Guilty Crown Episode 22 (END) Posted on: March 23, 2012 | 446 views Recap: Shu watches helplessly as Mana emerged from her crystal cocoon. She gave Shu a warm greeting but was pushed away and berated for badmouthing Inori. Angered over Shu’s rejection of her, Mana vowed to inflict the same amount of pain she’d received to him. She proceeds to unleash the fourth apocalypse while leaving Gai to deal with Shu. Things weren’t looking good for the ‘Undertaker’. After holding off Daryl’s company to allow Haruka to confront Shuichiro, the allied forces completely loses control of their mechanical units due to the genomic resonance emitted from Mana’s ritual. The resonance spreads worldwide, and unsuspecting civilians from every nation were incased in a crystal casket. Meanwhile, Tsugumi struggles to regain control of the network from the likes of Kenji. Gai had the clear advantage in his fight with Shu with his far more superior void weapon. Haruka discovered Shuichiro at the control room and had him at gun point. He admitted the extent of his actions and questioned Haruka’s resolve to shoot him. Things become much worse as the ‘Undertaker’ were pushed to a corner due to their failing resources. Shu took a critical hit from Gai and was about to be finished off, however, Inori’s spirit emerged from the crystal flower she’d left behind, urging Shu not to give up. With his own void, Shu was able to link with Inori’s spirit and gained use of her void weapon. As a result, Mana’s resonance dispersed and she becomes incapacitated. Gai watches as Shu charges at him and notices Inori’s spirit by his side before being dealt the killing blow and his ‘power of the kings’ was transferred back to Shu. Shuichiro, upon discovering that Daath’s will had failed once again resolves to go through the apocalyptic selection regardless. He stabbed himself through the heart with the virus and tells Haruka to leave before being completely manifested. Upon his defeat, Gai showed Shu a vision of the world consumed by the apocalypse, where inhabitants lived their lives in a dream while having their bodies incased in crystal. Gai explained that due to Daath’s refusal to allow Eve (Mana) to perish, the best way to end things was to allow her to serve her purpose and hope that Shu and the others would come to stop him. With his task completed, he embraces Mana while becoming completely crystallized, but not before telling Shu to save Inori. Inori staggered towards Shu after returning to her partially crystallized body. As they met with embrace, she reaffirms her feeling towards him. Vowing to be by Inori’s side forever, Shu uses his combined powers to absorb the worldwide infection as well as the voids that existed. While doing so, he body gradually became incased in crystal. Odaiba was on the verge of collapse and the survivors struggled to make their escape. Shu envisions Inori’s spirit while inside the crystal. Intent on having Shu live on, she gave him a final parting gift, setting him free from his crystal casket. Before long, the survivors watched as Odaiba collapses completely. The fight was over. A few years later, things have gone back to normal for Tokyo City. Shu and his classmates arrived at a hotel to celebrate Hare’s birthday as well as their combined accomplishments. Later, while at a park, Shu envisioned himself embracing Inori as well as the precious memories they’d shared together. Impression Not exactly the ending that I was expecting, but I do agree that it’s more logical than a regular happily-ever-after with Inori still in one piece. Her continued physical existence in this world would also mean the possibility of other enthusiast who wish to carry the same resolve as Shuichiro and I don’t think our protagonists would want another apocalypse to occur. In the end, I was happy that Inori was able to face Shu as herself one more time before her departure. Knowing that she’d always exist in Shu’s memory deserves to be praised as a heartfelt closure to the series. It’s being quite a journey for me as well as many others who’d followed the series consistently till very the last minute. I’d heard many complaints about the suspense driven nature of the series, which, was probably the reason why so many people follow it even though they don’t particularly like what they’re seeing. But among the many complaints that I’d heard, it’s mostly attributed to the complexity of the storyline. I’d say that to really enjoy a series like this, one will have to not just look at what’s shown in front of them but also try to analyze, interpret and predict the situations surrounding the various elements of the story. Overall, I’d honestly say that did enjoy watching this series and I have no regrets waking up each early morning to relieve myself whenever suspense occurs. I’ve heard rumors of a second season, but I doubt it’d be a direct sequel. Rather I’d presume it to be based on the visual novel by nitroplus. Epilogue Filed under: Anime Series, Guilty Crown by Jack Leave a Reply Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website
