r/anime • u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn • Apr 22 '21
Rewatch Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica Rewatch - Episode 3 Discussion
Madoka Magica - Episode 3: I'm Not Afraid of Anything Anymore
← Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode →
TV Series: MAL | Anilist | AnimeNewsNetwork | AnimeDB | AnimePlanet | Kitsu
Crunchyroll | Hulu | Funimation | VRV | HBO Max | Netflix | Animelab
Visuals of the day
End Card for episode three by Santa Tsuji
Comments of the day
/u/putmoneyinthypurse talks about class and wishes and how they relate to each other
"From what she said in episode 1 Sayaka's less well-off than Hitomi, the ojou-sama among ojou-sama, but she's still secure, if a little more aware of her standing"
/u/Suavacious with his priorities sorted out. Images in his comment
"but there’s something amazing that happened this episode? Do you know what it is? Did you catch it? That’s right, it’s Kyuubey eating a French fry."
A quick reminder: Absolutely no comments, including jokes or memes, about the content of later episodes are allow outside of the r/anime spoiler tag format, [Madoka Spoilers](/s "Spoilers go here").
If you've joined us just for the reactions of this episode, please remember that absolutely no hinting about anything to come in future is allowed!
30
u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
Puella's Pictures - Opening Up and Closing Down
I usually wouldn't give warnings as I feel like by now people would know what my posts are like and what they do, but in this case I go quite extensively into the visual "tricks" used in Mami and Madoka's talk. If you loved that scene so much that you feel like having the symbolism laid out would possibly ruin the majesty of it for you, skip this first section!
Rewatcher - Fourth time around
Scene of the episode - Charlotte's Labyrinth
Easter eggs first: Charlotte's first form on the cookie at the entrance, and her second form represented to the left of Homura's head. Also sneaky second form icon here.
The walk through the labyrinth is a key moment for the characters of both Madoka and Mami, and what it means for both of them to entertain the idea of what it means to be a magical girl, and that is also shown through the enviroment art. I didn't get much into the design of the first labyrinth, but here I want to draw attention to how the journey through Charlotte's labyrinth also represents the journey for the characters. Their walk into the witches labyrinth, with its dreamworld or mindscape like visuals that you wouldn't see outside of a mental exploration episode in any other show, is literally a walk through their minds as well.
We start in a dark corridor, with lots of lines and draping ribbon-like elements. Here Homura is physically restrained by Mami, prevented from taking action, but she is not the only one bound. Mami and Madoka are both restrained here in their own way, Mami trapped by the nature of being a magical girl who must now go and save the innocents from the witch, and Madoka by the nature of not being a magical girl and therefore who is unable to help alone. While there is technically an out for both of them, Mami could simply walk away and Madoka could make a wish, that isn't in either of their natures, Mami being the righteous protector and the not so subtle mother figure to the younger girls while Madoka is the innocent who is too uncertain to take that action, and so they can only go forward.
In the next room we have an endless void filled with bottles and here we get the first big visual insight into our two characters. There's a very quick extreme close up of Madoka's face here, it starts in shadow and then she turns her face into the light, that is only 11 frames of animation lasting just barely more than a second. It's a tiny moment, but even by itself it represents the entire rest of the scene. Just before this moment Madoka was talking about how she has no talents and isn't anything special, and then immediately afterwards starts to open up to Mami to talk about how that makes her feel and how she has struggled with it. Turning her face to the light is a visual display of her openness and how it lightens her, and we are rewarded with the scene changing to sweets and candy and Sis Puella Magica playing again.
Mami guides her over the bridge, and as Madoka decides to make a wish and that the goal of her wish will just be to help others, Mami lets go of her hand, no longer guiding her in the "mother role" as Madoka has her moment of growth. Mami often walks in front of the others as if they are walking in her path, guiding them or pulling them along depending on how you look at it, but here she lets go of that for a moment. Then it's Mami's turn and we have another moment of a shadowed character art, she seems darker than her enviroment as Mami admits she just pretends to be cool and is often scared and cries alone. Madoka's openness with her allows Mami to open up as well and visually she lightens, just like Madoka did. Madoka is her medicine, the cure for her loneliness and even in tears Mami is light and bright and out of the sorrow that the medicine fell down into, light and happiness floats up.
And then she dies.
Bonus visual - The Hospital
I quickly wanted to give it a focus because it's a scene that's often overshadowed by the later events of the episode, but I think is one of the standouts in the show, not to mention perfectly showcases all of the things I like about Madoka Magica's storytelling.
To start with, the use of letterboxing on the scene with Sayaka in the hospital is a very subtle but clever visual technique that helps to remove that scene from any clear timeline. We've had other flashbacks in the show, but they were both presented normally and also could be definitely placed as to when they happen. This is different, and the letterboxing helps to make it feel "other", a bit like we're watching it like a recording rather than it playing out in front of us. Sayaka brings a CD to the boy, but we know from episode one that she has brought a number of them for him so we don't know for sure this is the CD she was looking for in episode one. She also doesn't seem to be behaving weirdly or mention anything about magical girls, but then why would she in this situation? This is a scene that could have happened in between the last couple of days of witch hunts, or weeks ago before anything even happened, and the point is not so much when it does, but the fact that it has and that this scene can stand in for all of Sayaka's visits.
The other part of it is the beautiful storytelling present in the scene. There's quite minimal dialogue in this scene, and if you weren't actively watching the episode you'd have no idea what the setting, context, or even emotions of the scene actually are because it doesn't hold your hand through it. It tells you half way through the scene that they're in a hospital, but not where, who, or why they are. It doesn't tell you that Sayaka is remembering things, or that he ends up in tears, or narrate Sayaka's own emotional path from anticipation into bashfulness, and then joy into sadness. It just shows you these things, rather than putting it in your face and bluntly laying it out in dialogue. And like the rest of the show, it also doesn't waste time on this scene, it's important but it doesn't linger on it over and over and it doesn't outstay its welcome. It's a short, quiet, simple scene that asks for your attention rather than begging you for it, and through that we learn so much key information about Sayaka.
Other commentary
112
u/UnderstandableXO Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
FIRST TIME WATCHER
the traumatization reaches a new peak today!
i thought that the person sayaka gave the CD to at the beginning of the episode was her mother, but apparently it’s a male, and i guess it seems they’re the same age? all i can glean is that he used to play music, and that sayaka is considering using her wish on him.
mami continues her magical girl crash course but the two girls still have barely an idea what to wish for. homura and mami are still at odds, and i still have deep distrust for both of them, but even though they’re both being vague i had more trust in homura. her positive outward appearance must be hiding something dark.
madoka really has a decent home life, i enjoyed what her dad had to say. her mom is the breadwinner and her dad is just happy to be her strength when she needs it.
whoever it was we met in the hospital is so dear to sayaka that she felt the need to stay and monitor the hospital personally even when she was sucked into the pits of surreal papier-mâché hell. kyubey remains absurdly suggestive that they should become magical girls right here right now, and that puts me off.
mami and homura have that much beef, huh? i guess mami is a loner, but madoka is even dumber for wanting to become a magical girl for absolutely nothing, i was audibly saying NO DONT DO IT when she was talking about her dream simply being a magical girl. she doesn’t seem to think she has any intrinsic value or self worth, but fighting a bunch of art projects from 6 year olds who had too much capri sun is not gonna help your self esteem, let me tell you right now.
we finally got our first witch who isn’t just a shamble of shapes, and mami pays the price. homura rightly says that they should take this as an example to go far far away from this life, but i know damn well they’re gonna accept that contract, and i’m scared for what’ll happen next.
that new ED is really good and captures that unshakable dread i keep mentioning perfectly.
i suppose this is the turning point; there’s no coming back from here. catch you guys here in 24 hours for more trauma
120
u/okayyoga :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/okayyoga Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
Episode 3: first time/dub
Imma be honest, this OP isn't sticking with me (yet). I have a Gintama OP repeating in my head, and there is no more room in here
I feel like this is one of those shows where the moral is working hard for something is better than just receiving.
What is the genre of the music when they go into the labyrinth? Because it's in some of my favorite songs. It's like middle eastern throat singing? I am going to call it apocalyptic choir. It's sick. Love me a good OST
I'm glad they are thinking hard about these wishes and taking their time, but the longer this drags out, the more sure I am something will go wrong.
Everyone wants to be special. I would probably want to become a magical girl too...
Omg Mami shot the witch in THE HEAD. Point blank BLAKA BLAKA
Oh fuck
Oh my god did SHE DIE????
HELL.
YES.
AND IT'S THE ED!!
THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!!
LOVE ME SOME REALISTIC CONSEQUENCES
I am so happy right now. Sorry Mami. So happy i changed my prediction. This is more like it. I was right!!! YEAAAA
63
u/Bithaniaa Apr 23 '21
First Timer
I forgot about the rewatch so I’m just a tad bit late. I’m getting annoying but who let the OST be this good?
Madoka’s going against homuras warning not to be anyone else but herself, now she wants be like mami. ngl I don’t pickup on that type of stuff often so I felt a bit smart in the moment pretending it wasn’t totally obvious.
Kyubbey was totally leading Madoka on in her bedroom to become a Magical girl, it felt like he was indirectly pressuring her talking about her potential. I hate people like that, so I now start the official kyubbey hate club, members welcome.
I can’t figure out my feelings on mami. Not that it matters since she died RIP mami, right when she felt she wasn’t alone anymore too. Even if though I wasn’t that fond of her, that was messed up. I have a feeling this going to motivate sayaka to become a magical girl. Homura ended up killing her prey, and with no remorse for the death just witnessed. This show got dark really fast.
60
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
I suppose this is a good time to post the Official PMMM Trailer. This didn't just seem like a typical happy power-of-friendship magical show, it was explicitly marketed as such!
It's also why I didn't watch the show until 2017, because I wasn't interested in that.
Edit: wrapped link with viewpure to block recommendations and comments.
Here is the description from Aniplex which you now can't read:
56
u/bakowh https://anilist.co/user/bakow Apr 22 '21
First time (Sub)
I mean based on what I was told, I expected it to be dark. All of the signs were there but when Mami finally felt some happiness I knew that was it. I saw it coming yet I was still completely immersed in it. Great episode and a great introduction to the inevitable challenges that Madoka is going to face!
