Absolute Duo

Yes, the behavior at he amusement park was the basis for "Genki girl" though The Polyanna fits better.

Episode 6, and Tor's apology to Lilith is merely a formality for the upcoming battle, he's really not apologizing for refusing to leave Julie, nor is it being idiotically nice.

As for Tor not letting those guys kidnap Lilith. It would have set a very bad precedent. Granted, nobody likes her, or her attitude, but letting them take away one student means making all students fair game. Besides, they shot Tor, and he had a grudge to settle for that.

NOW, Julie's jealous, and the chibi stinger ending was hilarious, especially since they added Tora's "I won't give up." Definitely "One dialogue, two conversations."

Now the Blaze Witch, Sakuya's got a new trope. "Demoted to Extra" her role was far more prominent in the Light Novel concerning this scene, and "Equipment Smith's" dragon (who is yet unnamed) gets "Adaptational Villainy." He rescues his injured comrade and takes him home in the light novel. Here he shoots him as the latter is begging for aid.

Can't put Sakuya down as Demoted to Extra if it's just once scene.

Interesting note on Equipment Smith's Dragon. Seems pointless to make him moar evil.

Episode 7:

Summer camp, a good time to relax and.... psych! Now get in the water!

Lilth shows up, still spoiled as hell, and she still dosen't have a clue. She's also a lot less overpowered now, like a video game boss that becomes a lot weaker after joining your party.

Suddenly, a ninja attack! It happens.

Did they level up off screen? In any case Julie just cutting down the trees was pretty cool.

Oh shit, it's Imari. I was hoping to never see her again. Nothing against her, but that such a cool twist that I feel bad they are backtracking now.

First comes the fight, next comes the party. Usagi-sensei sure can eat. Got to love her taking all the meat for herself.

Julie loves Tor's big, hot sausage. Also, she's getting better at handling Lilith.

Meanwhile in the Nebulous Evil Organization HQ... nebulous evil business is taking place. So I guess they'll attack the island next week.

You know, I've seen the main character inadvertently getting a hold of a girl's panties hundreds of times, but this might be the first time I've seen the girl just straight up giving it to him. Absolute Duo is pushing the envelope here.

You know, this show would get a lot more done if they weren't waisting time on harem hijinks that won't lead anywhere. This is a token harem if I ever seen one.

Why didn't they just retrieve Julie's underwear...

Julie learned a neat sword trick. Probably earned a level-up after beating Lilith. Who in turn seems to have leveled down, booo.

Nice to see that the losers in the first episode weren't kicked out, it makes that opening ceremony a lot less stupid.

It's kind of funny how Miyabi gets all her confidence from her limited interactions with Toru, even though Tomoe is the one who's constantly giving moral support. Not exactly a shoehorned haremette, but close.

Now the after-credits scene, now that one was actually pretty funny.

edited 18th Feb '15 8:24:39 AM by fillerdude

Yeah, I really didn't like that. Tomoe is there for her whole time giving her moral support, but when she's in trouble, that's not enough of a motivation for Miyabi to move her ass, no she has to think about Toru. :/

About "shoehorned", funny thing, but that whole scene apparently wasn't in the novel at all. Originally ora, Tatsu, Tomoe, and two others to cover for her so they arrived to the meeting point safely.

It isn't just one scene. Sorry for unmarked spoilers, but tag's not working for me.

The light novel has her negotiating with "Equipment Smith" during the entire debacle that happened during the episode, and Equipment Smith was actually present on scene as well, along with Mikuni (adapted out) and Tsukumi-sensei. (Mikuni and Equipment Smith actually fought. Sakuya kept Tsukumi from fighting because the collateral damage would have been too high.)

In addition, Sakuya also debriefed Lilith after the event with a particular interest in the Duo composed of Tor and Julie.

She also plays a significant role in Lilith's first meeting with Toru, (where Lilith "requests" to be his Duo the first time) and she was present when Lilith literally dragged him to the amusement park.

Overall, her screentime is considerably reduced during the series.

Does anyone else think the Julie-Lilith duet ED is kind of catchy?

Add me to the count. I dig the cute girls with headphones thing.

Episode 8: Well, time for the obligatory beach episode.

The fanservice was in overdrive this time, starting right from the first scene. Toru evidently forgot to turn down his swag.

I never cared much for Miyabi but after this episode I'm really sick of her. This whole time I was just hoping for the Evil Organization to show up and stop her from monologuing. Well, at least she got rejected so that should be the end of that subplot.

The headmistresses is evil as hell. Seriously, using the students as sacrifices? What's wrong with those people? I really wonder why they want that "Absolute Duo" so much?

Next episode should be more interesting.

Too much Miyabi indeed. She even took over the ED! That was not appreciated. She doesn't even have a chance of getting into the Absolute Trio anyway.

Speaking of the Absolute Trio, I am really liking how Tor, Julie and Lilith are playing off each other. Julie and Lilith in particular have some amusing interactions.

Oh wow random student extras just got mowed down. Next episode really will be a lot more interesting.

Julie is becoming more and more adept at handling Lilith. It's funny to watch.

I think I wouldn't like Lilith as much if it wasn't for leftover Inou Battle love of Tomoyo.

But that was pretty dark episode end, even for a haremshit show.

Well, we can now add "It's not you, it's my Enemies" to Tor's trope list, poor Miyabi.

Julie also gets a "Mundane Utility" entry as she can use her "Blaze" skill, to chop vegetables, extra fine!

Personally, I read chairman Sakuya's speech to Lillith as "I'm here so they focus on ME, and spare the students." We're going to have to wait what that "Absolute Duo" stuff is about. I'm thinking it has something to do with getting level 4 or better. (The highest in the Light Novel is level 4, and that takes serious measures as "leveling up" when your mind and body are not ready for it has major adverse consequences.)

