First Impressions / Hataraku Maou-sama!

「勇者、仕事優先で魔王城に泊まる」 (Yūsha, Shigoto Yūsen de Maōjō ni Tomaru)
“The Hero Stays at the Demon Lord’s Stronghold for Work Reasons”

Remember, she knows where you live.

Any doubts I had as to whether or not Hataraku could retain its sharp humor past its premiere have now vanished out the window; clearly, White Fox knows what it’s doing, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’ll admit I was a little worried that Emilia’s entrance would stifle the witty and well-executed humor in favor of a more familiar romcom route, but this episode proved me wrong. Tsundere though she might be, Yusa Emi (as she’s known in the human realm) is a perfect fit in her dual role of romantic interest and semi-antagonist, and she adds yet another level of exquisite comedic flavoring to an already brilliant start. After having chased Maou and Ashiya from Ente Island, Emi finds herself in their shoes, magic-less, broke, and stuck in an unfamiliar world, though unlike them, she has no one to rely on. So, she does what any level-headed Hero would do: she gets a job.

While the humor in Sadao’s (“apologize to all the Sadaos in Japan!”) situation is in watching him and Ashiya acclimatize to everyday life (enthusiastically so), the humor in Emi’s is watching her fit human life to a T and being totally miserable and lonely about it behind her serious façade. Though she claims to be stalking Sadao for surveillance and for the sake of making sure he doesn’t step out of line, her real motivation in doing so is in simple camaraderie; the Demon Lord and his retainer are simply the only people in Tokyo that she can relate to, and she’s desperate not to let them out of her sight. Her various approaches (“Let me in! I’ll kick down the door! Is that what you want?!”) don’t have much of an effect on Maou, who realizes from the moment she threatens him with a 100 yen knife that she’s not much of a threat without her magic. Their banter, however, is brilliant, and it’s not always crystal clear just who’s playing the tsukkomi role in their relationship. Though Emilia has more common sense on how to live off a part-time wage, Maou certainly has a clearer goal than she does (ridiculous as it is, I suppose world conquest must begin somewhere), and he’s not all that fooled by her sudden intrusions into his life. As it is, at some point the fact that these two are sworn enemies is forgotten by everyone but Ashiya, and Maou seems to take some pity on her when she keeps showing up.

However, Sadao and Emilia’s relationship isn’t the only thing happening this time around. Sadao’s co-worker, the loli Chi-chan (she’s even got the backpack to match), seems to have developed quite the huge crush on him, and she also seems to be the only person seriously affected by all the small earthquakes happening in the city. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a connection there, because Emi and Sadao are also attacked (by an unknown magic user and in public, no less) and it seems that something or someone is out to make sure the Demon Lord doesn’t get too comfortable with his new lifestyle.

All in all, White Fox is doing a spectacular job in nearly every way possible. The acting is right on point, the humor is excellent and employs perfect timing, the art, the music, the direction… what else can I say? Hataraku Maou-sama! is well on its way to prove that great execution is just as important to a series as having a good premise.

 

ED2 Sequence

ED2: 「ZERO!!」 by 栗林 みな実 (Minami Kuribayashi)

Preview

113 Comments

  1. Series is really shaping up nicely. Not really much more to say, it’s not good enough to gush over yet, nor is it bad enough to warrant any sort of prolonged criticism. It’s the perfect “I’m bored, this will entertain me for approximately 22 minutes” kind of show.

    Koji
    Reply

    1. For me, this show so far has been more then good. It has been great! The humour in this show really hits the mark for me.

      Definitely up there as one of my top 3 shows this season. Even if I’m busy, I still make time out of my schedule to watch it.

      BBQ
      Reply

    2. I originally thought it would be that kind of mindless comedy based on various preview blurbs before the season. But I would disagree and say these two episodes have shown that there is more to this series than simply turning off your brain and laughing for a while. The comedy is good enough that you could do that, but you’d be missing out on some pretty solid characterization and possibly plot with this earthquake situation. Even Chi has some intrigue since it’s not certain if there’s more to her than she lets on. Not your average simple comedy in my book.

      spike
      Reply

      1. Mmm… love when people put words in my mouth. Never once said it was a turn off your brain kind of show, merely that it’s the perfect show to watch when bored. Really good shows tend to draw you in long after it’s over (more often than not, with the stinging urge that the next episode needs to hurry up and get out). This show doesn’t do that, at least not for me.

        I compare that feeling to the first season(s) of Hayate no Gotoku. Very fun to watch, and easy to pick back up if you happen to neglect it… but it’s not a series I set my watch/calendar for.

