I have to say that throughout the episode I cried manly tears. Manly tears are the kind that you don’t blink through, they just come running down as you shout YES, YES, YES while shaking your fist into the air. Gurren Lagann has been one of the most awesome rides ever in the last 7 years of anime and I’m really sad (and glad) that it is over with.

That paragraph was written over a month ago or so (I’m not sure, shortly after it was released). It’s been awhile now and I figure I can finally say something meaningful about the ending.

First off I feel that the ending was wrong and the entire battle now seems less cool than it should be. Apparently the Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann fought within super spiral space that was manipulated where “your true soul” was shown. Something along those lines (not 100% accurate). So in reality there was no galaxies they were really throwing around (because those would have spiral lifeforms in them). Secondly the sweet and sour ending just didn’t fit. I’m sure you’ve watched it by now so I’m not going to hold back spoilers.

I had no problems with Nia dying. I just had a problem with how she went. For instance, Kittan died to save everyone. The brothers died to save the twins. Kamina died to save Simon. Everyone died with purpose in battle except Nia. Her death was unexpected and abrupt lacking any kind of finesse other than the shock of it. I didn’t like Nia as a character and in many ways was glad to see her gone. However, at least give her a death going out destroying something.

Something other than to Simon’s soul.

There are really two endings I would accept. The first is the Eureka 7 ending where you see Nia and Simon together in a drawing or a hint. You smile and feel really good then you move on. It could continue the theme of the spiral nemesis and would be something I’d think was decent and good.

The other is have both Simon and Nia go out in glory. The final attack could have been changed to where Nia and Simon didn’t survive. Then, in heaven, where Simon finally pierced he’s once again reunited with everyone. Bitter, sweet, and very warm. This kills any chance for a Simon sequel but avoids the ending where Simon is nothing but a wandering hobo.

Yes, I said hobo. I know a lot of people feel the ending was perfect but I just can’t see someone like Simon giving up and fading out of existence. Did we even need the spiral nemesis? I mean, the anti-spirals were the lamest most shallow enemies in the longest time. There was little story to them other than “oh, hey you can’t use spiral energy”. I mean, hell, what is the point even?  They could have had a real story along the lines of true advancement is a dream world where everything is perfect. Those who defy this logic must be exiled or something. Spiral nemesis is just bleh.

Really, if you think about it, pre-time skip the series was near perfect. The emo Simon episodes were painful but the siege of Tepperin and the death of Kamina were the epitome of awesome and had a real story to them. Post time-skip we wasted a lot of time on the entire “Simon is a bad guy” arc that could have been compressed. There wasn’t a lot of good fighting too so it was more or less just drama. Then we went into space and had some excellent fighting but not much story. Like the episode against the anti-spiral field machine. Nothing much going on there.

Evil machine, some more info about the spiral knights before them, and some more explanation on what they’re doing and where they are. Not a whole lot to actually learn.

You can’t argue against the action though in the later episodes and really that is what this series is about. The over the top make anything possible action where they overcome the odds at the peak of their despair. You can’t argue about 20 minutes of two robots throwing galaxies at one another while the most badass music possible plays. You can’t argue with “Libera Me” From Hell.

You can argue against the depressing future where your over the top hero just wanders around as a hobo as the universe is just signing a treaty (no guarantee of absolute peace). You know what, they could have just cut out that entire section. Nia dies her weird mysterious death. Yoko says Simon isn’t a god (anyone who can fight with galaxies, real or not, is a god in my book). Then he puts his cape on and we end the series.

Hell, Nia’s death is messed up on several levels. Think about it. He went into space to save rescue her. He did everything to save her from the anti-spirals. In the end he failed. He saved the universe… maybe? We still don’t know much about the spiral nemesis and the other spiral planets. There is always room for inter-spiral conflict and those who resent Simon for allowing this much spiral energy to flow.

Overall I’d give this series a position below GaoGaiGar but above most other shows. GaoGaiGar would have taken second place (well third since I consider Nadesico #1, but that is my opinion) to TTGL if the ending had been better. It’s just that after watching for 20 minutes and screaming and shaking your fist you find out in the 21st minute that it was all for naught. The girl is lost, the world is safe for now, and Simon is nothing more than a really old weird looking hobo who may be immortal. Its as if despair hits and your spiral energy is gone.

Maybe the anti-spirals won after all?

Hey, though, some people do like the ending and I don’t blame them. If I wasn’t such a super robot fan and say more into moe anime I’d probably find the ending sweet and sour. Bitterly perfect. The tension and drama would have made me really happy. However, being a fan of super robot anime I like to see at least something more.

That’s what opinion is for though, I guess.

These details were also released:

• Viral is a shark with some feline properties.
• Simon and Nia were not virgins.
• Adiane used to play beach volleyball with Nia.
•  TTGL was in Super Spiral Space and really wasn’t throwing galaxies around.
• Drill is nothing more then a symbol for “soul”.
• Nia is the biological daughter of Genome and wasn’t culled from one of the camps.
• Simon is the strongest spiral warrior in the universe.
• The glasses were in honor of both Kittan and Kamina.
• Nia and Simon stayed together a week after their return, before the wedding.
• Nia is the thinnest girl in Gurren Lagann (what otaku asked this stupid question).

There is probably more, but that’s the important stuff. So a possible second season will be within two years. Hooray! I guess. The mediocre ending still is blah though.

Episode 17 (18): “I want to hear it now, the truth of this world.”
The ominous Helix King’s last words are slowly becoming reality as predicted when a unidentified creature suddenly appears beyond the moon just the moment human population reached a state and number fit for evolution. Unexpectedly, a mysterious third party appears from nowhere and a recognizable figure declares war on the Human Defense Organization.

Episode 18 (19): “I will do it, no matter what it takes!”
Rossiu’s newly found dilemma leads him to declare Simon guilty of treason and quickly arrests him on this charges. Chaos quickly grows among the populace rioting populace and uncertainty grows as people become reminiscent of their old days underground. The former members of Dai-Gurren confront Rossiu about Simon only to be met by a dramatic revelation. Meanwhile, the mysterious creature keeping its eye on Earth grows nearer by date.

19 (20): “So this is how the last dawn of humanity looks like.”
The Humanity Defense Organization breaks into pieces as wars break among Earth’s population. Humanity major enemy turns out to be humanity as human piloted gunmen start destroying human piloted gunmen without discrimination. Simon’s makes up his mind as an enormous creature sized as the moon covers the sun appearing right above the chaotic surface.

Anyway screenshots:

Episode eight is probably one of the sadder moments in anime. With the [spoiler]death of Kamina[/spoiler] (the spoiler is a warning that it won’t be unspoiled again).

The episode started off normally. Sure episode eight just came after the scary episode seven where Yoko mentions how Kamina is still mortal. The episode is going fine, everything is going good. Then it happens. The saddest and most insane moment that anime has seen in the last few years.

That’s right, with the death of Kamina half way through the show everyone goes insane. Slowly people start to cling to the notion that maybe, MAYBE, Kamina lives. Maybe he’ll recover. I mean, Zoro from One Piece had himself cut from one end to the other and with bandages he came back. As the episode continues everyone gets more and more somber. More and more he starts talking about the last attack.

Then it hits, GIGA DRILL. The greatest attack we’ve seen so far. Then… then it happens. The rain falls, the tears start and Kamina dies.

A tragic episode that I will probably remember for a long time. This is almost like Gai dieing again except Kamina was probably going to live a little bit longer.

More on this later in an attempt to catch up, but rather tragic.