Ok, so, before we begin on this episode, my thoughts on episode 7. I disagree very much from Midnight in how I felt about it, Hatoko, and the plot. From what I felt, Hatoko was trying to understand him, but Andou was purposefully not explaining things to the point she’d get it (as her conversation with white haired brother elaborates on). The thing that set her off was that, despite being there, she was being excluded and dismissed by Andou because she “didn’t get it”, which I feel is very relatable. I’ve been there, been the person hanging out with friends who were talking on a topic that I didn’t know about, and so was just like a deer in headlights. And yeah, I could look it up, but you still feel like an outsider in some cases. I’m not saying its Andou’s fault, but its just a natural case of a friendship having trouble due to lack of understanding, and some of Andou’s poorly chosen words set her off.
So, anyways, onto Episode 8!
This episode fills in pretty much everything about what we wanted to know from the beginning. The powers, where they came from, why they’re here. It begins several weeks before, with red hair chick’s brother.
We see him fight, using what looks like a black hole power or something to pretty effortlessly defeat some random guy. Its quite clear he was a chuuni, like Andou, but because he actually has powers, he’s in his element here. He at first just seemed like a guy who quite college to bum around and continue in fantasy, but, well, fantasy is now reality, so he’s perfectly able to pull off being this badass warrior.
Its by this battle, which seems rather gruesome, we find out what’s happening, and luckily enough, it doesn’t break with the tone of the show. Basically, fairies decide to give 1,000 people super powers, and have them compete with each other. The fairies bet on the winners, and the humans who reach the top 8 apparently get a wish granted. And as for the losers?
So, while it sucks they lose their powers and memories of them, there’s no real body count or long term negative parts to the war. Awfully nice of the fairies, to just make it so bloodless and fun, and I like how, while the show’s become somewhat more serious, it remains a very light plot. And honestly, for something like this, any magical who-ha can really be alright. From fairies to aliens, its all good.
Anyway, we follow Kiryuu and his gang and their discussions dealing with other groups with powers. Apparently one, F, is making more super powered humans than there should be, and the fairies at first tricked Kiryuu to trying and handle it for them. Apparently, F is supported by a rogue Fairy and so they want to deal with this embarrassment pronto. However, ever the rebel his moniker tries to be, Kiryuu doesn’t want to do it.
However, apparently he has his own tsundere who decides to engage F, even though they apparently have a completely broken super powered person called System, and we get a glimpse at some of their powers.
Man, these guys seem cool, I think they can totally take on this System, whoever it-
It looks like all is doomed for our newly introduced team of people, till suddenly!
And not only that, we find out that System isn’t even working with F, but with Kiryuu. How’d he get this powerful ally? By giving her candy!
Honestly, I find this twist so funny and nice, it just fits so well. I love the idea that, even with these powers, most of them are still people, and can be affected or appealed to as people. Its interesting, and opens itself up to comedy like this.
Now, how does this have anything to do with our usual group, or about why hey kidnapped Hatoko? Well…it is likewise completely silly and hilarious. Kiryuu has been keeping them out of it (likely to protect his sister), but decides to abduct Sayumi due to the healing properties of her power..in order to heal his eye because he hurt it sleeping in his contacts too often. And they ended up getting the wrong person!
I love how this show plays on our expectations with battle anime and shonen, but then does something so silly and it just works really really well.
As for our main gang, Sayumi is able to bring Hatoko back because of her power’s next level. This ability makes it so, since they’re normally together, bringing hatoko to them because it would restore them to their previous condition. I admit, its kind of a stretch, but hey, I can get with it. Andou and Hatoko apologize to each other, and Andou undertakes his greatest task…opening a bag of chips!
And this awakens his powers. I’m serious. His fires burn greatly, and then..he screams as his powers seem to go out of control.
I…I don’t even know. Will this get serious, or just be setting us up for another joke. I don’t even know with this show anymore, but hey, we got the plot, its pretty neat as an idea. However, now the wait till the characters catch up with the audience, which hopefully won’t be too long.