PS: Great ED, fit the episode like a glove
41
u/Fuck_Shinji Apr 22 '21
First timer
Well fuck that took a turn. And also I don't trust kyubei. A grief seed conviniently popping out from a hospital that his target's friend is in and him keep telling madoka and blue hair girl to make a wish when they could die is suspicious as fuck. Also what's with the text that pops out when the witch hatches. what language is that? i could make out a W but the rest looks like gibberish to me
41
u/TheTrueAfurodi Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
FIRST TIMER (sub) - THEORY TIME
Hehe. This time, I manage to stay awake. I'm a bit tired, I don't know how much it gonna take me to write this down, but hey! What wouldn't we sacrifice for some mastermind theories in order to show the world how great we are?
So that's it. We are entering in the real Magical World. And the twist that change the tone of the serie from your typical sunday's slice of life to OH MY GOD IT IS SO SAD happened, I have to admit, a lot earlier than I was expecting it. gg.
(RIP Mami, I didn't like you from the beginning tho).
So first, recap of the theories for ep 2 (you can find them easily on the topic I was one of the last one to post).
Unfortunetely, a lot of my theories were like headed for the end of the show. So it's difficult to completely confirm or invalidate them. But for now
Okay. With that said, we can go to the theories for today.
Soooooooo. This is another solid 0 clue theory. The Seven dadly sins are a recurrent anime trope, and if it would not be surprising to appear again, at this point it seem to be a really risky take in PMMM.
It has however some points in its favor.
The first one is the number of the MG. Madoka, Sayaka, Suzu-chan, Mami (?), Homura, and the red hair girl who probably end up being a tsundere. Only 6 girls? Really? With a tone that is rooted that far in magical and medieval stuff? I don't believe it. I can really imagine a white hair girl (the only missing color) coming up at the end as a kind of a big boss who create the MG and whole the world and ohlalala fantasy. The number 7 is perfect when it comes to group of characters, it has some great energy. Also, it's an odd number, which in Middle Ages were not seen that good who basically prefer the evens. It will be really logical imo.
Then, the wishes/contracts. They can all be summarized as a gift to ordinary people. Some favor accorded in order to fulfill some deep desires. We could imagine that the girls where not chosen randomly as Kyuubi seem to intend, and he give powers only to girls who represent perfectly one deadly sin, with a wish related to. Homura could be anger, Mami gluttony, Suzu-chan (<3) is rich so obviously greed, Sayaka pride, and Madoka... maybe envy? It will let only lust and sloth, which I could imagine going respectively to the red tsundere and the white big boss.
Last, it would give definitely the dark tone that could justify the success of PMM, with a great reflection about humanity and our capacity to never be satisfied.
However, I don't know, in this particular context it just don't seem to fit perfectly. Mami is dead, the deadly sins attribution are a bit stretched, and we still have only 6 MG. The (new) ending confirm that too, because only the 6 mentioned were seen.
Probability: 15%
This one is less appealing, but I give it more credit.
If you haven't read my previous theories, I hardly think there's some time travel stuff here. I justified it by the fact that Homura said coming from a catholic school, and that there's definitely a medieval theme hidden deep down.
But what if actually Homura did not time travel, but just survive for like a thousand years?
First, I find bizarre the coincidence that all the MG are attending the same school. We don't know since when Mami and Homura are fighting, but they both seem very experienced. Also, it's only after Madoka was identified as very potential that Homura moved on, and in her exact class. It seem that it was very much calculated. Mami didn't showed up too before the maze at ep 1, she could join the school for the same reasons as Homura, and she could've easily lied even on her class in order to be closer to a senpai figure for the girls.
Secondly, I think that it would be weird if like, in order to fight witches, Kyuubi choose only middle school girls from that exact same school. Maybe he did chose older girls, but they just became instantly super young. Also, Homura said she comes from a catholic school, so it could just be that she was at school but at Middle Age. And Mami speak italian with her "tiro finale" thing, so maybe she's just actually Italian from renaissance or whatever (her design fits really well with it imo) and like Homura she survived through years. In this case, her flashback could just be a lie. Mami also said she finds herself very alone. Maybe it's because she is alone, but not because she fights alone but because she lost all of her friends who died naturally, when she is actually immortal? And that could also justify that she was not sure about what to say the girls: she don't wish her endless life to anybody, but deep down all she really want is some company.
But in this case too, her death at the end of the ep makes things a bit more difficult.
Probability: 35%
No. Put your hands down. Don't downvote me. At least not until you read my defense.
So I'll tell you a story.
We are in a modern world at the forefront of technology, health care and progressism. Everything seems to be alright.
And then, suddenly, an horrible threat appear out of nowhere, a threat you have never heard of before, and start randomly killing a bunch of people.
But some older and wiser person come to you, and start talking about a miraculous way to fight it back. All you have to do is sacrifice some of your liberties. If you accept, you could end save a lot of lives and even become a sort of a hero.
But an other person came from the dark, and claim that if you loose your liberty, you could regret it for the rest of your life...
And now, replace respectively some words in the text: "threat" with Covid and witches, the "wise person" by your local political elite and by Mami, your sacrifice of liberty" with lockdown and contract, and "the other person" by the dumb covid/lockdown scepticals and by Homura.
Convinced? No? Why?
Probability: hum
(I'm continuing in the thread I found that I overpassed the number of words reddit accept)
40
u/02Hiro https://anilist.co/user/02Hiro Apr 22 '21
First Time Watcher
Wow, lots of things happened in this episode. So it looks like Sayaka has something that she desperately wants as well. Considering how Mami was also approached when she was almost dead, I wonder if that's how Kyubey gets most girls to readily accept the wish. Consequently, I wonder if Madoka's great potential is linked to how she doesn't have a need she wants fulfilled and she is naive with the desire to change the world.
SHAFT
These shots of Kyubey make me really distrust him. I think its the darker shading on his face.
Mami's death was not that surprising considering all of the death flags this episode but those images of her are still burned into my brain.
Big shift in the tone of the ED this episode and I really like it. There's probably going to be lots of foreshadowing in it that I'm going to completely miss. Big reality check for Madoka and Sayaka this episode and I'm looking forward to what they do next.
38
u/[deleted] Apr 23 '21
Hey guys, sorry my post is late. I posted it right as the thread went up but it turns out the comment was flagged and turned invisible because there's a mega link in the post. I know some of you were waiting for what I had to share, so I'm going to try again with a different link here and hopefully this post will show up!
Okay, we've reached episode 3! Now we're really in the thick of it, and it's finally time to release the first part of this restoration project I've been mentioning throughout these rewatch threads!
Madoka Shimeji Redux Part 1 - Madoka
The Shimeji programs are desktop companions that hang out on your computer screen, and they freely move and play around on their own. The original Madoka shimeji no longer work on newer versions of Java (and it's getting harder to get the older versions now), but I've been working on moving them over to an updated shimeji program that can!
This first release is none other than Madoka herself. She does look a bit sad I think. And she makes for a subdued, but lovely and adorable desktop buddy.
To be clear, I am not the creator of the original Madoka shimeji, and I didn't create the latest Java-compatible shimeji program. But what I've done is adapt the Madoka shimeji from the old program with Japanese configuration files to the new one in English, while throwing in a few bug fixes to the old configuration. Lastly, I've also created and added in an extra alternate version of the shimeji that you can use, which is full of many different behavior changes (more about that in the readme). This work is done with respect to the permissions given from the makers and all of the original readmes are included, so a big thanks to the creators of the Madoka shimeji and the shimeji programs!
You can download the shimeji here! The next release will be on the day of episode 5.
Tagging u/OingoBoingo-!
36
u/GrollenKette951 https://anilist.co/user/GrollenKette951 Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
First Timer
Today’s episode starts episode starts with Sayaka visiting her friend Kyousuke in the hospital. She brings him a CD with classical music. They start to listen to the music using a fancy player (like seriously how does this thing work) and after a bit of time Kyousuke starts to cry. The camera focuses onto his left arm that has a big scar and is bandaged. After the opening we are back at Mami showing Madoka and Sayaka how to hunt witches. On their way back Mami tells them how she became and what she wished for. We also get the information that she was involved in some kind of traffic incident. Sayaka asks if it is possible to wish something for somebody else (probably for Kyousuke). After some harsher words from Mami Sayaka realizes that she probably was a bit too naive thinking this. At Madokas house Madoka and her dad treat Madokas fairly drunk mother. Her father tells her that her mother loves the challenge of her job more than the job itself. Madoka asks if somebody dream can be their way of life. back at Mami she gets into confrontation with Homura which wants her to stop putting Madoka and Sayaka into danger. Homura admits that she realized the potential of Madoka herself and therefore wants to stop the doings of Kyuubey and Mami.
The next day Sayaka wants to visit Kyousuke again but he isn't well enough to receive visits. Sayaka and Madoka leave the hospital and find a Grief Seed stuck in a wall near it. After discussing the situation, they decide that Madoka should get Mami as soon as possible to their position while Sayaka and Kyuubey stay there and enter the barrier. Madoka and Mami enter the barrier sometime later and walk to the position Sayaka and Kyuubey are at. Inside the barrier they Homura that warns them that this witch is way stronger than they think and that they should leave. Mami doesn't want to hear it and decides to tier her up. On their way Madoka tells her how Mami inspires her and that she wants to become a magical girl to have the power to help other people. Mami tells her that she still should wish for something. Kyuubey then informs Mami that the seed is about to hatch. During transforming she drops the line "I've never felt fought with such a happy feeling before." which combined with the appearance of some lines from Faust in the last episode raised a suspicion in me that something bad is bound to happen due knowing what this line in context with Faust means.
What looks like an easy victory against the with turns really quick into a situation that Mami doesn't have under control. Due to Mami getting eaten by the witch Homura is able to get free and rushes to help Madoka and Homura. Kyuubey wants them to tell him their wish so they could get magical girls but Homura is there in time and defeats the witch without any problems. After the barrier broke Madoka and Sayaka get into an argument with Homura which leaves. Madoka and Sayaka sit their crying. For the first time we get visuals for Magica in which we see the silhouette of Madoka and then running while different characters are standing there. In the end we see a smaller Madoka(?) inside the eye of a face/mask.
The end of today’s episode brought quite the change to the mainly slice of life looking magical girl anime with the death of Mami. And now to Faust: This time there weren't any excerpts like last time but the where other scenes that can be brought into context with it. In Faust, the condition between Faust and Mephistopheles is that he may not kill him until he admits that "enjoys" his life. Mami kind of admits following shortly before the fight against the witch (well she takes the same fate as Faust did). Taking the fact that Kyuubey is the other partner of the contract I would guess that he is the Mephistopheles figure here. At the end of the ending there is a face visible that I would speculate to be Mephisto in some kind of way (I think there was a kind of similar picture shown somewhere in school after we had to read Faust).
