Aldnoah.Zero Episode 4 Discussion

GodlyKyon said:



You are summing up the problems of this series perfectly!

HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS HUGS *crack*

chickenonthepan said:
Why people are complaining about MC being emotionless? Please remember Setsuna from Gundam 00. Their backstory will be shown in the future, just be patient. Don't judge a character when the show has only ran 1/6 its way....

GodlyKyon said:


1. Not a gundam
2. Not made by Sunrise
3. Not the same writers!
4. So far the characters are essentially blank

Kyruga said:


First Group spotted....

chickenonthepan said:

Yeah, totally.
Setsuna is also emotionless as hell at the beginning of Gundam 00. It needs some time to build him up as a likable character. If I judge Setsuna based on first 4 episodes of 00, I would say he is more blank than Inaho now...
And not all Gundam shows are good

L-Ryoshi said:
I really don't get some of the reasoning some haters are spewing out here. Who gives a damn if the director claimed that this show would be the next best thing since the wheel? Hell I'm not some obsessive otaku who has to acquire an encyclopedic database of not only anime series and characters, but even seiyuus, directors and even musicians and animators as well. I personally don't feel a need to hunt around compulsively on MAL for how "hyped" that a show is because who is in on the project just to enjoy it. I enjoy the show for being what it is, for what I watch and what I hear, and thus far I don't think Aldnoah's done a damn good job at making this show as enjoyable as any other mech that Ive seen thus far. Heck, I didn't even know who was on the team for this anime. I just saw the PV, liked the animation and gave it a try.

Inaho does well as a stoic, observant and extremely emotionally detached protag. They make him out to be smart, but that isn't to say he is completely OP in the face of the Martians. Even in this episode, after they were saved at the end, his friends were all gathering around him reprimanding him for acting out of character suddenly trying to buy them some time, even at the expense of his own life. For us, it's obviously something to do with that princess (the director's put down enough hints for that). Even he himself admitted that he didn't know why he did what he did. It was only anime plot-armor that he got out of that little skirmish alive anyway. He was half a second away from being butchered by that Knight when reinforcements arrived afterall.

As for Slaine, I think he knows whats going on and he's definitely smarter than he looks. He's trying to find out who the traitors are from the inside, which is why he decided to go back to the martians. Also, just because the martian he's working under isn't the ringleader, doesn't mean that he isn't in on the assassination. Slaine is smart enough to figure that out, and he's smart enough to know that he can do a lot more damage to the martians from the inside as well (plus, he can monitor where the princess is if they manage to discover her in those ships). In my opinion, I think both protags are being developed just fine. I just wonder what will happen once he finds out that the princess has taken an interest in Inaho though, given the obvious feelings that he has for her (can see THAT Triangle from a hundred clicks away).

Hopefully they'll start to develop the other characters a bit more starting next episode.

The soundtrack may not fit the action scenes completely, but they have a way of inducing excitement, which is good for shows like this. I mean, I'd rather listen to the music hyping than watch this show with Barney as a soundtrack. If anyone could suggest a better OST for this anime, I'd be happy to try their suggestions out. I love experimenting anyway (watched Fate/Stay with the full Tokyo Ghoul OP, and it actually fit quite nicely :P).

Anyway, next episode please!

Keten said:


Emotionless characters are boring. As said before Inaho may smile time to time, but we don't know him as a character. We don't know his flaws, which makes him virtually unrelatable. A character without flaws is boring, plain and simple. (And We should be introduced to his character right off the bat to start gaining appeal right away.)

Now, of course maybe there is a reason for him being that way. Would that make it better? Yes. Would that make him a better character? Yes. Would that make him less boring or more appealing? Nope.

It is also a matter of presentation. Perhaps if they took the time to show us more about Inaho as a character he would have more appeal, but they don't. I heard someone say before that maybe he was "Traumatized by war" well no, he doesn't seem traumatized to me, he seems perfectly healthy, especially since everyone treats it like this is normal behavior in the show, when it isn't. Normally people would look at him and go, "What is up with him?" but they don't. I don't mean his friends, I mean people who have no idea who he is.

