AMG Season 2, Episode 1 Discussion

[Vallen Chaos Valiant]

Originally Posted by Shikimori Kazuki

i dont get it, why would a contract needs to be reformed again between Belldandy+Keiichi? so in order to live in the human world, one needs to have a contract with a person in the human world in order live there? than...what about Skuld or Urd?!??!?! they dont have a contract there, yet they can still in the human world -_-.

Unlike Urd, who is presently on probation, and Skuld, who has yet to get a Goddess license, Belldandy is a full fledged goddess with employment opportunities, if not responsibilities.

The contract is effectively bureaucratic paperwork to allow Belldandy to remain on Earth legitimately. Without rules like this, we would get tonnes of Gods and Goddesses coming down to Earth whenever they liked and mess up human society.

(I imagine it to be like a work-visa)

[Js2756]

Being an avid manga reader, I'd just like to address some of the possible directions that aliensporebomb brings up:

Spoiler:

-will Keiichi and Belldandy stay together?

Yes, they do, but that's the infuriating part. They haven't done anything.

-will he move beyond the platonic?

He's tried, but can't. Belldandy freely admits, IN FRONT OF KEIICHI, that she loves him, but he can't even say it back to her. She is also open about how possessive she is of him.

-will he graduate?

Did, works for Chihiro now, along with Bell.

-will his sister get more involved in the story?

She had a decent arc a while ago, but right now she is rarely seen.

-will his crazy motorhead friends go beyond being neanderthals and graduate?

They did, rarely show up anymore.

The problem with the manga is that there really hasn't been any progress for several chapters now. The story is just meandering from one thing to the next without any development whatsoever on Keiichi and Belldandy's relationship. For the love of God, they kissed in chapter 11 and now at chapter 210, he still is incredibly nervous around her.

[lackey4ever]

any one knwo when episode tow comes out/

[Catgirls]

Originally Posted by lackey4ever

any one knwo when episode tow comes out/

I believe (if I have my information correct) it airs this Firday (Friday 1:55 AM - Tokyo Time) ... and I think that converts to Thursday, 12:55 PM - EST .

-> http://www.mahou.org/Showtime (show times)
-> http://hashihime.atspace.com/0604sched.html (Spring Schedule)

-> http://www.timeanddate.com/ (Time Conversion)

I'll put all this in the new Ah! My Goddess Q & A thread.

[aliensporebomb]

More thoughts:

-What this show needs, in my opinion, is some outside help to assist the writer.
They've followed the manga probably too closely or the actual author came up
with a great premise but there's no forward movement.

-The manga-ka had some great ideas but if they kissed at Chapter 11 and in
Chapter 210 he's still panicking around her, there's something really wrong.

Is the manga-ka possibly as inexperienced as Keiichi and has no idea where
to go to push their relationship further?

-Or is it like a lot of american television shows who rely on the unresolved
sexual tension to keep viewers glued to the screen? I guess it's working.

Or the manga-ka is resting on his laurels? or is enjoying torturing his readers?

I re-watched this episode and enjoyed it, but it will take a few episodes to see
the direction things are heading.

-Things I'd like to see:

Spoiler:

Mind you, these are my ideas and are guaranteed possibly not to be in the show:

-Keiichi's sister takes Belldandy out to a trendy clothing boutique to get her
way dolled up so Keiichi can't resist or just to give her some advice "my
brother is a slug, you're going to have to attack him to get him to do
anything." This way Bel' makes inroads into Keiichi's family and since
she's going to be around for a while they're going to need to get used to
her. Comic fun could be had as they giggle while Keiichi stares at them
with the blood draining out of his face.

-Urd decides things are moving too slow so she decides to put the moves on
Keiichi in an effort to get Bel' to make a move - we've seen hints of this in
earlier episodes of Belldandy's possessive jealousy, I'd like to see more of
this side of her character. Urd is a little too involved in their relationship
and though she tries to help it's almost like she likes to see Keiichi fail as
much as he succeeds. I suspect that's her demon side coming out.

-Worse possibly - Skuld goes thru proto-goddess puberty and decides she
sees what Bel' sees in Keiichi and goes after him. Bound to happen
eventually.

-Some of these things may have happened at one level or another in the
manga or even the other animated series, I've just seen last years season
one so it's not like I'm an expert here. I enjoy the show but there's some
things that frustrate me about it. Still, K&B's sweet romance is one of those
things you either go "awwww" or "ptui" about. I guess I'm in the former.

At this rate K is going to be an old man by the time he works up the courage
to do anything.

