Comments on To Aru Majustu no Index · 3:14am Oct 4th, 2018
Friendly reminder that the new chapter of Magical Girl Sunny is currently online and this is here so it won't bog down the experience.
Before anyone objects over this not being magical girl show, Index (character) is a girl, has magical powers (sorta) and fights evil. Also other girls in the show either have magical or esper powers, so there's that. Look, I just want an excuse to talk about "Toaru" series, because OMG THIRD SEASON! 
Spoilers: I like this series. A lot!
The basic premise: in this world there are espers, people with superpowers (think: X-Men mutants, but with more physics based powers) and everyone is aware. In fact, the main setting is a city that's a huge academy researching it and most of it's students are espers. There's also magic, but the public doesn't know about it, but it totally exists. And then there's Touma- our main hero, a sarcastic main dude with power to nullify any power (before it was popular, looking at you, Black Clover, you mediocre okay'ish show I'm too old to truly enjoy!) with his right hand. And there's Index, a young nun-in training (because Church in this world is absolutely into magic) that has 10k magical grimoire's locked inside her brain for safekeeping. There's also Misaka, a girl with electrical powers who can shoot coins like bullets, hence her nickname- "Railgun". She's a tsundere, so Japan loves her and she gets a spinoff manga/anime.
Also, there's like a hundred more characters. Thusands actually, but I won't spoil the Clone Saga Sisters Arc, don't worry about it.
There are a lot of things I love about "To Aru" franchise. We get to see a modern take on magical setting, mixed with scientific-ish super powers in a world that actually wants to know more about them, research, see where they go instead of doing what every superhero franchise does, which is to treat them as anathema and fear it because they know nothing about it. Despite having human Railguns, clones, magical girls (a few, actually), vampires, alchemists, evil Church that uses magic (admittedly, the most believeable part of the world), battle nuns and layers upon layers of masquarades, plots and intrigues, this world actually makes sense! What you don't know isn't a plothole, but an information you've not discovered yet and I for one can't wait to get some more answers.
But what really drives this, are characters. Calling them by tropes would be a disservice, cause most of them are more than they originally seem.
Accelerator is a typical supervillain but... but... no, I can't spoil it. He's awesome. Different example!
Kuroko, a clingy, almost 'rapey' female friend of Misaka will at first be seen as just that- a creepy girl that would otherwise be a bad character, but give her some time and while she doesn't stop being who she is and we don't even get a real context into her behavior, we started to see that she's more than her surface personality.
And that's how I would describe the whole show (shit, I'm not done with the 'review', but I can't waste a good segue!)- it looks like a generic shounen action series. And don't get me wrong, it's very good at the action part (Touma vs Accelerator still one of my favorite fights ever), but there's way more to unpack. And a lot of twists that change the nature of the beast, so much so that I can barely talk without ruining the experience.
I know that this is the most vague I got about the plot (of the shows I watched), but that's because it's best go in blind. If it doesn't grab you, it won't be the end of the world. But if you skipped it for whatever reason, then I'm giving it my seal of approval, maybe that'll convince you.
Also, a word about "To Aru Kagaku no Railgun" (A certain Scientific Thing Called Railgun), which is a Misaka spin-off.
I'll say it straight, I wasn't a fan of Misaka during the actual show so I was hesitant about watching two seasons entirely about her, but fear not: It's good. The main four girls really play off of each other well, and the more grounded, scientific world is better explored in this series. By grounded I mean world of superpowers, but hey, I'll take it. And I warmed up to Misaka slightly along the way, though she's still not best girl.
While I'm at it, Komoe-sensei is best girl. 
Anyone who watched the shows knows why. And no, she's not underage. I think... actually, I have no idea. Again, not a plothole, but a mystery!
Long story short, watch it, it's good. I waited too long for season three and I will watch the smack out of it!
Most people I know think Scientific Railgun > Magical Index.
The animes, at least. The anime of Index cuts out a lot from the
mangalight novels.Certain Magical Index is probably the second best example of https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AnimeCatholicism after Blue Exorcist.
Come to think of it, Saint Young Men is surprisingly light on any references to Catholicism or Christianity in general. The mangaka admitted it was because he really didn't know much about Christianity when he started it. But it's probably for the better that it focuses more on the man than the institution. Can't wait to see how the Live Action version goes.
https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-09-29/live-action-saint-young-men-net-series-debuts-on-october-18/.137466
Ooh, a series I've not only heard of, but am slowly working my way through!
I don't wanna spoil anything either, but as someone that doesn't really care for heavy action (especially with the way everyone and their dog stops every few swings to carefully explain the exact mechanics of what they're doing, as is weirdly standard in 'serious' anime, but I think even that is well-handled here) and/or tons of explicit blood and gore, I've found this series enjoyable enough to stick with it anyway. Helps that the Railgun series is a lot lighter and softer even when it catches up to her side of the Accelerator arc, even if I had to keep a wikipedia page open to watch things in chronological order. I messed that part up by not feeling invested until most of the way through the first season, but I don't think it made that much difference.
Accelerator is indeed interesting, but I won't explain why either. Misaka said coyly, deliberately tickling the interest of potential viewers.
The details of most of the powers are interesting, Railgun's tsundere-ing is more adorable than I'd have expected once it picks up, and even with as bleak and horrific as some arcs get, everyone remotely important curiously tends to walk away just fine. I guess it helps living in the city with the most advanced medical research on earth. I keep expecting to hear that Frog Doc is secretly a rogue angel or something. And not the kind with a leather jacket and a motorbike. Well, not just that kind, anyway.
Dude, until like few years ago, I thought I was one of a few people that loved this show!
Then I looked around, and am so happy to see all the love...
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING BEING HYPE FOR SEASON III AFTER ALL THESE YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What are you most hyped about?
Ahh yes, Accelerator. He's more than just his actual name for those who watched the show. Why you ask? Best to watch it and find out why.
He's still stuck with Misaka Misaka isn't he?
I am one of those weirdos who likes Railgun better than Index - in no small part because I think Misaka makes a much better main character Toma. Give me a female lead with awesome powers over a boring guy any day. Index herself does help, but the interactions between the main four of Railgun matches that.
That said, both shows are very good, and the fact that we have a third season of Index coming makes me very, very happy.
Swetest Motherest of all the Holy *yay*... the To Aru Franchise.... I won't lie EVERY VERSION OF MYSELF HAS A MASSIVE CRUSH ON BUG ZAPPER / RAILGUN (Yes even the "Gender swap" ones)...
This said, I must say Index was one of those animes I wtched on a whim and made me do my best imitation of a fish (Got caught hook, line, sinker and beyond...) the series is awesome, and need to find a way to read the light novels, because I heard it becomes more epic, more dangerous and more displeasing (We all are looking at you Touma...)...
On the multiversal side of the things, Imagine Breaker (the Mythical Academy City "Esper Lv 0" ability) happens to be one of those thangs I can't use, xconsidering that the effect of Imagine Breaker itself is the one negating my access to Imagine Breaker
finally, as an odd note, Index and Railgun were so good, than to the TV Channel "Imagen" here in Mexico I call it, guess what, Imagine Breaker, and yes, I'm over hyped to see the new seasonal pass of Index, an oasis in the Desert anime has become with the ending of Gundam Build Divers, Overlord III and Hi Score gurl...
4947894
wasn't Misaka Misaka that one clone that achieved the coveted status of Misaka's "Little Sister"...? Poncho Asks, genuinelly curious since It has been so long since he saw Index / Railgun....
4948202
Yes, yes she is.
I knew Index S3 was on the way but I still don't know when.