Dec 22, 2015 3:16 PM
Fall 2015 Impressions - 1. Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha S2
Anime Relations:
Shinmai Maou no Testament Burst
Shinmai Maou is a series whose themes don't go beyond the level of cheap entertainment. As scathing as this sounds, it is the truth for a series built entirely upon the cliches of a typical light novel story - and it is unfortunate in that it does not even push the boundaries of any of these features beyond what is already known or expected - something other LN-to-anime adaptations try to do, at the very least.
Yet it opened with some promise - most notably in the art for the OP. There was an observable increase in the art quality, and while I don't like the OP too much (it's ok I guess), this increase in the art quality gave me hopes for at least better art. Yet I found that the art in the anime was the same as the first season - this is not a bad thing, but to be let down on this aspect was sad. Neither OP nor ED was worth my time.
Nothing needs be said about the fanservice in this anime - it was entirely expected, and it was entirely shameless, to be honest. Yet, even in this aspect it fails to reach the standards of the one LN that set this subgenre up: HighSchool DxD
HighSchool DxD's recent third season was not as good as others, but the plot was certainly still there, and I enjoyed the recently released OVA. However, while Shinmai Maou's plot seems ok enough, on hindsight, the number of flaws and holes throughout it are glaring. All of a sudden, a tournament pops out of nowhere. What? Do you really settle the fate of an entire realm with a TOURNAMENT? Furthermore, the resemblance of this 'demon world' to the human world just screams lack of creativity - or effort, even. This is pushing the boundaries of acceptable cliche. Character development? That makes me laugh. While it was good seeing that Basara is obviously into Mio the most, the problem is that the treatment of the harem makes it such that one knows this is not a serious romantic development, and cannot treat it as such. Playing on the 'onii-chan' card doesn't help it very much either.
If there is one good thing about Shinmai Maou, and its only saving grace that gives it a glimmer of hope for a third season, it would be Basara's past. We observe that there must be a reason why he can become a demon like that, and why he is claimed to have two mothers by his one father. The biological impossibilities are thrown out the window, but it gives a good chance for historical development. This is the main thing going for Shinmai Maou, even in this season - let's just hope that if a third season does come out, Basara does not become like Ichigo.
On this note, I am not impressed by Shinmai Maou, and it failed my expectations - that is the most important part. I was hoping for a better season, but it's typically expected that series of this nature do not distinguish themselves in subsequent seasons. Dare I call it a waste of time? It wasn't, but for anyone with better things to do, this is one series to avoid. Would I, however, watch a third season? The strange answer is that I would, for I still believe that there may be some potential in here - as I said, it all depends on the execution of its historical development.
Yet it opened with some promise - most notably in the art for the OP. There was an observable increase in the art quality, and while I don't like the OP too much (it's ok I guess), this increase in the art quality gave me hopes for at least better art. Yet I found that the art in the anime was the same as the first season - this is not a bad thing, but to be let down on this aspect was sad. Neither OP nor ED was worth my time.
Nothing needs be said about the fanservice in this anime - it was entirely expected, and it was entirely shameless, to be honest. Yet, even in this aspect it fails to reach the standards of the one LN that set this subgenre up: HighSchool DxD
HighSchool DxD's recent third season was not as good as others, but the plot was certainly still there, and I enjoyed the recently released OVA. However, while Shinmai Maou's plot seems ok enough, on hindsight, the number of flaws and holes throughout it are glaring. All of a sudden, a tournament pops out of nowhere. What? Do you really settle the fate of an entire realm with a TOURNAMENT? Furthermore, the resemblance of this 'demon world' to the human world just screams lack of creativity - or effort, even. This is pushing the boundaries of acceptable cliche. Character development? That makes me laugh. While it was good seeing that Basara is obviously into Mio the most, the problem is that the treatment of the harem makes it such that one knows this is not a serious romantic development, and cannot treat it as such. Playing on the 'onii-chan' card doesn't help it very much either.
If there is one good thing about Shinmai Maou, and its only saving grace that gives it a glimmer of hope for a third season, it would be Basara's past. We observe that there must be a reason why he can become a demon like that, and why he is claimed to have two mothers by his one father. The biological impossibilities are thrown out the window, but it gives a good chance for historical development. This is the main thing going for Shinmai Maou, even in this season - let's just hope that if a third season does come out, Basara does not become like Ichigo.
On this note, I am not impressed by Shinmai Maou, and it failed my expectations - that is the most important part. I was hoping for a better season, but it's typically expected that series of this nature do not distinguish themselves in subsequent seasons. Dare I call it a waste of time? It wasn't, but for anyone with better things to do, this is one series to avoid. Would I, however, watch a third season? The strange answer is that I would, for I still believe that there may be some potential in here - as I said, it all depends on the execution of its historical development.
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Divin3Wind_
| Dec 22, 2015 3:16 PM |
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