Highlights
- A surprising new storyline in The Irregular at Magic High School involving misinformation through social media unfolds in episode two.
- The intricate power dynamics between the Ten Master Clans in Japan lead to backstabbing and treacherous politics within the series.
- The addition of real-life events like misinformation and propaganda through social media adds a layer of realism and relatability to the anime.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Irregular at Magic High School Season 3, Episode 2, “Double Seven Part II”, now streaming on Crunchyroll.
The first episode of the third season went pretty much as the fans expected. A dash of action, an introduction of a new magical threat, and a wholesome interaction between the main cast members. It’s safe to assume that the second episode will continue this newly-introduced storyline, right? Well, apparently not.
The second episode of the third season of The Irregular at Magic High School presents a new storyline that is widely different, and honestly quite surprising, than any other storylines that have come before it.
A Surprising Plot Point
There’s a growing Anti-Magician movement happening at the USNA (United States of North America) with the goal of reducing the influence of Magicians on society as a whole. This movement has been gaining traction all over the world, including Japan. And now, there are individuals who are scheming to destabilize the people’s perception of magic and magicians in Japan. The way they do it is by spreading misinformation through social media.
Misinformation Through Social Media
|
Character Name |
Saegusa Kouichi (Head of Saegusa Clan) |
|---|---|
|
First Appearance |
Season 3, Episode 2 |
|
Release Date |
April 12, 2024 |
Divide and conquer. That is the name of the game that the Anti-Magician movement tries to play in different countries that boast a huge number of powerful magicians, such as the USNA and Japan. After all, waging a full-frontal war with such superpowers is pretty much impossible. So the next best thing to do is to let the enemy destroy themselves from within.
In this particular case, the plan is to make the regular citizens feel doubt, confused, and threatened by the increasing number of magicians. In this modern age, the most effective way to spread such propaganda is through social media. Left alone, this ember could turn into a raging fire. So now, Tatsuya finds himself having to deal with a situation that is not only extremely dangerous but also highly delicate and unfamiliar to him.
Inserting Real Life Into Fiction
There are countless anime series featuring an overpowered protagonist who enrolled in a Magical Academy.The Irregular at Magic High School stands out because it is more than action, fantasy, and magic. This series managed to perfectly blend technology, military, and even politics into the story. This combination is already quite intricate as it is, but then episode two happened and they added even more layers to the stacks.
What’s even more surprising is the fact that they decided to use a real-life event (misinformation through social media) as a new layer to the story. A topic that is highly familiar to every internet user. This decision instantly makes this magical fantasy story so much more relatable to the viewers.
Backstabbing and Politics
Be it the petty politics in the Magic Academy or the treacherous politics within the military and the government, politics has always been an integral part of The Irregular at Magic High School. And just like in real life, whenever we talk about politics, that means backstabbing will soon follow.
The Power Dynamics Within the Ten Master Clans
|
Character Name |
Yotsuba Maya (Head of Yotsuba Clan) |
|---|---|
|
First Appearance |
Season 1, Episode 5 |
|
Release Date |
May 3rd, 2014 |
Unlike other countries, the magic and magicians in Japan are basically ruled by a group called the Ten Master Clans. The members of these clans are equal in authority, or at least that’s how it appears on the outside. The truth, however, is a bit different.
The Yotsuba clan has been gaining quite a noticeable increase in power and influence as of late, which puts them ahead of the other clans. This newfound power and influence doesn’t mean the Yotsuba can freely order the other Master Clans as they see fit. It does, however, put them in a much more advantageous position when it comes to negotiation.
This uneven power dynamic is the reason why some of the members of the Master Clans, particularly the head of the Saegusa Clan, feel a bit nervous about Yotsuba’s unchecked power. This is also the reason why those same members devised a plan to reduce the Yotsuba Clan’s influence by spreading rumors and false information about them to the general public.
Unpacking the World
One of the most potent ways to expand a story is by unpacking the world around the protagonist. The intricate hierarchy at Tatsuya’s school, the chain of command at his military squad, and the power dynamic between the ruling clans around the protagonist. All of these things contribute greatly to making the world feel alive and constantly moving. It tells the viewers that the world doesn’t always revolve around the protagonist. On the contrary, so many things happen outside of the protagonist’s control and there are not many things that he can do about it. That is a great touch of realism.
Where Are You Going With This?
A new story element such as “misinformation and propaganda through social media” is certainly a great addition to this action fantasy series. As discussed earlier, it adds a great level of realism and relatability to the story. So the only question that remains now is simply where will the story go from here. Will this be a staple plot point for The Irregular at Magic High School, or will it simply be a one-off event that only lasts for a couple of episodes?
A One-off Event or a Long-Term Storyline
Truth be told, whether this particular plot point ends up only as a one-off event or a continuous long-term storyline, the fact that this storyline even exists at all is already a piece of great news for the series. It proves that this series dares to go beyond the usual action-fantasy route and enter a much darker path that you’d only usually see in the crime/thriller genre. If this storyline only happens once, then we simply get one of the most interesting short story arcs in the series. If propaganda and mass media influence become a staple story element for this series, this means this wholesome anime will embark on a much darker and more thrilling path.
A Cocktail of Genres
Blending multiple genres in order to create a thrilling and interesting story is not an easy task to do. Yet The Irregular at Magic High School seems to be able to deliver this cocktail of genres rather well. However, the more genres that are put into the cocktail, the more challenging it becomes to tell a coherent and interesting story. It’s a double-edged sword that needs to be handled carefully. So let’s see how everything will turn out in this season and hope the showrunners can execute this interesting concept flawlessly.
The Irregular at Magic High School is available to stream on Crunchyroll.
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