Recap

It’s been two weeks since Ragyo’s defeat. On the cusp of Honnouji Academy’s final graduation, shadows of the unfinished past make an unexpected return.

Gee’s Thoughts

Ah, good old Kill la Kill. Watching this episode handily reminded me why I loved the show so much and why it ended up being the highlight of my week when it aired. This episode serves as a good way to tie up loose ends (like what happened to Hououmaru) as well as giving us one last goodbye to the crazy incomprehensible bunch that inhabited the show. Like a fair number of bonus episode OVAs, it does suffer a bit from budget issues and some egregiously reused footage. That said, for anyone familiar with Kill la Kill, you could almost argue it was business as usual.

Thankfully, Kill la Kill’s sense of fun and passion remains the same as well. Between Mako’s hilarious Hallelujah moments, Honnouji Academy finally transforming into a giant robot, and basically everyone in the cast getting a moment to shine, it was an entertaining episode. It’s a fine a bit of closure as well. With the finale’s epilogue showing Satsuki finally free from the shackles of leadership, it was nice to see how she was able to let go of it. And of course, Ryuko having one last conversation with Senketsu was quite satisfying as well. Sure, as Ryuko shows this episode, she’s a tough girl and she’ll be able to move on just fine, but it just wouldn’t be Kill la Kill without our favorite piece of sentient clothing. Also, Ryuko summoning the scissor blades from orbit through the ghostly powers of Senketsu was a particularly great moment. It’s there and the following scene where you realize all of Trigger’s budget went for this episode. In addition, it’s proof that in the right hands and with proper directing, CG can be well integrated into anime without feeling cheap or obnoxious. Even on a shoestring budget, Trigger’s sense for shot composition remains strong as ever.

Overall, while it may not reach the heights of the show’s actual finale, it remains a great testament to the kind of energy that Kill la Kill brought to the table. In a ways, between the usual budget problems, the silly jokes, the crazy fights, and everything else in between, this episode was like slipping your feet into a pair of worn out shoes. They don’t look great and the soles are bare, but they feel familiar and comfortable all the same. It’s great that Trigger got the chance to neatly tie everything up once and for all, and wherever Ryuko and the rest go from here, I’m glad I was able to come along for the ride.