Maria-sama ga Miteru 4th - Episode 13 [END] Discussion / Poll

[Master Chibi]

*sigh*

I'm right there with Ziggr, this show took up half a damn decade for me, and I almost didn't get into it. I had watched the first episode the day it came out, then promptly labeled it as boring and uninspiring. For some reason I can't even remember at this point I decided to give the show a second chance, and well the rest is history. I've fallen for every character in this show, and cared for everything that happened for them, and if they made another 5 seasons that took another ten years I would still watch each damn episode with an anxious and warm feeling.

This show touched my heart and pull its strings so easily (I SWEAR Yumi crying is instant waterworks for me, it's not fucking fair) in a way that very few (if any) other shows did. I hold it in the highest regards, but now I am sad that there is nothing more for me to fall into, but I'm so immensely grateful to have been apart of it along the way.

[firehawk12]

I've pretty much got into the series at the right time because I was able to pretty much watch every single episode in a single week. I'm also new into anime and I think this is my favourite series by far.

Anyhow, if this is the end and they don't do a final season to wrap up the series, the ending still works pretty well as a series finale. Basically Yumi has come full circle.

The only thing I probably didn't like was that the other characters basically got short-changed in the finale. It's completely understandable, because the season seemed to build toward a big Touko reveal/climax, but it marginalizes the other characters slightly.
I also know that Sachiko basically had her say to absolve her of any jealousy in the previous episode, but a little more reaction from her would have been nice.

But that's it. I hope there's more, but I'll be happy with the translations of the novels if that's all that there will be.

[thundrakkon]

Ah, what a great episode to end the season! Marimite has and always will be one of my all time favorites. It is such a beautiful story, in art and character. I will really miss it because it is done for now.

The open and honest Touko in this last episode is much, much better character to sympathize with than the preivous one. At the very least, I feel a tragedy in her life that is relatable. I hope she grows from here.

Yumi's maturity has grown tremendously as well. She is becoming more and more like Sachiko every day.

[shojie]

oh my! i just watched the episode with subtitle..i couldn't help being sad..but at the same time happy for Touko being honest and true to herself for the last time..And a big applause for Yumi for being mature..

I'm going to miss this anime..I'll never forget Marimite..I watched it from the start , and waited like crazy for every seasons to release..and now the last season i think for Marimite. I'm going to miss Sachiko, Yumi, Shimako, Noriko, Rei and Yoshino..I still want to see Yoshino having a little sister, that is Nana..i heard its funny..and ever wanted to see how Sachiko graduated at Lilian..

I'm positive to think and hoping that there'll be an OVA for the 4 remaining chapter, right? ( if i'm not mistaken..correct me if i'm wrong..)

[Zippicus]

Originally Posted by shojie

I'm positive to think and hoping that there'll be an OVA for the 4 remaining chapter, right? ( if i'm not mistaken..correct me if i'm wrong..)

They haven't announced anything, but there's plenty of material to work with. As far as hoping, sure that never hurt anyone, I didn't really expect a season 3 or 4 but I always hoped. I'm actually a bit more hopeful this time around since they just teased us on the actual giving of the rosary.

[Molenir]

Well, another season of Marimite comes to a close. Once again I found myself waiting with anticipation for each and every episode, and then enjoyed watching those same episodes more then once. I agree with everyone else, that even though I hope for a 5th season, and the conclusion of everything, if they leave it here, that would be a satisfying conclusion to the story as well.

Regarding the final episode, it was good to see Touko opening herself up to Yumi, admitting where she came from, how she felt. I would have liked for Yumi to formally give her the Rosary, but that final scene, with the two of them sleeping together on the train made missing the ultimate climax, palatable. Overall a good episode.

[sa547]

I can't say much, but I agree with most of others' comments. It's been one helluva ride from the day I started watching Marimite in earnest, found a character that was a match for my personality, then the storyline nicely consumed a bit of my waking life.

