「お引越し」 (O Hikkoshi)
“Moving”

Hitting two weeks since the last episode, Railgun S is back, and it’s rocking a duet in terms of its focus this week.

And first up? A renewed focus on the slice of life and friendship elements that this series does so well. With Saten continuing her prodding of Misaka in regards to her cookie baking (and her usual skirt flipping routine with Uiharu), we’re really starting to shift off from the Sisters’ Arc now, and it’s something that culminates in the revelation that Edasaki Banri’s now ready to be discharged. Combine that with the fact that she’s subsequently going to dorm with Harrue (who’s moving out from the dorm she shares with Uihar), and what we get is a foundation of an episode that ended up surprisingly touching in its own way. Because ultimately, it’s an episode that both culminates things that started back in the first season of Railgun and highlights the facets of what makes a true friendship to boot. Indeed, as Uiharu and Harrue demonstrate this week, being friends means both being there for them when they need it, but also knowing when to let them go when there’s something they really need to do.

In many ways, this links back to the Sisters’ Arc in this respect—as we saw how everyone was worried about Misaka but respected her desire for privacy—and it’s something that shows just how well Railgun S is connecting the dots so to speak. If anything though, this whole scenario builds on that set-up further. Whereas Misaka’s return following the Sisters’ Arc highlighted how she has a lot of great friends around her, Harrue’s separation arguably demonstrates a situation that takes this an extra step—as Harrue not only clearly realizes how much Uiharu has done for her at this point, she’s able to thank her for it, and she’s also taking that realization and planning to help Edasaki with it as well. And really, all of this just gives off a great show in regards to what friendship is (and should be), and despite the fact that this episode wasn’t entirely focused on that respect, I found myself quite liking what they did with this entire segment.

Shifting off to the next big thing this week though, we get the revelation of a new “enemy” in terms of “Aritomi” and his group of white coats. Continuing the trend of “scientists” being behind virtually everything this season, it looks like they’re planning some kind of system/method to affect esper powers (and/or the city itself) based on the apparent justification that people within the city are just rampantly using their powers with reckless abandon. In that context, I can kind of understand where they’re coming from, as the possession of any significant power in general has a tendency to eventually lead to abuse (let’s not also forget Accelerator and involvement the city had in it too). At the same time though, I found myself somewhat annoyed at the argument he used against Kongo (not to mention he seems to have set up that whole scenario), as it reeks of an argument that’s extremely biased and filled with “what-if’s” rather than concrete facts. If anything, it feels like an argument bought forth by someone with no real esper powers of his own, and it’s something that may be twisting his views away from whatever potentially “noble” intents it might have had otherwise. Still, it was admittedly a surprise to see someone resembling Shinobu within the group too, and one wonders just exactly how things ended up that way if it is indeed her.

Looking forward, it looks like the start of a new chapter is here, and it looks like the break’s over for our heroines. As the quote goes, there’s always something happening in Academy City, and as long as we get to see more ITEM, I sure as heck ain’t complainin’. There’s just something about a gal sleeping in a flower bed and chewing lollipops’ non-stop that just seems to bode well for future developments. Okay I’m just pulling that one out of thin air, but hey, it’s a unique enough start to be sure.

Author’s Note:

  • I’ll be taking a trip overseas next week, so I won’t be here to cover episode 19. I’m still holding out hope someone’ll be able to cover the episode in my stead, but if anything, I’ll make it up in a double post the week after.
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    Preview

    56 Comments

    1. I know I said I wanted closure on Shinobu but girl why are you hanging out with a bunch of nerds obsessive over their lack of esper power? Dang it…
      Thought one of them nerds was the same scientist who became Accelerator’s guardian but seems like I was wrong, all of them seem to be narcissistic highschoolers…well aside from Shinobu. From the looks of it since this group is doing their research using ITEM two things will happen; 1. ITEM will have their butts eventually handed to them after the robots are upgraded to a level that allows them to fight Mugino and super armor girl what’s her name and 2. Since Mugino’s power is fundamentally similar to Misaka’s she will have a tough time dealing with the robots as well.
      I’m sure everyone is also expecting that eventually Shinobu will also realize hanging out with these idiots was not a good idea. This entire foundation of esper power development was made by Allister woman! You think you can hinder a guy who had a building thrown at his research facility without so much as a scratch with these apes?
      I wish they would use new robot designs though, they basically look like the bad guy’s goons from the second half of Railgun season 1.

