History YMMV / TheWorldGodOnlyKnows

** Then again, if one doesn't side with any of the ladies mentioned above...[[CargoShip there's always Yokkyun]].

* ValuesDissonance: While it's PlayedForLaughs, goddesses are apparently cool with [[SupportingHarem polygamy]], [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale rape]] and [[PaedoHunt pedophila]].

* ViewerGenderConfusion: [[DaChief Dokuro Skull]], revealed to be female (like all other New Devils) in [=FLAG=] 151. The anime missed the memo; her Japanese voice actress uses such a gruff voice to the point of soundigg male, while her dub VA ''is'' male.

** [[TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness Satyr]]. It seemed like they were being built up throughout the series as the [[main villain organization BigBad]] that Keima and company have to eventually defeat. However, they end up as an AntiClimaxBoss.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Lune. Despite being the closest thing the series had to a BigBad, we're given no insight into her character, backstory, or motives, outside of being a CombatSadomasochist. She also has zero interactions with the main heroes, outside of her fight against Haqua. [[spoiler:[[WhatHappenedToTheMouse We aren't even shown her fate at the end of the manga.]]]]

** The idea of [[spoiler:a megane male lead savvy in dating sims eventually warming up to the most comparatively normal/"boring" heroine in the cast]] is the entire selling point of ''LightNovel/HowToRaiseABoringGirlfriend''.

* LoveRevelationEpiphany: PlayedForDrama. [[spoiler:While it was never openly shown throughout the story, some readers view Keima's TearsOfRemorse in FLAG 189 over [[BreakHisHeartToSaveHim breaking Chihiro's heart]] as evidence of this. Especially given the fact that he directly confessed to her in FLAG 267, after experiencing his biggest CharacterDevelopment to date during his MentalTimeTravel.]]

UglyCute: [[OffModel Yokkyun]], [[CargoShip Keima's digital crush.]]

** Then came FLAG 267... See ShipSinking entry below.

* ShipSinking: FLAG 267 apparently sunk all but one of the aforementioned ships, much like how the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory entire Earth Federation Fleet was sunk with just one nuke.]] Though, it is worth mentioning that even despite that event, by the series' finale, [[spoiler:Yui still hasn't given up on Keima.]]

* EndingAversion: The ending of the manga was quite dividing. Many found it disappointing due to what felt like a rushed conclusion which left many plot-points unanswered. Some even wrote {{Fix Fic}}s that either explain the canon ending in greater detail, or change it up entirely to end in a different way (including [[FanPreferredCouple Keima's choice regarding his harem]]).

** Keima's ''highly'' in-depth gal game site, "Capturing God": "[...] [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools It has a very unique way of thinking]], and once you've taken a look at it... [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife it'll change your life forever]]."

* ValuesDissonance: While it's PlayedForLaughs, goddesses are apparently cool with [[SupportingHarem polygamy]], [[DoubleStandardRapeFemaleOnMale rape]] and [[PaedoHunt pedophila]]. Check it out for yourself [[http://mangafox.me/manga/the_world_god_only_knows/v20/c190/5.html here]] and [[http://mangafox.me/manga/the_world_god_only_knows/v20/c190/6.html here]].

* NightmareFuel: [=FLAG=] 67.
* NightmareFuelStationAttendant: Elsie simply doesn't comprehend why humans might be disturbed by her cooking, or the souvenirs she brings back from Hell, or the idea of eating something ''alive'' because it's fresher.

* UglyCute: [[OffModel Yokkyun]], [[CargoShip Keima's digital crush.]]

** In ''Manga/Mitsudomoe'', Hiro Shimono portrays an optimistic yet put-upon teacher who tries to get his students excited for school and fails in every conceivable way, while Aki Toyosaki plays his romance fiction-obsessed pupil. Here, their roles are essentially reversed.

