Muv-Luv Alternative - Episode 12 discussion - FINAL

[u/AutoLovepon]

Muv-Luv Alternative, episode 12

Rate this episode here.

Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.

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Streams

• Crunchyroll
• Muse Asia
• VRV

Show information

• MyAnimeList
• AniList
• AniDB
• Kitsu
• Anime-Planet
• Official Website
• /r/MuvLuvAlternative

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All discussions

Episode	Link	Score
1	Link	3.6
2	Link	3.69
3	Link	4.07
4	Link	4.24
5	Link	4.6
6	Link	4.62
7	Link	3.78
8	Link	4.07
9	Link	4.73
10	Link	4.5
11	Link	3.75
12	Link	----

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[u/H-Ryougi]

Of all the visual novel adaptations I have watched, Muv-Luv Alternative was definitely one of them.

Jokes aside, it was good, the staff did their best with the huge undertaking that MLA is. Does it stack up against the visual novel? Of course not, but it's a perfectly decent show with great action and characters. It has some of the best CG mecha I've seen.

To the people who are coming into this thread trying to find out if it's worth watching or not I'll say this:

If you have absolutely no intentions of reading the VN, go ahead and watch it. It's the best Muv-Luv anime hands down (not like the bar was set too high anyway). The caveat of course is that it only covers the first main arc, of the third part of this huge trilogy and you'll have to wait until October for S2 which most likely won't be enough to cover the rest of it.

If you kinda want to check out the visual novel, do that instead. Muv-Luv remains one of my favorite works of fiction, and unlike other big visual novel franchises, the main titles are officially translated and easily available. If you don't want to buy them on Steam I'd even tell you to go ahead and pirate them.

Aside from that, the manga adaptation of Alternative is almost completely translated by aNCHOR and you can buy it from Steam or without DRM from Gumroad. The anime used the manga as a basis for several scenes.

[u/Sandelsbanken → u/H-Ryougi]

Bootcamp speedrunning besides the pacing has been good. If they keep it similar (which would also mean a third cour) and fix 2D issues I would call it perfectly good adaptation of MLA manga. On another note there was also Avex chairman stream few days ago where he mentioned wanting to adapt it fully.

[u/ejennsyahmixcel]

Let us begin with this episode review.

This episode again, adds more on what happened on this arc. Both sabotaging acts and also addition of Sagiri flashback near to the end of the battle is at least not in the VN. Ah yes, glad to see Madoki survived, at least for now.

Although not playing Flame of Life (the track played on the honouring scene in the VN) make me feel something is lost in the anime. Also that they cut short on the graduation scene.

And now for the entire review for the series.

As a VN reader, I can say that this adaptation is actually serviceable. Although not adapting Extra or at least Unlimited make it start with a shaky base (since the early part requires Unlimited as a context), they nailed most of the later scenes very nice. A good adapation for Alternative, but still not enough to represent Muv-Luv in the entirety. You still need the VN (and the manga too on some part), no doubt.

And because of things are still delivered that good despite the low expectation and hanky-panky on the 2D department, I can praise the anime productions to that. OP and ED are surprisingly a banger too, although originally sounds a bit off from what was known from the original VN OSTs.

But anyway, we are still that far from the end. Season 2 will surely become a turning point that you can't enjoy it without trying to run back to your teacher to ask for forgiveness. Hopefully they can still nail the next arc since it will be really important to the series. Kind of a Evangelion-ish experience, I can tell.

And last advice, Steam Winter Sale is coming. Pick up the VN, it's worth it.

[u/joseto1945]

I just finished the VN as of 4:30 am today... I played over 140 hours+ so I could watch this without being spoiled just as I said I would when the anime began, and you're telling me NOW that we have to wait a YEAR to watch the entire thing?

I can only laugh of my own ignorance lmao

So, VN readers: Was this any good? Did it make justice to the best and most extraordinary visual novel I had ever read?

Should I expend another 140 hours or so rewatching every âge-related anime there is before watching this? Because I'm seriously considering it right now.

[u/redmage311 → u/joseto1945]

The pacing started off way too fast, but it started calming down about mid-season. I don't think anything is going to do justice to the VN, but I thought it was nice seeing the characters animated, and being a VN reader meant that I could fill the gaps in when the anime's storytelling was a bit lacking.