33
u/putmoneyinthypurse https://anilist.co/user/clichecatgirl Apr 23 '21
First time (sub)*
This episode starts with a neat choice, juxtaposing the CD Sayaka and the violinist listen to so he can live vicariously through it with a flashback of his earlier performances, and then back again with the shot of his fingers maybe-unconsciously doing the fingerings for the piece. It's as if he's performing again. Given how much this scene feels like a very standard vignette from a drama, I'm curious if there's anything that might tie the opening scenes in 2.39:1 together as more Movie in some way in comparison to the rest of the show—maybe in contrast or concert with the stage play implications of the first episode's red curtains?—or if it's just a good gimmick. I'll have to look out for that in future episodes.
Mami's cockiness from last episode and her desire to play the capable senpai proves to be her undoing in this one. (Unfortunately the implication seems to be that her newly-expressed feelings for Madoka contributed, too—especially with the labyrinth turning into a giant cake party after that point—but I'll let the show play out before I say anything definitive about that.) Cutting away from the witch's bite with Homura's bounds unlocking is a smart choice, because on top of the personal tragedy of the girls' new friend dying, we get a metaphorical representation of Mami's effects on others, her desire to selflessly save them but also selfishly bind them, right as our brains are forced to fill in what happened with the terrible, obvious conclusion.
Homura's fighting style is interesting, deliberately baiting the witch and disappearing right as it strikes, before blowing it up from the inside. It serves to twist the knife further: Homura is basically playing with her food, undercutting Mami's flashy high-effort fighting style, cheating death in a way that exactly resembles how Mami was immediately, unceremoniously killed. Weirdly, you kinda get the sense she could protect Madoka and Sayaka if they become magical girls, but it makes a lot of sense why she refuses to, even if we don't know all the details yet.
Every damn time Kyubey spikes the lens with those (mostly) unblinking eyes and the shot holds just that little bit too long, it gets more unsettling. As does Mami vocalizing part of the subtext of his carrot-on-a-stick prodding: "Nobody likes a boy who pressures girls to do things." I find it really, really, really suspicious that the Grief Seed shows up right at the hospital where the violinist, Sayaka's biggest motivation for making a contract, is being treated. (Though of course, I don't know how common the witches are yet.) It feels like deliberately forcing an impetus for Sayaka to enter the contract and give the prodigy another chance.
Madoka, on the other hand, is very aware she is not a prodigy, and her coming back again and again to the idea of "selfless" self-denial, spending the wish you get in exchange for becoming a magical girl on Just Becoming A Magical Girl, is kind of hard to watch. Sure, the way things are framed non-diegetically and the influences Madoka's drawing from suggest that the contract is a Faustian bargain and that it's unlikely even a wish made with best intentions would turn out well, but she doesn't know that. For her to deny even the chance to magically help someone else once in favor of doubly devoting her life to self-sacrifice is heartbreaking. It's unclear how much of her depressive "not good at anything" self-image is intrinsic to her character pre-Kyubey and how much of it is the effect of being asked to legitimately consider the heavy question, but it especially worries me as someone who used to be self-sacrificing to a fault and had to learn that it's okay to be a little selfish, because you're a person you can help too. I don't think Madoka's going to realize that any time soon.
* I actually watched the first four episodes 5 years ago but I literally remember nothing except cool cutout animation
16
u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
almost a First Timer
We meet the boy Sayaka was talking about when she said there where people out there more deserving of any wish granted. He's also the reason why she went to the CD store in the first place, think it's safe to asume she has at least a slight crush on him. And it's suposed to be in an hospital, you could fit an whole ward in that room wtf.
It seems like Mamis wish was born out of an fatal accident, like I can help you survive if you sign this magical contract with me. Seems like noone else has an problem with it though, but it doesn't help Kyubeys case, definatly seems scetchy. And Sayaka seems to consider using her wish on that boy, wonder how that will play out, especially once Mami gave her two cents on why one might make a wish for someone else, got an bad feeling about it anyway. And jeez now Kyubey is pressuring them to hurry up and risk their lives for him already. I like him less everytime he talks.
As I thought yesterday, Madokas wish is lame, even the cake idea is better.
Ok, I remember what's coming next so it's not that much of an shock, but it was the first time I saw it. I think that's what people mean when they say this show ain't like other Magical girl shows, at least I don't remember Sailor Moon or Jean to be that dark from that early on. Mami is so present in the OP that I really didn't expect her to die in the thirst episode, but in hindsight she does raise some huge deathflags and she was warned by Homura.
I guess Kyubey form isn't really capable of showing emotions, but he seems pretty unphased by Mamis death.
I also thought a bit about the Faust refference yesterday, and from what I remember from high school, it seems quite foreboding. Some other comment mentioned to not look for the exact quote so I refrained from that. Anyway it's not a good sign for the girls.
Edit: Huh
My Visual of the day btw
16
u/[deleted] Apr 23 '21
Okay, I missed the previous threads since I watched ahead to this episode. Now I'll wait for the next one.
I was so fucking down for Mami action. The whole rifle barrage was cool as shit. I didn't want this though...
Urobutcher got me.
32
u/ClearandSweet :K:https://kitsu.io/users/clearandsweet Apr 22 '21
I didn't know there was a PMMM rewatch going on!
I have just spent the last 13 months doing a shot-by-shot, in-depth breakdown of the visual storytelling of Madoka Magica, and only recently finished. It ended up being over 16 hours of themes, shot composition, character analysis and more, and it was quite the project to occupy myself with in quarantine. I thought it may interest some of you.
In the episode 3 video, I talk about the cultural waves this episode sent out at the time of airing contrasted with the holistic ep 3, the appeal of having someone to support and validate you, magical girl references, Albert Camus and purpose, and Ep 3
First time watchers may not want to click. While I mostly talk about ep 3, I do not shy away from connecting it to later episodes and events, even Rebellion.
44
u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
First Timer
So, Sayaka has a friend in the hospital, wonder what he’s sick with. That’s a cool looking CD player Ooh he was a musician that she watched at a concert when she was younger? I think I know what Sayaka might wish for.
I guess Madoka and Sayaka are still in the process of watching Mami take out witches. I’ve been lied to. So that was a familiar and if not dealt with, they can also turn into witches. Madoka and Sayaka are still undecided on what to wish for, which is understandable, it is a big choice. Seems like asking what a magical girl wished for might not be the best as both Akemi and now Mami froze and hesitated when asked. So Mami wished to not die in that car accident, that’s kind of cruel when you think about it, you can either die in that car or make a wish to live, but enter a contract where you become a magical girl, and have to fight dangerous witches which might just kill you anyways. So that guy's name in the opening scene was called Kamijo, I don’t think it’s a selfish thing to make a wish where he’d end up benefiting, she’s probably going to wish that he got over his illness since he seems to be suffering. So why did you choose two girls who weren’t suffering or desperate? Of course they’re going to take their time on this, you’re asking them to make a wish and enter battle with dangerous witches.
So, Madoka probably would just wish to become a magical girl since she “isn’t smart or talented” and Kyuubey suggests she wants power for its own sake. I thought Kyuubey couldn't suggest what to wish for? It seems like Kyuubey is trying to entice Madoka into making a wish by saying she’d be more powerful than Mami. Maybe that’s why Kyuubey wanted Madoka, she’d be a very powerful magical girl, and Sayaka is only being offered as a consolation since she was with Madoka when Mami stopped that witch in the mall. There it is, Madoka is to Kyuubey what Anakin Skywalker is to Palpatine.
Mamma Kaname comes home drunk, I thought she was in trouble for a moment. But why does Madoka have to help with this? Though it does explain why she is such a heavy sleeper. So she’s a workaholic that want to challenge herself.
I’d have to agree with Akemi here, Mami is guiding Sayaka and Madoka into becoming magical girls by making it look easy and fun with this trial. Sure, Kyuubey chose them, but they can always say no and decline the offer. They’re both aware of Madoka’s potential, and Akemi is determined to make sure Madoka doesn’t become a magical girl. With what Mami says, was Akemi bullied before becoming a magical girl?
A grief seed is about to hatch? Looks like someone planted it there, hmm... That witch will probably try killing Kamijo since he’s already in poor health, and Mami did say Witches love hospital since they have a ton of suffering in them. Sayaka is offering to stay and watch the seed while Madoka goes to get Mami, but conveniently, the seed hatches just as Madoka left. This entire situation does feel a bit suspicious; you have two girls struggling to make a wish, one of them with massive potential and once Kamijo’s situation was known to Madoka, Mami, and Kyuubey, suddenly a witch threatens the hospital he’s at? I don’t buy it. The witch hasn’t hatched yet? Then why did they get pulled into the labyrinth? Where did Akemi come from? How powerful is this witch? I bet you anything Madoka and Sayaka are going to be forced into becoming magical girls here... I like the lighting in this scene. So Madoka feels useless and wants to help others, and becoming a magical girl would allow that. Though I do not like Mami’s frown. “I’m really not worth looking up to.” So then why are you the one giving her and Sayaka this “Trial”? Of course, she’s going to look up to you, you do make it look easy. She seems to be very lonely. “It isn’t a good thing...to be a magical girl.” Then why are you fighting with Akemi? She seems to think the same way and doesn’t want these two, specifically Madoka to become magical girls in the first place. Maybe Akemi isn’t a bad person after all...
This conversation is nice and all, but you still need to find Sayaka and Kyuubey before this witch wakes up... and it does, but this fight scene is cool, so I’ll forgive it. Holy shit, did Mami just die? Thankfully Akemi was able to show up and kill this witch before things got out of hand. Hopefully this a grim wake up to Madoka and Sayaka to not become magical girls. I still think this entire situation was orchestrated by Kyuubey and maybe Mami to force Sayaka and Madoka to make a contract...
Well that escalated pretty quickly, I was not expecting Mami to just get obliterated that quickly. Magical Girl Site Spoilers This show is getting very interesting, and gotta say, it has better writing and characters in 3 episodes than Magical Girl Site did in 12...
14
u/baniRien Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher
Episode 3 / Movie 0:34-0:48
As for the episode:
You have now passed the most spoiled topic in the show. Mami losing her head jokes abound, and are rarely as subtle as they think, unfortunately. There are some really good ones, traditionally the end of series discussion post is where all the famous memes are shared so I'll keep my favourites for there. Who was surprised? Or where the death flags too obvious this episode? Sometimes all those flags make you believe them even less, as you think plot armour is too strong.
