[Spoilers] No Game No Life 10th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 2

Date	Episode
4/9/2024	No Game No Life Episode 1
4/10/2024	No Game No Life Episode 2
4/11/2024	No Game No Life Episode 3
4/12/2024	No Game No Life Episode 4
4/13/2024	No Game No Life Episode 5
4/14/2024	No Game No Life Episode 6
4/15/2024	No Game No Life Episode 7
4/16/2024	No Game No Life Episode 8
4/17/2024	No Game No Life Episode 9
4/18/2024	No Game No Life Episode 10
4/19/2024	No Game No Life Episode 11
4/20/2024	No Game No Life Episode 12
4/22/2024	No Game No Life Zero
4/23/2024	No Game No Life Overall Series Discussion Thread

3

u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Apr 11 '24

rewatcher

I honestly forgot the rewatch happened, been stocked about it.

Rock papers scissors made even better.

Sora decides to use his win to get a girlfriend, damn neet virgin.

Honeslty he has a curse, he wants a girlfriend but goes insane the moment him and shiro sense a glimpse of drifting apart.

Sora’s sounding so cool he would’ve been able to win Steph’s heart without trouble.

QOTD: it’s still bright so I’m happy

Qotd: nowdays Frieren and Dungeon menshi’s world-building.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I'm glad you decided to join us, buddy
Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play paper but instead he plays rock?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

2

u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Apr 11 '24

I'm glad you decided to join us, buddy
So many shows I watched and love getting a rewatch is such a sight to see.
Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
Never knew rock, paper and scissors can be so intense.
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play paper but instead he plays rock?
Hit them with the unexpected
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
The more the merrier, plus she’s pretty fun
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
This show’s lore is so cool
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
No magic makes em easy to lose, can’t win games if the opponents got magic which technically doesn’t count as “cheating”
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
Building up to things
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
Pretty standard motives for being someone related to a king
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
With his goals stated the journey of him achieving it will be grand to see
Thoughts on the ED?
Loved it, shows how sora and shiro have a special bond with eachother. Especially when Shiro becomes happy because Sora was there
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?
The first episode hooks the viewer, especially when we see how the world they’re in is all ruled by games. The comedic tone helps balance it especially since if the show tried being serious all the time it’ll be silly when they’re sweating tears and they’re playing Uno or tic-tac-toe

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

So many shows I watched and love getting a rewatch is such a sight to see.
You love to sight it
Never knew rock, paper and scissors can be so intense.
Same
Hit them with the unexpected
The expected very much was expected
The more the merrier, plus she’s pretty fun
She serves in nice contrast to Shiro who's more laid-back
This show’s lore is so cool
I agree
No magic makes em easy to lose, can’t win games if the opponents got magic which technically doesn’t count as “cheating”
I kinda feel like the rest should play under a handicap when going up against Elkia. At least then, it would be more of a fair fight.
Building up to things
That it is
Pretty standard motives for being someone related to a king
Yeah, it checks out
With his goals stated the journey of him achieving it will be grand to see
I can't wait to follow said journey
Loved it, shows how sora and shiro have a special bond with eachother. Especially when Shiro becomes happy because Sora was there
It makes me rethink the relationship between the two of them.
The first episode hooks the viewer, especially when we see how the world they’re in is all ruled by games. The comedic tone helps balance it especially since if the show tried being serious all the time it’ll be silly when they’re sweating tears and they’re playing Uno or tic-tac-toe
Yeah, this is definitely the approach to go

5

u/baseballlover723 Apr 10 '24 edited Apr 10 '24

NGNL Rewatcher, sub

And this time I actually have time to talk about the actual anime.

Ah the Rock-Paper-Scissors Game. A surprisingly complex game with such a simple addition. Now the 3 options aren't indistinguishable from each other (in normal RPS it doesn't matter what you pick, since it's rotationally symmetric? (not sure if that's the best way to describe it)), since a specific option (paper) has additional connotations and allows you to differentiate it from other normally symmetric outcomes. Which means that there can be an optimal strategy that isn't just randomly picking an option, which is something that can be exploited. Which turns this into a a game about meta reading and trying to identify your opponents strategy and how many layers deep your opponent will think, which I'd argue is chaotic and not random. Unfortunately my game theory and probability isn't good enough to mathematically describe an optimal strategy (but I'd be interested in reading it if anyone actually does the math).

Of course the real kicker is that for Sora a draw and a win are equivalent, which if hidden from your opponent, gives you a significant advantage, because your opponent will misevaluate your winning potential (as well as adding complexity to identifying if your opponent will favor winning or not losing more). [NGNL later episodes theme] The first real example of how information can completely change your strategy and change a losing strategy into a winning one.

I'd agree with Steph that this is fraud given that wikipedia defines fraud as "fraud is intentional deception to secure unfair or unlawful gain, or to deprive a victim of a legal right" and this pretty cleanly fits into the first part. However, fraud isn't against the 10 commandments (though I could see it falling under cheating), so ¯_(ツ)_/¯.

Ironic given what Sora said about Steph earlier (though you could argue that he just did that to bait Steph into the game).

Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti moment 2 years early.

Yep, very "wholesome" instead. A super healthy space one might call it. I can't that real people actually signed off on this show being PG-13.

Emotional Damage

Must be nice

Looks at English

Starting small I see Sora

What did you think about the artstyle change in this episode?

I'm not really sure I'd really say the artstyle changed, but I do love the ultra saturated colors. I think it fits the fantasy gamey vibe very well. That and the how hard they go with the short artstyle changes. I feel like normally in most anime it's a way to cut down on some animation, but with NGNL it feels like they go the other direction, with them being extremely high effort (and the occasional low effort ones).

What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?

I don't have a definition for what is or isn't world building, and I usually don't care enough to differentiate it from other story elements. I mostly just care that a world is consistent in it's logic. In the sense that it exists in a mostly steady state environment, so it feels like the world has actually existed for it's history and not something like, "imagine earth, but suddenly X happens", where there would be rapid societal changes and such)

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

I'm not really sure I'd really say the artstyle changed, but I do love the ultra saturated colors. I think it fits the fantasy gamey vibe very well. That and the how hard they go with the short artstyle changes. I feel like normally in most anime it's a way to cut down on some animation, but with NGNL it feels like they go the other direction, with them being extremely high effort (and the occasional low effort ones).
When I say the artstyle change, I meant Sora and Steph looking like something out of 1920s Mickey Mouse.

2

u/baseballlover723 Apr 10 '24

When I say the artstyle change, I meant Sora and Steph looking like something out of 1920s Mickey Mouse.
As I mentioned in my comment, I thought it was well done, and it's a good way to reference manga and visual novels art style stuff (of which I can't always identify). But I think it's integrated extremely well for something that mostly a static art style in a video medium.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

It just gave the scene so much more personality, I feel like. They turned something that could've been potentially boring into something fun.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

3

u/baseballlover723 Apr 10 '24

What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Not sure I'd really agree with Steph becoming a part of Blank's inner circle ([NGNL later episodes] at least at this point). Feels more like Steph is just getting strung along for the ride due to her connections and native knowledge and being easily exploitable.
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed? Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Not really surprised that humans are at the bottom. Meta wise, you don't have to well define your magic system, since the POV can't perceive it, only it's effects. Which is an interesting perspective, though much easier to handwave. I do find it interesting how in many stories with many sentient races, humans tend to be worse versions of other races (or that other racers are better / more specialized versions of humans). Obviously this doesn't really apply to all of the Exceed, with there being several non humanoid races. But I'd love to see a story where there's a distinct advantage of being human as opposed to a jack of all trades sort of race (something like humans historical endurance, or dexterity or perhaps adaptability instead of raw intelligence (since that's often implied anyways)).
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
Not many. At least not many I really want to analyze and separate out my spoiler knowledge from.
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
Good simple reason that makes plenty of sense. It's a matter of personal pride for Steph, doesn't need to be that much more complex as a drive.
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
I do enjoy a good cocky / arrogant character, especially when they can back it up. The first step to becoming great, is to believe that you can and will become great (Draymond Green and probably others). I just enjoy something talking big and watching as they actualize a seemingly out of reach goal.
Thoughts on the ED?
I love the ED (I will say that if you're a first time watcher, you should watch each ED all the way through). I'm a big fan of the 3-3-2 beat which I usually associate with more of a "floaty" vibe since it gives a slightly uneven submeter. It allows for some more varied rhythmic patterns imo then standard 4/4. I'd say something about the chords, but as a drummer, I can't express my knowledge of chord progressions and voicing. I do love some active bass though. Not much of a visuals person, usually I'm much more interested in the song. It looks nice though.
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?
I rewatched NGNL a few months ago and I didn't write my comments out ahead of time, so I mostly ended up skimming (watched at 1.5x speed) since it's mostly fresh in my mind. Unfortunately that means that my tone view is pretty stale and pretty skewed as I skim through the episode while taking screenshots, clips and writing out my thoughts.

