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"...a story should be like a roller coaster. That is to say before writing a really cruel scene, I have to lift the people's spirits, for example, with a fun scene... Before writing a scene of pure despair, we must go through scenes of hope. And indeed, when I write, all of this amuses me very much."
- Sadist07
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Story: 10/10
A witch is born when human reasoning is incapable of explaining a mystery.
A witch is born out of the need for escape.
The previous episodes explained that the difference between reality and fantasy might only be paper-thin, at the same time only ever giving part of an increasingly
...
bleak truth. In the same way, Ryukishi07 never ceases to toy with the reader - exploiting the desire for a fantasy, making them see something which isn't really there.
Similar to Higurashi, only after reaching the ending does it become possible to appreciate the scale and intricacy of his work. At first glance, it seems that each episode of Umineko is 90% fiction and 10% fact, like a jigsaw puzzle where many of the tiles don't fit anywhere.
Or, it could also be compared to an onion, because I have no idea how he managed to include so many LAYERS BUT I'M CRYING ANYWAY.
Regardless, as fragments of 1986 are finally pieced together, it seems inevitable that the completed jigsaw is painted with a tragedy.
At first, each character's story throughout the series appears to relay a certain message: love is a source of madness which distorts the truth. Though somebody might want to live in a magical fantasy forever... eventually, it's time to grow up. It's a cold reality which is incompatible with the idea of a golden witch who you can blame all your problems on.
That's what this episode is really about - growing up without losing your magic. More than hunting down the truth in the previous episodes, this one confronts the need to overcome and accept the truth, instead of escaping to a blissful golden land when, really, you just died in a rather ugly way.
Beyond probability and fantasy, beyond delusions and forgeries, this episode remains a search for a golden land which shouldn't, by all logic and reasoning, be allowed to exist. The last game isn't just a sibling dispute between Ange and Battler - it's a war between 1986 and 1998.
And it's thrilling.
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Art: 8/10
Coming fresh out of the other episodes, the difference in art style can be a little jarring... but if you're binging then you might not notice, considering that some earlier episodes had the same artist. Character designs are still on-point (i.e. seriously adorable, the hell is this), backgrounds are comfortable as usual (i.e. so much class), and the highlight of this episode is probably one of the most satisfying punches ever thrown.
It's the grand finale.
It's the return of cats and crazy frog eyes.
The art is as cutesy as it is psychotic, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
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Characters: 10/10
The hallmark of a strong cast is the potential for a thirty-page essay to be written about the characters alone. Nobody would read it if I wrote one, though.
In this episode, the spotlight returns to our favourite shredded meat girl. There's a comparison to a child soldier who marches in single-minded pursuit of an obsession, eventually left with nothing but themselves - well, that sums up Ange nicely. Her story reveals the dangers of a fixation with only cold, callous logic.
Throughout the series, finding the truth of 1986 has meant rejecting all the fictitious fragments from the previous episodes. However, rather than rejection, this episode is a reconciliation between the witch of the future and the girl trapped in the past - and it's all tied to the idea that whatever lies on the jigsaw tiles isn't the whole truth. It's absolutely the truth, but there isn't just one truth.
Don't understand? Ange doesn't either. That's where all the other characters come in, and how all of their arcs link together to present the truth that she needs, not just the one that she wants.
At the end of the day, Umineko really isn't 90% fiction and 10% truth - in a sense, everything is real. An emotion which is never conveyed can be truth, whatever the reality may be... and with that realization, the second central message hidden in each character's arc finally begins to make sense:
"Without love, [the truth] cannot be seen."
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Enjoyment: 10/10
Honestly, Umineko is a must-read for anybody who wants to spend their time thinking for far too long. Eva, Maria, Shannon; though their stories seem to be unrelated at first, by the end it's clear that they were wrapped in layers of o̶n̶i̶o̶n̶ allegory. Unlike this review, many of these ideas are actually digestible.
For instance, the idea that it takes two to complete a universe - it's like the concept of a catbox and an observer. A story can't be completed if the writer is the only observer; somebody whose work is never seen isn't an author.
To create a story, you only need a writer. To complete it, you need somebody else to act as a reader. Otherwise, who knows whether or not the story actually exists? Like Schrodinger's cat, the truth only exists within your catbox, not outside of it.
In many ways, this is the story of reconciling cold, inflexible determinism with the theory of basic human values. Or well - reality and fantasy.
A single, unchanging truth exists in reality - one which no delusion can change. The past, the present, and the future. No matter how many times you try to turn back the hourglass, unless some magic exists which can interfere with the setting, people wander inexorably towards a predetermined fate.
From a metaphysical standpoint, in a universe of determinism, every action, every crossroads, every whim - all are just calculations, and chain reactions proceeding towards that single truth. And with that realization, truth - once humanity's greatest ally - seemingly becomes the archenemy.
It's a view incompatible with magic. A truth which kills fantasy when it lays the facts bare.
