And so we come full circle. Fourteen years after the release of the very first episode of Blue Exorcist in anime, and just one year after its long-awaited resurrection by studio Voln, here we are with a majestic final episode, bringing to a brilliant close this epic that has accompanied us for so many years. I won't go into too much detail here, as I intend to write a more global review, especially as I've already largely expressed my feelings on each episode since season 3.
This new adaptation has had its ups and downs. It has struggled to regain its audience and rekindle in us the sense of wonder it once inspired. I didn't want to admit it, but looking back, season 3 was just a rough draft, a first attempt for Voln to make their mark in this very special universe, as they specialize more in adaptations of Fujita-Sensei shonens.
Season 4 nevertheless improved on its predecessor in several respects. The pace was much better mastered, and the animation and art direction were refined. Despite a story that was still in the middle of the road, where the strength of the themes and stakes didn't always manage to mask certain structural weaknesses, this season failed to rally all the manga's fans around it.
But with this fifth season, all these shortcomings have been swept under the carpet. The proof is in the magnificent score it received: 7.97, a more than respectable rating, which puts Blue Exorcist in eighth place in this demanding 2025 winter season. Everything about this adaptation of the Blue Night arc was masterful. Be it the animation (Voln had probably never reached such a technical level since its creation), the music, the dubbing, the rhythm... but also and above all the story and character development. This fifth season embodies precisely why I've remained loyal to Blue Exorcist, despite all the other works I've seen and read over the years.
I could spend hours dissecting every single milestone in this arc, but I'll confine myself to the essentials. Without question, this arc is the best of the saga. All the characters develop with impressive accuracy. From Shiro, the gruff yeti with the clumsy benevolence, to Yuri, the gentle, radiant light, each trajectory is carefully crafted. Their evolution, their story, allowed Rin to understand her own value as a human being. For me, Shiro and Yuri are the one and only possible couple, and their relationship alone carries the whole season. Their journey takes us through a myriad of emotions unsuspected for an anime like Blue Exorcist. Like so many other viewers, I emptied my box of tissues in the face of so much emotion. And what better declaration of love to this work than to conclude with such a poignant episode?
Seeing so many fans come together to express their love for this series warms my heart. It proves to me that the Blue Exorcist community is still alive and kicking, despite the trials and tribulations of Kazue Kato's work.
How many years will we have to wait before we can expect to see the sequel to the saga adapted in its turn? Only the Lord knows. But let's not be ungrateful. Voln was already one of my favorite animation studios, but with this heartfelt tribute to Blue Exorcist, it has won my esteem even further. As a viewer and enthusiast, I can only thank Voln for rekindling the flame of this blue phoenix, which was just waiting for a spark to shine again in the starry sky of Japanese animation.
I'm going to miss these weekly meetings terribly. After the end of Insomniacs, and now the end of Blue Exorcist, it will be hard to turn the page. But I have no choice. And if nostalgia ever consumes me, I'll come back to this fifth season, if only to fill the void.
This will probably be my last post on an episode forum for a long time to come. But before I close this chapter, there's one last thing I'd like to say.
For this exceptional year, for all these unforgettable memories, for all these intense and warm emotions, and for having brought back to life this work that is so dear to me... from the bottom of my heart, thank you, Studio Voln. |