* RelationshipVoiceActor:
** It is quite surprising that some VA's here (both Japanese and English VA's at that) have also voiced characters from ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos'':
*** [[Creator/LuciChristian Elsea]] and [[Creator/MegumiToyoguchi Nora]] become Ichika's elder sister / homeroom teacher / dorm supervisor.
*** [[Creator/HilaryHaag Mio and Shiori's English VA]] voiced Rin.
*** [[Creator/BrittneyKarbowski Kanon's VA]] voiced Cecilia.
*** [[Creator/CynthiaMartinez Jun]] was previously Chifuyu's assistant homeroom teacher, aside from being an ex-cadet representative.
*** [[Creator/ChrisAyres Kodama]] becomes Ran's elder brother.
** Did you know that the voices of [[Creator/HiroShimono Keima Katsuragi]] and [[Creator/AmiKoshimizu Kusonoki Kasuga]] are also the voices of two of the Sanbagarasu (Crow Trio) SiblingTeam, [[Creator/HiroShimono Kuromaru]] and [[Creator/AmiKoshimizu Sasami]] respectively, from ''Manga/NuraRiseOfTheYokaiClan''.
** The voices of Keima and [[Creator/KanaHanazawa Shiori Shiomiya]] also voice Jun Mikuriya and Zange[=/=]Hakua Suzushiro respectively from ''Manga/{{Kannagi}}''.
*** [[spoiler: A bit of HilariousInHindsight that Kana Hanazawa voiced girls that have goddesses in them.]]
*** [[Creator/HarukaTomatsu Lune's]] voice actress also played Nagi.
** The voices of [[Creator/KanaeIto Elsea]], [[Creator/KanaAsumi Chihiro Kosaka]], [[Creator/AkiToyosaki Jun Nagase]], and [[Creator/RyokaYuzuki Mari Katsuragi]] also voice [[Creator/KanaeIto Amu Hinamori and Dia]], [[Creator/KanaAsumi Ran]], [[Creator/AkiToyosaki Su]], [[Creator/RyokaYuzuki Temari, Nana, and Hotaru]] from ''Manga/ShugoChara''.
** The voices of [[Creator/SaoriHayami Haqua]], [[Creator/AyanaTaketatsu Ayumi Takahara]] and Chihiro also voice Yuno Arashiko, Mio Isurugi, and Shizuka Sado respectively from the ''LightNovel/{{MM}}'' anime.
** The voices of Elsea, Haqua, and Kusonoki also voice Mihoshi Akeno, Sayo Yarai, and Fumie Kotozuka respectively from ''Manga/SoraNoManimani''.
** The voices of Haqua and Jun also voice Ikaros and Chaos respectively from ''Manga/HeavensLostProperty''.
*** So, Saori Hayami has gone from voicing a SugarAndIcePersonality busty Angeloid wielding a {{BFG}} to a {{tsundere}} [[ACupAngst size-conscious]] New Devil wielding a SinisterScythe.
** The voices of Keima and [[Creator/{{Kujira}} Dokurou Skull]] also voice Ikuto Tohoin and Koto (a.k.a. Obaba) respectively from ''Manga/NagasareteAirantou''.
** This series marked the return of the Creator/ChrisPatton[=/=]Creator/LuciChristian combo in the dub (playing Keima and Elsie respectively) after Chris had been away from voice acting for a few years.
** And now with the introduction of [[Creator/HarukaTomatsu Lune]] in Season 3, this trope now applies to her seiyuu, [[Creator/HiroShimono Keima's]] and [[Creator/MegumiToyoguchi Nora's]] regarding their previous roles in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'', being the voices of [[{{Ojou}} Micott Barsch]], [[{{Otaku}} Takuya Irei]] and [[MissionControl Mihiro Oiwaken]], respectively.
** And since we're on the topic of ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'', we have Elsea, Mari, Haqua, Shiori, Kusonoki, Yui and Ryou, appearing in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE'' as (in exact order) [[IllGirl Lu Anon]], [[DarkActionGirl Reina Spriggan]], [[MysteriousWaif Yurin L'Ciel]], [[BridgeBunny Romary Stone]], [[PluckyGirl Arisa Gunhale]], and ''BOTH generations'' of [[EnfanteTerrible Desil]] [[EvilRedhead Galette]].
** Meanwhile, [[Creator/AoiYuuki Mio's]] and [[Creator/SaoriHayami Haqua's]] respective seiyuus meet up again in ''Anime/GundamBuildFighters'', as [[IdolSinger Gunpla Idol Kirara]] and [[EmotionlessGirl Aila Jyrkiäinen]] respectively; the latter even brought some of Haqua's {{Tsundere}} tendencies.
** [[Creator/TakumaTerashima Ryou's]] and [[Creator/AyanaTaketatsu Ayumi's]] seiyuus voice the homosexuals in ''LightNovel/BakaAndTestSummonTheBeasts.'' Along with [[Creator/HiroShimono Keima]] turning from the insanely smart God of Conquest into [[IdiotHero the biggest idiot in school.]]