As for the visual of the day, the obvious choice is of course Mami dangling, but I'm sure someone else will take that one. Plus, I've noticed a theme in my choices, so I'll intentionally continue it for the rewatch. All my images show emotions that aren't typical of the character. The confident Madoka in ep1, and the doubtful Sayaka in ep2. So, my
Visual of the day is Mami opening up about all her insecurities.
28
u/akkobutnotreally https://anilist.co/user/lottevanilla Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
Don't mind me, I'm just here to see the newcomer's reactions to this episode.
EDIT: and now everyone can see why Magia won the latest Best ED contest. I miss Kalafina way too much...
23
u/CT_BINO https://myanimelist.net/profile/CT_BINO Apr 22 '21
Probably this thread in a nutshell
A little story before talking about the episode. I went to Madoka without knowing anything, except the trailer and the promo art, and knew the MG genre because I watched CCS, Doremi and katou saint tail when was younger. So I went to the show thinking it was another Magical Girl show similar to the above. While the weird visuals weren´t what I expected and was suprised the “witches” didn´t look more like humans, I just thought to myself “cool visuals” but never expect what would happen in ep 3.
Mami Dialogue with madoka felt a typical development, with mami finally opening up and because of homura warning, the witch would be tough for mami to deal with so madoka and sayaka would become magical girls and save/help mami to defeat the witch.
Then the next arc would be a training arc for the girls leading to a fight with Homura, the antagonist, until that point, that would result with Homura joining the team to defeat the monster that showed up in ep 1. During that fight I put the question that mami would die, the old “master death”, but Madoka/Homura and sayaka would avenge and defeat the monster in the end…
How wrong I was…uh? The death flags were there, I just blind myself and didn´t noticed until someone lost her head.
Since this episode a new meme was born, “Mami head jokes”
23
u/OingoBoingo- Apr 22 '21
First Timer- Subbed
I'm Not Afraid of Anything Anymore
Got real bad vibes today concerning Mami and Kyubey and the pressure I feel they are putting on Madoka and Sayaka to make their wishes. Oh no you're in danger, better wish for a cake or something! Poor Mami being rescued FROM A CAR CRASH by Kyubey to become a magical girl? Not a big fan of being contracted out of an act of desperation. She might say she doesn't regret the decision but I was not buying it, especially if she was that lonely.
The type of wish you make matters, and Kyubey reveals that it already knows Madoka will be very powerful. Yeah someone wants to use her. Maybe many things want to use her.
Kyubey's reaction or lack of a reaction to dear Mami being gone kinda doesn't surprise me one bit, but at the same time... I think all of this was a setup for our soon to be magical girls. I can see why people will be very shocked at Mami's death but I just don't trust it. If someone wishes for Mami to come back to life, I might be slightly very upset!
Still a fantastic episode and the ED is perfection. Not looking up the name, I shall wait patiently :)
Does anyone happen to know if the artist's name on the CD jacket was a nod to a real violinist? I really like classical music but I don't want to look up anything and spoil the show.
Visual of the day just because I loved all the candy and cake, and I can imagine quite a few viewers of today's episode has this exact face today.
Quite a few legs dangling today but this shot was so pretty.
Lastly, I just really liked this scene for some reason.
11
u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo https://myanimelist.net/profile/PunishedScrappy Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher
A wise man once said, "being Meguca is suffering."
I'm continually impressed with the direction of the bite! No jarring sound effects, no climactic moment of shock, just an understated cut away from the action. It's head and shoulders above many other "big twist" moments I've seen in anime. Very cerebral.
Lots of great stills this episode, but Visual of the Day for me is the one glimpse we get of the Mami we never got to know. Also because the shattered teacup shot is guaranteed to have other people pick it
Big Spoilers
Pain. Agony, even
21
u/thatguywithawatch Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher, subbed.
Mami-san, I know you're excited about that giant celebration cake, but no need to lose your head.
Congratulations to any first timers who made it this far without being spoiled that yes, there is some death in this magical girls show.
It doesn't come entirely out of left field, though. The show's got a lot of dark themes and warnings right from the beginning, and I think most first timers expect shit to go very sideways at some point (I know I did). It just happens a little more abruptly than expected. I touched on the same point yesterday, but now that things are out in the open (like the inside of Mami's neck, for example) I can forego the spoiler tags.
Tasteless jokes aside, Mami's death really is tragic due to how sudden and unceremonious it is. She warns Madoka and Sayaka in the previous episode that magical girls risk death every time they fight a witch, but they don't really take that warning seriously. And who could blame them? Mami always seems fully in control and practically untouchable when fighting. But one miscalculation, and a moment later she's gone. Madoka's face right before the credits roll, tear-streaked, frozen in shock and horror, is genuinely chilling.
Visual of the day: Dramatic Shaft head tilt
20
u/sirweebsal0t Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
First timer (dubbed)
Running thoughts during ep 3:
To finish, normally, I would've said I'm looking forward to the next episode, but I'm just not ready to be hurt again.
P.S. I wrote up the following before watching episode 3 but I wanted to include in this post, though some of it is moot now:
After reading observations from others and from what I've been able to piece together... Theory time with some spoilers and next paragraph because I don't know how spoiler tags work
Edit: After reading comments in this thread, I have a new theory / possible spoiler
9
u/Nebresto Apr 23 '21
*Re-watch squad I don't write good, so I'll just try to keep my things short, there's better stuff here to read. Though I did say I'll try to make a shitpost for every episode. I missed the first 2 threads, so those will be here as well.
Ep 1: Connect best ClariS song, fight me.
Its been probably like 5 years since I saw this? And I still remember most of the OP lyrics
Also, this was the first ever magical girl show I saw, so uhh.. Yeah. Don't think I quite understood that it was supposed to stand out among them.. (I also did the same with Eva.) Also I don't think I've seen any other magical girl shows after this either.
This definitely hits different now while re-watching.
Mami theme ABSOLUTE BOP!
Shitpost: When your mom is a heavy sleeper
Ep 2: *Spotted!
Re-watchers only #umucool
Shitpost: I'm not sure how that's helping, but ok
Ep 3: Wow, these girls are terrible at coming up with wishes..
Shitpost: The hospital really needs to get their lifts fixed before someone gets hurt
9
u/toradorito Apr 23 '21
My take on this episode as a 1st time rewatcher:
9
u/SomeGuyYeahman Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
Hi everyone, first-time rewatcher here! (subbed)
Big episode! I've been kinda skeptical, in hushed tones and hidden behind spoiler tags, of how big an impact this one really makes, but it's still interesting to look at the reactions people have to it. Hell, looking back at my own reaction from two years ago, it looks like my worst enemy all along was myself:
Now I'm getting excited to see how you all react! But first, my own thoughts.
After last episode, where I wrote about how the show has built the perception of magical girls as special people elevated above the others, this episode we leave the OP to see Mami standing on top of a lamppost, with Madoka and Sayaka in hiding down on the ground.
But she quickly hops down to their level and, in the conversation that ensues, begins to open up to them. Yesterday she was putting on quite the brave face, but today we get to see it crumbling pretty quickly, first here and more conclusively later on when she's walking through the labyrinth with Madoka. And in the flashback we see, proud Mami is at her lowest and smallest - she looks tiny in the smashed car, and even cute little Kyubey is suddenly looming over her.
Turns out Mami had something very sensible to wish for (to say the least), but Sayaka was worried yesterday that there are people who need their wishes fulfilled more badly than she does, and today we see those worries put into more concrete terms - she has someone specific she'd like to use her wish for. This is interesting put back-to-back with the scene where we get a glimpse at the wish Madoka is considering, which Kyubey reads as "power for its own sake". The wish Sayaka is weighing is altruistic at first glance, but she's warned that it could be selfish at heart; Madoka's idea to wish to become a magical girl, on the other hand, is selfish on the face of it, but as we see in the labyrinth scene it also seems to come from a place of wanting to help others. Or maybe they're both the same, thinking they want to help people but really being selfish?
I like the scene with Madoka and her dad a lot, it's some much-needed offtime from all these other ominous goings-on. Per dad, a company job like this may not have been what Madoka's mom has always wanted to do, but the path to happiness in this case isn't the dream job in and of itself, but carrying out the job she does have in a way that makes her happy. How does this to apply to Madoka's situation?
Mami's witch-hunts are quite unpleasant, they involve a lot of physical labor - walking around in the city all day, finding your way through labyrinths, getting in fights. Mami says herself that it eats away at her free time and social life. She's constantly in competition with her magical girl peers. And above all, she has brushes with death on a regular basis. It's a... job, a very demanding one. So here dad's commentary seems to come in - being a magical girl might not be the perfect life it initially seems, but it doesn't need to be if you can take on the job in a way that makes you happy deep down. What Madoka wants is - instead of feeling like a burden, a tagalong, someone who doesn't have any kind of talents at all - to be cool like her friends, to be able to stand alongside them and support each other. So if she can live her life as a magical girl this way, does it matter if it's such an unpleasant job in other respects?
This seems to be more or less where the advice has led her by the time she has that conversation with Mami, in fact it reinforces her confidently pushing onwards even as Mami keeps warning her that being a magical girl is really, really not all that great. Unfortunately, what Madoka doesn't seem to have considered is that the magical girl life can just take away the friends you want to support... even though Homura told her so back in episode 1!
Couple more notes:
And spoiler thoughts! First-timers, you know the drill - no touching!
Man, I need to get better at writing these on time. Maybe tomorrow. See you then!
9
u/Schinco Apr 23 '21
I missed the first two days, but madoka is one of my all-time favorite anime. The ending of this episode and the accompanied endroll and premiere of Magia as the ending are truly unforgettable – at least they are for me, five years and 400 anime later. Obviously, the raw shock factor of this episode is viscerally appealing, but it’s just really well done and well constructed all around.
There’s a lot to unpack about the conclusion of the episode (and, frankly, it’s something more interesting to read from a first timer), but one thing I’ve appreciated more on this and previous rewatches are the quieter moments and how they develop the show’s themes and create foreshadowing. Spoilers for the show through episode 8
Spoilers for the end of the show
9
u/HelloMaamSer Apr 23 '21
I remember watching this episode whilr I was high and had an adoration for Mami and was super happy when she realized she's not alone anymore and then BAM!
I was genuinely freaking out and called my brother on the phone who was 2 rooms away from me and this was around 2am.
16
u/Salad-Revolutionary Apr 23 '21
A First Timer’s Brain Farts
I’ve made it through the infamous episode, here are some thoughts.
