Arata Kangatari - 10, 11
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With just one episode away, it still doesn't feel like Arata Kangatari is concluding.
It's not often that you come across a series that refuses to alter its pace in any way, shape or form. A series like that is a true rarity and in an odd way it's what made watching Arata Kangatari a pleasantly different experience. It's also made the series unsurprising, for better and worse.
Take these two episodes. They didn't pull of anything amazing or unforeseen, but instead delivered another pleasant arc focused on a member of the Shinshou. Given the 1-cour constraint, this was the most the series could have hoped to achieve. Unfortunate since it left the segway into the finale lacking but that was to be expected.
Overall, Yorunami's arc was well done. It was in the works for a little while and it could have been dragged out a little longer, but again that has to do with episode constraints. Factoring in the small number of episodes available, the arc did a good job at covering most of the story - Yorunami's background was quite detailed considering the circumstances - and in the short time we had with him Yorunami was a decent, albeit clichéd, character.
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The one part of these episodes that didn't work so well was Kadowaki's involvement. He's still doesn't come across as an important character in the alternative realm. Back in the human world, he leaves an impression as a bully, but in this world he doesn't look like he deserves such an important role. This is the guy who's meant to be Arata last fight and whilst it's symbolic and necessary for Arata, it doesn't give Arata Kangatari the set up it needs to end in a more grandiose fashion.
All that's left is for Kadowaki and Arata to exchange blows and to subsequently bring this anime adaptation to a close. A number of questions will likely be unanswered and that's not too much of a surprise.
Arata Kangatari Episode 12 Preview
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