** A similar case occurs with the "Third Memory Fragment" Arc, as most of the interesting stuff involves Keima and Kaori's clashes on world view, helped along with her extreme {{Freak Out}}s. After that though is the string of events that repetitively broke most readers' {{Holy Shit Quotient}} meters like they were glass figurines.

* HolyShitQuotient: Started stacking up after the "Third Memory Fragment" arc.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Keima gets a lot of this, specifically just how much he cares for other people.
* AntiClimaxBoss: TheOmniscientCouncilOfVagueness that is Satyr was portrayed as an AncientConspiracy responsible for significant amounts of evil. Vintage served as nothing but their UnwittingPawn and Dokuro described them as being nothing short of unstoppable without the aid of a mysterious extremely powerful devil. [[spoiler: In the end, they serve only to harass the goddesses. When the heroes turn around to actually fight, they all get defeated within a couple of pages]].

** [[ShrinkingViolet Shiori's]] Conquest Arc in the anime had rather stretched-out scenes, all of them from Shiori's perspective. If these scene hadn't been so extended, then the story arc they spent three episodes telling could easily have been told in just two.

** A similar case occurs with the "Third Memory Fragment" Arc, as most of the interesting stuff involved Keima and Kaori's clashes on world view, helped along with her extreme {{Freak Out}}s. After that though was the string of events that repetitively broke most readers' {{Holy Shit Quotient}} meters like they were glass figurines.
* AssPull: [[WhamEpisode FLAG 266]]'s [[TheReveal revelation]] that [[spoiler:'''''ELSIE''''' is actually the reincarnated soul of a WeaponOfMassDestruction-slash-EldritchAbomination, and also Satyr's ultimate weapon]], is either this, or the most brilliant thing to ever come out of Wakaki's mind. Especially because it's implied [[spoiler:she had at least some involvement in dismantling Satyr, at the very least being powerful enough and friendly enough to Keima and friends to stop time and explain things to him; it's a very short jump to assume she may very well have prevented the whole disaster by merely being the weapon to cause the disaster in the first place, leaving the goddesses' power unneeded.]]

** The anime's first opening theme song ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvE74C-paxw God only knows]]'' by ELISA and even better, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3vblmtccL0 full, 8-minute version!]]
** The second opening, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6neqR0HvHpA A Whole New World God Only Knows]]'' is done in the same style and, despite the studio version being considerably shorter than the first, is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KFtgUdk11k quite epic]] too.
** The third opening, ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7kwNKfAyAU God only knows -Secrets of the Goddess-]]'', not only keeps up the tradition of awesome openings. The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNC-i5-Z6LU full version]] itself is nearly a whopping ''13 minutes''. And for added awesome, [[Creator/SaoriHayami Haqua]] takes center stage in this one.
** So far, as background music tracks for the anime goes, none is more awesome (and more heartwarming) than ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGp9Agp96bg Love~Distance to Kiss (Main Theme)]]'', the one that plays every time Keima caps off a conquest.

