Charlotte - General Discussion

[Yerian]

@Pepe sorry, I didn’t realize that you had been saying a similar thing to my theory in the podcasts the whole time, and then I came in and acted like it was a completely new thing ^^;

I think the main difference between what your theory and mine is that while you seemed to be implying that the kids are given powers based on their personalities and mindsets, I am saying that the kids are almost like “wishing” for their power to happen and something, assumedly the comet, allows these “wishes” to come true while they still believe that they can be.

You guys brought up “then what the hell is up with Kumagami’s power” in the podcast. I think its actually kinda simple: While I have no idea what could have possibly caused him to need this ability (which is what we’d be hoping to see, of course), the reason he needs to be drenched while fully clothed is because thats how he was when it first happened. His power now must be triggered by that because he believes that it has to be triggered by that. And its convenient for him to be able to have the water droplet land on the map

[Doublethree1]

So I was talking to my friend who is also watching this series and thought. Is the general negative outlook on the show (mainly episodes 3 and 4) from more how most of us have been following since it was announced, reading and creating theories, getting hyped over every bit of news? He went in because Crunchyroll’s description seemed cool and I asked him what he thought so far and he said “it’s pretty good. I like how all the powers seem to have a huge flaw with them” He also said it seems like a fun series but can’t tell if the protagonist is supposed to be Yuu or Nao. He had no complaints about baseball, filler, pizza sauce, early backstory, rushed Misa episode ending so I was wondering if the reason we’re so negative is we know it will have Key’s usual “feels” we know there will be a switch in tone.

I tried thinking of other series I went into with hype and the only one I can think of is Shokugeki no Soma but my hype was because I was already reading the manga so I knew exactly where to place my expectations and the only way I’d be let down is if it was a bad adaptation. I also wasn’t really paying attention to what other people were saying, just watched the PVs, read about voice actor reveals and that’s it.

I also looked the the anime series I’ve enjoyed most this year and all of them I went into only know what Crunchyroll or MAL or someone else had written as a summary in 5 sentences.

I’m not saying the show is good or bad yet (I will reserve judgment on that until I have seen episode 13) but I’m wondering if we’d like it more if our expectations weren’t so high from the hype caused leading up to it.

[Aegair]

I’m wondering if we’d like it more if our expectations weren’t so high from the hype caused leading up to it.

Possibly? But it isn’t like it’s not hitting my expectations. Also of note I went into Insight this season with high expectations and that has managed to one up them. And earlier in the year I went into Yuri Kuma Arashi with fairly high expectations which they more or less met. Expectations and how they effect you are very personal things. High expectations can often make me like a show more.

[Doublethree1]

I guess so. I just noticed how mine and his opinions of the show differ quite a bit and the only difference I can think of him not knowing anything about it and me knowing about it. As I said, I don’t really have a comparison as most anime I don’t pay attention to before release unless I’m already reading the manga which Shokugeki no Soma (and now One Punch Man) and in that case I know exactly where to place expectations.

[Yerian]

Is the general negative outlook on the show (mainly episodes 3 and 4) from more how most of us have been following since it was announced, reading and creating theories, getting hyped over every bit of news?

Well I think there are two parts to this really:

1. Yes, I guarantee what you’re describing is part of it for lots of people here, including myself. Most of us already know that this show is heading towards something amazing around episode 6. So having to wait week after week for that, only getting episodes that seem like theyre just for fun in between, thats whats kinda frustrating me at least.

Of course we didnt have to wait a week after every episode, the fact that some are lower quality than others, or that some are almost seemingly just filler, wouldnt bother us as much. And if we didnt know that something else was coming (even if we just suspected it from it being a Key work), the fact that we arent getting too much toward that something else atm wouldnt be so bad.

2. I think the other part is, this is a community made up entirely of dedicated Key fans. And often times, the greatest fans of a creator are also its biggest criticizers. We all have our own personal high standards for what a Key work should do to match up to the rest of them. And if Charlotte isnt doing that atm, then even if its still a good show, lots of us are still going to criticize it, often much more heavily than it might really deserve.

[Karifean]

“Negative outlook” is probably the wrong way to say it. I think most people here have a positive outlook on how Charlotte ends up being. But precisely because I expect it to ‘get better’ is why I’m not particularly positive on the current episodes.

[Doublethree1]

I think the other part is, this is a community made up entirely of dedicated Key fans. And often times, the greatest fans of a creator are also its biggest criticizers. We all have our own personal high standards for what a Key work should do to match up to the rest of them. And if Charlotte isnt doing that atm, then even if its still a good show, lots of us are still going to criticize it, often much more heavily than it might really deserve.

That’s probably true too. I think he’s only watched Clannad and Angel Beats!, not sure if he knows they’re all by the same company.

“Negative outlook” is probably the wrong way to say it. I think most people here have a positive outlook on how Charlotte ends up being. But precisely because I expect it to ‘get better’ is why I’m not particularly positive on the current episodes.

