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Ath said:
Gargantia 13

NOOOOOOOOOO CHAAAAAAAAAMBERRRR!!!! :cry:

I really did like the execution of this final episode, though the resolution did feel a bit rushed. It was largely very satisfying though, and Chamber's role was brilliant.

As for the series on the whole, I thought it came out the gates blisteringly as the strongest series of the season. Episode 4 in particular I thought was emotional and very effective. Episode 5 brought the momentum crashing to a halt with a completely pointless episode that just felt like a complete waste of time. This was further exacerbated when Episode 6 accomplished what 5 was trying to do much more effectively. With this being such a short series, that wasted episode could have been used for so much more. The next few episodes were a lot stronger, and I thought the backstory of the Hideauze was very well done, if a little forced. My main problem was that a lot of attention was suddenly given to characters who weren't developed enough previously for me to be invested in their story (Ridget) or who I just didn't give a toss about in the first place (Pinion). As a result it didn't feel like it was reaching the heights it did at the beginning. Having said that, I thought Gargantia pulled itself together for the finale brilliantly.

Ledo and his character development throughout was the highlight for me, I found his arc very believable and compelling. His relationship with Chamber in particular was the heart and soul of Gargantia for me. The setting of Gargantia itself was stunningly realised and the series did a terrific job of world-building. Amy I liked a lot, but she felt under utilised, especially towards the latter half, which is a shame as Ledo's interactions with her and her little brother were real bright points. When the action occured, it was well executed, especially towards the end.

Overall, while I didn't think Gargantia completely fulfilled the promise of its first 4 episodes, it was still a wonderful sci-fi anime in its own right and I am very glad that I watched it.
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Agree with your summary of the series. Chamber really was awesome in the finale, the speech about Ledo having learned to act independently as a human was brilliant.

One minor complaint I have about Gargantia is that the picture quality on Crunchyroll's 720p streams seemed pretty lousy for some of the later episodes. Hope the series gets licensed for a BD release outside of Japan, as I'd love to watch it in proper HD quality.
 
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Attack on Titan 12-13 - Episode 12 played out exactly as i thought it would, but it was soo slow in doing so. But in saying that, the soundtrack usage was once again superb. If there is one thing that can be said for titan, it's that regardless of the pacing or entertainment, the soundtrack is excellent. 13 was great though, and closes it up well for the break. I'm still not happy with episode 14 being a recap when, you know, every episode we get about 2-3 minutes of recap in the first place. However the next episode preview was fairly sweet in that, it didn't show scenes from the show, it showed off cells and original sketches.

Gargantia 13 - A great finish to a very good show. The final episode felt really nice, and the interaction between chamber and ledo was a joy to watch as it has for the entire show. While Ath didn't like 5-6, i actually felt 9-10 was the low point of the series. They where good, but there was a few choices i had issues with making Pinion somewhat antagonistic wasn't needed and while i liked seeing the story of the hideauze, it was a bit pushed in.. I think i'll stick to what i said in that, if they had maybe added one more episode into that segment, it wouldn't feel so jam packed and more naturally flowing. Again, it pulled back from there on and the end was great.

The other thing i feel i want to bring up with it is, originally i had the thoughts of "oh i'd love to see the first half of episode 1 expanded on down the line", but now it doesn't really interest me. For what the series does, i think it doesn't need it anymore. Everything is wrapped up neatly, all we have left is the OVAs, which apparently are an "unaired episode 14" and maybe a side-story. So yeah, a wee bit to go.
 
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Naruto Shippuden episodes 161-166

Six of the best if not the best episodes of the series so far.

I cannot believe they killed off poor old Hanata, though I guessed something bad was going to happen when they showed flashbacks through her life. They better not give Naruto some ridiculous power allowing him to revive these killed off characters as I wouldn't put it past this show.
 
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Negima Season1 1-5 rewatch.
Angelic Layer 13-16 rewatch.
Baccano 9-12 which is fully justifying its 18 rating.