-->The Dream Traveler of the Integrated Circuit [集積回路の夢旅人]\\

** ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3alvOcc4LKw&feature=g-hist The Memory of My First Love]].'' Sounds great, but is it [[Heartwarming/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows just as Heartwarming]]? Or as [[TearJerker/TheWorldGodOnlyKnows Tear-jerking as the scene where it was played]]? [=YMMV=] on that one...
* BaseBreakingCharacter: Chihiro, especially after the events of [=FLAGs=] [[BittersweetEnding 189]], [[WhamEpisode 267]], and [[MaybeEverAfter 268]]. Some fans argue that, being TheGenericGirl, she is just too bland to be even involved in any way to Keima's story. Others would retort that such character of hers served as a proper contrast to Keima's DatingSim-oriented idealism, being the character that rarely pops out in games, and the one person who, in Keima's own words, "can knock me down that far".
* BrokenBase:
** The contents of [[spoiler:Keima's last letter to Tenri. While FLAG 263 has a major part of the letter revealed to the readers, the last bit was apparently left out, causing a lot of fans to speculate that the said portion of the letter would resolve the ShipToShipCombat of the story by revealing who Keima actually likes.]] Comparisons to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Laplace's Box]] and other similar items are abound. The final [=FLAG=] reveals what was not disclosed to the audience: [[spoiler:a statement written by Keima addressed to Tenri where he reaffirms that he and Tenri will not end up together, thus leaving Tenri saddled with the knowledge that her love will be forever unrequited.]]
** Then there's [[spoiler:Keima's LoveConfession to Chihiro]] in [[http://manga.redhawkscans.com/reader/read/the_world_god_only_knows/en/0/267/page/19 FLAG 267]]. Just hours after its release, it has caused massive fragments among the fan base, particularly between those who were in favor of it, those who [[FanPreferredCouple wanted him to end with another girl]], those who were expecting a [[MarryThemAll Harem End]], and those who [[NoRomanticResolution do not want him to end up with anyone at all]]. The [[MaybeEverAfter final FLAG]] apparently did little to rectify this, and the worst part of it is that it made [[spoiler:most Keima×[[PatientChildhoodLoveInterest Tenri]] fans]] even more cross. See DieForOurShip.
** The anime adaptation of the ''Goddesses Arc''. The other capture target arcs between it and the second season that had no relevance to it were completely ignored, while the ones that were[[note]]Tsukiyo's, Yui's and Akari's[[/note]] got brief flashbacks in the first episode instead.
* DieForOurShip: [[spoiler:Chihiro]], particularly to the eyes of fans who would rather have Keima be paired with any one of the Goddess Hosts (Check the rest of this page for details, or [[http://cdn.awwni.me/o96m.jpg this pic of comments from /a/]][[labelnote:WARNING]]Pic in said link contains ''very'' strong language. Open at your own risk...[[/labelnote]])
* EndingAversion: The ending of the manga was quite dividing. Many found it disappointing for what felt like a rushed conclusion, and left many plot-points unanswered. Some have even begun to develop their own FanFic that either explains the canon ending in greater detail, or changes it up entirely to end in a different way (including [[FanPreferredCouple Keima's choice regarding his harem]]).

** The first time was part-way through the ''Goddesses'' saga where people were sick, and tired, of dealing with the Keima/Ayumi/Chihiro LoveTriangle, and just wanted to see the final Goddess actually get awakened so that the reader can finally witness the ending of the Goddess saga.
** The second time was the ''Heart of Jupiter'' saga in its entirety with people wondering why the manga even needed to be continued after what looked to be a good cut-off point at FLAG 189. People ended up less invested reading arcs from this saga that just didn't seem that particularly interesting; going away from the "capture targets" method that people read the previous sagas for.

