First Impression – Owari no Seraph Nagoya Kessen-hen
The bromance continues.
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I decided to give this one the classic three episode test, since I feel like the last season was kind of disappointing and the first episode actually wasn’t as bad as I was anticipating. How was the beginning of this new season? Well… |
Suddenly, the shounen became more shounen.
I’m making a fresh start and pretending that season one Yuu never happened. Surprisingly, it’s working rather well, since he has really mellowed out. Sure, he still attacks straight ahead, as shown by Hiiragi’s test. But other than that, he seems more level headed and it’s nice that he’s concerned about his friends. I still would have liked more of a lead in to this character change other than just having things handed to Yuu while he disobeyed rules, but it’s probably best just to move on. Plus he’s doing the more intelligent thing and instead of just waving his sword around and shouting, he’s reading and doing research. Maybe he used to do this in the first season behind the scenes, but it seemed like he was more of the type of person to skip the practical stuff and go right for the killing vampires part. I guess running into Mika changed him for the better. Yuu’s way of handling Ashuramaru wasn’t bad either, with the friendship thing instead of just blindly attacking his way through. …Though his method of just rushing ahead and trying to manifest his demon still shows that his recklessness isn’t totally gone.
Maybe because the last season was so into how much better Yuu was at everything compared to his team, Yuuichi being able to manifest his demon right from the start was a nice change. Especially since he had the most issues in actually getting his weapon. Kimizuki having problems didn’t seem too bad either, even though his manifestation wasn’t nearly as smooth as Yuu’s since it showed his character development since his first introduction. The new combat abilities look interesting, and it’s also very interesting how Shinoa and Mitsu found out how all three of them don’t have anything in their files. …Basically, it’s nice to see the other characters have important secrets behind them in the plot besides Yuu. It makes the cast more equal. …Though why they didn’t teach the characters how to use these awesome new powers before they sent them on to the front lines is probably a question to ask. It makes sense in shounen contexts since the characters need to “level up” in power, but from a military view, withholding powers like this seems a little silly.
Owari no Seraph is still Owari no Seraph though, it seems. The test for whether or not Yuu was a traitor was… way too easy. What, was he going to converse with the vampire when he knew he was going to meet the Hiiragis? Even if he was a traitor, that would have been really dumb of him. The other test was slightly more intelligent with Yuu following orders, but even if he did launch a sneak attack (which he did for… some reason, if only to prove that he’s a rebel sometimes), there were two other people in the room. If he really wanted to kill Hiiragi, he would have had a hard time.
Because having your superior do this to your friends inspires so much confidence.
And then the Hiiragi family forced Yuu to answer a bunch of questions at the expense of his friends being stabbed, gave him some information, and then just expected him to change sides? If they even paid attention to his character a little bit, they should know that he doesn’t take people injuring his friends lightly. Plus Yuu was given no proof if what he was told about the Hyakuya house was true or not (even though the plot has given indications that it is true). Who would he go with, the guy stabbing his friends, or his benefactor of sorts? Not that Yuu chose a side this time around, but he does seem more inclined towards Guren for now. Probably even more so now that Guren has indirectly told him that he’s going to probably help Mika.
Or maybe not, since Yuu’s team had a discussion about whether or not to trust Guren anymore. Plus he may or may not have been the person talking to Ferid at the end of the last season (and Ferid himself is slippery after what happened with Krul). Though if we’re going by Hiiragi said, then Guren wouldn’t betray his comrades, and I’m pretty sure he called Yuu’s team just that. Unless he’s lying about the whole thing. Plus they finally introduced the demon behind his weapon and made his intentions seem kind of suspicious through her dialogue.
I’m going to be truthful here. I waited the 3 episode test because I couldn’t believe how much better this season is going and was waiting for the show to go back to how things were in season one. But surprisingly, I’m enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would. Mostly because the plot doesn’t seem to revolve solely on Yuu now (plus it appears he’s gone through some character development), but the conflicts in politics is a lot more interesting to watch now as well. It’s really hard to place what Ferid, Guren or even Krul wants (Krul being the one who interests me the most at the moment), so I’m actually looking forward to seeing what will happen as the plot progresses. Since it looks like the story is working it’s way to something big. As long as Yuu doesn’t revert back too much to how he was in the first season, things are looking way better.
Plus a world run by vampire shotas and lolis seems like a perfectly fine idea to me.
About Karakuri
University student and the one at Metanorn who's known for wearing glasses. Likes blood, insanity and plot twists, but also plays otome games and adores cute romance anime. It balances out... somehow.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Well, the vampires still don’t vampire (DAMMIT MOON-MOON), and the humans apparently plan everything around plot dumb. But….
Yeah, this’ll do for the time being. Plus, like you say, it’s nice they actually got around to making the supporting cast…you know, a cast! I guess they were busy playing Wonder-Boy with Yuu last season, so they forgot what writing a normal character was all about…
Still, I like it for Wit’s design…
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Agreed as well!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yes, Seraph’s back and I’ve waited long enough! Seraph Saturdays are here again! I had a feeling you’d wait a couple of episodes, Kara…
Though I was already aware, I was skeptic on how the adaptation would go after learning the second cour would be covering the still ongoing Nagoya arc. I mean, the first cour did the first 15 chapters with 95% accuracy (the other 5% were welcomed anime original scenes) but this time would be a bigger hurdle covering chapters 16-38 and beyond. My concerns were more or less put to rest after the first 3 episodes as they were condensed adaptations of chapters 16-23.