I meant negative outlook on the current episodes. That was poor wording on my part though.

[Takafumi]

So I was talking to my friend who is also watching this series and thought. Is the general negative outlook on the show (mainly episodes 3 and 4) from more how most of us have been following since it was announced, reading and creating theories, getting hyped over every bit of news? He went in because Crunchyroll’s description seemed cool and I asked him what he thought so far and he said “it’s pretty good. I like how all the powers seem to have a huge flaw with them” He also said it seems like a fun series but can’t tell if the protagonist is supposed to be Yuu or Nao. He had no complaints about baseball, filler, pizza sauce, early backstory, rushed Misa episode ending so I was wondering if the reason we’re so negative is we know it will have Key’s usual “feels” we know there will be a switch in tone.

I think it’s just a subject-by-subject thing. All of the people I know who were watching Charlotte and don’t know about Key have dropped it.
I’m also really quick to get bored of a show. I can drop a show within the seconds it takes to go from one episode to another. Some people will have longer sustained interest in anime.

[Doublethree1]

I suppose. It would be interesting to see how non-Key fans feel about the series though. I only have one guy who watches anime that isn’t a Key fan so I can’t get a very big pool to try.

[Aspirety]

Now wouldn’t it be interesting if Charlotte addressed everyone’s complaints with character development by doing the unexpected - having Yuu regress back to a selfish bastard? Maybe after finally growing close together, some tragedy pulls the group apart, and Yuu becomes distanced from the others, going back to his old ways. Maybe Tomori would lose her trust in other people and just block everyone out. If we saw some regression like that, it would give some more purpose to everything we’ve seen so far, and allow for some very interesting development.

Just a random shower thought.

EDIT: Also, one thing I’m really liking with this series so far is how it’s handling the musical incorporation. When I heard the series had two bands, I was immediately worried, but unlike Angel Beats!, the music has played a very background role in the story, and never gotten in the way of what’s happening on screen. I know it’s an easy way of making money, but I’m not complaining. Any excuse will do for some cool music by ZHIEND!

It’ll be interesting to finally see ZHIEND take centre stage in the next episode. Hopefully this is where things start getting interesting.

[EndOfRefrain]

well, from the preview we kinda see Nao getting “attacked” by a female student, which I’d guess is Misa, since I dont really see any of the other girls currently shown do something like this. In case it is Misa, it would mean, that something enraged her, which probably has negative aspects on the group. Just my speculations about some stuff from the preview.

[Doublethree1]

Maybe after finally growing close together, some tragedy pulls the group apart, and Yuu becomes distanced from the others, going back to his old ways.

(Little Busters) Wouldn’t that basically be Little Busters where Kyousuke’s plan with Rin at the other school fails, all the heroines disappear and Kengo, Rin and Masato are how they were before Kyousuke saved them? I might have misunderstood you though.
If that is what you meant I wouldn’t mind that happening as long as it is different.I don’t want Key using the same plot device a second time.

[Takafumi]

Now wouldn’t it be interesting if Charlotte addressed everyone’s complaints with character development by doing the unexpected - having Yuu regress back to a selfish bastard?

That’s not unexpected. It was the first idea that came to mind after the first episode. He’s gonna split from the group, return to being a jerk, and then slowly progress. I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned it either on the forums or on Twitter…

It’ll be interesting to finally see ZHIEND take centre stage in the next episode. Hopefully this is where things start getting interesting.

It’ll be nice to have some good music in the show finally.

Well actually, we have seen his true self. Once. In the very first scene of the show, in the intersection. That is who Yuu really is, and if you think about it, that explains why we dont really fell like we know him, since he doesnt feel like he knows himself.

Hell is other people.
Yuu = Hell?

[zetaFairlight]

That’s why I was post about 2 groups in a recent post. I’ve saw that image and couldn’t help but notice that they are not the MCs.

[Yerian]

I re-watched Charlotte’s OP and found this. Future villains, perhaps?

At first glance I thought the one in the middle might be Sala, since both have a cane. But Sala has long hair, and the person in the middle appears to have short. So yeah, probably:

Hinata, Otonashi, Yukito, Sunohara, Iwasawa.

[ukulelembo]

Bonus for first BD:

[Zak89]

G’s scans this month.

[Karifean]

Wait what’s up with that last page? There’s Yuu, Joujirou, Ayumi, Misa, Nao, Yusa, some mysterious blonde girl and… a mystery person? Who are those last two? Why do they both have that star thingy underneath them? Why does the mysterious blonde girl look so similar to Yusa but have a distinct hairband and uniform?

The plot thickens…

[Bonecuss]

Why does the mysterious blonde girl look so similar to Yusa but have a distinct hairband and uniform?

She has a microphone in her hand so It’s probably just Yusa when she’s performing as an idol.
The last one though… Creamy★Tomori?