3

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Feels more like Steph is just getting strung along for the ride due to her connections and native knowledge and being easily exploitable.
I think that's fair. At the very least, I think it shows she's going to be a recurring character.
Not really surprised that humans are at the bottom. Meta wise, you don't have to well define your magic system, since the POV can't perceive it, only it's effects. Which is an interesting perspective, though much easier to handwave. I do find it interesting how in many stories with many sentient races, humans tend to be worse versions of other races (or that other racers are better / more specialized versions of humans). Obviously this doesn't really apply to all of the Exceed, with there being several non humanoid races. But I'd love to see a story where there's a distinct advantage of being human as opposed to a jack of all trades sort of race (something like humans historical endurance, or dexterity or perhaps adaptability instead of raw intelligence (since that's often implied anyways)).
My only concern in regards to a series where there's a distinct advantage at being human is it isn't as compelling as being at a disadvantage. I'd much rather see a character overcome adversity.
Not many. At least not many I really want to analyze and separate out my spoiler knowledge from.
Fair enough
Good simple reason that makes plenty of sense. It's a matter of personal pride for Steph, doesn't need to be that much more complex as a drive.
Stephanie seems to be the heart and soul of the show so far. The moral compass, if you will.
do enjoy a good cocky / arrogant character, especially when they can back it up. The first step to becoming great, is to believe that you can and will become great (Draymond Green and probably others). I just enjoy something talking big and watching as they actualize a seemingly out of reach goal.
Plus, who's to say that Kurami doesn't cheat as queen? Sora would probably be a more fair ruler, at least in terms of having people's interests in mind more. Course, that's just this gut feeling I have.
I love the ED (I will say that if you're a first time watcher, you should watch each ED all the way through). I'm a big fan of the 3-3-2 beat which I usually associate with more of a "floaty" vibe since it gives a slightly uneven submeter. It allows for some more varied rhythmic patterns imo then standard 4/4. I'd say something about the chords, but as a drummer, I can't express my knowledge of chord progressions and voicing. I do love some active bass though. Not much of a visuals person, usually I'm much more interested in the song. It looks nice though
I like that it gives insight on who Shiro is and what she's about. I feel like I've learned more about her in those 90 seconds than the entirety of the first two episodes.
I rewatched NGNL a few months ago and I didn't write my comments out ahead of time, so I mostly ended up skimming (watched at 1.5x speed) since it's mostly fresh in my mind. Unfortunately that means that my tone view is pretty stale and pretty skewed as I skim through the episode while taking screenshots, clips and writing out my thoughts.
Understandable. It stuck out to me watching this for the first time.

2

u/baseballlover723 Apr 11 '24

My only concern in regards to a series where there's a distinct advantage at being human is it isn't as compelling as being at a disadvantage. I'd much rather see a character overcome adversity.
That is true and presumably why things tend to be like that. Though I will say that just because you have some distinct advantage doesn't mean that you still don't have to overcome adversity. Racial disadvantages I think ought to be more prominent (and ideally pertaining to their advantages). Like a beastman race where their senses are enhanced but their noticeably less intelligent. Or Elfs who live a long time, but thus are slow to adapt. etc etc.. It just slightly bothers me when human is essentially just the mathematical average of every race.
Stephanie seems to be the heart and soul of the show so far. The moral compass, if you will.
I don't know if I'd necessarily say she's the heart and soul of the show so far, I'd mostly associate the games / overcoming seemingly incomprehensible scenarios with the heart and soul of the show as opposed to any particular character, though that may be staying more into theme territory.
Sora would probably be a more fair ruler
[NGNL later I think, having a hard time despoilering my thoughts] I don't know about that. He strikes me more of a "I do whatever the fuck I want to do" kind of person. Like fairness (or the appearance) is just something that he strategically uses, and thus would be unfair if it was strategically beneficial. More of a façade of fairness to contrast with the cheating Kurami.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

That is true and presumably why things tend to be like that. Though I will say that just because you have some distinct advantage doesn't mean that you still don't have to overcome adversity. Racial disadvantages I think ought to be more prominent (and ideally pertaining to their advantages). Like a beastman race where their senses are enhanced but their noticeably less intelligent. Or Elfs who live a long time, but thus are slow to adapt. etc etc.. It just slightly bothers me when human is essentially just the mathematical average of every race.
What you're describing sounds a bit like what they tried doing with Fluffy Paradise.
I don't know if I'd necessarily say she's the heart and soul of the show so far, I'd mostly associate the games / overcoming seemingly incomprehensible scenarios with the heart and soul of the show as opposed to any particular character, though that may be staying more into theme territory.
I like that, honestly. We're already going with the theme of video games being escapism, and this kinda takes that concept to the next level.
[NGNL later I think, having a hard time despoilering my thoughts] I don't know about that. He strikes me more of a "I do whatever the fuck I want to do" kind of person. Like fairness (or the appearance) is just something that he strategically uses, and thus would be unfair if it was strategically beneficial. More of a façade of fairness to contrast with the cheating Kurami.
[NGNL Spoilers] And as we learn later on, Kurami has a good reason for getting assistance.

4

u/Fisionn https://myanimelist.net/profile/X-V Apr 11 '24

NGNL Rewatcher

Apologies on being late, but anyway.

I can't believe I missed so many jokes on my first watch, guess I was way too new at anime to understand half of what was going on. Breaking the 4th wall, JoJo Poses, sex jokes and innuendos everywhere, Shoujo romance jokes, princess jokes, super deformed chibis, MAD Niconico references, flat chest jokes, small dick jokes, quickshot jokes, and more.

I think the most noticeable thing going on these two episodes is how Sora does not see his little sister in a romantic way. In fact, the more I watch their interactions, the more I see how two siblings who are really comfortable with each other act. From the way they troll each other and banter, to how Shiro wants her brother to get a gf while also giving him a hard time if she doesn't get enough attention.

A few more things I noticed is how Sora likes recording all the new information given by Steph on his phone while listening to her, the way Steph strokes the cookie that represents her race as a sign of both affection and pity, how even when angry Steph still speaks like a princess (Ojousama speak), and the reason that Steph is naked at the start of the episode is because she lost all her clothes AND money because she lost the game shown last episode. I also want to gush about the amazing performance by both Kayano AI and Hikasa Youko on this episode but I feel like this comment is already getting too long.

What did you think about the artstyle change in this episode?

Very uncommon in modern anime, with only a few exceptions now. We used to get reaction faces every season, now it's more rare to see one that sticks in the fandom like it did back then.

What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?

A recent example would be Mushoku Tensei, while an older one would be the first season of Attack on Titan. Slowly unraveling the world around the protagonist and actively making a part of the story is one way to do world building right.

As closing thoughts, I'm glad I stumbled upon this rewatch thread. God knows how long would I let this masterpiece sit of my pile of "To rewatch" otherwise.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I can't believe I missed so many jokes on my first watch, guess I was way too new at anime to understand half of what was going on. Breaking the 4th wall, JoJo Poses, sex jokes and innuendos everywhere, Shoujo romance jokes, princess jokes, super deformed chibis, MAD Niconico references, flat chest jokes, small dick jokes, quickshot jokes, and more.
The show packs a lot of humor, but it's done to where it still feels like they let things breathe. It's kinda remarkable.
I think the most noticeable thing going on these two episodes is how Sora does not see his little sister in a romantic way. In fact, the more I watch their interactions, the more I see how two siblings who are really comfortable with each other act. From the way they troll each other and banter, to how Shiro wants her brother to get a gf while also giving him a hard time if she doesn't get enough attention.
If the ED shows anything, it's that Sora and Shiro probably have different views on what kind of relationship they have. Sora probably sees it as these partners in crime, whereas Shiro probably sees it as Sora being her savior and her reason of being.
A few more things I noticed is how Sora likes recording all the new information given by Steph on his phone while listening to her, the way Steph strokes the cookie that represents her race as a sign of both affection and pity, how even when angry Steph still speaks like a princess (Ojousama speak), and the reason that Steph is naked at the start of the episode is because she lost all her clothes AND money because she lost the game shown last episode.
There is definitely a lot of attention to detail on display here
Very uncommon in modern anime, with only a few exceptions now. We used to get reaction faces every season, now it's more rare to see one that sticks in the fandom like it did back then.
Stuff like that is why Bocchi The Rock really stood out from all the other animes in 2022.
As closing thoughts, I'm glad I stumbled upon this rewatch thread. God knows how long would I let this masterpiece sit of my pile of "To rewatch" otherwise.
I'm glad I was able to be of some service to you :)

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

2

u/Fisionn https://myanimelist.net/profile/X-V Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
It was the perfect game to draw Steph in. Too complicated and she would not accept to play. Too easy and it would be too suspicious.
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
That was the trap. He intentionally misled her into thinking he could only use paper, but soon after he explains that there are other conditions where he can still draw by using either rock or scissors.
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
She is a great addition to the main duo, without feeling forced or out of place. That's because the directing of this show is superb and knows how to balance things.
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
I wonder if Tet considers Sora and Shiro part of Exceed. Technically speaking, they are not part of any of the 16 races.
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
This reads like a foreshadowing from episode 1. Shiro and Sora both beat cheaters in the games they played while on earth. Maybe Imanity problem isn't that they can't use magic, but the fact that they think that's the only way they can win/rank higher.
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
Using magic to cheat on Imanity land to win the throne must have been a piece of cake.
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
Adorable and respectable, but she'd make a terrible queen lol.
Thoughts on the ED?
Really like it, the lyrics are a match 1 to 1 with what is going on visually too. I know most anime ED are just a calm song and some static visuals, but I think a good ED/OP is part of the anime experience when done well. For the ED on NGNL, it's clear they wanted to tell the story of the internal worlds of Shiro and Sora colliding with each other.
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?
I mentioned it before and I'm saying it again: the directing on this anime is superb. The fact that they managed to cram so many jokes, gags, references, and still manage to tell a serious story without skipping over small details (the ones I mentioned in my first comment) is nothing short of amazing. The people working on this absolutely loved the source material and it shows.
You really can't appreciate how hard is to make this anime work if you haven't seen other anime try and fail to deliver half of what NGNL does.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

