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11Sep/0713

Zero no Tsukaima 2 – Sequel turned spin-off?

I loved season 1 of ZnT. It bears many marks of what J.C Staff excels at - engaging/coherent story off a simple plot, well-paced character development and loads of fun from an endearing cast. Sadly, I'm not feeling the same love for its sequel.

Of the many issues I have with ZnT2, probably Agnes' heroine-hijack stands above the rest. It just isn't sound to cast a new character as the heavyweight in a sequel and even weave the plot about her when there are so many well-loved characters just waiting for that limelight. This reminds me of DCSS when there were great expectations for a Kotori-centric series only to have air-head Aisia dominate and ruin the DC franchise with her juvenile struggles.

With Agnes and Colbert's expanded screentimes (stories which are not very engaging to start with) crowding out other characters, we're already seeing some casualties in character development.

Henrietta - I wished they had focused more on the war instead of Agnes' revenge. The war would be a great opportunity to develop Henrietta and her haremette status with Saito. But alas, instead of being sympathetic with her recent loss of love and unenviable position of queen in tumultous times, she came across as a loose woman on rebound, encroaching on best-friend territory w/o remorse nor guilt. I blame hasty character development and low grade fanservicing.

Siesta - I was sooo glad that Siesta did not succumb to the Kotori-syndrome (a haremette too pure and honourable to take part in harem-battles resulting in the painful death of a plot) and decided to use less than savoury methods to win Saito. My only issue was that her descent into the unscrupulous, seductive Siesta was as poorly executed/justified as Anakin Skywalker did into Darth Vader, resulting in some loss of that sweet charm that held me enthralled for season 1. I'm sure more time taken to chart that descent would have earn greater sympathy instead of contempt.

Louise and Saito - Where there were strong and consistent development in the relationship between Louise and Saito in season 1, it's glaringly missing from the sequel. Louise has become ultra-tsuntsun to, what I believe, act as a readily available prop for SM activities to invoke cheap laughs (if anyone is laughing) and ultra-deredere to pander to the tsundere-faction of fanboys. In addition, where the violence in season 1 is controlled and used as a side-dish to enhance the flavour of the couple's growing affections, this violence seem to have become the definitive attribute of their currently unhealthy relationship.

Kirche and Tabita - What development?

Thus with Agnes hogging the limelight, ZnT2 has become more like a spin-off rather than a sequel that builds on the story/charms of its preceding season. It has a couple of eps to right this trend but extrapolating from ep 10, it's probably too late to avert a trainwreck as culminated by the disastrous inertia of neglecting key characters. I just hope Siesta/Henrietta are not too badly mangled.

Keeping fingers crossed in vain hope for a better Season 3.

Related posts:

  1. Zero no Tsukaima Season 3 – (Non)-Expectations
  2. Should I give Zero no Tsukaima 3 a chance?
  3. Zero no Tsukaima – Random aftermath thoughts

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Comments (13) Trackbacks (1)
  1. Kabitzin
    September 11th, 2007 - 10:58

    Of the many issues I have with ZnT2, probably Agnes

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  2. sixten
    September 11th, 2007 - 11:36

    It’s a bad sign when you start comparing The Familiar of Zero 2.0 to the Star Wars prequels. I used to be a hardcore Star Wars fan, and I wanted to be an elite industrial designer like Ralph McQuarrie. And then The Phantom Menace caused me to lose interest in Star Wars. By the influence of my two anime-fanboy roommates (one Japanese, one American), I crossed over the moe side of the force.

    If you are looking for the real J.C.Staff, they are not in Halkeginia. You could try traveling to the future and seeing if they’re filming the Skygirls. But as far as I know, they are over in Moe Blob Land, making Potemayo.

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  3. Xellos-_^
    September 11th, 2007 - 12:11

    The problem was the director in the season took all the light heart stuff form the novel squeeze them all in season 1.

    The season 2 director was basically left with all the plot elements and no light heart stuff to squeeze in between them. The novel is better pace between the plot and the light hearted stuff.

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  4. suguru
    September 11th, 2007 - 20:23

    Well put, ZnT 2 really does feel like watching a spinoff more than a sequel–the tone is just a lot different from season one. While I don’t necessarily mind the more serious elements, it’s jarring compared to what came before. Taking a ecchi comedy series and trying to make it a war dorama just makes the fanservice seem way out of place. I can understand the author wanting to make a statement about the tragedy of war, since too many people die in wars around the world, but I’m not sure ZnT is really the best choice to deliver that message.