        Koji
        Reply

  2. I love how Maou-Yuusha’s ‘fight’ become so much like lovers’ quarrel in typical soap operas when put in context of modern time LOL.

    The scene where Yuusha was banging at Maou’s apartment door yelling and eventually bursted into sops was especially aweso-I mean heartbreaking!

    Vinchester
    Reply

    2. I had to rewatch that bit when Emilia was knocking at their door. How she went from threatening them to practically pleading to them with tears was so hilarious that I didn’t even pay attention to Maou and Ashiya’s conversation.

      Waltz
      Reply

      1. To be honest, I find it rather strange how the the Hero Emi was “at the mercy” of the demon lord and Maou doesn’t seem to proud of it, guess pity is necessary when the hero can’t just break into Maou’s “fortress.” Rather strange for a Demon Lord, most typical demon lords would laugh proudly as they finally accomplish what no typical demon lord could ever do, which is making the human hero cry and beg for mercy. “Are you really the Demon Lord” were Emi’s words; it is hard to believe that Emi traveled to earth just to find Maou working at Mcronalds.

        I find it humorous how the Hero’s “kill on the demon lord” was stopped by a local policeman. That would be the last thing I would imagine. The poor hero Emi, she traveled all the way to earth only to find the Maou killing himself with a rather large consumption of junk food and lack of any protein.

        How did the Hero Emi even got a nice white collar job is beyond my understanding, even she is living in a much better life than Maou. Must have been her magic.

        I am concerned how the author plans to have our lovely Chi-chan involved. The way she panic when hearing about Maou’s “girlfriend” made things interesting. Either way, I don’t know what Emi will do when she sees Chi-chan, but Chi-chan has something nice that easily surpasses Emi’s magic.

        R.I.P to the Maou’s most Honorable “white stead” Dullahan. The poor bike was just bought and even randomc.net makes no mention of it.

        L002
        Reply

  5. I swear, I don’t think I’ve laughed quite this hard since Highschool Boys. This show is pure comedy gold. Hands down the “best surprise of the season”, it wasn’t even on my radar until the premiere hit.

    Asobi
    Reply

    1. That was one nice synchronization of the BGM. It was brilliant, and played a big roll in making me laugh my ass off(Specially in the 100 yen knife part). Great episode. brilliant review.

      Swarz
      Reply

  10. It’s funny to see them nervous that the landlady will complain about all the noise.

    If her desire for shady renters is any indication, then she likely enjoys listening to all this craziness.

    Tre
    Reply

    2. I agree with you. I like the anime a lot more because of the voice acting, the way they’re handling the music and because of the way they’re editing the scenes and stitching them together. Whoever is directing this is doing a great job.

      Terence T
      Reply

    3. Yep I read a few of the manga chapters. The anime so far has been a faithful adaptation which is a good thing. If anybody’s interested there’s also manga spin-off called Hataraku Maou-sama High School. You can pretty much guess the premise from the title.

      Zhinvu
      Reply

  12. Alsiel actually did the most sensible thing to do when you’re getting threatened: lock your doors. I lost it when Yusa Emi broke down crying when they wouldn’t let her in(great performance by Hikasa Yoko). I felt sorry for her but at the same time she just sounded so cute. I can’t believe the cop just dismissed an attempted stabbing as simply a lover’s quarrel and let them off, but hey it’s a comedy. Normally, I think that would have earned Emi some jail time, and a permanent mark on her record. Also, for someone who doesn’t want to break rules, and honestly works his way up the employment ladder, it’s funny how Maou’s moral alignment is still evil and I don’t see that changing anytime soon, at least that’s what I gathered from his evening chat with Emi. You’d think living in the modern times would’ve softened him up, but no Maou made it clear that he’s finishing what he started in Ente Isla.

    Zhinvu
    Reply

    2. I can confirm that working food services/retail can easily lead one to wanting to overthrow the Earth and make the slobby ignorant masses writhe beneath your foot.

      This is looking to be the best show of the season hands down.

      GoukaRyuu
      Reply

  14. flashback show after satan-maou & his sidekick left to portal hero emi decide to chase them so lead to now emi attack satan with mini knife?

    which got two meet cops with assume they are bf & gf so after HMM emi-mood face let satan go & next day emi work as a customer call center agent person with fine living of sorts.

    so emi go satan’s place give she chased them also low on magic as well give she was to had back-up but arrive alone so satan blah how i take over japan with mc-ronald fast food.

    emi go sneak watch satan from eggs buys, bath time, etc to satan’s work job after day work with chi mention earthquake with satan meet with emi.

    how if want to return esta isla give satan plan to return then out of nowhere magic sniper shoots appear target both satan & emi so after escape it.

    now emi stay night at satan’s place give then a text satan got more earthquake will come.

    b.i.t.w.
    Reply

    1. It’s totally okay to be biased about your favorite seiyuu. I went through all of Amnesia because Kaori Nazuka was in it, painful as it was. She got like TWO emotional scenes. T-T Ah, the wasted talent!

