Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii

[Kraco]

"Nike, the determined princess of the Rain Dukedom who has a mysterious power: she can control rainfall. She is forced to unwillingly marry the king of the Sun Kingdom, Livius I. Livius (or Livi for short) conquered the world in three years, and is known as the "Dreadful King."" - Manga-Updates

Download: Episode 1 - HS
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Shoujo
Links: Official | AniDB | ANN






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I looked forward to this show based on the description (longer ones than my edited spoiler free one here) and the genre list. Adventure shoujo has actually served me some jolly stories in the past and the description of this show sounded especially delicious with the forced marriage of persons who should be somewhat hostile, plus the guy is even younger than the girl. I'm no Korean, but a younger guy, older girl somehow interests me in manga/anime. It also doesn't hurt this show that the dude is apparently some kind of genius who not only managed to conquer the neigbouring countries in a few short years but also stabilised his own country and raised people's standard of living, yet the girl balances that out by being a powerful magician of some sort. So, neither should be useless by far.

Naturally I'm mostly looking forward to the interaction between those two. There probably won't be any love lost whatsoever in the beginning (what with the king throwing the princess into a prison cell right off the bat, according to the longer description), but that's all the better. If he treats her initially as an amusing performer of tricks and she treats him as a demon king, it should make a very amusing trip to the love-love land.

Production values generally looked very mediocre, so no surprises there. I'm not a huge fan of voiced narration, so I hope it maintains a level as low as in this episode or disappears altogether.

[David75]

It wasn't too disatisfying comparing to the crapload that appeared from friday. Doesn't mean it's overly good or anything.
It seems it might be watchable.
I was just very annoyed at the guy duo, I knew from first frame they appeared they'd become her underlings, and for some reason I didn't like that.

[MasterOfMoogles]

I thought this was an interesting starting setting with a non-typical main character.
I'm hoping episode 2 has more interesting things.

[Kraco]

Episode 2 - HS






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While the setting is very nice (subjectively speaking), I can't help but feel the story itself suffers from inadequate writing, as if the author couldn't really handle high politics, military affairs, and such to the degree something like this would require. While I still hope the entirely missing security and not sending the traitors to the gallows was indeed a crafty plot by the king to make the conspirators too bold and come out from hiding, I wouldn't be surprised if that wasn't the case, after all, and it was just bad writing. It's especially jarring because the dude is supposed to be a genius who conquered much of the known world. I can't say I like genius characters who are only called such by other people and the plot but whose actions prove otherwise. So far he certainly has shown no signs if living up to the title.

I'll keep watching for now, but if it turns out the setting is totally inconsequential for what the author has in mind, I don't know if I can finish this. To be honest even the interaction between the king and the princess isn't living up to my expectations. The story simply has been too poorly written.

[Kraco]

Episode 3 - HS






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Perhaps I was being a bit hasty. Not about the lacking depth of the plot, especially the politics and scheming, but about the interaction. It worked nicely in this episode, so much so that I liked this ep a lot. At the very least the strengths of shoujo are showing through, with the relationship of those two actually progressing somewhere, even if it's kind of back and forth sailing. Their personalities are slowly building as well, not looking as superficial anymore. The butler is a decent character as well. The antagonists could stand to be a lot better, though.

I still wouldn't say this is living up to my hopes (though those hopes were partly crushed by vejita613 even before the season launched), but I might be able to enjoy this, after all.

[shinta|hikari]

I really liked this episode. I really sympathize with the Sun King, and I understand how he feels towards Nike. The fact that he had to take drugs just to get to sleep is something to which I can relate, and the fact that he now has Nike makes me somewhat feel envious.

I read some of the manga and they really are going at break neck speeds.

[Ryllharu]

Series like this are why I like shoujo. The two of them bickering consistently makes me smile throughout the episode.

I wouldn't mind another female character though.

If I had to say anything bad about the show, it would be the rain song. It feels way too contemporary and the English line makes it feel too Poppy. It's not a bad song, it is just terribly out of place given the setting. I'm sure those are the lyrics from the manga or whatever, but the arrangement is just bad.

[David75]

About the song, I just fear it gets too repetitive...
Also, I don't know in other cultures, but in France it rains when you really are a bad singer

Now for the show, reminds me a lot about Itazura na Kiss. Major difference being Nike is smarter and has more will power than Kotoko.

[Kraco]

Yeah, I also fear the song will indeed and inevitably become too repetitive if it keeps happening, like it likely will before the show is over. It would be better if she had a few songs, at least. It would be hard to believe this particular song has anything to do with the rain magic; I'd rather think it's merely something that she likes and that gets her into the right mood for the magic to happen. Alas, it's all too common for these kinds of plots to stick to the exact same song time after time. Maybe it's simply a question of the budget, who knows. Maybe only Key with their multi-talented Maeda Jun is free of such inconveniences.

[Kraco]

Episode 4 - HS




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Another good episode. The breakneck speed is worrying me a little, though. I haven't read the manga, so I don't know if it's as high-speed, but this makes me think this isn't going to be a long series. It also gives the various characters a bit too little time to develop before they are given big roles in the larger plot.

