Eva’s First Impression
Is it Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon is the first anime where I have read its Light Novel in advance. As always, reading the original story in advance can affect how one feels about the adaption. Unfortunately, for the premiere… I can’t say they did a very good job. Regardless of whether or not you have read the novel, I believe most of us can agree this was not a very strong start. The pace was as if it was set fast-forward x3 and they cut out a lot of action that many of us, readers were hoping to see. As I was watching the episode I recalled the events in the first volume and I kept on thinking to myself, “Holy shit? What chapter are they at now?”
The story is about Bell, a young man desires to become an Adventurer in order to meet girls. His ideals is to become that Knight in Shiny Armor who will sweep damsels off their feet. However, Bell is a total newbie who happens to be a weakling, and soloing the Dungeon at his level can be dangerous. But after he falls in love with Aiz Wallenstein who had saved him from a Minotaur that one of her team-mates had accidentally let loose from the Fifth Floor of the Dungeon, he desires to become stronger.
I love Bell, okay? He is like my baby in this series because that is how he starts off. Bell is a sweet guy who is ironically oblivious to love all while he searches for that love. What I adore about his character is that he starts off weak, he has his flaws, gets saved by a girl and falls in love with her. It’s a total role reversal and until someone indirectly humiliates him about it at a pub, Bell wasn’t too bothered about it. Instead he was simply head over heels in love and wanted to know everything about her.
Then we have the magic we saw Hestia do today. It is basically adding up his experience points he had obtained while he was hunting (or running) in the dungeon. Bell developed a Special Skill called Realis Phrase, which will allow him to grow quickly based on how strong his desire and emotions are. Regardless of it being extremely convenient for character growth, I particularly like this choice because it allows a more natural growth to happen. Instead Bell will gradually grow stronger and it will be all based on his will power. And let’s be honest: that’s a pretty cool Special Skill to have.
Hestia, the Goddess is also a lovable character. I adore how cute and petty she can be, and how she tries to show her love to the oblivious Bell. She gets jealous and does petty things, but it’s cute petty things, not obnoxious ones. We didn’t see much of her today, so I can’t elaborate much more, but she is a sweet goddess.
I am sad that they felt obliged to rush right through what is essentially the first volume. By doing so they cut out a lot of time for things that I feel needed that time in order to appeal to the audience better. Bell is presently the only member of Hestia’s (the Goddess) Familia. A Familia is where Adventurers basically work alongside the Gods be it as their partners or servants are are blessed with the power to become Adventurers, who then explore the Dungeon and bring back earnings to their Familia. The Gods can bestow the individual with power, but they themselves cannot use it. It is a rule they have all agreed upon in order to enhance their experience while living aside the mortals. The more people in their Famila the more wealthier and stronger they will get. Presently the strongest Familia in Orario is Loki’s Familia, which Aiz Wallenstein is a part of.
What makes me even more concerned about the adaption is that given by next week’s episode title, they intend to have the first volume done within the first two episodes. While I understand why have chosen to do so, (as nothing much happens in the first volume except for two major events: Bell’s Humiliation and the Monster Festival), I feel like they could have at least started off a bit more slowly instead of literally cutting straight to the chase. It’s clear at this point that Volume 2 and so on forth are the more important ones as they should be more eventful than the first (which was more like an introduction to the series). But even if I hadn’t read the novel, I guarantee you I would have still called this premiere a train-wreck of a sort. The best way to describe this episode, is as if they were trying to cram half of volume 1 into a single OVA episode. Three episodes probably would have been more than enough for the first volume. Had they had done so, the audience would have been able to experience the Dungeon- which is in fact important.
And that brings me to my next point: They didn’t even bother taking any time to explain to the audience anything about the dungeon. I suspect they will do so next week, but I am still sorely disappointed to miss out on seeing Bell‘s experience within the dungeon. It is one of my favorite parts in the first volume and I was really looking forward to seeing it animated- but what did they do? They made into twenty seconds or less clip?! Come on! You have got to be kidding me! How are is the audience supposed to feel for Bell and see his growth as a character if you cut that all out just to rush into Volume 2?! Ugh… Talk about butchering on-screen character development.
The good things? Well at least the animation is really well done and I do like the character’s voice actors, they all suit the roles- but that’s about it. I am sorry, but this premiere was an absolute mess and extremely disappointing. But alas, because I somewhat understand why they decided to execute it in this way, I will give this series three episodes to see what happens. It will also help that I have not read the second volume yet (which will be released this month in fact: April 21st), and I know there is bound to be more action then considering how they wanted to get the first volume done and over-with.
Possibility of Blogging: Moderate
Possibility of Watching: Guaranteed
My goddess- I mean, goodness. Bell and Hestia are SO cute together even without a romantic relationship 😀 It’s refreshing and PRECIOUS.
I’m really liking how the characters balance each other out and have more sane reactions (relatively speaking)!