      Kairi
      Reply

  21. First off, congrats on your first post, Kairi!

    …and it’s not always crystal clear just who’s playing the tsukkomi role in their relationship…

    As a critic, I want to say that this is one of this show’s greatest strengths; the fact that it is often unclear which character is more sensible- the male lead, or the female one. In terms of actual instances of interaction (i.e. individual instances of character reactions/interactions when presented with external stimuli), the interplay between the characters seems to be governed by your typical anime rom-com dead-horse tropes. Things like tsundere reactions, stalker-ish behavior and whatnot.

    But its dynamics of interaction (I.e. the synergy of personalities that produces certain reactions/interactions when presented with external stimuli) are rather unique, at least as far as the two main characters are concerned because Sadao and Emi don’t quite fit the bill for your typical cookie cutter rom-com lead characters.

    Most rom-coms try to keep things simple with a clear division of the boke and tsukkomi roles between the male and female leads. Where one character is sensible and the other is a proverbial ret*rd, with the main object of their interactions being romance and where certain genre-staple outcomes of interaction (Tsundere-ness, etc.) are the mandated outcomes of their interactions, the dynamics of their interactions will inevitably remain more or less constant in many ways regardless of setting. This is a major problem plaguing most (anime) rom-coms; shows like Chuunibyou come to mind.

    This show however attempts to keep things fresh by blurring the lines between the boke and tsukkomi roles. While the outcomes of the interplay between its characters still remain strictly within the realms of typical genre staples; the dynamics of this interplay are significantly altered. Gone is the simplistic, fictional, strict division of the boke and tsukkomi, replaced with more nuanced and realistic character construction that recognizes the reality that everyone is simultaneously both foolish and sensible- only at different things; in real couples there is nigh never a clear division of roles.

    In terms of its side characters (Ashiya, Chi, etc.) and the actual events that occur, this show is nothing special, falling into the usual trappings of its genre. But it does have two major things going for it that allow it to stand out in the crowd, its uncommon setting and the interesting dynamics of interaction between the main couple (Held together by competent writing/acting), the latter being the most significant, creating some interesting and sometimes even unique interactive paradigms within traditional, rather cliched rom-com situations…

    Zen
    Reply

    1. Well said, though I’d add that perhaps the most intriguing element of Hataraku is the juxtaposition of Maou and Emi’s interactions as your… questionably average, but hard working citizens and their ‘true’ roles in Ente Isla.

      I don’t think I’ve ever watched a rom-com where I could expect to hear my two main leads arguing over what’s for dinner one moment and honestly tearing at each other’s throats the next. It’s nonsense to be sure, but not the kind that you can brush off as if it could never happen, because it really could!

      Ryan Ashlight
      Reply

      1. That’s part of the setting…In any case, such elements only tend to be initially intriguing; they are part of the setting and beyond the early phases and usually have little impact on the long-term interactions of the characters; once the characters get over the oddity of their circumstances and go native (Usually ~3 episodes in) their interactions tend to degenerate into the usual fare. Rather than superficial exposition gimmicks, in order to sustain interesting character interactions long-term, unique dynamics must often be hardwired directly into the characters’ personas- and this is what this show has managed to do…

        Zen
        Reply

      2. If we were talking about your run-of-the-mill rom-com, I’d agree with you. You have your characters, their settings and circumstances… obviously differing a bit from show to show; but more often than not, you’re going to find more than a few commonalities between them. Doesn’t take long for you to get past that and start going through the motions.

        But what could make Hataraku unique and a possible exception is that it’s not limited to just one setting. We were introduced to a whole different world right at the start; one that, while we’re familiar with in a very basic sort of context, we know virtually nothing about otherwise. And the same goes for the Demon Lord Maou and the Hero Emilia.

        Really, how often do you come across a show and characters that you can honestly say you only know half the story about?

        Now, to be clear, I only believe Hataraku is able to get away with this because its other half is something as simple as a story about a Demon Lord and Hero; something that any kid with a life has heard countless times over.

