No Game, No Life – 07
Hand over the donuts and no one gets hurt
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I decided to try and finish this post before I leave for a local convention called Anime North. I have to rush, but I think I can do it! I wonder if any of you readers will happen to be there? That would be pretty cool if we bumped into each other! Anyways, I’d better finish this before I have to leave for the aforementioned anime convention… |
I live and die for the episodes that have game battles in them. These are hands-down the best part of the show for me, and everything else is really just stuff I have to get through until there are more battles. That being said, this week’s episode was actually pretty fun even if it didn’t evoke the same level of excitement as naked, world-destroying shiritori. The mix of comedy and serious plot progression works together surprisingly well to give us a better understanding of Steph, the past king, and how the siblings are going to fight against the war beasts.
Good luck defeating rhinos with cannons with your pointy sticks
After defeating Jibril, Sora and Shiro are set on challenging the war beasts. But they’re clearly going to be difficult seeing that Jibril, the elves, and Imanity were no match for them. I love how Jibril depicts them as fearsome anthropomorphized beasts whereas Sora just pictures them as cute girls with animal ears. Anyways, this topic brings up an interesting factoid: the old king challenged the warbeasts 8 times and lost a ton of territory doing so. Sora calls out the king for being an idiot and this really upsets Steph. The rest of the episode is spent figuring out what the heck the king was thinking and why Imanity is secretly the best race ever.
Sora is both optimistic and cynical about humanity. He knows how terrible people can be, but he still has hope for the future of mankind. The overall message is that even though humans are weak and can be dicks to each other, we’re also capable of amazing things. That’s pretty inspiring coming from a hikkikomori who breaks down when he has to interact with other people. It’s a message that’s harped on maybe a bit too much in the show, but I guess it’s just to tie things together to one main theme other than “borderline incestuous siblings play games and win.”
Obvious references, but they’re cute.
So once again, Sora and Shiro must prove to everyone that Imanity is worthy. You’d think we would get it by now that these two are super reliable Kings and that Imanity is actually pretty powerful. Being underestimated so much that the war beasts don’t even wipe your memory is definitely a huge advantage. But no, everyone is still totally unconvinced that Imanity is a threat and this will probably continue all the way until the final episode. Kurami still doesn’t think Sora and Shiro were strong enough to beat her without the help of an outside race, as she doesn’t believe Imanity is strong enough to win on their own. This is despite Sora explicitly telling her he wasn’t receiving help and not to underestimate Imanity. Then there’s Jibril, who basically calls Steph “Doraemon” and totally looks down on her.
Steph believes in Imanity, but she doesn’t think that Sora and Shiro do despite everything they’ve been through. Once again, she doubts them. Please let this be the last time Steph doubts the siblings! I know they’re super sketchy and weird, but they’ve proved themselves worthy time and time again in terms of royal politics, games, and overall strategic planning. Let’s hope that Steph finally realizes that although they’re socially awkward and say mean things without noticing it, they’re trustworthy. I don’t think Sora really meant any harm, he’s just not used to talking to other girls. Or…anyone for that matter.
Anyways, it’s nice to see some more doubts cleared about Imanity and the capabilities of Sora and Shiro. Just believe in them, dammit! Believe in them and the power of Imanity! I don’t know what to do if they even challenge Kurami again, because Sora will have to give yet another speech about how Imanity is the best thing since sliced bread. I love the clever ways the show uses Imanity’s weaknesses to Sora and Shiro’s advantage, but I don’t like how much they repeat the same message about Imanity being amazzzzzing all the time.
It was also sweet to see some stuff with Steph because she’s been sorely ignored in terms of character development. She wasn’t totally unlikeable this week! Hooray! I’m starting to enjoy the group dynamics now, especially with Jibril in the mix. I look forward to seeing how they’ll defeat the warbeasts and if Jibril will provide any special help for them aside from her vast pool of knowledge. I doubt we’ve seen all of her magical abilities yet. All in all, this week was a sweet and rather interesting way to provide the siblings with some material to work with to defeat the war beasts, and next week looks good too. Cat ears? I’m in.
Clean bodies for dirty minds: Show ▼
She goes nya, Sora goes hnnngggg
About Overcooled
A neuroscience graduate, black belt, and all-around nerd. You'll either find me in my lab or curled up in my rilakkuma kigurumi watching anime.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
To be fair to Sora, don’t we all see the warbeasts the way he does? I know I do! Cute kitty/warm kitty/little ball of fur…
I didn’t see this coming. The old mad king was boss; yes he loses playing his own game, but it was the ultimate sacrifice play, and plays right into the only form of immortality that Imanity (and humanity) can rely on…offspring.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It’s a thin line between madness and genius. Sometimes that line gets blurred.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, fictitious madness yes. I’ve seen the real deal. It can’t have shoelaces…that sort of thing.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
All geniuses are made because the mundanes don’t understand their way of thinking. Mwhahahaaaa!! (err.. I digress. Forget that evil laugh of clarity.)