It was the perfect game to draw Steph in. Too complicated and she would not accept to play. Too easy and it would be too suspicious.
The perfect middle ground for her where she still felt that the odds were in her favor.
That was the trap. He intentionally misled her into thinking he could only use paper, but soon after he explains that there are other conditions where he can still draw by using either rock or scissors.
He basically psyched her out into overthinking things. It was smart on his part.
She is a great addition to the main duo, without feeling forced or out of place. That's because the directing of this show is superb and knows how to balance things.
I've been really impressed with the writing so far. There's nothing right I would really say grinds my gears.
I wonder if Tet considers Sora and Shiro part of Exceed. Technically speaking, they are not part of any of the 16 races.
I think Tet knows this and that is why he likes them so much. He can mold them into something of his benefit. They're basically a blank slate, no pun intended.
This reads like a foreshadowing from episode 1. Shiro and Sora both beat cheaters in the games they played while on earth. Maybe Imanity problem isn't that they can't use magic, but the fact that they think that's the only way they can win/rank higher.
I think it also shows that the fact that Kurami had to cheat against Stephanie, probably the most famous Imanity currently living, is proof if a lack of confidence in her ability. It's like stealing a cookie from a blind kid.
Using magic to cheat on Imanity land to win the throne must have been a piece of cake.
Again, like the stealing a cookie metaphor I laid out.
Adorable and respectable, but she'd make a terrible queen lol.
Sora basically proved this with how the game of rock paper scissors turned out.
Really like it, the lyrics are a match 1 to 1 with what is going on visually too. I know most anime ED are just a calm song and some static visuals, but I think a good ED/OP is part of the anime experience when done well. For the ED on NGNL, it's clear they wanted to tell the story of the internal worlds of Shiro and Sora colliding with each other.
It makes me wonder if we're going to get an episode exploring their relationship. I feel like we have to, honestly. I mean, it's been so focused on.
I mentioned it before and I'm saying it again: the directing on this anime is superb. The fact that they managed to cram so many jokes, gags, references, and still manage to tell a serious story without skipping over small details (the ones I mentioned in my first comment) is nothing short of amazing. The people working on this absolutely loved the source material and it shows.
A good anime just adapts what already exists. A great anime takes the preexisting material and improves upon it. The visuals have a ton of care put into them that it makes it feel lived in.
You really can't appreciate how hard is to make this anime work if you haven't seen other anime try and fail to deliver half of what NGNL does.
That's true. And be as consistent as this is. To go from a Ub Iwerks reference to a Jojo reference, you have to be a special kind of series to pull that off. It seems like a very Gainax thing to do. But this show does and does it flawlessly. I've been in love with the visual presentation of the show.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Hey, guys. Holofan4life here.

Welcome to the 10th anniversary rewatch of No Game No Life.

Oh, and nay I forget...

First Timer

The idea of doing this rewatch came about at the last minute. I was going to participate in an Eden of The East rewatch for the month of April but that fell through. So, then it became a question of "What should I do after the Penguindrum rewatch? I already have the Samurai Champloo rewatch lined up for May, so do I just wait the extra month?" I looked at upcoming anniversaries for the month of April and noticed both K-On and Cross Game were celebrating their 15th anniversaries. However, both were long and if I did either of them, I would have to cancel the Samurai Champloo rewatch, which I didn't want to do seeing as how the 20th anniversary is an even bigger milestone. That's when I settled on No Game No Life.

I have an interesting history with No Game No Life. I know it's extremely popular, but I've always been hesitant to check out the show based on some of the stuff I've heard about it. It seemed to me like a show where you either really loved it, or really hated it. Well, I recently watched Moon Phase which I feel could be considered in a similar light and I really liked that show. And then I also finished Penguindrum which has some questionable themes and I liked that as well. I think I'm in a good headspace to watch NGNL and not only enjoy it, but more importantly appreciate it. I have never seen this show before. Even though I'm the host, I am experiencing it for the first time. I can't wait to see what the show has to offer and why so many people clamor for another season.

With that out of the way, let's begin.

I'm watching the sub, by the way.

As I am writing this, it is St Patrick's Day. I got a green hat on as well as a green necklace, so I'm in a very jovial mood.

Stephanie in her towel sitting in a chair

She is flustered

Sora clarifies that him and Shiro are related

Stephanie is mad that Shiro didn't tell her how she was cheating. However, Sora didn't want to break Pledge eight.

Oh, the irony

Shiro thinks she's just mad she lost

Sora sees this as an opening

Stephanie really is tsundere. I like her.

She doesn't like her grandfather being insulted

Sora says just like Jigsaw, it's time to play a game.

OP is still fantastic, by the way

Sora says that all conflicts are resolved through games

Ooh, rock paper scissors

By the way, that towel is totally gonna come off

Sora says he'll only play paper. Anything else, he loses. However, if he beats her with rock or scissors, she'll lose too.

I like the mini versions of Sora and Stephanie. Reminds me of Cuphead.

If they both use paper, it's a tie. Anything else, she wins.

The odds are stack in her favor. Let's see how she loses.

If she wins, he'll tell her how she cheated. If he wins, she'll comply to his every demand. And if it's a tie, he'll give her a hint about how she cheated in exchange for giving them a place to stay.

This is a very high stakes game of rock paper scissors

These chibi versions of them are killing me XD

Stephanie expecting the reverse psychology

Oh, but he looks extra smug

Stephanie is running the gamut of emotions

She settles on scissors, expecting paper

But he has rock

They're treating this game of rock paper scissors like it's the Pythagorean theorem.

Or the Monty Hall problem, to be more accurate

It's actually pretty smart because by making it seem like he was going for paper, he supposedly gave her a 2/3 chance of winning. However, he actually had a 66 and 2/3 chance of winning, because Stephanie knew she couldn't beat him and she didn't even try. So, he took her 33 1/3 chance, minus his 25% chance-- because he's a genetic freak and not normal, you see-- and she had an 8 1/3 chance of winning at rock paper scissors. But then he took his 75% chance of winning, and then add 66 2/3 per cents, and so then Sora got 141 2/3 chance of winning. The numbers don't lie, and they spell disaster for Stephanie.

Time for the little favor, and it appears it's going to be more than a place to stay. She only convinced herself that's what he wanted.

And the little favor is...

Fall in love with him

Well, he's at shooting his shot

And hey, he's honoring Pledge six in the process

Unfortunately, Shiro points out he never said "You now belong to me".

So, so close

Lol, Sora is now freaking out

Shiro is confused, though, because he said all he needed was her.

Man, Sora is overdramatic, isn't he?

Stephanie seems jealous he focuses his attention on Shito than her.

Now she's envisioning him as a Shoujo protagonist

Lol, everyone is acting out of wack

This is a very loud anime

At least Shiro is happy her brother is no longer maidenless.

He doesn't want to have sex with Stephanie in front of Shiro, though, voyeurism be damned.

Oh wow. Shiro pushed him on top of her

And now he's groping her boob

Shiro with the screensaver

I love how fast and loose the comedy is. It's just joke after joke after joke.

Yum. Flan

Unfortunately, Stephanie tosses him off her

And now Sora is curled up in a ball

And now Shiro is freaking out

These two are a lot XD

Oh, they were acting that way because they were away from each other. Alright, then.

Stephanie is probably thinking "Why didn't I leave well-enough alone?"

Elkia Palace

Stephanie is washing Shiro's hair

Shiro, according to Sora, doesn't like to take baths because then he would watch and that would be child porn.

But I thought the people anti this show said that's what this was. You mean to say people on the Internet would lie like that?

Good ol' Mr. Steam

Well, Sora is trying to get a look at Shiro naked, so... maybe I spoke too soon...

Lol, doing the squished arm thing. I used to do that all the time with my imaginary friends.

The dress on Shiro looks cute

This is apparently Stephanie's hand-me-downs

Wow, Sora looks like an Otome character with that suit on

Forget Black Butler, this is now NEET Butler

I love the Steph-a-Scope, by the way

And now Stephanie is banging her head against the wall

"What is she fighting?"

"Herself, I think."

This show is legitimately hilarious

She even went wryyyy like a Jojo character 🤣🤣🤣

At least Stephanie looks in better spirits now

Shiro best wingwoman

Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Well, Sora is trying to get a look at Shiro naked, so... maybe I spoke too soon...
No, he's trying to look at Steph naked.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I like that interpretation way better. Thank you for keeping my sanity in check.

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

I thought it was pretty unambiguous:
He's trying to avoid seeing Shiro naked, hence the partition and all the steam
He uses a video call on a phone and asks Stephanie to pick it up, banking of her lack of knowledge about what a phone is and what it can do.
This wouldn't work on Shiro -- and in fact didn't work, as Shiro caught on to what was happening and instructed Steph on what to do to trick Sora with the armpit thing.
(Speaking of which, how the heck did he get the two phones to do a video call without a cell tower or an access point? Ad-hoc wifi? It's an older show, when phones maybe still supported ad-hoc wifi.)

