[minhtam1638]

Just got back from marathoning Rozen Maiden 1-01 to 2-12, and from what I've seen, it's really good. Not Fate/Stay Night or Kanon good, but good. The sad part is that it's unfinished, has been for two years now, and, due to certain implications, may not ever be resolved. Already, thoughts were in my head about how a third season would play out, most of the plot involving Suiseiseki, the reason I got into this series in the first place. However, after watching the whole series analytically, I've had to adjust it a bit, due to Rozen entrusting Shinku to find another way to become Alice as well as figure out how to return Souseiseki and Hinaichigo to normal. The problem with the third season is that it is greatly needed for the good of this series, but with the manga also in a halt, there isn't a sense of direction. If we're not careful, this could turn into a Konjiki no Gash Bell problem.

So far, here's how I've hoped the next season could play out.

Rozen Maiden: Liebchen

Setting: Three months after the Barasuishou melee.

Episode 1: Review
Souseiseki's soul comes for a visit to Jun's house but nobody notices. Souseiseki provides a short summary of the events of the first season and Traumend. Save five minutes for her twin sister to break the contract between her and Jun only because Jun asks Shinku to go out with him.

Episode 2: Kirakishou
Jun, now successfully a third year in high school, has matured greatly from his hikkimori days, and has been able to handle the outside world. It's the night before the supposed date between Jun and Shinku, and the seventh doll, Kirakishou, makes her appearance known in the N-field as the true seventh doll, with a man (Laplace?) as her medium. It is a scaled battle that eventually ends in a draw due to Shinku's unwillingness to fight.

Episode 3: Evening
After school, Jun picks up Shinku and goes on their "date", leaving Suiseiseki and Kanaria behind. With odd stops (Shinku calls the shots), the two have a little fun on their own, but they also talk about the seventh doll, what it means for the Alice Game, and what Rozen meant about having other ways to become Alice. Meanwhile, an hour after both of them left, a mysterious doll collector (no, not Mitsu), rings the doorbell to the Sakurada residence.

Episode 4: Midori & Episode 5: Sisterly Bonds
Shinku's last stop is the hospital. Apparently, she wants to talk to Suigintou, as well as meet her medium (Remember she figured out why Suigintou sided with Bara). Though Suigintou pretty much still hates Shinku, it's an awkward bonding ending up with Suigintou promising Shinku to save her as the last Rosa Mystica to take. Meanwhile, that mysterious doll collector that arrives at the Sakurada residence - Midori Watanabe, revealed to be a classmate of Jun's. She's taken quite an interest in Souseiseki, or what's left of her, and is willing to take her home with her by paying any sum of money. Suiseiseki (who is supposed to act lifeless in this situation) intervenes, and Midori then decides to take Suiseiseki along with her. No money paid, but the twins are now gone from the Sakurada's.

Episode 6: Exchange & Episode 7: Materialization
Jun and Shinku come home to realize that both Suiseiseki and Souseiseki's body is missing, along with their boxes. Nori does indeed tell them what happened (except she forgets the name of the person), and they have come to accept it, but it also means that for the first time in a long time, Shinku's the only doll moving around the house. The two try to work together to crack Rozen's riddle. Meanwhile, Sugintou encounters Kirasuishou for the first time in the N-Field, and much to her surprise, Kirakishou adores Suigintou to a point where she is willing to give up her three Rosa Mysticae, including her own, if Suigintou does particular errands. Suigintou refuses to do one - surrender her medium. However, she agrees to finding another sister so that Kirakishou can consume her body and live out in the real world. The victim ends up to be Kanaria, which is rather a success for Kirakishou, and Suigintou is rewarded with both Souseiseki's and Hinaichigo's Rosa Mysticae.

Episode 8: Invitation
Shinku receives an unsigned invitation to an Alice Game. There is a win condition - a defeat results in a loss of only one Rosa Mystica. The other condition? Bring your medium. Not exactly a problem for Shinku, since Jun would have tagged along anyway. Shinku is rather hesitant to do it, but Jun insists that she at least go to see who it was and ensure the safety of their home. Kirakishou arrives in the flesh (sort of), revealing to Shinku that Kanaria has lost the game. Upsetting as it was, Shinku refuses to accept. But then Suigintou shows up to do battle. In either case, neither Suigintou nor Karakishou sent the invitation. Suigintou did, however, express interest in participating.

Episode 9: Change & Episode 10: Love
Something's not right. In the N-Field, Suigintou has been pushed aside by... Suiseiseki? There has been a change in character, presented by the new crimson dress that Midori sewed up for Suiseiseki, and part of it is that she wants to battle. What happened to the pacifist? Exposed to the truth of the Alice Game, or at least Midori's truth, Suiseiseki challenges Jun and Shinku to a 2 vs. 2 Alice Game in what appears to be Midori's dream world, where there must be a winner in a 15 minute time period or the game is a draw. And Suigintou has nothing to do with this - this time, the medium fights alongside the maiden, using swords drawn up in the dreamworld. Jun and Shinku plan to stall, which really is what Midori wanted, as she uses that time to not only gauge Jun and Shinku but to also expose them to the truth - the true meaning of love, and the purpose behind the purpose of the Rozen Maiden dolls, i.e. the true fulfillment of Alice. How seven become one bonded in love to become Alice together, inseparable, sharing every feeling of pain and gladness as one person. Emphasis is also placed on the bond between the medium and the maiden. Game ends in a draw, as expected, and the last line of episode 10 is Suiseiseki's "By the way, have you two kissed yet?"

Episode 11: Kiss & Episode 12: Purpose
I'll leave the last two episodes to your imagination. However, the way I have written this assumes that there will be a Season 4 Finale.

So, that's it. Rozen Maiden is unfinished, and if something doesn't happen, it will be just another one of those animes that could have had a what if situation.