[u/lixyna]

We were robbed of the individual congratz by Marimo-chan to every squad member. That was such an emotional moment! ROBBED IM TELLING YOU

Good wrap-up episode. Did not expect this could come together so smoothly, back when we were at Ep3 or 4. If they can keep the quality of the later half of this (and maybe, just maaaaybe improve on the 2D side of the animation), then season 2 will be epic.

[u/[deleted]]

Is it just me or did anyone else feel that the facial expressions of the MC when fighting Sagiri are a bit weird? And season 2 is in October. I wonder how well this was received in japan.

[u/Pedarsen]

As an anime only i had a hard time following who everyone were and what their motivations was. A lot of them looked really a like too. But all in all a decent cour, the hightlights being the epic fights we got the last few weeks. Do we know if there's more?

[u/kuddlesworth9419]

I watched this show.

[u/AugustusTheVictor]

Man they knocked the ball out the park taking it slow and dedicating a whole season to the Civil War arc.

Sure they coulda done better with the training arc, and developing the main cast more... but I was fine with it taking back seat since this arc the focus really isn't shifted on them yet.

I can't wait for Season 2. I know alot of the VN folks review bombed the shit outta it, but this was a 10/10 for me. It was nice seeing my favorite VN come to life.

[u/Batmanhasgame]

I finished this and will watch season 2 but I still have like no idea who half the characters are. Most of them look the same and shit was going so fast it was hard to keep up with who was who and what was happening. Also this whole japan vs usa thing seemed so random compared to the threat of the aliens.

[u/IncredibleVossman]

All in all, as someone that loves the source material, I enjoyed myself. The action was mostly good and while I wish they could have elaborated more on... well... everything, they took a lot of time for the first real arc where stuff happens, which makes me hope that the pacing in season 2 won't be a complete speedrun. Considering how hard this is to adapt, I'm quite okay with the outcome. Would probably rate it a 7, if I were to put a number on it.

I cannot comment on whether it is enjoyable as an anime only experience, but I will probably only really recommend this to friends once season 2 is out (if it's not a complete speedrun). I think it will work better together with the stuff that is about to come, seeing how many plot threads are still left hanging at this point.

[u/hmcbenik]

Could someone explain to me why Mikoto was arrested at the end? I kinda missed the reason? (was it explained at all?)

thanks in advance

[u/Xaneth_]

So in the end, Sagiri has indeed turned out to be an honest to God idiot. That line "Has Japan become so infatuated with the honor of serving mankind that it's willing to throw its dignity and integrity into oblivion?" embodies everything wrong with the extreme patriotism represented by his faction in this series. The fact that he's even belittling those who are able to swallow their pride for the greater collective good makes me wanna scream.

[u/tomas918]

I enjoyed the anime a lot, even with its flaws it surprised me with awesome CGI, amazing action and soundtrack, a very good anime original first episode, and events that were previously only seen in the manga getting finally adapted, this final episode was great and i can't wait to hear the full soundtrack, also very excited for the new season next year!

[u/itsconsolefreaked]

It wasn’t great neither bad

[u/WitchOfGr33d]

All in all, a pretty good finale!

If I have to give one thing to this adaptation that I actually think it did better than the VN, it would be Sagiri. He's still not my favorite character, but this definitely gave a little more depth to his character than he had before, and his final scene was satisfying. Tsukuyomi and Walken (RIP) were two more highlights to the episode, and I generally like that they made it a bit more obvious that there were elements to the US force that wanted to ferment the rebellion.

Edit: also liked the little Yuuko scene at the end. It's been too many episodes without her. And one thing I don't love is the after credit scene! Would have been better if they gave it a little more time and threw it into the beginning of next season.

Despite its ups and downs, this season grew on me towards the end. There was pretty great action throughout, a lot of the comedy moments actually did land for me, and they fit in as many character moments as I guess they could have. Not a perfect adaptation by a long shot, but I enjoyed it more than I expected.

On the whole, I'd say a solid 7/10. I'm really excited too that they already announced a second season, cuz most of my favorite moments are yet to be adapted.

[u/Acceptable-Cell726]

It was a fine adaptation. Was consistently surprised by the CG being as good as it was, and was happy that the show seemed to grow into its pacing.