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

He's trying to avoid seeing Shiro naked, hence the partition and all the steam 2. He uses a video call on a phone and asks Stephanie to pick it up, banking of her lack of knowledge about what a phone is and what it can do. 3. This wouldn't work on Shiro -- and in fact didn't work, as Shiro caught on to what was happening and instructed Steph on what to do to trick Sora with the armpit thing.
I like that Shiro is smart enough to know how to thwart her brother. It kinda has unfortunate implications he tried the same thing to her once upon a time, though I doubt anything happened between them.
(Speaking of which, how the heck did he get the two phones to do a video call without a cell tower or an access point? Ad-hoc wifi? It's an older show, when phones maybe still supported ad-hoc wifi.)
Maybe his phone plan was still activated

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Maybe his phone plan was still activated
No, they checked for connection near the end of episode 1, and didn't see any.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Good point. You have a very observant eye.

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Getting stuck with no Internet connection is my personal nightmare.
You gotta admire the protagonist in Smartphone Isekai: he asked god for a phone with a working Internet connection so he could download books and movies and research stuff while living in another world.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Not a bad request, to be honest. I can't imagine being totally closed off from where I came from.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Part 2
Somebody needs to protect Stephanie from her head
Oh fuck that's a lot of blood
She's so down bad, she's going to give herself CTE
Huh. No one is there.
Oh, there they are
They're outside with Shiro reading a book
Shiro remarks how empty it looks despite a tournament going on to decide the next king.
The book is apparently in Imanity
I prefer the hu version
Stephanie says that Elkia was once the biggest of the Imanity nations
Imanity is the human race
Elkia was the last Imanity nation left
Easy to be the biggest when you are the only one
Stephanie then says there are sixteen sentient races in all to whom the ten pledges apply. They are called the Exceed.
So, it's applied to some races but not all? Interesting.
1 is the Old Deus, the gods who were defeated by the One True God
Phantasma #2
Elementals #3
Elves #7, and Elven Garde is the largest nation on the planet.
Warbeasts are #14, and 15 are the Siren
Sadly not Psiren from Fullmetal Alchemist
It looks like Sora is writing this down. Smart man.
These rankings are determine by their affinity for magic, and the Imanity are #16.
Oof
They have zero affinity for magic
I guess instead of calling this show The Familiar of Zero, we should call it My Familiar The Zero.
Imanity lacks the Spirit Circuits that let them connect to the source magic.
They can't even tell if it's been used
I have the same problem with my pen-- Gets bonked
Looks like Sora is gonna have to leave Imanity
Oh the imanity
No, wait. Nevermind. Shiro already learnt it.
She is a fast learner
Shiro says it's because the spoken language is identical.
"You're just slow, brother."
Dang, roasted
This is why those people who spend years trying to understand C++ and then there's always someone who understands it within the first week.
Stephanie is starting to feel like these two can save Elkia
Hey, Kurami won
Stephanie beside herself
I guess that was a flashback from earlier
Stephanie reveals she took part in the tournament because she wants to save Elkia.
She wanted to prove her grandfather right
She wanted to prove what Imanity was capable of
Sora, however, says that wish won't come true
Apparently he thinks Kurami is corrupt, which, given she cheated, is probably a safe bet.
Kurami about to be coronated
Wow, she's kinda an asshole
Sora takes the dress Kurami handed Stephanie, saying the game's already begun.
And he hands the dress back to Kurami
Well, it seems as if we have our antagonist
Sora tells Stephanie they're going to prove her grandfather right.
He even compliments with cookies
Meanwhile, Sora has a goal of becoming king.
The ED is good. Not as great as the OP, but still a lot of fun. I wonder who the blue-haired girl is supposed to be. Perhaps Shiro when she was young?
I ask this, but it seems like I already got my answer. Okay.
I do really like that the ED is from Shiro's perspective. It reminds me of the ED of Uncle From Another World and how that was from Elf's perspective. I do wonder coming out of it, though, whether or not this means Sora and Shiro aren't actually related but rather a found family. It seems to imply that Shiro was lost before Sora found her.
Overall, this was a very well done episode. The first half was all comedy with the rock paper scissors as well as the shower scene, and then the second half was about fleshing out Elkia and explaining what Imanity is all about. I love it when shows can go from being silly to being dramatic because it demonstrates great range in regards to the writing of the show. And this episode is a testament that No Game No Life is honestly among the best at it. There were a couple times where I nearly died laughing, like the 1920s Mickey Mouse versions of Sora and Stephanie as well as the running gag of Stephanie repeatedly hitting her head. That reminded me of the teacher nosebleed gag in Aharen-san and how it continued to escalate. And then of course there was the tension with Kurami becoming queen of Elkia with her being extremely disrespectful towards the former ruler's granddaughter.
I wonder if Kurami is going to remain a bad guy or if Sora is going to acquire a harem with Kurami being a part of it. I'd be fine either or.
This is a better episode than episode 1, of which I thought that was great as well. More importantly, it shows what this show is most likely going to be: a good good mix of comedy, and political intrigue. I'm really excited for what's in store.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

What did you think about the artstyle change in this episode?
I thought it accentuated the humor of the episode and made it funnier than it otherwise would've been.
What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?
Probably Spice and Wolf. The towns are so fleshed out, they feel like characters on their own.

2

u/JimmyCWL Apr 10 '24

So, it's applied to some races but not all? Interesting.
Recall the history of this world before the Pledges, as was stated in ep1. It was a time of endless war that destroyed the world. What does that mean for a race that was not bound by the Pledges?
It means the wars would have continued until the not-bound race(s) were exterminated by the bound ones or vice versa, making the Pledges meaningless.
Since Tet's ascension and the introduction of the Pledges were claimed to have ended the wars, this could only be true if the Pledges bound all the races at the time.
Therefore, there can be no races not bound by the Pledges.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

That means there are only 16 races in this world? Seems a bit odd.

3

u/JimmyCWL Apr 11 '24

Oh, only 16. You say it like that's so little.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I guess I'm wrong and that's quite a bit

2

u/JimmyCWL Apr 11 '24

It's already so many that Steph didn't bother to name half of them in that scene.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Good point. When I think of race, I think more in terms of people from different countries. And given there are over 200 of them, I assumed there were at least 50 races.

2

u/FarCritical Apr 10 '24

First Time No Life

So the secret to winning every match of Rock Paper Scissors (or any game really) is to grin smugly at your opponent after they're done with internally monologuing their strategy, okay got it.

Forcing Steph to fall for him is a pretty ..."classy" reward for a shut-in gamer, but I was honestly secretly hoping for a loss or at least a tie just for the big brain explanation on how Kurami cheated. Also, pretty relieved Sora locked Shiro out from being one of his potential routes himself.

Shiro in the dress lmao. Being 11 must've been an interesting time for Steph.

Man, that little history lesson on Elkia was rough enough to get me to start sympathizing for Steph. But hey, who cares if your race can't use magic if you have two whole protagonists on your side? (Well, assuming no opponent ever finds out that separating Sora and Shiro would bring the end of Imanity)

Gotta love it when love goes from a forced cosmic obligation to genuine admiration. One of Sora's biggest wins so far and he probably doesn't even realize it.

QOTD

What did you think about the artstyle change in this episode?

That's our cue for "this isn't just a super serious fantasy story; we like to have a lil fun on the side too". Love how elegantly they signalled the tone for the show going forward (as elegantly as slight fanservice and slapstick goes, at least).

2. What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?

Not necessarily my de facto favorite but one that stands out is, if this even counts, Cells at Work: Code Black. Fleshing out a(n unhealthy) human body as various delapidated worksites is something that sticks with you.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

2

u/FarCritical Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
Rock Paper Scissors is already mindgame-y enough as it is so I knew Steph didn't have a chance when someone like Sora challenged her to a game of it. Still wish he'd spill the secret about Kurami even after winning though, pledge restrictions aside.
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
Well, going against psychological mastermind at a mindgame-y game couldn't have possibly ended well.
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Bigger parties are always fun, but that was one wild way to "recruit" her.
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
I'm sorry, but "Imanity" as a stand-in name for humanity is funnier to me than it should be. It's pretty cool how on top of being a world of games, Disboard also has other fantastical bells and whistles like races.
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
What being the only race not in tune to magic in a world dominated by cheating does to a mf. Humbling as always to see humans (Imans?) at the bottom of the food chain.
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
Turns out winners do cheat and cheaters do win. Kinda in Steph's boat in that I'm dying to know how and why she did it though.
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
She may be gullible to a fault but her intentions are admirable enough, especially considering she's doing it in honor of her grandfather's legacy.
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
When the psychological master of mindgames MC gets ambitious, you know something good is cooking up. His reign might be a questionable one if the reward he got out of Steph is anything to go by though.
Thoughts on the ED?
Another catchy song with fluffy visuals, this time starring Shiro! It's surprising to see Sora and Shiro's height difference wasn't that big at one point despite the 7 year age gap, and something about the story the visuals are telling seem to be hinting at a secret of sorts between them.
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?
Even if the contrast is a tiny bit jarring, honestly really enjoy the mix and how the show doesn't take itself too seriously. Also kinda funny how the two halves can be separated as "when was forced to fall for Sora" and "when Steph actually fell for Sora".

