A little bit about this season in general first of all. Exactly what is it?

 
 
 

 
 

 
 

For a fact we know it is not an actual sequel neither is it a re-tell of the original story. If it was a re-tell, we would have the same exact story (which it kind of looks like it is) but with different characters, or with some characters reprising their old role (new take, same story, same characters but with different actors). On the other hand if it was a sequel, Salt wouldn’t be the leader of Rappappa, Team Fondue would still be around and most definitely so would Center and Nezumi and Otabe wouldn’t be around let alone demoted to a mere Queen! If it was a sequel set a bit further in the future then there is no way Wota, Salt and Otabe would be around.

So then, what does that make this? Well, seeing as it contains both world, it cancels out the prospect of it being a new story/project which means it is a REBOOT! people seem to be mistaking the concept of reboot with a remake/re-tell!  Which is why I chose to put a few words out before getting to this. A reboot doesn’t necessarily mean the story stays the same! Nor do the characters in the story have to remain the same. Take the Spiderman series for example. The Amazing S is a reboot of the Sam Raimi series and yet even though both have the same foundation of the story (Birth of Spiderman), they took totally different approaches and some characters changed and so did others their roles (Mary Jane for Gwen, Peter’s and Harry’s parents etc).

So, the story is still the basic one – Transfer student comes to Majisuka Gakuen, story revolves around her making her way to the top etc…But the approach is different. While before Atsuko transferred to the school and had no intention of fighting and the fights were forced upon her, here Sakura has transferred with the intention of actually fighting her way to the top!

Another change is that while in the original story there was a concept of a rival school in Yabakune, it was never truly utilised as opposing enough to be the final big bad, even though it might have looked like that was the original plan. We didn’t learn nor did we come to care about it until the 2nd season when Shibuya turned into a betrayer and took over Yabakune and then we got to see some interesting characters in there with the likes of Miso (The Monster destroyer that took down Gekikara) and many more. This time though the rival school’s threat and presence is real and in fact looks more promising than Majisuka Jogakuen even! It might sound like spilled milk but I actually had a plan to introduce two other rival school in my Joker fic related to the groups and one with the NaMBa girls was to be led by Sayacchu and it pleases me to no ends that they actually did this for this season!

That is the other thing I have gripes about with the fourth season. When we cry for the original characters to return the new fans think that we are crying because we can’t handle the fact that things have to change and that we have to accept the new Gens because our girls no longer need promoting because apparently this show is about promoting! Yeah, like Sakura and Shimazaki and the rest of the big players need promoting!

Anyway I am saying that is not the reason! In the first seasons you could feel, see, the threat that Rappappa and Atsuko had about them. When they got on screen you couldn’t help scream! Remember those special episodes when the four Queens would appear! I can still remember the screaming I did during episode 7-9 and the final episode! The characters had a presence about them that gave off an aura of power! You knew Atsuko was in for a fight of her life! Hell, even the Sansho sisters were fearsome! And yet even as paling as they were, you knew too that Acchan was no douche! You could see this underlying animal ready to be unleashed!

Now then, tell me you feel the same way when you look at the characters in this season! Like, you just need to see that opening scene with Torigoya, oops I mean OG Kojiharu. That is the level the old Rappappa were on. It’s the level the new Rappappa should be on! Salt maybe has the looks but her temper/lack of discipline/always picking fights kind of takes away the threat and turn her more into an inexperienced but very strong fighter! She seems like one that hasn’t lost a fight in a very long time and is losing that something. Kind of like Gilgamesh in Fate/Stay Night! He is no doubt the strongest servant but he is a dull blade which is why he always loses in the end! Shimazaki is kind of like this!

Discipline is also the reason why Koby (Milky) is just a few points off! Her character is really good, she has basis for a scary girl but the way she always seems to dive head in and challenges Antonio’s plans makes her immature and thus more on Shibuya’s level. Shibuya was a Queen but no doubt the weakest of the four. Antonio is also missing a point from being perfect. Actually it’s something very simple. She doesn’t look the part. She is strong no doubt but the look doesn’t match the aura. This is actually how Sayanee always is so I doubt this is gonna change anytime soon. Who knows though, she might surprise us and give us a real mean look that will send even Koby scrawling!

