Ranked #885

Angel Beats!: Another Epilogue

A short review about this short episode.

Basically this is what happens if Otonashi stayed behind. Whether he really did stay, a signal for a second season, or a just a short thing to show what would happen and what he would do if he stayed is out of my knowledge's reach.

Summary: A person that was in the afterlife realizes that he is dead and questions why he is there. Otonashi comes in and helps him figure out what to do buy challenging him and offers him help afterwards. The class causes a small uproar about it and the teacher tries to calm everyone down and get them to finish the test. The main person refuses.

Story: 9
I'm only giving this a nine because I enjoy things that leave things out because it drives my imagination crazy. And also it also show some of the questions out there if he really stayed in the afterlife to help people. It may cause some to think that he maybe the guy who created the angel player and the Angel Beats time line maybe going in loops (which is the thing I do not want, but it's a thought nonetheless)

Art: 8
High quality art as usual. Really good tension scene.

Sound: 10
The voice acting was outstanding, and the choice of the BG was really good. It brought nostalgia even though it has only been a half of a year.

Character: 10
Otonashi showed a great deal of concern to other people in an indirect way. I like that because that's how I am. And the new character also showed a great deal of internal conflict and started to solve how to get out of it by Otonashi's help. That's really good character development in a two minute segment.

Enjoyment: 10
It brought a quench of thirst to me, since I've been looking forward to this since the first season ended. No matter what it was, I was still going to give it a 10.

Overall: 9
I'll give it a 9. It's probably because there wasn't much there, but there was something. Also, I'm sure it fires up people's imagination and excitement if there is going to be new season or not. I'm looking forward for more! read more

This review is short, but so is the episode, so yeah.

This is basically what happens if Otonashi stays behind. If this really happened, or if this is a alternate ending, or even a promo for a second season, I do not know. In my opinion, this is a alternate ending and its up to the viewer to decide which one he or she wants to believe.

I do know however that a lot of people find this episode very confusing and completely unnecessary.

I personally like this ending though. It's a sad ending, true, but a lot of good anime have a sad ending (like Requiem for the Phantom). The reasons I like this ending are:
- it does a good job at explaining some stuff that wasn't explained in the main series. This is what happens: after Otonashi helps the student, you hear the rumours of a very cool student council president (him) and that he is waiting for someone. Now when did we already heard this? Oh, right, its the same story as the unknown programmer. This would indicate that Otonashi somehow is that programmer (don't ask me how, but it's cool);
- I think it lies in his personality. Before Tenshi leaves in the main series, he does ask her to stay and that they will help the others together. Also, note that he did die helping others.
- and last, I did not really get how he could have leaves like the rest. I mean, he does seem quite happy when Tenshi left, and isn't that a condition to move on?

Anyway, as you've might have noticed, I like this ending better than the first. But, as I've said in the beginning of this review, it's up to the viewers to decide which one they want.

That being said, I give this short episode the same rating as the main series, a 9 out of 10. read more