    It seems like ZnT 2 has some inconsistencies with the first season too–wasn’t Tabitha supposed to be a badass? Tabitha and Kirche got smacked down by the goons from Albion in about half a second. And yeah, Louise’s tsun-tsun side was funny in the first season, but in the second it’s getting a little out of hand…by now her and Saito should be playing Hide the Salami every night, but instead she’s in permanent “baka inu!” mode.

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  5. Stripey
    September 11th, 2007 - 22:02

    Kabitzin: Ah thanks for bringing Colbert’s tale into perspective. At least his story now feels like it does belong to the ZnT scheme of things. And indeed, I found Agnes rather one-dimensional too with revenge soaking up too much of her character. Was actually secretly hoping for an Agnes X Colbert romance. That’d be the classic fighter-mage tag-team mirroring Saito/Louise or maybe even mentoring them. After all I seriously would like to see Louise/Saito’s growing partnership on the battlefield instead of the incessant violence that builds nothing.

    sixten: That seals it. Moe Blob land here I come! Episode 1 ETA – 1 hour :)

    Xellos-_^: I’m actually ok with ‘serious’ stuff as long as the plot development is consistent and the important characters don’t get shafted. I see soo much potential for Henrietta to grow this season given the war and her role in it. But alas, her airtime was limited and her attraction to Saito poorly constructed. Was hoping to switch allegiance from Siesta camp to Henrietta’s with this season. Instead they tried futilely to make an Agnes of me XD

    suguru: I think jarring is the word for ZnT2′s progress on all fronts. And I totally agree with you on the inconsistencies of the series. There were just too many moments when one goes, ” O RLY?” :P Things like keeping one’s mistress locked in the dungeon when there are pyromanics on campus, the laughable security of a campus turned training camp, the incredible nerf of most of the cast (the headmaster, a square mage presumably so easily captured) and more.

    Louise/Saito relationship has remain stagnant for 10 eps. Maybe more accurately sum-zero since everytime Louise/Saito advances, something happens to make louise mad/insecure. Violence ensues. They return to Square one and repeat cycle. Sigh.

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  6. Kabitzin
    September 11th, 2007 - 22:48

    Was actually secretly hoping for anAgnes X Colbert romance

    DO NOT WANT!!!! Damn, Colbert is so much older than her!!! He could be her dad!

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  7. 0rion
    September 11th, 2007 - 23:01

    Rofl…yeah, I have to agree with Kabitzin on this one – that’s a serious case of DNW.

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  8. Stripey
    September 11th, 2007 - 23:37

    Haha! Maybe it’s cos I just saw “Rumour has it” where Kevin Costner (who bedded both Jennifer Aniston’s mom and grandma in the story) has a fling with a girl (Aniston herself) 2 generations younger than him. The truth is they look quite good together…. like Agnes and Colbert! LOL! XD Okay okay, I should stop trying to pair up every character :P

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  9. crimson
    September 12th, 2007 - 03:07

    I watched episode 1 and 2…then I decided that the boobs staring was getting too much highlight so I havent watched the subsequent episodes.

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  10. cyw1988
    September 12th, 2007 - 20:35

    It’s Ironic that I gave up school days because of the crappy male lead after ep 5 and then tsukaima 2 started sucking after ep 5… crap.. talk about wrong decisions… argg… btw, I am sure all of you heard about the Rebuild of Evangelion thingy going on in Japan. I wonder how long it’s gonna take before it is cleared for SG release argg… I wanna watch it!!

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  11. Stripey
    September 12th, 2007 - 21:53

    crimson: I lost a fair bit of respect for Saito this season. Fanservicing is fine but an overdose of it just leave a bad taste in the mouth :P

    cyw1988: I’m waiting the Eva movie myself. From what I’ve read, it’s a condensed version of ep 1-6 of the TV series – a segment of the anime which I still enjoy very much. It shouldn’t be too long now seeing how Eva has a worldwide following. :)

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  12. Chan
    September 14th, 2007 - 04:45

    Hey, don’t diss Saito. The ending of this arc, in the novel series, has him charging an army.

    Alone.

    Yes, he survives, but that’s a whole different story.

    The problem is, the script has been thrown out of wack. Louise and Saito should be in the midst of the war, now, instead of at the academy.

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  13. Stripey
    September 17th, 2007 - 02:48

    Ah now that’s the Saito I know in Season 1. Looking forward to that. :)

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