Kanon: Episode 23
Rating: 9.9/10
Impressions:
What a stunningly good episode from KyoAni once again! Now the only thing left to do is to hope that the next and final episode will be just as great or better. There would be nothing worse than a fantastic series ruined by the final episode. For some reason, this episode feels all over the place, with the heavy use of flashbacks, though I find that these two reasons are part of why I like the show. Especially the flashbacks; I remember falling in love with the show due to the flashbacks of Yuuichi’s childhood in the first episode. And now, well into the last episodes of many series, I have concluded that Kanon has once again risen to my favourite show from winter 2006.
The only complain I have is the lack of Nayuki. I have said this before but I will say it again: Why, when all the other girls get three or more episodes dedicated to themselves accompanied by Yuuichi, did Nayuki not receive any? Was there even a Nayuki arc? I really don’t care when Nayuki is shown in a normal manner, as that doesn’t count. I wanted to see heavy emotional development between Nayuki and Yuuichi as a separate arc. Just seeing her in her room, rolled up in the foetal position is not what I call a good sight. If only this show was 26 episodes, perhaps Nayuki could have gotten a decent and ‘real’ arc.
As I am sure many people are, I was really surprised when the real Makoto showed up. I had originally thought it was Ayu, though so many things didn’t add up, such as why she was driving a car. But then of course, after discovering who the mystery girl really was, everything made sense. Yuuichi had recognised the girl as the fox Makoto he knew in his half delirium, which is a normal thing to do I’d say. And also, some had speculated that the white light from last episode was basically Yuuichi dying and perhaps ascending to heaven, though now we know it’s nothing special, just a car’s headlights.
The real Sawatari Makoto bears a striking resemblance from future Mikuru of Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu. By future Mikuru, I mean the Mikuru that comes from even farther from the future than the main Mikuru we all know. The obvious differences are the eyes, as Kanon-style eyes are radically different from Suzumiya Haruhi-style eyes. Perhaps this was intentional or accidental that Makoto resembles Mikuru so much, though I like it regardless. I also like the fox references to fox-Makoto in Makoto’s room, such as the bells and nikuman (pork buns) in her fridge. Too bad we won’t get to see more of her; she seems like an interesting character.
So now we reach the conclusion of Kanon. Although I’m sad it’s going to end in a week, I’m also really anxious to find out how everything ends. What happens to Ayu? (No I don’t want anyone to answer these questions). And what about the other girls? Akiko, Mai, Sayuri and Shiori are all in hospital, and Ayu is probably too. However, at the moment, it seems that only Shiori and Akiko are in critical condition. Will the survive? Ayu seems to be in a coma, if not dead, so another question is will she wake up and be with Yuichi, or die in bed? It’s pretty disturbing though, as it seems all the girls that have any relation to Yuuichi will wind up in hospital or gain misfortune.
The main question that I have is whether this series will end happily or sadly. I guess a sad ending would be Ayu dying, as she is the main girl, so everything revolves around her and Yuuichi. An even sadder ending would be if everyone dies, though I have high doubts for Mai and Sayuri. This would seem to be something like Air, which I found really emotionally depressing; even though technically the ending is a happy ending (the curse is lifted!) A happy ending would be alright too, though I would hate it if everything plays out nicely with no deaths and no sadness. Kanon has always partly been about the angst and sentiments, so it should definitely end that way.
Preview:
Next episode - #24
The grand finale!
Popularity: 13% [?]
11 Comments so far
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Judging from the overall feel of the series, I’m betting on a happy ending. Although a sad ending would be great in terms of emotional impact, it goes against good entertainment practice.
In general, you have build up (harem building and general fun), climax (it all hits the fan and angst dominates), then catharsis (release of emotion and closure, the much alluded to miracle).
I don’t see anything else working out and making sense.
But I guess we’ll see in a week =D
omg, i can’t wait until the next episode is out!!! i hope Ayu and Yuuichi have a happy ending. the last episdoe has better be awesome, i loved every other episode! happy ending! T~T
We’ll get a happy ending because Key’s Kanon was always meant to end happily; the ’sad’ endings in the game are little more than game over screens, achieved when the player has made a hash of his progress through the game. They’re inconclusive, abrupt, and raise more questions than they answer - the suggestion in every case is that a sad ending is present because Yuuichi hasn’t done enough to _earn_ a happy one. The central notion behind Kanon is the idea that miracles are tangible realities - they just need to be desired enough, and to be earned.
