*blows the dust off*
I enjoyed this season alot! It started to pick up at Episode 5 and things were coming one after the other ever since. The music scenes were outstanding and the Chiaki x Nodame intimacy scenes made me a puddle of goo.
I find the ending to be satisfying: Chiaki no longer runs away from Nodame and Nodame no longer runs away from music. And everyone is coupled with someone.
For me, the order of greatness of Nodame Cantabile is Season 1 > Finale > Paris. First season was the best of best, and Paris left no impression on me whatsoever.