Julie just continues to be cuteness overload for everybody. When she gets jealous, she doesn't get violent, she doesn't get hysterical, she doesn't even raise her voice. She just calmly, deliberately, and quietly goes over to the offending girl and shows her who's boss. Heck, she doesn't mind sharing, (Marry them all) so long as everybody remembers Tor is HER duo.

Lillith's antagonism decay actually makes sense. While everyone else has been going to class, training, and whatnot, she's been goofing off, coasting on her past accomplishments, and family influence. It's no wonder Julie completely showed her up.

Episode 9:

Usagi-sensei was pretty awesome this episode. She's strong as hell.

Why didn't Lilith just shoot K in his totally unprotected face? That should work.

Holy shit, Julie went medieval on his ass. So that's how strong she is when she pulls the stops. That was amazing.

Wait, so the old guy's target was... Miyabi? Wut? And she went willingly to get more power from this suspicious old guy? Man, that bitch is dumb.

I liked the last scene with Toru and Julie. Their relationship is the best thing about this show.

edited 26th Jul '15 3:46:30 PM by Shlugo_the_great

Yes, Miyabi, by all means, trust the guy who sends soldiers with assault weapons to attack your school and classmates, TWICE, and whose subordinate put a gun to your head, WITH HIS BLESSINGS.

Really, Miyabi is either exceptionally stupid, or exceptionally smart, and I think it's the former.

"Equipment Smith" here... why would he want her? Guinea pig, naturally.

As for "K," merciful man, my fat, hairy behind. Personally, I hope he goes up in flames.

Why do I get the feeling that suit that Miyabi is getting will have some kind of user override/mind control system built into it?

edited 3rd Mar '15 11:31:16 PM by HanabiraKage

A.) Wouldn't surprise me if it has a "control override" function built in.

B.) Wouldn't surprise me if "Equipment Smith" decided to perform a field test by forcing Miyabi to either attack am innocent third party, butchering civilians, like what happened to both Julie ant Tor,

or..

C.) Miyabi is forced to fight her classmates in either or both of the two schools.

With "Equipment Smith" going "I guaranteed it would make you stronger, not that you would be able to control it!"

C is guaranteed. B is a maybe.

So... fight scenes were okay. The stupid rabbit-eared teacher also confirms that Exceeds unlock a special ability at higher levels, because, come on, this is an action-fantasy shonen. There's always more potential to unlock.

Also worth noting is Julie's superpowered dark side, which I'd assume the literal manifestation of her thirst for vengeance.

Oh, and: "I'll give you five seconds to dive into the sea." —> "I refuse. I can't swim."

For the ugly stuff:

• New ED is inferior to the previous ED. Yes I am bitter about this.
• Lilith should have just shot K in the face. I suppose we can assume the bastard dodged or something.
• K losing his shit over the merest mention of the word "protect" was hilarious.
• Equipment Smith just calling off the mission like that. Sure you've accomplished your apparently idiotic primary objective (more on that later), but how in the world is securing Blaze Diabolica not a hefty bonus?
• Then K hurries back to Smith by... jumping into the sea. What.
• Turns out Equipment Smith was after... Miyabi? That doesn't make sense. An Exceed? Then why not just kidnap... Whatever.
• Miyabi going further down the scrappy route by joining the bad guys in a misguided attempt to capture the heart of her shoehorned crush.

O.K. we can clearly add "Brainwashed and Crazy" to Miyabi's character sheet.

Tor should REALLY have taken up Sakuya's offer at the beginning of the episode.

Then again, the blowback from levelling up too quickly could have hurt far more than helped. Or maybe he'll give that power to Julie instead.

Absolute Duo episode 11 is going to be interesting.

The Conference of the Council of Silly Tittles commence!

Julies was adorable as always, especially when she hugged Toru to calm him down.

Yeah, I don't see what's so special about Toru. He's so so fighter with frankly bellow average blaze so I'm not convinced that he's so great. Really, up till now Julie been the one who showed amazing hidden power. At least he's smart enough to be vary of shady offers of quick power-ups.

Why must they be so damn vague all the time. Can't they just say outright what the "Absolute Duo" is?

Another attack? Like the one that just happened? Equipment Smith must be out of ideas.

Miyabi, you traitorous piece of shit. I hope you die.

edited 10th Mar '15 5:53:05 PM by Shlugo_the_great

These English names are so goofy.

I'm assuming the LN has Toru more PTSD. That headmistress chick is pretty fucked up, lol at setting up a death match for the kids.

Actually a bit interested in how the other people with the funny names are trying to achieve Absolute Duo. Not often that an action fantasy series offers more than one power system.

It's pretty rad to see ODST face off against magic. Shame the show can't do it well.

Well, as well as you can with all this EDGE. #lolkillinggame

I only have vague estimates that the LN was radically different in that dead kids stay dead.

Wow, Miyabi's face was so punchable this episode. Props to the animation department. She gets away with a slap though.

I loved that Tomoe was the one to get to her and not Tooru, which would be awful. Even if I think Tomoe is way too good to her.

The second fight with K was really lackluster. Especially how it ended with Toru using the power-up he got for being special. Somehow. Well it's more of a set up for the final episode battle, because K got his hands on even better armor than before. I hope that fight will be awesome and won't end with Toru soloing with his shining fist again. This show is called Absolute Duo dammit, Lilith better not be shoved aside again!

Oh that's reminds me, we are almost at the end, and no more idea what this all is about than we did at episode 1. We can only hope this gets a second season so we can get some answers.