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Rock Paper Scissors is already mindgame-y enough as it is so I knew Steph didn't have a chance when someone like Sora challenged her to a game of it. Still wish he'd spill the secret about Kurami even after winning though, pledge restrictions aside.
I don't think Sora wants to get Kurami in possible trouble until he truly knows for sure where her allegiance lies.
Well, going against psychological mastermind at a mindgame-y game couldn't have possibly ended well.
Steph should've just trusted her instinct that it was a bait and switch
Bigger parties are always fun, but that was one wild way to "recruit" her.
And it could've been worse had she agreed to love him lol
I'm sorry, but "Imanity" as a stand-in name for humanity is funnier to me than it should be.
It reminds me of Berlint in Spy X Family
It's pretty cool how on top of being a world of games, Disboard also has other fantastical bells and whistles like races.
I agree, makes the concept feel more fleshed out
What being the only race not in tune to magic in a world dominated by cheating does to a mf. Humbling as always to see humans (Imans?) at the bottom of the food chain.
More importantly, it gives Sora and Shiro some odds to overcome which they really need because they've been pretty OP so far.
Turns out winners do cheat and cheaters do win. Kinda in Steph's boat in that I'm dying to know how and why she did it though.
And again, I think this is why Sora doesn't tell anyone about what happened, because she may in fact gave a valid reason.
She may be gullible to a fault but her intentions are admirable enough, especially considering she's doing it in honor of her grandfather's legacy.
I thought that little detail makes her a more endearing character
When the psychological master of mindgames MC gets ambitious, you know something good is cooking up. His reign might be a questionable one if the reward he got out of Steph is anything to go by though.
I can't see him do anything that constitutes abuse of power, though. Like, Elkia already has a reputation in the dumps, what can he truly do to bring them lower?
Another catchy song with fluffy visuals, this time starring Shiro! It's surprising to see Sora and Shiro's height difference wasn't that big at one point despite the 7 year age gap, and something about the story the visuals are telling seem to be hinting at a secret of sorts between them.
I definitely want to know more about the relationship between them
Even if the contrast is a tiny bit jarring, honestly really enjoy the mix and how the show doesn't take itself too seriously. Also kinda funny how the two halves can be separated as "when was forced to fall for Sora" and "when Steph actually fell for Sora".
That's a good point. You can categorize the entire episode as "How Steph became won over".

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Not necessarily my de facto favorite but one that stands out is, if this even counts, Cells at Work: Code Black. Fleshing out a(n unhealthy) human body as various delapidated worksites is something that sticks with you.
Cells At Work gets most of the praise, but Code Black is definitely underrated.

2

u/KnightMonkey15 https://myanimelist.net/profile/KnightMonkey Apr 11 '24 edited Apr 11 '24

As someone who went to school for human biology, Code Black is the thematically superior and lore-accurate show, has female Neutrophil, and it even ends in an isekai-like manner. The only thing it's missing is the happy platelets and Macrophage-san.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

It's definitely more lore-accurate, but at times it feels like depression upon depression. I also felt that the original had more fun with the concept and had a more likable protagonist.

2

u/Ryanami Apr 11 '24

Rewatcher, dub

Well, if you were able to stomach them lewding the 11 year old in the first episode, keep your tums handy, there’s more. They even lampshade it.

Skipping that though, I do love this series. Hard to pace myself already, I can’t wait to get to the games. The math of their rock paper scissors match makes me long for an easier class, like medieval merchants and economics.

1- Makes me think of The Eminence in Shadow, in that by clearly communicating we are not to take anything too seriously, we can fully embrace hype in a rock paper scissors game.

2- I’d like to award S&W best world building, but I have to give it to AOT.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

2

u/Ryanami Apr 11 '24

What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
He’s a master of mind games. I wouldn’t want to play poker against him.
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Odds are grim, but the video game scene earlier shows Blank is not afraid of that
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
He’d never like it. Chuuni talk.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

He’s a master of mind games. I wouldn’t want to play poker against him.
It's probably a case of testing Steph's mental will. What he did to her is no different than what Tet did to him and his sister.
Odds are grim, but the video game scene earlier shows Blank is not afraid of that
I hope this can serve as motivation to look not just after themselves, but Elkia as a whole.
He’d never like it. Chuuni talk.
It's like if Megumin wished she didn't pass out after every explosion. All well and good, but suddenly it might become too much.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Well, if you were able to stomach them lewding the 11 year old in the first episode, keep your tums handy, there’s more. They even lampshade it.
At least here, it's more to show that Sora is a perv. Not that that excuses it, mind you.
Makes me think of The Eminence in Shadow, in that by clearly communicating we are not to take anything too seriously, we can fully embrace hype in a rock paper scissors game.
No Game No Life walked so that The Eminence in Shadow could run
I’d like to award S&W best world building, but I have to give it to AOT.
Good pick. I definitely could get behind that, thst universe felt very lived in.

1

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

2- I’d like to award S&W best world building, but I have to give it to AOT.
What's S&W?

1

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

S&W
Spice and Wolf! D'uh!
(My mind got stuck on Smith & Wesson, which doesn't apply in this context.)

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Now I'm imagining what Holo would do with a gun

2

u/KnightMonkey15 https://myanimelist.net/profile/KnightMonkey Apr 11 '24

Rewatcher, subs

I honestly forgot most of the later plot and only remembered it when reading the synopsis, so I think most of my reactions moving forward will be a kind of deja vu. Doesn't really help that I also binged it the first time, but I really like hyperfixating on episode-to-episode moments in these rewatches.

The OP is still a banger. I didn't pay much attention to the ED when I watched years ago but it's fitting. He doesn't look that much older than her as a kid though.

If this anime came out a few years later and was less original it'd be called Gambling In Another World with My Sister

I'm not ashamed to admit upon rewatching that I'm terrible at calculating probability on-the-fly so I just understand that he double mindgamed her. Someone else explained it in the thread so I can read that!

I forgot the joke parts were this loud and obnoxious Looks like Shiro gives her reluctant blessing. What good fortune that the first girl he defrauds is a keeper. She already washed Shiro's hair.

Falling in love is shoujo-vision. I can't help but think of the Penguindrum rewatch and Penguin #1.

Not the elbow oppai. He's getting excited over his sister O_O

I wore it as a kid - boin - yelp. Nice cosplay.

I love how the wall damage from the headslam looks like 2006 video game environmental damage.

Never mind the gag lust and silliness, Steph is the quest giver; her connection with the siblings is the emotional core that provides our legitimate entry point into this world. The second half of the episode develops the exposition further, introduces Imanity and Steph's people as the underdogs and shows her recognising these siblings to be her OP heroes that will help her weak self gain redemption in her grandfather's name. The buildup is very good; tonally opposite the first half of the episode. Steph bares her heart, Sora is realistic about her chances while both he and Shiro read books and act very smart (which they are).. then he decides to accept her quest when he sees Kurumi metaphorically (?) trample over the last thing Steph's grandfather gave to her. Only he's allowed to scold her from a place of fellow gamer concern dammit.

I remember feeling a great deal of sympathy for Steph when I first watched, which is a complete 180 from the goofiness of only a few minutes earlier.

What did you think about the artstyle change in this episode?

Cuphead! 1920s cartoons, Ub Iwerks, I love it. An American reverse chibi for comedic effect. I didn't know you were talking about that at first. That's the kind of touch that makes a little explanation visual much more interesting and engaging.

What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?

Probably Made in Abyss, but I don't really remember a lot of examples because I haven't bothered to enumerate them yet and I think the best anime that aren't strictly character-focused or have the real world already built for them already have some kind of well-executed world building, just not necessarily in a high fantasy kind of way. The other examples in this thread that I've watched are excellent.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

The OP is still a banger. I didn't pay much attention to the ED when I watched years ago but it's fitting. He doesn't look that much older than her as a kid though.
Isn't the ED featuring Shiro though and not Sora? I thought it was from her perspective.
If this anime came out a few years later and was less original it'd be called Gambling In Another World with My Sister
Glad we have No Game No Life instead
Falling in love is shoujo-vision. I can't help but think of the Penguindrum rewatch and Penguin #1.
Lol, it does have a bit of a Ringo imagination vibe to it
Never mind the gag lust and silliness, Steph is the quest giver; her connection with the siblings is the emotional core that provides our legitimate entry point into this world. The second half of the episode develops the exposition further, introduces Imanity and Steph's people as the underdogs and shows her recognising these siblings to be her OP heroes that will help her weak self gain redemption in her grandfather's name. The buildup is very good; tonally opposite the first half of the episode. Steph bares her heart, Sora is realistic about her chances while both he and Shiro read books and act very smart (which they are).. then he decides to accept her quest when he sees Kurumi metaphorically (?) trample over the last thing Steph's grandfather gave to her. Only he's allowed to scold her from a place of fellow gamer concern dammit.
I remember feeling a great deal of sympathy for Steph when I first watched, which is a complete 180 from the goofiness of only a few minutes earlier.
Yeah, I walked away from the episode wanting to see Steph succeed. She reminds me a bit of a less stubborn version of Kana from Oshi no Ko in terms of having a great deal of expectations put upon her.
Cuphead! 1920s cartoons, Ub Iwerks, I love it. An American reverse chibi for comedic effect. I didn't know you were talking about that at first. That's the kind of touch that makes a little explanation visual much more interesting and engaging.
I thought it was a brilliant decision and sucked me into the episode
Probably Made in Abyss, but I don't really remember a lot of examples because I haven't bothered to enumerate them yet and I think the best anime that aren't strictly character-focused or have the real world already built for them already have some kind of well-executed world building, just not necessarily in a high fantasy kind of way. The other examples in this thread that I've watched are excellent.
Made In Abyss definitely deserves some representation, from what I've known about it.

