I had first marathoned the previous episodes from season one til the latest of this season, and as much as I hate how the conclusion turned out to be such a test for viewers to deconstruct or think of, I am not disappointed nor satisfied with the show's ending. Perhaps, Valvrave has changed a part of me as to how I rate the show based on specific standards, and if it's according to this anime, the finale is simply okay. Could be because I knew that it would pull such a bad ending for the MC though, it's a good way to end this suffering and the show itself--but yeah, viewers can do better and write more. I don't hate Okouchi and the assistant writers on how they have come up with such a plot in which I find endearing and unique in a peculiar way. The ideas of magius being an alien species, their existence to be such a terrifying truth in history, and their great influence in human society are interesting. It's just that there were plenty of plot holes, slow pacing that suddenly everything became rushed, poorly written scenes that should've been relevant but turned out to be a void, characters that became not viable at the moment, and other Valvrave stuffs. I am not really into mecha, but this show made me enjoy its defying genre and as well made me both sad and disappointed on purpose. No matter how grim or unsatisfying the show may be, I will still commend it.
I don't really get the hate on Shoko. Watching the show in one go (mom rebuked me for skipping breakfast and eating lunch in front of the computer while my bulging eyes were thoroughly fixated on the monitor) made me love her even more. People back then were complaining on how perfect her character was that she did not even had a tragic past nor flaws, how jolly and a genki type she'd appeared, how impulsive and impetuous her actions were, and how she could keep calm and live an easy life in spite of the harsh reality she's not fully aware of since L Elf and the Kamitsuki team were doing their best in her behalf. Now that she was freed from oblivion and made mistakes during the last few episodes that I find apprehensible, some are still whining. Well, whatever. I got peeved off as well over her uselessness at the ending, but the plot did not demand for her to do something this time. Her job (PM) is for long term so it's not really necessary for her to disrupt L Elf and Haruto's plan.
I was just surprised that she became Hito's pilot. Funny that Valvrave fans had different reactions.
Others were like 'WTF?!! . . . seriously?' Mine was 'this can't be happening. . . ' That was unexpected of her but at the same time befitting. Since L Elf can't become a Kamitsuki if we go by Pino's taste, Shouko is likely the best candidate to carry on Haruto's will and to pilot unit I. This somehow did not appeal because Shoko was seen sobbing and doing nothing while L Elf's team was fighting and dying. If only there weren't many timeskips, questions wouldn't multiply and left unanswered.
Saki, on the other hand, stood out the most for me. I didn't even like her from the beginning, but lately her character development piqued my interest. Before I could even know her more, I already liked her. Haruto gets the same treatment. I both dislike them, but soon as I witnessed how reliable and strong they had become, I began to care. It was a bit off that Haruto died not having the chance to see her beloved Shoko and made up with her though the feelings were mutual, even so he died with his bestfriend's company which was indeed touching. Saki could have properly confessed her feelings to Haruto. She knew she would be rejected, but she thought that maybe if Haruto forgot Shouko, she'd still win him over. If only they have the luxury of time. . . damn feels, damn romance. It's a good ending, considering that everyone still gets to smile happily. The OTP is Satomi and Takahi. Mostly, wedding or marriage means new life and a new beginning. Everyone seems to have moved on. What simply probably makes the finale bad is that it's mixed up with the element of unknown. You knew that it's not going to be glorious but still hoping for a redeeming outcome.
What do I know, the memory core Satomi was referring to can stabilize the utilisation of runes so that the pilots won't have to exhaust their own.
It's really starting to feel like a deliberate troll what they did with her; especially when I take that question about the boss into consideration.
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