For a bit of context, I did not read the manga. Maybe I will. I have been a Miku supporter since the first season as this my favourite type of character. I also have been impressed with Nino's development in the second season, from an obnoxious girl to a caring sister and serious contender. I managed to avoid spoilers, but had an inkling that the “winner” would be either Itsuki or Yotsuba, so I had little hope about my favourite outcomes.
We got in this movie a satisfactory conclusion to two seasons' character development. Each of the quintuplets had their to shine in the two seasons (yes, even Yotsuba).
Ichika, the eldest one, the big sister, who learns how to stop always acting and express her true feelings.
Nino, the archetypal tsundere, who becomes more self-conscious about her desires while still caring consistently about her sisters.
Miku, the introverted Sengoku period lover, who acts more and more boldly, putting aside her insecurities.
Yotsuba, the cheerful, “dumb” sister, who accepts her shortcomings despite her best efforts, dealing with her complex of inferiority hidden with fake optimism and selflessness.
Itsuki, the youngest one, the serious one, who decides to follow their mother's footsteps of her own accord.
Most of all, every one of them has discovered, or rediscovered, what she wishes to do in the future and accomplishes it in the end. Special mention on my part about Nino and Miku: I really appreciated how they opened together a restaurant, combining their dream and their sisterly love.
Let's not forget the last main character: the groom. Fuutarou, an academics-obsessed teenager, who accepts a tutoring job only for the money, and then learns how to sometimes let go of his studies, how to socialise, how to simply have fun, and, as one of the core themes of the story, alongside with family, how to express himself.
All of this development finds a nice wrap-up in the movie, thanks to its structure, particularly with the school festival that we relive from each of the sisters' perspective.
About the ending, as this seems to be a pretty hot topic, I was not disappointed. Of course, I would have preferred Miku, or else Nino, or even a harem ending (seriously, they all love each other, so why not?), even if I didn't expect any of these. Miku and Nino crying together in the classroom hurt. Miku embracing Fuutarou before the marriage hurt. But these are my personal choices (not the harem, though…), how I would choose. Yotsuba is Fuutarou's choice, not mine, not ours, and he had every right to pick her. Another thing I was not disappointed with is the fact that, despite all of what happened, the sisters still support each other and their sibling love is intact, if not stronger, to the point they plan to go on the honeymoon together.
I honestly was not expecting a proper conclusion and this depth of development, revolving around family and the acceptance of one's feelings, when I started the first season during its broadcast, so I am really happy about how it turned out. This makes it one of the anime that I am glad I persevered with, gaining momentum over time until the climax in the movie.