-The men at didn’t make pervy comments when Bell said he loved Eina, but said it was sweet!
-Bell and Hestia are both modest, yet fired up in their own distinct ways
-Wolfboy isn’t just put in place by Aiz, but other Loki clan members
-Aiz actually pointed out the mistake that her clan had made
Speaking of Loki, trickster that the name often implies and she seemed to be with Aiz this episode… is she the set of eyes that appeared “behind” Bell and made the crystal come out of nowhere? Syr would be too obvious?
I’m also REALLY glad that him learning a skill didn’t result in early OP-ness and actually has some character significance for Hestia attached to it – hopefully that mini plotline isn’t forgotten! Also, I like that we already have an goal for Bell that isn’t just a vague “I want to reach the MLG level of the dungeon”!
I was looking forward to this show and I am more than just “not let down”… I AM UPLIFTED :’) It was fast-paced, but I love the characters a lot.
I wonder if that white-haired, hebi-adorned lady is related to Bell? I know people in this show have various colours of hair, but hers is the only other that’s white… Maybe she was watching Bell and threw him the crystal. Then again, I suppose ALL mom’s are Bosses in their own right :3
Thanks for beginning to cover this, Eva!
Yeah this show is going to have a lot of ladies and bound to have lots of fanservice, but it is the furthest from Bell’s mind. :3 I do love their relationship, it’s simply adorable!
– I will tell you to wait and see, do not jump to conclusions based on names 😉 That is all I will tell you for now. Next week in fact, should be featuring why.
– Aiz is badass. I eagerly await to learn more about her.
– No, the lady is not his mother, i can assure you that right now. You will probably want to retract that statement later on when you learn more about her. LOL.
– Nah, he dropped it the day before while running blood soaked. The Pub Waitress did it for two reasons, giving back and pulling him into the business where they will rip off more money by bombarding him with food than what he had dropped. LOLOLOLOLOL!
Fun Fact: The crystal you saw is what they use to exchange for cash. In the Dungeon, all the monsters release them once slayed, the bigger the monster/high leveler the more valuable it is. The minosaur was a 5th Floor Monster, so it was a large piece of crystal compared to Bell’s mere shards. However despite it’s value, Adventurers may choose to break it because it also serves as the Monster’s “heart”. So it’s the fastest way to kill them if your in a losing fight, but it will not longer be able to be exchanged.
Hold on a moment. Its heart? That’s interesting, although, I expected the dungeon to have more depth to it. Like why is it there in the first place? (not that I mind)
Perhaps heroes of old made it as a way to make a constant invasion of beasts easier to deal with, or the Gods actually used their power to create it and decided, or had to live with humans to feed their power to it, whether they know it or not. Still, I don’t feel as though the light explanation was a bad choice. It makes it feel like more of a mystery, maybe only because there’s literally more depth to the dungeon anyway, so I can wait for the reveals.
I guess explaining how you crush the crystal before the monster evanesces and “drops” it will be a reveal too? As for everything else, hebi-adorned lady (who in retrospect is just wearing a robe) and Loki, I will patiently and pleasantly take your word for it 🙂
Patience will be difficult though. Friday and Saturday are a flurry of what looks to be likes greatness and after that the greatness is just sprinkled throughout the week. It’s great considering that the weekend offers more time to watch anime, but the waiting afterwards will require more patience than ever!
I’m hoping they will explain the Dungeon within next week’s episode because there is an explanation and a lot of mysteries revolving around it. (And ironically they talk a lot about it in the first volume). If they don’t give us anything, I will explain straight from the book itself.
All right! 😮 I’m looking forward to your insight, thanks in advance!
I actually liked the first episode, but then again I only read the first chapter of the manga which went at a pace similar to this, maybe a bit slower I think. Bell was so cute in the episode especially when he asked about Aiz to Eina. He is literally so adorable I can’t even, I haven’t seen a guy this cute a while, especially in an anime with this that has a really harem-y title. I have a feeling his ability will be very op though, but And his voice suits him perfectly. I also really liked Heista, she was pretty cute to, some kind of loli-oppai-tsundere-genki?( And I kind of already jumped on the Bell x Heista ship…ha ha.) Aiz seemed pretty cool too, but I doubt I’ll ship her with Bell. J.C. Staff did a pretty good job with animation, they’re a little iffy on that part but they did well. I hope that you do continue to blog this one Eva, but obviously it’s your choice:) Let’s hope this anime improves/stays good and J.C. Staff doesn’t screw this up.
Bell x Hestia is so lovable! <3 <3 <3
I have heard from those who have not read the novel or manga react more positively to the premiere, so I think it will help a lot if I put off reading the second volume until the anime is over- which I should be able to do since Vol 3 won't be out till August. I do plan to stick around for this one! 😉
Poor Hestia! Why can’t Bell see what’s right in front of him? It hurts to see this. 🙁