Now I have my greatest respect for Touko, who did the finest 180 degree turn-around for such a character, from anti-heroine to a crowd favorite; and Yumi, for giving much effort to be diplomatic as possible at most times, even to the point of refusal.

If ever the studio would like to take another shot for a fifth season, I'm ready for it to see this tale given a great closure (along with the supposed loose ends).

Well done and thank you to Oyuki Konno and Studio Deen. And most especially to Kana Ueda, Miki Itou and Rie Kugiyama. I salute you all.

[Nochgo]

And so marks the end of one of my favorite anime to date. Like the previous seasons, this season also had me enjoying every second of the episode, and it was a great ride to be in. The last episode made a very good use of bgm, such that the feelings each scene brought out was that much greater, so that it will remain with me for a long time to come. It was a fitting ending for the season, and I feel completely satisfied. Now, as with all of fellow Marimite fans, we can only hope for an another season. Or I guess we can just learn Japanese and read the novel too

[Fuze]

I also can't add much to what has already been said but I love the ending for this season. I personally think MariMite does a great job of choosing an ending point that compliments a nice closure, but at the same time, leaves it somewhat open ended for possible continuation.

Now that the season is over, I'm curious about what the TV viewer rating has been for this season. If it was popular enough, maybe there is a chance for more MariMite. But then again, with the increase of internet streaming, TV rating might not be so reliable compared to the past.

[-Kh-]

Awesome episode. It was a great closure for the season. And it just let me wishing for more and more.

I might have missed it before, but should we expect a fifth season based on YumiXTouko, and of course Touko-Noriko-Nana?

Because I don't want Maria-sama to end just yet, and I want more story development on the above mentioned girls.

[agila61]

Originally Posted by -Kh-

Awesome episode. It was a great closure for the season. And it just let me wishing for more and more.

I might have missed it before, but should we expect a fifth season based on YumiXTouko, and of course Touko-Noriko-Nana?

Because I don't want Maria-sama to end just yet, and I want more story development on the above mentioned girls.

Yes, it was an excellent finale ... the Journey theme worked quite well, not only for the episode but for Season 4 as a whole, and the episode ending fit the theme perfectly. In my far from expert opinion, the creators nailed this one ... story adaptation, animation, voice acting, the works.

And as to whether we should expect a fifth season ... well, anime is a business. If the television ratings (or Pizza Hut Japan sales) justify it, then yes, if not, then if the DVD sales of Season 4 justify it, maybe an OVA like the "Summer" 3rd (sic) season.

After all, Season 3 was not an OVA for any artistic reason ("we thought that 50 minute episodes made an excellent fit to the "Summer" sequence of novels" blah blah blah) ... but because season 2 television ratings were disappointing, but DVD sales OK.

(Speculating on what the content of that would be, of course, goes beyond the limits of the ep 13 discussion forum ... saying that there should be more Camera-chan is not a spoiler, just a wish)

[Man0warr]

The first DVD of season 4 had more preorders than any other anime this season.

[agila61]

Originally Posted by Man0warr

The first DVD of season 4 had more preorders than any other anime this season.

Yes, that's where I am hanging my hopes for an OVA to finish the series. Just gotta hope that the demand in Japan holds up when the volumes are actually issued.

[Dop]

A beautiful ending to the series - I swear when Touko asked Yumi to take her as her sister I got something in my eye...

Now just to wait for the DVD release and watch it all over again.

I certainly hope there's enough for a fifth series, although I'd settle for some OVAs, so long as they manage to take us to the end of the story.

[agila61]

Originally Posted by Dop

I certainly hope there's enough for a fifth series, although I'd settle for some OVAs, so long as they manage to take us to the end of the story.

Details would be wandering into spoiler territory, but its the financing of a new series/OVA that is the question ... and in the current financial climate for anime in Japan, very much an open question ... there's enough unused material of various sorts for either an OVA release like season 3, or a final broadcast series.

[Anh_Minh]

All this talk of the anime ending is depressing me. It's only the end of the season. Hope springs eternal for another one.

