AIR 13 SUMMARY END
Nothing to say about this episode. Just a re-cap clip show.
Overall, it was an okay ride. It's not the prettiest thing out there, nor the best put together and reeks of KEY's worst tropes and flaws, but it's not horrible. Jun Maeda's music is always pretty good. While I can't say I'm a huge fan of his writing, I due like his music; he knows how to write bittersweet music and (for the most part) bittersweet, thought cliched, stories. Also, Yukito made for a interesting protagonist (poor snarky hobo isn't exactly common fare)...at least initially. Basically, uou've got the standard "Hey this came from a VN so we have squeeze the other routes in!" stuff and then, following suit, falls in the 'main' route, wherein Yukito suddenly takes a backseat and the heroine Misuzu is suddenly the protag, and well, they try to finish but the ending a bit of a let down, to be honest. Things feel resolved...and yet they don't. I don't know.
Anyways, while not bad and though I'm a sap for bittersweet love stories, the end was just too much of a mess.
Next up: the two-episode Air in Summer specials and maybe the Air movie
Angel Beats! 13 END
Pretty satisfying ending, aside from not getting to say goodbye to the rest of the team, which is kinda dumb. You build up this whole cast of colorful characters that are infinitely more interesting than Otonashi and Kanade and you just go "Oh those guys? Yeah they left already." and just give their signature items the sad passing shot? Man, fuck you, Maeda.
Anyways, it was good to see the goodbyes. The emptiness left by the remaining cast as they each took their turns passing on was almost palpable. That where this show shined and where it should've kept it light. I think this show would've been so much better off to just focus more on the characters - who they are, why they're here, give them resolution, and watch the pass on - and basically scrap the whole commando crap. I'll admit the action and the humor were pretty good at times, but overall it felt like they wanted me to care what happens to them in the fights and struggles, and it would've made more sense to structure that around their emotional passing on rather than the fights where you're not worried about anyone because they can't fucking die.
But all in all, I got more out of this than Air, to be sure, and it too isn't that bad of a ride. It looks pretty damn great, the cast is fun, the dub is good, and the music is top notch (as I expect from Maeda), but the writing at times is suspect (as I expect from Maeda).
Next up: The Another Epilogue OVA and the Stairway to Heaven OVA