Tsubasa Cat, Part Five
So Bakemonogatari, after winning the award for epic waits for new episodes, has finally finished! I agree with anime fans who say Bakemonogatari is overrated, but it's just so much fun to watch, I've enjoyed the whole series, and the final episode delivered the same enjoyment as always (though I do agree with fans who say that episode 12 would have been better ending). For anyone who hasn't watched it, I recommend giving it a try - it's a fairly consistent anime, so once you've watched the first episode if you don't enjoy it drop it because it's going to be more of the same...those who enjoy the first episode it will most likely enjoy the whole series for the same reason. Overall, I would give the series a solid 7/10 - Senjougahara steals every scene she appears in, it's not often that a character makes a show worth watching but she certainly does.
Anyway, some random thoughts on the final episode (I warn you: there will be exclamation points, many exclamation points):
* my love my passion won't stop / at least let my heart be by your side / cause i'm not the angel you think i am / my radiant feelings are really gremlins. I liked the opening song ("sugar sweet nightmare" by Yui Horie), but hated the visuals. Bad cosplay hurts my soul. Also, I agree with people who say leave the 3d out of 2d.
* All the hair flying around in the wind moments...PRETTY. The atmosphere was deliciously dark and gloomy at the start of the episode.
* I will certainly kill you. Ok, so the bakeneko is one sexy badass kitty-cat, but I swear, I never want to hear another lame 'nya haaahaaa' again!
* I liked the black & white moments. Visually, there's a nice 'softness' to them.
* There must be some other source of stress! No, it was only you. Hanekawa *insert sad face here. Unrequinted love is tough, isn't it? You can't change human feelings. The heart wants what the heart wants! This episode made me really feel quite sorry for Hanekawa, even though it's pointed out that Hanekawa is the 'obvious' choice for Koyomi, she isn't. In reality quiet good girls like Hanekawa do not get the guy, they generally remain unnoticed while goddess-like creatures (i.e Senjougahara) get the attention. So painting the picture of Senjougahara being the underdog and Hanekawa being the one Koyomi would naturally chose is ridiculous. Yes, Senjougahara's not as 'easy' to get along with as Hanekawa, but that's not something that bothers Koyomi (I think most guys would be more than happy to put up with Senjougahara's tsundere ways). The whole point of Hanekawa being a better choice than Senjougahara was just a ploy by the writers to make Koyomi's love for Senjougahara look strong by making it seem like he was making a choice to love her and everything about her when he could have taken the easy path with Hanekawa. Both the girls are in their own way 'damaged' goods, therefore Hanekawa isn't really the natural easy choice as a girlfriend. If anything, in this situation, the underdog is Hanekawa and it would be amazing for a guy to settle for someone like her when a girl like Senjougahara is the other option. Final thoughts: don't worry Hanekawa, you're really cute and there are other fish in the ocean.
* Ridiculous amounts of blood? Check. *yes, as usual, I couldn't help it, I laughed, seriously, I will never understand why there always has to be an epic amount of blood being sprayed around in anime.
* I appreciated the fact that when the bakeneko was telling the story of how Hanekawa fell for Araragi, the reflection in the mirror of the little girl when she's with her prince is teenage Hanekawa - it was a nice little touch.
* I guess you can say as it is her shadow side, this too comes from Hanekawa. The person I owe my life to. Er, yes, it's very nice of you to offer yourself as a sacrifice for Hanekawa's sake, Araragi, but this is another one of your crazy moments. I mean, really, when your friends treat you badly, you shouldn't just put up with it for their sake, even if you do 'owe' them, and they are going through a hard time - in the long run it's bad for both of you, and bad for the friendship. Araragi - his selfless and endearing behaviour makes me simultaneously like him and think he's an idiot.
* Saying returning a debt to me is more important than our friendship...don't say such depressing things. I really like Hanekawa and Koyomi's friendship, when they see each other after everything and she says 'you're late' and then they have a little chat and say 'good morning' to each other...what a wonderful little moment. I mean, just two words: 'Good Morning' manage to be full of meaning! And even though Koyomi isn't in love with her (I think he would be if he hadn't fallen for Senjougahara first) because of their friendship and his debt to her when the bakeneko was going to kill him he decided it was be ok if it was for Hanekawa because 'I'd do anything for Hanekawa'. And then when he realizes that Senjougahara will kill Hanekawa if he dies he realizes how important it is for him to fight to live...Friendship! It's great stuff.
* Shinobu!!! I seriously hope they make more Bakemonogatari, just so we can see more of Kiss-Shot-Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. We got to see a glimpse of how she used to be, and yeah, I was doing a happy dance. edit: Hurrah Kizumonogatari!
* Because people can only save themselves. But sometimes you have to ask for help. Lesson learned.
* Oshino leaving, sigh. Of course, this had to happen because the mentor always has to leave in order for the student to stand on his/her own two feet. But I can't help but think it was a bit too much of a trail by fire...I mean, um, Araragi could have been killed?! Note to self: do not depend on middle-aged blonde dudes who live in abandoned buildings.
* Araragi's sisters - 1, 2, 3: AWWWWWWWW. Super cute.
* I'm happy that they didn't bother to include Mayoi and Nadeko toward the end, and that it was just Senjougahara, Araragi, Tsubasa and Suruga together. It's not that I dislike Mayoi and Nadeko but...I just don't care about them?!
