Madan no Ou to Vanadis

I though it could use a thread.

I liked the first episode, both leading characters seem pretty likable and the setting intrigues me.

One thing that gave a good laugh was how little everyone seemed to care that Tigre is prisoner of war.

As I said in the other thread, he's a land-holding noble who Elen is trying to win over. She's not really somebody anyone else can argue with, so he's really just a guest who doesn't get to leave.

I have mixed feelings about this show.

On one hand, the protagonist is a mix of the typical stoic guy and the typical protagonist(Calm and shit, yet flustered at the right moments, such as finding Elen bathing). Can't really like him, although them bow skills are pretty cool.

On the other hand, ignoring the nice fanservice going on, this show gives me a Maoyuu Maou Yuusha vibe, slightly, and that's definitely a good thing. Not economic-wise, but you know, the whole idea of a high-ranking woman and a man from the opposing side together. Maybe I'm just grasping at straws.

"And you must be Jonathan Joestar!" - Sue

Having read some of the L Ns, I like how this show is doing things. It would have been all too easy for the animators to focus on fanservice at the expense of the storyline. I think the first episode struck a nice balance on that account.

I did find it interesting that they skipped over a lot of stuff that happened while Tigre was captive and went straight to Alsace being invaded which happens near the end of the first LN. It's kind of nice in that they're moving with the serious part of the story, but some part of me did want to see Lim squeeing over the plush doll (in private) that Tigre and Elen win for her at a fair.

I wonder if he's going to manage to negotiate something or other next episode despite being a prisoner. I feel his captor is receptive too what he says at least.

"Nullius addictus iurare in verba magistri, quo me cumque rapit tempestas, deferor hospes."

Episode 1. In which a captive is taken and treated well.

I kinda like the overall art direction. Fantasy enough. Could go down a cupsize or two, though.

That's a short bow.

Why not shoot from behind cover?

Scoffing at a bow? That's retarded. And then even more painting him as a cartoonish villain.

Elen seems rather genki for her position. Not a bad thing. She's very likeable.

A three-finger draw with a two-finger archery glove? Well, at least he's got the Improbable Aiming Skills.

Hey.

That's a rather refreshing view on modesty, I find.

And then it turns serious. Which is kind of expected, considering the war setting.

I'll definitely follow this. Elen and that cartoonish villain aside, the characters are decent, the exceptions being above and below that respectively.

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... Was Griffith reincarnated as a woman? The chatting in the bath, with the exact same half-akimbo pose, the white hair, the "I want you"...

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Honestly, you can just change Elen's hair to red and almost nobody would be able to tell the difference between her and Rias Gremory.

Episode 2: I love how Tigre's hair just goes back to normal on its own after they try to comb it, like it's just going "I DEFY YOU."

I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial

that fucking scene when Tigre catches and fires at the enemy archer's eye. Jesus Christ, dude is OP as fuck.

edited 11th Oct '14 10:52:40 AM by bassgs435

He could hit the broadside of a moisture evaporator

I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial

And he just got a magic bow.(I bet it's a bow version of that sword Elen has) This will be....fun. Bet the dragons are toast. :)

Rimshot.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Prisoner of war asking for troops. And receiving them. Anything can be arranged when you captor has a crush on you.

Zion is such a sleazeball. His father is just diabolical.

I liked how it took him awhile to react to having his hand shoot.

Onwards to battle! I want to see Ellen kick some ass.

Hey son, here is a dragon. What a great dad.

Elen continues to be great.

Don't think he realizes he basically just signed off to their marriage.

Oh my god. That is such a badass way to ride a dragon.

His reaction to that arrow was priceless.

Dat airbending. Dat Arrow catch.

Excited for the super bow.

He should take a hint already. Nobody goes to that extent just to get one archer, no matter how good.

I don't think he'll have any complaints though.

edited 11th Oct '14 6:37:50 PM by Shlugo_the_great

I wouldn't.

What he said.

I've got new mythological machinery, and very handsome supernatural scenery. Goodfae: a mafia web serial

I wouldn't have any complaints either

Episode 2. In which they move back.

I wonder if that guy is evil. The music also reminds me of some Final Fantasy VII tune. The Shinra theme, I think?

Kind of feels like they stakes have been raised somewhat with that dragon.

I like that laugh. More plus points to her.

I find that agreement entirely reasonable from a realistic point of view. "I defend it; I get it". Not what you often see in series like this.

She's unexpectedly fuzzy about him. And I'm not talking about the one who wanted to join in too.

"Do you think we can win?" Isn't it a little late for that question?

That's a sharp sword. Or clothes made out of tissue paper.

Well, he's certainly badass in his own right.

Oh, noes, his bow broke. Whatever shall he do? It's not like anyone has been carrying Chekhov's Bow for a while now.

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Seeing as the only reason he didn't take her offer right away was a feeling of obligation towards his dukedom, this works nicely for everyone involved.

Saw episode 1 of this since I learned it has an artstyle that appeals to me, and because fantasy.

I really don't like the clothes war maidens apparently wear to battle. It's not even a fanservice thing that really bothers me so much as it not looking cool(and this is exemplified when all your soldiers and stuff are wearing cool armor), which, outside of low status people, isn't something I find as tolerable in fantasy. Elen's clothes outside of it(in episode 1 anyway) don't have this problem, even if it's still designed for that purpose.

Speaking of Elen, I really, really like her attitude. I hope the male protagonist will get more going for him though. Not in terms of being badass or anything, but just giving me a better reason to like him since I'm ridiculously neutral about him at the moment.

Also, I find the setting fairly intriguing. Never even crossed my mind that an enemy country could be so comfortable.

Found it kind of hilarious how that one guy was all like "HURR bows r fur pplz who no use swrd n' speer" since spears are one of the easiest common weapons to manufacture and train people to use, and because bows are obscenely difficult to get even close to halfway mastering.

MMORPGs are serious business.

It's not so much that bows are hard to learn as it takes a very long time to build up the proper musculature to use a real war bow for any extended amount of time. Especially in a medieval economy.

And spears have throughout history been the most popular battlefield weapon in just about all cultures. Swords are sidearms there (unless you're talking about large two-handers).

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The Vanadis have some sort of contractual obligation that requires them to bare their navels. That's the only explanation I can come up with, at any rate. Ellen's costume is at least less silly than that of some of her cohorts.

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The pacing is rather lousy. They blew through the first half of the volume as quickly as the could, skipping some rather important development and world-building, then drag through this relatively unimportant part. I guess it makes sense if they only care about the first five volumes, but it is rather disappointing.

Titta is at least as annoying in the anime as she was in every other medium. Anime!Tigre seems notably more clueless than his LN counterpart, but I guess that's there to offset the lack of a narrator and the ease of doing an internal monologue.

edited 12th Oct '14 10:43:36 PM by HighVelocityPointyThings

I don't really mind the navel baring, it's just the way their outfit is designed as a whole.

Suddenly it makes a lot more sense as to why people kept making such a big deal over English longbowmen training while highschoolers take archery classes and do okay.

They certainly aren't often high status weapons, however. I mean it's not a thing people only expect the low class to use either, and it certainly has its significant advantages, but there's a reason why so many people are tired of swords.

MMORPGs are serious business.