What a beautiful final episode! Everything is wrapped up nicely and there are no big loose threads, but it hasn’t spelled out too much directly either.

The ending they went with was very satisfying— it wasn’t a cop out; people died, but it was a happy ending all the same.

Original Sin

Recall how in the previous episode, Sanetoshi claimed that the world should be destroyed because people are trapped in their own boxes. At the beginning of this episode, Shouma and Kanba are trapped in their own boxes (quite literally). When Kanba finds an apple in his box, he shares it with Shouma, so they both can live. Continue reading Mawaru Penguindrum 24 — Sharing the Fruit of Fate →

Clearly the Japanese education system’s teachings on fire safety are lacking. Continue reading Mawaru Penguindrum 23 — Stop, Drop, and Roll →

To be honest, I thought this episode was one of the weakest yet. It wasn’t bad, but just wasn’t the level I’ve come to expect. It was too straightforward, especially compared to the usual.

Three Loves

This episode was all about love. And everyone’s love is different.

• Himari. Himari loves Kanba. For Kanba, she leaves Shouma, her soulmate, behind. She is willing to die to prevent Kanba from falling into darkness. Is her love selfless or selfish? Initially, it seemed obviously selfless. But the more I thought about it, it’s actually selfish in a way. All Kanba wants is for Himari to live. And that it is the one thing she is unwilling to give him. Continue reading Mawaru Penguindrum 22 — Love, Love, Love →

It was a great episode. Very exciting, filled with twists, excellent pacing, great music, etc., etc. Blah blah blah blah. Everything is coming together in the end, and the secrets of the universe are being revealed.

Mystery

But I’m the kind of person who prefers the workings of the universe to remain hidden. A mystery is divine; facts are inane. Continue reading Mawaru Penguindrum 21 — The Second Coming →

Nunca está uno libre, el que no está atado a algo no vive… Las verdaderas ataduras son las que uno escoge, las que se busca y se pone uno solo, pudiendo no tenerla.

—Last Ataduras, Carmen Martín Gaite

Apparently no one in the Takaura family is biologically related. But the strongest ties are those we choose for ourselves. Shouma chose Himari, and Himari chose Shouma. Now how did Kanba come into this? Continue reading Mawaru Penguindrum 20 — The Ties that Bind →