The final message of Gou/Sotsu is actually very nice, and it matches the tone and quality of the overarching morals of the original eight chapters/two seasons. Unfortunately, where Kai's ending felt satisfying because of all the character's past failures, Sotsu's ending just feels... unfulfilling. I rather liked Gou when it aired, but looking back on the new course of 39 episodes between Gou and Sotsu, much of it is simply repeated events (Not different events across June 1983 like before, but rather the exact same events already portrayed earlier in Gou or Sotsu from a different angle) and incessant gore. Essentially, what people mistake Higurashi for before they experience the whole of the original story that concluded with Higurashi Kai.
In the original story, I still stand by my belief that the gore is heavy, but is ultimately rarely shown and is never front and centre during the show at any point. In Sotsu, it is absolutely front and centre. Every episode is just death after death, culminating in a tone-deaf "final battle" that feels more like a 90s shounen series than it does the culmination of a long-running psychological anime. Again, the message is great, but the means of getting there really aren't at all. Honestly, looking back on it, I'd rather have never gotten Gou/Sotsu at all, and been left with what I view as an already perfect ending between Kai and Rei. Rika and Satoko no longer feel like themselves, and honestly regardless of the whole witch plot thread and the ties to Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, Satoko's actions across these two seasons are inexcusable, and it just feels like the show immediately forgives her once the final episode has run its course. There was so much room to do something, anything, with the clash between these two characters, but ultimately it's just too little, too late.
On a final note, I can't in good conscience recommend you watch Gou or Sotsu unless you consider yourself to be a die-hard fan of either the Higurashi Visual Novels or the original 2006-2009 anime adaptations of the series. Sotsu especially feels like a massive step down, both thematically and structurally, from what came before, and honestly, despite some sweet fanservice scenes at the end, I've reached the conclusion of this reboot of one of my beloved series with a bitter taste in my mouth.