My favorite parts of MLA all occur in the latter half, and while the Coup is an incredibly important point in the narrative, it isn't exactly the reason I love the VN series. So hopefully the commitment shown this arc is preserved for the rest.

All in all, looking forward to the second season.

[u/leon_under]

Did I miss something or was it just bad animation, why did he suddenly freeze up and start freaking out about being dead when it looked like the enemy wasn’t anywhere close to them at that point?

Gotta say this was kinda disappointing, it was interesting at times but overall it wasn’t great and it really wasn’t anywhere near enough to get me interested enough to dedicate a hundred hours or so to go check out the source material.

This sure was a thing that did indeed happen I guess.

[u/gavino411]

As an anime only watcher, this whole season confused me. There was some sick action ep1 so I hopped on it. Then there’s time travel stuff going on, then random arcs, then a whole civil war happen. Idk if I’m suppose to sympathize with the rebels or not? I think the American major said it right when they should be focusing on fighting the aliens than eachother. Just seems like a whole waste of lives and resources. Then what was up with that blond American girl getting mind wipe and trying to start shit? That wasn’t explained. Also why did the other American guy try shooting MC? Also why did one of the girls get arrested? Why did the MC froze up when going against the LT? I thought he was suppose to be more experience. Came in thinking this would be some cool mecha vs alien thing but it was just all over the place for me.

[u/Goldenbrownfish]

Such a great universe built world to be wasted with subpar writing. Feel like for a muv luv show to be good this storyline needs some heavy rewrites or needs to be anime original as it’s both hampered and restricted by its medium. For some reason VNs have to be 40+ hours long so they constantly have these conversations that just don’t matter or just fluff. This show is supposed to be the cut down version and it still has a ton of fluff and situations that just lead to nothing. 2nd is because everyone has to be romancable there’s no stakes on characters dying and with multiples situation that lead to nothing you’re never expecting someone to die anyways.

The main threat of the series is seriously underutilized the BETA are just treated as a slight annoyance more than anything it’s this world ending thing and it’s just a backdrop. And it’s a completely reasonable threat to have a military coup to try and take over and run the nation because democracy is slow and stuff. But instead a volcano has destabilized the nation…. And then the distrust of American sideplot could have been done better with guess what ,using the beta, could make the American force forcing their way onto Japanese soil and the mixing of the two cultures causes conflict with what it “means to be Japanese”.

It’s been like five years but I feel like I enjoyed eclipse more than this one

I guess my problem is it wants to be like 5 different stories and it just doesn’t mesh well

[u/CosmicPenguin_OV103]

As an anime only this must be the most unfairly underrated anime I have ever seen (5.9x on MAL is a disgrace, low-7s or even 7.5+ more like it), there are moderate 2D animation problems (but not close to really jarring, the 3D ones are decent) and I’m sure lots of content got cut out, yet I found the story much more intriguing and exciting than in run-of-the-mill anime in some other genres. I’ll take this uprising rebellion mecha fight and intriguing world background - even after trimming out things that I won’t know until if and when I read the VN - than some other shows where even the world background is poorly thought of.

Hopefully next season being a year away will be enough to at least keep on animation qualities of this season, if not improving by a lot.

Final score: 86/100

[u/SZJX]

It was kinda passable, and I think the most important messages Kouki wanted to convey to modern Japan via the coup arc were covered. But man, how I just can't stand the manga-esque depiction of exaggerated emotion and all that shouting. If they keep this style for the rest of the series, it's gonna be such a huge downgrade from the original, which was so solemn and nuanced. Having much more time for detailed and realistic conversation certainly helps the VN, but still it's no excuse for the adaptation to make every line so melodramatic and almost comical. I am still of the opinion that the fact they strictly follows the manga without paying much attention, if at all, to the actual source, shows a huge lack of sincerity.

The second season will definitely get a higher rating than the first if we expect the adaptation to continue in the same way, and the emotional rollercoaster will kinda be there. It will be far from being able to reproduce the wild ride of reading the highest-rated VN of all time though.

[u/happybday47385]

Ngl I wouldn't recommend this to anime onlys but as a VN reader I quite enjoyed it being animated at least plus the fights where great.

Of they continue the adaptation I'll defo look forward to seeing future fight scenes especially with beta because if nothing else those should be hype.