Railgun 4: Paradoxical Curiosity

No offense to Kuroko fans: Has justice finally been served?!

Served on this week’s Railgun is a can of whoop-ass, or so we think. Good points for the episode: Back on canon track, a grand cameo of Index’s Kamijo Toma, with a slight introduction to the main elements of Railgun’s Level Upper Arc. Bad points: ass-whooping served short on a disappointing 4 minute mark, scenes that defy the laws of Science, and only little progress for the story, marking it as another filler episode. I was expecting a long and detailed fight since we’re talking about GAR guy Toma here, but I guess I expected too much.

The episode is mostly about myths and urban legends surrounding Academy City. Parts of it aired out a voice of disapproval for such variable elements, with the objections specifically inclined to the agents and disciples of Science. Of course, how would a place where Science reigns supreme harbor such things of uncertainty? Science, after all, is a professional field based on certainty, statistical probabilities, and deterministic approach to things. Anything that it cannot predict or calculate is considered uncertain: A myth, an urban legend, or even a paradox.

DUN DUN DUNNNNNN

Ask a scientist if he can calculate or explain the existence of paranormal entities using scientific methods, and he’ll either laugh at you or take it as an insult. It’s the same for Academy City. Why would the city have those kinds of rumors? Can it be explained in scientific terms? Are there any alternatives to brand it as something scientific? And if not, what then? Like what I said in the past, Academy City is a false instance of utopia, wherein various different elements exist regardless if they have a relation to Science or not. The fact that the Abilityless is made to coexist with the Esper is a violation to the utopia’s rule. What more if we add Magicians to the mix? Will this instance count as a myth, then?

To further delve in this topic, let’s take Kamijo Toma as an example: His powers as an Esper is simply labelled as Level 0, a grade given for the Abilityless. Then, if he cannot use his powers as an Esper, he can conjure the same effects as a Magician, right? Wrong. Since he has been exposed to the “curriculum” of an Esper, he is then unable to use magic. Besides, his power, the Imagine Breaker, is something that cannot be explained. It has the ability to nullify an Esper’s power, or a Magician’s spell. Heck, it can even nullify miracles and works of God! It simply cannot be put in any category, since it is in a category of its own, neither of magic or psychic ability. Then, can we dismiss him as an Esper even though he’s not? Can we label him as a Magician even though he’s not? A simple instance of a paradox, spawning theories, questions, and uncertainty, and it just gets better.

Sorry guys, I really can’t help it. Helpless Biribiri moe must be served!

The fight scene is… well… short. I mean, they could’ve tried something new that’s off-canon and still get away with it. The 4-minute fight is just so… condensed… to the point where my mind strongly stuck to the fact that this episode is made of more than 50% Kamijo Toma instead of the fact that the badass fight scene is this post’s EPIC WIN moment. There’s the “sword” from iron fillings on the ground, conjured by electromagnetism. There are also high-voltage thundershocks, and the usual godmod powers of the Imagine Breaker. If it wasn’t for Biribiri’s cute, about-to-cry face, I wouldn’t buy it. For a moment, I realized my taste for the moe got shallow again…

Kuroko, your penchant for sadomasochism is in quite a wild streak. I fear for your health.

Last to point out: This picture. The fact that Kuroko was hardly headbutting the table without knocking the glasses or the laptop is an event that defies the laws of physics and gravitation. Way to go for this certain scientific show.

Further Reading:

Touma’s Eggs Get Squished!:

To Aru Kagaku No Railgun 04 – Xebek’s Blog

Those Afflicted With The Stripper Lady’s Curse:

To Aru Kagaku No Railgun: The Curse Of The Undressing Otaku – Anime Diet

To Aru Kagaku no Railgun 04: Public exhibitionists And Those Urban Legends – Shadows of Eternity