Before agreeing to the contract in order to become a Puella Magi, Mami tells them their purpose and their mission – what reward they would get in exchange. She tells them that a Puella Magi’s mission is to hunt down witches, who are born by curses rather than wishes like Puella Magis. She also reveals that Akemi is not a witch, but also one of them. Mami warns them that before they agree to making the contract think about whether they are willing to put their life on the line, and come up with a wish that they would like to have granted. Both Madoka and Miki struggle to with their decision as it is to choose what to wish for. Neither of them like the idea of putting their lives on the line in order to grant a wish, nor do they have one that would encourage them to do so. So later they join Mami on her hunt for a Witch, to experience and witness what they would have to face and do.
Impression:
Crappy summary sucks Surprise, surprise – there was no new magical girl today. Instead Madoka and Miki went on a tour, and see what it would be like to hunt down Witches with Mami. This is considerably new for me since I never seen or read a magical girl series where the characters were given an OPTION and another episode of not becoming one. I am pleased to know how spot on I was about Akemi’s intentions last episode, and how in the end, it’s a competition among each other so that they can have their wish granted.
Apparently, (although I think it’s too early to assume so,) the Witch’s true form is not human. Instead we were shown that it was one of the hideous scrapbook-like monsters like we saw last episode. I would like to hope that there will be a human-like (in this case, NOT a scrapbook-like monster).
Also holy crap, I never thought I’d see a magical girls weapon so useless. For god sakes, Mami’s weapon – one amino per pistol she chucks that pistol aside and grab another? What a waste!!! It’s so inconvenient that if I weren’t watching this and I was told about such thing I’d scream, “THAT’S BULLSHIT!!!”
Speaking of Mami, again – I really can’t seem to trust her.
I am super curious about what Akemi’s wish could possibly be. It’s interesting that she didn’t accept Mami’s offer in sharing a Grief Seed. Since she’s against the idea of Madoka and Miki becoming a Puella Magi it’s either:
A) She doesn’t want more competition
B) She is aware of another price that comes with becoming a Puella Magi that Mami either doesn’t know of, or hasn’t said.
Probably neither theories are even close, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there were to be another price – such as maybe killing off the other Puella Magis, or loss of memories. It could be anything – much like Fate/Stay Night where everyone thought the Holy Grail was the best thing in the world, and joined the battle while putting their lives on the line in order to get a wish. Who knows!
Lastly I found how Madoka was more interested in designing her magical girl outfit than thinking over a wish was hilarious.

Eva

Blogging Anime since Summer 2009, & Founder of AngryAnimeBitches Anime Blog ...I may or may not be addicted to writing