Mahouka - Episode 13 Discussion / Poll

[Ultragunner]

^ yup
But to be honest, after watching that scen, I do feel that Tatsuya and Honoka were really lucky there when the referee did not call it a foul (not neccesarily being disqualified), like a yellow card in soccer or something. Honoka's magic was way flashier than what I would call "legal" LOL . Just as during Shizuku's Speed Shooting where they did not aim for the "blind-spot" of her magic

At least the referee ain't playing doing anything funny

[Ickarium]

If one can /blow up the water/ as a propellant without getting tagged, I think what Honoka did was totally fine.

[Kakurin]

The conversation between Miyuki and Tatsuya in the middle was quite interesting. Finally some light is beginning to shine on what the matter is between the Yotsuba's and Tatsuya with Miyuki's role being quite curious. On the one hand she is firmly along with Tatsuya, on the other hand she is considered a favourite for the succession. That calls for the question, how and why is that possible when Tatsuya's apparently being rejected by the Yotsubas and thinking about unseating them. The only reason I can imagine is that the relationship between Tatsuya and Miyuki wasn't always close like that.

[rladls2121]

Family issues.
I wonder if that is the reason they are this close.
But then, even so Tatsuya even used the word "defeat" did not he?
This kind of conversation is just too unbelievable.
Even at this episode, these two are rather suffering than enjoying in the Nine Schools Competition.

[Preciize]

Wow, so Tatsuya is actually strong enough (or has the confidence) to take down Maya Yotsuba. I knew he would be a formidable opponent if they fought, but having the ability to beat her makes him more of a interesting character to me. I can see now why the family tries to control him. Having that kind of power and being opposed to the family is certainly dangerous for them

I'm also interested in why Miyuki sides with him. Based on the OP, it looks like he saved her life before?

[Ickarium]

From the OP, it would seem so. Anything else would have to be asked elsewhere.

[LKK]

FYI: The posts discussing the new OP were moved to the Music thread.

[thundrakkon]

There were a lot of good points and interesting details with the episode. One of those points is that the No Head Dragon criminal organization has a vested interest in how the competition will turn out in order to gain profit off of bookkeeping through gambling. So we finally find out why the No Head Dragon is involved, and they are setting things up for 3rd High to win.

However, this brings back a point from an earlier episode. During the bus accident incident, a highly skilled magician used a suicide attack method to try and hit the bus with his car. Why would a highly skilled magician sacrifice his life for the profits of a gambling syndicate? That's quite a high price to pay from a valuable magician just for some profit. Maybe he was blackmailed, but it just seems ridiculous to waste such a valuable resource.

The boys team for 1st High is not doing too well. Wait, what have Juumonji, Hattori, and Kirihara been doing all this time? Anyway, jealousy rears its ugly head again as Morisaki rages about his imaginary superiority complex. I'm guessing he is being set up in the story to be hurt in an accident, since we the audience probably hate his guts at this point.

Still, the lack of screen time for the boys competition is quite disturbing. At this point, probably the only way we are going to see a boy's competition is if Tatsuya somehow competes himself.

[Echizen777]

Explications

You won't get spoiled, as long as you read only what is on this link that is.

[karice67]

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

The boys team for 1st High is not doing too well. Wait, what have Juumonji, Hattori, and Kirihara been doing all this time? Anyway, jealousy rears its ugly head again as Morisaki rages about his imaginary superiority complex. I'm guessing he is being set up in the story to be hurt in an accident, since we the audience probably hate his guts at this point.

Still, the lack of screen time for the boys competition is quite disturbing. At this point, probably the only way we are going to see a boy's competition is if Tatsuya somehow competes himself.

IIRC, they did mention that Juumonji had advanced (or won) in Pillar's Break, and that Hattori had made it through the prelims of Battle Board. Not sure about the outcomes, but what they've been concerned about are the performances of the first year boys (newcomer's division) not the official division...

And well, I think the focus on the girls' competition is probably because the story is centered around Tatsuya...


But it is interesting that the whole Bloom/Weed (superiority/inferiority, equality etc etc) thing doesn't seem to be over, unlike what people were suggesting at the end of the first arc.

[thundrakkon]

@Echizen777. Thanks, but I really prefer that I stay away from that thread. Thanks for the reply, though.

Originally Posted by karice67

IIRC, they did mention that Juumonji had advanced (or won) in Pillar's Break, and that Hattori had made it through the prelims of Battle Board. Not sure about the outcomes, but what they've been concerned about are the performances of the first year boys (newcomer's division) not the official division...

And well, I think the focus on the girls' competition is probably because the story is centered around Tatsuya...

You are right. I do remember them mentioning Hattori and Juumonji now. It is still disappointing not to see anything on the boy's side, though.

