I often see people hoping that anime creators don’t pull an anime original ending and adapt their source material faithfully, but this would really have been a case in which the series would have been better off with an anime original closure: just have a battle between everyone, like what was set up in the previous episode, and have those battles resolve everything. I really would not have minded the few questions that would be left after that (like Reiga’s motivation, or how Luka and Yuki met).
Instead, Yuki starts glowing and forces everyone to retreat with some last minute slapped on powers in which he suddenly has the powers to completely eradicate the darkness and make people realize their mistakes. Um, where did that come from? On top of being a bit too close to a Deus ex Machina for comfort, this episode also introduced a rather large plothole in Reiga’s reasoning.
Because in this episode Reiga also claims that he kidnapped Yuki because he believes that Yuki’s light has the power to make his darkness stronger. A bit silly at first, but I guess that in terms of symbolism when you combine light and dark with yin and yang, it makes sense. If it weren’t for the fact that that theory completely backfired when Yuki turned on his god-mode. And survives with pretty much the same exhaustion as the other times in which his powers went out of control.
So no, I can’t call this ending good. It didn’t do what it was supposed to, it hardly resolved anything, and it failed to use the build-up that the previous episodes worked so hard for to set up. For an ending of a series that was hoping for a second season that’s never going to come, I’d call this one average, though: it didn’t ruin itself, it did neatly to prepare for the second season (that is never going to come), and the final fight before Yuki flipped out was excellent.
I can see the potential of a power that shows everyone their mistakes. A second season would have been able to do neat things with that. However, there is no way in hell that that second season will arrive. As a result, we’re stuck with a Deus ex Machina ending. Such a shame, considering how this series was doing so well. Unfortunately, this series couldn’t fully follow in Kobato’s footsteps.
Rating: – (Disappointing)
Disappointing indeed.
The first half was pretty good but then they just went “oh holysuper light” and suddenly everyone was back at home, presenting us a boring aftermath.
I mean, nothing against that aftermath, it is nice to see how they have all changed and how they will move on from now…. but it was simply completely out of place here!
It almost felt as if they skipped a whole episode or two in between Yuki’s superlight and that aftermath.
(I suppose he didn’t get killed by that because it wasn’t the holy wall but another power of his. And he had Luca with him, so maybe he absorbed some of the damage or something like that.)
I would have loved to see a bit more fight or at least would have liked to actually SEE what was happening because of it! Some reaction, some result! But so it seems just like a super-teleport and that’s it.
Especially as there is no reason given as to why Reiga wouldn’t just follow them right away or why he shouldn’t attack at all the next time.
That light could at least have weakened him or something like that. (Well, it probably did, as he is half Duras, but it isn’t shown at all!)
All in all I think this series would have been so much better with 26 episodes than with only 24.
They could have made that final fight as awesome as it promised to be with all the build-up and THEN could have gone for their “let’s see what’ll happen in the future” aftermath ad ending.
*sighs*
Like this it just felt like there was something huge missing.
Which is kind of sad because this series really improved throughout its run and I really LOVED the second half.
But well, I won’t let those last 15 minutes ruin this seies for me. All in all it was still awesome and I really can’t wait to read the manga volumes which contain this part of the story (and its real continuation).
I really liked the second half with the character interactions outside of their respective partners. It was really endearing. ^_^ And the CG all throughout was just gorgeous, especially the red sky and the railing where Luka and Yuki were talking.
Hmmm loved the anime… but gotta say the last episode was fail! The ending seemed a little rushed.
I agree with Moonhawk though. There was such a build up and for some really rushed episode. It could have been done better. All I remember was some halo wall thing but it’s meant to be stronger than the first one and then next thing you know Yuki is lying in bed and it’s peace? PEACE? That’s just ludicrous! 😛
Anyone reckon there will be a second season? Or is it “the end” but find out by reading the rest of the manga or just curtains all together? :S