As far as endings go, this was rather anti-climactic. Still, Yumi and Sachiko's "resolution" scene was absolutely beautiful. A little rushed, but beautiful nonetheless.

It remains to be seen if yet another season of Maria-sama ga Miteru will air at some point in the future. The franchise has proved mildly successful, and there's more than enough source material available, so here's hoping we'll see more soon enough. Like so many other fans, I'll be waiting.

The poor guy's gonna get hit by a car.

I'm assuming Sachiko's behavior these past couple of episodes has not been without reason, but even then, she's going to have a hard time redeeming herself. Touko's pretty much a lost cause, though...

OK, so Touko probably has her reasons, too. Don't spoil my fun, please.

Yumi's looking up heading into the final episode, at least. Speaking of which, the next episode preview was absolutely delightful. Rosa Foetida en bouton Ranger!

Over the meandering course of the story, there have been moments when you're left wondering if Yumi will finally let her emotions truly get the best of her, breaking the stoic public facade - which I doubt anyone is falling for - and expressing her feelings vocally. And yet, now that she's finally done so, she continues to mind her surroundings and even the feelings of those who - in her eyes, at least - dare to hurt her, stopping short of putting everyone in their (rightful?) place.

If she keeps this up, she's gonna need a shrink.

I guess Maria-sama ga Miteru is little more than an animated soap opera, but some episodes fit that role better than others - this being an excellent example. It's the show at its best: character development, with a dash of character development, all served up with a heaping side of character development.

And since Yoshino is my favorite of the girls, I'm more than happy to see a story told from her point of view. She's gotten so little love this season.

Is Shimako really that dense? Did she not pay attention in the scene prior to the opening credits? Sachiko isn't exactly the master of subtlety, you know.

Nor is Rei very lady-like.

Anyway, I guess this wraps up the Shimako-Noriko arc of the story. Next episode, looks like Rei and Yoshino will be in the spotlight. With only a few episodes left, I'm assuming the focus will then shift back to Sachiko and Yumi. Oh, and Touko. Lord knows, we can't forget her.

Perhaps Touko is useful after all. But I still don't like her.

So far, the second season has been doing excellent work in the character development department. Shimako's been in the spotlight, of course, but we're learning a little more about Yumi - and her weaknesses - with time. That, and Sachiko is finally coming into her own as the glue that holds it all together.

I really like Noriko. As for Touko, I eagerly await the day Yoshino and Yumi jump her behind the Rose Mansion tool shed. And I don't mean in the shoujo-ai sense.

It can be difficult at times to explain the true appeal of this show. The key, I believe, is in the complexities of the storytelling. Anime has a tendency to cling to simple themes and seasoned plotlines, so when a show takes the time to develop a story and characters in a careful, thoughtful manner more befitting of fine literature, it stands out among the crowd. Of course, given how Maria-sama ga Miteru has its roots in a series of novels, I guess I shouldn't be at all surprised.

In essence, episodes such as this one are the reason I love the show. The characters and the stories that bind them have so much depth that you're left surfacing for air in the end. It's a rare treat.

When you think about it, the structure of this series is a bit unusual, what with the graduation of the seniors occurring halfway into the second season rather than at the end of the first. From a character development standpoint, however, it works - especially in Yumi's case. She's grown up quite a bit over the past five episodes.

Lots of great moments in this episode. I'm glad Sei is sticking around - she brings out the best in Yumi (and vice versa).

I wonder how many more episodes will pass before graduation? It's not that I'm ready to see Sei, Youko, and Eriko out of the picture; it's just that, until the three graduate, Yumi and Sachiko's relationship will probably continue to stagnate. That, and I'm looking forward to meeting the new characters.

I'm not sure if the scene where Yumi faints from exhaustion while standing at the blackboard was intended to elicit laughter or not, but something about the screeching of the chalk as she collapsed left me in stitches. I guess that's a testament to the show's oft dry humor.

So far, it would appear this season is following the template of the first, focusing on simple stand-alone stories to start, eventually giving way to longer, meatier story arcs that provide real insight into each character's personality. Sachiko's "transformation", ignited by her relationship with Yumi and the events of the first season's final episodes, seems to be receiving more attention this time around. That makes sense, of course. Along with Yumi, Sachiko is the leading lady of the story.

The first season had some silly filler stories, but this one takes the cake. That's not to say the silliness isn't entertaining, however.

And who would have thought the brother of Rosa Foetida played for the New York Giants? I guess Major League Baseball wasn't enough...

The long-awaited second season begins! And by "long-awaited", I mean three months. I'm impatient, it seems.

Anyway, the second season looks to be more of the same good stuff. The old cast has returned, of course, and it appears a couple of new characters will join in the future. This initial episode, however, is mostly an opportunity to get reacquainted with the old bunch. I don't want to call it a recap, because it's not; however, it doesn't do much to get any new storylines going. I figure that'll come with the second episode.

Even though I'm tickled pink (hey, it's shoujo...I have to get in the proper mindset) having more Maria-sama ga Miteru, I do have one complaint: the vocal version of the OP theme? Horrid. My ears bleed.