People can like him if they want, I am not saying they can't. It's a heck of a lot easier and lazier to write a character with little to no emotion then it is to write a flawed human being though. He doesn't have a character, his character is his lack of a character.

Slain on the other hand displayed emotions and psychological problems such as paranoia, depression, stockholm syndrome, and fear. He has a character, he has conflictions in his own mind. That alone makes him a better character even if it is done in a rather overblown way.

It isn't about "What is this characters backstory? Why is he like this? These mysteries make him a good character!". It's about "Why should I care about this person? Why should I cheer for him? Why should I get invested in what he is doing?". I can't get invested in Inaho cause I don't even know what he is like. He is just a stoic genius perfect kid. He doesn't even bat an eye to killing or have any emotional damage afterwards. We are supposed to take an anime seriously when it displayed the "Good Guys" as killers who don't care that they killed someone afterwards? They are just as big of Sociopaths as the Super-Nazi's are. Slain is the only normal human being.

chickenonthepan said:

IF you don't care about the characters and find them boring, why don't you just drop the anime and let people enjoy it instead? The fact that you don't care doesn't mean other people has to be indifferent as well. So please, again, if you hate the show, just drop it already. Don't watch something to see how terrible it is. you are wasting time of your life.

Barion-Zara said:
Is Slaine an idiot? Why the hell did he go back to the Martians?! -.-

Keten said:


Emotionless characters are boring. As said before Inaho may smile time to time, but we don't know him as a character. We don't know his flaws, which makes him virtually unrelatable. A character without flaws is boring, plain and simple. (At least in a serious show anyway. Though even then if a character at least has personality it can be passable and We should be introduced to his character right off the bat to start gaining appeal right away.)

Now, of course maybe there is a reason for him being that way. Would that make it better? Yes. Would that make him a better character? Yes. Would that make him less boring or more appealing? Nope.

It is also a matter of presentation. Perhaps if they took the time to show us more about Inaho as a character he would have more appeal, but they don't. I heard someone say before that maybe he was "Traumatized by war" well no, he doesn't seem traumatized to me, he seems perfectly healthy, especially since everyone treats it like this is normal behavior in the show, when it isn't. Normally people would look at him and go, "What is up with him?" but they don't. I don't mean his friends, I mean people who have no idea who he is.

People can like him if they want, I am not saying they can't. It's a heck of a lot easier and lazier to write a character with little to no emotion then it is to write a flawed human being though. He doesn't have a character, his character is his lack of a character.

Slain on the other hand displayed emotions and psychological problems such as paranoia, depression, stockholm syndrome, and fear. He has a character, he has conflictions in his own mind. That alone makes him a better character even if it is done in a rather overblown way.

It isn't about "What is this characters backstory? Why is he like this? These mysteries make him a good character!". It's about "Why should I care about this person? Why should I cheer for him? Why should I get invested in what he is doing?". I can't get invested in Inaho cause I don't even know what he is like. He is just a stoic genius perfect kid. He doesn't even bat an eye to killing or have any emotional damage afterwards. We are supposed to take an anime seriously when it displayed the "Good Guys" as killers who don't care that they killed someone afterwards? They are just as big of Sociopaths as the Super-Nazi's are. Slain is the only normal human being.

Yoyo1124 said:

I have to say i kinda agree with you, Inaho is a rather boring character While slaine.. well, after credits of the last episode? -not only a very interesting character, but a Fucking BADASS sometimes.

Yet i have to say, that if the MC isn't completely blank i still can relate to him, in Inaho's case, he is maybe a really emotionless character, but hes also a genius, Guess what-I LOVE OVERLY SMART CHARACTERS.

The problem is, that even the fact that Inaho is a motherfucking genius isn't given any feedback nor explanation. I prey for the show creators to do something about it and at least give us something that will make us go:"Ohhh, so that's why Inaho acts like this! now that makes sense!!"

