So, I had heard that this episode showed the explanation of why Maou suddenly became nice, but to be honest… I find it kindof a weak reason. I get that he didn’t really think about things before, but really: he just became nice at some point. How? Why? This episode simplified this way too much. I like series that blur the lines between good and bad, and with the set-up of this series that would have been a really interesting opportunity. It’s just that the characters in this series are either just good or bad. Maou too: he just now is one of the good guys apparently.
I have seen that more often: the type of series that glorify the devil. The good ones make the devil sympathetic, while still keeping him who he is: the embodiment of evil. The bad ones just turn them good, or find some sort of even bigger enemy in order to make him part of the good guys, which pretty much defeats the entire purpose of using such a symbolic character. They lose their entire meaning with that.
This unfortunately was by far the weakest episode of Hataraku Maou-Sama. This series rocks because it’s so clever, but I didn’t really see much wit in this episode, apart perhaps from that speech that the landlady gave, but even there she basically just repeated what we already knew. The annoying thing is that because of this, the cliches stood out even more. I mean really: the girl arrives in a room, sees a guy and a girl together and runs away? Daimou, you’re better than that.
Rating: 4/8 (Enjoyable)
Hmm well Maou has been living in this new “world” for a couple months now, and maybe during this time behind the scenes so to speak he gradually warmed up to “humans” cause he had no choice but to socialize with them to survive in this society.
Why see him as “evil” and “the devil”?
The real world isn’t split up in Good/Evil, Light/Dark. So why should this series be? Sadao, the best name for a Maou so far, said that he didn’t understand humans before. Isn’t that the same as they are two different races. Humans and Mazoku has always disliked each other, since that is what people do. They fear and therefore come to hate what they do not understand. That is true now and was even more true hundreds and thousands of years ago. Of course there might also be more factors, like different religions and such.
Personally, I’m a fan of series who tries to show the grey in the world instead of Evil/Good absolutes, like Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu and their portrayals of the hero Kings. And considering how Maou was behaving in the first episode, I both hoped and kind of figured it would be something like this. Haha
It sort of made sense comically, characters suddenly devoid of their powers in an another dimension, and having to put up with a very mundane life.
Now if they bring back the real lord evil, sure the inconsistency is going to become glaring.
I think they handled our demon lords changes pretty well plot wise. The hero was angry wasn’t she? I mean, how could this douche bag be nice all of a sudden?
This is build up right? Well I mean the show addresses this. I’ll admit though that this episode wasn’t particularly amazing, I’m still enjoying the show though.
I hope there isn’t much of a tonal shift. I like this as a clever comedy and the last scene insinuates a shift to action.
Also I don’t know if I get it, was the backstory exposition a buildup to a black joke by the end because I also find kinda weird there wasn’t a justification for his actions. It sounded like that scene from street fighter were Bison tells Chun Li the day his father died was just tuesday for him.
I thought new guy’s the one that did most of the killing, as described by Hero? That would certainly explain the disconnect. Telling someone to conquer an area is different than doing it yourself. Out of sight, out of mind and all that.
I was getting skeptical too but watch episode 5, it was by far my favorite episode. Humor-wise too. And Lucifer is so damn epic!!
I agree with Badchase’s comment, I like to think of it as demons killing humans as humans kill ants . In itself we do not think about it when killing those ants,ever seen the ‘Ant Bully’ psgels xD? This is quite a similar setup!
I would put it close to slavery in the 1800’s United States. There are probably a lot of people in the south who would otherwise not have agreed with slavery. But when your born, brought up in a home, and told that a certain race of people are of lower standard. Its all you know. If you live a lie long enough then the lie becomes true to you. Look at Lance Armstrong, he lied for years, and he kept protecting that lie because he made it part of his life. To me its the same deal.
Maou’s powers were taken away. He’s forced to live every day along side humans. The show has progressed pretty fast. They even talk about how they each kept loosing jobs. So, months have passed probably. In the end, Maou even befriended a human. Now his whole logic, what he thought was right/wrong have been turned on its head. It makes sense to me, especially if Maou is a smart person, who isn’t blinded by prejudices.
Hi psgels,
In my opinion the show is getting better not worse. In the beginning was that stereotype cliche bad guy and good girl. Ok it was still funny, but now as we see the Heroine getting unsure what kind of evil he is and thats bugging her very hard. For example Lucifer, it doesn’t seem that Maou didn’t team up with him because he is also evil. For me Maou was just using him to conquere the land. Of course there has to be an explanation why and how but I would say the show is getting better, even if the comedy is dropping.
honestly, psgels, I’ve read the source material and it’s pretty bad. So kudos to the direction and animation team for improving the story by ten levels. So my recommendation is lower your expectations, like I did, and you’ll probably enjoy watching this a bit more.