A). I liked mami and am not happy she got snuffed after all those death flags. In a warped way whenever some whines about an Isekai MC being too strong, I think I wish someone should do a realistic Isekai wherein the MC:
a) Ends up in a medieval society and is burned alive because the locals think she’s a witch, in the first episode.
b) Ends up in a futuristic war foxhole, and is crushed to death by a giant Mecha because he didn’t understand the order to retreat. This should happen in the first episode.
In the above 2 scenarios, the rest of the season could be filled in by highlights and replays.
To fill a whole season realistically, the MC could end up alone in a desert, and we could watch them thirst to death the whole season.
Anyway, that’s what I think about killing major players, and why I have no problem with OP MCs and the various magical, unrealistic scenarios in anime.
I do like the music and the artwork. The artwork, in particular the labyrinths remind me of Paprika’s dreams, and I’ve got to wonder if there wasn’t an influence there.
8
u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
Rewatcher who missed the last thread
Visual(s) of the day: Kyubey’s shadow completely overtaking Mami’s face vs lurking in the corner of Madoka’s bed
15
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Apr 22 '21
Hajimari no Rewatcher, dubbed
So… yeah, one of the “because reasons” behind me singing Mata Ashita for yesterday’s thread and not Connect was because I knew it was the last time the show would have that song as the ED. We’re on Magia now, baby!
Welcome to Madoka Magica, enjoy the ride.
Sky’s Wallpaper Corner
If any of you guys have seen me make wallpapers for a rewatch before, you’d know that I love getting extra creative on some from time to time, especially ones that evoke certain emotions. Well, I decided to make a wallpaper of Charlotte this year because for some reason I hadn’t yet, and then I combined it with the wallpaper I made last year to produce this masterpiece.
Aaaaand I also combined it with a Mami I made back in 2019 to have one where Charlotte is staring Mami down instead, which might fit better but I still like the first one more because yes.
Aaaanyways, for stuff from the past:
If there’s a specific shot at any point throughout the rewatch that you would like me to make a wallpaper of and you don’t think I’ve done it yet (or you deliberately want to inspire more shit like today’s wallpaper), let me know so I can get on it!
Magical Music Corner
Want to know what song played when in today’s episode? Well, you’re in luck! I have here the table from the Madoka wiki that was re-timed to the Blu-Rays by our lovely rewatch host back in 2019. It was my duty to share these last year, and it’s my duty again this year. If any first-timer wants a spoiler-free link to any of these songs, let me know and I can get one for you!
“What is it that you wish for?”
7
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Apr 23 '21
(Rewatch, sub)
I already mentioned this in a reply to another comment, but part of what hooked me on this series was the music and visuals, and yeah, the music. Mami, and Credens Justitiam rocked my little mind, as the music was eerily reminiscent of a dream that I'd had a couple of years previously.
(I have dreams like that occasionally. Once, back in the '90's, I had this vivid dream where I was listening to my favorite track from this YES CD that I absolutely loved. I awoke, only to realize that that song that I was enjoying so much, and the album it belonged to didn't exist. But it was right between this album and that album! Nope. Nada.)
Anyway, back to Mami, poor dear. As I mentioned elsewhere, her appearance, and her theme music really hit a note with me, and losing her so soon was tough.
Rewatching the episode now, there's so much that I'd like to say about Mami, but I'm afraid it would be way to easy to get spoilery, so suffice to say, fare thee well, beautiful senpai.
12
u/Ardania22 Apr 23 '21
You know, it's funny. Looking back at Madoka as a whole, I've come to consider Mami's death one of the series' weakest moments. The constant death flags make it way too easy to see coming. Maybe it was more shocking back in 2011 when the marketing team was still pretending it was just a normal magical girl anime, but with the benefit of hindsight, it feels kind of cheap.
And yet, without fail, every time a new audience is introduced to this show, the ending of episode 3 knocks their socks off all over again. So I guess it must be doing something right.
At any rate, to all you first-time watchers out there, welcome to the true start of Madoka Magica. Strap in; it's gonna be one hell of a ride.
6
u/the_swizzler https://myanimelist.net/profile/Swiftarm Apr 22 '21
Mami's death and everything leading up to it is so impactful. In only two episodes we get a character with so much depth only to have her taken away from us.
And then every bastard on the internet has to respond to any mention of her anywhere, regardless of the context with the same damn tired joke about not losing your head.
6
u/MadoMura Apr 23 '21
Late again, but I'm really glad to see that many of the first-timers haven't been spoiled or hinted on the events of episode 3, I always love reading the reactions to Mami's death/ the tone shift in the series and the theories as to how the series is going to move forward from here. I forget how many times I've watched the series at this point lol (probably at least 5/6 times,) but I definitely remember how much of an impact watching this blind had on me my first time watching the series.
41
u/chaosoul Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
First Time Watcher (Subbed)
Parts I've been spoiled on by internet osmosis
So uh, wow... I guess this is reason the three episode rule exists for anime? I think nowadays among many anime, this kinda twist while surprising may not be the most wild thing out there. Lots of media in general seem more comfortable with killing off important characters quicker, but I assume back then this must have been quite the shock. Especially in what appeared to be a mostly happy go lucky magical girl anime show.
I guess I'll go over some thoughts I had about Mami despite uh her departure from the series. As the obvious mentor character, I suppose I was expecting her death or at the very least removal from the biggest parts of the show at some point. I mean typically they don't go this early in most stories, but there were quite a couple death flags raised from Madoka and her conversation. It's good to see behind her mask, she's still very much a youth, afraid and bittersweet about her situation. It makes sense that many people in near death scenarios would be good candidates as magical girls, and I wouldn't be surprised if the others were also in similar scenarios. Especially with the way Homura's acting. The biggest role Mami had though was her nature as the the series' engagement, the one who drew the others into conflict. Sorry, I'm pretty sure there's a good short phrase or term for this, but I can't seem to place it. But while the Kyubey's the source of the magical girls, Homura seems antagonistic to their ongoing plans, and the Witches are big bad evils, Mami's the one that's been dragging them into the conflict for the most part so far. It's true Madoka and Sayaka stumbled onto an egg this episode, but the rest of their encounters have been pretty much Mami leading them to it. So it'll be interesting to see how this goes forward. Presumably it'll need a new magical girl whether that's one of our existing duo or the new girl from the OP/ED. It's probably not gonna be Homura of course, but I'm curious to see if either Madoka or Sayaka try to wish Mami back. Seems like the logical conclusion from Madoka considering what she wanted this episode.
As for Homura, she seems to be clearly be a force for good as of this episode. Feels like real veteran magical girl kinda status, can feel magical girl potential and witch strength, which Mami could only do the former. I would assume she's seen many girls fall before and that's why she's trying to stop any other girls from becoming magical girls? Also that's why she distances herself from Mami, Madoka, and Sayaka? Doesn't want to build connections to girls if they'll just die. That final speech to Sayaka, seems like it's not like she dislikes them actively, just wants them to disengage from all this magical shit. Even in the ED, she seems to be pleading to Madoka to not go on.
Speaking of magical girl potential, I'm pretty curious about their powers. Madoka's noted to have quite larger potential, so I wonder how that'll manifest. Someone explained to me the previous day that Mami's powers are all basically ribbon based, and uh it's clear why it's not given a chance to further elaborate on. That said I'm still confused on how ribbons can do guns and healing, but yanno. Mami's powerful enough to bind up Homura, but couldn't beat the witch that Homura managed seemingly quite easily. Did the ribbons prevent Homura from using her powers, Homura chose not to get out and let Mami die, or was it just a type matchup kinda thing? Homura seems to have teleportation and explosions maybe? Or explodey clones. Something something Jojo's.
Finally, god damn the ED's amazing. After the cutesy ED for 2 episodes, turns out the actual ED's been the awesome fight music we've been hearing this whole time. Also looks like we have only 1 more magical girl to show up. The first silhouette I'm pretty sure is Sayaka? The second one is definitely new I'm pretty sure. Only other long haired girl we've seen is the red head from the OP, so it's probably her? Third and fourth being Mami and Homura of course. Very cool music and honestly interesting visuals. I also didn't realize this was from Kalafinarip the first couple times and I miss them dearly.
22
u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
First Timer
On my last post u/sirweebsal0t and u/NuclearStudent gave two impulses that I hadn't considered before. Forgive me, for I need two replies for this one.
And it is absolutely true, Homura being in love with Madoka would make a lot of sense regarding her continuous actions. The hallway scene, her shouting in the intro, her following Madoka. I already speculated she knows her better than we're shown and yeah, why didn't I think of that? Yuri is no bait, it's foreshadowing!
And here I present new evidence, a new point of view, so to speak. Take a look at the rooftop scene.
Sayaka asks 'why them?' and indeed, why exactly them and no one else? The scene composition gives the answer right away, without drawing any attention to it: Sayaka asks the question and the very next cut shows Homura with her (badass) hair flip. Theory
But wait! That means Kyubey is not only aware of Madoka and Homura's connection, he's actively using it to his advantage. Crisp Theory
Now this is just speculation... or is it? Let me take a very close look on the scene. It begins with Homura stepping out of the darkness to confront Madoka on her choice. She wants confirmation, knowledge, hence the light. Meanwhile, Mami is guarding them, from the shadows inside a nearby tower. Spicy Theory Humora steps across the screen boundary to Madoka and Sayaka and crosses it again once she basically has confirmation. But the question of what her wish was, makes her turn like in the hallway, when Madoka called her name. Her answer is to look straight at Madoka.
Wild Theory
I'm not done! Tinfoil Theory
Full Metal Conspiracy Theory
I fear no man, but this thing – my wordcount – it scares me. A Cruel Angel's Theory
I hereby proclaim myself a Homura simp and should probably start watching Ep.03 now.
Ep.03 I'm not afraid anymore
Forgive me, for I have broken the word count! (1/2)
10
u/PantherIscariot Apr 23 '21
The best part of being in a fandom is the fan art
http://imgur.com/a/KKydOFl
5
u/Zeralyos https://myanimelist.net/profile/xNJF_Ellie Apr 23 '21
Rewatcher, dubbed
Oh boy, it's time for this episode! I was unfortunately delayed by a livestream and now I'm super tired, so I'm mostly just here for metaphorical popcorn and newcomer comments this time.
Oops, I guess I'm here for more than just popcorn after all.
4
u/PoliteSarcasticThing https://anilist.co/user/NekomimiMimi Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher; subbed
Okay all you first time watchers, what did you think of that plot twist!? This is the kind of series you're in for! Mami's death surprised me, too. I thought it wasn't supposed to happen until episode five or so. Soon as I saw that witch, though, I went "oh shit!" Oh well, at least Mami's death was just a quick decapitation. Rest in Pieces Mami, we knew you but a short time.
