hontou ni
15Jul/0711

Sola – Missing the mark

After 3 weddings in 2 countries (which includes driving almost a thousand kilometers - a very big deal for an islander whose sunny republic is only 42km east to west) and some backbreaking minor house-chores, I think I've earned just enough credits for the long-overdue entry on Sola's finale.

Before I begin, it's important to know that I enjoyed Sola very much. The story was well-executed with every character contributing to the over-arching plot and what seemed to isolated elements tied up nicely at the end. The production values (animation quality/music) were consistently good. But most importantly, it had endearing characters backed up by many warm/fuzzy scenes (notable ones being Matsuri/Yorito on a recently-sun-dried futon, their movie-date on a blank screen and all the Aono/Koyori moments). (Un)fortunately, this is not another post to add to the chorus of Sola awesomeness, good as it is. It's a personal lament on how the series just missed the mark of an Anime-GreatTM due to poor characterisation in its concluding episodes.

I had mentioned before that Matsuri and Yorito are making a big mistake by restoring Aono's humanity. Given Aono's characterisation (as of ep 12), losing Yorito again would only drive her to suicide since he's the sole sustaining reason for her existence. Of course we understand their motivations for acting thus - to wean Aono off Yorito so that she may (healthily) live for herself again. The audience and the hopeful duo know this to be the best for Aono, naturally. However, the problem lies in the fact that nothing new was added into the equation to have Aono choose this ideal path over suicide. So there exists a plot vacuum in the finale where the audience wonders how the Yorito-obsessive Aono is suddenly able to perceive the cup as half-full instead of being laced with cyanide and move on, living that Yorito-less vibrant life in that sinfully-short-skirt of a seifuku. Plus, by bequeathing her life to Aono instead of Mayuko, Matsuri is also granting Takeshi and Mayuko a most cruel fate as Mayuko out-lives Takeshi and his love. I hope Mayuko would be contended with a recycled Rozen Maiden wardrobe.

I keep getting the feeling the writers are trying hard to have Matsuri's action viewed as being self-sacrificial but her odd choice of granting life where it's not wanted and keeping it from where it's needed betrays her true intent. Maybe I'm getting cynical with age but it'd seem that Matsuri gave up her own life because she's finally admitted to being a failure in life (you would too if the folks you saved tried to kill you for doing so) and attempted to right her wrongs with her death only to royally amplify the screwage.

At this juncture, it'd seem I despise Sola. But thankfully we tanukis have the uncanny ability to focus on the good aspects of anything (which explains why I'm still buddies with Zyl XD) and I reiterate that the series does have a most congruent story structure with loveable characters and introspective dialogue making it a great watch. Just try not to dig too deep into the character motivations for maximum enjoyment.

Waiting anxiously for that moelicious Matsuri figure release (as seen in the Aug issue of Dengeki Hobby).

Related posts:

  1. 15 random thoughts on Sola 04-05
  2. The true antagonist(s) of Sola
  3. Sola power – Morimiya Aono

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  1. Crusader
    July 15th, 2007 - 13:44

    Well I disagree with your need to have Aono completely dependent on Yorito.

    I won’t re-write it but here’s the link…

    http://that.animeblogger.net/2007/07/07/sola-13-the-final-battle-and-ending-thoughts/

    As for not granting Mayuko life who are you to decide who lives and who dies? Who in this world can claim that right anyway for perfect strangers? As for killing oneself for rescuing some suicidal numb skull, hell no. If every freaking rescue swimmer killed himself or herself every time they rescued some one who had no desire to be rescued society would suffer a grievous loss indeed.

    If those who are saved have no wish to continue then they can just go to a warzone (there are plenty) and I will be more than happy top oblige them if they have a suicide bomber vest. Personally if some one were out to kill me the solution would be simple put them in jail or kill them. Between you and a murderer there is only one choice.

    In any case perhaps the OVA will explain how Aono found a reason to live not that she need one to begin with.

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  2. Mirrinus
    July 15th, 2007 - 14:32

    >> So there exists a plot vacuum in the finale where the audience wonders how the Yorito-obsessive Aono is suddenly able to perceive the cup as half-full instead of being laced with cyanide and move on

    That’s EXACTLY what I’ve been complaining about regarding the final episode. I don’t have anything against Matsuri sacrificing her life for Aono; I’m just ticked off that Aono did a complete 180 change in her character without any explanation or development. Feels cheap, convenient, and poorly written, IMHO.

