Mouretsu Pirates

[SQA]

9: just... waiting for the real action. Please don't stay as a slice of life with minor space pirate moments for much longer.

It's actually an extremely realistic take on how things would proceed in that type of world.  So, yeah, most things would end up being posturing and aggressive but combat would be normally avoided.  Which might not make for the best action series, but it's a solid take on the setup.  This is also has a novel as the base work, so that dictates a lot of this slow pacing.  Plus, most of the "slice of life" aspects can be viewed directly as building Marika's leadership potential.  This is a much more "brainy" anime than you would normally think with its title.

As for Ep 9 itself, I liked it.  More strategic thinking and implementation.  Very good situation management.   I really want to know what Schnitzer actually has under that poncho, now, as him and the two other pirates powered up and had 4 lights emanating from under their clothes.  Those are "real weapons".   That entire scene leaves a whole lot of questions that we probably won't get answers to, for at least several episodes.  Should be really interesting.

We can also take away that Mami is part troll & part awesome.  And please don't call her Chiaki-chan.

The "golden ghost ship" is going to be very interesting.  It's a sub-light city-ship.  Which means finding it in the spaces between systems is worse than finding a needle in a haystack.  Which also explains why the Princess hired a pirate ship.  She needs a military ship that can crisscross a whole lot of jurisdictions.  You don't just take a military ship out like that.  But "why" is now the really big issue.  But they won't address that until it's actually important.

Oh, and new ED.  Liked the first one a bit better.

[Sorrows Neptune]

It's actually an extremely realistic take on how things would proceed in that type of world.  So, yeah, most things would end up being posturing and aggressive but combat would be normally avoided.  Which might not make for the best action series, but it's a solid take on the setup.  This is also has a novel as the base work, so that dictates a lot of this slow pacing.  Plus, most of the "slice of life" aspects can be viewed directly as building Marika's leadership potential.  This is a much more "brainy" anime than you would normally think with its title.

My gripe with Mouretsu Pirates is that, although it's very realistic in it's portrayal of what space pirates might be like, it's not really trying hard enough to make itself entertaining to watch. Often when it tries to explain one of the aspects of it's universe, instead of having something actually happen, it'll just have the characters talk about it. It kind of just boils down to the creators deciding to stick closely to the source material instead of actually utilize the advantages of animation.
Edit: Or, now that I think about it, the real problem is that they spend so much time trying to impress us with how "brainy" it is in the first place, instead of focusing more on the plot.

There's also the fact that it advertises itself as an upbeat action show, but doesn't actually do anything that could be considered "upbeat" or "actiony."

[SQA]

It's actually an extremely realistic take on how things would proceed in that type of world.  So, yeah, most things would end up being posturing and aggressive but combat would be normally avoided.  Which might not make for the best action series, but it's a solid take on the setup.  This is also has a novel as the base work, so that dictates a lot of this slow pacing.  Plus, most of the "slice of life" aspects can be viewed directly as building Marika's leadership potential.  This is a much more "brainy" anime than you would normally think with its title.

My gripe with Mouretsu Pirates is that, although it's very realistic in it's portrayal of what space pirates might be like, it's not really trying hard enough to make itself entertaining to watch. Often when it tries to explain one of the aspects of it's universe, instead of having something actually happen, it'll just have the characters talk about it. It kind of just boils down to the creators deciding to stick closely to the source material instead of actually utilize the advantages of animation.
Edit: Or, now that I think about it, the real problem is that they spend so much time trying to impress us with how "brainy" it is in the first place, instead of focusing more on the plot.

There's also the fact that it advertises itself as an upbeat action show, but doesn't actually do anything that could be considered "upbeat" or "actiony."

It's a bit slow and can get stuck a bit in a "tell, don't show" mode.   But I think this happens in any Sci-fi series that takes a realistic approach.  I guess the only way around that would be a tad more "slice of life" stuff, but that still isn't going to move the plot much faster.

I'd like to say they could move a bit faster through the Light Novels, but there's like 0 information on the novels in English, except the fact they exist and the anime adaptation was announced with the release of Volume 1.  Which might be part of the problem.

[Major Tom]

An infodump episode.  I'm curious as to why this ship is so important, outside of historical significance.  Maybe it's just me, but the Chamberlain's 'everybody is all right' thing sounded totally like code talk to me.  Nothing much more to add, other than I hope that isn't a new ED I was hearing there.  It sounds so.....generic as compared to the other one.

[leokiko.]

The build-up must pay-off later in the series, otherwhise this anime won't be better than just ''average''.

[Rachellular]

9:

I miss the old ending so much! As many other people have made clear, I'm waiting for more action!

[TypicalIdiotFan]

9:

Drumming my fingers on my desk here.  I still have faith this blows up eventually, but the wait is growing tedious.

[Fumoffu!!]

10:

The pacing is slow, but I have to say I am thankful that it's being deliberate with the pacing rather than massively procrastinating like Nisemonogatari is. Anyway, I liked the episode, and I am  liking Chiaki more and more, the pretending to be Marika whilst pirating scene was amusing, as was her being a tsundere over her enjoyment of it. the pacing is increasing slightly, but wish it would move faster.

[Rachellular]

10:

I agree that the pacing is still slow and I'm getting antsy. I also really would like to know more about Marika's crew, I know they've introduce them, but I don't care about them yet and I want to.

[SQA]

10:

More of the world.  More strategic thinking and more short-form battles.  I like it.  Just wish it went faster, haha.

This is one of those series that'll be much better when you can watch it all in 1 go.  Then the pacing will feel a lot better.

[leokiko.]

10:

Marika is awesome.

[Major Tom]

I have to say I'm liking the more deliberate pace.  It is working toward something instead of faffing about on side quests and what have you.  Though at the same time:

This is one of those series that'll be much better when you can watch it all in 1 go.  Then the pacing will feel a lot better.

I would very much agree with this.  Having to wait for next week can be somewhat frustrating.  I also an very glad that didn't replace the ED with that pop song we heard last week.

[SQA]

I have to say I'm liking the more deliberate pace.  It is working toward something instead of faffing about on side quests and what have you.  Though at the same time:

This is one of those series that'll be much better when you can watch it all in 1 go.  Then the pacing will feel a lot better.

I would very much agree with this.  Having to wait for next week can be somewhat frustrating.  I also an very glad that didn't replace the ED with that pop song we heard last week.

It's one of those things that doesn't come up enough when talking about anime, really, but some series just don't work so well when you can rush through them, while others work much better.  For as popular as the FMA series are, the first was notorious for losing about 1/2 of its audience by the end of its run.  It's hard to get yourself excited each week to feel worse.  Kind of like how Monster was a rough ride as well.

Mystery & Horror series don't work as well, when you don't have time.  Space Opera-style series work a lot better when you can go through them in chunks.  Moretsu Pirates is definitely in the second group.  Which is part of the reason I'm enjoying it.  It's in no hurry, so you can watch it a day or two later and not quite feel like you're missing out, but you still want to watch it.  Mostly as Marika is a really good study in character development and, shock & horrors, anime characters can think strategically. 

[shiijin]

11: i seriously got lost up until 10 mins in, but since that was intended, i'm going to have to give this ep two thumbs up. i'm very much looking forward to the next episode.

[Fumoffu!!]

11:

Well I though that was pretty good.  The cynic inside of me did question the fact that someone made a glowing gold ships that's 24km long and 11km in diameter. I mean, awesome as it is, I have to wonder at the scale of the production, it's nowhere near Death Star levels, but my god, can you imagine?

I really look forward to the next episode, because firstly it looks like there will be some fighting, and also because the mystery behind what's going on will start to be uncovered.