fairly unusual name.
- Anyway, ah yes, I love how they have gradually built up the plot by means of mostly one-off character-focused stories. Introducing Capacity Down in the Mii arc. Introducing Erii in Tsuzuri's episode. Introducing Child Errors in the dorm mistress' episode. Earthquakes ominously scattered throughout. And now it's all going to come together. Awesome.
- Kuroko's power sure comes in handy in unexpected ways.
- Mmmm, I love Hanazawa Kana. And I watched Kobato earlier today. :sd:
- Kazari puts on a Minami-ke mouth expression!
- Hahaha, Kazari, Ruiko only has eyes for your panties. Kazari makes the best "Ehhhhhhhh?!" sounds.
- Ruiko is so gung ho about becoming Erii's friend. That has me a bit worried something bad will happen to Erii soon.
- Loss of control over powers? It did sort of look like Mitsuko was inadvertantly pushing the glass away...
- Why hello Ms. Villain! We finally meet you! And she's Ohara Sayaka.
- Heh, very nice juxtaposition of Ruiko's excited babbling and the speech being given at the joint meeting.
- "tehe~" Ruiko, stop being so damn adorable. (No, not really, please dont stop. Ever.)
- Hahahaha, Erii's reaction to whack-a-mole!
- She walks right into the glass. :sd: She reminds Ruiko of Kazari, eh?
- Yukata! Ruiko doesn't strike me as the type who would be experienced at this.
- Oooh... talk about the past. Kazari failing the Judgment test and Ruiko helping her. That could make for a fantastic flashback. Unless we got it already and I forgot. :sd:
- Talk about "nee-san" and Erii reaches for her pendant... ;_;
- Heh! Dorm mistress (god damn, someone get her a name) makes sure to double check. =D
- Teleportation! Yukatas! Two of my favorite things!
- She ate it. XD
- Kuroko cheats at festival games >_>
- AIM...=D
- And an earthquake! Nice save, Kuroko!
- What? Kazari and Erii saved by a pink camo mecha! Holy shit that's some gaudy taste.

Wow, fantastic ending. Welcome back, Kiyama.

Can't fucking wait for the next ep. Need it now!

[Fencedude]

Rewatching the episode, I note that Erii has a problem eating things without getting it all over her face. Which is very cute, but odd.

I'm very curious what Terestina's (Therese Tina?) role in all of this will be. She's obviously our villain, but is she working on her own like Kiyama was, or is she part of the overall sliminess that is the Academy City upper echelons?

[Fencedude]

- Oooh... talk about the past. Kazari failing the Judgment test and Ruiko helping her. That could make for a fantastic flashback. Unless we got it already and I forgot. :sd:

I rewatched episode 5 (which was the "how Kuroko and Kazari met" episode) and they didn't mention that, so I assume it happened sometime after that, since Kazari was still just beginning training then.

On another note, did anyone else expect to see the lamp post had been caught by a massive amount of plant tendrils growing out of Kazari's head? The pink powered armor was a massive letdown.

[Shiroi Hane]

I actually thought for a second that it was a flower mecha, but it turned out just to be a mecha painted with flowers.

[jlazar]

I actually thought for a second that it was a flower mecha, but it turned out just to be a mecha painted with flowers.

Yeah, for a second I thought that was Kazari's flower power. :)

[HitokiriShadow]

This series really likes to beat up on Mitsuko. This is at least the third time she's been a victim of some sort of attack.

Eri is adorable. I'm thrilled to see her become Uiharu's roommate. Uiharu had a number of particularly cute moments this episode as well (though it will be hard to top her "Aaah aaah aaaaah~" from last episode). Also, yukatas. Yay for yukatas!

Kiyama is back, which doesn't surprise me at all given her prominence in the current OP. Since the problems are AIM dispersion field related, she'll probably be suspected of being behind it, but the real villain is pretty obvious.

[FUNiOP]

I've probably heard more about this than any other series this season not on Crunchyroll. I may have to check it out (well, the first series first, of course)...

[Ashyukun]

I've probably heard more about this than any other series this season not on Crunchyroll. I may have to check it out (well, the first series first, of course)...
Actually, you don't really need to watch Index to enjoy Railgun- the series runs in parallel with it, and characters from Index (besides the two who are semi-main/secondary characters in Index who star in Railgun, of course..) make cameo appearances every now and then, but it's pretty much entirely stand-alone. Knowing more about the world and what else is going on from knowing Index definitely enhances the experience, but it's not really necessary. If you do want to watch both though, starting with Index would be good, since they do make passing reference to things that happen in it occasionally in Railgun.

[Fencedude]

I've probably heard more about this than any other series this season not on Crunchyroll. I may have to check it out (well, the first series first, of course)...
Actually, you don't really need to watch Index to enjoy Railgun- the series runs in parallel with it, and characters from Index (besides the two who are semi-main/secondary characters in Index who star in Railgun, of course..) make cameo appearances every now and then, but it's pretty much entirely stand-alone. Knowing more about the world and what else is going on from knowing Index definitely enhances the experience, but it's not really necessary. If you do want to watch both though, starting with Index would be good, since they do make passing reference to things that happen in it occasionally in Railgun.

I'd actually argue that since the Accelerator arc isn't being included in this season of RAILGUN, that its actually more valid to go RAILGUN -> INDEX than INDEX -> RAILGUN. RAILGUN starts significantly before INDEX does, and the two don't begin to overlap until the second cour of RAILGUN, and as it stands, RAILGUN doesn't spoil anything from INDEX.

[Fencedude]

So maybe Telestina's on the up and up after all, we may be seeing Kiyama as the villain once again, but she's supposed to be locked up...

Ruiko looked really good in her casual clothes this episode.

Kazari and Kuroko had a falling out over Kuroko's suspicion of Erii.

We find out that the girl in her locket is an old friend of hers, and Mikoto sees it, and realizes who she is. It turns out her name is Edosaki Banri.

And Erii used to be a Child Error...

Damn this show is awesome.

[Sly05]

Uiharu was really great this episode. I agree she looked great in her casual clothes and I liked her playing the sempai role to Erii (even if they're the same age).

The next episode is titled Level 6. That should be interesting. Maybe Erii's part of an alternative experiment to raise a level 6 esper?

[something]

Episode 21:

- Oh man... Kuroko is being all intelligent and stuff and Telestina totally has this "You know too much. I need to murder you now." look on her face.
- Kiyama is in a max security prison she couldn't possibly escape fr-- oh wait.
- So the Poltergeist incidents followed Erii from her old neighborhood to here. It doesn't seem like they're only centered around her though. But I guess we don't know either way yet.
- Erii and Kazari are sooo lovely together. Ruiko sounds like she's totally willing to share too.
- They're on a date on the lake!!
- Mikoto is a hacker! Hmm, Erii is a Level 2, telepathy.
- That was some pretty graphic eating right there...
- Ahhh. The girl is Erii's friend. I just kind of assumed it was her sister.
- And another incident. Holy shit, 72 people injured.
- I'm glad Kuroko is always around to be the effective professional one when needed. No matter how goofy she acts in her personal life, she's always ready to get the job done. Even if it means angering a friend... But Kazari, think this through. Even if the events involve Erii's powers, that doesn't mean she's doing it intentionally. If she's being manipulated then she needs help... of course it's understandable why Kazari isn't thinking things through.
- Telestina likes really weird looking "cute" things >_>
- lol Mitsuko.
- Poor Kuroko... it's not like she wants to play the bad cop role. Now if she pursues it any farther Kazari is going to really vilify her.
- Mikoto finally sees the girl in the locket... and of course recognizes her. After all, she's a Child Error too...

Oh I am dying to get more backstory on Erii. How does she know Banri? Does she know Kiyama? I suppose she just knew Banri from a Child Error orphanage.

NEED MORE.

[Ashyukun]

So maybe Telestina's on the up and up after all, we may be seeing Kiyama as the villain once again, but she's supposed to be locked up...
I'm far from convinced Telestina isn't going to end up being the bad guy here- there's been far more indicators toward this being the case than there was with Kiyama in the first half, where we really didn't have any serious clues that she was the one behind things until the episode where everyone found out... they've been telegraphing Telestina since the end of the first cour and in the opening. That's not to say that Kiyama isn't involved in all of this- that's almost certain. Though which side of it she's on is another story. My bets are that the higher-ups in the City had her released to work on the project that's behind the Poltergeist incidents, perhaps as a way to try and bring about a Level 6 esper- probably with the 'carrot' for Kiyama of trying to do something to help her schoolkids.

[something]

So maybe Telestina's on the up and up after all, we may be seeing Kiyama as the villain once again, but she's supposed to be locked up...I'm far from convinced Telestina isn't going to end up being the bad guy here- there's been far more indicators toward this being the case than there was with Kiyama in the first half, where we really didn't have any serious clues that she was the one behind things until the episode where everyone found out... they've been telegraphing Telestina since the end of the first cour and in the opening.
That and we only have, presumably, 3 episodes left. There's little time for Telestina to be anything but the villain. Although she could be another ambiguous antagonist like Kiyama was.

[Ashyukun]

That and we only have, presumably, 3 episodes left. There's little time for Telestina to be anything but the villain. Although she could be another ambiguous antagonist like Kiyama was.
My heavy bets go toward her being part of the faction that were responsible for what happened to Kiyama's kids in the first place (and that were responsible for the MISAKA/Accelerator 'experiment')- that are more than willing to sacrifice or put into danger others to try and advance the science/levels of the espers. Being in the position she's in would put her on the forefront of being able to observe things- and as Kiyama was so fond of saying: there was never any kind of response unless the 'higher ups' she considered as being responsible for covering up the experiment that went awry with her kids.

[Suwako Moriya]

Don't worry people, it's not a Super Natural Event, it's just a bunch of techno-babble. We can rest easy now. Actually, I find the techno-babble to be too convenient.

Haruue Eri is kind of cute, but that's all I have to say right now.

That pink thing is scary looking.

[Suwako Moriya]

Kazari and Kuroko had a falling out over Kuroko's suspicion of Erii.

Ah, an argument that essentially boiled down to emotions vs deductions. I can understand Kazari not wanting to suspect a friend. However it's quite dangerous to simply go "There's no way she could be involved" without even a second thought.

Dangerous for both everyone and the accused. Since there was nothing saying that Erii had to be "intentionally" causing it out of malice. If the problem was effecting her severely, you'd want to solve it for her sake as well.

Either way, it looks like it's a two-way street thing between Erii and Banri. Although that could be wrong for all I know.

We find out that the girl in her locket is an old friend of hers, and Mikoto sees it, and realizes who she is. It turns out her name is Edosaki Banri.

At long last, the doppelganger of Tainaka Ritsu has a name.

Damn this show is awesome.

It would be even more awesome if they'd let us know what Kazari's power was already. I mean aside from having flowers on her head.

[HitokiriShadow]

So it seems Haruue isn't the one causing the quakes. That probably means Banri is causing them somehow.

I'm still very skeptical that Kiyama is actually behind this. Seeing Uiharu and Kurko at odds was interesting. Kuroko is doing the right thing, though the way things have played out only seem to justify Uiharu's anger with her.

I'm glad that Mikoto has seen the locket. I've been waiting for that and didn't want it to take much longer to happen. Now I just need to wait a week(ish) to see what Mikoto does with this information.

Also, I really liked Ruiko's outfit in this episode for some reason.

[something]

So it seems Haruue isn't the one causing the quakes.
That's assuming you take Telestina at her word, which is a pretty risky proposition.

[Fencedude]

So it seems Haruue isn't the one causing the quakes.
That's assuming you take Telestina at her word, which is a pretty risky proposition.

Well, I think that Erii is serving as a focus for the person actually causing them, which is most likely Banri.

Though there have been events that don't directly involve Erii (such as the one with Mitsuko) so its pretty obvious that there is something larger going on.

[HitokiriShadow]

So it seems Haruue isn't the one causing the quakes.
That's assuming you take Telestina at her word, which is a pretty risky proposition.

Well, I think that Erii is serving as a focus for the person actually causing them, which is most likely Banri.

Though there have been events that don't directly involve Erii (such as the one with Mitsuko) so its pretty obvious that there is something larger going on.