Well, I reject your truth and substitute my own!
Inside a catbox, there exist multiple, unspoken truths. Similarly, inside every person, there exists love and hate, jealousy and admiration, indifference and disgust, greed and altruism, good and evil. In a deterministic universe, seemingly the only truth that matters is the one we can see.
But this story is one which posits that the unspoken truths - the innumerable possibilities we can't see - are just as valuable as that one possibility which was realized.
It's beautiful.
At the end of the day, that's not to say that a mass-murderer should be forgiven. Rather, it means that the whole truth lies beyond truth and lies, reality and fantasy. A detective who only pursues reality might as well be a historian!
Expanding on that idea of duality, this final arc of Umineko ultimately reveals that the entire series was not about a deathmatch between reality and fantasy, truth and lies, or love and hate - it was about reconciliation and acceptance.
It takes both truth and lies to approach the whole truth.
It takes a detective and a witch to protect a golden land.
"Without love, the truth cannot be seen."
"Love is a source of madness which paints over the ugly truth."
Are these two statements truly incompatible? Given Battler and Beatrice's positions in this episode, along with their actions throughout the series - actually, aren't these two ideas the same thing? That complex symbolism, that dichotomy and contrast and battle between two extremes, is really what makes Umineko so great.
It takes two to complete a universe. After all's said and done, isn't that the true central message of this series?
There are innumerable stories (at least 8) which can be uncovered through inference and deduction, and though they should never be a replacement for reality, neither should they be ignored. The truth may be ugly, and it may be reprehensible. However, if it isn't shared, then it remains forever locked within the catbox... and the infinite possibilities which arise?
They form Umineko.
 Alternative TitlesSynonyms: When Seagulls Cry Episode 8: Twilight of the Golden Witch Japanese: うみねこのなく頃に散 - Episode 8: Twilight of the Golden Witch More titlesInformationType: Manga
Volumes: 9
Chapters: 42
Status: Finished
Published: Jan 21, 2012 to Jun 22, 2015
Demographic:
Shounen
Serialization:
Gangan Joker Statistics Ranked: #202 2 based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded. Popularity: #906
Members: 23,772
Favorites: 1,914 Available AtResources | Reviews
Filtered Results: 15 / 16
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May 23, 2017
"...a story should be like a roller coaster. That is to say before writing a really cruel scene, I have to lift the people's spirits, for example, with a fun scene... Before writing a scene of pure despair, we must go through scenes of hope. And indeed, when I write, all of this amuses me very much."
- Sadist07 _____________________________________________________________________________ Story: 10/10 A witch is born when human reasoning is incapable of explaining a mystery. A witch is born out of the need for escape. The previous episodes explained that the difference between reality and fantasy might only be paper-thin, at the same time only ever giving part of an increasingly ... 
Jan 20, 2022
Umineko is unironically a peak fiction. No, really, it's undoubtedly the best literary work of the detective genre I’ve ever read (not just among manga, but in general), and I very much doubt any other story will surpass it.
This is, as you might have already guessed, a review for the Umineko manga as a whole, not just part 8 separately. It is also intended to be without spoilers. Ryukishi07 is a great writer. He also likes to do a little bit of trolling from time to time. These two aspects of him culminate in a work that has greatly written twists and turns. Twists so good, ... 
Nov 19, 2014
"We'll be together for all eternity"
Emotions are filling me up. Yet again I was able to experience the void of finishing something great. Due to ongoing of the manga, I had to read the original visual novel. It was long but worth reading. Story-9 Everything comes to the conclusion. Battler sets up the last game for Ange in order to show her other side of Ushiromiya family: kind, solicitous and loving. Why would he do that? Before answer is revealed, Bernkastel appears with something in mind. Knowing that she is the main antagonist, we can suspect that her intentions will not be good and nice. What is ... 
Oct 17, 2021
"Without Love, The Truth Cannot Be Seen"
If it wasn't for this, I could never reach till the end. I don't know what is inside in the mind of Ryukishi 07, but he really knows how to distort the minds of readers. He made distinct stories out of when they cry universe but in the end he collides them. But Umineko drifted away my heart, the tragic path of the characters especially the perpetrator who started all of this for the sake of LOVE. I have read heavy titles like Berserk, Punpun, Monster, 20CB, Pluto etc.. but Umineko dug my grave. This VN/Manga is ...
Jan 28, 2025 Recommended Funny 
An IMMENSE improvement on the extremely controversial final episode of the original VN, Ryukishi clearly learned from his mistakes and the horrible reception of episode 8 in Japan and crafted an immaculate final act that gives even episode 7 a run for it's money, possibly eclipsing it entirely. The original episode 8 has possibly the least development of the overall mystery and serves as more of a prologue, whereas the manga version has possibly the most development and explicitly dives into the culprit and their motivations. This isn't just a cash-grab ex-post-facto "explanation", some of the most powerful moment in the series are in this
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Aug 14, 2022
I like this. It's really good.