        >] “Rather than superficial exposition gimmicks, in order to sustain interesting character interactions long-term, unique dynamics must often be hardwired directly into the characters’ personas- and this is what this show has managed to do…”

        I don’t really disagree with any of that, though I still maintain that the “unique dynamics” of which you speak might well have to do with a setting that has not yet been fully exploited.

        Ryan Ashlight
        Reply

      3. Multi-world settings are quite prevalent (Though not overwhelmingly so hence my “uncommon” label for them). Aside from numerous stories like this one and Dog Days that utilize actual multiple worlds, any show that utilizes elements of time travel also neatly fits into this category. (Substantially different periods in history are essentially different worlds for narrative purposes; just look at Assassins Creed).

        Really, how often do you come across a show and characters that you can honestly say you only know half the story about?

        Like I said, just about every other multi-world story, time travel tale, etc.; they all contain similar elements, including characters with dual-backgrounds…

        But what could make Hataraku unique and a possible exception is that it’s not limited to just one setting. We were introduced to a whole different world right at the start; one that, while we’re familiar with in a very basic sort of context, we know virtually nothing about otherwise.

        Perhaps you are right in saying that having two worlds instead of one allows for a great deal of potentially interesting world-building- but the fact of the matter is look at the worlds- a generic fantasy world and a mundane human one- neither of which are particularly interesting. Whatever sort of world-building takes place, I’m almost certain that it isn’t going to venture too far from the elements that are the norm for these kinds of worlds and the kinds of things that happen when they intersect, all of which have been explored quite thoroughly. Where both of the worlds utilized are rather generic in nature, I simply don’t see very much potential for any truly groundbreaking world-building. And I’m willing to wager that the focus of this show (Being primarily a romance title) will be more heavily on character development rather than world-building…

        There may be enough creative leeway for a lot of potentially interesting world-building given the flexibility of multi-world stories, perhaps even enough to make is massively popular, but in all likelihood it will still end up lacking the sort of cutting-edge, transcendent finesse that I seek as a critic- as it stands I see the potential for sliver of the stuff in the interactions between Sadao and Emi. Doesn’t mean I not enjoying it (I’m having a great time, its really funny), just means that it isn’t “classics-for-the-ages” material is all…

        Zen
        Reply

    2. Thanks Zen. You’re gonna have to forgive me for hideously shortening the reply; I’m two nights without sleep today.

      I agree that the dynamic is what really sets the leads apart. We’ve seen the tsundere romantic interest a million times, but the way she interacts with Sadao is what makes the relationship so winning. It’s also true that the more complex characterization does wonders for the series.

      This is why I think it’s so important to credit the execution rather than the premise. What makes the series great isn’t what it’s about, but rather the way it tells itself.

      Kairi
      Reply

    3. Ah, a critic whose actually a critic rather than a hater, a relatively rare breed(pardon the word usage).You’re spot-on about relationships being fluid, not only is it more realistic(as much as you can expect from romcom genre) but it’s also more fun to watch – the only drawbacks I can think of is that for one it makes for more complicated and difficult writing for the author and if the audience has become more attached to one character there’s a chance the changes in character dynamics might be taken negatively(emphasize on ‘there’s a chance’ not necessarily always).

      anon
      Reply

      1. Thanks for the compliment. I think we can all agree that the irrationality of both haters and fanboys is a scourge on the internets…XP

        the only drawbacks I can think of is that for one it makes for more complicated and difficult writing for the author

        And the author of the original manga must be applauded for being willing to take such a risk. Few are willing or skilled enough to do so…

        Zen
        Reply

      2. >] “the only drawbacks I can think of is that for one it makes for more complicated and difficult writing for the author and if the audience has become more attached to one character there’s a chance the changes in character dynamics might be taken negatively(emphasize on ‘there’s a chance’ not necessarily always).”

        Can’t rightly deny the possibility, but I don’t see Hataraku as being very susceptible to that.

        An underlying brilliance of the story lies in the dual inclusion of Maou and Emi’s roles as hard working citizens and their supernatural counterparts of Demon Lord and Hero. And while we’re obviously focused on the former, the latter maintains itself as something of a faraway fantasy at the moment; and for anyone can remember what it’s like to be a kid… really, how can you NOT relate with that?

        That being said, you take that together with Maou and Emi’s current roles as two likable, yet hard working individuals… again, something that your average viewer is going to relate to quite well, and I find it more than a bit difficult to swallow that you’re going to come away liking one that much more than the other.

        In fact, if you think about it, it’s specifically because of how inseparable Maou and Emi are due to their former roles as the Demon Lord and Hero that they can only function as well as they are as a team.