Pretty much what I was thinking. I'm assuming Telestina is the bad guy, but I don't think she was lying about Erii (likely not telling the whole truth, but not lying in what she did say). I'm thinking that Banri is her partner, and while Erii can only receive, Banri is the opposite and is actually causing these "Poltergeists". Erii is likely just acting as cell phone tower or sorts, relaying the signal and resulting in these things frequently happening around her.

I don't recall what Mitsuko's power is or if they've even revealed it. It could be that the incidents that don't involve Erii involve other telepaths or people with similar abilities. Maybe they get affected when Banri is unable to reach Erii.

Speaking of larger things going on, they still haven't revealed were the Big Spiders' ability nullifier came from....

[Fencedude]

I don't recall what Mitsuko's power is or if they've even revealed it. It could be that the incidents that don't involve Erii involve other telepaths or people with similar abilities. Maybe they get affected when Banri is unable to reach Erii.

Speaking of larger things going on, they still haven't revealed were the Big Spiders' ability nullifier came from....

I'm pretty sure Mitsuko can manipulate wind. Which is as far as I can tell a fairly common power, but she is level 4, so she can probably kick some ass if ever given the chance (which she won't, because that would ruin the entire point).

And I expect Capacity Down to show up before long, though I expect whoever pulls it out to be highly disappointed in what happens...

[HitokiriShadow]

I'm pretty sure Mitsuko can manipulate wind. Which is as far as I can tell a fairly common power, but she is level 4, so she can probably kick some ass if ever given the chance (which she won't, because that would ruin the entire point).


Hah, yeah, she is the show's whipping girl. She's been the victim of at least three separate incidents. They could still let her kick some ass at some point though. She would just have to be knocked unconscious (or otherwise humiliated) immediately after doing it. Ideally, she would be knocked unconscious by an inanimate object that fell as a result of her own attacks.

[something]

Ideally, she would be knocked unconscious by an inanimate object that fell as a result of her own attacks.
With any luck, a washpan.

[Fencedude]

Hah, yeah, she is the show's whipping girl. She's been the victim of at least three separate incidents. They could still let her kick some ass at some point though. She would just have to be knocked unconscious (or otherwise humiliated) immediately after doing it. Ideally, she would be knocked unconscious by an inanimate object that fell as a result of her own attacks.

Well, she may be the whipping girl, but at least she's yet to suffer any major breakage.

Kuroko on the other hand is overdue to get herself kicked through a window, its been far too long since she last got kicked in the ribs. Kuroko can't properly kick ass until she's got at least one fractured rib.

[Fencedude]

And we get answers. Lots and lots of answers.

The truth behind the experiment on Banri and the others. The cause of the Poltergeist. Kiyama's involvement. Everything.

Also, Heaven's Canceler!

...how are we going to get a battle out of this?

Edit: Oh, and you know how we called Banri "Mini Ritsu"? Well...they're just fucking with us now. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=67406)

[pi8you]

Crazy talky episode, but you forgot to recap the most important point, we finally find out what Uriharu's doozy of an ability is :D

[Fencedude]

Crazy talky episode, but you forgot to recap the most important point, we finally find out what Uriharu's doozy of an ability is :D

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Yes, I totally forgot that.

She has the best utterly worthless ability ever.

[Funkatron]

Crazy talky episode, but you forgot to recap the most important point, we finally find out what Uriharu's doozy of an ability is :D
So her power isn't growing flowers out of her head?
I'm somewhat disappointed.

Though now that I think about it, get her something to handle hot things (kickass gloves that transfer heat one way?) and she could be like bitch nee-san from "Needless". I wonder how she heats things? Microwave/other Radiation? Tactile telekinesis that excites particles? Moeness?

[Sly05]

LOL @ Uiharu's power. She saves money by not having to buy a thermos, I guess.

They came up with a less ridiculous reason for Kiyama to be released from prison than I was expecting. She committed a pretty big crime so I was wondering how they were going to justify her expedient release. Heaven's Canceler's involvement makes a lot of sense.

The design for those power suits really is awful.

[Shiroi Hane]

Uiharu's power is both useful and lame at the same time. I guess Saten's joking about her flowers is because she's been keeping schtum about what her powers actually are all this time, even with her friends.

[Fencedude]

Uiharu's power is both useful and lame at the same time. I guess Saten's joking about her flowers is because she's been keeping schtum about what her powers actually are all this time, even with her friends.

Well, she's only a level 1, perhaps at higher levels she could extend the effect to things she's not actually touching. That would be much, much more useful.

[Ashyukun]

Well, she's only a level 1, perhaps at higher levels she could extend the effect to things she's not actually touching. That would be much, much more useful.
I wonder how large of an object she could keep at a constant temperature as well- like keeping someone from getting hypothermia or the likes...

They're definitely ramping up to the climax- which made Kiyama's preview all the more hilarious. :P It's still hard to get a real bead on whether Telestina is on the level or not- they're doing a very good job of keeping that under wraps. She could very well be doing exactly what she's claiming to be doing and trying to save people- or it could all just be a cover for her working for the mad scientist responsible for all of this (and the higher-ups in the City- though obviously I doubt they'd really WANT the city destroyed...).

[Mateo_home]

Oooh. This show is getting intriguing again. I have to say, Mikoto's infiltration outfit was both hot and cute. Shame she left the plastic frog mask behind at the end. That, and Kuroko getting hit hard for walking in on the bath was funny and a little unexpected.

I also didn't expect for Kazari's power to be revealed in this anime. She'd also make a fine portable heater. But to think what to think she could do at a higher level...

Kazari used Overheat!

Kazari's Sp. Atk harshly fell!:P

[ilmaestro]

but in the mean time if someone would like to make me a gif of Saten fidgeting with her feet that would go nicely with the prosecution's case against me.

Ask and ye shall receive (http://www.mania.com/aodvb/blog.php?bt=23150#comment23150).
Hah, I didn't actually think someone would go out of their way to do this. Thanks. :)

[something]

Episode 22:

- Tainaka Banri-chan! And little Erii!
- AH! Banri and Erii can speak telepathically. Banri must be calling out for Erii unconsciously in her slumber.
- The nicer Telestina acts the more suspicious she is.
- Man... Sorry, Kazari, but someone needs to smack you. I'd like to see Kuroko do it but it'd carry a lot more weight for you if Ruiko did it. Your abilities are needed right now, but you're going to go about it half-hearted because you don't want it to be true. As I've said before, this is why Kuroko is the best. She will do what it takes to save everyone. She'll be a professional. She'll sacrifice herself if needed.
- Oooh! Good job, Ruiko. Bitching her out works too, but it still won't be enough.
- HAH! Good try Kuroko. You were close... :sd:
- ... ... ...HAH. As soon as Erii commented on the Taiyaki still being warm, I thought, "That's gotta be Kazari's power!" And... IT IS! Hahahah! How completely unexpexted. I guess that's how she keeps her flowers alive? But man, what an amusing way to reveal what we've been specualting over forever.
- And leaving food on your cheek while eating might be a strange charm point but it works so well for Erii.
- Kiyama was released on bail. Hmm.
- Kuroko has some wonderfully intense dreams.
- Mikoto's disguise is PERFECT. Nobody will know! And the outfit is... so her.
- Okay, so she meets Kiyama, gets pissed, and zaps the building back to life. Hah.
- Kiyama has all the kids together! How did she arrange that? Actually, she might have known all along. I remember her saying she wanted to wake them up but I don't think she ever said she didn't know where they were...
- And there's frog man, the Heaven Canceler! Okay Railgun, start tying everything into the Level 6 stuff. It should be fascinating. Because what's really bizarre about all this is that Mikoto finds out just how cruel and corrupt everything is and then we nonetheless get the whole MISAKA thing... why? How? Index never seemed to answer that.
- Ahh, Doc Frog is the one who bailed out Kiyama.
- Ooooh... that sucks, hard. Poltergeist occurs when the children are brought close to waking.
- But she'll do it anyway. Nothing matters to her but these kids.

And in comes Telestina! She is, at the moment, doing the "right" thing. But there's simply no way she's willing to awaken these kids and be done with it. She is, I have no doubt, working with Kihara and the Level 6 project.

Wonderful, truly wonderful handling of Kiyama's emotional conflict here.

You know, all this may be dismissed by some as non-manga material but JC Staff has an absolutely perfect opportunity to tie this into the MISAKA/Level6/Accelerator storyline and not only be relevant, but deepen whatever connection it is that the manga makes. I see so much potential...

...how are we going to get a battle out of this?
You know, we very well might not... and I'd be perfectly okay with that. I'm sure many would rage though.

[Fencedude]

...how are we going to get a battle out of this?
You know, we very well might not... and I'd be perfectly okay with that. I'm sure many would rage though.

Yeah, but in the end, Mikoto's going to have to RAILGUN something.

[pi8you]

...how are we going to get a battle out of this?
You know, we very well might not... and I'd be perfectly okay with that. I'm sure many would rage though.

Yeah, but in the end, Mikoto's going to have to RAILGUN something.

There's always Touma...

[something]

Yeah, but in the end, Mikoto's going to have to RAILGUN something.There's always Touma...
I'm glaring very, very disapprovingly at you right now.

::glaaaare::

[Ashyukun]

I don't know if we're going to get a battle out of it as the OP animation implies, but I do have a speculation regarding how they might both resolve things AND tie up some loose ends: the Capacity Down system. The children's powers start to overload when they reach consciousness- so, fire up the Capacity Down system nearby while waking them up and knock their ability to use said powers down. Of course, this hinges on the out-of-control abilities being a phase they pass through on the way to waking up and not the default state while awake. Another possibilities is that if Telestina is indeed working on the Level 6 project and does wake the children up with the intent of trying to spur on a Level 6 through the resonant overload this would cause, they could use a similar tactic to what was done to broadcast the cure to the Level Upper to mass-broadcast the Capacity Down to suppress the abilities of all the Espers in the city to prevent the massive Poltergeist phenomenon from destroying the city.

[something]

I don't know if we're going to get a battle out of it as the OP animation implies, but I do have a speculation regarding how they might both resolve things AND tie up some loose ends: the Capacity Down system. The children's powers start to overload when they reach consciousness- so, fire up the Capacity Down system nearby while waking them up and knock their ability to use said powers down. Of course, this hinges on the out-of-control abilities being a phase they pass through on the way to waking up and not the default state while awake.
I'd put my money on this. We still don't know who told the thugs in Mii's arc about Capacity Down. It had to Telestina (or Kihara via Telestina). If Kiyama knew about it she'd be all over it. Capacity Down should be one of the things that Telestina mentioned having access to, to be better able to save the kids. Of course, I doubt she's doing this all for truly charitable ends. A safely reawakened overloaded esper is probably a looovely little piece of experimental material for a Level 6 experiment. Or as you note a resonance itself could be a big part of activating a Level 6. Either way, Capacity Down seems to be critical to Telestina's plans, as well as our heroines'.

[Sly05]

Touma is what came to mind for me as well as a way to wake up the kids while cancelling the side effects. That said, I like Ashyukun's idea of using Capacity Down and hope they go with that.

[Ashyukun]

Because what's really bizarre about all this is that Mikoto finds out just how cruel and corrupt everything is and then we nonetheless get the whole MISAKA thing... why? How? Index never seemed to answer that.

Actually, I thought that it did answer it. Using spoiler tags since it involves some semi-spoilerish stuff from Index.

Mikoto didn't consent or agree to the whole MISAKA/Accelerator experiment at all- she was actually actively trying to disrupt it by destroying the labs creating the sisters, from what she told Touma. She had, long ago, agreed to give a genetic sample so they could experiment on it in hopes of (as she was told) improving the quality of life of others, but it was instead used to make the MISAKAs. She however learned of the Level 6/MISAKA/Accelerator project (the file that Touma found under her bed...) and set about to stop it, which would tie in well with what's happening in Railgun (though the Index stuff preceded Railgun by a good bit I believe) and give her all the more reason to want to stop the Accelerator experiment.

[something]

Actually, I thought that it did answer it. Using spoiler tags since it involves some semi-spoilerish stuff from Index...
Hm, I'm probably just not remembering all the details then. I got the impression she was more actively aware of it (and that it was known she was aware), even if she wasn't exactly in favor of the idea. Also didn't remember that it had been started already.

[HitokiriShadow]

Oh wow, I wasn't expecting to learn Uiharu's power in this arc. It.... has its convenient uses, but its not exactly one people are going to get envious over.