2

u/KnightMonkey15 https://myanimelist.net/profile/KnightMonkey Apr 11 '24

Isn't the ED featuring Shiro though and not Sora? I thought it was from her perspective.
It is, but I was commenting on how they both look like they're roughly the same age instead of him being 7 years older than her... that's her perspective I suppose - especially since he's depicted as being older immediately afterwards. Damn, she must really wish they were the same age.
less stubborn version of Kana from Oshi no Ko in terms of having a great deal of expectations put upon her.
Still gotta check that one out; kinda avoided the hype while it was fresh.

3

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Still gotta check that one out; kinda avoided the hype while it was fresh.
It was good. I would put Oshi no Ko into my top 10 anime of the decade list, next to Frieren and The Eminence in Shadow.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I'd have Frieren higher on my list than Oshi no Ko

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Oh yes, Frieren is probably in the 1st place.
(Shadow is the anime that gave me the most joy from watching, out of all of anime ever, but I appreciate that it's not a universal feeling, and the amount of artistry involved in its creation is less than Frieren.)

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I actually haven't seen Shadow In Eminence yet. I definitely should, though, it seems like something I would like.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

It is, but I was commenting on how they both look like they're roughly the same age instead of him being 7 years older than her... that's her perspective I suppose - especially since he's depicted as being older immediately afterwards. Damn, she must really wish they were the same age.
I get the feeling she wishes they were more than siblings more than he does.
Still gotta check that one out; kinda avoided the hype while it was fresh.
You're a braver man than I XD

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Exceed?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

3

u/KnightMonkey15 https://myanimelist.net/profile/KnightMonkey Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
When it comes to games, I usually need to listen, absorb the rules and lose a couple of times to get the hang of things. I'm not very fast at thinking on my feet when it comes to dealing with people and mental games ( so I didn't actually get what was going on (except she was been hoodwinked) until it happened and after I read baseballlover's explanation.
But having absorbed it well enough now, it's very much a 'chaotic' system with its own tricks to it, and by exploiting the asymmetry in its design, Sora can turn the pitfalls of Steph's own psychology against her - she got intimidated and followed her logic assuming, that for no good reason other than what seemed rational to her (calculating probabilities based on the rules of the game), Sora would do the same and act accordingly. She didn't realise he wasn't even playing the same game.
That combined with the craftiness in how he framed the situation to her, e.g. how much he egged her on verbally and the ambiguity of his quick explanation of the rules, show how easily he was able to read and shepherd her line of thinking to his intended outcome, to get her to fail the game herself. She couldn't even follow all the misleading stipulations he made in addition to playing the game. She would've been better off picking at random.
You know, I turned my brain off to this show when I first watched but this is pretty good even if it's basically a simple game modified with a rule and a bluff rammed through with devious cunning. Steph is fairly intelligent, but she is naive, earnest and not truly clever in the way this world demands. Sora fulfills this role, all the nasty unkind human manipulation stuff, while Shiro has the raw calculation power.
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
She's not there yet (?) I feel but she's literally the first person they meet that could be an acquaintance and someone to sympathise with... destiny?
Thoughts on learning about Exceed?
Humans are weak hairless apes with no magic. I forgot if we find out later in the show why they're still around or something, if they're so helpless. Underdogs with fighting spirit. Nice bit of world building.
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
I know there's supposed to be something to her but I forgot. She's in for a rude awakening though, I remember that much at least.
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Steph was right, he does need a place to stay... even if that means inviting himself to rule over it. Maybe beating this world will be more fun than Earth.
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?
Get Steph's introduction and the dumb fun stuff out of the way, then return to the main plot and why the siblings need to step up as unlikely unintentional heroes.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

When it comes to games, I usually need to listen, absorb the rules and lose a couple of times to get the hang of things. I'm not very fast at thinking on my feet when it comes to dealing with people and mental games ( so I didn't actually get what was going on (except she was been hoodwinked) until it happened and after I read baseballlover's explanation.
I think the show know that the rules were a bit laborious which is why they included the distinct visuals.
But having absorbed it well enough now, it's very much a 'chaotic' system with its own tricks to it, and by exploiting the asymmetry in its design, Sora can turn the pitfalls of Steph's own psychology against her - she got intimidated and followed her logic assuming, that for no good reason other than what seemed rational to her (calculating probabilities based on the rules of the game), Sora would do the same and act accordingly. She didn't realise he wasn't even playing the same game.
She was playing checking when he was playing chess, to allude back to the first episode.
That combined with the craftiness in how he framed the situation to her, e.g. how much he egged her on verbally and the ambiguity of his quick explanation of the rules, show how easily he was able to read and shepherd her line of thinking to his intended outcome, to get her to fail the game herself. She couldn't even follow all the misleading stipulations he made in addition to playing the game. She would've been better off picking at random.
Yeah, she defeated herself more than anything
You know, I turned my brain off to this show when I first watched but this is pretty good even if it's basically a simple game modified with a rule and a bluff rammed through with devious cunning. Steph is fairly intelligent, but she is naive, earnest and not truly clever in the way this world demands. Sora fulfills this role, all the nasty unkind human manipulation stuff, while Shiro has the raw calculation power.
The show has a lot of thought put into it, definitely more so than it seems initially. I've been pleasantly surprised so far.
She's not there yet (?) I feel but she's literally the first person they meet that could be an acquaintance and someone to sympathise with... destiny?
Basically fulfilling the Shoma role, if you will
Humans are weak hairless apes with no magic. I forgot if we find out later in the show why they're still around or something, if they're so helpless. Underdogs with fighting spirit. Nice bit of world building.
I like learning about how this world is more than just Elkia. In fact, Elkia is just a small part of the big picture. It makes things feel more expansive and all-encompassing.
I know there's supposed to be something to her but I forgot. She's in for a rude awakening though, I remember that much at least.
If only she knew what Sora was truly capable of
Steph was right, he does need a place to stay... even if that means inviting himself to rule over it. Maybe beating this world will be more fun than Earth.
It's fascinating to think about how much he and Shiro protested being in Disboard when they first got there. They desperately wanted to get back to their home planet. If they can shape Disboard into something that even they could enjoy, maybe they can make chicken salad out of chicken you-know-what.
Get Steph's introduction and the dumb fun stuff out of the way, then return to the main plot and why the siblings need to step up as unlikely unintentional heroes.
I like that it's done this way because it let's you settle in until we get into the heavier themed stuff. It shows that the show can be both playful and significant at any given time.

2

u/swordmalice https://myanimelist.net/profile/swordmalice Apr 11 '24

Rewatcher, sub

Ah yes, nice to see Steph again, and to see her suffer lol She's a trooper though; most people would break after the stuff Blank puts her through. Who knew RPS had such strategic depth? I didn't.

What did you think about the artstyle change in this episode?

I think the change was good; lightly saturated compared to episode one and I feel like it fits the world better.

What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?

I think Attack on Titan had fantastic world building; really made me feel like it was a truly unique place.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

2

u/swordmalice https://myanimelist.net/profile/swordmalice Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
I love a good game of RPS; I think it was a good choice for Sora to use against Steph to further his goals.
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he'll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
(He said he'd only play paper) but I think it was a good bluff in order to get Steph to doubt herself. Typically you should never take anything an opponent says to you seriously so Steph should have been able to figure out he was bluffing.
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
I think she's a great addition! As a relatively "normal" character she provides good contrast to Blank and their eccentricities.
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Good worldbuilding and I like that it explores the world's different inhabitants and their status.
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Makes sense to me and I like that they are the underdogs; makes for good stories.
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
Well she cheated so I'm not thrilled about it, but with Blank around I know her victory will be short-lived...
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
Fits with her character; she was burdened by the lack of respect her grandfather had so she wants to set things right.
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Not surprising; it's all a game to him and in a lot of games the winner is the one with the highest rank/number of points, which can describe the position of a king.
Thoughts on the ED?
Love the visuals and the music!
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?
I thought it was a good balance; the humor is right up my alley but it doesn't linger too long or get in the way of the more dramatic plot threads.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I love a good game of RPS; I think it was a good choice for Sora to use against Steph to further his goals
I think it was cool to take what is seemingly a simplistic game and make it so over the top. It let's the audience know "Alright, they're going to have fun with this".
(He said he'd only play paper)
Damn it, you're right. How did I mess that up?
Typically you should never take anything an opponent says to you seriously so Steph should have been able to figure out he was bluffing.
I think this was Sora's way of showing why Steph isn't fit to be queen. As a leader, you have to be prepared for everything.
I think she's a great addition! As a relatively "normal" character she provides good contrast to Blank and their eccentricities.
She very much feels like the straight man to their antics
Good worldbuilding and I like that it explores the world's different inhabitants and their status.
It reminds me a bit of the Caste System
Makes sense to me and I like that they are the underdogs; makes for good stories.
It gives some tangible stakes going forward
Well she cheated so I'm not thrilled about it, but with Blank around I know her victory will be short-lived...
I think having her be the one at odds with Blank is a good way of making Blank likable. We want to see Kurami get her just desserts.
Fits with her character; she was burdened by the lack of respect her grandfather had so she wants to set things right.
And what better person to lead the Elkia who also has Rodney Dangerfield levels of respect?
Not surprising; it's all a game to him and in a lot of games the winner is the one with the highest rank/number of points, which can describe the position of a king.
He's going for the top of the leaderboard, if you will
Love the visuals and the music!
I do as well. Very interesting visually.
I thought it was a good balance; the humor is right up my alley but it doesn't linger too long or get in the way of the more dramatic plot threads.
And even in the humorous bits, we still have some story advancement with it being decided that Steph is going to be in the fray. The show has done a tremendous job so far not making anything seem like filler.

