It’s finally here! Princess no Rondo, the third installment in J.C. Staff’s popular Zero no Tsukaima franchise, saw its premiere on Sunday. Picking up immediately where Season 2 (Zero no Tsukaima: Futatsuki no Kishi) left off, we are once again plunged into Saito and Louise’s world of love, magic, and comedic anarchy. Here is a glance at this third season in terms of what’s good, what needs work, and what’s hopefully to come.
The Good:
The romance came off stronger this season than it did in the beginning of the previous season. Louise is truer to herself, which is a significant improvement to her regression into a spoiled brat in the early episodes of Futatsuki no Kishi. My fervent desire for romantic development stems from a build-up of impatience, having watched Saito and Louise struggle for two previous seasons with their mutual attraction and Louise’s inability to express herself.
The Bad:
The fanservice. Big breasts? Check. Flat chest? Check. Lolicon? Check. Panty shots? Triple check. Harem? Getting there. Yes, Zero no Tsukaima is supposed to be light-hearted and entertaining, but it is possible to provide that particular atmosphere without catering to a multitude of male fantasies. It’s slightly disheartening to see a series as enjoyable as Zero no Tsukaima having to resort to slapstick humour and lewd jokes to solicit laughs.
The Future (did you think I’d go cliché and put “The Ugly” here?):
The plot appears to be getting some long-overdue attention, and I’m rather pleased with the way J.C. Staff managed to find a middle ground between preserving Louise’s tsundere qualities and allowing for more emotional expression. The allure of tsunderes lies in their eventual development out of that particular archetype, but I have a feeling that Louise won’t be able to shed this label even at the end of the season. However, some progress is better than no progress.
Filed under: At A Glance | Tagged: Anime, Fanservice, Fantasy, J.C. Staff, Magical Girls, Romance, Tsundere, Zero no Tsukaima
I too am glad to see the story and relationship between Louise and Saito FINALLY getting somewhere.
As for the fan service, it really feel quite tame after watching Kanokon or To LOVE ru.
Yeah, I skipped those two for that very reason. But I guess nothing compares to the newest Ikki Tousen.