        Ryan Ashlight
        Reply

      3. @Zen
        Okay so fans too, but while fans can be irrational and tend to exaggerate they’re usually positive and less harmful than haters(at least the majority of instances I’ve seen) other than when they are defending a show/character in which case they’re usually no better than haters.

        @Ryan Ashlight
        That was more of a generalized opinion on the matter, I wasn’t necessarily stating that it applies to this show – which btw you probably realized, just wanted to say it out loud.And while I do agree with your points, since this is only the second episode I’ll be reserving any form of judgement on the characters.

        anon
        Reply

      4. …less harmful than haters…

        Haters and fanboys are two sides of the same coin. At the core of the problem is irrationality- rash, impulsive people allowing their passions to distort their perspective, whether it be in a positive or negative light. An irrational person is labelled as a “fanboy” when his irrationality manifests as overwhelming positivity, whereas he is is a “hater” when it manifests as intense negativity- the fact of the matter is that both problems are really one and the same. It is an individual predisposition to being rash, impulsive and ultimately irrational in one’s evaluations that can manifest in both positive and negative ways- therefore most fanboys are also haters (For different things), and vice versa.

        Hating may tend to be more blatantly disruptive than fanboyism, but it doesn’t change the fact that both (unsavory) behaviors usually stem from the same root of irrationality existing within the same individuals. And we cannot hope to be rid of either nuisance without tackling this root problem which can only be done through an even-handed approach that attacks irrationality directly, also necessarily discouraging all behaviors that it produces equally including fanboyism and hate, allowing them no opportunity to flourish. For you cannot kill a weed by merely destroying its shoot system- you must uproot it, or it will quickly regrow…

        Zen
        Reply

      5. How I hate the duality of this world, but even though I don’t like the idea you’re are probably right, at least I currently don’t have anything to argue it’s wrong.Although I could argue there are alternative solutions, for instance discouraging negativity – probably not very healthy and destructive long term but effective temporarily.Second, awareness – if a person is irrational while being fully aware he/she is being irrational and still chooses to be so I think that person would be able to focus it in a harmless manner(assuming that he/she has high morale values).

        anon
        Reply

      6. if a person is irrational while being fully aware he/she is being irrational and still chooses to be so I think that person would be able to focus it in a harmless manner(assuming that he/she has high morale values).

        How much cognitive dissonance would it take for a person to choose to be irrational while also knowing it to be the case? And would it actually be possible as a practical matter to harbor such immense amounts of self-deception without having it spill over in majorly harmful ways into numerous other realms of human behavior? I think not. What you say sounds good in theory, but it’s such an idealistic notion that I very much doubt that anyone aside from philosophical/religious “imaginary men” would be able to pull it off convincingly…

        probably not very healthy and destructive long term but effective temporarily.

        Is it morally upstanding to argue for temporary solutions when you know full well that there is a permanent one you could administer, simply because you are emotionally partial to one type of behavior over the other? Is not morality all about abandoning one’s own emotional biases for the greater good as prescribed by the rules of logic? How much better are you than those who you accuse of irrationality if you cannot abandon it yourself? It is a doctor’s duty under the Hippocratic oath to administer the best cure possible for every one of his patients- if he secretly administers some kind of temporary symptomatic relief/placebo to prolong the illness simply because he is interested in a particular disease and wishes to study it more, he is clearly being immoral, the violation of his oath notwithstanding…

        Zen
        Reply

      7. Before I say anything else, my apologies if I seem like I’m intruding. This is a rather fascinating conversation, so I couldn’t help myself. *_*

        >] “How much cognitive dissonance would it take for a person to choose to be irrational while also knowing it to be the case?”

        “Irrationality” according to whom? The person in question or you?

        If we’re talking about the person in question, then can whatever actions we’re talking about really be said to be irrational?

        It’s generally accepted that the mind isn’t out to rationalize itself with respect to others, but with respect to itself.

        To put it a bit differently, when was the last time you ever did something that didn’t make even the slightest bit of sense to you?

        And if we’re talking about you, then don’t we arrive at essentially the same problem? Obviously no one person is any kind of objective standard for rationality, so the best you could say is that you either don’t understand the person’s mindset or that their actions conflict with a majority opinion.

        >] “And would it actually be possible as a practical matter to harbor such immense amounts of self-deception without having it spill over in majorly harmful ways into numerous other realms of human behavior?”

        If we’re talking about one being truly self-deceiving to one’s self, then I’d say no.

        However, if we’re talking about intentional deception, then I think it fair to say the answer depends on two key factors:

        1.) What kind of deception it is.

