Why does To Your Eternity stand out? What makes it so special? Well, for starters, it’s simply amazing because it doesn’t need to explain the inns-and-outs of the world that we’re in. We’re simply presented with Fushi and that’s the end of it. Where he comes from leaves one to ponder but that’s not really what the show is about. You see, other shows sometimes have a bad habit, almost like a bad alcohol addiction that your uncle has, to tell you things you don’t really need to hear or want to hear for that part. In any case, a lot of shows tend to over explain certain things, unnecessary things about a certain system in that world. In most cases, you’ve seen a shitload of similar shows so you don’t even need to hear that explanation. In most cases, those systems conveniently change over time to give advantage to main characters. To Your Eternity clearly defines its bounds and limits and never even once decides to defy them. Even if the situation gets unreasonably harsh for the characters, no matter how tough it gets, the characters only use what they are given. That isn’t to say that the show doesn’t have any asspulls or rushed decisions that characters make, or even entire arcs that feel as rushed as me driving drunk at 3 am to the nearest liquor store to get a refill.
Anyways, the story makes sense. We are presented with a character who was put on earth to gather information about things. We know that that character is immortal and can shapeshift into humans and/or objects as long as he follows certain rules that he learns. The characters goal, what we know of at least, is to save the world from mystical creatures that threaten that very world. For the main character to succeed, he has to take help of other people and learn from them, learn how to take help but also learn to give help to those in need.
While it does make ‘sense’ or at least things seem so on the surface, there are rather many “unexpected” twists and turns that the story takes. You get used to how the show is structured. There are several arcs, each arc has a prologue and an epilogue. A prologue establishes and shows the new and relevant characters for that particular arc and the epilogue usually ends with Fushi being able to transform into one of those characters. Formulaic? Yeah. I personally liked that Fushi grew as a character and learned how to deal with loss of someone near and dear. The problem I would say lies not within the structure but rather within the contents of each arc. It becomes emotionally manipulative and always tries to artificially inflate its stakes even when it’s not needed. One such example is when Tonari & the Crew decide to return back to the island. It made no sense whatsoever for them to return. The way they returned was very rushed. And what happened afterwards was to be expected. It was a last second decision in the show, but I think that the decision made in the show is reflective of how the production, at least for that arc. I’d go as far as to say that Tonari’s arc was a last second decision because it has the single-most stupid resolution in the whole show.
To give you an example of how stupid Tonari’s arc was, we should compare it to Gugu’s arc, and by doing so we will see what clearly sets them apart. While Gugu’s arc may be seen as a cliché, the resolution of that arc is a lesson learned by Fushi. Fushi learns something valuable – do not lose your guard, ever. To elaborate this further, Fushi grows accustom to the human world and how people live. He becomes human in other words. He learns how to talk, but talking isn’t the only thing that makes us human. So he learns a lot more and finds other people who can understand him and help him. While spending his time with people that he holds near and dear, he develops almost a brother-like relationship with Gugu. The more time he spends with the people and Gugu, the less he is on his guard – awaiting the mythical creature that could erase his very existence. And in result, he loses Gugu because he wasn’t prepared for the encounter with the mythical creature. He wasn’t on his guard. He lost his guard. He lost Gugu. Valuable lesson learned.
Tonari’s arc on the other hand is about Fushi spending more time with people, the only difference being is that the people are now boring and are trying to use Fushi for their own personal gain. The only thing Fushi ever learns from Tonari & the Crew is perhaps how to “fight” and “real friendship”, I’d argue that the only real friendship, at least in the context of this show, was perhaps with Gugu and not with anyone else. Anyways, Tonari’s arc is stupid because of the decisions they make and especially the last second return to the island. Perhaps, they wanted to help but it would be better if it wasn’t pulled out of the director’s ass on a whim like that. Maybe it would have helped had they shown the characters at least discuss this matter before leaving the ship and returning. Anyways, what I wanted to say is that everything that Fushi “learned” from Tonari & the Crew he had already learned from Gugu. And yeah, I get it, they wanted to show the main villainess and also reveal that Parona died but I feel that it could have been done so much better. Half the tension is lost because you can’t focus while Tonari and retard gang are on-screen. And even when they aren’t, you are baffled by how stupid this whole prisoner’s island thing is. And when the reveal of Parona happens you couldn’t care less because it’s just too much. And to make matters worse, they make it like a double reveal in the same episode. We get to see the villainess and we get to see Parona. I’d like to apologize for this rant-styled review but I am incredibly drunk and it’s already 3 AM and here I am writing about this.
Well, anyways. I would go as far as to say that you could pretty much remove the whole Tonari arc and cut it to episode 19-20 directly and the show would instantly become better. I’d say that it would be the definitive DenseMC Cut Edition. The reason I say this is because Tonari’s arc is very tedious, slow and boring to watch. It is also the longest out of the bunch, and combined with the incredibly stupid introduction to the arc and even dumber characters and its snail pace, you get an absolute disaster. It felt like they ran out of money and had to make do with whatever they had left and ended up with this.
But to be completely honest with you, Tonari’s arc isn’t really what caused the Titanic to sink, there were evident problems with the show from very early on. The show thinks it’s clever and the first time it happens, you are a little bit shocked and taken aback but it is something that happens throughout the show. If you ever decide to watch the opening to this show, know that you have spoiled the whole show for yourself. In case you still don’t get the hint, I am talking about the phenomenon of “Sudden Death” in this show. Yes, I just made that term up and yes characters die left and right. Whenever the show feels it’s convenient or if the show ever gets slightly so boring – someone just dies. While sure, it may seem logically coherent in each story that those characters die and it also happens to be the only way Fushi is able to progress and become a better information gatherer, it’s an incredibly boring concept that loses its novelty after seeing it once or twice. What doesn’t help this fact is that some of the characters we only get to know for 2 something episodes before they “tragically” die. And somehow, we are supposed to be emotionally invested and attached to them without even knowing their names?
In case anyone wonders why there are so many references to alcohol and if it seems like a cry for help, it is. I need help. It is a problem. I have a drinking problem and I am afraid To Your Eternity is the cause of that – I should have never installed the brewery system in my stomach, it didn’t work out as intended. It seemed like a great idea and maybe I could even start spitting fireballs and do cool magic tricks, but alas, I am just a drunk now.
And that’s it, that’s the review. If you for some strange reason decide to read this and cannot make sense of this review – this is exactly how the show feels towards the end, especially after Tonari’s arc. Have a good one and drink less fellas!