LOL Misaka's "perfect" disguise. It was nice to see Heaven's Canceler show up, though I was expecting him as soon as Kiyama pulled up at the other hospital.

And then we start getting some interesting talk about making Level 6's and a fascinating conversation between Misaka and Kiyama. Her telling off Kiyama at the end, "You aren't helping them! You haven't saved any of them!" was especially interesting to watch.

[HitokiriShadow]

She has the best utterly worthless ability ever.

It could actually be incredibly useful in certain circumstances. If they have a desperate need to keep something frozen for whatever reason, her ability would be invaluable. Or if they need to prevent a temperature from changing for some reason. In any case, I'm sure her normally pretty useless power will have a use at some point.

[HitokiriShadow]

You know, all this may be dismissed by some as non-manga material but JC Staff has an absolutely perfect opportunity to tie this into the MISAKA/Level6/Accelerator storyline and not only be relevant, but deepen whatever connection it is that the manga makes. I see so much potential...


This has to be the best use of anime original material I've ever seen. It ties very directly in the previous, manga-based storyline and now it has very significant connections to the Index material it will eventually cover. It not only fits with the existing material perfectly, but feels like it really belongs there and is really, really well done.

[William K]

A lot of the speculation about Telestina turns out correct and Ohara Sayaka really can play crazy bitches very well :)

Kuroko and Uiharu settle their differences finally, and Kongou is not the whipping girl for once, but we didn't get to see her using her powers!

Looks like we might get our big battle after all in episode 24 and who knows what Telestina's power is...

[nekonene]

who knows what Telestina's power is...

Level 5 Sadistic Bitch? :catgirl:

[Funkatron]

A lot of the speculation about Telestina turns out correct and Ohara Sayaka really can play crazy bitches very well :)

Kuroko and Uiharu settle their differences finally, and Kongou is not the whipping girl for once, but we didn't get to see her using her powers!

Looks like we might get our big battle after all in episode 24 and who knows what Telestina's power is...

As someone said in the Random Curiosity blog, Telestina was really turning on the troll face in this ep. I keep trying to figure out how characters like her can hide their trollish ways for so long. I guess the writers wrote her that way to make us hate her to death, though I would have hated her more if her coniving smooth operator side was her true face. Oh well, the bitch is getting whats coming to her; the Railgun shall see to that.

One thing about this ep: for some reason I love how she uttered the word "Baka"

[Fencedude]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Telestina Beatrice!

Awesome, awesome episode. Mitsuko even got to be cool for a second!

Jeez, Telestina ripped a handful of hair right out of Kiyama's head. That made me wince.

And damn the final episode title is perfect.

[Fudce]

Awesome, awesome episode. Mitsuko even got to be cool for a second!
I'm shaking it was so awesome. I really don't want it to end, Railgun has been a rollercoaster of both fanservice and storyservice. No one character (with the exception of the titular one) was given any more focus than another, and even the lesser characters had their time in the spotlight to be all cool.

I got a serious RPG vibe from the end of the episode, with the six heroines getting ready to go and face the final boss with their future and the world's future at stake in an all or nothing battle of the ages.

[Nork22]

A lot of the speculation about Telestina turns out correct and Ohara Sayaka really can play crazy bitches very well :)

Kuroko and Uiharu settle their differences finally, and Kongou is not the whipping girl for once, but we didn't get to see her using her powers!

Looks like we might get our big battle after all in episode 24 and who knows what Telestina's power is...

I laughed when Telestina started to laugh too much like Beatrice.

[malazar]

I'm shaking it was so awesome. I really don't want it to end, Railgun has been a rollercoaster of both fanservice and storyservice. No one character (with the exception of the titular one) was given any more focus than another, and even the lesser characters had their time in the spotlight to be all cool.


This episode and really the last half of the series has been quite good. Through the first half of the show I kept asking myself why I hadn't dropped the show, but I am glad that I stuck around for the good stuff. Anyways, looking forward to see how things wrap up next week.

[Sly05]

Yeah, I got Beatrice vibes from Telestina as well. The psychotic facial expressions were something right out of Umineko. Her deploying the Capacity Down also lends more credence to the theory that it will be used to awaken the children in the end.

I'm enjoying what they're doing with the material in this arc. Uiharu breaking into tears was an emotional scene and I'm liking how they are incorporating all the main characters. I think something said this last week, but J.C. Staff has managed to make this pretty compelling and not the inconsequential filler that usually makes up anime original stories.

[Ashyukun]

I hadn't even thought of Beatrice, but that is very, very accurate. Except I actually want to see Telestina get what's coming to her vs. having a modest bit of sympathy for Beatrice.

Either way, a wholly awesome penultimate episode. LOVED Saten-san in this one- especially with the bat at the end. Level 5 Electromaster? Check. Level 4 Teleporter? Check. Level 1 Pocket Heater? Check. Level ??? Baseball Bat? Check. I want to see her beat the living crap out of Telestina's powered suit with that bat OH SO BAD, but I doubt she'll get to do it.

This has been an awesome week for 'episodes that make me want the next one RIGHT NOW'... except for the fact the next episode of this will be the last. That makes me sad... hopefully we'll get more Index at least though with plenty of Railgun (though probably no Saten or Uiharu, unfortunatly :cry: ).

[Shiroi Hane]

Well played: due to the extended episode I was thinking they missed out Mikoto pulling up her shorts then realised they'd actually played it early, and in-context - so to presumably with the rest of the preparations in the ED.

[Suwako Moriya]

After learning what Kazari's power is I've come to the following conclusion. The final boss should be Frosty the Snowman and she should hug him.

They should make a bonus episode based on Kuroko's dream.

[Suwako Moriya]

Darn it, I feel cheated that we didn't get to see the Kongou scene....

So, Telestina confirms for us that she's evil for the sake of being evil.

[Suwako Moriya]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Telestina Beatrice!


Thanks to that comparison, I suddenly hate Telestina even more for some reason.

[Funkatron]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Telestina Beatrice!


Forgive my ignorance but which anime is this Beatrice from?

[Suwako Moriya]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Telestina Beatrice!


Forgive my ignorance but which anime is this Beatrice from?

She's from Umineko.

[something]

Man... this show really is damn near over, isn't it? ;_;

Episode 23:

- Erii and Banri are reunited! Yay! Happy Day! Wonderf--- ooooh. Now that's a shit-eating grin, Telestina. An evil shit-eating grin. The eating of evil shit. Like Satan's droppings. You're going to do bad bad things, aren't you?
- Hm, Kazari is worried she'll lose her new friend now. Silly girl, Banri just means one more friend to make!
- She's worried about Kiyama too. Man, everything plays perfectly into Telestina's hands, doesn't it? Kuroko helped deliver Erii to her. Mikoto helped deliver the children to her. Kazari helped deliver Kiyama's data to her. It's like she doesn't even need to try. Our protagonists do it all for her, unwittingly.
- Guess she didn't need the last part. She's not going to bother faking anymore BITCH MODE, SWITCH ON.
- Telestina Kihara Lifeline. What kind of name is Lifeline?
- Ah! Finally Kazari got that slap she's needed. Go Go Kuroko! Once again Kuroko steps up as the professional, composed one. I can't get enough of it. I love her <3
- Yay, Kazari is back! And Kuroko feels bad for slapping her. ;_; It had to be done, Kuroko. You play the bad guy but you're never wrong. Everyone would be screwed ten different ways if you weren't there.
- Meanwhile it's time for Mikoto to go to Mikoto-like things. Which means things will explode!
- Hahaha, oh Telestina, you've been saving your bitch points up for quite some time, and now they're all being cashed in. And oh hey, Capacity Down.
- ...Mitsuko to the rescue?
- HAH! YES! Of course, Mitsuko isn't allowed to be too cool so they don't show it. :sd:
- Now it's Ruiko to the rescue! Hah, she makes everyone apologize to everyone else. And Mitsuko gets a thanks from Mikoto. Blushing!
- ...Ruiko has a bat! Hide your women and children!

Hahah, so yeah, it won't be very hard to get an action scene out of this after all.

WANT 24 NOW. Love the title too!

[Suwako Moriya]

Ruiko has a bat! Hide your women and children!


Who needs esper powers or magic? Not when you have the ultimate weapon!

[Ashyukun]

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF Telestina Beatrice!


Forgive my ignorance but which anime is this Beatrice from?
Umineko, from last year. Though Beato was much better at the evil look/laugh and had much more class than Telestina....

[Fencedude]

Oh wow, they managed to top episode 12 in every way. Two absolutely epic railgunnings, Mitsuko being awesome, Kuroko being awesome, Saten being THE CERTAIN ORDINARY SCHOOLGIRL! Telestina being off her rocker, the kids waking up, just...EVERYTHING WAS FUCKING AWESOME

Not to mention using both LEVEL 5 -judgelight and only my railgun as inserts, and ending with Dear My Friends -Mada minu no mirai he-.

WHY IS IT OVER!?

[Fudce]

Oh wow, they managed to top episode 12 in every way. Two absolutely epic railgunnings, Mitsuko being awesome, Kuroko being awesome, Saten being THE CERTAIN ORDINARY SCHOOLGIRL! Telestina being off her rocker, the kids waking up, just...EVERYTHING WAS FUCKING AWESOME

Not to mention using both LEVEL 5 -judgelight and only my railgun as inserts, and ending with Dear My Friends -Mada minu no mirai he-.

WHY IS IT OVER!?

Mitsuko & Kuroko made quite a good partnership, but the assisted Railgunning from Kuroko and Mikoto was epic almost beyond words.

Now the question is - what do we want more: Railgun2 or Index2?

[Fencedude]

Mitsuko & Kuroko made quite a good partnership, but the assisted Railgunning from Kuroko and Mikoto was epic almost beyond words.

Now the question is - what do we want more: Railgun2 or Index2?

Fuck Index. This was so much better than Index it wasn't even funny. Hell, its better than both seasons of Shana.

[angelx03]

I would imagine this will be the consensus (http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7306/1269033993072.gif) for the entire series. :sdsmiley:

[Fencedude]

I would imagine this will be the consensus (http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7306/1269033993072.gif) for the entire series. :sdsmiley:

lol, awesome.

FUCK YEAH RUIKO

[Suwako Moriya]

Now the question is - what do we want more: Railgun2 or Index2?

I'll get back to that question after I finish episode the final three episodes. Right now, I'm kind of mixed.

On one hand, I'm highly fond of Index herself. On the other hand, her series loved to play the game of "mini arcs". Which resulted in characters being shafted after they got their ten seconds of fames.

When you have a series where even the lead female gets reduced to a "secondary" role, you know something is *****ing wrong with your story telling set up in more ways than one.

It's kind of hard to say "I want Index 2 more for the sake of more Index" when chances are good Index will get shafted in that series as well thanks to the mini arc strategy.

Well, maybe if we're lucky they'll drop that format and allow Index 2 to use the same format as Railgun has used. Just that change alone would lead to a much better second season.

[Suwako Moriya]

I would imagine this will be the consensus (http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7306/1269033993072.gif) for the entire series. :sdsmiley:

I'd like that image better if someone else was the victim instead.:sweat:

[Suwako Moriya]

I wonder if Kazari can use her power to defeat Frosty the Snowman.

For some reason I want to see Kuroko's dream.

Mikoto is the master of disguise, or not.

[Suwako Moriya]

Fuck Index. This was so much better than Index it wasn't even funny. Hell, its better than both seasons of Shana.

The fact it's considered better than Index, doesn't really say much for me. Mostly because it seemed like people were declaring Railgun superior before it ever even aired. Heck, in some cases before it was even announced. So I have no idea if this is a case of Railgun living up to expectations or surpassing them.

The comparison to Shana is more interesting. Since if I remember right people were more positive towards Shana than they were Index. Even if the first half of Shana 2 got mixed reactions.

[Suwako Moriya]

Darn it, Kongou finally gets to be awesome and they cheat us out of it.

It figures that Telestina would turn out to be an evil for the sake of being evil character. Maybe it's just me, but "By the way I'm crazy and pure evil" characters don't do much for me.

Ah well, it just gives me more reason to hope they kill her off. I'd rather not have her return in a hypothetical Railgun 2 just so she can spend more time being crazy.

[Suwako Moriya]

I hope we never see Telestina ever again. They should just ****ing burn her body.

