I was watching this just this morning (fittingly enough, on Cryska's birthday).
On one hand I was like "FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF- WHY Y U NO CONTINUE!? THERE IS SO MUCH STUFF TO BE DONE!?"
On another, they managed to wrap up anime neatly enough, some of the points while not fully resolved, are at least set forward for a definite conclusion...if we ever get to see a real ending. But then again, that's only fair - because real Total Eclipse has not been concluded either.
Overall, this maybe was not the best mecha show ever; but it did reasonably enough. Personally I liked it, maybe because I never tried to compare it with Alternative. Sure, it's the same universe, but Total Eclipse is an unrelated, test-pilot related side-story. And I felt it did pretty well with that, if you squinted past some obligatory fan service episodes. In fact, the show probably suffers from the simple time limitation - there's just no way to squeeze in all the details an explanations that you can pack into novel or VN.
Spoiler for As for the actual episode::
That Berkut scene...it was just so, so much boss. I loved it. Almost "ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL" memetastic.
The fights were also really well done. Loved seeing the Type-00 and Berkut dance. Ultimate showdown of the ultimate waifus.
Also, Sandek gets my seal of approval. It's about time our nationality was represented in capacity of ruthless manipulative, magnificent bastards....but this was really brilliant. Using Yuuya first to awaken Sisters Super Soviet Science Battle powers and then sicking Yuuya on them hoping that his death would mentally break them and make them easier to control...and even if not, then their relationship could be used to further Sisters combat potential. Brilliant. Just brilliant. My inner schemers is crying in admiration. No matter what happens, Sandek wins.
The idea with using Heavy laser as a shield was brilliant. Shows that not all U.S pilots are just "show" as some would want.
Also, Adam Jen*ekhm* I mean, Silvio Orlandi? What are you doing there? Guess the whole thing is just a tip in the ice berg for Alternative Plan troubles.
Which places an interesting spin on the Master. Is he just a CIA operative? Or a genuine Allegiance member? Did he become so disgusted with the world that he doesn't care if it's destroyed, or does he believe that by starting afresh on an entirely new world, with rest of the "corrupted" mankind sentenced to stay on G-bombed Earth, is the way through which humanity as a species will be saved?
And that theory on why Yui would be shot in LN...very, very curious. Didn't know you cared Sandek. And yandere Inia is just creepy.
And in a way, I really raged at YuuyaxYui ending...but on the other hand, it ended well too. No kiss or anguished declaration of love...but they don't feel like they need to do so. Because it's not the end you see - they will see each other again, and have the confidence to see it through. And that's nice too.
Well, now all that's left is the Total Eclipse VN~