Now that was an ending. Here I was, worried the show was going to disappoint in the end, but instead, it provides a better ending than I could have ever hoped for. I should've known better.

Anyway, there's no lack of resolution, with practically the entire cast making at least a brief appearance in the end. There's even a touch of new drama thrown in to keep you on your toes. Thankfully, it doesn't amount to much, but my heart skipped a beat nonetheless.

In the end, there's a feeling that, despite the resolution, life goes on. Yet, whatever may come to pass, the characters are all connected to each other in some way - through good or bad, fortune or misfortune - and even as they embark on new journeys, those connections continue to have lasting impact on each and every one of their lives. Such seems to be the show's primary theme, and it's unique in that it's not presented in a particularly rosy fashion. That is, along the way, bad things have happened to people: they've been hurt, killed, or forced to watch the ones they care for most suffer. The journey was difficult.

What a wonderful show - one of the best of recent years! There were times it wandered and times the story seemed unfocused, but it always found a way to tie everything together. What seemed a simple slice-of-life show in the beginning became so much more with each episode, building to an incredible finale, somehow telling the connected stories of so many people along the way.

It may sound cliché, but I'll say it anyway: we need more shows like Planetes.

I've just finished watching the anime myself. And I have to say, i was also kind of expecting the worst from the way the previous episode was turning

The life goes on ending has indeed been done many times, but here it was so fitting. Started as a 'slice-of-life' and ended similar.

Great ending.. and despite some of the up and downs along the way, an amazing ride throughout the series.

I concur completely! This show, without a doubt, is one of the best I've ever seen. Despite the slow pacing at the beginning, it's down extremely well! I was expecting a dreadful ending (especially after ep.24), but I agree, more shows need to be like Planetes!

I never got around to checking this out when it was airing, but since its done I decided to grab a batch torrent of the entire thing. Though its being rather slow.

I'm looking forward to seeing this show, since I've heard nothing but good things about it.

The Anime really outdid what I expected from a manga adaption. The Final Ep is so fulfilling, that I've watched it over 5 times in a single day! ^_^

Gawd, Ai's answer of 'He promised to came back' is probably what the wife of any soldier at war would have said, thus making it most appropriate. The adaption was so good, I really felt that the Anime's Ai is a much better and deeper character than in the Manga! (Including Hachimaki as well).

If only there were more shows like this...

Yes. Omg this was a really good anime. One of the best I've ever seen actually. And btw. Does anyone know the title of the (ending) song in the last episode?

Planetes by Hitomi? You can find it in OST2.
That song was also used in ep.24 too, I think

> we need more shows like Planetes.

Maybe "Infinite Revyus" and "S-cry-ed" can
be a choice. Both were directed by G.Taniguchi,
director of Planetes and written by Y.Kuroda,
writer of "Gungrave". (character designer is
H.Hirai who designed Gundam SEED).