Moe Era: To Aru Majutsu no Index II 08

Another great episode, I am starting to repeat myself but I cannot avoid it. I am really enjoying this season, it's getting better and better with each episode!

This was an introductory episode for a new arc. There is an item, a sword, that can kill a Saint in one strike but is useless against normal humans, that is being smuggled. This would tip the balance of the magicians factions and cause a world. Touma is recruited again, but this time Index must be kept unaware of the events otherwise even more magicians wold notice and come to Academy City.

All happens during the Daihaseisai festival. Kind of a sports festival where all Academy City particitates with schools competing with each other. Oh, and the students can use their powers :)

A special mention. At the beginning of the episode we get a glimpse of Misaka's mother. She is like her grown up version! Misaka might be the only character who has:

several copies of her (the sisters)
a loli version (Last Order)
a grown up version (her mother)

That is awesome :D

The first half of the episode is very lighthearted. It is a sequence of funny moments and fanservice. The only plot part is the discussion between the archbishop Laura Stuard and Aleister Crowley (the upside down guy) about the sword problem.

In the second half we have... more funny moments and fanservice :) But also some plot development. Touma is shown to be talking with Stiyl Magnus and Tsuchimikado about this item exchange. He will be absent minded during the festival activities and this draws the attention of his class representative (Seiri Fukiyose).

Meanwhile Index manages to temporarily satiate her unending appetite with the help of Komoe (the loli-teacher, Tsukuyomi). Seeing how sad she is because she cannot be with Touma Komoe decides to help. She can partecipate in the Daihaseisai activities as a cheerleader. Of course this triggers another funny fanservice event :D

Touma gets beaten again by Fukiyose and they direct to the next event. She tells him she noticed he his absent minded and looks like he is not having fun. Since she participated in the organization of the events this is making her sad... It would be a nice moment if it wasn't for a girl stomping on Touma and making him hit his forehead with Fukiyose's. The two are so close that there is a moment of embarassment, solved by Fukiyose's head stomp!

This leads to the conclusion of the episode and the start of the real plot of this arc. Touma ends hitting a blond girl who is (un)dressed in a very provocative way. The two shake hands and Touma's Imagine Breaker dispells a spell she was using. He notices this and starts to follow her.
She also notices him and decides she has to shake him off, giving the incipit for the next episode!

This was a very light episode which only needed to introduce the new arc. As such, the authors managed to put in lots and lots of funny moments (and fanservice). Also, many characters that make usually only cameos managed to get some screen time, such as Aisa (the kuudere, Himegami) or Komoe.

I like the shift between action packed episodes (like the last one) and more lighthearted ones. They manage to give you the best of everything and avoid monotony. There are many good characters that deserve some screen time!