First Impressions / To Aru Kagaku no Railgun

「超電磁砲量産計画 (レディオノイズけいかく)」 (Cho Denji Ho Ryosan Keikaku (Redionoizu Kei Kaku))
“Railgun Mass-Production Plan (Radio Noise Project)”

Ah, human curiosity. There’s just nothing quite like it. On one hand, it’s the thing that makes us avoid things out of fear and let’s us life our lives without going insane. On the other hand, it’s the thing that makes it so we have to know about something—regardless of the risks that come with it. Usually, life throws us situations that let us choose between the two… but sometimes, you just don’t get the choice. As Misaka finds out this week, sometimes life just forces you into doing something—that and, sometimes, the ridiculous rumors you’ve been hearing about? They just might have some basis. And while it’s true that ignorance is a bliss at times, this sure ain’t one of them—as it’s confirmed that Misaka’s DNA was indeed used for an alternative purpose.

Needless to say, it’s something that really tests the ethics behind proper scientific experimentation—though I guess it’s more like something that violates virtually every ethics law we have in place right now—and it’s a notion that begs the million dollar question: “at what point do you argue something is worth it?” Because if there’s one thing that I believe, it’s that there are some things out there that may be worth sacrificing quite some things for. Don’t get me wrong—there’s no way I’d ever do something like the blatant breach of proper informed consent like the doctors at Yamashita University did (or anything regarding this plan in the first place), but at the same time… if you really wanted to argue about it, there’s a lot you could argue about here.

After all, it does arguably make a whole lot of sense to try and mass produce Level 5’s for military purposes if you could—considering their low natural occurrence in nature and the potential enemies that are out there in their universe (those of you that have watched Index in particular would know what I’m talking about). In that context, ensuring the basic survival of your city and livelihood… well, that’s theoretically worth violating a few laws for… right? Or is it? Again, it all goes back to what makes something worth the investment or violation of laws/guidelines, and it’s admittedly quite an interesting question when applied with what we know here. Though, in the end, the key point is the term “what we know here…”

…as it sure doesn’t seem like the experiment’s over yet. Misaka ends up not realizing the additional implications of Shinobu’s words (“the purpose and details have changed since I left”) this week in one of the more epic “OH WOW, SHE JUST MISSED HER” moments in recent history, but there’s definitely some shady things going on that definitely weren’t in the original experiment. Alas, it looks like they’ll be content to keep the exact details hidden a bit longer though, as it doesn’t look like we’ll get the reveal just yet. Of course, those of you that watched Index already know the specifics on this, but for those many readers that haven’t watched Index yet, I’d like you to keep your spoilers regarding the experiment to a minimum (and to spoiler tags if you really need to say it).

Ultimately, I gotta say—that what was the best Railgun S episode by far. I suppose it’s not that surprising given the fact the first two episodes were pretty much just setting up the developments here, but yeah, what can I say? They managed to do a pretty nice job piecing together the puzzle pieces we were left previously—the purpose of the cash cards was a nice touch especially—and they topped it off with some of the nice humorous moments we’ve come to love about this series as well. There’s just nothing like seeing Misaka theoretically get owned multiple times in quick succession by Shinobu for one (RESPECT YOUR ELDERS!), no replacement for Kuroko’s reverse pedobear moment, and no words to describe the hilarity of the faces by Saten (I SPELT IT RIGHT THIS TIME, OKAY!?) over the cash cards and the insanity of Misaka just splurging 30K on clothing and renting a hotel room just to change to those clothes. In addition, it was pretty cool seeing Misaka’s “hacking” skills too. On a random note though… how exactly do you even enforce wearing uniforms everywhere outside of class exactly?

Author’s Note: Regarding the science in this episode, you can theoretically clone via the somatic cells from hair technique they used here. You’d need to pull the hair with the root though. We don’t have those chemicals they used to speed development to 14 days however. Insert random reference here.

**EDIT: Due to personal reasons, coverage of Railgun S 04 will be delayed. As the nature of these circumstances were quite sudden, I was unable to find a substitute writer to cover this week. Depending on how circumstances work out, I may be able to get it out sometime early to mid-next week, but there is a significant possibility that a double post will be done next Friday instead. There is also a possible chance that I may not be available next week either, but I will try my best to ensure that there will be at least some kind of coverage next week.