** Shiori is apparently very popular among the Japanese. In fact, [[WordofGod her first capture arc really pushed this series' popularity to be on the map]]. Considering her [[PutOnABus long absence]], she ranked number 3 in the most recent official poll. She was just right behind the neck to neck contenders for number one spot Tenri and Haqua, both appear in many more [=FLAG=]s compared to Shiori (at least until it became rigged by 2channers after the first few days).

** Chihiro became one during the latter events of the ''Goddesses Arc'', due to having been [[spoiler:confirmed to have liked Keima before her original conquest had even occurred]]. As [[WhamEpisode FLAG 267]] came rolling, some fans immediately shafted her into [[spoiler:DieForOurShip]] status. (Check the rest of the page for details)
** Lune, the New Devil antagonist of the ''Goddesses Arc'', is this for many for being one of the few relatively evil characters seen so far in the manga, and having a refreshing personality to go with it. [[spoiler:The anime producers caught on and changed it around to having Lune stabbing Kanon instead of Fiore to enhance her role in the arc.]]
** Despite a rough introduction, Urara quickly became one due to her...''naughtiness'' as a minor. [[spoiler:Then later on, a Weiss enters her and she suddenly ages into a ''fine'' looking woman.]]
** Nikaido was always an incredibly popular character as Keima's HotTeacher with people wishing for the day that she becomes one of Keima's capture targets. However, once the revelation came about that [[spoiler: she was Dokuro from the ''Heart of Jupiter'' saga, a character that Keima has ''kissed'' on more than one occasion]], her fanbase skyrocketed.
* HarsherInHindsight: [[spoiler:During Chihiro's capture arc, Keima said that there is a weird factor about her-- "there is a boy she likes"--Elsie also speculated that "crevice in her heart got bigger because of her love".]] Everyone forgot about it after the capture, and then [[spoiler:in [=FLAG=] 166 we got to know that the boy she liked is Keima, and it was her inability to cope with this (with the fact that she likes probably the least popular boy in the whole school) that made it possible for a Weiss to possess her]].

** Keima's line in FLAG 28: "That real girl.. There's absolutely no way I would even be concerned about her!" [[spoiler:Guess who he confesses to ''239 [=FLAGs=] later...'']]
*** The idea of [[spoiler:a megane male lead savvy in dating sims eventually warming up to the most comparatively normal/"boring" heroine in the cast]] becomes the entire selling point of ''LightNovel/HowToRaiseABoringGirlfriend''.
** Remember the plan he devised [[http://manga.redhawkscans.com/reader/read/the_world_god_only_knows/en/0/172/page/5 in order to reconquer Ayumi]]? Try checking his actions in the final two [=FLAGs=]; it is the same plan he thought up!

** In FLAG.183, Keima proclaimed that the Marriage Ending ("an ending among endings" [[RunningGag ...in games]]) must be at the very least destined since childhood. [[spoiler:It's later revealed that thanks to Mental Time Travel shenanigans around ten years prior to that point, Keima in his younger self body had to make sure that all the goddesses hosts would become capture targets, hence "destining them since childhood" to meet and be saved by him.]]
--->'''[[spoiler:Ayumi]]''': Destined from childhood?! What I'm supposed to do about that, you idiot!\\
'''Keima:''' [[{{Foreshadowing}} The ideal is a dual fate of past and future]].\\
'''[[spoiler:Ayumi]]''': That's impossible.
** Urara's introduction has her trying to act like an adult. A few [=FLAG=]s later, [[spoiler:she turns into an adult.]]
** Remember the early [=FLAG=]s where Nikaido kept on taking Keima's [=PFPs=] and beating him for playing dating sims in class (Not even counting the teasing and torture she did on Keima during the Nagase Capture Arc)? Yup, it's all because [[spoiler:she was jealous that her "onii-chan" was paying attention to the girls, in games and later out of games too, and not to her.]]
** There was a fan video which put Homura of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' in Keima's place during the the series first opening, becomes amusing given the nature of the final arc's [[spoiler:MentalTimeTravel]]. For those unfamiliar with ''Madoka'', [[spoiler:Homura's whole plotline focuses on her trying to SetRightWhatOnceWentWrong via time travel]].
** The interpretation of the existence of [[spoiler:Keima's third letter to Tenri]] (See BrokenBase entry) probably comes off as this, considering [[Creator/HiroShimono Keima's seiyuu]] also voiced a character who got indirectly dragged [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn into the chase for Laplace's Box.]]