      gawrshness
    2. Sadly this is 100% filled material, only made up for rest of the railgun s animated series, they also seem to bring Shinobu back, despite her never showing up ever in the novels after the sisters arc. But really, they went with the evil scientists association trying to take control – type of plot? feels really generic, I’m in for the action only now.

      Eidos
    3. Wow, another episode about eating. Who would’ve thunk it?

      Show Spoiler ▼

      They’re really pushing ITEM in our faces. I wonder if the director ever read volume 15.

      Gaze of Providence
        1. I’d rather not have the JC STAFF anime be the source for their levels. This is the same JC STAFF that had Kiyama Harumi listed as a telepath and Innocentius in the “esper” Banks in the last season.

          Gaze of Providence
    4. I’m kind of wishing they didn’t do filler but just did events from INdex, Show Spoiler ▼

      would be funny as hell.

      SDFGS
        1. Because there’s enough information out there to show it.

          If you have a problem with it, go argue with these folks. (BE ADVISED THAT THAT LINK CONTAINS SIGNIFICANT SPOILERS WHICH ARE NOT HIDDEN IN ANY WAY) They probably qualify as one major source of information, although they’re hardly the only one.

          The simple point is that we know Febli isn’t her. Doesn’t look like her, doesn’t act like her, name doesn’t sound like hers.

          Wanderer
        2. Actually, that’s a spoiler.
          They are two different people for sure. Febli is pretty much a new character introduced just for the sake of this arc. As if we’re lacking in blond lolis. They’re a dime a dozen in Raildex.

      1. I think there’s a statute of limitations about spoilers for events that happened in prior seasons of the same series.

        These two are characters from the final story arc of the first season of Railgun. Banrai was one of Kiyama’s students who was put into a coma thanks to a failed experiment (which is, after a long chain of events, what prompted Kiyama to cause the whole Level Upper incident), and Haruue was a friend of Banri’s from before Banri ended up in the class that was used for that experiment.

        Wanderer
    5. Those scientists are definitely not Kiharas. They don’t have the same intellectual appeal as Therestina or Amata. They just reek of the cliched bad guys of the arc, though they don’t feel like final boss material. Whatever they’re planning, it better be good. They’re observing ITEM, has something against espers with that argument with Kongou(we will never get to see the chapters where she transfers to Tokiwadai), and the little blond Nyaruko loli is in the center of this, with Shinobu(?) at the side. And why am I not surprised that that loli knows Misaka. Ah well.

      Let’s keep track of the days covered. 2 days passed in this episode so assuming the cookie scene is Aug 22, current date is Aug 25 as one day passed last episode.
      Watch as we will have imaginary days that extend on and on and the arc/season ends perfectly on Aug 30 just like with the first season ending perfectly in Aug 9 despite showing Himegami already with the cross from Necessarius.

      1. So they’re going to ignore the effects of Angel Fall arc …? If they want to make it canon, they’ll have to squeeze this whole arc within a few days before Angel Fall gets activated by a certain unfortunate guy’s parents.

        Radiosonde
        1. Why would they show the effects of a magic spell in a science side show? Besides, Angel Fall’s effects are only obvious to Touma and anyone who is fast enough to protect themselves from being part of the Grand Magic.

          Gaze of Providence
    6. I’m honestly kinda irritated that so many people are saying “This is a filler arc, so it’s gonna be bad”

      Oh come on. You have only seen 2 episodes from this arc, don’t you think it’s way too early to judge? Moreover, judging by how well JC Staff did the sister’s arc, I’m confident that they won’t let us down. And look at that epic OP.

