Hataraku Maou-sama! (The Devil is a Part-timer!) – 13 (END) + Final Thoughts

AmberFetch

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The final episode of Hataraku Maou-sama! rounds out the season nicely.

Chiho and Yusa’s “ominous” dreams (as Yusa put it) do a great job of showing both girls’ worries in relation to Maou.  Chiho’s worries are obvious: that Maou will leave Japan and go back to Ente Isla, leaving her alone.  Yusa’s are slightly less clear, though.  Obviously, she’s worried that Maou will try to take everything over.  But I think it’s implied that she’s also worried he won’t turn out to be the nice guy she believes he’s become.  Maybe I’m reading into that too much, but I think it’s a fair interpretation.

I would like to mention a few notable occurrences in this episode.  Once again, Yusa jumps to the conclusion that Maou is up to something sinister, only to be proven wrong as usual.  (Now, I’m not saying she’s holding a grudge or anything, but…really.  After all the good things he’s done?  Sigh.)  Esmerada makes an appearance again.  (Yay!)  Ashiya freaks out over working for “evil” and, as Yusa points out, he’s a demon so he shouldn’t freak out about that.  (But it hints at the fact that he, Maou, and Urushihara aren’t all that bad and Yusa should take that hint.)

One aspect of this episode in particular that I enjoyed was the fact that it eased a lot of the tension the past few episodes built up.  Sure, the last episode had closure to the Sariel situation and the problems that had been plaguing our main characters for a while, but the light, comedic tone of this episode was a nice way to ease us out of all of that tension.  At the same time, it reminds us that there are problems in life other than the big, world-threatening ones.  And the last scene before the end credits is a nice call-back to the first episode of the series.  Khatsu-dum!

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Hataraku Maou-sama! - Final Thoughts

Obviously, there needs to be another season of this anime.  Not only is the setup there, with the introduction of new characters (the red-haired director of Deluxe Life International Holdings – just who is this guy, anyway?) and new character development (Sariel’s infatuation with MgRonald’s manager Mayumi Kisaki), not to mention the fact that we still don’t really know all that much about Miki-T except that she knows quite a bit about Maou and company’s situation.  These observations alone are enough cause for another season.  On top of that, we have Yusa beginning to acknowledge feelings for Maou other than hatred and a desire to defeat him (see the scene after the end song).  Finally, will Maou ever actually return to Ente Isla, or is he content living in Japan now?  And for these reasons, there should really be another season of Hataraku Maou-sama!

This has definitely been one of the better anime this season (even if it’s been overshadowed by Shingeki no Kyojin and a couple of others among fan communities).  I really enjoy the art, particularly the scenery.  The bird’s-eye-view shots of the city or Maou’s castle, the panoramic shots of places in Ente Isla, and the background scenery pretty much everywhere are incredibly detailed and are definitely worth paying attention to.  It adds a lot to the look of the anime.  Also, as I mentioned in my first post about this series, the music is excellent.  This includes the opening and ending songs as well as the background music during each episode.

I would recommend Hataraku Maou-sama! to all anime fans.  There’s a little bit of something for everyone in this particular show, it’s pretty to look at and listen to, and the pacing is nearly spot on.  Rumors of a second season are floating around, so let’s all keep our fingers crossed!

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(Just a few pictures from the scene after the end credits.)