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I have just finished to watch Rage of Bahamut Genesis and Virgin Soul. I did enjoy the both. I even enjoyed more Virgin Soul where you have more complex characters and relations. Sorry if I made mistakes but English is not my mother tongue.
It’s funny how Japanese love to mix different clothes styles and period time like middle age, 19th century and minimalist clothes for the women. The crown looks a bit strange.

Seen numerous opinions disapproving that 2d season, I might upset some people. Despite the big number of negative cirtics, the rate remains honorable. A lot of people did enjoy but do not ... dare to give their opinion.

At the first episode, I have to confess I was quite quickly intrigued by the character of the king who dares to challenge and fight both demons and gods.

I’m estonished of few analyse of the background, context and characters and the absence of nuances.

It’s all about love/hate characters especially the king. Lots of people called him Hitler and genocider. Hitler did invade peaceful countries and wanted to eliminate some kind of peaceful people for what they were (jewish, homosexuals, etc).
Charioce declares war on gods and demons because from his point of view they were aggressing and asserving mankind. But yet his methods are quite radicals… He follows motos as “Means justify the end” and “the best defence is attacking”. Although you hate him, he’s really badass and bold. Charioce is a king of his time : a king with absolute power. Such a king is often alone, have few friends or no friends at all. He has only subjects. Charioce can only have normal relation with other ones under the Chris’ indentity. I desapprove slavery and arena games. But they are not living in our society. In their world, gods, demons or human rights do not exist. He wants to use demons for rebuilding the city. The king would like gods and angels to consider mankind as equal.

Charioce is not a real villain but more a “grey” character like most of them in that anime. If you really insist to classify him as villain, he will be more an anti-villain (good goals but questionable means and methods). He has something of Magneto (X-men). He is not a sadistic psychopath (he’s always shown bored at the arena) but he will use everything for getting results. He is very determined in reaching his target. He will sacrifice himself but ourselves too if we are on his way.. He sacrificed his love for Nina too. Why should he keep Jeanne as she is clearly an opponent. He’s a very cold blooded person. We have to pay attention to the details of his body language who betrayed sometimes his words.

Charioce has one goal : to protect mankind. I does mean for him to control demons, make the gods kneel and to rid of Bahamut once for all.

I see that story like the fight between 3 grey factions that wants domination on the other ones. It’s a kind of game of thrones where every faction wears a part of responsibility in the current situation. We don’t have a black and white situation. It’s what the fans don’t like. The question is who’s the real villain ?


Other characters :

Nina : I like her mostly. She’s fresh and alive even if her naïvity is sometimes a bit annoying. But making her blushing at every good looking guy she meets is a bit ridiculous. Means as well, Favaro is not good looking enough for her. Her role is to redeem Charioce at the end with her love and by her dragon nature.

Azazel and demons: Azazel is very grey character. His fans forgot that he killed Favaro and Kaisar’ fathers for amusement. He likes tormenting humans for pleasure… Is he a bit of psychopath ? But now demons are at the other side of the line. Azazel didn't seem to remember he was cruel with humans before that and it’s maybe one of the consequences of his former behaviour.He has no remorse at all. Favaro and Kaisar ‘s behaviour is actually strange. I could not be friend with somebody who kill a dear relative of mine for fun…. I remember that demons, in general, consider humans good to frightened et to kill.

Jeanne d’Arc : Lots of people are fond of her and I don’t know why. I am not at ease with her purpose . She spends her time to pray and wants humans to be dependent of vain gods again. In a way, she is like Charioce, thinking beyond her personal interest and very determined.

Angels and gods : They are quite arrogant towards human and demonkind, thinking they are the top kind. What they call the balance of the world : Demons in hell (they were once angels who disobey) and they can only imagine humans worshipping them. If humans don’t, they will come down to call them sinners. What a band of manipulators !! Why humans should revere them ? Angels and gods (living longer ok) are finally mortal (I am pretty sure they don’t know themselves what’s happen after death), not almighty and not as wise they want us believe. Like demons, gods are not able to question themselves.

Kaisar : I like Kaisar (although his haircut is ridiculous). He is one the only fully good character. However lot’s of people think he’s an idiot, they ironically wants the same thing : a peace treaty between the 3 kinds. Kaisar is stucked between his sympathy he has towards Nina and pals and his oath as a knight to the king. In that type of middle age society, such an oath was very strong and could not be broken so easily morally. Kaisar says what things should be but he’s unable to give practical solutions.

Bacchus and Rita ; I like these characters. They are funny notes in that season. But I can’t remember what Bacchus did to be hunted from heaven.

Bahamut is the big villain: he is the common enemy reuniting regularly the 3 kinds against him. At the end, Charioce does realize that he couldn’t beat Bahamut completely alone. He finally free the demons. We don’t know what will be the relations with the gods.

I am quite happy with the end. Sacrifice or punishment for Charioce and Nina ? Anyway, they paid the price. Be sure, some moral torment are worst than death. One day, Charioce may learn that Bahamut is still alive. How bitter it will be for him to know he failed and got blind in vain.

Imagine you are the king of Anatae. What will you do ? Knowing nor demons, neither gods are ready to discuss their point of view and negotiate their position.