      Just have faith in them, and continue watching the awesome show!

      MegaGamingAce
      1. The problem is that while the Project Railgun team of JC Staff can adapt the source material perfectly, they’re shit in doing filler arcs and fillers in general. Compare Level Upper and Sisters to Poltergeist and Big Spider, plus those strings of fillers in between. There’s obviously a difference in the level of writing. Not to mention the characters sometimes act out of character. And don’t get me started on the issue with Kongou and the timeline.

        There’s some basis for the comments here with their history and it’s showing already in just 2 episodes. That’s why I’m hoping this arc shows some surprise to justify them skipping out on adapting a side story that’s both canon and loaded with fanservice and SoL.

      2. Well, this “Mecha” Thing it begin to raise, “okay, now we have Guys, that want to demonstrate the World, how Badass they are, and how much Money they have”. So how they convinced the Sponsors to pump money in their Project without getting caught? Oh, there is something like Weapon-dealers? But until now, index played around the City story

        Well, it slowly begin to sink in my mind as “08/15” (As Always/Standard) Filler

        Germanguy
        1. Perhaps the Team dont saw potential in Slice of Life with the Sisters. They even banned them from the Plot line now. Well, i would not be surprised if they using Biological Brains as CPUs in these Mecha Suits, for Linking. Perhaps some side effect of the Sisters Link. That would explain, while they work without a Superduper WLAN Computer. It is all Bio!!!

          Germanguy
        2. As a Side effect, all “Villains” now has the same “Skin” and “Color”. So they dont need to create many Villains with a Face and a Back-story. Only the Face of the Sciences is shown.
          Sisters? Well, they still need Hair animation, Bleeding, Cloth animation, Human Skeleton Body drawing and Voicing them and so on. These Battlemechs are all the same, same Color, same Skeleton Body movement, no Voice, no Bleeding (perhaps some Oil or Water colling) no Cloth or Hair that bend in the Wind. This is a cheap “Exit” for me. But yeah, perhaps the best solution for them to end this Season with their Budget

          I am right? 🙂

          Germanguy
    7. “for Science!” – with that battlecry labcoats of the Academy City strike again – this time in form of the brainiest students. I am NOT surprised to see (probably) Shinobu amongst them. She might either be roped into it following her capture, or she is hell-bent on finding a way to control monsters like mr A.
      Also, Febli is cuteness overload incarnate. From previews and opening it seems she will be important somehow. Another “save the loli” scenario, huh?

      ewok40k
    8. Them scientists better be related to Kiharas or something. After the latest Index NT volume the only worthy mad scientists I’ll acknowledge will only be those whose last names end with “Kihara”.
      On a side note, why are the scientists dealing with Mugino? Why not the Ranked 5 Shokuhou ‘Queen’ Misaki or the Ranked 7 Sogiita ‘Guts’ Gunha? I think dealing with Gunha is a lot easier given his tendency to go…well…..’GUTS!’ Its highly unlikely that Gunha will kill them if he ever finds out that the scientists are manipulating him.

      Radiosonde
        1. Ehh…I’d rather they animate other Level 5 fights, like Show Spoiler ▼

          But this is Railgun. Oh well.

          Radiosonde
      1. well Show Spoiler ▼

        As a whole, this ep was pretty good. If there’s something I appreciate railgun for, it’s how it can take some of these arguably unintersting characters and make you feel a little something for them in those heartwarming character moments. In some ways, it was episodes like this that made me realize that the railgun series was better than Index series (ep 14, my favorite ep of season 1, was actually what convinced me, with tesso’s ep following after; Saten aint the enlightened, emotionally-dependable one in the group for no reason). The people on the railgun staff just have the higher pedigree when it comes to story-telling, and considering who some of those people on the staff are, it’s no surprise.

        sonicsenryaku
        1. That just shows how big is the difference between raw power of those two. Just the fact of Gunha was standing there while Mikoto throw at him everything she could think of.

