[octoberasian]

Originally Posted by Kanon

Spoiler for Someone called it...:

Kanade was saved by Otonashi. She received his heart, and her regret has always been that she was never able to thank her donor. That's why she always waited in this world. Even now, his heart is still beating inside her chest, hence the title "Angel Beats" and the logo of the anime. She realized it was him back in episode 9, when he was sleeping at her bedside: he doesn't have a heart. Being near Kanade's heart is also what unlocked his remaining memories.

That's pretty much it, and a good explanation of the show itself.

Spoiler:

Kanade remaining in the world was probably the equivalent of her being in a comatose state of recovery or near-death state in the real world. She just remained in the afterlife/purgatory just to find the person who gave her a new heart and a new life.

If anyone asked about her past which was not explained, one could probably assume that what she said in those last few minutes before she returned to her body as her "past." Her reason for staying was done.

But, I couldn't hold it in anymore when they started to disappear, and it just got more overwhelming when Otonashi confessed to Kanade. And then the clincher hearing that Kanade stayed a while longer just to find the person who gave her a new heart and found him before returning to her own body. Yeah, I actually cried during those last scenes.

I was like, "WHOA!" That's perseverance right there just to remain a little longer to find who saved your life.

I would wish a bonus episode would exist just to know what happened to Yuri, Yui and Hinata afterwards (with hints of Kanade and the "new" Otonashi). But, I doubt it. It was still good to see that there is a strong possibility Kanade and Otonashi found each other again in the end. I had that suspicion after the last few episodes, but was not expecting Kanade and Otonashi to be it. I was expecting Yui and Hinata, and/or Yuri and the rest of the SSS.

This was a good series beginning to end, and even if it had a few flaws, it was still a very good show.