Soul Eater Not! – 04
One for the shippers… Not!
 And just one week after the pacing looked to be picking up, it comes to a screeching halt again. And not even in a good way, like taking a time out to tell a character-revealing side story or just putting the characters into situations that make us laugh or cry or sweat. No, there was practically nothing of interest in this episode.
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Describes the episode as well as it does Tsugumi.
Well, there was at least a running theme, of Tsugumi doing some soul searching, asking herself why she came to the Death Weapon Meister Academy. This was perhaps the first time since the first episode that she truly felt like the lead among the three girls again, with Meme having little to say regarding her reasons because of her memory issues and Anya had little to say because tsundere (at least we’ve already learned a bit of her motivations through flashbacks). So it was just Tsugumi going through a day of DWMA while moping about how much better everyone else is than her.
Which could have gone much worse, certainly. I was grateful it didn’t turn into angst which has sunk better shows than this one. But it could have gone much better if there had been some sort of central plot throughout the episode through which Tsugumi learned something about herself or DWMA or the world or her friends or anything at all. Instead of her just looking around aimlessly and deciding to just let it go and have fun at the end. I’ll give to the writers that Tsugumi’s emotion process were at least believable, but that doesn’t always translate to what’s entertaining on screen, which kind of trumps all. Some conflict that ends up being a valuable learning experience for a middle schooler may be horribly cliche, but cliche is better than nothing.
I suppose MikiyaAkane got more of a proper introduction, hitting on Tsugumi, giving her some advice, and revealing his own past as someone coming from a dojo. I was actually pretty intrigued by him asking her out, but that’s still a year away. Knowing how Cute-Girls-Doing-Cute-Things shows tend to go, there’s no way Tsugumi will have any romantic relationship within that year, but there’s also no way that the remaining episodes will cover a full year, so that plot point will end up moot.
Yeah it’s pandering, but any more Maka on screen is fine by me. (click for full)
My highlight of the episode was probably Maka making another cameo for some personal encouragement to Tsugumi. There isn’t much there to their relationship, but hey, I love Maka, and I like the parallels between the protagonists of the main show and of the spinoff, with respect to their uniforms and hairstyles. I hope they continue to touch base. Maka as a mentor figure would be amazing, even if she’d be awful at it.
Actually, the highlight might have been the apparent standard girls’ gym uniforms at DWMA, bloomers + thigh high socks. This is by far not the first time this has been present in anime (except the school mandated part), but it never ceases to look silly to me. Particularly at a US-based school like this one, where one wouldn’t expect to see bloomers. I know this is Nevada, but come on now, this is a school, not a brothel. As much as I appreciate absolute territory, I don’t like them being overused or in the wrong places. Knee sleeves offer absolute territory too and would actually make sense.
I’m with you, Anya. Ridiculous. You look good, though.
On an unrelated note, I now have some good ideas for what to ask for next time I’m at a brothel in Nevada.
About lvlln
A math/science geek and a self-dubbed cynical optimist. I don't care if it's deep, if it can make me feel something or laugh, it's fine in my book. @lvlln
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah, this one just kinda checked off the low priority narrative boxes.
Maybe something will come of a Tsuhiki relationship, if she can ever untangled the chart.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Cute hoodie… cute hoodie… cute cute cute xinfinity.
POWUH: 400-499 with 462 comments
For anyone who is wondering, a translation of that relationship chart, from the manga. I have been told that the translation is correct by Random Internet People™, so you may, if you wish, take it with a grain of salt, but I have no particular reason to doubt it.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Looks like a typical Tsukihime relationship chart to me…
POWUH: 700-799 and Parkouring Fanboy with 776 comments
Well, it’s not quite up to Nasu levels. http://www.zerochan.net/230092
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Like I said, Tsukihime one. Not the Nasuverse one. ^_^
POWUH: 700-799 and Parkouring Fanboy with 776 comments
Haha, thanks for this. Shame subs I saw didn’t translate this, it makes it that much better.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yeah, nothing went anywhere this week. It’s forgivable for now since it’s the first occurrence in the series and will be easily overlooked if the rest picks up.
Tsugumi questioning her reason for attending DWMA is a good plot point for her development. Not knowing one’s purpose for being in a certain place makes the long trip worthless.
Anya looks good in P.E clothing. There’s something about bloomers that makes a girl look even sexier.