    Yes, it might be answered in the OVAs, but that still leaves the actual series itself feeling incomplete. And I can think of lots of other material for the OVAs that would fill in some of the other inconsistancies and plot holes of this series anyway…

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  3. CCYoshi
    July 15th, 2007 - 16:29

    Well technically there are plenty of ways for Mayuko to go out at the same time as Takeshi, especially given sola’s taste for drama. All she has to do is go see the sunrise with Takeshi on his deathbed or something…

    But that’s just arguing for the sake of arguing, and yeah, some things involving Aono is a bit strange in the final episodes – her cheap fighting powers (hello, double clones), and how she’s suddenly like “OK, I’m not obsessed with Yorito anymore” in the end. Maybe if they didn’t pull a Shuffle! (in a different sense!) in having the plot development end early, with the eyecatch transitioning into the ‘in the future’ epilogue -> i.e. if there was more time for Aono to contemplate and have, I don’t know, an annoyingly long monologue or something.

    I think it makes sense for Matsuri to give her life for Aono, though. It’s kind of a full-circle-type thing, a sort of repayment of favors for when Aono (and also, Yorito) befriended Matsuri and gave her, I suppose, happiness, because it probably was pretty depressing being the only Yaka back then, all by yourself, hated by the village. And plus, Matsuri already ‘saved’ her once…we weren’t about to let Aono go to waste now XD

    Hoping the OVAs will fill in some of the (quite many to be honest) holes, but honestly it feels like it will be more of an “AIR in Summer” type thing. But maybe that’s because there feels like there’s a LOT of similarities between AIR and sola…

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  4. Zzz...
    July 15th, 2007 - 17:20

    Look Crusader you’re missing the point. It’s not that anyone wants Aono to remain dependent on Yoritard forever and die when he goes poof. Nothing makes me personally happier than having her move on and completely forget the worthless ungrateful bastard. However her sudden change in heart at the very end is completely inconsistent with ALL of her actions up to that point. That’s the main issue here. The writers have written the poor girl into a hole and she was rolling out of control in a certain direction, so to have her suddenly stop her own plummet deus ex machina fashion is simply not convincing in storytelling terms, compromises the tale’s emotional integrity, and breaks the believability of the story.

    No one’s arguing against a happy rousing ending. But a forced happy rousing conclusion tacked on for it’s own sake makes for a poor ending to a otherwise solid piece.

    The problem is that the ending is weak as opposed to not being what I wanted.

    As for Mayuko and Takeshi there is a profoundly simple solution now that Mayuko made it clear that she doesn’t consider the state of being a Yaka to be in itself undesirable. Turn him. If they can be happy together why not?

    Oh and one last thing. Why is Matsluturi and Yoritard still alive?!! I’m really pissed now…

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  5. Crusader
    July 15th, 2007 - 19:01

    @Zzz…
    Given that there was a time warp and ep 13 takes place a year later its not what I would call a sudden change of heart. However while there is something to be said about how sudden it was for the series I have little desire to see Aono screaming for Yorito in the dead of night or attempting suicide on 20 separate occasions. I care not how she got over the Yoritard all I really care about what she decides to do from now on. It’s like wanting see a kid cry about his spilled milk, not top tier entertainment if you ask me. Given the choice between Aono in tears and emo or a more complete ending for the majority of the cast I think it was a better choice to give every one an ending rather than 20 odd minutes of Aono weeping profusely and 5 minutes for her to find the resolve to live. What was needed was another episode but it remains to be seen whether those who want to see a more stabby humiliated and distraught Aono can have their OVA. Do we really need to see Aono in complete isolation for a year despising her fate haunted by a perpetual nightmare of her loss while wallowing in a morass of self pity?

    Its not like tears of lament and loss would have med this series epic by default. Yorito was not going into the shredder, that spoiled all hopes for an epic ending died long before the last episode aired.

    @Stripey
    While you lament at Aono in seifku you works hold no wight or credibility in light of your pantsu graced mouse pad.

