Has Magi Jumped the Shark?

[Dansen]

After finishing the Magi: KoM, I've become a bit concerned for the series. Its been the most promising shounen since HunterxHunter. The finale of the season feels like it could have been the conclusion of the series, with the three super powers teaming up to defeat a massive nearly invincible monster. It was cool but how does one top a fight that was as devastating as hundreds of natural disasters, how will the stakes be raised any higher?

What troubles me most is that in the manga the author has released nothing but flashbacks of Solomon and Hakiryu. I personally feel that Solomon's story didn't need to be told at least not in extensive detail, since the mystery help create a feeling of magic. After the first flashback we get one of Hakiryu. Its clear that the author wants him to become a major villain but his turn to the dark side seems rather rushed. I would have kept him with the good guys and have his character slowly change and then turn rather than have this comically abrupt 180. Its very reminiscent of Sauske in that his turn to evil seems rather random and pointless(for Hakuryu's goals).

The fact that the author has just done about twenty chapters of flashback seems to suggest that she is struggling with where to go next. Personally it is my hope that the next arc focus's on Morgiana. Alibaba has had his arc, this past one belonged to Aladin, its time for the third MC to get some love.

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

To me it did this with the 20 chapter flashback, or the "exposition arc" as i like to call it, and i haven`t read it since. I used to like magi, but now it's devolved into the same "i have teh most awsum superpower evur let me explain how it works for the next 3 pages" garbage that always makes me see red. It's overly convoluted, uninteresting, has too many characters, the power creep is out of control, and it's just not fun anymore. It should have ended with the war arc.

 

[Hades]

I think the year long flashback was a massive mistake on the author's part and it did jump the shark at that point but to me the series seems to be redeeming itself somewhat. I liked the first two seasons enough to give Magi the benefit of the doubt. They are back with the main cast so it should sort itself out eventually.

Overall I'm rather disappointing in the last season but I'm not writing Magi off just yet.

I don't really got a Sasuke vibe from Hakuryu. I can somewhat sympathize with Hakuryu because he's being pushed and manipulated into becoming what he is while I don't believe Orochimaru and Tobi put that much effort into lying to Sasuke. I think Sasuke went evil and insane all on his own while Hakuryu got a lot of help in that regard. The people Hakuryu is claiming revenge also seem to have been good people murdered by someone actively evil so I have less trouble with that backstory becoming a revenge quest.

 

[Dansen]

I think the year long flashback was a massive mistake on the author's part and it did jump the shark at that point but to me the series seems to be redeeming itself somewhat. I liked the first two seasons enough to give Magi the benefit of the doubt. They are back with the main cast so it should sort itself out eventually.

Overall I'm rather disappointing in the last season but I'm not writing Magi off just yet.

I don't really got a Sasuke vibe from Hakuryu. I can somewhat sympathize with Hakuryu because he's being pushed and manipulated into becoming what he is while I don't believe Orochimaru and Tobi put that much effort into lying to Sasuke. I think Sasuke went evil and insane all on his own while Hakuryu got a lot of help in that regard. The people Hakuryu is claiming revenge also seem to have been good people murdered by someone actively evil so I have less trouble with that backstory becoming a revenge quest.

I don't know I still have a problem with it; for the most part he has led a decent/normal life for a palace prince and seemed rather grounded as a character. The current Hakuryu is just a super powered angsty teen, wanting to destroy everything "just cause"(much like Sauske was for a while). Its not interesting, at least Al Thamen seem to have an underlying philosophy behind their actions(although we have yet to really see it). His sudden shift to pure evil is weird considering he could have achieved his goals easily by just staying aligned with Sinbad, and I'm sure Sinbad would love to have another metal vessel under his control. It is also highly likely that this turn was calculated by his mother and he is simply following her plans like an idiot, he is Al Thamen in all but name atm.

He should have stuck it out with the main trio and had a gradual descent into darkness, with him finally turning on the world with the death of his mother. It would make for a more interesting and emotional confrontation.

Like you though, I haven't completely written it off yet, and Im hoping the author can redeem herself for writing such a messy arc that was extremely bloated

 

[Hades]

But doesn't Magi at least make clear Hakuryu is making the wrong choice? He's emotionally vulnerable and naive and thus easily manipulated so of course he's an idiot. I have a feeling mommy dears plan is going swimmingly at the moment. I think Hakuryu being an idiot and in the wrong is exactly the point.

I agree Hakuryu doesn't have any point going in his favor to justify his fall but I think that was very much the point. He's being unreasonably and its exploiting by the villains to drive him over the edge.

I never got the feeling Magi was trying to half heartedly give Hakuryu points in his favor like Naruto tried to do with Sasuke which is why I reject a direct comparison. Sasuke wasn't in the right but the show did its best not to outright deem him wrong either while everyone colluding with Al Tamen may be depicted as tragic like Cashim and ''Dumblemort'' but ultimately they are stated to be wrong and driven by their own weakness.