        2.) The person himself/herself.

        I think it fairly obvious that people deceive themselves, for better or worse, all the time; obviously to varying degrees and what not. It’s something we can and do grow accustomed to, so I don’t think it fair to rule out the potential of possibility in this case.

        Ryan Ashlight
        Reply

      8. If we’re talking about the person in question, then can whatever actions we’re talking about really be said to be irrational? It’s generally accepted that the mind isn’t out to rationalize itself with respect to others, but with respect to itself.

        With respect to the norms of society as a whole, obviously. What society would deem to be rational, level-headed behavior is generally assumed to be rational. In law there is this thing called a rational actor test. Basically it is an approximation of rationality based upon what the usual reaction of a typical member of society would be to a certain situation.

        There is no definitive way to know, short of mind-reading or the person being able to lay out his thought processes to you methodically (Not many people are able to do this), whether any individual’s thought processes actually have rational reasoning behind them or not. But what we can assess are their reactions to external stimuli- so the best we can do as a society is to assume that those reactions that diverge so far from the norm that they are unlikely to be rational are indeed irrational. It’s an imperfect system, but that’s as good as it gets. Even if rationality is indeed perfectly subjective as you seem to imply, society doesn’t operate that way, so tough luck for the outliers who can’t explain themselves, I guess…

        I think it fairly obvious that people deceive themselves, for better or worse, all the time; obviously to varying degrees and what not. It’s something we can and do grow accustomed to, so I don’t think it fair to rule out the potential of possibility in this case.

        Never said that people don’t deceive themselves, only that when they do it consciously, knowing full well that there is no rational basis for their actions, they are acting irresponsibly and immorally. Everybody’s irrational sometimes, usually unconsciously, but when you know that you are being irrational, knowing full well of a better rational alternatives- you are being immoral if you choose act irrationally nonetheless. It’s the knowledge-culpability dichotomy.

        You cannot prosecute the insane in a court of law because they lack the proper culpability, even if they did do something “wrong” or “irrational” they only did so because they didn’t know what they were doing was “wrong” due to insanity. An insanity defense doesn’t fly simply because a person has mental health issues, the problem must be so severe that they are demonstrably incapable of understanding the concept of the wrongness of their actions.

        My proposition is a deontological one: People should act rationally whenever they are able to but it is okay to act irrationally if you have no knowledge of your irrationality because you cannot act rationally without knowing that an action is rational. Your actions become immoral only when you have full knowledge of the irrationality and yet choose to act irrationally nonetheless because you were able to act rationally but consciously did not.

        It is derailed completely if you assume the perfect subjectivity of rationality (Which is an idea that is generally unaccepted by society) or if you believe that irrational actions are in some scenarios superior to rational ones in bringing about desirable results- your prerogative what you want to believe- it is after all, a completely normative argument…

        Zen
        Reply

      9. Wait, why did you assume my suggestion would require self-deception?Unless you assume that people can’t make irrational choices consciously and intentionally, I don’t think self-deception would be necessary.Maybe we have different definitions for irrationality?To use a example, I think a person choosing to eat a hamburger over a healthy,well-balanced meal on the basis that the hamburger would be more tasty is irrational but that person in most cases would be fully aware that his/her choice is irrational – unless of course if you consider personal preference and emotions as forms of rationalizations in which case this wouldn’t withstand(although that would probably rule-out any or most instances of being irrational) but still I fail to see the necessity of self-deception.If anything I would imagine self-deception requires unawareness not awareness.

        I realize this wasn’t directed at me but I disagree that every intentional irrational choice would be immoral.For instance feeding a stray cat isn’t rational, it doesn’t have any advantages to the person save perhaps some sense of emotional fulfillment and it’s also waste of food/resources to the person but not immoral(maybe we have different definitions on morality as well?).
        Btw, I agree with your argument on temporary solutions.

        To avoid any confusion(at least these would be my definitions in this case),
        irrational behavior: actions/choices that stray from the path dictated best/most productive by reason and logic.
        self-deception: self-explanatory the act of deceiving one’s own self.
        immoral behavior: actions that are harmful to others.

        Sorry if my replies seem crude, unfortunately anime aren’t the only things that suffer from time constraints and I’ve never been very good at writing.

        anon
        Reply

      10. Emotional fulfillment can be a perfectly rational reason for action. “Charity makes me feel good about myself so I donate- or feed a cat or something.” The goal according to my argument here is to maximize long-run, lasting happiness- and psychological well-being is big part of that, which charity can help immensely.

