Infinite Stratos #02 — Seduction 101

January 13th, 2011

 

I’d think there’d be more wind while flying around in the air.

Impressions:

Not too bad of an episode, however, there were quite a lot of really bizarre direction missteps this week. From the very start, the needless exposition dumps were not exactly handled well. That’s an understatement. A power point presentation would have been more subtle. At least that would have fit into the fact that they’re in a classroom and supposed to be learning instead of having some random girl stick her head in from off-camera to talk about it. Beyond that, what the hell was up with the constant zooming? I realize that I’m the first to complain about long held stills, but I was starting to get sea sick because the camera just wouldn’t stop moving. I haven’t the foggiest idea what was with the cinematic spin-around towards the end of the fight either. I think someone was watching too much of the Matrix and thought it would be cool.

After how nonsensically grumpy Houki was for the entire episode, at least it looks like we’re past the hurdle of being a pain for the sake of being a pain for the time being. I’m also extremely thankful that we didn’t have any full body shots of Ichika in his spandex manbra until after the IS was covering him up. Things kept moving right along too, covering the seduction of all named females without radioactive hair or shared blood in a single week. They also did mostly a decent job with Ceci vs Ichika, aside from jamming in a morality speech about family out of absolutely nowhere. Luckily, that’s bedroom talk for the British and Ceci was all hot and bothered by it later in the shower. I can only assume that she proceeded to snog herself while thinking about the glory of defending the crown. I may or may not know what exactly snogging entails. The British have silly words.

Preview:

 

Chinese accent childhood friend. Ow.

Posted in Infinite Stratos | 18 Comments »

18 Shouts From the Peanut Gallery

  • alex says:

    why is the guy on the floor and not the chick ?
    http://tenka.seiha.org/images2/stratos2/stratos2_67.jpg -lol if he would get BSOD

  • sss says:

    Awesome the battle

  • ark noir says:

    I noticed in your anime write up’s and not for the 1st time, that you do like to use the odd modern English slang word here and there though it seems you not from my neck of the woods. You’re not one of those Britophiles who evolved from watching Monty Python to the Fast Show like Johnny Depp and picked up the words there. He did and even turned up in the last episode! If you were lost at the word ‘noticed’ youtube the fast show!

  • Dual says:

    Ichika is badass

  • Nanaya says:

    @Aroduc – Going from the Harry Potter series, I think ‘snog’ means ‘kiss.’

  • Rincewind says:

    Mmmmhhhh… for the screens looks, pretty bad. Harem with mechas? Im not very fond of any of them.

    At least the blonde looks hot. I have a thing for blondes with drill hair and watakshi speak.

  • ewan says:

    I won’t be watching this series anymore…

    It’s just too generic. It’s making me sick, I mean does this series has any plot at all? I think they’re just using the IS to cover up the generic harem setting.

    If you remove the IS part of the story its just gonna be like To love ru!

    I’d choose Wandering Son instead of this Strike Witches crap…

    • Dual says:

      Thats the point, genius. No one is going to remove the IS part of the story and wont become another TLR

      And comparing stratos to strike witches? That show didnt have mechas at all! Only naked little girls to cover up… err…whatever. Not the mention the entirely different premise and such

      Wont say anything about Hourou because some susceptibilities could get hurt and Aroduc would delete this reply…so yeah

      • ewan says:

        Yeah, perhaps you’re right, Dual. They’re not alike at all.

        IS – Striker units. OKAY
        Each countries have a representative. RIGHT
        They have to beat something bad. HMMM…
        They’re teenagers having fun. CHECK

        The only thing missing is a male protagonist in Strike witches…

        SO, YEAH. YOU’RE RIGHT DUAL.

      • Nanaya says:

        Those last two “points” you made described over 90% of anime. I’m just saying, if you’re trying to prove the similarities of two things, it’s empty meaning to use carbon as one example.

        IS = strike witches rehash, no. IS = different generic plot/character elements cobbled together, yes (in this respect, it’s the same). Still seems like it could be amusing, though, I’m still going to stick with it for now.

    • alex says:

      @ewan
      I can fully understand why you a dropping it.
      If IS would at least have some fanservice to cover the things it doesn’t deliver. Strike Witches had more plot and fanservice.

    • Silver says:

      Had you ever thought that they’re trying to introduce the characters first and then start getting to the plot?

      Besides, who the heck cares about originality when there’s so many things that already have been covered (well of course, originality is good)? That does not mean that anything not original is bad.

  • Scott says:

    It’s fascinating that not blocking missiles and cutting them in half with a beam saber are apparently good ideas.

  • Anise_Punter says:

    A much better episode than last week. A series I could get behind if Houki wasn’t so goddamn annoying. She’s not to Mikoto level tsunblobbery yet (and honestly who is) but I have the feeling she will get there and I will hate her for it.

    Tbh this show does kind of make me think of Strike Witches except it’s mercifully not loliservice.

  • Ninja Penguin says:

    I’m British and snogging means kissing – and probably hugging.

    I like IS. Okay so it doesn’t have an original bone in it’s body, but imho unoriginality doesn’t automatically mean it’s bad. It’s very hard to be original nowadays. I think the execution was competant, enjoyed the setting, enjoyed the battles. And it’s nice that the male lead isn’t a wuss, Ichika clearly wear the pants in his harem.

  • chad001 says:

    I just noticed that the ending now includes Cecilia in the run, is it tracking his conquests or something?

    • Jack says:

      I think as the show progresses and the team (or harem) builds, the conga line at the end will become longer and the entire team will run with their arms flailing as if they were all on fire.

      So yeah…I think you’re right.