Not anime but I started an occasional rewatch of The Water Margin. Pure nostalgia for those of us of a certain age :D
 
Flowers of Evil 13

Hah. Leave it to this series to make its final episode mostly a long recap combined with a montage for a second season that we probably won't get. It was like a slap to the face and an agonising tease all at once. I couldn't possibly think of a more fitting ending! :p

Of all the anime I've watched this season, it felt like Flowers of Evil was the one that most had a creative and artistic vision that it executed and followed through with right up until the end. Everything from the rotoscoping to the music and the performances contributed towards creating an unsettling and foreboding atmosphere. It was a very tough watch at times, but it was never anything less than compelling viewing. It threw a mirror up towards both human behaviour and that dark and twisted side to our psyches that we have. It also did a great job in portraying that unique sense of alienation we experience as teenagers (well, some of us, your mileage may vary there :p ).

This all culminated in the final scene of Episode 7, easily the most breathtaking sequence of the season, as Kasuga finally rips off his "mask" and destroys the classroom with Nakamura. For the only time in the entire series, he feels free. It's an amazingly liberating experience that was directed perfectly. Episode 8 then followed it up with just an extended scene of Kasuga and Nakamura walking away hand-in-hand, no dialogue, just ambient music. A beautiful and absolutely perfect follow up to the previous episode's events, it didn't need words but it still spoke volumes. Honestly, I could just keep going like this, listing powerhouse scene after powerhouse scene in each episode.

Flowers of Evil is bold, uncompromising and brilliant. It was a total breath of fresh air and I definitely would welcome the chance to see more.
 
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Kiki's Delivery Service (Dub)

I've only seen Arietty, Laputa and Totoro, but Kiki's Delivery Service was that one Ghibli movie which I've wanted to watch for a while now. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit.
 
Valvrave the Liberator - Episode 12

A great close to the first season.

Space Brothers - Episode 64

This episode is another perfect example of why this is such a great series!
 
Kids on the Slope Episode 7-12

Wonderful! I had a little cry of course. I really enjoyed this, it was just beautiful. Also, I'd been wondering the whole way through if we'd hear Ritsuko sing at all since I found out she was voiced by Yuuka Nanri (who I love!).
 
Ok soooooo I'm watching black rock shooter and I'm like WTF, I thought I was getting what was going on with the really world and the world where the girls counter parts are fighting but after watching ep 5 it's confusing,
 
Bubblegum Crisis OAV 8 - Scoop Chase

Well strike me down, that might actually be the best episode. The jump in quality of art and animation compared to the first oav is staggering.

It was with some trepidation that I approached the 'Nene one', but (despite the spectre of moe looming in the background) thrust into the spotlight, Nene actually proves one of the series most amusing and likeable characters.

After being relatively serious so far, it also comes as a surprise to find an episode played mainly for laughs, but as the deeply grimdark AD Police Files had started the previous year, it's understandable. Despite being an oddly fluffy note to end on (I wonder if they knew?), I thought Sylia's admission that Genom has brought benefits to their society along with the chaos, showed newfound maturity on the part of the writers.

I'm not sure how I'd feel about it if the entire series had this sort of lighter, jokier tone, but I certainly enjoyed this one and I'm quite saddened to have reached the end of the original run.
 
Holy crap. "The Hentai Prince and the Stony Cat" actually had a really emotional last episode. I've just finished the series and...wow.
 
Professor Irony said:
It was with some trepidation that I approached the 'Nene one', but (despite the spectre of moe looming in the background) thrust into the spotlight, Nene actually proves one of the series most amusing and likeable characters.
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Just finished episode 3 and Nene is my favourite so far. Probably because of the "spectre of moe".
 
Ath summed up Aku no Hana perfectly, both overall and in pinpointing the zenith of the show.

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Majestic Prince e.12.5 - One of the greatest recap episodes ever committed to film.
 
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