We’re deep in it now, folks. With our hero having made her final goodbyes to her family and settled accounts with basically all other lingering threads, it’s time for Nanoha and Fate to square off for what Nanoha herself described as the “first and final time.” Literally the entirety of this narrative has been building to this; while Nanoha has at times focused on more specific family drama, or on elaborating its wild worldbuilding, all of these smaller pieces have always existed in service of Nanoha and Fate’s relationship. The show may have started off with a more traditional magical girl quest, but at this point, even the jewel shards are only important insofar as they lend tangible stakes to Nanoha and Fate’s emotional/thematic battle.
Speaking of, I suppose a brief breakdown of our thematic narrative so far would probably be appropriate. Nanoha is a show about family and human connection above all else; Nanoha’s own family has been illustrated with uncommon specificity, while all of Fate’s problems stem from her inability to escape her mother’s reach. Nanoha the show understands that familial bonds aren’t inherently positive, but they are inherently powerful; for Nanoha, that power manifests as a great sense of self-assurance and concern for the people around her, while for Fate, that power keeps her from seeking to escape a deeply abusive relationship. The power and ambiguity of families is a theme that underlines many of my favorite works, from the restless Monogatari to the poignant Eccentric Family, and Nanoha is doing an excellent job of illustrating that complex and inescapable concept. I’ve seen few shows that handle familial abuse this well, and few shows that illustrate how a stable home can grant you true strength with Nanoha’s subtlety and focus. However this plays out, I’m confident the show will be steering this grand thematic clash to a satisfying end. Let’s get right to the battle of Fate and Nanoha!