I nearly missed out too. I was hooked from the first ep, but I had trouble getting past the summary. "School girl lesbians? Why would I want to watch that?".

I have nothing against Touko's story... but I wish they'd shown more of the rest.

[agila61]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

All this talk of the anime ending is depressing me. It's only the end of the season. Hope springs eternal for another one.

Massive Maria-sama ga Miteru fan Erica at okazu says she is convinced there will not be another season, but from the context is seems she is talking about broadcast season.

I nearly missed out too. I was hooked from the first ep, but I had trouble getting past the summary. "School girl lesbians? Why would I want to watch that?".

I have nothing against Touko's story... but I wish they'd shown more of the rest.

I think they decided at the outset of Season 4 where the finale climax would be, and that dictated the skipping over lots of plotlines as novels that would have received two or three episodes in seasons 1 and 2 were skimmed through in a single episode.

OTOH, they took some plotlines out of order in Season 1, so there's nothing preventing going back and picking up some of the material they skipped past.

Indeed, if we get a 50minx5 "Spring II" OVA like the "Summer" OVA, why, then I'll start lobbying for a "Lillian Tales" OVA, precisely for those side stories, stories from the short stories collections, flashbacks, etc.

With six (thinpack, subbed) boxes in my hands I might, grudgingly, relent on demands to put more of Maria-sama ga Miteru in motion.

[-Kh-]

Originally Posted by agila61

And as to whether we should expect a fifth season ... well, anime is a business. If the television ratings (or Pizza Hut Japan sales) justify it, then yes, if not, then if the DVD sales of Season 4 justify it, maybe an OVA like the "Summer" 3rd (sic) season.

After all, Season 3 was not an OVA for any artistic reason ("we thought that 50 minute episodes made an excellent fit to the "Summer" sequence of novels" blah blah blah) ... but because season 2 television ratings were disappointing, but DVD sales OK.

In my opinion, this season has been the best of the whole series. So I really hope the DVDs will allow us to have a proper fifth one. I'll contribute getting the DVDs (or better yet Blurays if any?).

I really can't get enough Touko and Noriko.

[4Tran]

Marimite is perhaps the one show that understands itself the best, and as a consequence, just about everything about the show works extremely well. This episode wraps up the season, and perhaps the entire show as well, and everything ends on a very proper and satisfying note. It's not necessarily the most dramatic note to end things on, but the feeling it engenders is just great.

As I expected, Touko did her share of grovelling (even if it wasn't of a demeaning nature), and Yumi took everything in stride in her own way. There was the standard excellent non-verbal communication, but what I particularly liked was how the music was used to convey meaning, in the place of words or even expression. It's a technique I've seen in live-action, and there are some anime that have tried it, but it's not one that works all that often (Azumangan Daioh is another example of where it does work very well). Really though, it's been a great ride, and that's about all I have to say about Marimite. In a way, I almost wish that there was more I dislike about the show so I'd have more to talk about.

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

All this talk of the anime ending is depressing me. It's only the end of the season. Hope springs eternal for another one.

It is good to be hopeful, but Studio Deen was unsure if this season would be animated as a TV series or as an OVA. That says to me that any more animation is unlikely - although I'd love to be pleasantly surprised (I have to admit to being surprised by the existence of the OVAs and this season as well).

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

I nearly missed out too. I was hooked from the first ep, but I had trouble getting past the summary. "School girl lesbians? Why would I want to watch that?".

What's sort of amusing is that the show really isn't about that, so anyone watching purely for school girl lesbians was sure to be disappointed. I watched the first episode when it aired, with no foreknowledge of any kind, so preconceptions didn't affect me at all.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by agila61

Details would be wandering into spoiler territory, but its the financing of a new series/OVA that is the question ... and in the current financial climate for anime in Japan, very much an open question ... there's enough unused material of various sorts for either an OVA release like season 3, or a final broadcast series.

I keep hearing how terrible anime economics are these days -- but there are just about exactly the same number of new shows this spring as there were last (over 40). Hope springs eternal, lol.