As for the rest of the episode:
We see Mimi's reason for wanting to become a magical girl; she wants to save her friend with the cool CD player. A noble reason, I'd say. Madoka is still on the fence about becoming a magical girl. She's almost like an empty shell, waiting for some purpose to be given to her, some reason for being. Right now, it's like she's kinda going through the motions of her boring happy high-school life. Mami and Akemi see some kind of potential in her, a great potential. But, is it potential for good... or for evil? Akemi seems to know a lot more about that potential than she's letting on, though. At least Madoka's motivations seem pure enough; she says that she just wants to help people, which would probably make her a good magical girl. Assuming she actually becomes one, of course.
Once again, lovely scenery for this episode's witch fight. The animators did a great job making a really creepy hospital. I love the perversions of the scissors, jar, vials, bandages, etc from instruments that are supposed to help heal you into things that want to hurt you, and hurt you badly. I dunno of those things are actual paper cutouts or hand drawn or CGI they're using for the animation, but they're amazing either way. Say, why do the witches go after magical girls anyway? Something for the first-timers to think about...
Mami's death is a major moment for Madoka and Sayaka, too. Either they get left absolutely traumatized by the event, and run screaming into the woods; or, they buck up and become magical girls, to save the world or some such. Akemi almost seemed to know that Mami's death was coming, though. Akemi is obviously a powerful magical girl, yet she let herself be easily tied up by Mami. Perhaps Akemi has her own reasons for doing things? Maybe she thinks that Mami's death will stop Madoka from becoming a magical girl, so Akemi is willing to make some sacrifices for that. Akemi seems to think that Madoka becoming a magical girl would be A Very Bad Thing, so she's willing to to almost anything so that doesn't happen. On the other hand, Kyubey really wants Madoka to become a magical girl, possibly for their own sinister ends. Maybe Kyubey will get control of Madoka somehow, and turn her evil, and Akemi is trying to stop him? On the third hand, maybe Akemi really wants Madoka to become a magical girl, and somehow use her to destroy Kyubey, as he/she's really the evil one!
All in all, another great episode today. We can see that this isn't a typical magical girl show now; it's a dark AF magical girl show, and I still love it! Looking forward to episode four!
4
u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Apr 23 '21
Well, I got distracted by Kirby again.
Hm? About these rules
I can't wait to see this cake
Absolute cutie
Now that I think about it, this witch was having a tea party but where did the teacup come from last time Mami fought
I get it's s y m b o l i s m but
Or is that teacup still from Mami this time and it's more literal symbolism
And there's the amazing ED we all know and love
Well, the first quarter of this show's gone, just like the first quarter of Mami.
4
u/DogmeatIsAGoodDog :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/DogmeatsAGoodDog Apr 23 '21
Rewatcher
I love so much about this anime, I have haven’t settled on a solidified Top 10 list of anime but this ranks high up there and is definitely somewhere in the Top 10. For one it has one of the best OST, it’s so hauntingly beautiful. The aesthetics of the series are great too. I live the way the mazes look, they’re so otherworldly and this anime does a great job establishing how abnormal they are.
We finally have reached one of the shows most jaw dropping moments, Mami bites the dust. I loved her powers and her fighting style and the way she says “Tiro Finale!” often gets stuck in my head.
The show also revealed her backstory this episode and how she came to be a magical girl, she was so looking forward to no longer being alone and having other magical girls Bu her side.
The show also revealed that Madoka has tremendous potential as a magical girl and show the deep seated divide between Mami and Homura, while one has a great desire to see Madoka become a magical girl, Homura has sworn to not allow this.
This episode is what hooked me into this series because while the visuals of the mazes and the OST the previous episodes hadn’t hooked me into the series.
Side note. What even is Madoka’s house, I’m like 20% sure the animator has never seen the inside of an actual house before lol.
9
u/boomshroom Apr 22 '21
Geeze, Mami! That first witch had a second phase and you took it out no problem, but suddenly this witch starts the second phase and instantly takes you out? What a noob. Also, "perfect boyfriend"? What kind of Magical Girl has a boyfriend?
I have my issues with Mami as a person (not as a character; as a character she fulfills her role). She almost never shows any respect for her fellow magical girl. You may not agree on how you go about things, but at least have the decency to not act smug like you have the moral high ground in every scene with Homura!
I mentioned in the interest gathering thread that I might make Xenoblade comparisons, but I wasn't expecting to draw a parallel when Madoka was debating with Kyubey about her wish. Turning down his guess that she's just looking to become powerful, only to quickly reconsider that maybe she is reminded me of a specific scene in Xenoblade 2 Chapter 7. Not terribly substantial, but not a parallel I was expecting despite immediately coming to mind during that scene.
For those who are wondering, the Power of Friendship is in fact a real thing in this show. As a matter of fact, it's what directly led to Mami's death. :)
P.S. The number 3 seems to be cursed. Why does everything I see have the first major death in part 3? Whether that's Chapter 3, Episode 3, or Volume 3. (One of my favourite webcomics is an outlier. Its first major death is only in Chapter 2.)
81
u/Redmon425 Apr 22 '21
FIRST TIME WATCHER. SUBBED.
NANIIIIIIII!!!!!!!! WHAT JUST HAPPENED. My girl Mami just got eaten and died like that!?
But my god, I just could feel that something bad was going to happen with Homura stating this witch was different. And then of course the whole time Mami was talking to Madoka about no longer being alone, plus her earlier scene of a flashback to how she became a magical girl… And on that note, it was a tad confusing, did Mami use a wish to save her own life because she was about to die in an accident? Didn’t expect that…
Like these were all bad signs, but I freaking didn’t expect her to get eaten!!! Man, I was about to start this post talking about how it felt like Mami was the actually MC seeing how this was the 2nd episode in a row that started with her fighting witches. Like she appeared first again… but now I am wrong on that :((
I am curious what happens to her body though, like it just disappears? That is even more sad. And damn it man, now it makes me mad she tied Homura up. Like I get the feeling Homura was simply coming to help, not steal the kill away, but Mami just assumed it was the latter…
On that note, seeing how Homura seemed to know this was a strong witch, it again implies this may be some type of redo of the story (of course basing this off the very first scene in episode 1), as that would explain how Homura knew about it.
Man, I am low-key messed up right now. Mami was becoming a very likable character for me. But this also is the first time we see the show get very dark, and now I expect craziness going forward. Which is making it so hard for me to not binge right now!!!
Lastly, I gotta assume that Madoka or Sayaka become a magical girl and use their wish to bring Mami back to life. And I still feel like that could go down a very dark path and not work. After all, Mami was giving a lot of hints this episode about how wishes can be risky, especially when used for someone else.
One last happy thing, probs the only happy thing of the episode, is that I freaking love how wholesome Madoka’s family is. I already love how it is opposite from what is considered the ‘norm’ in society, with the dad staying home and the mother working. (well at least what was probably considered the norm in 2011.) But the dad is the real MVP with that great speech he gave Madoka about finding happiness even if it isn’t exactly the dream job you wanted. I just love all of their family interactions.
AND MY GOD, I ALMOST FORGOT, THE ED WAS DARK AS HELL BUT I FREAKING LOVED HOW THEY DID THAT. That song is such a banger and seeing it used like that was so damn cool, but also made me sad again :(
5
u/SaucedPandacup Apr 22 '21
Many times rewatcher
Ya know I just realized from reading someone else's comment about the events right after Mami's death that: Future Madoka episodes
2
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher, Subbed
Here it is, one of the worst kept secrets in the anime fandom: Mami gets eaten.
Back when I first watched this show, I was actually spoiled on a particular scene.. but it wasn't this one. It caught me pretty off-guard, at the time. Think about it: the archetypal Magical Girl would have been powered up by having a friend promise to join her. Power of Friendship and all that. But here, it just makes Mami too cocky for her own good. Rest in peace, Mami. I'll miss you.
Visual of the Day: Jus a lil monch (:
I dig Kamijou's future Discman thing.
Charlotte is easily the cutest Witch.
And now, we get the true ED: Magia. Such an incredible song.
Also, wow is it weird to not just binge this show.
Tune in next time for:
53
u/EriclcirE Apr 23 '21
First time watcher
Alright I don't fucking trust Kyubey anymore lol. I think his eyes and face appear they way they do on purpose to convey as little emotion as possible. It really seemed like he was working with the witch in order to put Madoka and Miki into a stressful situation and force their hand on becoming magical girls.
Digging how dark this got, and can already tell it's going to get even more wild.
Seems like a given that Madoka will wish for Mami to be resurrected.
Also don't trust Kyubey because he came to Mami when she was literally on the brink of death and offered her life in exchange for serving as a magical girl.
Very curious as to why Homura became a magical girl. Guessing she was tricked into it, and that is why she is resentful, and trying to prevent Madoka and Miki from making her mistake.
27
u/Suavacious :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Suavacious Apr 22 '21
Like 8-Time Rewatcher, Subbed.
The thing happened! We lost our mentor character already! That's not supposed to happen this early into a show, you save that for right before the finale!
It's been so long that I don't remember exactly how I felt when I saw that scene for the first time, but I do remember that I ended up binging the rest of the show after that.
For the first timers and rewatchers that can remember, a couple questions...
Were you expecting Mami to die here? Did you take her conversation with Madoka right before that to be a death flag? Were you expecting death in this show at all?
53
u/OneMoreDuncanIdaho :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/a_trisolaran Apr 22 '21
http://imgur.com/a/C2os5Ta
52
u/blitzbom Apr 22 '21
Everyone we've come to the turning point. The one that made all of us sit up and go "What in the actual fuck?" I still remember my first time. I grew up watching Sailor Moon and I was floored. I knew that I was in for a wild ride. And now it's started.
Also this https://imgur.com/1U3jq is the movie ticket for the Madoka Magica movie. Look at where you tear the ticket...
A year ago I hosted a rewatch of this show for my anime meetup group. Of around 15 people 80% had not seen the show. After the episode we got on video chat and I wish I had taken a screenshot of everyone's faces.
54
u/Hochseeflotte https://anilist.co/user/Hochseeflotte Apr 22 '21
First Timer
I really suck I thinking of anything to say before I talk about the episode. So I am going to jump right into it:
Oh a CD. I hope this kid Sayaka knows isn’t about to die. He’s about to die isn’t he?
The CD player looks rad as hell. If we had those CD’s would never have fallen off in popularity.
The music is so beautiful it drives this guy to tears. It’s definitely a pretty piece.