Up until now Slaine is THE BEST CHARACTER, no question asked! :D

Keten said:


Erm.. Where in my post did I say people shouldn't enjoy him? I said enjoy him if you want. Also you are pulling the "If you don't like it why are you watching it?" argument. Please do not tell me what to do and I will not tell you what to do.

I am not watching the show to hate it, nor am I watching the show to love it, I am watching it because it is only 12 episodes for the first season and I have nothing better to do. It's 23 minutes a week, not that big a deal.

If you like the character, that is fine, I am not saying you shouldn't.

Partly why his character doesn't work for me is also the writing. It is not well paced because it focuses more on the action than the characters and on top of that the characters aren't written realistically thus it comes off as just sort of awkward.

Now then, instead of telling me to shut up and leave, why not actually try addressing my points? Or better yet just don't respond at all. You don't have to read my posts and this is a discussion thread, not a "Let's sing praise for Aldnoah.Zero" thread. I am sorry if my criticisms affected your enjoyment but I don't see what that has to do with the show being good or bad since enjoyment has nothing to do with that. (Not everyone is going to enjoy something the same way as you so rating based off enjoyment is pointless and throws off the scores).

Enjoy it if you want, I will not attack you for it. So I expect you not to attack me for criticizing it either.

chickenonthepan said:
My bad then, sorry dude. But it really bugs me that some people here criticize EVERY aspect of the show:
- They hate the characters
- They tell that the script is boring
- They don't like the music
- They hate the CIG used in this show
- They assume that this is just a "overhyped sh**"
and yet they are still watching it. What is the point in watching something they hate so much? Strange ~

chickenonthepan said:

My bad then, sorry dude. But it really bugs me that some people here criticize EVERY aspect of the show:
- They hate the characters
- They tell that the script is boring
- They don't like the music
- They hate the CIG used in this show
- They assume that this is just a "overhyped sh**"
and yet they are still watching it. What is the point in watching something they hate so much? Strange ~

MegaZeroX said:


I don't really see anyone HATING it, just disliking it. And they dislike it for most of the reasons you mentioned. But they keep watching because it still has the potential to be good and also a good cast - people that worked on Fate Zero, Madoka, Psycho-Pass etc. It can be so much better and it MIGHT be so much better, since it's still too early to tell which is exactly why they're watching

chickenonthepan said:

Based on their word choices, I think their attitude is closer to hate than mere dissatisfaction. Personally I just watch the show because I find it really interesting: the main character is developing (he shows some emotions already, if you fail to notice), the script is ok, the music is great, CIG is not so good but acceptable. Even if I am expecting the show to become better, I would be open-minded and note some positive points, not watching just to notice negative aspects. Therefore, I find it really hard to figure out why those people are still watching this show.

micbri said:


I wouldn't look too much into the word choice of posts on MAL, or anywhere on the internet really, as a gauge of a person's true feelings. People are generally more extreme in their writing on the internet.

Looking through several pages of this thread, there aren't as many overt haters as you think. Most of the people criticizing this show do list positive aspects in addition to their compaints, be it the OST, a character they feel is done well, or the interesting premise. Even the most vitriolic critic I could find, Kaioshin-Sama, admitted that it was still a fun show.

Of course, there are a few people who come in to a discussion and flame away, bashing the show and insisting that there are no redeeming elements whatsoever. However, for every one of these haters, you have at least two posters who are equally extreme in their effusive praise for the show. These posters who proclaim Aldnoah/Zero as the best thing this season/year, are they really that much different from the haters? Both the haters and the fans post extreme opinions, with no concessions to the opposing viewpoint. They also typically don’t bother sticking around to defend their opinion, or otherwise contribute to the discussion. Both just shout out their opinion, and maybe add an insult to the mindless fanboys/haters. Personally, as I read forums to find good discussion, I don’t pay much attention to these kinds of posts.