Although, I do see the preview for the next episode has that rich hoity-toity
girl who shot him down when he asked her out before Bel' appeared on the
scene, could be interesting to see what happens with her considering the
alliance she made towards the end of the first season and her obvious
malice towards K&B. Could be good to see a Bel' rattled by her reappearance.

[TDRKZ]

Its funny because after watching the first episode, i'm already thinking about how they plan to end the series. Since the manga is not finished there are only a couple stopping point that I believe they will use.

Spoiler:

initially i thought they would end after welsper or however you spell it, however if they have urd's mom, then it has to be past the shrinking of peorth.

now the issue is, i can't find any other spot that has something big happening.

Some ideas though

Keichi's mom and dad visit

Lind and the Angel Eater

Urd's goddess test

Teleport key person with hole in her chest

and really that last one is way toward end of whats out right now, so i don't think that will be it. Really i think the farthest it will get is urd's goddess test. Lind and the Angel Eater seems a little wierd because they would have to bring Lind back again which doesn't seem to fit quite as well if they met once already. (Lind's already a bit too soft after meeting them once) Keichi's mom and dad visit isn't anything tramatic so meh. in the end... still no clue.

[Aqualung]

I really loved Belldandy playing the bagpipes in the OP. What I wouldn't give for a screen capture of that!

[Anh_Minh]

Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant

Unlike Urd, who is presently on probation, and Skuld, who has yet to get a Goddess license, Belldandy is a full fledged goddess with employment opportunities, if not responsibilities.

The contract is effectively bureaucratic paperwork to allow Belldandy to remain on Earth legitimately. Without rules like this, we would get tonnes of Gods and Goddesses coming down to Earth whenever they liked and mess up human society.

(I imagine it to be like a work-visa)

*cough*Peorthonvacation*cough*
I think you're on the right track with the job thing, though. Without a contract (mission) on Earth, she has to report to her office in Heaven. Or be fired.

Though it still leaves the question of why, if everyone and his God remembered Keichi's wish for Belldandy to stay, they had to go through that much trouble to restore the original wish. Couldn't they just:
- write a note stating that Bell had to remain with Keichi as part of her duties?
or
- let Keichi wish for that again?
It's not like they were trying a con game with an insurance company or anything.

[Radiosity]

Peorth on vacation? Mmm, nice.

Have to say I liked this a lot. Animation is even better than last seasonm particularly Belldandy's kawaii blinking Story wise I won't comment on just yet as it's basically just setting up. Can't wait for more goodness

[Js2756]

Mind you, these are my ideas and are guaranteed possibly not to be in the show:

-Keiichi's sister takes Belldandy out to a trendy clothing boutique to get her
way dolled up so Keiichi can't resist or just to give her some advice "my
brother is a slug, you're going to have to attack him to get him to do
anything." This way Bel' makes inroads into Keiichi's family and since
she's going to be around for a while they're going to need to get used to
her. Comic fun could be had as they giggle while Keiichi stares at them
with the blood draining out of his face.

If you read the manga, you'll find that Belldandy is a lot more forward than in the anime. She's met Keiichi's parents in the manga already, and they are actually quite accepting of her. She is special in his dad's eyes, but not in a romantic way.

-Urd decides things are moving too slow so she decides to put the moves on
Keiichi in an effort to get Bel' to make a move - we've seen hints of this in
earlier episodes of Belldandy's possessive jealousy, I'd like to see more of
this side of her character. Urd is a little too involved in their relationship
and though she tries to help it's almost like she likes to see Keiichi fail as
much as he succeeds. I suspect that's her demon side coming out.

Done with Peorth instead of Urd. Expect to see this in the anime.

-Worse possibly - Skuld goes thru proto-goddess puberty and decides she
sees what Bel' sees in Keiichi and goes after him. Bound to happen
eventually.

Done in anime. Episode 26.

I personally think that Fujishima has just plain run out of ideas, but doesn't want to put the series to bed yet. It's too bad, because if he doesn't come out with something good soon, he really should just end it. It's not like Belldandy doesn't want it, it's more that Keiichi is too much of a wuss to do anything. It was cute at first, but got annoying pretty quick.

Actually, Belldandy's anime form is a weakpoint relative to the manga. Her manga version is a much more diverse, multi-facetted character in comparison to her anime form. She is more aggressive relative to Keiichi in the manga, and is more rounded emotionally and mentally. We rarely ever get to see her feisty, aggressive side in the anime (except before that race with Aoshima), and I really hope that this side starts coming out in later episodes.

