#then again i regularly watch subversions and parodies as an introduction to a new genre lmao i think i'm just weird

[its-no-biggie]

okay here are my initial thoughts (mostly spoiler free? im literally only 2 episodes in. but also if you havent watched it, i recommend going in as blind as possible because DAMN.)

so like. where do i even start. lets start with the yuri - the relationship between madoka and homura is SO compelling already. everything about homura is a mystery and yet that opening dream sequence established that the story is ABOUT her. what's her motivation? what's her relationship to madoka? what was her wish? why do i get the sense the answers to these questions are going to completely turn the show upside down?

the comparison to orv...... i think this is part of why im already so intrigued, cause like. its a completely different genre than orv so i know its not going to be some surface level similarity. which means some insane shit is gonna go down for SURE. so i think it's giving me a little more confidence that all this intrigue and mystery is genuinely building to something, so i'm more free to speculate..... but can i just say. the opening sequence, with madoka accepting kyuubey's offer in order to save homura despite not knowing her? han sooyoung behaviour (<- guy who can make anything be about han sooyoung)

okay getting a little more into theory territory - why does homura know so much about madoka? she warned madoka against becoming a magical girl and even went so far as to try to kill kyuubey to prevent them from making contact....... she even knew her way around the school even though it was her first day..... honestly my first instinct is something like. homura's wish was to save madoka and so she got sent back in time as a magical girl. or maybe madoka got her memory erased? by homura?? something along those lines. i especially like the former because homuras actions are what led to kyuubey making contact with madoka when he did.... in trying to avoid your fate you inadvertently seal it...... but like i dont really know enough about the setting to know though - i dont know how much genie technicality bullshit there is to the wishes or what kind of powers you gain by being a magical girl, so maybe theres a non-time travel explanation. but honestly that sounds boring give me the doomed time travel yuri!!!!

and on the topic of not knowing enough about the setting - the fact that i can't completely trust that kyuubey has good intentions and isn't hiding anything? because i mean, homura was literally trying to kill him before we even properly met him, and yes she's antagonistic but madoka seems intrigued by her and we have so little information about all this, so how are we supposed to know who's trustworthy and who isn't? and also, stripping away my suspension of disbelief a little bit, why is this magical creature sending middle school girls to fight monsters? what's really going on here? it's so well-crafted to make you feel a little unsteady about EVERYTHING. it's incredible

and the art style. wow. very striking - reminds me of monogatari series (and honestly, the art style is easily the best thing about monogatari series. in my opinion). something so unsettling about mixed media in anime it gets me every time

what i knew going into madoka magica:

people have compared it to orv

its a magical girl anime ??

what i know after 2 episodes:

somehow even less than that