Sora’s vision of werebeast is a complete one! Complete with paws! The paws! Those cute paws! With tails! Unfortunately he didn’t listen to the what Dora-chan said earlier. (whispers *there are kemonomimi shota for female kemonomimi lovers*)
Right now, I think I have a vague idea how its going to finish.
–1–
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
…as you’ve seen over in my Chaika coverage, a kemonomimi shota is fine, too…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Hmm… that said… I might pick up Chaika (no you fool! not THAT sort of pickup! Kono ha hentai! skebe!) like what I did to Log Horizon, when I’m bored. Right now I think living with one show a week is enough. Plus Chaika is on the same night so……..
BTW, Chikan err Chiaki err.. CHAIKA (wtf is with the mispells..) reminds me of Sora with shaggier eyebrows.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
The cat boy in Chaika is actually pretty cute! Animal ears on a boy is surprisingly appealing, I must say.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
You could just eat ’em up!
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 386 comments
if I have to accept the shota, then its fine too i guess.. sigh…. lol
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 386 comments
Totally what I’d think of the warbeasts, just though in a few cute cat loli’s and we be ultra fine!
Mad king, yesh he was pretty boss, helping the next king out, what an development.
POWUH: 400-499 with 462 comments
Steph has never been unlikable. NEVER. NOT. EVER.
Am I clear? >:(
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I think you and OC should play a game over that point….Oh, but whom will challenge whom?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
A following question: What would they wager?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
And for post #500, I would answer the question with:
Pantsu. Steph’s Pantsu. Shiro’s is NG.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Congrats on your milestone. A little more and you’ll be part of the top 15 on Metanorn.
I get the feeling it’s going to be NSFW when that happens.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
500 comments! Omega good job!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Steph is so sweet and it’s a tragedy seeing her suffer and toyed with at the whims of our overpowered NEETS.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I still hold to my first impression of her; she will find a way to separate them both and leave ’em outside. If she was willing to play it that way.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
She MAY eventually be able to put her foot down to some of their nonsense, but I think she may just accept the eccentric situations they bring about.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
quote: ~aahh… I am beginning to hate myself for getting used to this…~
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Yeahhh I don’t think they’ll listen to her anytime soon. That’s just who they are.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
lol yep.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Steph is cute and wuvable despite her lack of pettanko. She is sanity that keeps the insanity in check.
Izuna goes Nyu. Nyu-nyu! めからびーむ。Izuna-nyu.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
Lol does she really though? I doubt much could keep their insanity in check.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
To each their own, Wanderer. That just leaves more Steph for you!
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 386 comments
If one thing is for sure, Steph is awesomely entertaining, I look forward to what crazy insane stuff they’ll make her do or see her do. She is very likable haha
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
I’m kind of hoping we don’t keep having lengthy setup episodes like this and start having a more half and half in the episode. I loved last episode when it was solely devoted to the game, but lengthy and possibly unnecessary setup to the big game stuff bores me a bit.
If they didn’t have the whole doubting thing going on again they could have devoted half the episode to learning the war beast’s secret and messing around and then transitioned into challenging the war beasts. This would still leave them with all of next episode to focus on the game.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Oh… this episode could have been as loner with the buildup if they didn’t truncate some of the scenes. The door to the secret erohon stash was much more detailed.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
I agree. The set-up episodes are okay and all, but they really pale in comparison to the games. I’d even be ok if there was zero plot and 100% games, they’re just that fun. They could have easily just had Steph give them the key immediately after the Jibril battle and then discuss the grandfather’s strategy there but I guess they didn’t want to skimp out on more Steph scenes since she’s been treated as..well..a dog lol.
But hey, maybe there will be a game next week!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
IF I recall correctly… there will be…
No game, no life. 😛 Bad pun.
Unless the start squeezing the game versus -spoilercensor- right at the end.
On the other hand, it will be Puchiko-week-nyu!
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
As someone who really doesn’t care for battles and contests in general, I like the setup episodes and the ones where not that much stuff happens. 🙂
POWUH: 600-699 and Romance Expert with 652 comments
actually this is how it goes already in the novels.
I think the anime could have done this better had they focused a lot more on the ingenuity of sora and shiro, which they just skimmed through. that would have gotten people hyped at least.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Shiro got a message worth dying for. The jealousy levels here are high! *grits teeth*
Steph’s grandfather was a man of honor. Inept as a player, yes, but he was a sly old fox setting the stage for his successor to finish what he so admirably started. The war beasts exposed a fatal flaw of theirs: Overconfidence. Instead of wallowing in their own superiority, they should have stuck to their M.O and erased the king’s memories like they did with any other species that challenged them. Never underestimate a determined adversary, especially when they’ve challenged you 8 times. The king set up a Trojan horse type plan.
It’s a real whiplash with Sora’s character as a whole. Sometimes, he comes off like a complete nihilist, degrading the efforts of the previous king in front of Steph, other times, he acts like he’d bet his life on humanity’s untapped potential.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
A lot of rulers think only in the short term – getting what they want now. The old king actually plans far enough so that the next generation will be able to carry out his plan. Now that’s a long term investment!
