This episode made me realize: this series has a really passive main character, hasn’t it? I mean, so far Nagisa has just been… there. Most of the best moments in this series focused on the side-cast, and during the building up parts, it’s often the side characters who are much more talkative who take the center stage.
In this show, I don’t think it’s a bad thing. The problem with most passive leads is how annoying they are and how they’re forced in their roles of main characters, where they don’t belong at all. This episode however actually used that cliche in order to build further upon the show’s themes.
I mean, anime in general is so focused on celebrating hard work and talent. Nagisa has neither, or should I say: she doesn’t stand out at either. She can sing decently, and she does practice, but there are many more talented characters, and there are many characters who work harder than she does. In a weird change of fate, the word of God for the AKB group randomly picks her to play the center of a new song they composed for the first time in years, completely ignoring the experience, hard work and talent of all of the other members to go for one who hasn’t really stood out or proved herself in any way, without having any need to justify themselves. We’re all just supposed to “accept” that they had a good reason for it.
I think that the creators knew very well what they were doing here. I mean, even her attitude doesn’t stand out compared to how badly the others want a spot on the performing list. Nagisa on the other hand… doesn’t seem to know what she really wants.
Rating: ** (Excellent)
This show, is quite good. I never expected this when I started watching it. I hear it’s getting lots of hate though…
“I mean, even her attitude doesn’t stand out compared to how badly the others want a spot on the performing list. Nagisa on the other hand… doesn’t seem to know what she really wants.”
But is it ok for her to get the “prise” even though she doesn’t want it as much as some of the others and isn’t as skilled or talented either?
To me this gives off a very twisted message. It feels like a freaking middle finger to all the people out there who give their all in the pursuit of their dreams, who work hard developing their skills and honing their talents to achieve their goals.
I would be cool with Nagisa getting the center position if she was shown to have some real skills and passion, but that’s not the case so I can’t get behind this at all.
All in all, I’m disappointing. Suddenly it feels like not matter what I do I will never achieve my dreams, and I feel depressed…
Sometimes life is just like that. It’s not always talent or dedication that gets you ahead. Often dumb luck .. or in this case a disembowled voice .. that plays a part. The key is what you do with the luck that is put in front of you. ‘Space Brothers’ uses this idea quite alot in it.
Also you have to remember that technically they all have what it takes as they are understudies in waiting.
Being understudies doesn’t mean they necessarily have what it takes. Just look at the real AKB for a clue on that.
And I do watch Space Bros and that’s totally different because before Muta was graced with some good luck he was already working hard to achieve his dream. And he also has some pretty impressive skills and talents.
And yeah, I know than in real life nothing is guaranteed, and sometimes even all the talent, skills and hard work won’t get you anywhere. But I don’t watch anime just to be reminded of how shitty life can be. If anything, I want to walk away from a series I like feeling inspired. Space Bros is very inspiring, AKB0048, right now, not so much…
Nagisa is having the Mikono syndrome from Aquarion EVOL in terms of lacking character development. And since both AKB and Aquarion are written by the mad king… i mean writer Okada (been watching too much Game of Thrones) and both by Kawamori, I’m not really surprised.
I think everybody is just way to harsh with this show. This episode was undoubtedly brilliant, and even if you rightfully criticize the aspect of “nagisa being a random pick of some strange god”, you have to admit that there WERE enough hints that nagisa has some kind of special trait. Look at all of that symbolism – it was well constructed, and I am sure it will connect, that all will come together in the end… So yes, I have faith in this already amazing show.
You’re missing the point. Of course it was obvious Nagisa was going to be chosen. Punting aside the hints you mentioned, she’s the MC after all.
The thing is that I expected the show to develop her character along the way so that when she was finally picked I could believe she actually deserve it.
This is where the show failed. Nagisa isn’t a bad character, but she doesn’t have anything to set her apart. She’s not the most skilled or talented (that’s Chieri), she’s not the most passionate (that would be Yuuko), she isn’t the leader-type looking out for the others (that’s Kanata) and she isn’t the most hardworking either (that’s Chieri again).
What Nagisa does have is the magical glow, which is just a gimmick since they never explain what it is.
So sorry but I disagree. This isn’t amazing at all. Amazing shows can justify their plot points with actual character development. They don’t rely on gimmicks to try fool the audience.
I think what people are missing is AKB0048 is NOT an entertainment group. They are a gorilla movement. All these girls are being used as political tools for change. The reason for picking Nagisa for her home planet is most likely as her father is a official in prison so it will generate the most political impact.
Just a followup point, there was a seemingly throwaway line in this episode saying that almost all idols from AKB0048 came from these depressed mining planets. I doubt very much that this sort of environment would be the best for nurturing talent. It’s more that the AKB leaders are picking girls so these planets will have their own idols to look up to. I doubt it has very much to do with talent.
Then the show is even worse than I thought because until this episode there was quite a bit of focus on talent and skills, and only now all that is thrown out of the window and replaced with… we don’t even know what.
And your theories are interesting but if that was the case they should have developed those ideas all along. But they didn’t and now they don’t have time anyway. To begin with the one calling the shots in the group is SSSS, and we don’t even know who or what the hell is he, let alone his motives.
Actually, they did. Remember how that one girl keeps getting surpassed by underclassmen, even though she’s got enough talent and hard work?
I do think it’s been there all along bubbling under the surface and popping up every now and then. For instance the fact that the daughter of the CEO that manufactures DES’s gear was chosen by AKB0048 .. that was an accident?????
If it wasn’t a coincidence they have to say it, otherwise it’s just a theory. Besides Chieri has a fuck ton of potential so it could be just an accident.
I think that that’s one of the points tht the creators wanted to make with this episode: whether you have telent doesn’t really matter in the idol business. I’ts all up to a bunch of unknown people who give out parts for who knows what kinds of reasons. AKB is only partly an inspirational show. There also is a lot of dark cynism inbetween the lines, plus: this is a show about war and combat.
Identity crisis ahoy then. And now they don’t even know what the hell they’re trying to say. “Life’s a bitch” might be all I’ll leave with after the series ends if it keeps going like this.