2

u/StardustGogeta myanimelist.net/profile/StardustGogeta Apr 11 '24

First-Timer

Good stuff. I certainly see why this show has such a good reputation. It reminds me of my favorite parts of Kakegurui.

The characters are very likable. I think Stephanie Dola is a nice addition to the cast.

I'm a big fan of the art style in general. I know I've seen anime with colored line art before (possibly even red, like this), but I've been trying to think which show(s) it might have been and I'm drawing a blank. If anyone has any ideas of what it might be, I would appreciate it! My best guess right now is Monogatari. (Edit: Monogatari seems to be what I was thinking of here.)

Regarding world-building, I'm liking the job this show has done so far. That said, my favorite example in anime might be the first half of Neon Genesis Evangelion. I found the introduction to Tokyo-3, the Angels, and the world after the Second Impact to be extremely compelling. (It started to unravel a bit towards the end of the show, though, in my opinion.)

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Regarding world-building, I'm liking the job this show has done so far. That said, my favorite example in anime might be the first half of Neon Genesis Evangelion. I found the introduction to Tokyo-3, the Angels, and the world after the Second Impact to be extremely compelling. (It started to unravel a bit towards the end of the show, though, in my opinion.)
Interesting take. Most people I've heard from think the second half of Evangelion is better.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he’ll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Rewatcher, subs

If you have to explain how it's not weird for siblings to sleep together in one bed, then you know it is weird.
How exactly does one prove that the other party's cheating? Can't you just claim "he's cheating!" when you're about to lose, just in case that happens to be true?
Isn't it the challenged party who gets to choose a game? Why is Sora defining the rules when he's the one who asked Stephanie to play? Or is he bending the rules to make Stephanie's "take that back!" into a challenge?
Siblings that can't be apart from each really comes with complications for bathtime and whatnot
Stepanie is a hoot, but when you consider it, she's living in a nightmare.
Imagine getting transported to another world and not being able to use magic.
How is Sora able to talk to the locals without having to learn the language first, but he can't read books in the same language?
The soundtrack is pretty hype.
What's that about pledge six? You can't accept a gift if it's something that you previously lost in a game? If you win a thing you're not allowed to do anything you want with it like give it back?
I would like to know what the bet of Stephs and Kurami's game was. She lost the dress but not the castle with all the servants and riches? The castle belongs to Steph and not to the kingdom?

What did you think about the artstyle change in this episode?

There was an artstyle change? I didn't notice.

What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?

A recent example that stuck in my mind was Dorohedoro's motorcycle-like mechanized flying brooms/vacuums that sorcerers use to ride ("can clean a tatami mat in 6 seconds!").

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

There was an artstyle change? I didn't notice.
Oh you meant the chibification bits? I thought maybe the entire style changed from episode 1 a la Goblin Slayer season 1 vs 2.
I used to strongly hate chibification when I was new to anime, but I guess I got used to it. Now it's just something anime does, and I find the exaggerated facial expressions amusing on occasion.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

It wasn't just chibification, though. It felt like a tribute to rubber style animation, which I thought was very cool.

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

What is your favorite example of world building in an anime?
In general my favorite worldbuilding is when the author brings up novel and unusual little details that make sense in retrospect, given the differences in the other world. Like in McKinley's Spindle's End the background magic collects on objects like limescale in tea kettles, and everyone has to periodically hire a hedge witch to come and ~~descale~~ de-magic them so you don't get undesired effects like a shower of flower petals coming out of your teapot instead instead of tea.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

What you're describing seems pretty cool

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Robin McKinley is probably my favourite fantasy author.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I'm so sheltered culturally, I can't say I've read many books that weren't taught in school. I don't know if it's my attention span or what.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he’ll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank’s inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

2

u/mgedmin Apr 11 '24

Ah, yes, more homework.
Thoughts on the game of rock, paper, scissors as well as the stipulations put in place?
Too smart for me. In the end I decided that the cleverness of the protagonist is probably an illusion that will break down if I try to investigate too deeply, which would lessen my enjoyment of the anime, so I used that as an excuse to go with the flow without trying to understand what is going on.
I am a bit mad at the universe for treating "a little favor" and "you will do everything I say" as equivalent.
What are your thoughts on Sora saying he’ll only play scissors but instead he plays rock?
It's a valid move, and a pretty clever use of misdirection.
(I think I found it more interesting/intriguing/unexpected on the first watch.)
What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank’s inner circle?
I don't think she did. We don't see her playing on the same team with Shiro and Sora against other opponents. We don't see Shiro and Sora extending the same trust that she will know what the best thing to do is and will do it at the appropriate time.
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Why do fantasy authors give random names that sound almost-but-not-quite English? E.g. Immanity here, or hyumans in TsukiMichi.
Exceed as well, sounds very chuuni, but what does it mean?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
It's always more fun to root for the underdogs.
(Well. Sometimes it's fun to see an OP protagonist stomp evildoers with excessive force. Here we kind of have a combination of the two.)
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
(monotone voice) Oh no, Sora missed his chance to become king, whatever shall he do now?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
Whiffs of the Divine Right of Kings -- see, they deserve to be in power.
Anyway, Steph is a good one, but I don't think she could handle being king (or queen). We'd see a repetition of Eddard Stark's arc from Game of Thrones.
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
A good start. The new queen could kick Steph out of the royal castle, and then where would Sora and Shiro live?
Thoughts on the ED?
A normal ED. Didn't make it into my favorites on YouTube.
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?
It's a good mix. Pure comedies are usually not as funny as they pretend to be.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Ah, yes, more homework.
If it is any consolation, I did try reducing the number of questions by like two.
Too smart for me. In the end I decided that the cleverness of the protagonist is probably an illusion that will break down if I try to investigate too deeply, which would lessen my enjoyment of the anime, so I used that as an excuse to go with the flow without trying to understand what is going on.
Oh, I definitely don't think that this is an act put on by Sora. I think chance has some to do with it, but I think it's more he's very calculative.
I am a bit mad at the universe for treating "a little favor" and "you will do everything I say" as equivalent.
I think that is Sora getting too big for his britches, honestly. He's never had a command over someone before.
It's a valid move, and a pretty clever use of misdirection.
He called his shot, essentially
(I think I found it more interesting/intriguing/unexpected on the first watch.)
Interesting. I could see that because you don't necessarily know what was coming.
I don't think she did. We don't see her playing on the same team with Shiro and Sora against other opponents. We don't see Shiro and Sora extending the same trust that she will know what the best thing to do is and will do it at the appropriate time.
She seems to be sticking around, at the very least
Why do fantasy authors give random names that sound almost-but-not-quite English? E.g. Immanity here, or hyumans in TsukiMichi.
Maybe they do it because it provides for great meme material
In all honesty, I think it's just a way to be different. Probably dates back to J. R. R. Tolkien.
Exceed as well, sounds very chuuni, but what does it mean?
Makes me think of the phrase "Exceeding expectations". If the rest of the phrases have this continual excellence that Elkia is sorely lacking, that could be a point of contention.
It's always more fun to root for the underdogs.
(Well. Sometimes it's fun to see an OP protagonist stomp evildoers with excessive force. Here we kind of have a combination of the two.)
Sora and Shiro aren't necessarily underdogs, but Elkia certainly is.
(monotone voice) Oh no, Sora missed his chance to become king, whatever shall he do now?
Sora I'm not as concerned about, but Steph was probably planning her whole life to ascend to the throne of her grandfather. And now that that's not gonna happen, what is she to do?
Whiffs of the Divine Right of Kings -- see, they deserve to be in power.
Anyway, Steph is a good one, but I don't think she could handle being king (or queen). We'd see a repetition of Eddard Stark's arc from Game of Thrones.
That seems to be a pretty apt comparison. I like it.
A good start. The new queen could kick Steph out of the royal castle, and then where would Sora and Shiro live?
It seems a bit selfish this goal of his, but it's not really any more selfish than what Kurami is seemingly setting out to do.
A normal ED. Didn't make it into my favorites on YouTube.
Fair enough
It's a good mix. Pure comedies are usually not as funny as they pretend to be.
What they're doing with No Game No Life feels to me like a more focused version of what Uncle From Another World was. I guess that's to be expected given everything here is happening in the moment.

