Eruna has a lot to prove as the self proclaimed hero of the academy.
What They Say:
Episode #3: “Not Quite a Heroine”
Eruna draws attention after her first match and ends up with a practice battle with Seisa! Can she beat Seisa and become an official member of the going-home club?!
The Review
Content: (please note that content portions of a review may contain spoilers)
Eruna is flying high after her victory against Himi in the last episode. Now gifted with food, if not a room, she has no problem giving an interview to the school paper about herself. Eruna is many things, and shy isn’t one of them.
I had the distinct impression that Seisa was just messing with Eruna in the last episode, and this one didn’t change my opinion of her. She let’s Eruna in to the mansion, with Himi in tow, only to tell her that she won’t let her join the going-home club officially unless she can land a strike on one of her battle gems. (Eruna’s insistence on being praised is hilarious, she has absolutely no shame.) Seisa gives off the same thinly veiled not-quite hostility that seems to be pervasive in the cast of this show. I’m not sure if it’s just the clique nature of a school made of competing clubs, but the passive-aggressive hostility is showing. Eruna is mostly oblivious to the bad vibes and takes everything thrown her way as a challenge. She resolves to land that hit so she can get closer to Seisa!
Tucked away in the middle of this episode is a confrontation between Yuuto from the drama club and Asuhi from the astronomy club. We saw friction between the two before, and Yuuto seems to be gunning for the underclassman. During a practice match Yuuto defeats Asuhi with ease, leaving the poor kid trembling. Even Eruna picks up on the weird vibe but doesn’t have time to ask Yuuto what the deal is.
Eruna may have found her battle ability, but she’s no competition for Seisa. Seisa’s ability is strong and mysterious, and Eruna finds herself soundly beaten. The brief action scenes remain well done, if not spectacular. Eruna is surprised at her lack of ability, and looses the little interest she accrued from her first match. Undaunted, Eruna marches back to the mansion and declares that she will win against Seisa someday and join the club! Even if it means making her own club in the meantime, out of cardboard boxes… out in the rain.. like a hobo. It’s enough to lure Seisa out with an umbrella and invite the plucky little lovestruck girl inside. Score one point for Eruna.
In Summary:
Mikagura doesn’t do much to break away from it’s mould, but Eruna remains a breath of fresh air. She’s still carrying the series, and her endless enthusiasm and outgoing personality are the only things keeping this show from becoming an also-ran. In any other context Eruna would be the obnoxious side character, but here she’s running the show. If she rubs you the wrong way there isn’t really anything for it, but I like her enthusiasm. The real question remains, what is Seisa’s problem? Who took the princess of the academy down a notch and why is she stringing Eruna along? Also, what is the end game here? I’m really not sure where the story is going as of this moment. I hope we find out soon.
Episode Grade: B
Streamed by: Funimation
Review Equipment: 27” iMac running OS 10.10.1, via Safari 8.0.2, FIOS 15/5 Mbps connection. Your milage may vary.
