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Digital Downloads
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Written by maehara
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Wednesday, 01 October 2008 16:00 |
 Another series down - and another series left annoyingly open for future sequels, although as yet there's nothing confirmed. That means that if you're looking for clousre from your anime, Strike Witches isn't the series to provide it (yet), but that doesn't mean it's a complete loss, either...
With the Akagi sinking after the Warlock's attack, Mio, reveals that she's managed to sneak her Striker Unit on board and announces that she'll defend the others while they get to safety - but aware that Mio's in no shape to be flying, let along fighting, Yoshika insists that she'll be the one to fly and heads out to do battle - but can one Witch really stand against the might of a Warlock unit? On her own, possibly not - but she's not going to be alone for long...
For most of its run, Strike Witches has been about the characters, with a little bit of Neuroi mystery thrown in - a lot of time has been spent giving you the chance to get to know the girls (as far as you can when there are so many of them, anyway), with the war really just being the backdrop to that all. Yes, you got your battle-of-the-week, but it was never the be-all and end-all of the series.
This episode changes that, just in time for the series to come to a close - which I'd call strange timing, myself. The Warlock unit presents a real challenge for Yoshika to deal with, although she does attempt to deal with it herself while the other girls variously figure out what's been going on or rush to her aid. That makes this easily the most action-based episode of the series. On the one hand, that's good - it makes for a suitably frenetic ending to the series - but on the other hand there are so many things left undone or unexplained that it's as clear as day that the story isn't intended to end here. Unlike Tower of DRUAGA, though, there's no confirmation at the end of the episode that a second season is on the way - just a tantalising teaser at how that follow-up could be set up, should GONZO choose to make it.
So. The origins of the Neuroi, and what they're truly after? Unresolved. The maneuverings that allowed the Warlock to be created? Unresolved. What happened to the girls next? Other than being told that the 501st was disbanded anyway, we're none the wiser. It's just begging for a second season to resolve all this - the series can't really be considered complete as it is, and that's perhaps the most annoying thing about this episode. As a series, it's been shallow but fun, and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing more of it (especially in unedited form) - I just hope it gets given the chance...
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