User blog comment:RemidoDosol/Subjective Standpoints: The Raildex Animes/@comment-17714224-20140516155009/@comment-70.160.142.139-20140516185004

Their options may seem similar, but the context in which it's applied is what makes them different. It really is just mostly a matter of preference. While the two series share the same setting and author, the flow and focus are complete opposites of each other.

Railgun is a linear story that primarily focuses on the main protagonist. The story presents Misaka Mikoto as an important and powerful individual within the setting. All of the events within Railgun connect back to her in some way or form to help build her character. The Slice of Life portions of the Railgun anime helped cement the fact that this is her importance within the narrative by following her daily life. There is clear flow of events and no complicated details that makes the story much easier to follow than Index.

The reason Railgun can be seen as “ boring, with no direction or purpose to keep it going” is due to the Slice of Life portions and the fact Mikoto is not really an important character in the grand scheme of things.

Index is a expansive story woven together with small details that primarily focuses on the world around the main protagonist. Until late in the series, Touma was never really considered an important individual within his world and even with his special right hand. The story begins by showing how vast the world is outside the walls of Academy City. Index was his gateway to the occult world and what allowed him involve himself with affairs beyond Academy City. There is much more to the world than the little bubble Mikoto lives in.

The reason Index can be seen as “ boring, incoherent plot with no direction in the story” is due to how all the beginning arcs give the impression that the series is just using the“Monster of The Week” format to move along.