Well That Was Pointless…

This is a minor spoiler for two second rate shows: Toji no Miko & Megalobox.

What is up with recent anime introducing techniques that the protagonists never use? In Toji no Miko episode 10 protagonist Kanami’s swordsmanship instructor Minato offers to pass on her ultimate technique. Kanami then asks about Minato’s technique of swapping dominant hands. So viewers might naturally anticipate that at some point in the series Kanami will adopt and use this “swapping hand” technique. But in the next 14 episodes she never does. So what was the point of emphasizing it in the first place if it has no significance to the story?

The hot mess Megalobox (it’s gorgeous looking but overflowing with narrative problems) reveals in episode 7 that Joe has developed a new extra powerful punch. Joe specifically says twice in the episode that his next opponent won’t be expecting the new technique. Then in his next bout, in episode 9, Joe literally says that he’s going to use a punch that he hasn’t used in a match before. But he doesn’t use his new extra powerful punch. In fact, he never uses it throughout the remainder of the series. So what was the point of scenes in two different episodes referring to a technique that has no relevance to the story?