It’s here where this series really shows that it’s more than just another pokemon clone. At least, until Pokemon starts turning into a series about economics. I mean, first of all taking away a guy’s kids when he goes bankrupt: that’s some pretty hardcore stuff, but this episode also really looked into why people go into the financial district, plus the difficulties in raising children.
The second half of this episode meanwhile was about reliability, something you also don’t see a lot on these fighting series. The best players are often just one-sidedly strong, while here it’s a bit more nuanced: the best players are the ones who are able to minimize their losses. It’s definitely a series that’s full of interesting ideas.
I have two complaints, though. First of all this episode introduced a lot of new characters who I doubt will able to get their depth within 11 episodes. Also, I’m still not sure why Kimimaro is the main character. He lacks… motivation. I’m still not sure why I should root for him, especially when he keeps winning through either dumb luck or other people helping him.
Rating: * (Good)
Come one, man! This episode was not just “good”. We finally got to know what it means for the enterpreneurs to have their future on the line. It was really interesting to see what happens when you go bankrupt. I mean up till now I thought that those who lose just commit suicide. But C is much more subtle than that.
When you´re mentioning those new characters… well did you thought of the possibility that they are there just for the sake of Kimimaro´s growth?
Anyway I must admit that I really love the way they handle parallel worlds/futures. It really is an inovation. Perfect episode for me.
I’m not sure the second complaint is valid. It is clear that the lack of motivation is the problem, but the series is building up to him gaining the right one.
Plus, here winning could be as bad as losing, as this episode showed. And it is clear and logical why Mikuni has taken interest and supported Kimimaro – because he is a kind person and would be willing to avoid winning to protect his opponents, and not just himself (which he learned by seeing Kimimaro protect his asset). A lot of series make mistake of people supporting the main character due to some inexplicable or poorly supported reasons, but this isn’t one of them.
Plus, he supported Kimimaro, because he is a potential recruit, while making an example of Kimimaro’s teacher, who refused to join the Guild.
Now that he’s gained some motivation (I’m not convinced it is the right one yet), I expect the next fight to actually show his ability.
Perhaps someone can enlighten me.
At the start of the ending for C it says: “ED sequence for noitanima 26th episode has no name… but it called C”
Is this suggesting C may actually be a 26ep show?
I agree with psgels on the MC. Kimimaro is just a really dull guy. He’s the epitome of the “everyman,” but without much else going for him. At least the “everyman” in animes like Tatami Galaxy was remotely entertaining.
Moreover, I’m not so sure if the reason why others are supporting Kimimaro is really that valid. Putting aside all the economics, they’re basically saying what every shounen title touts their “chosen one” to be: “this new rookie has the potential to be uber-powerful.” And why is that? The guy is the least motivated character in the show and his supposed reason is a leaf out of every shounen story: “I don’t want people around me to get hurt.”
Heck, if I were the professor, I’d get pretty damn frustrated by his defeater’s wishy-washiness.
That aside, loved the kids-disappearing part. That was nice way to flesh out the setting.
Like some of the commenters above, I’m not so sure that him being so dull is a downside to the character. He doesn’t have a motivation because he’s -finding- it. If I had to guess, the series’ big finish will be him finding his motivation.
All this ‘father’ backstory and showing the effects of the district on the outside world will eventually be what gives Kiminaro his motivation. Naturally, this moment will happen when the season ends. I’d almost put money on it.
Is using the MC as a means to display a world and scenario rather sloppy? Yes. Given the context of the series though, it’s acceptable for the time being. If that “a-ha!” moment -doesn’t- happen for kiminaro, then he will have fallen flat as an MC. Until then, I can follow.
I think main character is dull at the moment too, but I hope it’s just build-up. If he doesn’t change by the end of the series it will be boring.
As for his wishy-washiness, Kimimaro is basically in a situation, where he has to fight in an arena against people he has nothing against or even knows personally. Why would he be motivated to indirectly cause suicides and erase people from reality? Kill or be killed isn’t the best situation to be. Now that Mikuni offered a third option, I hope he’ll put his act together.