I also like how the overconfidence of the other races ends up being their downfall.
Sora is a bit of a wildcard. I think overall he’s just really bad at socializing so he just says every harsh thing in his head to Steph without trying to be nice to her. He really does believe in humanity.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
We are the 501st! Vader’s Fist!
Aside from celebrating wierd numbers… to the point.
I like how they took Jibril’s description out of the LNs and transferred it to animation. And chose the appropriate VA. Goes from condescending to utter silliness in a snap. Oh how she reminisces about the good ‘olde headhunting days… And I wouldn’t mind a harem of Flugel. 0:3 The kitchen was a surprise. I wouldn’t have imagined time/space quantum storage shelving… As expected of someone with time/space manipulating skillz.
It completely slipped my mind while reading the LNs but now I see how the Eastern Union resembles the United States of Japan.
To finish off
Sora: Shiro, prepare Unit-Jibril for launch.
Shiro: Un.
Jibril: Waaai~~su~~~. Tehihihi~ <3
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Don’t tell me there’ll be a Thousand Eyes Idol when you reach 1000 comments. 😉
Jibril’s a real funny character. She acted all superior, looking down on humans before suffering defeat last episode and has now become a total masochist since acknowledging a new master. But it was clear she was a sadist before the Ten Commandments were put in place. I can still see her licking the blood on her lips from the flashback.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
Jibril comes off as just eccentric to the point of giving Sora and Shiro a run for the money and I kinda like her that way. I did not really see anything that would lead me to believe her becoming a masochist, unless I missed something, she could seem to be a sadist that is getting shut down I suppose.
I like the silliness this show brings even as it tries to be serious.
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
At first I didn’t really like Jibril, but she really does have a suitable seiyuu (and dynamic with the group). She’s both incredibly powerful and incredibly silly and pervy. It’s an..interesting mix. But it works well with the way the show switches from funny to serious at the drop of a hat so I’m starting to like her more.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Jibril is basically someone literally overpowered that was created to KILL KILL KILL and now has to deal with general mundaneness and boredom. That is why she drools over unknowns… 0:D~~~
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
No doughnut, no life…
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Pig-themed ones too. I wonder if the icing was strawberry…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Maple glazed with bacon?
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Steph opening a branch of Mr. Donuts in Elchea. Shinobu would be pleased.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I have a thing for Krispy Kreme :3
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 386 comments
oooh now your talking…
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
Going from that memory of Jibril’s, the world badly needed that no murder and war rule by Tet. Also goes to show how powerful Tet is to do that.
It did nerf several races though, with the Flugel being the prominent victims. We can only imagine what those Dragonia and Gigant races are doing now when they’re not allowed to kill each other.
Also makes you wonder how Imanity managed to survive that war.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Wow, the places in my mind your comment made me go. All the larger races probably see Imanity as vermin. They survive wars as well…
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I dunno if anyone reads Magi manga here but the current arc is dealing with the exact thing, minus no war rule. I am feeling more respect for Tet in general as we find out more about other races; really now, let’s get on with their stories!
POWUH: 600-699 and LN Enthusiast with 623 comments
Ugo forever alone ;_;
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
IKR?! Somebody give him a nerdy female, please!!!
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Show ▼
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
I suspect Solomon will have to start chopping babies soon. Also, have the feeling of Darth Vader revelations too.
If I read the David halfchapter correctly… this is all going according to keikaku.
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Lol! Show ▼
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
. Show ▼
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Ack, threaded wrongly!
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Nobody should underestimate Doraemon. You never know what he brings out from you know where.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
You mean the soon to be butchered version?
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
Yep. Also, mom, I broke the comment box! Tsk.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Ah… so it’s not because of me trying to reply to your lol! -spoiler- thread… ^^;;
POWUH: Meta Team and Ringleader Extraordinaire~ with 6433 comments
I think spoilers are not happy after being threaded. But on the topic of Magi: Show ▼
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
yeah… Show ▼
POWUH: Lovely-pyon~ with 386 comments
Well this post skyrocketed quickly.. damn you made me read more then normal!
*you have gotten better at reading..suck it up*
Anyways this was a nice episode.. funny silly, and awesomely great, learning some history and finally, that ending bit.. i almost got cried with Steph, ahh what a touching moment.
This series is always a great watch weekly NEED More!
POWUH: 600-699 and Romance Expert with 652 comments
cant wait to see how you guys will react to next episode, if I got my chapters right…
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
Sounds awesome. I hope they keep things fast paced afterward or at least have one cool game in every episode or something equally interesting.
POWUH: 600-699 and Romance Expert with 652 comments
dunno if “awesome” is a fitting description for whats to come…
ah a better way to say that it may give you guys a panic attack.
POWUH: Metanorn Lover with 154 comments
…Well that sounds…interesting I guess. Oh well, We’ll see when we come to it.