Random Curiosity

Summary:
Soifon fires her bankai at Barragan, resulting in a large explosion that sends both her and Omaeda flying backwards. Even with a steel sash anchoring her, Soifon is unable to withstand the blast, and Omaeda barely manages to save her from crashing into a building. Nearby, Starrk releases his Resurrecion, Los Lobos, and reveals that he and Lilynette are part of each other.

「“二人”ということ」 (“Futari” to Iu Koto)
“What It Means To Be a ‘Pair’”

Finally some Opast level action! After the slow change of pace with Yuki getting settled into his new life with the Giou clan, I was looking forward to seeing exactly what a high level battle in this series entails.

「#13」

GOAAALLL!!! E-T-U! Ra ra ra! E-T-U! Ra ra ra! … KIMATTA!!

「13 BRIDGE」

With the announcement of a second season following the airing of this finale, SHAFT’s taken the opportunity to introduce some of the other characters they opted not to earlier on.

「デートと言う名の”決戦”、小鳥遊と伊波のそれから…」 (Deeto to Iu Na no “Kessen”, Takanashi to Inami no Sore kara…)
“Takanashi and Inami in the So-Called “Decisive Battle” of a Date…”

Better late than never I guess, as Matsumoto Maya (Kawase Akiko) finally gets some screen time and lines in the final episode.

「つばさキャット其ノ伍」 (Tsubasa Kyatto Sono Go)
“Tsubasa Cat Part 5″

It was delayed enough times for me to stop caring when it would come out, but SHAFT finally got around to airing the last episode of the Bakemonogatari anime. Remember six months ago when everyone voted it as the best anime of 2009? Well, this series probably should’ve been saved for 2010 consideration given how late this aired.

「扉の向こう側」 (Tobira no Mukou Gawa)
“The Other Side of The Gate”

With the fight against Father looking like it was pretty much settled last time, I wasn’t expecting Greed to get pulled back into the fray for his philosopher’s stone. More so than that, Greed tricking Ling into giving up on the fruitless struggle so that he can play hero was something I really didn’t foresee.

「饗宴・砦ノ戦争」 (Kyouen – Toride no Sensou)
“Banquet – The Fortress War”

The only thing better than trumpet girls playing war are DRUNK trumpet girls playing war! And in 1080p no less, in this first of two DVD/Blu-ray only episodes.

「バカと不良とヒーローと」 (Baka to Furyou to Hiiroo to)
“An Idiot, A Delinquent, and A Hero”

Oh how the mighty have fallen. To think that the once renowned and feared “Tornado White Demon” of Seisen Middle School would become nothing more than the happy-go-lucky “Shiro-yan” after entering high school.

「Graduation」

The graduation ceremony was down to the five shown in the preview last time, but that didn’t take away from the bittersweetness of it all. Surprisingly, I managed to hold the waterworks back this entire finale, though I felt a little of it coming on during Otonashi’s valedictorian speech.

「失礼つかまつった」 (Shitsurei Tsukamatsutta)
“Pardon My Rudeness”

Durarara may have just concluded, but Souji’s revelation of Yaichi’s past with the Bakuro gang had me more shocked and on the edge of my seat than that finale. The reason being that the Yaichi we know now is nothing like the Seinoshin of the past.

「則天去私」 (Sokuten Kyoshi)
“Selfless Devotion”

Good eye to those who caught Kadota easily infiltrating the ranks of Horada’s Blue Square revival last time, as he and the other Dollars members lying in wait totally crashed the party.

Horohorohorohorohorohorohoro~