And so this season is a reboot of the original series, despite having some characters return but they are not exactly the same. Either they have changed names (Wota –> Scandal) or they have changed roles (Otabe Rapappa’s leader –> mere Queen) but this time the story is more solid in that they seem to be getting Rappappa out quick and setting up the final fight to be between schools instead of Sakura/Salt.

I was really dedicated to enjoying this new season and tried to not compare but without that excitement at seeing interesting characters it gets hard to enjoy this season. I am not sure too if the character designs added anything to the other seasons for others as it did me but the lack of those designs left me really under-whelmed! I was expecting to be blown away by Rappappa and the rival school badass designs but alas! Plain, plain character designs! Whatever happened to the designer from the other series? Were they fired or something? Better hire them pronto Yasusu! There’s still a chance to fix things! The characters could just transform, a la Torigoya and Gekikara/Amakuchi in the 2nd season.  Actually maybe that is what they are going for here too! I will await judgment until I see the Queens fight then we will take it from there. And from the looks of things, it won’t be too long as Yoga is looking to be ready to fuck Sakura up pretty good in ep03! Still, really disappointed at these designs! Way too plain if you ask me. Salt and Antonio though, they pass! Yes, they aren’t hardcore dressed-up but they look the part of badassadery so they pass.

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Continuing on after watching four episodes and I confess that this is going to be the least posted about Majisuka! In fact this might be the very last post about this because I apologise but the excitement factor just isn’t there! At first I was all ready for Dark Sakura but I am not sure if she was just given a crappy personality or what. Either way I am not that taken with her and this is Sakura-tan we are talking about here! My No.3 in the whole of the 48G next to Kami Yukirin and Rena (Maachun brings out the rear of course)!

Now don’t get me wrong, my complaints aren’t what others have with Sakura herself. It was the character they gave her! The two just don’t fit! Now some might argue that a good actor would make any character their own but that isn’t the case at all! We have seen a many great actors being bashed for a single bad role from a bad movie making people forget the other 99 good roles those said actors have been in! So my qualm isn’t with Sakura but with the character they chose for her!

I also was rooting for Salt because she looked the part but after 4 episodes, her character’s character is also turning into a negative! Her personality totally clashes with the physical especially when she starts to speak! She should have been given a bit more. The silent low voice drawn out words just doesn’t go down well.

Now going back to the 4 Queens, they were actually okay. The story just butchered them. They just didn’t have that impactful menace about them that the original Rappappa had. Despite the Hinabe members going on how great the Four were, they didn’t do anything to prove those claims! Bakamono got close but she too still fell short.

I’m I complaining too much? Sorry but that’s just how it is. Is it because I was there for the original and it is why I can’t appreciate this new series? Maybe but even as bad a concept as MG3 was, the characters were really great. they had impact. Hell, even Paru was actually awesome there! And don’t get me started on team Mongoose! An’nin and Yoga? The choice is obvious! There is just something off about this 4th season that is preventing me from enjoying this! Character designs are a bug about if it that’s for sure! After Black/Gekikara and just about everyone lese in Season 1, Miso in season 2 and Messi/Yagi/Nobunaga/An’nin and others from season 3, I was ready for another favourite character but alas!

There is potential in Koby and Antonio but it’s 4 episodes in and they are still lurking! I sure hope that the fact that they are getting the Sakura VS Rappappa out of  the way this early (Have already taken down two of the Four) it means that the Rival school will be the Final Boss! But seeing as they haven’t gotten anywhere at all, I am worried that we will be repeating our mistakes! But the trailer promised us this inevitable meeting and I am sticking around until it happens! if it doesn’t…

Any way yeah, Apart from Koby and Antonio’s side of things, I am quite bored and disappoint in this! It’s most definitely not a series that one looks forward to each week (to me anyway) but I will be getting the episodes whenever they popup and watching them when I want.

One thing did get upgraded a little bit though, which is a good thing. The actions is kind of tolerable somewhat thanks to the magic of editing. Meaning there is no way I am passing on making a vid of this. I might need to wait until the series finishes airing to save my YT account though (On my last straw before being deleted!). Any way the action is improved this time which brings out a sign of relief! Speaking of action…

Hey! I know that move Otabe! Now where have I…

Ah yes of course! Case in point too, while we are on BLACK-san here, how badass were the original Rappappa, seriously!!

So, what about you dear Readers, what do you think of Majisuka 4, if you are watching?