Mahou Sensei Negima 08

Kabitzin on March 14, 2005 · in Mahou Sensei Negima

Evangeline is having a nightmare, when she recounts how she was defeated by the Thousand Master. In an unexpected sequence, Evangeline (using an illusion of hotness) is defeated by a simple pit trap that is later filled with onions and garlic. Evangeline can’t understand why the Thousand Master won’t love her, even though she has chased him to the ends of the earth. The Thousand Master proceeds to confess that he only knows 5-6 spells and is bad at studying, before he curses Evangeline. 15 years later, however, Evangeline has hatched a plan to disrupt the restraints on her power. Although the Thousand Master’s curse prevents her from leaving the campus, she uses Chachamaru’s help to hack the electrical systems that power the magical restraints. Evangeline then has several of Negi’s enslaved classmates (that she bit beforehand) challenge Negi. Negi rushes off to battle without telling Asuna (he doesn’t want to get her involved), but is no match for a fully powered Evangeline. Even his clever trap and assortment of magical antiques can’t save him, but fortunately Kamo went and got help. Asuna arrives at just the right time, and forms a full pactio by giving Negi a real kiss.

The battle is an even match, but before Evangeline can unleash a powerful attack, the blackout ends and the restraints on her powers return. Evangeline begins to fall out of the air, and she recalls how the Thousand Master had saved her when she was just a cute chibi-vampire. When he rebuffed her confession, she attacked people and chased the Thousand Master until she forced a confrontation, but in the end she was sealed in her young form and forced to endure year after year of middle school. However, before the Thousand Master left, he promised Evangeline that one day he would return to break the curse. As Evangeline plunges to a watery death, she whispers that the Thousand Master is a liar, but suddenly Negi grabs her hand and calls his staff to haul them both to safety. When Evangeline asks why he saved her, Negi gives the same answer that the Thousand Master had given before: “You don’t need a reason to save someone.” Negi then opens up his roster book, and writes in big letters under Evangeline’s name ポオン (PWN’D).

I felt the animation was not as bad as usual in this episode, and I’d have to say that this was the one that convinced me not to drop the series. I especially liked the second Evangeline flashback sequence, with the chanting music that reminded me of Samurai Champloo episode 14. Actually this episode reminded me of a lot of things, as it had sexy no jutsu, killer puppets, meido, alchemy glyphs, and a save sequence reminiscent of the Angel’s Act. I personally find Evangeline as one of the most interesting characters in the series, but I wonder what will happen to her later in the story. After all, the Thousand Master obviously chose someone else (hence Negi), and he probably won’t look nearly as bishie when she next sees him. Although some men age really well, so it’s hard to say. Well, maybe there will be someone else for Evangeline, since I’m sure that Negi’s mom will be really good looking (but if I remember correctly, she’s dead…).