Final Impressions / First Impressions / Retrospective Look

Retrospective Look – June 2011

With Kiiragi’s recent departure, I figured I’d better take part in this season-end monthly post so that there isn’t a sharp decline in the amount of shows being discussed. Some readers also expressed interest in hearing my thoughts on the shows that I’m only watching (a good 16 of them), so it was now or never if I was going to say anything about them at all. Of the 30 shows I was personally watching, 22 of them concluded this month. Along with Prooof and Takaii’s input, this is a hefty post full of final impressions. I hope you find it insightful in some way.

Changes since last month are as follows:

  • Prooof dropped Nichijou.
  • Takaii is behind on Deadman Wonderland, Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko, and Hidan no Aria.

    • Note: Once again, please be considerate of others who may be interested in picking up a series after reading about it here by placing discussion of any major spoilers in <spoiler></spoiler> tags. There will be little to no tolerance for anyone intentionally spoiling the enjoyment of others.

    Final Impressions / First Impressions / GOSICK

    GOSICK – 24 (END)

    「死神の肩越しに永遠をみる」 (Shinigami no Katagoshi ni Eien o Miru)
    “Looking at Eternity over the Grim Reaper’s Shoulder”

    This was a finale that played it straight. It quickly tied up all its remaining loose ends, set the stage for the timeskip, and ended it with the classic “and they lived happily ever after.” After a little thought, I think that’s satisfactory enough.

    Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko / Final Impressions / First Impressions

    Denpa Onna to Seishun Otoko – 11, 12 (END)

    「今年の夏はバスケと超能力と布団と天体観測と祭りと野球と女々たんと」 (Kotoshi no Natsu wa Basuke to Chōnōryoku to Futon to Tentai Kansoku to Matsuri to Yakyū to Meme-tan to)
    “This Summer is about Basketball and Espers and Futons and Astronomical Observations and Festivals and Baseball and Meme and…”

    I was expecting a more extravagant two-episode finale, which would include the festival that was supposed to come after the baseball game, but it didn’t happen. Instead, what gave the appearance of “closure” that finales typically ensemble was a focus on Niwa, our romantically indecisive protagonist.

    C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control / Final Impressions / First Impressions

    C: The Money of Soul and Possibility Control – 11 (END)

    「Control（未来）」 (Mirai)
    “Future”

    Perhaps the crisis became so severe that the situation of the Financial Districts leaked out to the general public, but I’m not sure why the news media are reporting on C when only entres and certain organizations are aware of Midas money and Financial Districts.

    Anohana / Final Impressions / First Impressions

    Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae wo Boku-tachi wa Mada Shiranai. – 11 (END)

    「あの夏に咲く花」 (Ano Natsu ni Saku Hana)
    “The Flower Blooming on That Summer”

    Two weeks ago, I dreamt up Anohana’s finale. It was completely random and unexpected. Sadly, I also completely forgot about it, and I wish I hadn’t. Partly because it would’ve been hilarious to write about here, and interesting to compare it to the finale we’ve come to today. Such a storm of tears with the emotional weight of a freight train has inevitably left me battered, like the stillness you experience when your mind is still processing a shock, and it takes a little while just to take it all in. But you know what? They pulled it off. They really did.

    Final Impressions / First Impressions / Retrospective Look

    Retrospective Look – April 2011

    I wasn’t planning to take part in the monthly posts during my break, but I figured I should at least chime in for this April one since it coincides with the start of the new season. Whether or not I’ll be taking part in the later ones this season is up in the air at the moment.

    That said, I should also point out that this Retrospective Look is being published later than we would’ve liked due to all the writers’ personal schedules, meaning there’s a bit of overlap with May. Most of us have already watched the latest episodes from this past week, but the impressions below only include episodes that aired up to and including Sunday, May 1st. The one exception is Moshidora, since it made more sense to talk about all ten episodes in one go. Please refer to the episode numbers if there’s any confusion as to which episodes are being discussed.

    As per the updated season schedules, the included schedule now provides a quick overview of which writer is watching what series, in addition to the total number of shows being watched for each writer in the legend.

    For this April edition in particular, other changes compared to last month are listed below.

  • Takaii put GOSICK on hold.

    • Note: Once again, please be considerate of others who may be interested in picking up a series after reading about it here by placing discussion of any major spoilers in <spoiler></spoiler> tags. There will be little to no tolerance for anyone intentionally spoiling the enjoyment of others.

    Final Impressions / First Impressions / Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica

    Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica – 11, 12 (END)

    「最後に残った道しるべ」 (Saigo ni Nokotta Michishirube)
    “The Only Way Left”

    In a world where the final outcome will always be one where someone loses, no one will ever feel that they have completely won. It’s that feeling that pushes certain individuals to strive and move toward finding that one possible solution to conquer a never ending vicious circle.