Having full length episodes now essentially means each episode has enough room to express itself and to fully let the viewer immerse themselves within the show itself. Part of the reason why I regarded Omoide Present much highly than S1-S3 is because of this. And I'm happy to report that in general, the quality of each episode in S4 either matches or exceeds the OVA. Far from the angst-laden episodes of S3, what we have here is a more focused portrayal of Aoi as she grows and matures more as a person.
The first 4 episodes being recaps (apart from the 2/3 minute preludes) was a minor point of contention for me. Especially considering there was no shortage of manga material to adapt. I suppose it's a necessary evil given how long since the series started, but I would have preferred if we had more actually new content as opposed to a rethread.
The rest of the series, on the other hand, doesn't disappoint. The new characters introduced complement the cast really well, and I'm glad we finally got a proper Honoka x Kokona spotlight episode and got to see Hinata's mom at long last. The show is simultaneously relaxing and yet it captivates your attention just as often. The superb direction certainly does wonders in bringing these locations to life, and with a gentler color palette compared to previous seasons, I am fully immersed every week when I tune in to the show.
And let me tell you that the season finale is quite possibly my favorite ending to a slice of life show since Non Non Biyori S3. All that buildup since S2 (or even S1) led to a spectacular payoff, complete with a triumphant reprise of the main theme, several callbacks, and an immensely satisfying conclusion to Aoi's journey as a character. I was holding my tears back throughout, but when Staccato Days played at the tail end of the episode, I damn near broke down.
It has been a long journey to get here. I don't know if more anime projects will be made for the series in the future, but if this season was to serve as its finale, then, like Aoi, I'm glad to have made this journey. Times have changed a lot since the show first started, and with this juggernaut of a series now at its conclusion, perhaps, as told in the series, we should look forward to our future selves and move on. To even taller mountains to conquer.
8/10
