Strawberry Panic 26 (End)

StoPani has been both excruciating and entertaining. The ending wasn't too surprising, given all the hints sprinkled in the run up to the final episode. I'm also relieved that most of the loose ends were nicely tied up, even though the final episode was entitled "Beginning" - unlike certain egregious recent SUNRISE series Which Shall Not Be Named. It also continues to affirm my belief that OPs can give a good indication of a series' plot direction.

Strawberry Panic 24-25

We're into the final stretch and I've just managed to catch up before the final episode tomorrow! With the tension gone between Hikari and Yaya, I find myself suddenly bored with the Spica arc and am dropping any further comment or screencapping there. Though Chikaru-oneesama was great with her saintly smile as Hikari nuzzled her chest. Mmmm... ~~~ The big question that remains is: Is it going to be a Shizuma x Nagisa ending?

Strawberry Panic 23

Miyuki sets up Tamao and Nagisa to be Miator's Etoile candidates and even gets Shizuma to endorse her decision. Nagisa has a whole crying fit as a result but is nannied by Chiharu. She then latches onto the idea of standing for Etoile with Tamao to forgot Shizuma.

Strawberry Panic 22

I think this episode should be called 'How Hikari Pwns Everyone' - she starts off by triggering the Prince(ss?) of Tennis thing by reawakening Kaname's sense of honour and causing Ms Snake Eyes to give up the teachings of Megumi Kannazuki. Then she easily deflects Shion's attempts to manipulate her into persuading Amane to run for Etoile. To top it all of, she manages to heal Yaya's heart and restore our dark-haired goddess' will to sing while maintaining the Amane x Hikari line.

Strawberry Panic 21

The final episode of the Shizuma Gets Over Kaori arc. While it's been a bit draggy and Yaya-less, I've still found it enjoyable because it was fun to see Shizuma in all her seasons especially pre-Kaori when she was light and free and during her relationship with Kaori when she was so sooo in love. Best bits were the Miyuki parts as she actively cheerleads her beloved Shizuma's romance with Kaori.

Strawberry Panic 19-20

Miyuki: Hey Kaori, get ready to meet your first customer, ok? [Much apologies for lateness. Haven't had a functional broadband connection for a while and also recently crawled out from under a tonne of coursework. Am currently leeching off a neighbour's unsecured wireless connection. Also many thanks to Skane for his forays on Ep 19 and 20 thusfar.]

Strawberry Panic 18

No Yaya in this episode so I wouldn't normally have a post. But given that I'm curious to hear Skane's exposition on Tamaoism this week, here's a seed bed for that.

Even at the remote beach house, Tamao's presence follows the pair in the form of her sandwiches. I wonder if Shizuma wanted them eaten before they got to the house so that another physical reminder of Tamao had been dealt with?

Strawberry Panic 17

Only the briefest flicker of Yaya in this episode as the story preps us and Nagisa for the unveiling of Shizuma's past love life and the traumatic events that turned her in a serial yuri playgirl (not quite emphasized enough in the anime IMHO) and delinquent elected school leader.

Strawberry Panic 16

It's the day of the cultural festival and the performance of Carmen. Our dastardly duo, Kaname and Momomi, tries to sabotage the rehearsals and Amane's heel but all their evil schemes come to naught due to the combination of Shizuma and Nagisa's interventions. Nagisa was actually not irritating for once and she played Carmen with suitable aplomb.

Strawberry Panic 15

Oooh, student politics about the casting for Carmen. I think Miyuki's affirmation of Tamao's choices was correct as the school gossip was mainly premised on the look of the couples but the final casting decisions are sensible as they draw on the inherent personalities of the five seniors. More Yaya brooding and moodiness - her low point must be getting beaten by Kagome for the Romeo role in the middle school play. Hmmm... I just felt like making Kagome "an offer she can't refuse" *Imagines her waking up and seeing the severed head of Oshibaru next to her pillow - pan out to external view of dorm as she screams* Ah, good times.