I thought the whole plot in this ep was quite nicely built, as opposed to my doubts about the author's talents in an older post. Basically there being no good solutions to the problem. As much as the king opposed the temple, he still needs them for an official marriage, and the temple can naturally make it difficult. Yet agreeing to this equals admitting the temple's power. It's hard to say just how much power the priesthood has, but obviously Livi isn't able to simply crush them, at least not without a reason. That being said, it seems like the temple is handing him that reason right now. While they could deny knowing anything about the attackers, it's still their site, a holy one at that, and thus under their guard. A host is responsible for the guests' safety. Plenty of reason for the king to arrange a change of leadership in the priesthood, I say, or would say, but the head priest seemed like a persistent villain.

[shinta|hikari]

Has there ever been a more spoiler filled preview?

[Kraco]

Has there ever been a more spoiler filled preview?

This is shoujo. Girls wouldn't be able to handle the suspense.

[shinta|hikari]

I nod to your sagely knowledge.

[Ryllharu]

I was a little disappointed Nike said the air was too thick and stagnant for it to be of use for her down there.

I rather like when she simply shreds thing to ribbons in front of her would-be attackers to prove her point. Part of what makes her so well liked by the king and the bane of his opposition is she is pretty much the least princess-like princess he could have chosen. In other words, a true shoujo heroine!

I don't think he was teasing her when he was more worried about her coming out feral than not coming out at all. It is a legitimate concern with her. She has a history of rampaging already.

[Kraco]

So far she has been the only character with abilities that would allow her to defeat physically and numerically stronger opponents. Livi hasn't really shown any signs of the ultimate wits that allowed him to conquer the world. The enemies are continuously one-upping him. Nike is truly the only hero of this story. It makes sense she would have a weakness or two as well, like heroes are wont to have.

[Kraco]

Episode 5 - HS








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That was a bit naive, no doubt, but what the hell, if I enjoy friendship beams in Nanoha, I can enjoy regular friendship punches in this. Aside from the bad guys having been forgiven once again, I actually liked a lot Liv's plan, the ring around the sun, and the whole occasion. The rain starting to fall right when Liv started to explain things nicely enhanced the atmosphere, as well. The mushy parts through the eps were jolly as well. Liv and Nike's cooperation is slowly getting better, that's for sure.

The preview looks dubious, but I guess rivals can't be helped in shoujo. I just hope it won't be too cliched. But then again, Liv and Nike should be married already, with the ceremory and everything, so perhaps the rival appearing won't mean so much. I doubt anybody other than Nike could have much of an effect on Liv in any case.

[Ryllharu]

Well, given that Nike is more or less a full-on witch, I think I can agree that she's willing to have the priest approve their marriage in exchange for his life. There's really little if anything they can do to her.

Their whole plan hinged on trapping her underground to kill her. That temple (and probably a few deep and dry caves) are the only places a person could really kill Nike by physical means. She can easily slice even a sword to tiny bits, or far more easily, her attacker's neck. I suppose they could poison her, but Nike really doesn't want to have to worry about watching her or Livi's back, so a little forgiveness goes a long way.

Their plan was quite fitting and nicely done. It wows the populace, shows off her power, and is a nice symbolic touch. He's the most powerful king, but she encircles even the sun. Her country may be a small one, but it showed there is none more worthy to be queen.

[shinta|hikari]

So many things didn't make sense or went all too conveniently for the couple in this episode, but that is typical shoujo. I still liked the general flow of the story. It was nice while it lasted.

Now we get love triangle shoujo drivel.

[Kraco]

Their whole plan hinged on trapping her underground to kill her. That temple (and probably a few deep and dry caves) are the only places a person could really kill Nike by physical means. She can easily slice even a sword to tiny bits, or far more easily, her attacker's neck. I suppose they could poison her, but Nike really doesn't want to have to worry about watching her or Livi's back, so a little forgiveness goes a long way.

They could just have one competent mercenary put a crossbow bolt through her heart or brain. It doesn't really need to be any more elaborate than that. Considering she's all over the place, not sticking to the royal parts of the royal castle like a typical queen, it would only be a matter of time to get a good chance. Furthermore, there would be no direct link to any opposer, as long as the mercenary hit the road and disappeared, unlike attacking the princess in a place that's under the supervision of a single party.

Still, I'm happy the opponents don't try to do anything like that. The story is better this way, not so dark.

[Ryllharu]

My impression was the Nike can sense the rapid disruptions in the wind from things like arrows and crossbow bolts. She already got shot once protecting Livi from assassins. It wasn't clear whether it was the glint of the arrow tip or the wooshing air of the arrow getting fired. It seemed like both. She noticed the arrow glint, but only moved to protect Livi after it was fired. She couldn't know what the glinting she saw was, but once it was fired she knew where it was going.

@shinta:
How much shoujo do you read? You'd know that the love triangles in shoujo never matter for very long. It's not like shonen or seinen where the triangles are never resolved. Nike will overwhelm this other girl with her awesomeness in short order. Then this new girl will be forced to swear her eternal allegiance to Nike.