        And eating fast food isn’t necessarily irrational. Abandoning moderation with fast food is probably irrational, but if you’re in a rush and don’t have a choice? Or if you want to treat yourself to something greasy once every two months? (Highly beneficial to your psychological well-being with minimal impact on your physical health.) I think not.

        Ultimately, it comes down to a difference of rules. The rule that I am using here assumes that anything irrational is per se immoral if done with knowledge because you are knowingly reducing long-term, lasting happiness. I argue that it is immoral whenever a person knowingly does something that is clearly net detrimental to himself or society (Although “net” detrimental is an individualized thing with different cost-benefit equations depending on the person balanced of course with society’s interests). Whereas you require more for something to be immoral; it occurs only when you inflict harm upon another; a person can be completely irrational and still perfectly moral under your rule whereas under my rule he cannot.

        Self-deception according to your definition only occurs when someone actually deceives himself into believing that something which is untrue or irrational is in fact rational. Whereas my standard for self-deception is much lower; it occurs whenever someone makes himself believe that there is any reason whatsoever to do something irrational (I.e. something that is clearly net detrimental to himself and society) regardless of his knowledge level. Just about anyone who acts irrationally, even when he is fully aware of the irrationality of his actions, is deceiving himself according to my definition of the term. So you’re right, different definitions is all…;)

        Zen
        Reply

  22. There is a saying: The secret of great comedy is timing.

    This is what the show has, its jokes and gags are perfectly timed even with its generic premise and stereotype cast. Every funny moment is executed brilliantly, Maou discovering that Emi had a cheap knife, the cutaway to Alsiel’s cooking, the arrest for of Maou and Emi, Alsiel’s locking the doors from Emi (which reduce her too a sobbing mess). All of this managed to get a chuckle out of me and its great.

    On a meta level I can’t help but think of this show as commentary on mundane life. The cast are all special and powerful and Ente Isla but here they are just average people just trying hard to make a living. I think anyone can relate to that.

    fragb85
    Reply

  26. This is… This Anime… Wow. It’s quite hilarious how normal Maou has become. Emila was correct, he’s just become a normal public servant under the facade that he’ll move up in life and eventually conquer Japan financially. But watching Emila completely break down and how Sadaou handles it compared to his servant is quite a treat to watch.

    J_the_Man
    Reply

  28. This show has been brilliant so far in term of humor and characters interactions. Anyone want to bet the head priest who supposed to follow the heroein to this world is the one that shot at them?

    UFO
    Reply

  29. It’s funny, really, really funny. I probably laughed as hard as I did during the pilot episode.

    The main draw of a story is usually the characters, and Hataraku is certainly doing itself a great favour by putting in some brilliant interactions that are hilarious yet meaningful. Aside from that, one realises that this isn’t a complete comedy because we have the introduction of the unseen magic bullet sniper and the two texts that Maou received simultaneously, suggesting that things WILL get serious in time to come.

    In the meantime, I find it wonderfully entertaining to see Maou and Yusa interact with each other. Yusa’s reactions are simply too cute or funny and it’s really quite a reversal to see Maou being the calm one here.

    One or two more episodes, and I believe even the stuffiest naysayer would consider jumping onto this boat. 🙂

    Owaranai
    Reply

  30. And as I promised, here I am.
    It’s good to know that we are in the second episode, and things only get better in “Hataraku Maou-sama”, both the jokes and the characters. Always remember not to judge a book by its cover, give the opportunity to see if it’s fun.

    Congratulations on your first post Kairi, excellent work, you’ve got me for all season lol XD

    Shadow74
    Reply

    1. I think it’s a testament to great production that this is working out as well as it is. I never thought I’d even give it a second look this season and now I’m eagerly awaiting next week.

      Thanks Shadow! I’m glad you enjoyed reading it! ^^

      Kairi
      Reply

  31. Loving this show so far, the conversations between the two leads are fantastic. Especially the scene where Emi goes visit Sadao at work and demands that he comes and see her afterwards, and he plays it off like she’s a normal customer just trying to order a burger- just some great writing and the comedy has been pretty spot on so far. And also, Hikasa Yoko playing a tsundere in an anime is always something I can get behind, as I think she’s wonderful. =3
    Congrats on your first review, Kairi- looking forward to your blogging of this!

    katsudon
    Reply

  41. lol. Emilia is so cute.

    She turns into a stalker, tries to kill him with a 100 yen knife and mistaken by the police as a lover’s quarrel and went from threatening infront of Maou’s apartment to pleading to let her in then cried.

    I keep smiling throughout the episode.