Various people got a chance to be awesome, but I like the Ruiko moment the best. Probably because she's my favorite of the four.

Nice use of the songs in the series.

It's nice to have battles where there's more to it than "I cancel you, then I punch you".

At least Ritsu err I mean Banri can be with her true love.

Well, now that I've finished it, I can say for certain Railgun is superior. In part due to a story structure that doesn't treat the lead female(s) as secondary. Also having a focused core four worked great.

My dream version of Index 2 would be to have it so the primary focus is on Index, Aisa, Komoe, and ???? instead. Just need to find a fourth female that would fit into this grouping.

[Sly05]

Pretty much everyone got a chance to shine in this episode, so thumbs up for the ending from me. Hooray for Saten saving the day by being a regular person. I think the anime did good by building off of a gap in the original manga and it closed off Kiyama-sensei's storyline nicely. I was hoping we'd get some foreshadowing of the Accelerator storyline, but ending on a happy not isn't a bad thing. I'd definitely take more of this over Index, especially with how awesome the next storyarc should be.

[Shiroi Hane]

Something's been bothering me. If Mrs Smarty Pants was involved in esper experiments as a child - why is she the first adult esper we've met? The teachers are all normals, right?

..OK, that was cool.

Figures windbag has a wind based power. It is like she's tagging things with an invisible jet engine.

..didn't I see this scene in Gatekeepers 21? Pity they left windbag behind. Actually, I think they pinched that mecha from Solty Rei.

..oops, she has limited range. What are the odds that that mecha has a sound system installed also?

Trashcan brigade to the rescue!

Ooh, that skid was in the OP.

So was Kuroko's move, kinda. Her Misaka radar actually comes in useful sometimes.

I like the sound of that keyboard. Someday I will own a nice mechanical keyboard like that. Actually, I think I do have an old Olivetti one somewhere but it is manky and PS/2 or DIN or somesuch.

Batgirl to the rescue!
Uiharu: *hint hint*

That Mosquito (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mosquito) noise is getting on my nerves now.

You idiot - you have a bat, just smash everything in sight.

Hey I thought only her railgun can shoot?

Long arm is long.

What happens when you fire two identical railgun devices against each other?
Nor me - let's find out.

Suddenly Kuroko goes all Minami-ke.

What is with that one wierd little bit of Haruue's hair tied off?

Wow, realism - they don't just get out of bed after all these years and start walking around. Did most of the boys choose crutches over wheelchairs?

Is that the first time we've actually seen MaMIKO in this series?

[Ashyukun]

That was everything I could have hoped for and more. I'll take more Railgun over Index any day- and I rather liked Index overall. Find a way to work in Aisa more, and I'd be perfectly happy not seeing any more of the rest of the Index cast (well, leave Komoe-sensei in too, but she had a decent role in Railgun as it was...).

I figured that the Capacity Down would end up coming back up, and that Saten would end up saving the day when it did. I would have liked to have seen her KO Telestina the Wanna-Beatrice with her bat, but knocking the Capacity Down system out of the park with it will have to do.

Railgun really was superior to Index in just about every way except for the lack of Aisa. Pacing, story, creative and effective use of characters. Even when it looked like they were just marking time in the middle episodes with all the side-stories of the tertiary characters they were laying the seeds for the final storyline. Index would have just spend half an episode (or more) with one character expositing to explain everything.

Besides- I just liked the characters in Railgun better overall. They interact and mesh so well from the very start, while we didn't get anything resembling a group dynamic (and that just a very loose resembling...) in Index until very late on. Uiharu and Saten are just more interesting and fun than almost all of the (non-Kuroko & Mikoto, and the MISAKAs too...) characters in Index.

The only bad thing is that there's not any more Railgun at the moment...

[Ashyukun]

Something's been bothering me. If Mrs Smarty Pants was involved in esper experiments as a child - why is she the first adult esper we've met? The teachers are all normals, right?

She wasn't apparently an esper- she essentially as I understand it CAN'T be one because of the ability crystal being extracted from her. But, yeah- unless she's really young, there should be adult espers running around. So far Konori-sempai is the oldest one I think we've seen...


Is that the first time we've actually seen MaMIKO in this series?
No- Aisa was in the game-loving Anti-Skill's episode. She encountered Aisa in the restaurant when Aisa was demanding they give her all the hamburgers. MaMiko had actual lines in that episode...

[pi8you]

Fantastic way to close out the season/series, absolutely fantastic. I'll admit, I was a little disappointed Misaka didn't attempt recreating her iron filings trick with the highway infrastructure or hopping onto the mech and disassembling it, but what we got was still fucking awesome.

That said, count me in the camp that wants more Index next, with the caveat that they take some lessons from Railgun's storytelling and improve the flow of things.

[something]

Episode 24:

- Young Telestina was cute. Too bad she became so fucked up.
- Oh JC Staff, why do you do this shitty cg? For shame.
- Fuck yeah Mitsuko!! Oh man, it was brief but it was awesome. She took out some powered suits and two helicopters like it was nothing!
- Ahahah, and Kuroko pulls out the teleportation pins like she's loading a machine gun!
- Oh god now it's a bandoleer.
- YES YES YES! Mitsuko and Kuroko! LOOOOOOOVE!
- More awful cg. This is really bothering me. ;_; I prefer the nasty pulsating blobs of fetus flesh over this.
- Ooh nice Mikoto/Kiyama moment.
- Hahhaah, Tsuzuri makes a great face while shooting.
- Kiyama really must have been paid well. She was obviously able to afford a pretty fucking sweet car.
- HAH! FUCK YEAH KUROKO! Kuroko comes in right when called for the assist as Mikoto RAILGUNS A ROCKET PUNCH right into Telestina's ugly mech. Bwhahaha. Oh. my. god. That was just absurdly, and glorious, and absurdly glorious. And just as I was about to complain about Kuroko being left out of the real action.
- And I loooove how it used scene from the OP (Mikoto hitting the ground on all fours, Kuroko teleporting in from the sky), but changing the setting from anonymous villain in the city to battle with Telestina on the highway.
- ...I can't stop rewatching that scene.
- Over by the halfway point too, perfect. Great great action and now we have plenty of time to save the kids and say goodbye (for now).
- lol, Ruiko still has her bat.
- Oh shit, she's going to need to use it too. Silly me, no body = no death, so there's still Telestina to feal with. Hopefully not for too long, I do want a nice epilogue.
- Heh, nice going Kazari. Get Telestina to blurt out the details like a good villain, so Ruiko can smash em up!
- Run Ruiko! Run!
- Just smash everything, Ruiko. That always works.
- And it does! Time for another Railgun! Pbbbft, Telestina thinks she can out-railgun the Railgun. You stupid tard. =D

I couldn't say anything about the rest when watching because there was no good time to pause. It was all... so... soooooo... fuck, it was perfect. The absolutely positively perfect ending. Perfect perfect perfect.

I totally cried when the kids woke up and saw Kiyama. Beautiful, utterly beautiful. I cried again when they all wished her a happy birthday from the blimp. Beauty again! And we get quick glimpses of Komoe and Aisa and Index!

Gah, I can't adequately put into words how fucking spectacular that was. God. And the character animation throughout this episode was INCREDIBLE. Especially Mikoto's face during the action, and Banri's face as she was waking up.

And the music, and the EVERYTHING.

EVERYTHING!

I had no doubt by about 10 minutes into the first episode that this show would blow Index away, but oh god there isn't even any comparison at this point. Railgun is so utterly insanely better. Just... GAH.

All I can hope is that they manage to work Banri and Erii (and Kiyama too, I really like her) into the inevitable season two!

Yeah. This stays very firmly atop the list of Fall 2009 series. Nothing else touches it.

[something]

Now the question is - what do we want more: Railgun2 or Index2?
Hahahaha, this is a trick question right?

[something]

They interact and mesh so well from the very start, while we didn't get anything resembling a group dynamic (and that just a very loose resembling...) in Index until very late on. Uiharu and Saten are just more interesting and fun than almost all of the (non-Kuroko & Mikoto, and the MISAKAs too...) characters in Index.
The only parts of Index that come within light years of Railgun are... all the parts that inspired the creation of Railgun and involve the Railgun herself.

That says a lot.

(And I *liked* Index, but in a "show that started weak but improved considerably and ended up a respectable middle of the pack" kinda way. Nowhere near Railgun which is guaranteed top 10, even top 5 when I do my 2010 year in review.)

[Suwako Moriya]

Now the question is - what do we want more: Railgun2 or Index2?
Hahahaha, this is a trick question right?

Yes, because it doesn't matter anyway. Clearly "A Certain Ordinary School Girl" is next. Also, there's still a need for err whatever title applies to Aisa.

[something]

Clearly "A Certain Ordinary School Girl" is next. Also, there's still a need for err whatever title applies to Aisa.
She finally snaps from lack of screen time and we get To Aru Ma no Miko.


Ma - 魔 - evil spirit, demon, etc.

[Suwako Moriya]

Clearly "A Certain Ordinary School Girl" is next. Also, there's still a need for err whatever title applies to Aisa.
She finally snaps from lack of screen time and we get To Aru Ma(魔) no Miko.

So "A Certain ??? Miko". Yeah, my knowledge of Japanese is pathetic. More screentime for her would be nice. Maybe that's part of the reason I want more Index. I want more interaction between Index, Aisa, and Komoe.

[something]

Clearly "A Certain Ordinary School Girl" is next. Also, there's still a need for err whatever title applies to Aisa.
She finally snaps from lack of screen time and we get To Aru Ma(魔) no Miko.

So "A Certain ??? Miko". Yeah, my knowledge of Japanese is pathetic. More screentime for her would be nice. Maybe that's part of the reason I want more Index. I want more interaction between Index, Aisa, and Komoe.

Caught me while I was editing (jeeze it was like a 2 minute window :sd:). =P

[Suwako Moriya]

Clearly "A Certain Ordinary School Girl" is next. Also, there's still a need for err whatever title applies to Aisa.
She finally snaps from lack of screen time and we get To Aru Ma(魔) no Miko.

So "A Certain ??? Miko". Yeah, my knowledge of Japanese is pathetic. More screentime for her would be nice. Maybe that's part of the reason I want more Index. I want more interaction between Index, Aisa, and Komoe.

Caught me while I was editing (jeeze it was like a 2 minute window :sd:). =P

*Looks above* Ah, I see then. Also, I have to wonder. Does this make my timing good or bad?

[Shiroi Hane]

Surely she's A Certain Mahou Shoujo no Miko?

[Ashyukun]

Surely she's A Certain Mahou Shoujo no Miko?
With the absolute best Magic Wand ever. I love how she still had that later in the series when she started at Touma's school. :P

[HitokiriShadow]

Haha, Kongou finally proves her worth.... and they don't show it and don't let us hear her tell people (who don't want to hear it) about it.

And LOL Saten preparing for war with a baseball bat.

Lot's of fantastic character bits. Kuroko snaps Uiharu out of her rut by slapping her, and you can see how much it pained Kuroko to do it, when you see her holding her hand from behind. Then Saten got to be awesome again, and be the one telling someone else how they were screwing up, when she stopped Mikoto from going off alone again.

Oh, and Telestina is a crazy, evil bitch.

[jlazar]

The only parts of Index that come within light years of Railgun are... all the parts that inspired the creation of Railgun and involve the Railgun herself.


Yeah, I recently rewatched Index in prep for rewatching Railgun and was amazed at how much railgun was in it (for some reason I didn't remember how much). I didn't remember that they introduced her right in the first episode, for instance.

I don't know if the light novels/manga did this or the anime staff wanted to introduce a known popular character early, but upon second watching, it really seemed like biribiri was introduced a lot earlier than needed for her main arc. Of course, that actually helped since she wasn't suddenly a new character when all the clones showed up.

The end of Railgun was great, although a part of me kind of wished they had ended right where the clones showed up in index to have a seamless story. Although it seems (because of comments here) that there is much more the the Railgun side of the accelerator story than what we saw in Index, so maybe they are holding all that for another cour (or two) series once the Railgun light novels/manga finishes that arc.


Only negatives of this new Railgun series is no mass amount of biribiri clones. :) :) I have to wonder what Kuroko would do with a room full of Mikotos. :) :)

[HitokiriShadow]

And now we actually get to see Mitsuko be awesome. And she can be pretty awesome. She launches a truck at helicopters! But still not as awesome as Kuroko, who now gets to chaingun her nails.

