I can certainly see the game mechanics in new episode: a whole new cast, a new rumor/ mystery, with Iroha’s quest to find Ui as a central plot. This is not a bad episode by any means, but I feel largely indifferent when the EP rolls. To Magia Record credits, the visual Shaft displays this week is a stunner. Magia Record looks on par with Madoka Magica, and this week the visual is benefited from the gorgeous art designs of last minute event. The story, however, is not as neat. While I really like the rumor behind it – the “Seance Shrine” can grant you the wish of meeting your lost one – and how it ties up with another urban legend of a woman who does everything to bring her dead husband back, it’s the new set of characters who doesn’t appear as memorable and the plot does meander at times. I’m talking about Yachiyo suddenly goes shopping in the middle of the quest and somehow that advances the story?
The new set of characters in question this week consists of hyper Tsuruno and Yachiyo, who were in the same team and apparently both lost their teammate. I love how Magia Record doesn’t spoonfed us with that information, but instead unfolds it slowly as we reach the end. Normally, tales revolve around meeting someone who passed away signify the inability of letting go of the past. I think that is the case here for Yachiyo. As for Iroha, Ui’s childhood friends predictably don’t remember Ui so that Iroha has to seek out Tsuruno and Yachiyo for help. I wonder if these childhood friends will play a larger role in later events. Also, little Kyubei reappears and we get the confirmation that other girls indeed can see him as well. His presence is still pretty much a mystery for now as he only appears towards Iroha.
This episode feels loose in plot just like our girls wandering around the city looking for clues. I wonder if Iroha is gonna meet different cast with different rumor every week, but one thing for sure, what Ui says (or hints) when she meets Iroha will prove to be important for the show’s direction.
I honestly kinda liked this episode. I felt like it was a nice little breather from the first three, and sometimes it’s nice to just watch the characters talk and do their thing, with the monster fight only taking up a few minutes of the episode, no more and no less. If only Miraculous Ladybug took a page from Magia Record and didn’t make all of its episodes 80% monster of the week fights.
It’s the witch randomly popped up and gone like a wind that is the weakest part for me.
I’ve only watched first half of the first season of Miraculous Ladybug and remember liking it, loud plain villain aside. The CG production is actually pretty solid for TV standard, especially they are from Korea/ French production.