I honestly don’t know, if this series is going to turn good or dull. I would enjoy Kimimaro to take more active stance, once he figures things out. Mikuni is trying to make the Financial District a zero sum game, but I think he’ll face betrayal, due to greed of his Guild members.
Contrary to most of you, I don’t think Kimimaro is a boring character at all: he’s actually rather realistic and down-to-earth in comparison to most teenage protagonists I’ve seen (the typical sporty hothead, the intellectual egoist, the social reject, etc. etc.). He’s intelligent, conscientious to a point, and a tad unsure of himself, but considering the vastness of what he’s been drawn into and his background, I think he’s been portrayed well.
And second of all psgels, not every character seen in an anime series needs to be 3-dimensional and fleshed out. The importance of characterization and related emphasis depends entirely on the context of the story itself, and in this case its only a small principal cast that we need to focus on. The way they’re fleshing out Kimimaro’s world has been effectively done so far also, so no problems there.
All this taken into consideration, I’d change the rating of this episode from Good to Excellent.
Contrary to most of you, I don’t think Kimimaro is a boring character at all: he’s actually rather realistic and down-to-earth in comparison to most teenage protagonists I’ve seen (the typical sporty hothead, the intellectual egoist, the social reject, etc. etc.). He’s intelligent, conscientious to a point, and a tad unsure of himself, but considering the vastness of what he’s been drawn into and his background, I think he’s been portrayed well.
And second of all psgels, not every character seen in an anime series needs to be 3-dimensional and fleshed out. The importance of characterization and related emphasis depends entirely on the context of the story itself, and in this case its only a small principal cast that we need to focus on. The way they’re fleshing out Kimimaro’s world has been effectively done so far also, so no problems there.
All this taken into consideration, I’d change the rating of this episode from Good to Excellent.
Okay, it’s not actually about economics guys… in any remotely meaningful way
@Loz, no, [C] is the 26th Noitamina Show; it’s only 11 episodes.
I like the whole concept of making a profit without gaining or losing too much while reflecting the changes that might take place in reality. Putting into consideration how these Deals are done and how they affect the Entres, I’d say right now they’re more about management than economics but I could be wrong. I never really paid attention to my Economics class hahaha.
While some might think Kimimaro isn’t the the best protagonist this season. I think he’s the most level headed and realistic of them so far. Every time he’s given information he uses it and actually makes pretty sound decisions. I think the whole point was that Kimimaro didn’t have motivation, and this episode may have been the catalyst for him to get one. Throughout the first three episodes he looked like he was overwhelmed with the Financial District. But now that he’s begun to understand the idea behind these Deals he’ll probably start making good use of being an Entre. Too bad this show isn’t 26 episodes, I could really use more episodes of [C].
Wait so what is his motivation then? at first i thought it was searching for his father, but from this episode he seems totally over it. He really doesn’t need the money, as he was living quite solidly before, and from the most that i can conclude from this episode hes best plan is to beat others without getting them bankrupt, which is what most people are already doing. now he’s stuck in a situation where he has to fight in deals, where he really doesn’t achieve anything, and if he loses, (due to his inexperience with this system, im assuming its going to be quite likely unless the red haired dude keeps saving him, which is probably for an ulterior motive) he becomes bankrupt and loses his future. In this no win situation, wouldn’t the most logical conclusion is to get the hell out or try to find a way to get out? maybe im missing something, hmm…
Wait this reminds me of something… the red haired dude and the old man can represent superpowers in the real world right? are they presumed to be bad because they represent monopolies or because they are trying to stop fluctuation in the market? laslty we have the “hell” theme everywhere, from fighting devils to rodin’s gate, so is the financial district supposedly evil or something?
Like you said ,the main character lacks motivation but it shows that this is a new idea…i mean why it should be always a guy who motivated and highly emotional to be a main character..here they show the series according to his views…
With the absence of motivations (no longer searching for his father, no true goals with money, but merely the herd mentality of harm no one & live a normal life) Kimimaro is Yuji Everylead.
A potentially great show doomed by a boring protagonist.