Episode Reviews for the First Season, Thoughts on each MKR episode Options

[Shiidou Hikaru]

[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 7/21/04]

Well, we ordered the DVD collection this morning. Kind of like the LJ topic, I'll post my random thoughts on each episode after I see them.
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 7/21/04]

That's so cool Casey-san! Did you order both seasons or just season 1? Please leave your comments on the episodes as I would love to read them ^_^
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 7/21/04]

Heh, thanks. =) Yeah, this is the kind of topic I'd like if someone else had posted it. I only got MKR 1 because I had to make room for Tapping the Healer Within, Slayers Next, and the first season of Ranma.
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 7/21/04]

So when you have finished with MKR season one, you should have seen about the same number of episodes as I have. Unfortunately, I could never find the second season of MKR in stores =( Only 1 DVD. Maybe I'll see the entire 2nd season.. one day ^_^ Anyway, once you get MKR, I hope you enjoy it lots!
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 7/22/04]

Hmm... what do you think about what you have seen of the second season?
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 7/22/04]

I don't remember much, (hardly any at all) I have only watched the episodes about once or twice each. But Yume-chan and Hikaru-chan both agreed that it was their favourite season, so it must be pretty good ^_^
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[Originally Posted by Shiidou Hikaru on 7/26/04]

The second season of MKR is quite different from the manga. The story and characters (well one in particular) are altered somewhat. The most obvious being the addition of the Nova and Debonair plot line. Actually, the addition is good, because it fits in very well with the original story and further develops the inner workings of the character Hikaru.
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[Originally Posted by CE Yume on 7/27/04]

The second season concentrates a lot on Hikaru (especially with Nova around), and as Hikaru-chan said, the addition fitted very well with the original plot. And the (rest of the) characterisation in good in my opinion.
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 8/1/04]

Hey Casey-san... when will your MKR season 1 be arriving?
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 8/1/04]

Soon, I hope... @_@ It's the only thing I ordered that I've not gotten yet.
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 8/1/04]

If you don't mind me asking, where did you order it from? I hope they arrive soon too @_@
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 8/1/04]

Amazon.com, the only online place I ever use. <_< Either way, I haven't watched Ranma or Slayers Next yet, so MKR can wait for a couple of days and I won't be bored.
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 8/13/04]

The Birth of the Legendary Magic Knights - I got done watching it about ten minutes ago. And I'm really impressed. I had some worries about it being a little bit too girly, especially since someone described it as being for "13-year old girls only", but I should've known better than to listen to someone. Their going chibi sporadically isn't that big a deal, especially since it's in pretty good moderation. Obviously it took a little bit of time for me to get into it... it's always weird during the first scene of an anime, but getting into it halfway through the first episode isn't bad. The dub actors are some of the best I've ever heard, which is obviously a good thing since I'm a dub person. I just mute and use subtitles if it's late at night. Anyway, the animation is really fluid, the pacing is great and the dialogue isn't tedious at all, and the music is all great and booming and stuff. I was seriously pissed off by most of today, but now I feel better than I have in a while. MKR definitely kicks ass.

Hikaru getting up and shooting a Flame Arrow at Alcyione receives the Badass Scene of Episode 1 Reward.
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 8/13/04]

hahaha, Badass Scene award? How interesting ^^

But i'm really glad that you enjoyed MKR episode 1! I know what you mean, about watching the first episode of an anime. It can feel a bit weird. It just takes a while to understand what the characters are about. I remember the first time I watched mkr, all I really noticed was how bright and colourful everything was ^^;;; hehe. I also remember me having to rewind a lot of parts, because my dad watched it with me and had trouble keeping up with the subtitles ^^;;

Oooh, I'm getting off track. Anyway, I'm really glad you like the anime! Nothing worse than spending your money on something you hate, ne?
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[Originally Posted by Shiidou Hikaru on 8/13/04]

Wow, a very good first impression it seems Dr. Casey. ^_^ The voice actors for Hikaru and Umi (Julie Maddelina and Wendee Lee) are both very experienced, so it's no surprise that they do a nice job. Although, I'm not sure that Julie was cast right for Hikaru, but that's all done and over with now. You're right about the dialogue and character interaction which is very good in the first episode. Umi and Clef's first meeting together is very funny indeed. The animation is wonderful for the time period (1994) and the coloring is nice and bright. That will contrast greatly with episodes towards the end of the first season and the second season which become very dark and ominous.

The music is one of the most beautiful parts of MKR. I have four CD's of OST and singles from MKR and all of it is so well done for a TV series, using full orchestra instead of just synthesizers. It's more like a cinema soundtrack instead of a TV series soundtrack.

BTW, I like your Badass scene award Dr. Casey, I can remember that Hikaru gives Alycione a nice cold stare just before the flame arrow attack, a great show of "no fear." Hopefully a scene in each episode will get such an award? ^_^;;
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 8/14/04]

Long posts are cool and stuff. Good job, the two of you. XP

It can feel a bit weird. It just takes a while to understand what the characters are about.

Aye. It sucks whenever it feels weird, as in feeling detatched and not really having an opinion... not really anything to get nostalgic about, but as long as you had some view point early on, it's nice to reflect on. Or something...

Hikaru - If you want me to, I will. <_< Doubt every episode will have an outstandingly badass scene, but I'll think of something.

Anyway... I saw Episode 2 about four hours ago, and Episode 3 about three hours ago, so I haven't retained as much.

Presea of the Woods of Silence - I realized it some during the first episode, but it really dawned on me what a nice oldschool feeling this show has. Anyway, for some reason I really liked the scene where they all screamed whenever Hikaru's spell wouldn't work. Umi saying "If only this were Tokyo?" was funny. The fight against the Mud Monster was cool, largely because it was their first fight against a monster, of course. Presea's a cool chick, so it was nice to see her join in. I really liked the last scene of the episode. It was interesting and had good music.