** Keima's ''highly'' in-depth gal game site, "Capturing God": "[...] [[TropesAreTools It has a very unique way of thinking]], and once you've taken a look at it... [[TVTropesWillRuinYourLife it'll change your life forever]]."

*** The idea of [[spoiler:a megane male lead savvy in dating sims eventually warming up to the most comparatively normal/"boring" heroine in the vast]] becomes the entire selling point of ''LightNovel/HowToRaiseABoringGirlfriend''.

*** The idea of [[spoiler:a megane male lead savvy in dating sims eventually warming up to the most comparatively normal/"boring" heroine in the vast]] becomes the entire selling point of ''LightNovel/SaeKanoHowToRaiseABoringHeroine''.

** Keima's line in FLAG 28: "That real girl.. There's absolutely no way I would even be concerned about her!" [[spoiler:Guess who he ends up with ''239 [=FLAGs=] later...'']]

** Chihiro became one during the latter events of the ''Goddesses Arc'', due to having been [[spoiler:confirmed to have liked Keima before her original conquest had even occurred]]. As [[WhamEpisode FLAG 267]] came rolling, some fans immediately shafted her into [[spoiler:BaseBreaker[=/=]DieForOurShip]] status. (Check the rest of the page for details)

* BaseBreakingCharacter: Chihiro, especially after the events of [=FLAGs=] [[BittersweetEnding 189]], [[WhamEpisode 267]], and [[MaybeEverAfter 268]]. Some fans argue that, being TheGenericGirl, she is just too bland to be even involved in any way to Keima's story. Others would retort that such character of hers served as a proper contrast to Keima's DatingSim-oriented idealism, being the character that rarely pops out in games, and the one person who, in Keima's own words, "can knock me down that far".
* BrokenBase:
** The contents of [[spoiler:Keima's last letter to Tenri. While FLAG 263 has a major part of the letter revealed to the readers, the last bit was apparently left out, causing a lot of fans to speculate that the said portion of the letter would resolve the ShipToShipCombat of the story by revealing who Keima actually likes.]] Comparisons to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Laplace's Box]] and other similar items are abound. The final [=FLAG=] reveals what was not disclosed to the audience: [[spoiler:a statement written by Keima addressed to Tenri where he reaffirms that he and Tenri will not end up together, thus leaving Tenri saddled with the knowledge that her love will be forever unrequited.]]
** Then there's [[spoiler:Keima's LoveConfession to Chihiro]] in [[http://manga.redhawkscans.com/reader/read/the_world_god_only_knows/en/0/267/page/19 FLAG 267]]. Just hours after its release, it has caused massive fragments among the fan base, particularly between those who were in favor of it, those who [[FanPreferredCouple wanted him to end with another girl]], those who were expecting a [[MarryThemAll Harem End]], and those who [[NoRomanticResolution do not want him to end up with anyone at all]]. The [[MaybeEverAfter final FLAG]] apparently did little to rectify this, and the worst part of it is that it made [[spoiler:most Keima×[[PatientChildhoodLoveInterest Tenri]] fans]] even more cross. See DieForOurShip.
** The anime adaptation of the ''Goddesses Arc''. The other capture target arcs between it and the second season that had no relevance to it were completely ignored, while the ones that were[[note]]Tsukiyo's, Yui's and Akari's[[/note]] got brief flashbacks in the first episode instead.
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome:

** Some fans noted the (coincidental) resemblance of Keima's school uniform to that of Film/AustinPowers (particularly the cravat). Whether this was made for laughs or a FandomBerserkButton merely varies.