Before I get down to business - - was anybody else seeing a light MATRIX RELOADED tribute during the highway chase? The staging of it all, with our friends hopping onto high-speed cars and dueling atop trucks, got me half-expecting somebody to start monologing about purpose. I'd like to think that crew behind this show has a refined taste as I do when it comes to underrated, nine-year-old blockbusters...
As I alluded to last time, watching a show like this without knowing how long it's actually going to be ahead of time adds a different level of tension to the normal viewing experience. Even as this finale ties all the threads together in a resolute way, it still feels kind of abrupt because I'm so used to there always just being more of any given anime show.
== TEASER ==
While I'll crow about how refreshing SAMURAI 7 is for its straightforward plotting, you've got the other edge of the sword right here, because BINBOGAMI-GA has been so fun for how thoroughly unpredictable it is. Most times when you're watching a show, you'll get to the end of an episode and say, "Gee, I wonder what happens next?"
With this show, the question was "Sheesh - - what could they possibly do next?"
In the broad view, I suppose this did wind up being the Dickensian morality tale it seemed to be parodying and embodying from the beginning. Ichiko learns to be more considerate of others (or, maybe more accurately, that lesson just sticks this time); Momiji learns that balancing the universe doesn't lie in tearing somebody's good fortune down, but in encouraging them to share it with others; and the two ladies both realize that they really are friends, after all. Simple as that, right?
Yeah, maybe I could've called all of that if I was really thinking hard earlier on. But I really couldn't have predicted that the arc of this show would center, essentially, on Scoorge and one of the Ghosts of Christmas turning into incessantly arguing buddies. Or that we would've assembled this utterly supporting cast of characters out of all these surreal, seemingly one-off capers. Or that all this absurdity would be wrapped up in some surprisingly observant messages about being honest with one's self, and so on.
I'm out of space to offer my comprehensive thoughts on the series, here. I'll have to save it for a Vice Pit episode, perhaps. That seems appropriate, at least. Even though this series is done, and even though it doesn't have the highest of high concepts, I get the feeling that there are more stories to tell with these characters someday.
Oh, and much thanks to takashichea for providing the promo image for today's episode.
Watch this episode, "You Already Have the Answer to That" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk's a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
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