AKB0048 - Episode 2

That fang~

Before anything, I just have to say that the OP is definitely on par with this season's (possibly year's) best. Everything from the visuals to the song itself was outstanding. I can't wait for the single to be released!

As for the episode, the introduction of three new characters added more variety to the current cast of Nagisa, Yūka and Orine. The other three audition-bound girls were as different as can be, and they were a nice addition to the group. But while everything seemed to be fine and dandy, it comes as no surprise that things would go downhill sooner or later. And because of this, drama, which I did not expect would present at all prior to watching the show, ensues.

Information on insert songs used in this episode can be found below.

Although Chieri's appearance didn't take me by surprise (it was already obvious that she the mystery girl in the beginning), her unexpected view about the auditions did. The whole exchange between Chieri and Nagisa reminded me slightly of Miki (<3) and Haruka's conversation in THE iDOLM@STER - Episode 23, only in the case of AKB0048, it's not the case of "one passes and the other fails" (although this is also possible). Either way, holding on firmly to her beliefs allowed Nagisa to reconcile with her childhood friend, even if it did mean having to compete with another rival; I find this "stubbornness" is one of her strong points, believe it or not.

The short battle sequence in the episode was fairly entertaining. It makes me wonder how large of a budget this show has, assuming each episode will have some sort of flashy scene like this. I hope that the quality of the other parts of the show don't suffer due to the need to animate the song sequences with detail.

But the best part of the episode was neither conversation nor the flashy battle. Although seemingly insignificant, both Nagisa and Chieri's thoughts at the end of the episode spoke quite a bit about their characters. In a way, they each view the other as better than themselves, with a slight bit of jealously being inevitable. Still, I believe this is what will fuel them to keep on trying to become better, in an attempt to surpass each other. I wouldn't be surprised if these two girls are the front-runners in the competition to join AKB0048. With the Kirara's presence indicating their potential as idols, I have high hopes for both Nagisa and Chieri, and I hope their rivalry will make for a great addition to the story.

Finally, the ED makes its initial appearance in this episode.
ED: I thought it was good but, unfortunately, it was overshadowed by the epic OP. Nonetheless, the fact that it didn't sound like a typical, upbeat J-Pop song was nice. It was interesting how the dancing silhouettes along with the music made me want to dance as well; the song's ability to instill the desire to "follow along" was unexpected.

Insert Songs
Kanji	Romaji	English	Links
AKB参上!	AKB Sanjou!	Calling On AKB!	Lyrics | Video