It’s more assuring knowing the author is deeply involved in the series (Seraph of the End’s Additional Cast, Creator’s Direct Involvement Revealed):
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Yuu always had a mellow part but had little reason to show it since at the time he wanted to keep people away so as to avoid the pain of loss again. Before finding there was a survivor, he had nothing to hope for, so revenge was the only reason for living and he was determined to get it if it meant breaking rules. Now knowing Mika’s alive, he’s no longer dead set on killing vampires. Later on, it gets explained why he had his previous mindset.
There was more to Yuu’s test than you think. If he was a spy, he would’ve hesitated killing the vampire set loose on him. Something Kureto wanted to verify. The reason for suspicion was because he was seen talking to Mika, a vampire, on the battlefield. That sneak attack he pulled was him using Kureto’s “Will you scream “that was dirty” and die in the battlefield?” against him to make a point after he did one first.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Off with his head!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
This is the Hiragi family, the family that heads the Japanese Imperial Demon Army and they don’t care about anything that doesn’t involve them gaining more power. To them, anyone can be bought regardless of whether or not they’ve slighted them.
Guren affirming Yuu’s question about being saved only to be used later pretty much confirmed what Kureto was telling him.
Walking and talking, Kureto is even more of a douche than the regard I already gave him in the manga. This guy is the kind of slime that would leave his comrades to hang out and dry if it means fulfilling his ambitions. So it really pisses me off him spouting his self-righteous BS to Guren saying “People who sacrifice others without a desire are evil.”.
As you can see, the Japanese Imperial Demon Army isn’t as noble as it appears. As indicated by Kureto’s “experiments” as Guren. If anyone doesn’t understand what Kureto was explaining to Guren, here it is in a nutshell: He was starving the captured vampires hoping they’d become demons to create more Cursed Gears. The demons in Yuu, Yoichi and Kimizuki’s Gears are former high level vampires starved of blood until their nature changed.
Krul’s in piping hot water for not killing the orphans the night of the viral outbreak. She probably would’ve saved herself a load had she killed Ferid when he was sticking his nose in her business 4 years back. Now she’s paying for not doing it.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Here are some news articles surrounding Seraph of the End:
Seraph of the End Event Anime’s Plot Details, Guest Cast Revealed: Original episode to focus on special mission before decisive battle at Nagoya.
One of the original characters will be played by Yuuki Kaji.
New Seraph of the End Novel Series’ 1st Volume Listed for December: Novel by original manga’s writer, artist will explore Mikaela’s story, origin of vampires
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
New Seraph of the End Novel Series’ 1st Volume Listed for December.
In addition, the author’s also working on the Seraph prequel with Guren, the main Seraph story, and the sequel to his other LN series “The Legend of the Legendary Heroes”.
He’s got a lot of work to juggle.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Plus they finally introduced the demon behind Guren’s weapon and made his intentions seem kind of suspicious through her dialogue.
That demon is Show ▼
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I read this off a link someone posted on MAL some time ago. That is a screwed up an immoral backstory for a person to have.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Kara, you should already know Guren’s Cursed Gear demon by name.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Not such a fan of Season 2’s OP for Seraph. It lacks the edginess of Season 1’s OP.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
I say the same for both the second season’s OP and ED. Alone and unrelated, maybe they can pass but representing a series like Seraph of the End/Owari no Seraph, they leave a lot to be desired and fail to meet the standard of the first season’s OP and ED.
The OP “X.U.” by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Gemie and ED “scaPEGoat” by SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Yosh easily outclasses the second season counterparts.
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Found the inevitable Yuu x Mika ero doujinshi.
But, I also found a Yuu x Mitsuba, and even a Mika x Krul*!
*Is it still legal if it looks like a child, but is legally centuries old?
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You know full well the fujoshi weren’t going to hold off on that. Let them drown in their fantasies. This teasing is all they’re going to get, to put it bluntly.
If the whole system of rules put in place by humanity were ignored, then that would be something. But it’s human laws and vampires are excluded from that.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
@Karakuri: Remember when I said Takahiro Sakurai was in both Seraph and Diabolik Lovers as Ferid Báthory and Ruki Mukami? Well, Tatsuhisa Suzuki (Free’s Makoto Tachiana, Nanatsu no Taizai’s Ban) is also in both series as Shinya Hiragi and Yuuma Mukami.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
20 Quotes from Owari no Seraph About War and Humanity
Whoa, these really are some good quotes!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I found a Treat for you guys!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Been there, done that and have the episodes stored on an external hard drive. You’re five years late, Defender.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I thought someone might enjoy another take on the show, especially on Halloween.
I guess this is the apple when you were expecting a fun sized candy bar….
POWUH: and Athenaeum Châtelaine with 2212 comments
(Hmm, my post got lost somewhere. I’ll just have to post it again. :D)
You inspire a lot of confidence in this show and I’ve heard that it got better this season in compared to the last. I still haven’t taken the time to watch it, not having a lot of time and being a little wary since last season was not really the show I was expecting, nor was it one to inspire many others to return to it either. (And I’ve seen that it has burned many bridges for viewers, as there is not nearly as much coverage of this season in comparison to the first.)
However, I think I will eventually give it a try. I kind of already know what is going to happen because I caught up with the manga out of curiosity, but reading something and actually watching an adaptation can be two different things. One day, when I’m not so busy, I’ll probably take some time to catch up. I always thought that Yuu was at his best as a character when his family was alive and when he was interacting with them or in interest of Mika, his only living family member left. Now that Yuu knows Mika is alive and he has a goal other than than revenge, he’s returning to being that character.
Well, overall, I’m glad the series is a return to form. As of right now, I still don’t care for most of the characters humans or vampires since the majority of them are bastards. My only interest has been, and still is, only on Mika and Yuu and their plight. Maybe this season can make me change my mind, but it all depends on how they handle it.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Well, this is a coincidence. Given that today is Halloween, I found out it’s Ferid Bathory‘s birthday.
Seems kind of appropriate.