As for Nayuki - I’ve said this so many times in the past: her story and Ayu’s cannot exist side by side. The moment KyoAni decided that Ayu was to be their main girl, Nayuki was doomed to a life of shared screen time and brief prominence. Her story was and is too overtly romantic for it to take place in a Universe where Yuuichi is in love with Ayu; the only point in time where it could take place would be between Ayu’s disappearance and reappearance, and Yuuichi and Ayu’s romantic connection meant that it would be unrealistic and unpalatable (at the least, it would undermine viewers’ opinions of the Ayu-Yuuichi relationship - a protagonist who has just lost his love interest needs to be seen to mourn) for Nayuki to take sole command of the stage.
KyoAni were essentially forced either to strip Nayuki’s story down to her depression following Akiko’s accident or to rewrite the whole thing from the ground up (as Toei did). Since their motto was faithfulness to the source material, they did the former. Nayuki got shafted.
Shirukii: i think sad endings make for more entertainment (in my case at least)
teehee: yeah im looking forward to it too
Tim: yeah, ive heard u say that so many times now…its ok, you dont need to say anymore. it doesnt matter what the game is or whatever, im allowed to wish for something. its the same for shows that are based on manga. when ive read the manga, and see other people hoping for an outcome thats different from the manga, im not going to go and try to lecture them about why their wishes are impossible, see.
As for Nayuki - I’ve said this so many times in the past: her story and Ayu’s cannot exist side by side. The moment KyoAni decided that Ayu was to be their main girl, Nayuki was doomed to a life of shared screen time and brief prominence. Her story was and is too overtly romantic for it to take place in a Universe where Yuuichi is in love with Ayu; the only point in time where it could take place would be between Ayu’s disappearance and reappearance, and Yuuichi and Ayu’s romantic connection meant that it would be unrealistic and unpalatable (at the least, it would undermine viewers’ opinions of the Ayu-Yuuichi relationship - a protagonist who has just lost his love interest needs to be seen to mourn) for Nayuki to take sole command of the stage.
Lol I was going to say something along the lines of that myself, for a second I thought they might have Ayu dissapear and go Nayuki with Nayuki’s evening scene but then I woke up and realized it was just a fleeting dream.
Still I’m also a fan of Yuuichi x Ayu so it’s all good. I really like how Kyoani did the haircoloers matching with the time of day lol it helped the scenes a bit.
On another note, Nayuki is shafted everywhere lol, in the game theres an option to go her path but it’s not the “true path” if you know what I mean? In 02 she got shafted and in 06 she wasn’t as shafted but really I can’t think of a way they can fit her path in x.x as for the manga she also had no arc but they attempted to make up for that by sticking her in 80% more scences with Yuuichi. It was pretty amusing
OTZ @ Tim, like i said b4 there really is no reason to try so hard to convinced the fans. . . . . . . imagination is an essential part of anime joy, ye know.
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I really have nothing more to say about this episode… its perfect in my eyes… and i cant stop feeling the lines in Ayu’ monologue in addition to my favorite track of all Kanon CDs: Asakage remix from Kanon Arrange Best Album…
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*Takes a deep breath* Must calm down… b4 i can write about any decent thoughts… i still dun wanna believe the ride is coming to an end already… *Takes another deep breath*
Indeed Nayuki didn’t get enough screentime as the other girls, which is also something I am frustrated about. But the truth as well is that Nayuki’s arc isn’t really that deep as opposed to the other girls since she is the most normal out of all of them. But like Tim said, her arc can only occur between Ayu’s disappearance and reappearance. But still, it was worth the wait to see that scene of her and Yuuichi at the bench to make up.
well, other girls may have been forgotten, have their misfortunes, even die but only Nayuki got so harshly REJECTED
can’t wait til final episode, too…
@Danny
Well, you did ask why. ^^
@Nightingale
Well, criticism generally implies the belief that something could have been done better, somehow. In the case of Nayuki’s story, I think KyoAni did as well with it as they could have been expected, given the imperatives that governed the Kanon production.
@Flamestrike
I thought ‘02 gave Nayuki a lot of prominence, actually. They basically rewrote the entire ending sequence just to ensure that Nayuki would play a part in it.
@ Tim
Yet ‘02 completely distorted Nayuki’s true personality.
Yes, sadly that’s true.