Here's my opinion on what to expect in the show, and comments on what TDRKZ said:

Spoiler:

Will definitely see Skuld get Noble Scarlet (you see it in the intro). How this plans to be written, I don't know since it's hard to say whether they will introduce Sentaro to follow the manga.

Fourth goddess arc and introduction of Peorth will happen. There are already hints of this in episode 1 of season 2. I expect (and they damn well better) the show to follow the manga. One of the better arcs in the manga and brings in one of my favourite (if not favourite) characters.

Introduction of Hild will probably happen, but like TDRKZ said, how they plan on doing this without Welsper, I don't know. They could just easily write a new Urd story or do the broom race.

Angel eater is not happening in accordance with manga. They changed Lind too much in episode 26 to follow the manga faithfully. Might still do it albeit altered, which will also allow Hild to come into the picture.

Passing of directorship of motor club to Keiichi will in almost all likelihood happen. If Chihiro is to be properly introduced, this is how it will turn out.

Keiichi's parents arriving, unlikely. Takes place way too far off, a cute story, but there's a long way to go before getting there.

Gateway arc - not happening. This won't happen until Peorth is established as a significant supporting character which I don't see until the end of this season.

Urd's first class test is a possibility, but I'm not banking on it happening.

[aliensporebomb]

Js2756: thanks for your insights. Looks interesting. Peorth eh? Interesting.

[myopius]

Okay. The same old cliches, but I guess that's to be expected since they're establishing some kind of continuity between seasons. I thought there was definitely too much talking; too many times when an un/comfortable wordlessness could have been much more appropriate than the same old lines (but slightly off, I think?).

They could fit this in at any time, though it's very far off, but of the latter half of the manga that I've read, the Sayoko arc really stood out; thinking on the conclusion of that arc, can almost believe the relationship between Keichi and Belldandy had been developing, on a level that the reader couldn't see, which gives me hope and fuels my motivation to await something happening in the manga. That could possibly make a good closing arc for the second season.

Preview for the next episode doesn't look too promising. Love in every stitch? Hmm... seems like they're making Belldandy's character more forward with her feeling this season (which is as happens in the manga, as has been noted, but not this fast I didn't think!).

Edit: Opening was excellent, though.

You know, I'd love to hope that the hand-holding in the opening theme is more than just fan service for romantics... =\ I don't want to make stuff up entirely, though, since they'd probably not do the best job of it.

[Conri]

The opening was beautiful! Bagpipes! Peorth and Hild! Urd looked fantastic. The first episode itself didn't blow me away, but it was exactly what I was expecting. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season.

[Furudanuki]

Enjoyed the first episode - nothing in it that blew me away, but there were no disappointments either. The animation artwork continues to be a beautiful strong point, and the tone and pacing of the voice acting seemed consistant with the first season. I thought that both the OP and ED matched up quite well with the feel of the series. I have to say that I preferred the OP and (first) ED from Season 1, but that's due to how much I liked those songs, not because of deficiencies in the new pieces. All things considered, I would rate this episode as a solid 8. It might have been higher if anything much had actually happened plotwise other than re-introducing the characters and the setting. But, hey! Belldandy is back, the second season is off to a satisfactory start, and there is lots more to come - gotta love it!

[Sinestra]

Happy to see more of everyones favorite goddess the second season looks promising enjoyed the first episode. It seem belldandy was more forceful and honest with her feelings than in the second season and she even used magic in front of others.

[Free Voice]

I would like to thank again the fansubbers for their wonderful work in translating so soon AMG episode 1. I have to say that I appreciate very much the opening song, but I have one qualm about the translation: at a moment it is written "The small dream you painted towards the sky". I don't know sufficiently japanese to appreciate the original version, but I was wondering if a better translation would not be "in the sky"?

That being said, the anime series seems to be evolving in a quite different direction from the manga... Does anybody think that we might be ending with a possible marriage of K/B?

[Kimura-sensei]

Thanks. And don't worry about OP/ED translation issues at the moment. When the official lyrics come out on April 27, we'll make the necessary corrections.

[Altrisha]

I like the opening theme of season 1 better compared to season 2...

[aliensporebomb]

(Last update I'll make in this thread - last night I saw a collection of
Ah Megami Sama manga published by Dark Horse and there was a
blurb from the manga-ka of this particular series. Looks like the guy
is a total mess, living like a monk with his body and possessions falling
apart. NOW I understand why Keiichi is the way he is in the story.
The Mangaka is basically the same way...)

[Altrisha]

Can anyone say who Peorth is? I know shes the black haired girl in the beginning but I want to know everything about her... Someone pls tell me?