A Fight Between Saints Should Be Exciting, Right?

A Certain Magical Index Season 3 Episode 8 Review

Part of me wonders if maybe I’ve just outgrown this series? Looking at this episode from a distance it should be really exciting. We’ve got a whole pile of characters from the church gathering themselves together to take on a saint. It’s a dramatic fight, the music is pumping and we move through multiple set-pieces leaving destruction in their wake. Their inevitable defeat isn’t a problem because they aren’t the protagonists, not even close. 

Yet, as I watched episode 8 of A Certain Magical Index, I couldn’t help but find myself wondering why I was supposed to care. 

Touma is in the hospital after being severely injured and then thrown of the bridge last week and the saint gave him one day to hand over his arm. The fight now isn’t doing anything. A day hasn’t passed, Touma isn’t even awake, it is all just filling screen time. Perhaps if I thought there was any chance they might have resolved the situation prior to Touma waking up their might have been some point to it, but all and all it just seems like an excuse to throw around more terminology and jargon and have a ‘cool’ fight sequence.

This impression isn’t helped with the arrival of Kanzaki after the B Team are definitely taken out despite Itsuwa getting all fired up. Kanzaki was a cool character back in season one but she just kind of shows up now, broods a bit, occasionally does something cool with her sword, and then Touma will show up to save the day. And while I get they were trying to show that Kanzaki is a part of her group, using more or less the same sequence of attacks that we just watched against the enemy but faster and more powerful isn’t all that interesting.

Then of course the whole thing is proven to be pointless by the post credits scene where Touma wakes up and instead of sensibly resting in his hospital bed off he goes to join the fight leaving the conveniently sleeping Index oblivious to the plot as normal. 

Yeah, I really don’t know why I’m watching season three of this. The issues with the plot and characters just get more and more pronounced with every passing episode.

Thanks for reading
Karandi James

Consider supporting the blog by:

Or, use one of my product affiliate links.
To Aru Majutsu no IndexIII Petite Bit Strap Collection Box

• Episodes 1 + 2 – That Time Something Happened to Kamijou
• Episode 3 – More Jargon More Punching
• Episode 4 – Ditch the Main Cast and Go For A Ride
• Episode 5 – I’m Glad I’m Not The Only One Confused
• Episodes 6 + 7 – A Certain Villainous Laugh and a Meandering Plot Line
• Episode 8 – A Fight Between Saints Should Be Exciting, Right?
• Episode 9 – The Moment You Know The Magic Is Gone
• Episode 10 – Exposition on A Plane With Index and the Terrorist
• Episode 11 – Dropping A Certain Magical Index