[Skyfall]

I guess this is the point where a few of us get to say "told you so"

Spoiler for episode 10:

A pretty emotional and "heavy" episode overall, emphasized by the somewhat slow-ish pacing, allowing time for each event to sink in with all its weight. Probably the most drama-heavy sequence of events we are going to get from Mashifoni, the episode's title certainly earned its keep this week.

It's pretty hard not to feel sorry for Sana, who finally reaches the point where she can't hold back her emotions, a pot that has been boiling for a long while now. The show has certainly been building up the issues surrounding the romance of Miu/Sana consistently - both being like parallel lines that never intersect, and the ending of episode 10 was like the epitome of said isolation. As Miu and Shingo get closer and closer, Sana keeps drifting further away, culminating in the events that now took place - with Miu and Shingo embracing their feelings, unaware of Sana's plight, with Sana getting to cry alone in a removed location, only with Airi to comfort her.

Overall I have surprisingly little to say about the episode, as I see it as a confirmation of events that have been steadily building up for a number of episodes, without adding anything radically new or surprising. Shingo and Miu consolidating their feelings while Sana getting her door closed for good has been long time coming, so episode 10 was largely like sealing an envelope that contains a letter written a while ago.

What specifically the show intends to do with the two final episodes remains to be seen, but given the solid ride Manglobe has offered thus far, I have all confidence in them to deliver a satisfying closure to the cast. There certainly is enough material left to cover, and we already have some hints what to expect, namely Pannya's impending release. Damn ... sounds like another bittersweet event.


As for some people feeling shocked about the romance developments in this episode ... there really is no excuse to. Shingo's affection for Miu has been built up consistently through the show, with his reactions towards her continuously standing out among the others, with increasing intensity. And the show hasn't been all that subtle about this, especially within the later episodes.

I certainly see how in terms of choosing the main heroine (as far as romance is concerned) it deviates from the usual mold, but that's as far as surprising goes here. The show has hardly been confusing with its romance elements, and the hints were scattered all along the yellow brick road. The road also happened to have a fence to prevent straying off.

Suffice to say, I readily agree with relentless here - this outcome wasn't hard to see coming, if one was allowing himself to watch the show as it is, as opposed through a lens of industry tropes and favorites. See the show for what it was showing itself to be, rather than making an early assumption of what it was going to be. The experience has certainly been quite satisfying and refreshing, both in terms of story direction and consistency.