And holy crap, Mikoto was just ludicrously awesome. Riding the top of the car was enough, then fighting from it was even cooler. But that combo attack with Kuroko to take down the machine was one of the most ridiculously awesome things I have ever seen.

Then A Certain Ordinary Schoolgirl With A Baseball Bat comes to the rescue. And Mikoto gets to Railgun Telestina's ass again, after yet another team attack.

"Happy Birthday Sensei!!" Man, what an incredibly touching way to end the series and an amazingly awesome episode in particular. I went into the series expecting to like it a lot and to be my favorite of the season, but it still blew me away, vastly surpassing my expectations. It's going to be a painful wait for season 2 (assuming its sales justify one).

[something]

(assuming its sales justify one).
This is the one thing we will definitely not need to worry about. 25.5k sales on Vol. 1, more than ever other TV anime Vol. 1 in the suki 2010 list combined (excepting Durarara's 18+k). And vol. 2 didn't have much dropoff, it's listed at 23k at the moment.

And considering how amazingly well they delivered in the end I assume the later volumes will hold up really well too. I think it's safe to say Railgun will be one of the top 10 best selling shows in 2010.

[HitokiriShadow]

Mitsuko & Kuroko made quite a good partnership, but the assisted Railgunning from Kuroko and Mikoto was epic almost beyond words.

Now the question is - what do we want more: Railgun2 or Index2?

Fuck Index. This was so much better than Index it wasn't even funny. Hell, its better than both seasons of Shana.

Seriously. I actually liked Index quite a bit, as certain things didn't bother me nearly as much as seemed to for almost everyone else, and I'm looking forward to another season of it at some point. But, as Fencedude said, Railgun is vastly superior to Index, so I definitely want more Railgun far more than more Index. However, I don't mind if we get more Index first, which seems very likely to happen, particularly since the Railgun manga apparently still hasn't finished the next storyline.

[HitokiriShadow]

Something's been bothering me. If Mrs Smarty Pants was involved in esper experiments as a child - why is she the first adult esper we've met? The teachers are all normals, right?


I think we have, actually, but maybe not. I was thinking Heaven's Canceler was an Esper, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure that was ever actually stated in Index, I may have just assumed it.

[HitokiriShadow]

(assuming its sales justify one).
This is the one thing we will definitely not need to worry about. 25.5k sales on Vol. 1, more than ever other TV anime Vol. 1 in the suki 2010 list combined (excepting Durarara's 18+k). And vol. 2 didn't have much dropoff, it's listed at 23k at the moment.

And considering how amazingly well they delivered in the end I assume the later volumes will hold up really well too. I think it's safe to say Railgun will be one of the top 10 best selling shows in 2010.

Oh, wow, you're right, that's definitely not going to be a problem. I had seen that it done well in the weekly sales rankings, but its hard to say much based just on that and I hadn't seen any actual numbers.

[something]

Something's been bothering me. If Mrs Smarty Pants was involved in esper experiments as a child - why is she the first adult esper we've met? The teachers are all normals, right?I think we have, actually, but maybe not. I was thinking Heaven's Canceler was an Esper, but now that I think about it, I'm not sure that was ever actually stated in Index, I may have just assumed it.
He's gotta be an esper, yeah. I mean, I can't see a whole city of child and teen espers being handled without any esper adults around. I guess we just don't see them because... uh... nobody cares about adults I guess? :sd:

And I still think Komoe-sensei has some sort of power she's hiding. Surely some of the teachers of espers would be espers themselves?

We know that on the magic side there are a number of adults, and I'm not necessarily convinced that magicians and espers are necessarily all that different - more a matter of perspective and training, I guess. See Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou. Our scientific espers kinda invoke the old "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" line for me. I also think it unlikely Japan would invest so heavily in maintaining a place like Academy City if espers couldn't be expected to maintain their powers into adulthood.

[Suwako Moriya]

And I still think Komoe-sensei has some sort of power she's hiding. Surely some of the teachers of espers would be espers themselves?

It would be a nice twist, but certain events in Index make it hard for that to happen. The main issue being related to the subject of Espers using magic. Also, keep in mind that Komoe was chosen for that task for a reason.

Speaking of magic, there's still some things I'd like explained about it. Like for example, we know with few exceptions it's one Esper ability person. Aside from uber-mages, does a similar limit exist on the magic side? As in you can't learn every single type of magic. You have to specialize.


We know that on the magic side there are a number of adults, and I'm not necessarily convinced that magicians and espers are necessarily all that different - more a matter of perspective and training, I guess. See Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou. Our scientific espers kinda invoke the old "any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic" line for me.

Yeah, I've always found some of the Espers to be hard to swallow as just mere science. I mean seriously. At the same time, it's clear that the magic side isn't as simple as just waving some random wand. It seems to follows its own brand of logic. Even if some of that logic seems to be a bit out there.

[something]

And I still think Komoe-sensei has some sort of power she's hiding. Surely some of the teachers of espers would be espers themselves?It would be a nice twist, but certain events in Index make it hard for that to happen. The main issue being related to the subject of Espers using magic. Also, keep in mind that Komoe was chosen for that task for a reason.
Well, whatever it is I've totally forgotten I guess. :sd:

[Suwako Moriya]

And I still think Komoe-sensei has some sort of power she's hiding. Surely some of the teachers of espers would be espers themselves?It would be a nice twist, but certain events in Index make it hard for that to happen. The main issue being related to the subject of Espers using magic. Also, keep in mind that Komoe was chosen for that task for a reason.
Well, whatever it is I've totally forgotten I guess. :sd:

In the first arc of Index, it was stated that Espers can't use magic. During the Aisa arc of Index, it was shown that If an Esper tries to use magic it will have negative effects.

[HitokiriShadow]

And I still think Komoe-sensei has some sort of power she's hiding. Surely some of the teachers of espers would be espers themselves?It would be a nice twist, but certain events in Index make it hard for that to happen. The main issue being related to the subject of Espers using magic. Also, keep in mind that Komoe was chosen for that task for a reason.
Well, whatever it is I've totally forgotten I guess. :sd:

Middle of the first story arc. They needed her help to heal Index.

[Ashyukun]

And I still think Komoe-sensei has some sort of power she's hiding. Surely some of the teachers of espers would be espers themselves?It would be a nice twist, but certain events in Index make it hard for that to happen. The main issue being related to the subject of Espers using magic. Also, keep in mind that Komoe was chosen for that task for a reason.
Well, whatever it is I've totally forgotten I guess. :sd:

Middle of the first story arc. They needed her help to heal Index.
Moreover, in one of the last arcs (the Angel Fall arc), we get very solid confirmation of just what can happen if an Esper uses magic- and also that it's quite possible for mages to become espers, they just put their lives at serious risk if they try going back to using their magic. Unless their 'level 0' esper ability happens to be regeneration/healing. How the HELL is that (and Touma's Imagine Breaker...) a 'level 0'.... "Oh, I killed myself by performing a powerful magic spell, but thanks to my completely worthless by the level rating system ability, I got better."

This brings up something that I've been curious about since it first showed up- what effect would the Capacity Down have on Touma? He's technically a Level 0, so would he just hear it as a high-pitched sound? Or would it incapacitate him? It seemed that the higher level of an esper that you were the worse it affected you- Uihara was able to function a lot more effectively than Mikoto & Kuroko (of course, they had also done a LOT more fighting...) in this ep.

[Fencedude]

This brings up something that I've been curious about since it first showed up- what effect would the Capacity Down have on Touma? He's technically a Level 0, so would he just hear it as a high-pitched sound? Or would it incapacitate him? It seemed that the higher level of an esper that you were the worse it affected you- Uihara was able to function a lot more effectively than Mikoto & Kuroko (of course, they had also done a LOT more fighting...) in this ep.

I'm pretty sure that Imagine Breaker is neither Esper nor magic.

[something]

Moreover, in one of the last arcs (the Angel Fall arc), we get very solid confirmation of just what can happen if an Esper uses magic- and also that it's quite possible for mages to become espers, they just put their lives at serious risk if they try going back to using their magic. Unless their 'level 0' esper ability happens to be regeneration/healing. How the HELL is that (and Touma's Imagine Breaker...) a 'level 0'.... "Oh, I killed myself by performing a powerful magic spell, but thanks to my completely worthless by the level rating system ability, I got better."
Well, I was just talking about Komoe maybe being an esper not a mage. I did say that there's probably less space between the two than the magic/science dichotomy implies but I certainly do agree that there are still differences, as Angel Fall shows.

This brings up something that I've been curious about since it first showed up- what effect would the Capacity Down have on [redacted]?
Depends on getting a real explanation of what his power or lack thereof actually is. There's no real good definition of what separates an esper from a normal. Everyone appears to have some potential to augment and project their personal reality, it's just way too small in most people to ever manifest materially. Level Upper enabled the "Level 0" Ruiko to use powers, though, so with the right push it can happen.

So Capacity Down should arguably have an effect on everyone... but for most it's utterly inconsequential. That's why I probably would agree with you that Capacity Down scales in effect based on the power of the esper.

[Fencedude]

So Capacity Down should arguably have an effect on everyone... but for most it's utterly inconsequential. That's why I probably would agree with you that Capacity Down scales in effect based on the power of the esper.

Yeah, like, it had no effect on Ruiko other than being obnoxious, Kazari was clearly in pain, but able to stand up and be more or less functional (though obviously unable to use her ability, not that it matters in her case), while Kuroko and Mikoto were sprawled out on the ground and completely incapacitated by it.

[HitokiriShadow]

So Capacity Down should arguably have an effect on everyone... but for most it's utterly inconsequential. That's why I probably would agree with you that Capacity Down scales in effect based on the power of the esper.

Yeah, like, it had no effect on Ruiko other than being obnoxious, Kazari was clearly in pain, but able to stand up and be more or less functional (though obviously unable to use her ability, not that it matters in her case), while Kuroko and Mikoto were sprawled out on the ground and completely incapacitated by it.

Which really makes sense when you think about how esper abilities are supposed to work. Esper abilities are achieved by doing something to the user's brain. Normal people and Level 0's are unable to do this, so whatever part of their brain is used for esper abilities is either dormant or non-existent. But each higher esper ability level would reflect this portion of the brain being more active (in other words, higher levels use more of this portion of the brain than lower levels), and thus the more active esper brains are affected by Capacity Down more.

[Mateo_home]

The previous episode ended on what the next one was going to be an amazing climax. And it did not disappoint. I don't like the ojou-sama character archtype, I will admit Mitsuko's ability was impressive. Everything about this episode was flawless. Ruiko keeping Kazari on her lap, the chase scene with Mikoto riding the car followed by playing rebound with Kuroko and the mechanical arm. And of course Mikoto railgunning psycho bitch plus Ruiko destroying capacity down. I sort of was expecting her to rush in and hit her with the bat, but it was smarter to run because being immune to an annoying sound won't increase your defenses against an ugly mech.

It's a great anime in the end. Problems I had were pacing issues similar to Index like focusing on a side character or the main four having a mini adventure with buildup to the final arc. Unlike Index, here I actually enjoyed watching the episodes because they didn't chat the entire time.

Regarding the question I want to see a second season of Railgun. But if J.C. Staff is forced to go with Index. Find a way to get Ruiko and Kazari in there. And I mean more than a simple cameo in both OP themes.:P

[Suwako Moriya]

Regarding the question I want to see a second season of Railgun. But if J.C. Staff is forced to go with Index. Find a way to get Ruiko and Kazari in there. And I mean more than a simple cameo in both OP themes.:P

I kind of would like to see Ruiko and Kazari interact with someone like Aisa for example. Plus, it would be nice to have a reversal in Index 2. Have a few espers deal with being in a magic based city.

Actually, there are several things I'd hope for to happen in Index 2, but that might be more appropriate to say in the Index thread. Then again some of what I might say could be influenced by knowledge provided by both Index and Railgun. Which I suppose complicate things.

The main thing I can say for certain is that I'm still waiting for Touma to meet the Archbishop herself. Also, for Index to get more screen time.

[Nork22]

Yawn to the fight scene. It's exciting if it's ability vs ability, but what we get is a level 5 vs a mecha suit.

I'm amused by the Railgun she used though. It's Selvaria's lance!!!