 

Preview

66 Comments

  1. Last week I said how Saten-san has the nose to smell out money where ever it is. Little did I know that Saten-san is only an amateur in the eyes of Erii-chan; who happens to pull her God-Like stash in front of her. Poor Saten-san who was in shock and devastated by her defeat and one can only feel for her. Seems Misaka is really concerned that there might be a possibility that her DNA map might be used to make clones. Upon her investigation leads into a more in-depth understanding how the clones were made and how much ability they have compared to her. In the Toaru Majutsu no Index anime season one it doesn’t go into detail of the Sisters backstory like here in this episode.
    Anyone else noticed Yuka Iguchi’s voice from the mahou shoujo on the television that the guard was watching? If you’re not sure who that is it’s Index Seiyuu

    SilentCid
    Reply

  3. Zephyr, you have this review tagged under Index rather than Railgun.

    …Sorry, that’s the first thing I noticed, because I had a window open to all the Railgun reviews because I’d been watching the previous series and I wanted to see what had been said about them, so I just refreshed it, but this one didn’t show up there, so I knew something was wrong…

    Wanderer
    Reply

    2. On a random note though… how exactly do you even enforce wearing uniforms everywhere outside of class exactly?

      Well… this is Academy City. They have cameras all over the place. They catch an image of a Tokiwadai student not wearing a uniform, the next time that student shows up on campus they get in trouble. That would be my guess.

      Anyway, the way the information in that file was phrased, and the way that girl Mikoto talked to was speaking, there’s fair evidence even for Mikoto to realize that some clones have probably been made of her. But I can understand her reluctance to accept that anything like that could have happened, and how quickly she took hold of the reassuring idea that the project was terminated before any were grown.

      Wanderer
      Reply

      2. Well yes, the cameras definitely would be able to catch em’. But gosh darn, I mean, that’s pretty ridiculous, haha. YO YOU DIDN’T WEAR YO UNIFORM AND TOOK A STEP OUT OF THE DORM. MINUS FIVE ON NEXT EXAM.

        As for the latter, yeah. I agree that deep down, Misaka probably knows/accepts inside that there are maybe a few clones around, but is choosing to deny that at the moment. I think it can be said she doesn’t know the experiment itself is still going on though, or at least, she sure as heck doesn’t want to believe it is.

        Zephyr
        Reply

      1. Given how dark and brutal this arc is compared to everything else that has happened in the Index universe as a whole, it’s a good idea to ease into it by alternating horror and fluff. Although if it’s going to be 24 episodes again, it seems like it’ll catch up with the Railgun manga by the end of the season and we won’t see another Railgun series for at least a year or two.

        Rawr
        Reply

      3. Probably within the next 12-16 months after Railgun S finishes we’ll get To Aru Majutsu no Index III as the novels quite a large amount of content to cover and the final major arc of Season 2 really set things up for them. Also the production company seems to like alternating the series up so things stay fresh and they get enough content built up. A good system with sister series like these.

        Moridin
        Reply

  7. The claustrophobic atmosphere that sets up the entirety of the arc is absolutely delicious. And now with these Saten shenanigans, I knew it would be inevitable but they could at least talk about something more interesting than strawberry oden, one of the beverages from hell.

    Gaze of Providence
    Reply

      2. This entire arc happens before the Accelerator/Sisters arc in Index.

        The first episode of Index corresponds to just before episode 4 of Railgun season 1. However, the shows are not on the same timescale, as the entirety of Railgun to at least the end of the current arc occurs before episode 10 of Index season 1. Basically the events in Index happen across a longer timeframe (we are told that some time has passed between episodes 9 and 10 of Index). It also seems longer because the MAR arc was anime original and has to be slotted into place between the Level Upper and Sisters arcs of Railgun, which originally directly followed each other.

        Void
        Reply

      3. I wrote this down a bit further but it seems to have more use here.

        “Also to further confuse things Season one of Railgun removed a lot of timeline references from Index (and moved a lot of things around like Kongo Mitsuko’s introduction) while adding in anime only content (Poltergeist and Big Spider Arcs aka the complete second half of the series) which was later by the manga acknowledged as cannon and retroactively added into the time line.”

        That’s the time line of course MAJOR SPOILERS
        http://toarumajutsunoindex.wikia.com/wiki/Story_Timeline

        Moridin
        Reply

      1. He could also go back and note that your reviews for this season of Railgun are more complete than any previous reviews for Railgun, short of the OVA. Omni didn’t go into a lot of detail when he was doing the first season. I would say that, in both relative and absolute terms, you’re doing a perfectly fine job reviewing this series.

        Wanderer
        Reply

      2. Like comparing apples and oranges. Season 1 was side story, but with the Sisters arc you’re dealing with canon. Season 1 even at its most serious could never hold a match to the weight of this arc. Omni had a different approach more suited to the type of material that was covered. And conversely Zephyr is doing a good job matching the more serious tone of Railgun S.

        spike
        Reply

  14. And we were all admiring Saten-san’s money finding skills last week, only to come across the real master in Haruue.

    BTW, Saten-san looks gorgeous in her twin pigtails.

    Anonymous
    Reply

  15. I always thought the story of Index happened BEFORE Railgun, since she is already acquainted with Touma in Railgun S1.
    That confused because it won’t make sense to go through the Sister arc (Railgun S2) when it already happened in Index.