    Best Yuusha ever. XD

    I’m already shipping those two to be together.

    Vaan
    Reply

  45. The Soundtrack!!! XD Especially when he explains his nonsense-plan to conquer the world!
    Great episode, a little weaker than the last one, but still, glad to see they dont rely on fanservice too much.

    Libelula
    Reply

  46. So excited to see this anime getting blogged here, so thanks for that Kairi! I really love the chemistry between the characters. Lots of humor in this episode, just like the first one and I can’t wait for the next one.

    cHinzo
    Reply

  47. I just really love this show. The comedy is really on point and has me cracking up out of nowhere looking like some weirdo with headphones on in a quiet room. But it’s not all snorts and giggles, they’ve really balanced it out with great character development and interaction as well. It’s interesting to see how Hero Emilia kind of shrivels up without her companions. Makes you wonder if she didn’t have them back at Ente Isla, would she have any bothered to hunt down Maou. Now there’s someone else around that knows about them possibly, a damsel caught in the crossfire, and budding feelings possibly on Emilia’s part. I’m thinking love triangle of doom here! Can’t wait for the next episode, ahhhh I hate waiting! Lol. Apologize to all the Sadaos in Japan!

    Axel
    Reply

  48. Hikasa Yoko did a fabulous job. Can’t stop laughing at the door scene; the yelling, the screaming, the threatening, and the crying. Sounds exactly like the hysterical girlfriend scene I’ve seen in my old neighborhood.

    anon
    Reply

    1. Totally agreed. Yusa was so endearing there. I actually didn’t expect her to cry in that scene. I thought she’d just blabber on until Maou was annoyed enough to let her in. Yoko-san was simply great in that scene.

      Zhinvu
      Reply

  49. This is definitely the best show of the season so far. This premise is brilliant, and execution is topnotch.

    As far as the mysterious attacker, IM guessing it might be that high priest’s doing. Maybe he purposely didnt enter the portal so he can be the new world dominator and sent some cronies to make sure the hero and maou doesnt return. I can very well see the hero and maou teaming up to save their world in the future.

    YanDaMan
    Reply

  52. Can’t really add much to what’s already been said other than I agree that this show is doing an excellent job so far. The character interaction has just the right balance. Emilia on the surface is doing a much better job (literally and figuratively) living in the “RL”, but yet I can’t help but think in some respects Maou is adapting just as well in his own way. Maybe even better.

    Originally I thought the show would just revolve around the “fish out of water” premise, but to its credit, it’s not so one dimensional.

    The acting is right on point, the humor is excellent and employs perfect timing, the art, the music, the direction… what else can I say? Hataraku Maou-sama! is well on its way to prove that great execution is just as important to a series as having a good premise.

    Kairi – that’s a perfect way to sum things up IMO and I couldn’t agree more – especially the last part. Execution is critical for good storytelling. Great job on the review and very much looking forward to next week’s episode.

    daikama
    Reply

  57. amazing aniem so far 🙂 I enjoyed and laughed so hard when she was waiting outside their house to check out their evil plan XD (still not used to the names) the White-haired guy is like ‘lets go get another run for the eggs’ and the ‘evil’ Mao-sama is like ‘no thats against the rules’ LOL ok xD just funny, thanks for your review! Cheers, M.

    Mi-Chan
    Reply

  58. Some of my favorite parts have to be when Maoh went to his evil face, Maoh just replying to Emi as a “customer” the whole time, and when they were at the store in line and Ashiya was like “should we go and get in line again for the sale” scene. Hilarious, and totally relate-able lol.

    Jel
    Reply

  59. I’m just going to take a wild guess at who shot the magic bullets at Maou and Emi. It’s not a spoiler, but if I’m right then it would spoil.

    Show Spoiler ▼

    And no I haven’t read the manga that was just a guess based off the info we learned from this episode.

    agr0n
    Reply

  60. Lol I been watching the the show.Im not sure how this works tho(Maou Sadaou HAHAHAHAHAHa)In the magic world triggered a war that went to four different islands that well almost with out a doubt killied hundred or thousands and yet hes so different in this world.Be like Hitler transfering into another world right before berlin fell and instead hes not such a bad guy after all.But maybe theres more to it I dunno gotta keep watching.I do actually wanna see him and Emi hook up.Im also like c’mon Maou tell her you have 2 extra tickets to a movie and you dont want the other one wasted or tell her you dont know how this human world works you lost your number ask her for hers.Unless shes really mad at Maou for Etna Isle ok forget it how a hug or eskimo kiss

    Somchai
    Reply

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