The Badass Scene for Episode 2 Reward goes to the scene where they get their weapons.

Ferio, The Mysterious, Handsome Swordsman - Heh, they're really getting into the monster slaying thing. It was fun to watch. The amounts of trust they gave to Ferio did reveal a lot about their character, and Ferio is just cool. He totally had me fooled with that story of his. ^^ When Hikaru said "Clef and Presea aren't here", it made me realize that they've had one new person to help them every episode. Just a random thought. Nice to see Umi get in on the action (I'm not editing this, but I just realized how that could be interpreted), and the scene where they rested with the "Interval" sign was hilarious. I prefer the way they do the last scene in the anime to the way they do it in the RPG, asking Ferio to help them instead of saying that it isn't his battle. It's a lot more human and less annoying.

The Badass Scene for Episode 3 Reward goes directly to Ferio. "Which is the truth? Pick the one you like." *wink*

Anyway, off to Episode 4.
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 8/14/04]

You seem to be watching this pretty quick Casey-san. I remember when I first got MKR... I just went episode after episode... I really don't remember taking a break ^^;; But I found the plot so intriguing that I just had to continue it.

Doubt every episode will have an outstandingly badass scene, but I'll think of something.

Hmmm.. you never know. A lot of the episodes DO have good fight scenes, so don't be surprised if there are tons of Badass Rewards.

I liked the battle with the mud monster too. I think it showed how resourceful Hikaru is (using the table cloth). It was really interesting.

and had good music.

You and Hikaru-chan are both right. MKR has amazing music. Hikaru-chan, you're so lucky to have 4 CD's *sigh* I don't even own one ^^;;;

I remember that part in episode 3 with the interval sign. I was laughing so hard on that part, and I found an animated gif of it somewhere too ^^
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 8/14/04]

I have an MKR CD. The guy just threw it in even though he never mentioned it before. O_o That was pretty cool...

Alcyione, the Vengeful Sorceress - Dude... this episode had way too much screaming. It was also a little bit too shoujo for me, but I liked the Hikaru/Alcyione fight. Yay Umi for finally dispatching a major villain.

The Badass Scene for Episode 4 Reward goes to Hikaru kicking the monster while in the net. And maybe "Award" would be the grammatical correct word since it's an official thingy, but I don't care.

Escudo, The Legendary Ore - Wow... I'd be embarassed if I was Alcyione. She totally got owned in this episode. Of course, the Magic Knights are becoming a force to be reckoned with: one healing spell, five attack spells, second level armor and about to get the Escudo Weapons. Anyway... good plot... and stuff... yeah...

The Badass Scene for Episode 5 Reward goes to Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu killing stuff.

Yeah, I got lazy on those... get back to watching it in a while...
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 8/14/04]

Lives at Stake - Presea's Weapons - Presea, we barely knew ye... which is probably why I don't care that much. The last part of the fight against Adalante was pretty cool. Overall, though, I really did like this episode. Ascot's so cool on that floating piece of earth. Also, I wish that they'd cast spells without yelling them out more often...

The Badass Scene for Episode 6 Reward goes to the scene where the Knights receive the Escudo Weapons, of course.

Ferio, A Romance in the Desert - Yay! Ferio's back! Hikaru was adorable at the beginning of the episode, and it was funny when Ferio listened to Hikaru and Umi's airheaded comments. Fuu's expression was great whenever Umi elbowed her... and Umi's was pretty funny, too, for that matter. Ferio and Ascot made a funny team. The girls didn't scream whenever the big monster thing showed up... must be all in a day's work by now. This episode was pretty damn awesome.

The Badass Scene for Episode 7 Reward clearly belongs to the scene where Fuu slices the monster straight down the middle.
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[Originally Posted by Dr. Casey on 8/14/04]

Um... I think I'll stop. I'm getting bored of doing this for every episode.
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[Originally Posted by Shiidou Hikaru on 8/14/04]

Awww, I was really starting to like your comments about each episode Dr. Casey. You've got a great start on an episode synopsis site. In the last one, I totally agree with you on Fuu's monster slaying scene. Hikaru and Umi tend to dominate the swordfighting throughout the series, and both have practical experience in swordsmanship, however Fuu does not. So it's great to see her in the spotlight in this episode. ^_^

Hopefully, you'll keep posting your badass scene selections Dr. Casey, I really enjoy seeing the viewpoint of another fan. Something that you might try is take a notepad and a pencil and write down notes as you watch each episode, that will make the recall much easier when you get a chance to come here and write down comments. ^_^
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[Originally Posted by Yuzuki-chan on 8/14/04]

I liked reading your opinions too Casey-san >.< I have a hard time putting my thoughts into words... because I'm sure everyone realizes I always go off track =P But I like reading what you think on the episodes and characters =^_^=

The episode with the Magic Knights in the desert is very good in my opinion. It was my sisters favourite episode for the FuuxFerio moments XD I liked it for the monster slaying scene ^_^

I totally agree with you on Fuu's monster slaying scene. Hikaru and Umi tend to dominate the swordfighting throughout the series, and both have practical experience in swordsmanship, however Fuu does not. So it's great to see her in the spotlight in this episode

hmm, i never really thought about that! It's true though, Umi had fencing skills, and Hikaru had kendo skills... but Fuu was good at archery. The whole sword thing must have been very new to her ^_^
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Editor's note: That's all that there was in the webarchive thread, so if there was more at one time, it was destroyed by Ezboard after this archive shapshot was taken. I had attempted to make this thread individual posts, but the forum is too smart and automatically combines double posts ^_^;;