Love the end bit with the kids and and their well wishes to Kiyama. That was very touching.

[Fencedude]

Yawn to the fight scene. It's exciting if it's ability vs ability, but what we get is a level 5 vs a mecha suit.



You got Misaka, riding on top of a speeding sports car, facing Beatrice, dressed like Samus, piloting what you could consider to be a first generation Knightmare Frame!

THATS PRETTY FREAKING AWESOME

[AdrianWerner]

Railgun finally delivered the kickass esper action I've been waiting for since the show started, shame it did it only in last episode :D

The setting has so much potential, to see it "wasted" on pointless slice of life eps and filler garbage like the gang arc was just painful. I hope JC Staff goes with new action heavy Index next.

[Fencedude]

Railgun finally delivered the kickass esper action I've been waiting for since the show started, shame it did it only in last episode :D

The setting has so much potential, to see it "wasted" on pointless slice of life eps and filler garbage like the gang arc was just painful. I hope JC Staff goes with new action heavy Index next.

Episode 12 begs to differ. And there were plenty of other action scenes throughout the series.

And while Index probably had more battle scenes, I'll take fewer, generally more awesome ones than LOL TOUMA WINS BY PUNCHING ONCE AGAIN

[AdrianWerner]

Railgun finally delivered the kickass esper action I've been waiting for since the show started, shame it did it only in last episode :D

The setting has so much potential, to see it "wasted" on pointless slice of life eps and filler garbage like the gang arc was just painful. I hope JC Staff goes with new action heavy Index next.

Episode 12 begs to differ. And there were plenty of other action scenes throughout the series.

And while Index probably had more battle scenes, I'll take fewer, generally more awesome ones than LOL TOUMA WINS BY PUNCHING ONCE AGAIN
Ep 12 was nice, but nowhere near enough for me.
With Index I thought that the magic-centric arcs sucked, while esper-centric ones were great. So when Railgun started I was expecting bassicaly one long great esper show, what I got was some really bad slice of life, awful drama plots, very few decent action scenes and one incredible ending. Especially the later half of the show was simply painful. One dull episode after another, each starting with the OP full of kick ass esper action, which was like rubbing salt into the wound.
I think the team behind Railgun was more competent than Index, they just had a lot worse source material to work with. Index2 done with Railgun like production values and directing would be best of both worlds.

[Fencedude]

Ep 12 was nice, but nowhere near enough for me.
With Index I thought that the magic-centric arcs sucked, while esper-centric ones were great. So when Railgun started I was expecting bassicaly one long great esper show, what I got was some really bad slice of life, awful drama plots, very few decent action scenes and one incredible ending. Especially the later half of the show was simply painful. One dull episode after another, each starting with the OP full of kick ass esper action, which was like rubbing salt into the wound.
I think the team behind Railgun was more competent than Index, they just had a lot worse source material to work with. Index2 done with Railgun like production values and directing would be best of both worlds.

I thought the slice of life and character development parts were fantastic, while I certainly wouldn't have objected to even more action, I think the show struck a really good balance.

[something]

Ep 12 was nice, but nowhere near enough for me.
Your expectations may be more than a little unrealistic then. And it was way better than any action in Index.

And yes, Railgun was more character focused than Index - and that is exactly why we loved it so, so much more.

[AdrianWerner]

Your expectations may be more than a little unrealistic then. And it was way better than any action in Index.
I liked the fight against Accelerator far more to be honest

And yes, Railgun was more character focused than Index - and that is exactly why we loved it so, so much more.

Yeah, it definitly was, which was I guess the main problem for me. I liked only Kuroko and Misaka, which actualy had very little character development. While the other characters they truly centered on psychologicaly..Uiharu and Saten were just cringe worthy for me. I wanted to strangle those characters many times :D They devoted such a large part of this show to those two, when in reality they were completely uninteresting and simply put horribly boring.

The characters just didn't click with me, which spelled doom for the whole show, since it was pretty character focused. I guess that for people who found characters likable it was a whole different story

[Ashyukun]

And yes, Railgun was more character focused than Index - and that is exactly why we loved it so, so much more.

Yeah, it definitly was, which was I guess the main problem for me. I liked only Kuroko and Misaka, which actualy had very little character development. While the other characters they truly centered on psychologicaly..Uiharu and Saten were just cringe worthy for me. I wanted to strangle those characters many times :D They devoted such a large part of this show to those two, when in reality they were completely uninteresting and simply put horribly boring.

The characters just didn't click with me, which spelled doom for the whole show, since it was pretty character focused. I guess that for people who found characters likable it was a whole different story
I unsurprisingly agree with Fence and something- but given that I generally liked Saten best out of the characters, it's unsurprising that I'd be disagreeing with you. I didn't going into Railgun expecting a shounen fighting show, with lots of fights with a bit of character development and drama inbetween where just about everyone is a combat powerhouse in one way or another. Saten & Uiharu were so interesting because they lacked the massive power of the other pair, and how they dealt with that and still didn't back down and run away from the dangers that appeared was what made them such good additions. Railgun did end up being a bit more slice-of-life and character driven than I expected, but given my general taste in shows that only made it better.

I'm not sure I'd agree that Uiharu and Saten got more development than Mikoto & Kuroko though- I thought that they balanced all four very well as well as involving the rest of the cast that they interacted with either frequently or infrequently.

Ultimately, it's up to each person'd tastes. I thought there were enough battles and uses of the esper's powers for the show, and that when they went for the climactic battles, I wasn't disappointed at all. I loved how the final battle played out as well, taking full advantage of everything the four (five if you count Kiyama) were capable of (or not capable of) to combine to take down Telestina without sacrificing the chance at saving Kiyama's kids.

[TAS]

I thought the slice of life and character development parts were fantastic, while I certainly wouldn't have objected to even more action, I think the show struck a really good balance.
That is exactly what I was about to say. There were only a couple of episodes that had a filler feeling, just about everything was character and/or plot development. Very good balance.

[Suwako Moriya]

Saten & Uiharu were so interesting because they lacked the massive power of the other pair, and how they dealt with that and still didn't back down and run away from the dangers that appeared was what made them such good additions.

I think without the two of them, the series wouldn't have been as good as it was. As they provided something that you couldn't get from Mikoto or Kuroko. Also, having a core four instead of just a core two provides more variety for interaction.

Railgun did end up being a bit more slice-of-life and character driven than I expected, but given my general taste in shows that only made it better.

I tend to like such series as well. Also, having such elements in a show like this makes it easier to care about the other aspects. In other words, if I'm going to root for X to win, I'd like to know who X is.

[pianocello]

While I would say the show was better than To Aru Majutsu no Index, the pacing was a little off. Eps 15-19 - while some may call character development episodes were not particularly memorable. For me, Kuroko and Saten really made the show (does anyone else think that Saten is areal hottie?:devil: ) . I liked the Higurashi faces Telestina made. Eri Haruee's character was rather meh though and served to bring down Uiharu's character (and possibly come in between Uiharu and Saten:nosebleed: )
I look forward to a 2nd season. Hopefully Kuroko will get lucky.:devil:

[something]

(does anyone else think that Saten is areal hottie?:devil: )
Does anyone not? :sd: Ruiko = love. Although Kuroko is by far my favorite.

Eri Haruee's character was rather meh though and served to bring down Uiharu's character (and possibly come in between Uiharu and Saten:nosebleed: )
Haruue Erii* was absolutely lovely. And in the end, Erii has Banri, so Ruiko's love is safe.

[William K]

Eri Haruee's character was rather meh though and served to bring down Uiharu's character (and possibly come in between Uiharu and Saten:nosebleed:)

No no... there's A Certain Thick-Eyebrowed Stalker for that

[Suwako Moriya]

Eri Haruee's character was rather meh though and served to bring down Uiharu's character (and possibly come in between Uiharu and Saten:nosebleed:)

No no... there's A Certain Thick-Eyebrowed Stalker for that

Indeed, you'd be correct about that. Also, that's one more character given their own "A Certain" title and several more to go.

[William K]

Indeed, you'd be correct about that. Also, that's one more character given their own "A Certain" title and several more to go.

Well let's see... I'd watch OVA episodes of "A Certain Lovesick Neck-Breaking Dorm-Mother" and "A Certain Haughty Aerohand Ojou-Sama" :)

[something]

Special 2:

- Fun with Level Upper.
- Shirai-sensei teaches us that words and emotions and sensations can mean multiple things simultaneously! Kuroko being electrocuted by Mikoto is pain and pleasure! Mikoto saying hate also means liking and loving!
- Kiyama hates kids. Kiyama really hates... really... hate... BANRI YOU ARE SO CUTE OHMYGOD.
- The text between segments is amusing. :sd:
- Kuroko is into exhibitionism!
- Pikachu jokes. And Biribiri wasn't even there!
- Fish puns.
- Musashino Milk is the Buster Upper!
- Now it's time for Mikoto's Conspiracy Corner again! Academy City is actually fake! They're all really just part of a television show for others to enjoy!
- Hahah, Ruiko asking Kazari for absolutely no reason whether she's wearing panties can never get old.
- Oh no, conserving electricity was cut!

Needless to say, thoughout every segment the seiyuu were drunk.

[Fencedude]

Needless to say, thoughout every segment the seiyuu were drunk.

And high.

[HitokiriShadow]

The lengthy speculation segment at the end just slayed me. Though at first, I thought Mikoto was going to suggest they were in a Rahxephon situation and was slightly disappointed she was instead channeling The Truman Show. But Ruiko's ability to bring up Kazari's panties and the two of them going back and forth for on it was hilarious.

The fishing part was really weird, but probably the funniest one other than the last part. I didn't get the fish jokes at all, but the voices were just hilarious. And really, the whole thing is just seiyuu porn anyway, letting them go completely bonkers, which makes it completely awesome even when the jokes aren't that funny.

[EmperorBrandon]

According to ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-15/toaru-kagaku-no-railgun-book-has-new-episode-listed), there will be an episode bundled with the Official Visual Book called episode "13'" (with an apostrophe). I wonder if it means this will take place chronologically right after or right before that episode?

Kind of amusing since I just finished episode 12 last I stopped, so I may just wait to watch the episode "chronologically" if that's the case (well, not that it really matters, probably, since this is an extra episode).

[EmperorBrandon]

(Ah... might as well catch up on the discussion up to 12, since I last watched a few weeks ago and so will be more in my mind, and I'll have less to catch up on as I watch through the later episodes :) )


She also needs a new voice, though I have to admit it's more bearable in Railgun than it was in Index since she slightly changed it.. I think.

Kuroko's voice is amazing. <3

To those who dislike Kuroko's voice... boo!!! Well, Arai's voice is definitely kind of quirky, but I think I got to liking for Kuroko rather quickly. Being a fan of hers in Mahoraba for a while now helps a lot too. JC Staff seems to really like using her.

[EmperorBrandon]

Shouldn't be a problem here since this is from Mikoto side of things. Thank god that means no TLDR guy showing up.

I don't have any problem whatsoever with Touma showing up from time to time. I've actually enjoyed his appearances so far, actually. I think no "TLDR guy" is a good thing, though. I don't think he was very interesting, even putting aside that aspect of his character. :P

[EmperorBrandon]

- Ahaha, and off goes the skirt. I like her. It's hard not to like a Tanaka Atsuko character though.

You know, I don't think I've ever really heard much of Tanaka Atsuko, as prolific as she is, since many of her major roles in shows I'm not all that interested in. Thanks to this show, I've really gotten an appreciation for her, though. She's really awesome here, in more ways than one.

[EmperorBrandon]

I just rewatched the first episode and as they were loading one of the perps into a Black Maria there was a closeup of an MP3 player in his pocket. They were laying extremely subtle hints even before the eyebrow girl.

I think it's really neat realizing those episodic incidents from very early on weren't isolated all, and it's connected in with the whole "level upper" plot. Sure, we get some nice character development and action there which is the main thing for me, but it's not really "filler" as far as the main plot is concerned either. The show is really nicely balanced in that regard.

[EmperorBrandon]

Saten and Uiharu were pretty obvious in the second OP (or at least I thought they were, even though I had never seen them before that) but I didn't realize they were in the first one as well.

They are sitting in that cafe with Kuroko, who teleports out when she sees Touma walk by.

