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The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 3 Review – Quick Summary
In The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc episode 3, “Visitor Arc III,” we learn a startling truth: Tatsuya Shiba isn’t perfect! His sensei, Yakumo Kokonoe, can still put his student on the ground! Also, he faltered a little afterward: Tatsuya arrived while Erika Chiba and Mikihiko Yoshida engaged both one of the vampires and Angelina Kudou Shields while she was in disguise as Angie Sirius. At first, Tatsuya was able to block her spells as Yoshida held the vampire at bay. Then, she used some spell he’d never seen before, and before he knew what was going on, she had disappeared — in spite of his best efforts. Learning her brother had been bested, Miyuki Shiba was shocked. Is this end of Tatsuya’s dominance? Does Angelina really have what it takes to stay ahead of him?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Favorite Quote from The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 3
Angie/Lina couldn’t believe how powerful the high schoolers were — and not just Tatsuya. Capture from the Hulu stream.
Erika and Yoshida were on patrol one night. They wanted to get rid of foreign mages and vampires on their soil. So they went hunting.
It wasn’t long before they found Angie Sirius/Angelina Kudou Shields fighting one of the vampires. Erika attacked Angelina/Lina and Yoshida attacked the vampire. Lina, one of the best magicians in the USNA, had her hands full with Erika — to the point where Erika actually landed some serious blows. The whole battle went sideways when Tatsuya showed up, and Lina decided she needed to retreat.
Back at her mobile headquarters, as she held her hand over her shoulder wound in an attempt to heal it, she thought of the fantastic power she had seen in Erika.
“Are all high schoolers in Japan like that?” she wondered (14:13).
Best in Show Moment for The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 3
Tatsuya might be stupidly powerful. But he knows when to call for help. Capture from the Hulu stream.
Setup: Tatsuya’s Not Omnipotent After All
Early in this episode, when Erika and Yoshida were fighting Angie Siris and the vampire (see my favorite quote, above), Tatsuya showed up. This being the latest season of The Irregular at Magic High School, I figured Tatsuya would unmask Angie and apprehend the vampire. I mean, Tatsuya is the character that Random Curiosity calls Magic Jesus (see Other Posts, below). Surely, he’d wrap things up quickly?
That’s not what happened.
Erika had already injured Angie/Lina but took damage herself. Tatsuya tried to intervene on Erika’s behalf, and in fact, things seemed to be going his way. He was able to jam Angie/Lina’s spells. Though that shocked her, she adapted quickly. She fired her gun into the ground several times, and suddenly, Tatsuya couldn’t see her anymore. He could see some of her properties, but the rest of her was gone.
Tatsuya took aim, but all he could see was Angie/Lina’s colors and contours. All other properties had vanished. Capture from the Hulu stream.
“What is this?” he asked (12:55).
Tatsuya rarely ran into something he didn’t understand. Angie/Lina had thrown him for a loop. That was surprising enough!
Delivery: But Tatsuya Understands Teamwork
What was even more surprising, to me as a viewer and to Miyuki as his sister, was what happened next. Tatsuya called his aunt, Yotsuba Maya, and asked for backup.
Well, first he asked how a super secret, Kudou family-guarded spell called Parade worked. Miyuki seemed shocked at his question. But that was nothing compared to how freaked out she was when Tatsuya told Maya that there was someone who had defeated his ability to see through Light-Interference Type Magic. And then when he admitted that whoever it was had blocked one of his attacks, well, Miyuki could only gasp and cover her mouth with both hands.
Miyuki had gotten used to the idea that Tatsuya had no equal. All joking aside, this moment had to be tough on her. Capture from the Hulu stream.
My favorite moment was what came next. Most heroes, when forced to admit their failure, would be ashamed. They’d hem and haw, trying to find a face-saving way to ask for help. Not Tatsuya. He was his usual blunt self.
“Aunt,” he said (16:27), “it seems that this case is more than we can handle. So, I would like to request reinforcements.”
I know the show takes some criticism for how powerful Tatsuya is. I haven’t minded that at all, but I’ll admit it’s refreshing to see him get into a situation he couldn’t just power his way through. To see him be so matter of fact about it gave me a glimpse of an aspect of his personality that I hadn’t seen before. I like it! It made the moment stand out for me.
What did you think of Tatsuya’s practice session with Yakumo Kokonoe? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 3: Other Posts
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Raihousha-hen – Episode 3 discussion
- Random Curiosity: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Raihousha-hen – 03
- The Anime Rambler: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei: Raihousha-hen Episode #03
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 1: Visitor Arc I
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 2: Visitor Arc II
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 3: Visitor Arc III
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 4: Visitor Arc IV
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 5: Visitor Arc V
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 6: Visitor Arc VI
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 7: Visitor Arc VII
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 8: Visitor Arc VIII
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 9: Visitor Arc IX
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 10: Visitor Arc X
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 11: Visitor Arc XI
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 12: Visitor Arc XII
- The Irregular at Magic High School: Visitor Arc Episode 13: Visitor Arc XIII
I do love this dumb show. Spoiler: I will note that Tatsuya is not so much Magic Jesus as Magic Shiva and Miyuki is his sister wife Parvati (who was Sati until she died and was resurrected hint hin).
Finally as a SJW couch potato, I do have to love how in your face are the politics of this show. Truly, Japan’s biggest problem is all these foreigners /s.
Shiva and Parvati? I’ll have to read about that. It makes sense, especially when you pointed out Miyuki’s role.
Yeah, subtlety was never this show’s strong point! As you said, I love this silly show. It’s a lot of fun to watch despite its flaws.
Remember that the Chinese call Tatsuya “Mahesvara”, which is an aspect of Shiva.
Obviously Japan has the best magicians in the world. I am wondering who the other strategic level magicians are besides Tatsuya. Supposedly there are 50 of them, so he’s in a crowd.
I wish the show would explore the political implications of having individuals with that kind of power. Or, maybe they are, in a subtle way.
Wait. Subtle’s not this show’s style.
I’m not complaining, mind you! But I don’t want to make false and misleading claims!
The first episode stuck its toe in that water and then jumped back. That ticked me off. We can’t have our shounen thinking too deeply, I guess.
Take a look at Talentless Nana. By episde two it becomes very interesting. Not the typical shounen plot. Won’t spoil it for you but there’s a completly differen take on talented people.