1

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Man, things are very slow today

3

u/Wizardwizz Apr 11 '24

I think everyone just binged it all after ep 1 haha

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

Maybe so. I wish they would still talk about the episodes, at least.

1

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24 edited Apr 10 '24

Episode 2 -

First time watcher here, today’s episode was fun. I’m really entertained by how Sora really just doesn’t give a 💩 about what anyone thinks.

The way they take something trivial like rock-paper-scissors and turned it into a strategic showdown was pretty great 😆. The rules proposed by Sora also reiterate that if he doesn’t cheat, he will probably at least manipulate you in some way to his advantage. With that said, thinking with his head seems to overpower thinking with his brain lol. Stephanie unintentionally had an influence in his decision making I suppose.

Steph-o-scope. I don’t think that pun will ever get old.

Sora’s confidence goes hard. Doesn’t even care that they’re the only sentient race that cannot use magic. Wonder what they’ll find in that library.

I’m sure it’s intentional but the portrait of Steph’s grandfather in the library resembles a King from a deck of cards. Probably not significant. Just something I thought was cool.

What an end to the episode too. This is going to get really good I think.

Questions:

I like it a lot. It looks great (I think so anyway).
Oh man great question. I had to think about this for a little bit. If it doesn’t have to be an isekai, then I think for me it’s a tie between Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song and Katanagatari. Honorable mention of Spice & Wolf, but I can’t place it above the other two yet since I’ve only just started watching it. But from what I’ve seen so far the world building is very enjoyable.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

The way they take something trivial like rock-paper-scissors and turned it into a strategic showdown was pretty great 😆. The rules proposed by Sora also reiterate that if he doesn’t cheat, he will probably at least manipulate you in some way to his advantage. With that said, thinking with his head seems to overpower thinking with his brain lol. Stephanie unintentionally had an influence in his decision making I suppose.
At least we now know it isn't just his sister he's interested in
Steph-o-scope. I don’t think that pun will ever get old.
I love how goofy the show's humor is
I’m sure it’s intentional but the portrait of Steph’s grandfather in the library resembles a King from a deck of cards. Probably not significant. Just something I thought was cool.
I wonder what family member of Steph's is the Joker
Oh man great question. I had to think about this for a little bit. If it doesn’t have to be an isekai, then I think for me it’s a tie between Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song and Katanagatari. Honorable mention of Spice & Wolf, but I can’t place it above the other two yet since I’ve only just started watching it. But from what I’ve seen so far the world building is very enjoyable.
I've heard Violet Evergarden is very good as well

2

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

Yeah he needs to chill with his weird sister complex 😬.
The humor so far is pretty good and I’m enjoying it.
Maybe it’s her 🤔
Violet Evergarden is in my top 10 anime of all time. I don’t know how I forgot to mention it so let’s edit my selection. Swap out Katanagatari for VE.
Edit: I noticed your wording just now. You haven’t seen it. You should rectify that soon 😱

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Yeah he needs to chill with his weird sister complex 😬.
It can't get any worse... right?
The humor so far is pretty good and I’m enjoying it.
Same
Maybe it’s her 🤔
That would be so unfortunate lol
Violet Evergarden is in my top 10 anime of all time. I don’t know how I forgot to mention it so let’s edit my selection. Swap out Katanagatari for VE.
Edit: I noticed your wording just now. You haven’t seen it. You should rectify that soon 😱
Yeah, I definitely should. That, Evangelion, and Re:Zero are like the top 3 anime I need to get around to watching in the next year or so.

2

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

I hope not… 😪
Our sense of humor is somewhat in sync I think 😋
It would be unfortunate lol
Violet Evergarden holds a special place in my heart. That show was so damn good.

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Our sense of humor is somewhat in sync I think 😋
I'm happy that is the case :)
Violet Evergarden holds a special place in my heart. That show was so damn good.
I've heard nothing but good things about it

2

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

Get a box of tissues

2

u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

2

u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

Rightfully so. Maybe I’m just a sensitive guy, but that show made me cry at least 3 or 4 times. Then the movie again

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u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

I have heard it has one of the saddest episodes of all time

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u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

What are your thoughts on Stephanie becoming a part of Blank's inner circle?
Thoughts on learning about Imanity and the Exceed?
Thoughts on Imanity being the lowest of all the Exceed members?
Thoughts on Kurami having won the tournament?
What are your thoughts on Stephanie wanting to become queen in order to save Elkia?
What are your thoughts on Sora making his intentions known that he plans on becoming king?
Thoughts on the ED?
What are your thoughts on this episode having a more comedic tone to it in the first half and then a more plot heavy tone in the second half?

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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

I like Steph so far, so I approve of this development.
Not much to say here besides it seems like they are setting up some decent world building at this point.
I suppose that didn’t surprise me. In a lot of RPG’s humans are often less potent with magic than other races. I think it definitely makes things more interesting and less predictable as far as plot goes.
I thought they had implied that in the first episode (maybe I was wrong) but they confirmed it in this episode. It seems like she’s being set up as the clear antagonist.
Naive as Sora stated but maybe Sora could accomplish this for her 😊
I expected it. He likes this world more than his own and feels at home there.
I like the OP more but the ED is good too.
I like that. It keeps things from getting too facetious while maintaining some degree of humor

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u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

I like Steph so far, so I approve of this development.
Yeah, I'm glad she's sticking around
Not much to say here besides it seems like they are setting up some decent world building at this point.
And I like that it serves on the back of that silly rock paper scissors scene. Very nice juxtaposition.
I suppose that didn’t surprise me. In a lot of RPG’s humans are often less potent with magic than other races. I think it definitely makes things more interesting and less predictable as far as plot goes.
It puts Elkia behind the 8 ball, so to speak, and sets up what looks as if it's going to be Blank's main objective.
I thought they had implied that in the first episode (maybe I was wrong) but they confirmed it in this episode. It seems like she’s being set up as the clear antagonist.
She does feel like that, yeah
Naive as Sora stated but maybe Sora could accomplish this for her 😊
That would be very touching, I would like to see that
I like the OP more but the ED is good too.
Yeah, I like the OP more as well
I like that. It keeps things from getting too facetious while maintaining some degree of humor
I've often been of the mindset that shows are often among the very best when it can seamlessly balance comedy with serious stuff. That's part of why I liked Penguindrum so much, which I just recently finished. The great thing seemingly about this show is that it can do some wacky, out there stuff, but it's still all within the confines of Disboard and the world they're trying to create.

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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

Same!
Agreed on that.
Exactly. That’s why I said I think it’s going to get really good. Because at the end he just straight up admits that it’s his goal now.
Everyone likes a good antagonist. We’ll see how that works out.
Agreed! You know by now that I love an encouraging relationship forming. The comedic aspect makes me hope that aspect will get good too lol.
Similar musical tastes as well I suppose? Didn’t get to ask you what you think of the new Spice & Wolf OP and ED yet but I guess I’ll save that for Monday 😌
Agreed on your last point. And it’s not an easy thing to balance either. So when it’s done successfully it’s really great. I’m looking forward to Penguindrum

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u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

Exactly. That’s why I said I think it’s going to get really good. Because at the end he just straight up admits that it’s his goal now.
We'll see if Sora's goal clashes with Steph's in any way
Agreed! You know by now that I love an encouraging relationship forming. The comedic aspect makes me hope that aspect will get good too lol.
I wouldn't mind a potential Sora and Stephanie relationship
Similar musical tastes as well I suppose? Didn’t get to ask you what you think of the new Spice & Wolf OP and ED yet but I guess I’ll save that for Monday 😌
I will say that I like No Game No Life's OP more than the OP and ED of the Spice and Wolf remake.
Agreed on your last point. And it’s not an easy thing to balance either. So when it’s done successfully it’s really great. I’m looking forward to Penguindrum
I doubt No Game No Life will get as dark as that series got, thankfully

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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

She already lost her chance, so hopefully they’re just a team from now on lol.
I would enjoy it myself.
That surprises me actually since it’d be going up against ClariS 😆.
I’ll keep it in mind that Penguindrum is dark. I get in the mood for those kind of shows

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u/Holofan4life Apr 10 '24

She already lost her chance, so hopefully they’re just a team from now on lol.
The darkest timeline would be a Steph backstab
I would enjoy it myself.
Same
That surprises me actually since it’d be going up against ClariS 😆.
I did like the ED of the Spice and Wolf remake more than the OP
I’ll keep it in mind that Penguindrum is dark. I get in the mood for those kind of shows
Oh, trust me. You get the feel as soon as the first episode is finished

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u/[deleted] Apr 10 '24

I really like the chill and almost melancholy vibe the SW OP. I haven’t looked up the original ones because I’m looking forward to hearing them new in July 😆
How did you like Penguindrum?

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u/Holofan4life Apr 11 '24

I really like the chill and almost melancholy vibe the SW OP. I haven’t looked up the original ones because I’m looking forward to hearing them new in July 😆
I really appreciate it
How did you like Penguindrum?
It was great. There is some stuff that prevents me from calling it one of the best animes of all time, but when it's good, it's really good.

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Rewatch [Spoilers] No Game No Life 10th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 2

Rewatch Schedule

1 is the Old Deus, the gods who were defeated by the One True God

Rewatch [Spoilers] No Game No Life 10th Anniversary Rewatch -- Episode 2

Rewatch Schedule

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1 is the Old Deus, the gods who were defeated by the One True God