          Wilfriback
      2. Well, Misaki and Gunha are (almost) unimportant characters so why would they have any fights with any other Level 5? One is a crack character while the other is there to irritate Mikoto and her fans. Also look at their fighting styles: Gunha uses “Guts” to win while Misaki has no problem surrounding herself with cannon fodder/pawns. Who would they fight?

        As for why they are observing Mugino it’s probably because she is the most active in the darkness of the city. Easy to get combat data on someone who is fighting all the time.

        rh75
    9. Questions for novel readers:
      1) Does Febli exist in the novels or is she just a new character made for this anime arc ?
      2) Is Shinobu meant to appear again in the future (besides this arc), or is she written off in the previous arc in the novels ?

      Oh, and if someone will be so kind to answer my questions, please use the <spoiler> tag just to be nice to the others (lot of requests from me this time 🙂

      Voyager
      1. To answer your question Show Spoiler ▼

        Kai
        1. Thank you sir.
          I didn’t even know that the manga and the novels may have different storylines.
          Anyway, about Shinobu, I think that Show Spoiler ▼

          That’s just my opinion on this particular matter, I still think that the author created an incredibly intriguing and complex world with excellent characters and story, I can’t really ask for much more.

          Voyager
    10. Gotta love the seemingly ad-lib “OOOOooooohhhh!!!” exclamation by Mikoto (Satou Rina), Uiharu (Toyosaki Aki) and especially Kuroko (the ever excellent Arai Satomi) after seeing Saten-san demonstrate her babysitting skills. The way they did their exclamation totally felt unscripted. LOL

      https://randomc.net/image/To%20Aru%20Kagaku%20no%20Railgun/To%20Aru%20Kagaku%20no%20Railgun%20S%20-%2018%20-%20Large%2018.jpg
      Saten: UIIIIHAAARUUUU~~~!!!
      Uiharu: KYAAAA~~~!!!
      Ah, how nostalgic.

      echykr
    11. Why are people STILL complaining about fillers when director Nagai has already explicitly said long before that with the Sisters Arc taking up 1.5 seasons (16 episodes), they would be going straight into an original arc, as half a season (8 episodes) just wouldn’t be enough to properly cover any manga source material without going into overtime?

      Shoddily written Shounen Jump anime fillers are one thing, as the producers can always recoup via various merchandising, and there is plenty in Japan.

      OTOH This is more of an otaku-oriented genre, where BD/DVD sales decide a series’ success, so I do not believe Nagai and JC Staff dare slack off with this original story just to pad up the episode count.

      echykr
      1. Well, someones complain because they “love” this Anime, and other just want to “Troll”.. The secret here, is to recognize these Peoples, for taking their complain seriously

        Germanguy
      2. It really had to be anime original for the last 8 episodes when you think about it, the options were rather limited. Starting an unfinished arc, that probably would not fit in 8 episodes anyway, or side stories that were the bonus for limited edition BD’s and probably off limits because of that. You could get an episode out of Mikoto and Gunha’s sparring match.

        Longhaul
    12. I don’t understand the description for this anime and manga. Anime News Network describes it as fantasy, supernatural, action, comedy, school life and MangaChapter even classifies it as Seinen. Isn’t it what Japanese would refer as Shoujo or Josei? or in Western terms isn’t it an asian adolescent chick flick with lesbian subtleties. It seems like there are more female oriented anime (chick flicks) in Japan than ever. To me it has become most notable since the tsunami, but what do I know. And its fine, it means that this it is what the predominant audience is willing to pay for me (so is that adolescent females. For me the Touma arc was wonderful, obviously I’m male but I really liked the interaction of Touma and Mikasa. However watching little judgement girls disciplining bullies and chumming with themselves is not interesting to me. Its definitely not Seinen is it? or do Japanese males like these kinds of shows.

      1. I love this show. I think it’s mostly in part with the fact that I really enjoy reading the LN. The To Aruverse is just sooo big and the fantheories are endless; they also do a good job in making appealing characters and relationships. I find it hard to believe some people dislike this anime, but maybe they just need to give it another try before dropping it 😀

        Kyosuke

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