    Also where are those wedding pictures?

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  6. Zzz...
    July 15th, 2007 - 20:31

    *lightbulb*

    Ah…I see…Crusader you’re selectively non-perce…oh never mind.

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  7. suguru
    July 15th, 2007 - 22:52

    Good post as usual…I agree completely, the series really had the potential to be awesome but, while still enjoyable and I’m glad I watched it, fell a little short of greatness. Yorito really disappointed me at the end too, when he decided because he was paper-Yorito his life wasn’t worth living–compared to Sakai Yuuji in Shakugan no Shana, who came to a very different conclusion faced with a similar reality, it just shows how little strength of character Yorito had. Matsuri deserves much better ^^

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  8. Stripey
    July 16th, 2007 - 06:59

    Crusader: Most of my thoughts coincide with Zzz’s first post. I just thought Matsuri/Yorito’s kamikaze (pun unintended :P ) didn’t seem to have a credible bearing on Aono’s eventual transformation. Much as I would love to know the details of Aono’s seifuku 3-sizes true reasons for living life again through the DVD specials, it wouldn’t change the fact that Matsuri/Yorito acted on poor intel to deliver a lacklustred result.

    Wedding pics… haha well as mentioned I need those GITS laughing man censors. :)

    Mirrinus: Kinda of glad yet a little sad for Sola that I’m not the only one who felt so. Much as I love the Aono at the end of ep 13, the transition to that state befuddles me :P

    CCYoshi: As you rightly pointed out, Aono just needed something to see the folly of her ways to have that ending in ep 13 altogether credible. It was such a waste that the writers didn’t prepare the story sufficiently resulting in this mildly lamentable post :)

    Zzz… You read my mind. Except I still like Matsuri very much despite her ‘wrongdoings’. Being beautiful has its privileges on this blog :) And I don’t think Matsuri/Yorito are alive. I suspect it’s one of those cliched romantic things to do for wrapping up a pseudo-tragic love story.

    suguru: Thanks. :) Great comparison with Yuuji. I would have thought Yorito to realise his worth when Matsuri asserted his existence in ep 10. Indeed, Matsuri deserves better.

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  9. Jaruromania
    July 17th, 2007 - 23:05

    I would’ve preferred a Kill Matsuri, Shut Paper Yorito Up, Move Away ending but ah well.

    In any case I’d be mega-pissed too if I were Aono.

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  10. Vexx
    July 18th, 2007 - 00:55

    Though enjoying the premise, the atmosphere, the music, the characters, and most of the series…. I too finished feeling rather unsatisfied. I expected a rather tragic or bittersweet ending so that wasn’t the issue. I’m kind of standing somewhere between Mirrinus’s thoughts and Stripey’s interpretation.

    The paper-Yorito not taking the stance that “I exist, people care about me” … not unrealistic… but disappointing. Left me wondering why I’d spent time with him.

    Matsuri …. an insufficient solution and almost an escape rather than a sacrifice.

    Aono… yeah, time passed but it was disappointing not to *see* some evolution to the mood she had at the end.

    Mayuko and Takeshi *have* a possible solution if Takeshi is willing :)

    The red herring beginning of the series as to *who* the series was really centered on, I thought was pretty well executed even if it jarred a lot of people. It actually reminded me a bit of the misleading first part of Hitchcock’s Psycho (which I won’t spoil here).
    I would have preferred to see a *bit* of Aono’s transition (not necessarily a wallow).

    Ah well…. another “almost great” series. The field seems littered with them.

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  11. Stripey
    July 23rd, 2007 - 11:38

    Jaruromania: I was rooting for a move-away with Yorito ending since I’ve always been rooting for an Aono X Yorito end. But after Crusader’s prodding and Yorito’s tired crisis with existentialism, I’d choose kill Yorito, shut Matsuri up and have Matsuri/Aono move to yuri-land XD

    Vexx: Great summary on the characters. :) What made Yorito’s actions worst was that Matsuri had explicitly explained his worth yet they proceeded with their kamikaze plan as if that truth was not internalised. Sigh… if I sounded harsh on Sola, it’s because I love the series soo much that I lament it didn’t become one of the greats :P

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