The Snowy Manga Discussion Thread

[Super_Boom]

*rolls around Cloud's thread*

Finally caught up on Shokugeki no Soma after mentioning it for a few months straight. I'll have weekly updates on it now...but while it's still fresh on the mind, I thought I'd bring up my overall impressions. Spoilers added as needed.

 

• The MC starts really annoying, essentially one-upping everyone, winning every fight in some way, and only taking 'losses' that no reader will honestly read as a loss. Over time, he becomes a lot more interesting, when the limits of his motivations become a focus, and he becomes more of a support for other characters as they begin to get development.
• Some of the best art I've ever seen in a Jump manga...or most manga really. The way the characters are drawn, shading, detail, etc. It really blows me away. I liked it so much, I even re-read the long portions I already saw in the anime.
• The story is known for characters giving orgasm faces after trying out different foods. I certainly don't complain, since most of the girls are extremely attractive, but this definitely feels out of place at times. Still, the author(s) seem to mock the trope itself on occasion, which is pretty amusing.
• The food fights are rather predictable, even for this genre (or the actual genre of the series). The food explanations are interesting...but a lot of it flies over my head, and I'm forced to take the manga's word for it. This is a little annoying over long fights, especially when it's obvious who is going to win, and I'm just waiting on the manga to explain how it makes sense. I'd much rather focus on the characters interacting.
• I like the cast a lot in this. Only a few characters I genuinely dislike (bar characters that are written to be hated). The interactions of the main group of friends seems extremely natural, and the comedy they bring is great. 
• Story takes a very...different turn around chapter 135 or so with the introduction of Azami Nakiri. Wouldn't go so far as to say, but the sudden betrayals, political agendas, and corruption give it a much different feel from the first 100 chapters. Interesting political subtext...if that's what the author was going for.
• Erina's focus arc takes a long time to get to, given that she's the female lead, but once it's given...wow. Easily my favorite character in the story. The supposedly pampered princess definitely had more pain in her past than any other character.  
• Ties into above...but Soma/Erina is definitely my OTP. Not only because it fits best thematically...but because their interactions are easily a high point among the rest of the cast. Don't really dislike any of the other ships with members of the soft harem...other than Mayu, the childhood friend girl that appears once every 100 chapters or so. Ryou/Alice, Ibusaki/Ryoko, and Marui/Yuki are my current side-ships.
• The Elite 10 are fun characters for the most part, especially Rindou and Tsukasa. They also take a unique turn though...basically becoming the Shichibukai over time, with several talented chefs removed to ensure the entire group aligns with their headmaster's ideals. Interesting, as it means that the Elite 10 are no longer the ten greatest chefs...but rather the ten greatest chefs that are willing to serve the World Government Central.
• Hayama's descent was foreshadowed...but after it actually happened, I can't help but think it was a bit lacking. It's pretty obvious he's not a vilain, he's only supporting Azami out of necessity. 

 

Overall...I enjoy it a lot, despite what it is. The characters are really what the series lives through, even if they don't get as much focus as I'd like. We'll see how my opinion changes as I read it weekly...and the padding becomes more and more apparent.