When I started back up on watching through Index about half a year ago (around Christmas) at ep. 11, I immediately noticed them there in the first OP. I hadn't gotten to watching Railgun yet, but I had seen so much fanart of them I knew their names and what they looked like. :) Interesting that they have a cameo there.

[EmperorBrandon]

Anyway, awesome episode, Kazari and Ruiko's phonecall was incredible

The bonds between those two are so sweet. :cry: I really liked that scene too.

[EmperorBrandon]

Wow. What a fight. And now it's no wonder Kiyama is so ****ed in the brains. ^^; Am I the only one who thinks she's actually really hot, though? >_>

"Oh, good, she's not evil... wait, she's kind of evil... oh, she's evil, but for a good reason? Maybe..."

I think I love Kiyama-sensei from what I've seen so far (from her quirkiness as a not-yet-villain earlier on, to her portrayal here). Sure, she gets some sympathy near the end with the flashback (which I really enjoyed, though it makes me sad :cry: - very powerful), but she was pretty dang awesome for a villain earlier on too. I loved this episode thoroughly.

[EmperorBrandon]

It's going to be increasingly hard to tiptoe around Index stuff in this thread. Seriously, anyone who hasn't seen Index yet and is particularly concerned about running into spoilers for it in this thread, just go watch Index now! I highly recommend it, even if it's not nearly as good as Railgun. The Railgun writers very much expect you to have done so already, honestly.

While Index was several months and still not fresh on my mind, I definitely think it was a good decision to finish up on it before I got to starting Railgun (even though I still kept putting it off - don't know why, because this show is even better than I expected :) ) Some of the stories in Index aren't really as relevant here, but the stuff around Mikoto and Accelerator there particularly is. The last arc in Index, despite bringing the magic side of things in a little bit, seemed so too.

[EmperorBrandon]

Really, only halfway through the show, and it was great enough to where I really had to go ahead and add it to my most wanted licenses (and pretty highly, at that - come on, R1 companies!) immediately. I'm hoping the second half of the series keeps it up, but even if it somehow disappoints me, I think it will still be one of my favorites just on how strong it's been so far. I guess I shall see...

[HitokiriShadow]

Railgun OVA announced, to be released in October. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-22/toaru-kagaku-no-railgun-ova-confirmed-for-october-29)

[pianocello]

Railgun OVA announced, to be released in October. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-22/toaru-kagaku-no-railgun-ova-confirmed-for-october-29)


There better be yuri.

[Fencedude]

Railgun OVA announced, to be released in October. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-22/toaru-kagaku-no-railgun-ova-confirmed-for-october-29)


There better be yuri.

You know, keeping your expectations closer in line with reality will help prevent massive disappointments.

[Draneor]

There better be yuri.

Given how large the To Aru cast is, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a character named Yuri. :)

[Suwako Moriya]

There better be yuri.

Given how large the To Aru cast is, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a character named Yuri. :)

And maybe if we're lucky she'll have a flower garden. One where each and ever single flower is a lily. What?

[Betenoire]

Railgun OVA announced, to be released in October. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-22/toaru-kagaku-no-railgun-ova-confirmed-for-october-29)


There better be yuri.

(NSFW site) here (http://www.sankakucomplex.com/2010/06/21/kurokos-first-time/). Maybe as close as you get, but enjoy.

[russ869]

There better be yuri.
What? You haven't had enough yet?

Then again, if it's just a single OVA episode, they don't really have time to do anything else BUT yuri, I guess.

This announcement is vague. Is it a continuing OVA series? An adaptation of novels or manga? Completely unrelated?

[Betenoire]

There better be yuri.
What? You haven't had enough yet?

*I am not sure if someone else posted this idea already or not, so if so my apologies to them if they did.*

Piano could watch a show called Yuri Yuri Yuri where the main character (Yuri Yuri Yuri) (voiced by a person named Yuri) is the mayor of Yuriville, in the country Yuri on the continent of Yuri located on the planet Yuri in the Yuri System which is part of the Yuri galaxy. Yuri Yuri Yuri could go around stark naked and having flings with different women every 5 minutes for 190 episodes. The production it could be produced by Yuri studios in partnership with Lilly magazine every member of the staff could be named Yuri and in a yuri relationship and he would still they he was a bit disappointed and that they could have added more yuri. :devil:

[BigPants]

*I am not sure if someone else posted this idea already or not, so if so my apologies to them if they did.*

Piano could watch a show called Yuri Yuri Yuri where the main character (Yuri Yuri Yuri) (voiced by a person named Yuri) is the mayor of Yuriville, in the country Yuri on the continent of Yuri located on the planet Yuri in the Yuri System which is part of the Yuri galaxy. Yuri Yuri Yuri could go around stark naked and having flings with different women every 5 minutes for 190 episodes. The production it could be produced by Yuri studios in partnership with Lilly magazine every member of the staff could be named Yuri and in a yuri relationship and he would still they he was a bit disappointed and that they could have added more yuri. :devil:

Well, it could be every four minutes, for starters.

[Betenoire]

*I am not sure if someone else posted this idea already or not, so if so my apologies to them if they did.*

Piano could watch a show called Yuri Yuri Yuri where the main character (Yuri Yuri Yuri) (voiced by a person named Yuri) is the mayor of Yuriville, in the country Yuri on the continent of Yuri located on the planet Yuri in the Yuri System which is part of the Yuri galaxy. Yuri Yuri Yuri could go around stark naked and having flings with different women every 5 minutes for 190 episodes. The production it could be produced by Yuri studios in partnership with Lilly magazine every member of the staff could be named Yuri and in a yuri relationship and he would still they he was a bit disappointed and that they could have added more yuri. :devil:

Well, it could be every four minutes, for starters.

Figured he would want 4 1/2 minutes of...animation...and 30 sec setting the next one up.

Maybe I gave him too much time?

[littleharlock]

Railgun OVA announced, to be released in October. (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-22/toaru-kagaku-no-railgun-ova-confirmed-for-october-29)

And fripSide in charge of OP theme (http://www.geneonuniversal.jp/rondorobe/music/fripside/news/hp0001/index00670000.html)

[something]

According to ANN (http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-06-15/toaru-kagaku-no-railgun-book-has-new-episode-listed), there will be an episode bundled with the Official Visual Book called episode "13'" (with an apostrophe). I wonder if it means this will take place chronologically right after or right before that episode?
Just watched this! It's got to be during or right after. They've got the swimsuits they wore in 13.

Episode 13':

- We start with Kazari oiling herself up in sexy ways for the audience.
- Then Kuroko breathing heavily and being Kuroko as Kazari gets to oil Mikoto up.
- Kuroko teleports in some aphrodesiac-laden lotion for Kazari to use on Mikoto (delicious Mikoto-service!) when...
- Ruiko swaps in! THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME.
- Ahahahaha, Ruiko shakes her ass in the air and demands to see what's under Kazari's swimsuit. =D
- And Mikoto delivers punishment. Kuroko's favorite thing.
- Mitsuko has a less pleasant experience with Ekaterina. >_>

Kuroko wins, yet again.

[Fencedude]

Shame I don't have an episode of Ookami to watch. ARAI SATOMI PARADISE

Anyway, very amusing and very sexy all around.

[HitokiriShadow]

My Railgun Official Visual Book with the episode 13' DVD came today, so now seems like a good time to actually get around to watching this.

Aphrodisiac-filled suntan lotion? This sounds like the beginning of an erotic doujin.

Oops, plan failed. But this failure is far better, because we get super-horny Saten.

And then the oujo-sama's snake gets a whiff of it and.... yeah....

Well, that was pretty amusing.

[superdry]

My Railgun Official Visual Book with the episode 13' DVD came today, so now seems like a good time to actually get around to watching this.



I was able to buy the book today while at Kinokuniya. I didn't even realize until I read the cover again that the DVD is episode 13'. For some reason I thought it was a DVD containing extra stuff like wallpapers and other digital content.

That was a very cute 5 min episode. Yet, again, Kuroko's plans get foiled, such bad timing as always. I do like the fact that Mikoto was wearing a nice one-piece (I always found her fashion sense to be a bit lacking), which looks good on her.

[HitokiriShadow]

My Railgun Official Visual Book with the episode 13' DVD came today, so now seems like a good time to actually get around to watching this.



I was able to buy the book today while at Kinokuniya. I didn't even realize until I read the cover again that the DVD is episode 13'. For some reason I thought it was a DVD containing extra stuff like wallpapers and other digital content.


I didn't even realize the book came with a DVD of any sort until after I ordered it. I just saw it as I was browsing CD Japan and thought "Oooh, Railgun art book, I want!" and bought it the next time I had something I needed to order ASAP. A few days after I ordered it (and I ordered it about two months ago, and it then shipped at the end of September when the Ar Tonelico CD in the order was released) I read something about about the DVD coming with a book and realized "Oh, that's the Railgun book I ordered! Awesome!"

[HitokiriShadow]

"Uiharu, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" ... Yeah, I'm pretty sure she was. That was pretty hilarious.

The OP music has nothing on the TV openings but its still pretty good. The OP video, however is pretty awesome. It starts with Mikoto putting film on a machine, which then plays for most of the OP. The whole thing is just the girls having fun. My favorite parts are all four of the girls "shooting" the camera, all four of them doing mahou shoujo motions on the stairs, all of the girls wearing flowers on their head like Uihuaru, and a bunch of shots of them trading uniforms. Saten makes sure to flash her shorts and Mikoto wears the flower headband while wearing Uiharu's uniform.

Great episode. I was expecting something fluffier, but while it had the standard Railgun humor, it was largely a pretty serious episode. Which gave the show a good way to Mikoto's friends work together to help Mikoto, which is always something fun to see. Especially any chance for Saten to help, even she was limited to tailing the bad guy this time. But it would be hard to top what she did at the end of the TV series and I wouldn't really expect it from a one episode OVA.

[Ashyukun]

Definitely a good, fun insert OVA- lots of humor from most of the main cast of the show, and a good mystery and villain (I had to wonder if they had something to do with it, since they were around so often...). But what still shines through as being what makes this show so good (and so much better than what it spun off from...) is the group dynamic between the four girls- they're every bit as fun to watch as the girls of Hokago Tea Time and Hidamari-sou in their own environment.

I'll be patient since I don't expect it while they're airing Index II- but they'd BETTER make more Railgun afterward...

[Ingraman]

"Uiharu, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" ... Yeah, I'm pretty sure she was. That was pretty hilarious

When Mikoto was being cheered up at the bath house, I was thinking that Kuroko must have been kicking herself quite severely for having to miss it, but Uiharu clarified things at the end... ^_^

The OP was fun and the plot wasn't bad for a one-shot story. I'm happy that I bought it. My BD arrived this morning, so I watched it (not knowing more than a handful of words of Japanese), and then the fansub (to get a bit more than just the gist of it).

[Ingraman]

Definitely a good, fun insert OVA- lots of humor from most of the main cast of the show, and a good mystery and villain (I had to wonder if they had something to do with it, since they were around so often...)

That was a fun episode, and it was a bit longer than I was expecting. About 1.6 episodes?

We only saw the guy partnered with the woman/villain twice, didn't we? When Mikoto is saved by Kuroko from Antiskill at the beginning, IIRC, we see a different pair. Yeah, that's one more time than we see most any other character, but ... ^_^

I'll be patient since I don't expect it while they're airing Index II- but they'd BETTER make more Railgun afterward...I sure hope so. With the primary Railgun characters in the Index II OP, I'm wondering what kind of role they're going to play (or is the production company just teasing us?), but I'm not expecting too much from them this time. So far, I've only seen the first Index II episode, so I don't know if they appear in 2-4... I gave up on Index I about half-way through because I didn't have much interest in most of the main characters, but the promise of appearances by the Railgun girls might get me to watch some more Index II.

[Fencedude]

"Uiharu, you're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" ... Yeah, I'm pretty sure she was. That was pretty hilarious.

Gotta wonder what she has against Kuroko that prompted that. But yes, very, very funny. Saten just staring at Uiharu was the best part. Like she couldn't bring herself to believe it.

I also loved the bit where Kuroko called Saten, said she'd be coming over, and then teleported into the room. It was completely obvious, but still funny.

[ultimatemegax]

Definitely a good, fun insert OVA- lots of humor from most of the main cast of the show, and a good mystery and villain (I had to wonder if they had something to do with it, since they were around so often...)

