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that was a very enjoyable anime. Loved the concept, characters, and music. Sucks that season 2 isnt untill 2013 but atleast we know its coming.

9/10

Not a bad show. You'll get more of the references if you're an akb fan.
They really need to improve on the terrible CG during the dance scenes.
Other than that, I'm glad another season has been green-lit. More Kojiharu please.

Hot damn, that was a powerful finale. I was borderline between 7 and 8 the whole time, but after that, it's a definite 8/10. Looking forward to season 2.

Pretty good show. Not quite the best thing ever, but at least I enjoyed it, on par.

I liked the music. There's definitely some very nice songs in here, among them being the OP (Kibou ni Tsuite), ED (Dreams are like Reincarnation), River, Beginner, and Aitakatta. The way this show got to showcase these was pretty awesome.

However, the show felt rushed and too packed. As others here have mentioned, there are a lot of characters, and some of them had subplots that just felt...like they happened and then blew over. Like, Chieri had that subplot where the others discovered her father worked on DES machines. Then basically she moped for half an episode and then it was over and everything was peachy again. The biggest drama came in these last two (or three) episodes where they go back to Lancastar and the three starting characters confront their pasts. I admit I teared up at the end with the scenes with Nagisa's parents. But even that felt hurried. I didn't feel there was enough time for me to get used to the characters, to really get a feel for them, to understand them deeply enough for me to make emotional connections to them and then feel the pain they went through in the story.

Plus, there was too much random comedy for a show that had such a serious premise. The bright colors and happy songs are not the problem--that is part and parcel of the setting and makes complete sense. It's the stuff like Makoto complaining about her breast size (or lack thereof) that annoys me after a while.

The premise of the series--that there are public entertainment bans on various planets--is pretty silly. Though, if you instead think of them as bans on particular styles or forms of entertainment (which is suggested by the "NO IDOL" signs), and think of the planets more like countries (which in real life have in fact variously banned certain styles or composers of music, such as Iran banning various western genres), it feels a lot more natural.

In fact, as silly as that premise is, I think that the show would have worked better if it had focused on it. I felt the show really shined during the episode 3 military exercise, and was hoping that it would continue the conflict between gritty realism and optimistic idealism as one of its central themes. I'd also have appreciated a stronger focus on the politics of the entertainment ban, and taking a strong stand against it, but then again I apparently enjoy political undertones more than the usual anime fan (note my really liking Kiddy Grade for its political undertones about social justice, for example).

On the other hand, I didn't really like the inter-idol drama, or the mystique about S4 and the Center Novae disappearing and the Kirara and stuff. I can understand the inter-idol drama, and I would have enjoyed it had it been done better, such as with better pacing and more time for me to get inside the minds and hearts of the characters. But the mystical stuff was just distracting from what I felt were the themes of the show.

As for the setting details:


I think I'll rate the show 7/10. It's good, but has some flaws that prevent me from thinking it's awesome. Still, I look forward to the second season.

I also hope that they don't "explain" the entertainment ban as being a precaution against whatever crazy accident happened. Because that would severely undercut the political theme.

This was a epic season finale and I absolutely loved it. The concert felt amazing and I was seriously pumped up watching this, especially with those climax moments in their songs. It was so nice to see those reunion and touching scenes as well, especially that one with Nagisa and her parents. And I am so glad that Takamina's situation turned out fine and she is going to stay afterall.

Time to watch the next stage :D.

It was very good 9/10