What a long series! 21 volumes, plus a bunch of spinoff side stories. I read them all. Most of the time out of a sense of obligation instead of joy, simply because I wanted to know the answers to all the mysteries the earlier volumes had created.
In this final volume the answers are given. Maou really does get with Chiho, the biggest question, which I was pleasantly surprised by. Chiho was always the best character in the series so it's nice to see her properly rewarded.
In addition, the weird schemes of 'Heaven' are brought to an end, though even now I don't really understand what they were up to. Something to do with putting the Sephirah to sleep so that their powers could be used for angel kind. I'm sure it was bad somehow or other, so I'm glad it was foiled.
Maou leaves McRonald's and becomes the owner of his own little cafe. Apparently he doesn't make much money but more than he used to. Everyone lives happily ever after.
I don't think this story required 21 volumes to tell. Even in this final volume it feels like a lot of time was wasted with new invented problems, like Maou suddenly getting sick from being in love, an issue that had never presented itself until this sudden plot twist in the final volume, seemingly sprung out of nowhere. If there had been fewer random plot twists, the basic core of the story could have been completed ages ago. Like Alcies suddenly getting a ginormous appetite. There was no need for it. It suddenly happened out of the blue for no good reason, simply because the author found it convenient. That devoured entire volumes to deal with. What a waste of everyone's time.
But the basic core of the story was good. The people were relatable and funny. The situation was relatable and funny. The romances were realistic and low-key. I really liked the heart of this tale. It's impossible to read 21 volumes of a story you don't like.
I don't know why we're getting a second season of the Hataraku anime after all this time, but I welcome it. The Hataraku world isn't over yet. First we get to see some more of the story in color, voice and motion. Between the ending of the series in book form and resumption in anime form, 2022 is the year of Hataraku.
Meanwhile, I also finished the Another Wish Ken Tensei manga volume 2. That leaves only the Wolf & Parchment volume 6 to read and I'm all caught up again. A new SAO volume is right around the corner so there won't be much down time before the next fun thing appears.
I've selected out 14 songs from Fire Emblem: Three Houses for music hall of fame consideration. Once I've listened to them all 100 times I can give them a fair rating. Honestly I've already listened to these songs for 300 hours so I should be able to rate them immediately, but the rules for entry into my hall of fame are the rules. Bravely Default II had slightly more songs enter my hall of fame, 18, but none were 5-star, so perhaps Fire Emblem: Three Houses really did have the better soundtrack. Nostalgia plays a part. I liked the game so much, it's hard to hate the music that accompanied the game. But conversely, if the music weren't so good, I never would have enjoyed the game so much. You can't listen to music for 300 hours if it isn't good to begin with. The composers behind this game are all new to me, I never heard of them before now, but they're obviously all talented. I wonder how many more talented people there are around the world left for me to discover? As someone with 300 beloved artistic franchises already, it will be difficult to appreciate many more people before my head explodes.
I feel like this whole year has been chock full of happenings. First it was bowl season and the NFL Playoffs. Then the Olympics, then March Madness, then Fire Emblem. Now all these books to read. 2022's anime is way better than 2021's. The long-awaited endings to Haganai, New Game, Kitakubu, Trinoline, UQ Holder and Hataraku Maou-sama. And soon enough the World Cup. There hasn't been any down time at all.
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