I have no complaints. As far as the mystery goes, to my knowledge, everything that was introduced was explained with satisfying resolutions. Characters are also perfect. I felt that every action the characters made were within the realm of their personalities. They all felt like real people, at times they could be douche bags, and at other times they could be kind. The resolution of Ange's character arc was a masterclass in good endings. Best manga ever Read this(and the other parts). 20/10 easy ... 
Jan 1, 2024
*Umineko: Understanding the Heart*
~Written last December 2022~ Just like how there is no unsolvable mystery, there are no well-written stories that couldn't be understood without effort, thought, and time. Such is the same with humans, I would like to continuously earnestly believe and eventually experience. Fiction transcends dimensions and planes to deliver messages for creatures living life, and what ties the two worlds together in a heavenly connection are the authors who put their hearts out in the open and pour the world's ocean with their souls, and the pulse of humanity continues to beat. Their life is that of realizations, their minds a vehicle for change. Their ... 
Jan 3, 2022
Umineko Episode 8* is a masterclass, not a masterpiece. While this work has its flaws, it excels because of them. Umineko has always been ambiguous in its storytelling, allowing readers to use both emotion and logic to come to their own conclusions. Episode 8 stands out with its closure and a reworked visual novel that is easier to understand. Unlike the visual novel, the manga does not have actual selections during the Halloween party, culprit, and end path. Instead, it takes a different approach by delving deeper into the characters and their relationships, such as through the game of hide-and-seek. This not only reinforces the
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Jul 18, 2022
Umineko is an absolute banger of a visual novel, and this manga ending makes it just as good, if not better.
The narrative of chapter 8 is one of the best writing i’ve ever seen from Ryukishi. There are so many reasons why this is considered one of the best VNs of all time. The themes on how to value your own life and look for a future, and sometimes you don’t necessarily have to know the truth, the power of faith, using that to acknowledge your past sins is brilliantly executed in this visual novel. I can ramble on and on about Umi for hours, but ... 
Jun 2, 2024
Okay so this review is aimed at not only episode 8 but the series as a whole. I had read Higurashi and fallen in love with the way the story was told in the course of question and answer arcs and eventually i learned about Umineko and decided to give it a shot. It was worth it and I'm so happy i read this absolutely beautiful story. It takes a completely new approach to the mystery genre but also doesn't fail to execute what makes any mystery story exciting to read. The suspense and plot twists always keeps you hooked and after being invested in
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Feb 12, 2022
This will be a review for the entire Umineko series.
In my opinion, one of the most genuinely heartfelt praises one can bestow upon a work of fiction is “I don’t want this to be over.” I had this feeling hit me pretty strongly about three quarters of the way through Umineko When They Cry—which is saying a lot, given that the game took ~130 hours to complete. It is possibly my favourite work of fiction I’ve experienced, and cements my opinion that creator Ryukishi07 is a genius. Well… A genius who could benefit from an editor; but a genius nonetheless. It is a complex, mystifying, ... 
Sep 9, 2024 Mixed Feelings Funny
Umineko is a story I believe for those with no standards, or rather I should say, its for those with very different standards from me. I think this series is quite cool conceptually but handled very poorly at times. It is very repetitive. I also find its characters outside of Beatrice to not be even slightly compelling lol. There were many times where I found myself quite bored I was just reading to progress, not because I was interested which isnt a healthy way to experience anything. I think Umineko is very lacking in atmosphere, compelling characters, and class. The manga is terrible, no
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Dec 23, 2022
I will not give any spoilers and while I would love to review all 8 chapters of Umineko, that is a pain so I am just gonna leave my review on the final episode, episode 8, which is my favorite episode.
My journey into Umineko began when my two friends suggested it to me but it took me forever to really start. I started with the VN, and my friends told me it was roughly 150 hours long. I looked it up and it literally has more words than the Bible, one and a half Bibles to be exact. So I took my time getting into ... 
Oct 27, 2021
This series is one hell of a ride, and I would recommend it to anyone. However, is the journey itself better than the conclusion?
***THIS REVIEW WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS*** As far as being the final ending, I guess it was kind of a given that the people on the island weren't going to magically come back to life, but the fantastical and often over-the-top nature of the series certainly wouldn't rule out such a miracle. The real reason is that this series is a tragedy more than anything, and I can't help but consider that to be lazy writing. Think about it, the series basically ends with ... 
Jan 21, 2026
As of now, this is my second favorite thing I've ever read and easily my favorite thing on this website. While the entire Umineko manga is phenomenal, Episode 8 is where it all culminates and concludes with a masterpiece ending. With every character having their arcs come to a satisfying and perfect conclusion as well as having the actual ending of the story as beautiful as humanly possible. It has been more than a year since I first read it, and that ending persists in my mind. Characters, such as Ange, still remain as my favorite characters ever. Truly a masterpiece in writing as well
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