It has been so long I have no idea which subs I used, possibly Commie for s3 but I genuinely can't remember. I watched the first 2 series back in 2010 and then 3 as it aired in 2012, so forgive me if my memories are in a bit of a haze (ayyy). If I ever decide to rewatch it I will certainly drop you a message.
I will say that I wouldn't have been over reading into anything, think I just accepted that I would be missing some things. Although I would have been following weekly threads on /a/ and I was reading the manga at that time too so I wouldn't have been completely in the dark. I do remember people complaining quite bit at the time, not that it's ever different with light novel adaptations.
Season 1 - 235k
Season 2 - 167k
Season 3 - 106k
Those are the completion figures from MAL. That's quite a big drop off but I suppose it correlates with a change in popular trends.
I wouldn't read too much into that extremely common trend. Seriously, just watch even a series of the same video split into parts by Youtubers and it steadily declines too. That's just the nature of man.
And, honestly, I really don't care what numbers say. How popular something is means nothing to me, even if I'm the only person in the world who appreciates it the way I do.
I only want things I feel passionate about to get further exposure, hence my post that started it.
Hmm, sounds like the free subs. To be honest, each version gives me a wholly different experience, and that's not a good thing.
The dub is a joke and a mess. Pass.
The free subs are tricky because Shana to me is a well-oiled machine and every line has to be in place, otherwise things start falling off.
When I started it, I got the season 1 boxset from a friend and naturally wanted to see more, but didn't know where to find them. I got into 2 pretty quick but midway, I was losing interest, much to my shock.
I stopped and then found official DVDs with the subs I was used to from 1 and suddenly, no more issues. Even my second time. It was those free subs sort of mistranslating a line or two here or there, or just making some details incredibly hard to understand.
The "Psalm of the Grand Order" is a very important thing in the story, and I recall the free subs instead using its Japanese name, which already sounded similar to just "The Grand Order" (IE, not the Unrestricted Method of it, the Psalm) and from that alone, you're gonna get real confused. Just one of many things like that.
See, when I watch stuff, I love knowing the how's and why everything is happening. If I just accepted any old thing, then there are no rules and no stakes and that's boring for me. But that's just how I watch anime.
But if you want an example of how complicated and in-depth Shana is, look at these characters. Their roles are the same in both the anime and light novel, as are their introductions and everything else.
But the light novel also crafted a massive backstory for them, which basically set up the rules and why they are, where they are, etc, are all explained from this. It adds to world, even though these characters were barely in... 5 episodes, despite being so critical to the story:
https://shakugan.wikia.com/wiki/The_Four_Gods_of_Earth
Take a gander. This depth is the reason I love this series. That story could be its own anime itself.
Forget Star Wars, this is a show that could actually have a cinematic universe on its entire lore, world, and characters.