* Yes. I love everything. There's nothing about her that I don't love. Koyomi/Hitagi - seriously adorable in this episode, LOL RIDING ON A BIKE TOGETHER, an unoriginal yet sweet moment. Honestly, I think a character of Araragi's personality type can go out with nearly any girl and have a decent relationship, but Hitagi needs someone like Araragi, so they work well together as a pairing.
Picspam? Of course! Alas the screencaps/images are not the best quality...also I had sadly had zero success trying to capture Shinobu in action because damn, she's fast!
Anyway, some random thoughts on the final episode (I warn you: there will be exclamation points, many exclamation points):
* my love my passion won't stop / at least let my heart be by your side / cause i'm not the angel you think i am / my radiant feelings are really gremlins. I liked the opening song ("sugar sweet nightmare" by Yui Horie), but hated the visuals. Bad cosplay hurts my soul. Also, I agree with people who say leave the 3d out of 2d.
* All the hair flying around in the wind moments...PRETTY. The atmosphere was deliciously dark and gloomy at the start of the episode.
* I will certainly kill you. Ok, so the bakeneko is one sexy badass kitty-cat, but I swear, I never want to hear another lame 'nya haaahaaa' again!
* I liked the black & white moments. Visually, there's a nice 'softness' to them.
* There must be some other source of stress! No, it was only you. Hanekawa *insert sad face here. Unrequinted love is tough, isn't it? You can't change human feelings. The heart wants what the heart wants! This episode made me really feel quite sorry for Hanekawa, even though it's pointed out that Hanekawa is the 'obvious' choice for Koyomi, she isn't. In reality quiet good girls like Hanekawa do not get the guy, they generally remain unnoticed while goddess-like creatures (i.e Senjougahara) get the attention. So painting the picture of Senjougahara being the underdog and Hanekawa being the one Koyomi would naturally chose is ridiculous. Yes, Senjougahara's not as 'easy' to get along with as Hanekawa, but that's not something that bothers Koyomi (I think most guys would be more than happy to put up with Senjougahara's tsundere ways). The whole point of Hanekawa being a better choice than Senjougahara was just a ploy by the writers to make Koyomi's love for Senjougahara look strong by making it seem like he was making a choice to love her and everything about her when he could have taken the easy path with Hanekawa. Both the girls are in their own way 'damaged' goods, therefore Hanekawa isn't really the natural easy choice as a girlfriend. If anything, in this situation, the underdog is Hanekawa and it would be amazing for a guy to settle for someone like her when a girl like Senjougahara is the other option. Final thoughts: don't worry Hanekawa, you're really cute and there are other fish in the ocean.
* Ridiculous amounts of blood? Check. *yes, as usual, I couldn't help it, I laughed, seriously, I will never understand why there always has to be an epic amount of blood being sprayed around in anime.
* I appreciated the fact that when the bakeneko was telling the story of how Hanekawa fell for Araragi, the reflection in the mirror of the little girl when she's with her prince is teenage Hanekawa - it was a nice little touch.
* I guess you can say as it is her shadow side, this too comes from Hanekawa. The person I owe my life to. Er, yes, it's very nice of you to offer yourself as a sacrifice for Hanekawa's sake, Araragi, but this is another one of your crazy moments. I mean, really, when your friends treat you badly, you shouldn't just put up with it for their sake, even if you do 'owe' them, and they are going through a hard time - in the long run it's bad for both of you, and bad for the friendship. Araragi - his selfless and endearing behaviour makes me simultaneously like him and think he's an idiot.
* Saying returning a debt to me is more important than our friendship...don't say such depressing things. I really like Hanekawa and Koyomi's friendship, when they see each other after everything and she says 'you're late' and then they have a little chat and say 'good morning' to each other...what a wonderful little moment. I mean, just two words: 'Good Morning' manage to be full of meaning! And even though Koyomi isn't in love with her (I think he would be if he hadn't fallen for Senjougahara first) because of their friendship and his debt to her when the bakeneko was going to kill him he decided it was be ok if it was for Hanekawa because 'I'd do anything for Hanekawa'. And then when he realizes that Senjougahara will kill Hanekawa if he dies he realizes how important it is for him to fight to live...Friendship! It's great stuff.
* Shinobu!!! I seriously hope they make more Bakemonogatari, just so we can see more of Kiss-Shot-Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade. We got to see a glimpse of how she used to be, and yeah, I was doing a happy dance. edit: Hurrah Kizumonogatari!
* Because people can only save themselves. But sometimes you have to ask for help. Lesson learned.
* Oshino leaving, sigh. Of course, this had to happen because the mentor always has to leave in order for the student to stand on his/her own two feet. But I can't help but think it was a bit too much of a trail by fire...I mean, um, Araragi could have been killed?! Note to self: do not depend on middle-aged blonde dudes who live in abandoned buildings.
* Araragi's sisters - 1, 2, 3: AWWWWWWWW. Super cute.
* I'm happy that they didn't bother to include Mayoi and Nadeko toward the end, and that it was just Senjougahara, Araragi, Tsubasa and Suruga together. It's not that I dislike Mayoi and Nadeko but...I just don't care about them?!
* Yes. I love everything. There's nothing about her that I don't love. Koyomi/Hitagi - seriously adorable in this episode, LOL RIDING ON A BIKE TOGETHER, an unoriginal yet sweet moment. Honestly, I think a character of Araragi's personality type can go out with nearly any girl and have a decent relationship, but Hitagi needs someone like Araragi, so they work well together as a pairing.
Picspam? Of course! Alas the screencaps/images are not the best quality...also I had sadly had zero success trying to capture Shinobu in action because damn, she's fast!