That was a fun episode, and it was a bit longer than I was expecting. About 1.6 episodes?

We only saw the guy partnered with the woman/villain twice, didn't we? When Mikoto is saved by Kuroko from Antiskill at the beginning, IIRC, we see a different pair. Yeah, that's one more time than we see most any other character, but ... ^_^

I was more surprised they used a new Antiskill character design. I only recall seeing her in the final scene as well. Maybe an animation mistake? They do put her in the same uniform as the earlier man.

I'll be patient since I don't expect it while they're airing Index II- but they'd BETTER make more Railgun afterward...I sure hope so. With the primary Railgun characters in the Index II OP, I'm wondering what kind of role they're going to play (or is the production company just teasing us?), but I'm not expecting too much from them this time. So far, I've only seen the first Index II episode, so I don't know if they appear in 2-4... I gave up on Index I about half-way through because I didn't have much interest in most of the main characters, but the promise of appearances by the Railgun girls might get me to watch some more Index II.

A lot of what made the Railgun manga came from the eighth Index novel, which doesn't revolve around Touma. You're missing that someone from Railgun is not in the Index II OP, so I'm curious if they'll actually put her in the series when she wasn't even thought of for the novel when it was written.

It was really wonderful to see Railgun again. Index is an entirely different show than Railgun and this proved it. Capturing the seriousness of a stalker, tinkering with the science behind why Mikoto was affected, and reinforcing the bond between friends just proved why Railgun is more impressive than Index is in my view. Railgun II is so far away! (Dengeki and JC Staff are idiots with Railgun's sales not to do another series)

[Ashyukun]

I was more surprised they used a new Antiskill character design. I only recall seeing her in the final scene as well. Maybe an animation mistake? They do put her in the same uniform as the earlier man.

I could have sworn we'd seen her pop up several times- but at the same time, I don't have the time or care enough to go back and check. :sweat:



A lot of what made the Railgun manga came from the eighth Index novel, which doesn't revolve around Touma. You're missing that someone from Railgun is not in the Index II OP, so I'm curious if they'll actually put her in the series when she wasn't even thought of for the novel when it was written.


Yeah- I think a lot of people are mistaking Aisa in the OP/ED for being Saten, who unfortunately doesn't appear to be anywhere to be seen in Index II. Not wholly unsurprisingly either, unfortunately- obviously Mikoto is, she's a main character; Kuroko was in the first and is Mikoto's roommate/best friend/yuri stalker so that's a given; Uihara is something of a stretch, but she is Kuroko's partner in Judgement and presuming things move back into the Academy City in Index they'll obviously come into play. Saten is 3-4 levels removed from Touma and Index, and would really not play at all into any power struggles between the Science/Magic sides which is what Index is primarily about.


It was really wonderful to see Railgun again. Index is an entirely different show than Railgun and this proved it. Capturing the seriousness of a stalker, tinkering with the science behind why Mikoto was affected, and reinforcing the bond between friends just proved why Railgun is more impressive than Index is in my view. Railgun II is so far away! (Dengeki and JC Staff are idiots with Railgun's sales not to do another series)
Yeah... I'm enjoying Index II, but it's a pale shade of how good Railgun was even at its worst. Index tries to be much more overreaching and pull in so many factions and characters, Railgun is much better because it develops and focuses on just a few really good characters and their interactions.

[something]

Oh thank goodness, finally back to To Aru X no X done right!

Episode EX:

- ALREADY AWESOME! FUCK YEAH KUROKO! In approximately 10 seconds it's already 100,000x better than everything in Index II so far combined.
- Bwhahaha she arrests Mikoto.
- !!!! OP sequence is fantastic! Railgun pose! Head flowers! Kuroko in the Kazari/Ruiko school uniform hell yes!!

- Oh boy, Ruiko is on her urban legend kick again. It's like we're watching one of the extras!
- Ahahah. Kuroko is facepalming, Mikoto is disturbed, Kazari is having a heart attack.

- Biribiri comic! Doradora!
- ::skips a scene that doesn't exist::
- Hahaha, I love Kuroko's brilliant deduction about who the real culprit is.
- And she's saved more punishment (to her chagrin no doubt) by things getting more serious... damn this is affecting Mikoto pretty severely. She's a wreck.

- Pantsu Check! <3 Ruiko.
- Hahaha, god I love teleportation so much. SUDDENLY A KUROKO.
- Hmm they're going to work together to solve the case without involving Mikoto? That would be pretty awesome but I'm sure Mikoto will get herself involved anyway.
- Yes! Mii, you are awesome! Bath time!
- Hahaha, oh Mitsuko. And she's with Wannai and Awatsuki again~
- So it wasn't Mitsuko after all! But it was someone who indicated the same kind of feeling as Mikoto.

- Hahah Mii you're so cruel. "It's okay you're still growing!" :sd: And daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn Ruiko. <3 too bad she moves during that pan-up, it would have been a great stitch...
- Naked Ruiko washing naked Mikoto's back. <3 Awww. Very sweet scene.

- But Mikoto can't shake the feeling. Damn, it's following her all day. I wonder if they're going somewhere serious with this or if it'll end up being something silly?
- She's such a wreck...
- Ahaha, Kuroko, you're going to make Kazari choke on her taiyaki.

- Mikoto is flying! I half expected her to turn around and instinctively Railgun and nearly take Ruiko's head off. :sd:
- It's those two Antiskill people again. Are they "Someone's Watching"?
- Oh only one of them is. And Kuroko outs them! Go go Kuroko! She even gets to feel a chick up as part of her job. =D
- Uh oh stun grenade! Now it's all up to Kazari... and Ruiko. SHE BETTER HAVE HER BASEBALL BAT!
- Oh, alright, no Ruiko beating the woman down. A Railgun is fine too! Especially with Kuroko bringing the umbrella. =D

- Kuroko gets a massage from her onee-sama! KUROKO IS SO HAPPY!
- "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you, Uiharu?" BWHAHAHHAHA! Totally one of the funniest scenes of the series. <3

Well that was predictably awesome!

[something]

It was really wonderful to see Railgun again. Index is an entirely different show than Railgun and this proved it. Capturing the seriousness of a stalker, tinkering with the science behind why Mikoto was affected, and reinforcing the bond between friends just proved why Railgun is more impressive than Index is in my view. Railgun II is so far away! (Dengeki and JC Staff are idiots with Railgun's sales not to do another series)
Yeah... I'm enjoying Index II, but it's a pale shade of how good Railgun was even at its worst. Index tries to be much more overreaching and pull in so many factions and characters, Railgun is much better because it develops and focuses on just a few really good characters and their interactions.
I'm tempted to drop Index II because it's so damn boring, but will probably stick it out in case we get more MISAKA/Last Order, or something that will be relevant for Railgun II.

And there will be a Railgun II, that's pretty much guaranteed. They just need to do Index as well to keep the novel sales so incredibly high. Railgun will follow by Fall 2011, I'd say... although I'd almost be willing to see it pushed back to get Shana III before I die of old age. Railgun is waaaay bigger in terms of home video sales than Shana though.

[Fencedude]

I'm tempted to drop Index II because it's so damn boring, but will probably stick it out in case we get more MISAKA/Last Order, or something that will be relevant for Railgun II.

And there will be a Railgun II, that's pretty much guaranteed. They just need to do Index as well to keep the novel sales so incredibly high. Railgun will follow by Fall 2011, I'd say... although I'd almost be willing to see it pushed back to get Shana III before I die of old age. Railgun is waaaay bigger in terms of home video sales than Shana though.

Well, Accelerator is pretty prominent in the OP, and considering the events from his mini-arc in Index I, that pretty much means guaranteed Last Order and MISAKA.

Also I want to meet Mikoto's mom.

[Sly05]

This OVA recaptured everything that made the tv series. The interactions between the four leads was a joy to watch, especially everyone's role in helping out Misaka. Plus it had naked Ruiko. More plz?

[superdry]

It was really wonderful to see Railgun again. Index is an entirely different show than Railgun and this proved it. Capturing the seriousness of a stalker, tinkering with the science behind why Mikoto was affected, and reinforcing the bond between friends just proved why Railgun is more impressive than Index is in my view. Railgun II is so far away! (Dengeki and JC Staff are idiots with Railgun's sales not to do another series)
Yeah... I'm enjoying Index II, but it's a pale shade of how good Railgun was even at its worst. Index tries to be much more overreaching and pull in so many factions and characters, Railgun is much better because it develops and focuses on just a few really good characters and their interactions.
I'm tempted to drop Index II because it's so damn boring, but will probably stick it out in case we get more MISAKA/Last Order, or something that will be relevant for Railgun II.


I agree about the points with Railgun - we get to deal with a small core cast and their daily lives in Academy City. But, I wonder if people liking Railgun more than Index has to do more with characters, story, or both?

With Index, the story is all over the place with tons of characters considering the premise (which is what again? haha). But at some point it's gonna boil down into some crazy war between magic and science. Hopefully, that's when things start to get exciting.

Even though Index Season 1 was all over the place...I really wish I could read the light novels and see how accurate the anime was to the original source.

[Fencedude]

[
I agree about the points with Railgun - we get to deal with a small core cast and their daily lives in Academy City. But, I wonder if people liking Railgun more than Index has to do more with characters, story, or both?

What kind of question is this?

Doesn't saying that we like Railgun more than Index generally imply that its because we like the characters and/or story more?

Its like there is this general assumption that people who like Railgun more are just...missing something about Index that will make them love it and realize that Railgun is just a sidestory.

But no, sorry. Railgun is better than Index. It may be less epic, but so what?

[superdry]

What kind of question is this?


A rhetorical question?

But, there are instances, where there are people who will like the characters while not giving two shits about the story.

[something]

But, there are instances, where there are people who will like the characters while not giving two shits about the story.
Which is perfectly fine, no? Characters almost always trump story for me - and frankly Index doesn't have a very good story so it's not like Railgun is somehow inferior there either.

I would have to think long and hard to come up with more than a handful of shows I enjoyed despite not liking the characters.

[Fencedude]

What kind of question is this?


A rhetorical question?

But, there are instances, where there are people who will like the characters while not giving two shits about the story.

...and? I think Railgun clearly superior in terms of characters, and while its story is less epic than Index's clearly wants to be, its also held together much better.

But there are plenty of shows that survive just fine on characters, with the story being at best a minimal framework.

[superdry]

But, there are instances, where there are people who will like the characters while not giving two shits about the story.
Which is perfectly fine, no? Characters almost always trump story for me - and frankly Index doesn't have a very good story so it's not like Railgun is somehow inferior there either.

I would have to think long and hard to come up with more than a handful of shows I enjoyed despite not liking the characters.

It is perfectly fine. Don't disagree right there. I wasn't implying anything about Railgun or Index, in my previous statement.

[Moe Moe Taiga]

- Quadruple Railgun!
- Shool uniform switching!
- Ruiko wearing Mikoto's shorts...Oh Fuck!! hngghhh.
- Mikoto's so adorable when she sleeps.

- lol at Uiharu spazzing out while Ruiko is telling the urban legend.
- And what is BiriBiri reading? BiriBiri comic...hah!
- "Your face is red. Do you have a fever or something?" XD
- Lover's spat. Wow...poor Anti-Skill guy, you're gonna get it.
- Or not... (It's obviously Anti-Skill who's behind it, the same two people have appeared too much.)
- From the front! I wish I could get away with stuff like that...

- I'm hoping this special "Stress Reliever" is a three-way orgy sooooo bad right now.
- Well a bath house is almost as good.
- Oh god. I don't think I can handle this. Ruiko's so hot.
- Awww shy Mikoto.
- So Ruiko likes to cover Mikoto's back...hmmm. Naw that's actually really sweet of her. Now Mikoto knows no one can be staring at her back.
- Mikoto paranoia engage.
- lol at the Kuroko emoticon.
- Epic railgun.
- Heh...nice boat.
- Ruiko saved the day!
- Kuroko was watching her the whole time. XD
- "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you, Uiharu?" Oh god. Bahaha

- Bikini Ruiko!

Amazing. I miss Railgun sooo much. Want season 2 now.

[pianocello]

After watching this episode , I must say that Saten Ruiko has a truly amazing body.:blush1:

[Fudce]

After watching this episode , I must say that Saten Ruiko has a truly amazing body.:blush1:

...but enough about Kazari Uiharu...