As far as the anime is concerned, nothing unexpected has transpired, especially since it was a gimmick introductory episode. If you are a fan of the girls, you are just happy to see Haruka riding her bicycle. If you are not a fan, plese read Aroduc's account and be content. He covered the essential outsider's view, with perhaps insignificant factual imperfections (e.g. there was BGM coming and going as appropriate).

As predicted, A-1's artwork is not up to the expecations. Maybe they should do some Aquateen Hunger Force for the American TV. All they need for that is thicker confining lines. But there is no use to cry about it.

Bluemist tweets:

t1: The IDOLM@STER 1: Probably the best first episode I've ever watched in any anime. All characters properly introduced, even characterized.
t2: The best part is the "What is an Idol for you?". You just totally knew what the girl was about based on their answer. GENIUS WRITING THERE.

In case you think he's trolling, here's the third one:

t3: @thaliarchus If this 'real' idolmaster anime would turn out to be very good maybe I'll retroactively watch Xenoglossia.

Woa. Also, Twitter destroyed animeblogging.

Speaking of "what's idol for you" characterizations, there was something cartoonish or artificial about them... But on second thought perhaps I cannot forgive them how gloomy and formal Chihaya's was, despite its length. We knew more about her from her handling of iPhone! BTW, she's put a little piece of "Relations" in, and I do suspect that it's her original recording from CDs just mixed in. This is the closest anyone comes to an insert in the whole episode, I think. Although, it's a glass half-full thing.

Evirus (twitter killed animeblogging):

t0: Chihaya > Ritsuko > Miki > *

I really need to rewatch it, my raw powers were insufficient to parse Chihaya's long speech properly.

CORRECTION: Of course it was "Aoi Tori" that Chihaya was singing, not "Relations". I don't know what possessed me to mis-identify it as "Relations". What a lapse.