One of the concerns from the council was that the first year boys lacked talent for subsequent years. However, if the story ever gets around to the following year's 9SC, I'm guessing Leo and Mikihiko will be a part of it (as well as Tatsuya), which will lead to a stronger cast to win.

Still, the fact that they brought up concern for the first year boys make me wonder if they are going to somehow interject Tatsuya in the competition for the boys side. The competition has only covered 5 days out of 10 so far.

Originally Posted by karice67

But it is interesting that the whole Bloom/Weed (superiority/inferiority, equality etc etc) thing doesn't seem to be over, unlike what people were suggesting at the end of the first arc.

I wonder though, is Morisaki the only one who has an issue with this still, or does the rest of the boys' freshman class feel the same way? They did give up the right to use Tatsuya as their engineer and deferred him to the girls. I have a feeling that Morisaki will do something stupid, and he will be taken out of the competition. He is currently on the wrong team (against team good guys), so by winning and proving his point of value will go counter against the story. He could just outright lose, but that will be anti-climatic.

[GDB]

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

He is currently on the wrong team (against team good guys), so by winning and proving his point of value will go counter against the story. He could just outright lose, but that will be anti-climatic.

Unless the story is "No one can do anything without Japanese Jesus Tatsuya, praise him", then no, him winning would not be counter to the story. They're single competitions, not some grand event where everyone competes against everyone else to be proclaimed the champion magician.

[LKK]

^^ Morisaki's competition isn't a solo event. It's a team competition. Remember the guys who followed him out of the banquet room? They're his teammates. When they asked Morisaki what was wrong, he said to them "Listen up, you guys. We're winning Monolith Code tomorrow no matter what!" [CR translation, ep 13 21:30]

Edit: Hm, I may have misunderstood what you were meant, GDB. If so, then just ignore this.

[GDB]

I meant like, he isn't competing in every event, so him winning one event doesn't negate anything Tatsuya is doing from a story perspective. If it were something where every student competed in every event, and he won it all, then sure it'd basically mean Tatsuya is "wrong", but it's just a single of many events.

I didn't mean like, solo vs group.

[Echizen777]

Originally Posted by thundrakkon

@Echizen777. Thanks, but I really prefer that I stay away from that thread. Thanks for the reply, though.

It's only a link leading to my post, not to the entire thread.

Originally Posted by GDB

I meant like, he isn't competing in every event, so him winning one event doesn't negate anything Tatsuya is doing from a story perspective. If it were something where every student competed in every event, and he won it all, then sure it'd basically mean Tatsuya is "wrong", but it's just a single of many events.

I didn't mean like, solo vs group.

Morisaki ended second in Men's Speed Shooting. It's somewhere at the 10th minute, the 2 other males were disqualified though.

[Ickarium]

I really wish I could comment on something, as it's relevant and hasn't been shown. Ah well. I don't mind the lack of focus on the men's event as again, the show isn't about them. It'd be like demanding equal time to some other squad on Castle. The show's about Tatsuya, Miyuki, and their crowd (Leo, Miki, Erica, Honoka, Shizuka).

[zerozeronine]

Honoka is too cute in this ep

[Ickarium]

She is, yes. I really like Honoka in this series.

[Frontier]

Originally Posted by karice67

And well, I think the focus on the girls' competition is probably because the story is centered around Tatsuya...

While this is likely true, I could also see the complete focus on the girls as an excuse to show them in those competition outfits, especially the Pillar Break ones. I imagine that Mahouka is aiming more for the audience that wants to see Mari and Honoka in bodysuits than Hattori. Not that I'm really one to talk .

Miyuki certainly makes a very fine Shrine Maiden .

[thundrakkon]

Originally Posted by GDB

him winning would not be counter to the story. They're single competitions, not some grand event where everyone competes against everyone else to be proclaimed the champion magician.

Except that Morisaki's goal for winning is not the "correct" reason. His main reason for trying to win is an attempt to prove that Blooms are superior to Weeds, and that goes against one of the aspects that the story is trying to portray.

Originally Posted by Echizen777

It's only a link leading to my post, not to the entire thread.

Thanks again, I have taken a look, but in general, I prefer not to go to that thread. In addition, for that reason, I will not be able to reply to anything in that thread, since it would mean that I will have to revisit the thread. I do appreciate your efforts.

Originally Posted by Ickarium

Ah well. I don't mind the lack of focus on the men's event as again, the show isn't about them. It'd be like demanding equal time to some other squad on Castle. The show's about Tatsuya, Miyuki, and their crowd (Leo, Miki, Erica, Honoka, Shizuka).

I'm not asking for equal time for the boy's events. A little snippet here or there would have suffice, to see their agony of defeat or a little excitement of a win. It just felt a little out of place to suddenly focus on boy's events' woes at the end of the episode, since we haven't seen (they are only referenced in passing) anything on the boy's side.