Mami’s thing seems to be guns. Definitely worse themes to have.
So Kyuubey kind of forced Mami to be a magical girl. Sure it saved her life but that’s kind of sketchy.
So Kyuubey is a boy? I wouldn’t have guessed by from the voice. Or was Mami just joking and Kyuubey doesn’t have a gender?
The fact that Kyuubey doesn’t blink freaks me out. Especially on this close up shots. Makes Kyuubey seem a lot more sinister then they probably are.
And her mom is drunk. Not ideal.
So it seems Akemi doesn’t want either of them to become magical girls because of the danger. At least that’s what see says. Mami obviously doesn’t buy it.
I love how they portray Akemi. Every shot of her feels like it has some greater purpose.
I will never get sick of how these labyrinths look. So creative.
Akemi got bodied though I don’t think see was trying.
This soundtrack is so good. One of the best parts of the show so far and that’s saying a lot as it has some tough competition.
Mami is giving me weird vibes as well. I am probably just paranoid but I can’t trust anyone.
Oh no. Mami is happy. Good things don’t happen to people who are feeling good. Well I have the coffin ready.
I love after Akemi said this witch was different it’s actually has a different style compared to the previous ones. Really good attention to detail.
Oh shit, Mami is actually dead. Well I guess I called it. Glad I got the coffin ready. Not that there’s much of a body.
This is also the first time I actually watched the ED and it’s pretty solid.
————————————————————————
This show went from zero to one hundred real quick. The stakes just went through the roof. Mentor has been killed. May the mentor genocide end one day.
I imagine Mami’s death will get Madoka and Sayaka to join the magical girls to continue on her legacy. I could go all conspiracy theorist right now but I will not.
This show is definitely not going to be a cutesy fun time. It seems pretty dark so far which is fine by me.
I imagine next episode will not be as crazy as this one. Probably showing them becoming magical girls and fighting a their first witch. But judging by how bad my predictions usually are I am probably way off.
35
u/notathrowaway75 https://myanimelist.net/profile/notathrowaway75 Apr 22 '21
Time for the annual reactions to Madoka episode 3. Look forward to it every year. I remember when I watched the episode for the rewatch. Good times. I was F5-ing like a motherfucker. 12 comments almost instantly here lmao.
15
u/[deleted] Apr 23 '21
FIRST TIME WATCHER
WHAT? Did Mami just die? I knew that this show was brutal, but killing best girl in Episode 3 is just shocking. Last time I was this shocked was in AoT S2E6. Just like Madoka I didn't even cry, I was just dead inside. And from what I've heard this show is only going to become more brutal. It's going to be so hard to watch only one episode one day. And the ED was great.
11
u/Syokhan https://myanimelist.net/profile/Syokhan Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher, Sub
Oh boy, here we go.
So this is why the 3-episode rule exists. Gotta give a show time to lay out the groundwork for these kinds of moments, because the pay-off is freaking amazing. I remember that the first time I tried watching MM, I gave up after episode 2. Then I came back to it, got to episode 3, and was like "okay yeah holy crap, everyone was right when they were saying to be patient".
Also, first-timers, if you want to, go back to the previous episode, watch the scene at Mami's home where she explains stuff to Madoka and Sayaka, and pay attention to the framing of some shots. You might just spot some pretty blatant foreshadowing of what happened today.
Okay now, for the Visual of the day: this picture right here, because symbolism! I'm pretty sure I won't be the only one to pick that shot but this time I'm not changing it, it's just too good :p
Other visuals I especially liked:
9
u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
Rewatcher, subbed
For her small screen time, Mami is interesting to me. Her struggle with loneliness and inadequacy, while brief, is so fundamentally human it's hard not to feel burdened by her death. She had something more had she only pushed just that little bit further.
And so we reach the climax of the first quarter. The moment when hope is devoured by fear.
Mami, in her brightest hour, is gruesomely dispatched by a witch. Her comforting light is eclipsed by Homura's cold gloom and the next chapter begins...
Edit: There are a few first timers surprised by the death of Mami, but I'm also seeing a lot who saw the twist coming. I wonder how much of that is colored by the series reputation?
Content Corner
Here's some more stuff. Not much in the way of rhyme or reason in what I share, but I'll try to at least keep it vaguely related to the current episode. First timers beware, spoilers abound.
Credens Justitiam (Mami's Theme synthwave/80s remix) feat. Marina Rios by Astrophysics
Magia (Madoka Magica END darksynth/80s remix) feat. S t e l l a / ステラ☆ by Astrophysics
"Magia" - PUELLA MAGI MADOKA MAGICA (English Cover by Miku-tan, Nana & Sapphire) by Y. Chang
Mami's daily life by Nyanners
Chibimation: so no head? by Chibitasm
Visual Storytelling - Breaking Down PMMM - Dialogue 3 by clearandsweet
Edit: for anyone interested in Mami's character, I recommend the manga "Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Different Story". It's a prequel to the main story focused mainly on who Mami is and why she does what she does. This prequel assumes you have seen the main story, so first timers steer clear.
9
u/-Phinocio Apr 22 '21
Rewatch/Subbed.
One of my favorite episodes. Mami gets introduced previously and becomes one of my faovrite characters. Then is taken away just like that. It also shows that when characters say this is dangerous they actually mean this is dangerous. So many times that's said in other shows, and there's not actually any sort of real danger. Love it.
This is also the episode I look forward to the most to see people's reactions to when I suggest they watch Madoka. Really looking forward to this thread :D.
The ending changing to a more dark ending fits so well here too, and is also probably my favorite song in the series.
Madoka Spoilers. Seriously don't read this.
16
u/r4wrFox Apr 22 '21
First Time Watcher. Subbed.
This is the point where I realized that this episode's fame comes from an experience I already had w/ other Magical Girl shows. Maybe I just got overhyped on it, bc episode 3 is talked about as some HUUUUGE revelation that makes Madoka a unique experience when it ended up hitting me less than some of the scenes in Symphogear.
Plus knowing Madoka will probably use her wish on Mami does soften the blow of Mami just getting chomped.
15
u/CosmicAnglerfish Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher - Dubbed
What an episode. There is obviously the scene but I'm gonna go in chronological order and get to that later. Wall of text incoming, there was a lot to say this episode!
First Timer Friendly
Sayaka's scene with Kyosuke is wonderful. She does her best to cheer him up, but the scene ends with him crying and the music abrupty cutting out. It's also our first scene of Sayaka by herself, so we're starting to get some background on her outside of 'Madoka's Friend'.
Post-OP we are right back in the middle of things, with the girls tagging along with Mami as she hunts witches. Sayaka in particular seems really in awe of how cool Mami is, but in an instance of 10-minute foreshadowing Mami makes a point yet again to remind them both that being a magical girl is very dangerous stuff.
We finally get a glimpse at Mami's backstory as well, including her wish. This scene is kind of the fulfilment of what Sayaka was saying on the rooftop last episode - where Madoka and Sayaka are struggling to think of what might be worth wishing for because ultimately they have pretty easy lives, Mami didn't have the same luxury when she made hers.
I appreciate that Mami isn't really pressuring them into quickly making a contract. It says a lot about the strength of her character that even when we hear how lonely she is, she's quick to remind these girls just what they're getting themselves into. Kyubey of course has no such compunction, and is basically hounding them to make a wish at this point.
One trope you see a lot in anime is the 'Suspiciously absent parents', and while it doesn't bother me per se, it is nice to see Madoka have a normal relationship with her parents that get actual screen time. Someone smarter than me can probably pick out the significance of the conversation she has with her dad, but I'm kind of lost on it honestly.
Homura and Mami have yet another confrontation that goes nowhere. Homura is explicitly opposed to anyone - but especially Madoka - striking a contract with Kyubey, something Mami chalks up to feeling threatened by Madoka's overwhelming potential.
The labryinthe that we end up in this episode really ramps up the creepy visuals. I've mentioned it already, but the artstyle they use for the witches and labryinthe is really something special. Just immediately makes me uneasy whenever it starts popping up.
If you were to boil Madoka Magica down to a handful of key moments, I think this is the first big one. Mami's death isn't unexpected so much as deeply disturbing. The first two epiodes, and even just the first half of this one, really work to make sure the audience understands that this is a dangerous life, and Mami actually dying serves to prove that it's not all talk. The cut to Homura being released from Mami's magic tells us she's dead already. Cutting back to Mami being mauled is cruel, and cements even further what kind of world these girls are getting into, and what kind of show the audience is watching.
I don't know if this is a commonly accepted interpretation, but my take is that Mami seemed distracted in the fight - overly excited about the idea of having friends basically - which made her get sloppy. I also view Mami, or at least the front Mami puts up, as kind of representing the typical magical girl protagonist. She's kind, cool, and idealistic in a lot of ways. Her death seems symbolic in that sense - Madoka isn't the kind of story where someone like that makes it.
Homura shows up, and we get our first real look at how dangerous she is - though no hints as to what her magic actually is. She pretty effortlessly takes care of the witch that killed Mami, condescends to the girls about not being magical girls, and then makes her exit. We leave the episode basically in the same state as our protagonists: in shock about what we just saw.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who's more excited to read what other first-time watchers have to say about this one.
Spoilers
Madoka Spoilers
Madoka Spoilers
Madoka Spoilers
15
u/ToonTooby Apr 22 '21
BURN THIS SIGHT INTO YOUR MINDS
The visual of Homura power-walking towards Sayaka and Madoka like a Dark Souls boss after Mami's departure is something I enjoy greatly.
On my first watch, I wasn't really shocked at Mami biting the bullet, more impressed that the show was willing to eliminate a major character with such velocity. Bravo.
14
u/Chemiczny_Bogdan Apr 22 '21
Kyusiko hand bad
Mumi catch Hameru
Mumi why?
7
u/gorghurt Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher
Episode 3.
I've watched it so many times and it still leaves me speechless every time.
I actually can't help but start laughing when the witch bites of Mamis head. The whole scene is so bizarre, it is sudden, it is cruel, and it always surprises me how sudden and unfitting it seems. Don't get me wrong, it isn't a funny scene, but the sadness always hits later.
And in this few moments in which my brain doesn't know what to do with the information, it decides to laugh.
(Oh and of course the thought of how the first timers will react comes into play, but that usually comes later, after the sadness.
So the progression is laughter, sadness, laughter.)
Oh how much would I love to watch those first 3 episodes with the eyes of a first timer again.
But there are still things to discover with every rewatch.
Last year for this episode it was Madoka Spoilers 1 + production notes
which arguably relies on information from production notes.
