Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha ViVid 02-03

From Foe to Friend with Fists – The Lyrical Way

Don’t call it a comeback, and you probably shouldn’t think it’s indicative of a trend. But watching Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha ViVid through episodes 2 and 3 has really made me want to talk about a few of the things that I think it’s doing, and doing well, as far as telling a story.

Who’s the Main Character?

Is this kidnapping or hospitality?

The first thing I found really interesting about the way that Nanoha ViVid is going about its business is that the ostensible title character is not the main focus of episode 2, and that’s actually a good thing. Vivio doesn’t appear in the show until the 18 minute mark of less than 24. So that’s three-quarters of the show that they have given over to other characters. And it works. It’s not just the showdown between Nove and Einhart that is engaging, but also the care that Nove, Teana, and Subaru give to Einhart, this person who popped out and suddenly challenged Nove. It’s not about being a good guy or a bad guy, it’s about being another person.

Trying to break through her shell

And every person has a story, and this show really feels like it’s giving time for those stories to be told. In order to find out more about Einhart, we’re along for the ride with Nove, Tea, and Subaru as they learn of her inherited memories, and can imagine the struggles that a girl like Einhart has gone through. The one part that I, as someone who isn’t familiar with the backstory, kind of had to infer was that the Saint Queen and Hell Queen are Vivio and Ixy, but it doesn’t seem like something that hard to figure out. But again, it was well done, in that they didn’t just blurt out “Oh, Vivio and Ixy!” It wasn’t any big secret, just good storytelling. The other part that was maybe the littlest bit confusing was that we’ve barely seen any interaction between Subaru and Vivio, so for someone just watching this series, it was somewhat odd that Tea said “Subaru is friends with them”, rather than Nove saying she was, but I chalk that up to history I don’t really need to know.

Oh, They’re Both the Main Character

This doesn’t go so well for Vivio

But the show is back to Vivio in episode three, with a bit of an obvious handoff. That doesn’t move us out of Einhart’s head, tho, and from when they meet, it feels like we’re definitely following both of them. There’s a bit of obviousness in the pairing of Vivio and Einhart, the bubbly positive girl and the introverted doubting girl, the earnest and open girl with the guarded and closed. And the gap between the two does cause trouble in their initial match, when Vivio just doesn’t take it with the same seriousness that Einhart is expecting. You can’t say that Einhart didn’t mean a little offense when she described Vivio as a hobbiest, because it was obviously a rude thing to say, but Vivio doesn’t get too offended, just taken aback, and determined about the next time.

Doing better this time

A next time that Einhart doesn’t really think has a point, but of course is proven wrong. Vivio makes good on her promise to be more serious and give her a fight, and to show her what she’s made of. The fights in this show are well done, even keeping me engaged because they don’t go on too long, nor do too much pro wrestling style back and forth. That might change later when we’re not having practice matches, but for now it’s welcome in the story. And I have to admit that Vivio’s handstand-spin-return kick was pretty dang awesome. Of course, in famous Nanoha style, the way you make new friends is by beating the crap out of them. I think it’s funny that Vivio even hints at this when talking with Nove during training for her fight against Einhart: “It’s probably hard to talk about, but maybe I can beat it out of her, and after we’re friends, I want to show her…”

I will say that I was kind of scratching my head at the end of this last episode, when Einhart is carrying Vivio off with all these adults around. What? I know they all trust her now, but she can’t get some frickin’ help? But other than that, Nanoha ViVid is a show that, to me, is showing surprising depth and maturity in storytelling, and trusting the viewer to come along with it. It’s not something as opaque as Glasslip, but it’s definitely not characters turning towards the camera and explaining what’s going on. And I like that, no matter what the genre of the show is.

About Highway

Proving that you don't have to be young to love anime, I enjoy all genres and styles of shows. If it's not hurting anyone else, you should never be ashamed of what you like!