Uchu no Stellvia 26 (Final) |
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There was a lot of ground to cover in the end, with the resolution of the story and a nice "where are they now?" sequence, so the episode was pretty fast-paced. But as far as final episodes go, it was a satisfying conclusion to the series. The high points include finally learning something about Arisa's background and seeing everyone a little bit older.
Before Stellvia began airing back in April, I had little interest in the show. But, I didn't know much about it, either. After reading Jasconius' favorable review of the first episode, I decided to give it a try. I was impressed enough to continue, and as the show hit its stride, it quickly became my favorite of the season.
Throughout its run, there were some things that annoyed me, such as the unusual character designs and occasional weak animation. The story, however, was compelling - even if the basic premise wasn't terribly original. And the large cast of characters that grew and matured over the course of the series were always a joy to watch. While the show was clearly about Shima first and foremost, it benefited from having a true ensemble cast, all with their own stories. It almost makes you wish for a sequel.
I'm sad to see Uchu no Stellvia end, but it was a satisfying experience. It may never be considered a classic, but it'll remain a personal favorite for some time.
Exciting episode. And, as expected, something bad happens.
Now, I'd expect a positive resolution of everything in the final episode, but anime can be a little unpredictable, so we'll just have to wait and see.
This episode was kind of all over the place. Unfortunately, it wasn't all that great, either. Several plot threads were tied up, but far too sudden and conveniently - practically killing the tension that's set the mood for the second half of the series.
I would be expecting a plain vanilla ending now, but with a full four episodes left, I would hope there's still a twist or two to come. If anything, the unpleasantness between Shima and Kouta still demands resolution.
I'm actually a little surprised that the show continues to focus on the "unpleasantness" between Shima and Kouta. It does add another layer of tension to the story, though.
There's a big twist at the very end of the episode that confirms some suspicions I've had for awhile concerning a certain character. As a result, things just got a hell of a lot more interesting.
Wow. The series looks to be building to an explosive finale. A few items of interest...
I enjoyed seeing more of Rinna. She had yet to get much attention since returning to Stellvia. Also, it's nice to see more of the kinder, gentler Ayaka.
Overall, a very solid episode, laying the foundation (no pun intended) for how the series will end. With most shows that mix teenage characters and apocalyptic themes, you often end up with angst galore. But Stellvia continues to chart a different course. Despite what's looming, the characters remain optimistic. It's a sort of grim optimism, but optimism nonetheless.
Shima spends the majority of the episode feeling sorry for herself, and drags everyone else down in the process.
Arisa gets a lot of attention, though. And her behavior throughout the episode leaves me curious about her backstory. It's been hinted at here and there that she's not very close with her family, but very little has actually been explained. It would be interesting to know why she's so overprotective of Shima. In other words, I suspect Arisa's got issues.
Anyway, next episode looks to be lighter fare.
Watch Shima get depressed...
This was really a great episode, though. It's probably due to everyone being back on Stellvia, since the group dynamic of the main characters is a big part of what makes the show such a joy to watch. Of course, the tension that's been building for several episodes still remains, so despite the smiles and the laughter, everything still seems a little grim.
And, obviously, Shima suddenly has issues. Considering her quick and unexpected ascent, however, it shouldn't come as any surprise that she'd have trouble at some point.
Attack of the space station snatching jellyfish!
Stellvia's been growing more and more serious lately, and now it's starting to get weird. All very interesting, but for some reason, this episode seemed sloppy to me - especially the action sequences.
Nice to see Ayaka back in good form, though.
Uchu no Stellvia began airing prior to the launch of the anime blog.
I intend to blog the missing episodes once the R1 DVD release catches up to the point at which I started.