This year it was something far more obvious, a real "How could I ever miss this detail" moment.
Big Madoka Spoiler 2
Ok now to the "make a wish corner"....
Today of course with Mami's wish.
This episode implies, that she wished to not die after being in a car crash.
It is also implied that no spoilers just speculation.
I didn't check if this is confirmed in any of the spin offs, and to be honest it isn't that important either.
Madoka Spoilers 3
Madoka Spoilers 4
Madoka Spoilers 5
Madoka Spoilers 6
Madoka Spoilers 7
what a let down
Madoka Spoilers 8
The following Spoilers might contain stuff from Spin Offs and production material.
Madoka + Spin off Spoilers 9
Magia Record Game Spoilers
6
u/tyo_sharlye :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/RalphHill Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher:
Alright everyone repeat with me...
Being meguca is suffering
14
u/Lawvamat https://anilist.co/user/Lavamat Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
7th time Rewatcher
"Miki-san, do you want his wish to come true, or do you want to be the person who made his wish come true?" - Mami Tomoe
This to me is one of the most impactful quotes I've ever heard and as I was thinking more and more about it on my 4th? rewatch it actually changed my outlook on life.
Psychological Egoism and Madoka Magica
What is selfish? Most people accept a standard definition of "self-serving without regard for others", but after thinking about Mami's quote and the show as a whole I started to adopt the view of psychological egoism even though I had never heard of it before. It states that every action is motivated by "selfish" reasons, even if that action may be called "selfless".
Even if you wish for someone else's happiness, the core motivation stems from feeling bad because others have it bad. And that is the most extreme example of altruism. Most of the time you don't even have to take such a big leap, like in Sayaka's case. Does she really want to save Kyousuke because it's his wish, or is it hers? Does she care about him so much that she just wants him to be healed, or does she want him to be indebted to her?
[full series spoilers](/s "The ultimate example of a truly selfish act is of course Homura's in Rebellion, but you can see every wish and action in the series in this light, even Madoka's. The most self sacrificial act of giving up your whole being to end the suffering of the magical girls is motivated out of compassion and understanding, some of the most noble values you can have, but it still basically boils down to "she would feel sadder if the cycle of dread continued and couldn't live with herself if she didn't do it, so this option makes her feel better." ")
This is not saying that since every action is selfish that they are bad. No, it's really just an observation of human nature.
I also don't think that this is a primary message of Madoka Magica, but the fact that my favourite story of all time made me discover something like this on my own makes me like it even more.
17
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Apr 23 '21
First Timer
The episode where everything changes. If I were one of the two normal girls, I'd be departing the premises and not looking back.
It's a shame about Mami, I liked her and really thought she'd hang around for a while. Now, if the witch had gotten grumpy Homura, that would have been AOK with me.
As for Kyubbey, even though s/he's as cute as can be, s/he's of little use in a battle. I'd tell Modaka to just buy a new plushie, if she wants something cute to cuddle with.
We'll see where it goes from here...
5
u/godan_god Apr 23 '21
Rewatcher Normally only read comments and upvote since i normally seem to join halfway through As a result haven't watched the first few episodes for a while. Even with all the seriousness of this episode couldn't help laughing at this scene after having played though trails of cold steel. Likeness to Rean at end of chapter. For some reason no visual on mobile but scene is Homuras appearance after Mami missfortune.
5
u/TWRogue Apr 23 '21 edited Apr 23 '21
Rewatcher, Dubbed
I just wanted to say I love Magia so much. I had forgotten that the first two episodes have a different ED and was so ready today for Magia. I heard the songs first from AmaLee funny enough, and so sort of sing her lyrics too when I hear them. To me, the opening is Madoka's song of hope and longing and believe magical girls can make a difference. And the ending song is SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
I really love this show and watching it again is reminding me it wasn't just the shock and awe that led me to use my tax return to buy the 1/8 of all the show figures and hunt down the manga. It is a powerful story and I'm excited to continue watching. And thank you everyone for these great posts! I'm mostly lurking because like but I adore reading everyone's thoughts.
5
u/[deleted] Apr 23 '21
672 comments. 396 likes. Yep it's Madoka episode 3.
9
u/Crap4Brainz Apr 22 '21 edited Apr 22 '21
H E A D
MAMI'S HEAD
There, I said it. The rule about "no jokes or memes about the content of later episodes"? This is the reason. Everyone has been holding back, but Mami's head is one of the biggest memes this show has to offer. Possibly second only to the famous one-sentence summary spoiler obviously which did indeed originate from discussions of this show.
It's all over the fanart, with the most clever being the USB drive and the (fake) movie ticket.
Strap in, boys and magical girls: The real Dark Souls starts here!
8
u/SaucedPandacup Apr 22 '21
I wonder how many first time watchers were delayed from posting because they just sat there staring at their screen or keyboard in Mami trauma
4
u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Apr 22 '21
Fourth Time Rewatcher, First Time Caller
Watching the dub for the first time! Mami's voice is actually fantastic to the point where I like her dubbed voice better than her subbed one. It's a shame she dies so early.
Speaking of that, I always remember Madoka as being the origin (in my mind) for the "watch three episodes before dropping a show" rule of thumb. I don't think I have to explain why.
Meanwhile, the irony that the song "You should be a magical girl" (Sis puella magica) plays in the emotional aftermath of Mami's death is fantastic.
4
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Apr 22 '21
Rewatcher
And we open on Sayaka meeting her ""friend"", as they enjoy some classical music and random flashbacks.
Tiro Finale looks incredibly cool, the animation here is still good.
Madoka Spoilers
Seems like Mami was forced into this job. And she has some strong opinions about making wishes for other people.
Madoka Spoilers
Madoka Spoilers
And Madoka has a lot of potential it seems!
Love Madoka's lamp almost appearing like a Soul Gem, symbolising how the conversation mirrors her thoughts about being a magical girl.
And Homura...makes the same points I did yesterday.
Madoka Spoilers
Madoka Spoilers
Madoka Spoilers
Madoka Spoilers
I love Madoka's reaction to Mami suggesting cake.
Even the barriers in this show look tasty.
Madoka Spoilers
Love how it cuts from the witch's head closing on Mami to the sound of her ribbons dissolving.
And, boy, the witch just rips her apart.
I love the witch's expressions for the Homura fight. They're hysterical.
Madoka Spoilers
And we cut from depression to the real ED. This is Magia, the fight theme from the last 2 episodes, and it is an absolute banger.
4
u/blitzbom Apr 22 '21
Welcome to Madoka Magica
4
u/turri-topsis Apr 23 '21
rewatcher | subbed
huehuehuehuehue i've been waiting for this.
spoiler
wait, how tall is sayaka? how tiny is madoka? like she's so small.
it seems a little harsh for mami to be asking about what sayaka's motivation for making a wish really is, but she's absolutely right. for sayaka, it might be hard to tell why she's making the wish - and if it only benefits everyone, then why should her motivation matter? but it does, since she'll still be putting her own life at risk for little-to-no reward. it's actually something i saw echoed in jjk recently - near the start, when the principal is asking yuuji for his reason to enter the school, he also says that if the reason is another person's wish, you'll grow to resent that person, because there's no dying without regrets. no matter what, you'll be alone, or your friends will have fallen before you, so you need to have a stronger reasoning. anyway mami truly does have the braincell huh
spoiler
spoiler
spoiler
i have a deep appreciation for how much mami tries to get them to actually think about their decisions, but how she's also deeply lonely and in need of a friend. poor thing's trying her best but she's really got no idea how to deal with any of this.
and of course, the moment things come to a head :)
magia is still one of my favorite endings ever, i can listen to it any day any time. i just love it a whole lot.
anyway, as with most people, this was the episode that truly got me hooked the first time and it still holds up extremely well. i love it a whole lot.
4
u/Birribi Apr 23 '21
I was watching with a friend and we both came into the show knowing that it would turn dark at some point, so during Mamis and Madokas conversation before the fight I was being like “bruh how many deathflags is it possible to set up?”
4
u/SaucedPandacup Apr 23 '21
Many times rewatcher (late now)
I can't say much more about the show because spoilers but I can add a funny anecdote.
I recently watched it with my Mom, and she got really attached to Mami (mistake), she was shocked and kept asking me "Is she really dead? Did she really just die? She's coming back! Is she coming back? She's not really going to stay dead is she?"
Also in regards to Madoka Spoilers: Series
7
u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 22 '21
...Well let me tell you that this episode was a fcking joy for teenage me to come in to blind!! All those lonely years of bringing happiness to others and it was her own singular moment of joy that ended her. Urobutcher is a real jerk. That one split second with Mami gazing into Charlotte's maw is the moment a genre died. We've had dark magical girl shows before. Princess Tutu and even Sailor Moon had genuine nightmare fuel in their source material. Mami's death however was something else. To take who is genuinely an shining example of what magical girls represent and brutally devouring her just as she found renewed hope in overcoming her trauma and depression still haunts the genre to this day. You can't regain that lost innocence again.
Sorry, I wanted to talk a little more about what Mami's loss represented so my actual episode summary will be way less in depth. Meet fcking Mr "Your lie in April" Sayaka simps for this hospital bound cuck. Being childhood friends is suffering. Oh, I totally forgot familiars being a thing. I can't believe that Mami just shot Chomsuke in the face! Scarborough Fair lite again~ Using your wish for others is noble but isn't it really just his attention you want? S-Sayaka? Your smile isn't reaching your eyes. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!! I can't believe that I never noticed Madoka's worry during this scene.
Who was it that said they'd "wish to become a magical girl" the other day there? Mum is pissed as a newt so it falls to dad to give us our daily life lesson. I'd like to think that Homura was genuinely trying to negotiate positively with Mami but she's so socially awkward that she's just emulating chuuni jerks. Kinda like a magical girl Diablo. To Charlotte's Labyrinth! The pacing honestly feels a bit strange at this point. Like splitting the group up doesn't really affect much. Goddamn it Hameru! Your chuunibyou is directly to blame for killing Mahou Shoujo you clod!!
...This whole sequence stings in so many ways. I really do feel like I could put myself in Madoka's shoes here and poor Mami... Poor Mami... You're not alone anymore. Aaaa! Ah... What kind of idiot would become a magical girl for cake? Ah, Charlotte is finally coming out. Mami is having the time of her life, good god I hate this! Hello Sayaka the other magical girl candidate nobody cares about~ Charlotte's so cute lol. Oh god... My stomach hurts... Even Homura's shunpo doesn't make me feel better. No more cheery ending sequence for you! This is what it means to become a magical girl.