As for why a person might continue watching something they hate, there are really too many reasons possible to list, many of have already been brought up. Some of them include:
-Friends are watching this/social needs
-Too much time/just want to watch something
-Wants to be fair in critiquing and finish before giving a bad score
-Enjoys discussion, and needs to be current with the hated anime to contribute effectively

There are many things that can make a hated anime enjoyable in some way, making the whole “why don’t you just drop it hater since you clearly dislike it” mentality flawed as the haters who keep watching are enjoying the anime, just not necessarily in the way the fans do.

micbri said:

I wouldn't look too much into the word choice of posts on MAL, or anywhere on the internet really, as a gauge of a person's true feelings. People are generally more extreme in their writing on the internet.

Looking through several pages of this thread, there aren't as many overt haters as you think. Most of the people criticizing this show do list positive aspects in addition to their compaints, be it the OST, a character they feel is done well, or the interesting premise. Even the most vitriolic critic I could find, Kaioshin-Sama, admitted that it was still a fun show.

Of course, there are a few people who come in to a discussion and flame away, bashing the show and insisting that there are no redeeming elements whatsoever. However, for every one of these haters, you have at least two posters who are equally extreme in their effusive praise for the show. These posters who proclaim Aldnoah/Zero as the best thing this season/year, are they really that much different from the haters? Both the haters and the fans post extreme opinions, with no concessions to the opposing viewpoint. They also typically don’t bother sticking around to defend their opinion, or otherwise contribute to the discussion. Both just shout out their opinion, and maybe add an insult to the mindless fanboys/haters. Personally, as I read forums to find good discussion, I don’t pay much attention to these kinds of posts.

As for why a person might continue watching something they hate, there are really too many reasons possible to list, many of have already been brought up. Some of them include:
-Friends are watching this/social needs
-Too much time/just want to watch something
-Wants to be fair in critiquing and finish before giving a bad score
-Enjoys discussion, and needs to be current with the hated anime to contribute effectively

There are many things that can make a hated anime enjoyable in some way, making the whole “why don’t you just drop it hater since you clearly dislike it” mentality flawed as the haters who keep watching are enjoying the anime, just not necessarily in the way the fans do.

Stark700 said:
Episode 5 Preview:


I wasn't expecting that kiss

Maryruss said:

Amen, very intense kiss. Can't wait for the next chapter ;)

chickenonthepan said:

Ahh, that's not a kiss. When looking closely, you can see that she is trying to feed water to Slain(?). That must be the when the princess saved Slain and his father, I guess.
But damn, they almost get me into their bait.

Tommk said:


^I almost thought it was a kiss.

kunagisa said:
I liked this episode quite a lot. However, the fact that Inaho and a bunch of trainees defeated two Martian knights is a bit, uh, stretched?

Meritas said:
Nope, they defeated him with tactics.


I liked that the Terrans managed to defeat yet another Knight, as I was afraid all of their machines will be some kind of gods. Still can't see where this is going though.

Thess said:


Cough.

Bluebirds22 said:

Wow, thanks for the information.
Can't wait for the next episode.

kunagisa said:
I liked this episode quite a lot. However, the fact that Inaho and a bunch of trainees defeated two Martian knights is a bit, uh, stretched?

Thess said:


Good old romantic troupe. Giving water/medicine to someone who needs it with excessive eroticism/romanticism :3

CynicofSinope said:


*cough* *cough* the kiss to give medicine adds romantic development I guess.

chickenonthepan said:

If you pay more attention, the princess in the preview is so small like a child. I don't think this has any romantic meaning for her.

klaymore said:
the suspense, does Cruhteo know about the assassination plan?

Slaine vs Inoha should be coming soon :)

Thess said:


She's ten, already in early puberty. Also that's the opposite, though. It's a romantic-framed first meeting: she's his savior with a little tongue action added on her selfless action. That's how it works in anime. Innocent but at the same time works all the romantic items in meetings.

chickenonthepan said:
I don't think so. That is just the fancy design of the mech (All Martian mech have weird designs). The Martian is not that careless to show obvious weakness like that. Considering that the Martian knight will be more careful + go all out and the tittle "Phantom of the Emperor", I think a plot twist may happen. It won't make sense if Inaho can win everytime with just him and his trainee friends.