Uta no Prince-Sama Maji Love Revolutions – if I wasn’t a hardened anime fan, I might have quizzically frowned at such a name. But alas, odd names are a part of the game, and as it turns out Maji Love Revolutions is the third season of my favorite otome anime.
Those who listened to the latest Pixcelcast will remember my squeals of delight/shock/horror as I realized it was currently streaming on Crunchyroll’s 2015 spring line-up.That’s because the first seaon ended with the protagonist taking her colorful harem and starting a boyband, and the second season ended with her expanding said group and arousing a coliseum of innocent bystanders with the “happy pulse”. Where the hell could this trippy series possibly go? I’d be a fool not to follow this train to its inevitable wreck. First up on this potentially long, hilarious road is “The dice are cast.”
Before I get on to the episode’s content, I have to cry a bit. One of the best elements of the Uta-Pri franchsie is the soundtrack. The first two seasons have set up a tradition of sorts: the hard-rock opening song shall be sung my Miyano Momoru, voice of harem-leader Tokiya Ichinose (among other sexy anime bishies. . . UUUUNNNF), while the ending song is the hit STARISH tune that will save the world. “The dice are cast”, however, starts with, well, “The dice are cast” by one of the other boy bands (yes, there are multiple) QUARTET NIGHT, which I cannot find video of, so just enjoy this still shot of the boys mid-song. . .
So, I guess we can expect more of STARISH’s boring rival senpai’s QUARTET NIGHT this season? Well then. . . not a good sign.
When the episode actually starts we find Haruka Nanami, our adorable, souless-eyed relatable protagonist, walking through the woods at night. Because anime. She comes across each member of STARISH and QUARTET NIGHT. Each one has a “go” with her – an “otome go”, of course, so awkward conversations, bridal-style carrying, weird belittling that’s supposed to be cute, and even plain-out proclamations of LOVE. All the while, Haruka waddles along and comments on the strangeness of the night.
Somehow, Haruka and her whores find themselves in President Saotome’s office. He announces the existence of the Triple S, a sports event that QUARTET NIGHT will possibly perform at. Don’t know why everyone had to be there for that. Doesn’t involve anyone but those four assholes. Nevertheless, everyone’s happy for the quartet, until newest member Cecil asks when they’ll get the chance to perform on such a large stage. . . and in what I can only call boys being pissy whiny boys, STARISH kidnaps Haruka and demands that Saotome give them a chance to take QUARTET NIGHT’S place. Thankfully, Saotome doesn’t give in. He claims that STARISH will need to undergo a revolution (hahh. . . ) if they even stand a chance against QUARTNET NIGHT.
And then the ending theme. . . oh dear god, this show got a budget. And they ain’t using it right.
NO. STAHP. PLZ. They look like horrible Vocaloids! If I close my eyes, I can enjoy this otherwise awesome STARISH song. But that mo-cap. . . I already want to hide behind my pillow whenever this anime does ridiculous things in the plot. Please don’t extend my agony to the music.
“The dice are cast” is an odd introduction to the third season. Honestly, I had no idea what this season would be about when I saw that they were continuing it. Sure, there are plenty of games in the Uta-Pri franchise (and I don’t claim to know what they’re about), but that doesn’t mean they’re any good or could be cohesively tied to the other anime seasons.
The first ten minutes of the anime is literally Haruka running into each guy and getting showered with love – hell, half of them actually hold her and proclaim their love for her! And she’s just like “Oooookay,” and flippantly moves on to the next guy. I swear, if the episode kept that shit up any longer I would have had “My Immortal” flashbacks. I can only assume we (girly, otome-loving viewers) are supposed to make the dreaded high-pitched coo with each pair. After a while, my “awww” became an “AAAUUUGHHHH!”
Throughout the first two seasons, I liked to joke that bone-headed Haruka secretly knew that all of the boys had the hots for her and was taking advantage of this knowledge to make her own singing harem. Perhaps the show’s creators are catching this sense of humor. And abusing it. Uta-Pri does not need to be self-aware. Like Free!, it’s pandering fun needs to come a little more naturally if it’s gonna keep me hooked.
“The dice are cast” gets a laughably bad, even for Uta-Pri standards, 4 out of 10 for reminding me of fan fiction in the worst ways. I’m not confident about Maji Love Revolutions and I have no idea where this how is going, but I’ll keep on trudging on! Expect a mid-week review of the second episode “GOLDEN STAR” and then regularly weekly reviews once I’m caught up.
Uta no Prince-Sama Maji Love Revolutions streams on Saturdays at 12:30 CDT for Crunchyroll Premium members.