    TSouL
    Reply

  17. Harue isn’t even in the manga at this point. She shows up way later as a nod to her anime appearance, making her a backport character. She is similar to Saten in that her anime appearance is way earlier and her importance way higher than in the source material.

    Void
    Reply

      1. Also to further confuse things Season one of Railgun removed a lot of timeline references from Index (and moved a lot of things around like Kongo Mitsuko’s introduction) while adding in anime only content (Poltergeist and Big Spider Arcs aka the complete second half of the series) which was later by the manga acknowledged as cannon and retroactively added into the time line.

        I’m honestly wondering how much of the manga tie ins with Index the Railgun S anime is going to do this time as the first time around, it was still in the air if Index II was going to be produced and therefore if they wanted to tie Railgun so strongly to Index.

        Moridin
        Reply

  21. I wonder how Satomi Arai’s husband feels about his wife voicing Kuroko (ONEE-SAMAAA!!!). Haha. Maybe he’s fan, or not? What do you think? (Yes, Satomi Arai, Kuroko’s seiyuu, IS married)

    foureyeszerosoul
    Reply

  22. Railgun S is certainly making me to speed through Index series and the first Railgun. It also feel like this season’s GuP where 1 episodeper week doesn’t feel enough.

    I don’t have mych complains bout the blogging thus far but the biggest despair is the lack of full lenghts. FUKODA!!!!!! To quote Touma. (Correct me if I spelt wrongly)

    And idea if later source materials for Index and Railgun runs parallel to each other? I.e. events in both series are in the exact same timeline running concurrently?

    “Where’s my tsundere Accelerator-chan?” says 2710 says c2710 as c2710 tries to contain his excitement.

    SPOILER – For first time watchers and are curious about the fate of the clones, Index I is there to spoilfor you.

    c2710
    Reply

    1. For time line, there is a cannon timeline. Also this is important Railgun is a spin off Manga written by a different author then Index which is a light novel series. However both Mangaka and Author correspond to get things straight apparently. As such both sides are considered cannon and parallel to each other. In story Index covers both Magic and Science sides of the story while Railgun ignores magic all together and is only the Science side. However since Index is the main series of the two (Railgun is considered a side story) it always has a LARGE gap in the chronology.

      However so far in terms of content the manga covers the events of the novels from Mikoto’s perspective while having her own independent adventures and most of the time she act’s totally independent from Touma as he does from her in Index. Also characters from both series often make cameo appearances in each medium (so far Saten is the only character to never be formally seen in the Index Anime).

      A good rule of thumb for shared arcs is does Mikoto appear in the Index Arc beyond a cameo y/n and does she fight. Generally that determines if Railgun will cover the arc. In Volume 7 there is an Index reference its basically only one cast off page and its an entire mini arc in Season 1 of Index.

      Moridin
      Reply

  23. By the way, while watching the fansub, that one scene with Misaka looking at the computer screen it it shows ,a href=”https://randomc.net/image/To%20Aru%20Kagaku%20no%20Railgun/To%20Aru%20Kagaku%20no%20Railgun%20S%20-%2003%20-%20Large%2030.jpg” title=””Sisters”> the Kanji above it means “Super Railgun Mass Production Project” I don’t know why it translates to “Radio Noise” above it, or whether Radio Noise was already on the screen and not something the subbers put in themselves, because it has nothing to do with what the Kanji actually means. (P.S. The kanji below says “Last Report”)

    Chen2
    Reply

      1. The author of Index LNs has a special way of placing furigana over ability and project names in the series. In this specific example, the project’s furigana is read as Radio Noise (you will find out why if you keep watching)

        Innocentius
        Reply

  24. Just a heads up guys:

    Due to personal reasons, coverage of Railgun S 04 will be delayed. As the nature of these circumstances were quite sudden, I was unable to find a substitute writer to cover this week. Depending on how circumstances work out, I may be able to get it out sometime early to mid-next week, but there is a significant possibility that a double post will be done next Friday instead. There is also a possible chance that I may not be available next week either, but I will try my best to ensure that there will be at least some kind of coverage next week.

    Zephyr
    Reply

  28. I’m a big fan of Raigun and Index, but for the former here I have mixed feelings more often than for the latter. Kuroko drives me up a goddamned wall; she has an awesome power and the wherewithal to use it well, and when she backs Mikoto it’s absolutely excellent, but her insulting, psychotic lesbianism just effing pisses me off to no end. Why is it in some anime and manga it’s A-OK for someone to heap this kind of fsckery on someone else so long as it’s a girl who’s the abuser? Ugh. It’s an insult to actual lesbians and girls in general.

    Sigh. Okay, so aside from that I’m thrilled about Railgun S; the action showcased in the OP, the new (to anime viewers) characters, and the gorgeous animation are all huge plusses.

    Ashen
    Reply

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