Planetarian ended in likely the most easy way to predict, but that’s not a bad thing – it was a tightly designed narrative and it rode to a satisfying and well-earned conclusion. I even got to be surprised by how well the show pulled off a legitimate action sequence, elevating through smart plotting and sound design what it couldn’t sell entirely through animation. Looks like I can finally say I’m a fan of a Key work!
You can check out my full review over at ANN, or my final notes below.
This first sequence is incredibly impressive. For a show that’s exhibited limited aesthetic strengths so far, this is a remarkably composed action sequences – the use of sound design (rain, ringing ears, and well-chosen music that matches the pace of the action), the speed with which it makes the powers and programming of the mech incredibly parsable, the rise and fall of action. Really great stuff
The reason she thought she was “broken” is because she kept arriving at the conclusion that no humans would ever return. We are broken when we lose hope
“I was not broken. What was broken was… why did everything break?”
Most of this episode is just the “dying in your arms” moment. Really going for the emotional jugular
And so he paints a picture of heaven across the wall
He at least takes her memory card
“If I could cry, I believe I would be crying right now.” Maybe a bit much
The static interference creeping into her voice is a nice touch
He leaves the old necklace with her and puts her memory chip around his neck. A new symbol of hope
“The reason she thought she was “broken” is because she kept arriving at the conclusion that no humans would ever return. We are broken when we lose hope”
Just when I think you and I have parted ways – that I can safely walk away from your blog, knowing we value different things in shows – you hand me a single line like this in some editorial notes for a show I never watched.
God damnit, Bob.
(Well, I watched part of the first episode, so I have mild context.)
Wow, I missed out on reading your review on this. So glad to see you liked it! It was one of my favorites last season as well.
I just wanted to add a note on how interesting it was that Hoshimi ended up being the “pragmatic” one in the end, mentioning that her body can be “easily replaced” and that “there was no need for him to worry about her”. It really drove home the transformation in Junker’s personality to the point that he even subscribed to “painting a picture of hope”.
I watched it again alongside your comments, and it truly is such a great show.