The Final Episode of Sabikui Bisco: A Low-Key Ending
If I were to try and summarize my thoughts about that final episode, I’d say it was kind of… by the books, maybe? There weren’t a lot of surprises there, let’s put it that way. Pretty much everything I expected to happen happened, and nothing that happened was too unexpected. Nothing wrong with that of course, but it does make for a somewhat low-key way for such a high-key (it should be a word) series to go out. I wouldn’t say it was a whimper, but I was hoping for a bigger bang.
An Anime-original Conclusion?
What I’d be kind of curious to know is how much of this was anime-original. The light novel is ongoing, of course, and this felt like a pretty conclusive ending by design. Maybe there’ll be a second season and maybe there won’t – most likely even the producers don’t know at this point. But the vibe here is that the anime was trying a little hard to leave things neat and tidy. And that’s more noticeable because generally speaking Sabikui Bisco isn’t a neat and tidy sort of narrative.
An Avalanche of Unexplained Developments
We don’t get a whole lot of explanation for this avalanche of developments. Why did Kurokawa essentially fuse with the Tetsujin? Why didn’t Bisco do the same? Why was Bisco able to come back? Rather than the Tetsujin, it seems like Bisco basically fused with the rust eater – becoming the true Sabikui Bisco at last. That means his body is hot (Milo definitely thinks so, but we knew that), and he’s giving off spores left and right. It also means he has the means to take down the giant governor, though it takes a little help from his friends to close the deal.
Destruction and Mercy
Essentially, Tetsujin has to be destroyed by taking out Kurokawa itself because the robot has a self-destruct mechanism of mass destruction. We know this because Tirol shows up and tells us. And Pawoo is the only one who can make this happen because her combat style is based on “mercy” and she can split Tetsujin’s armored head, revealing the soft juicy center, without setting off the self-destruct. So everyone has a role to play, and Pawoo plants her flag quite firmly before she goes off on a suicide mission we kind of know isn’t going to be suicide.
Confusion in Romance
All that’s fine, I guess. It all just sort of happens because, and eventually Bisco does take out (kill, I’m not ready to assume) Kurokawa. As for the romance side of things, well… Panda-sensei does come off rather confused if you ask me. He again plays the full-on matchmaker for Bisco and his sister, but after he and Bisco take out the enemy, he certainly behaves as if he’d like to be the mushroom keeper-keeper himself. It’s perfectly fine if Milo and Bisco are in love, and it’s perfectly fine if they’re not – I just think it’s a bit weird that the series doesn’t really seem sure what it’s trying to imply.
The Government as the Antagonist
Again, no idea where the novels leave things at this point. As for the anime, it makes it clear that Kurokawa or no, the government is still the bad guy here. And that means Bisco and Milo remain public enemy number one – primarily for giving away the rust eater and cutting into the government’s health care monopoly. It’s a refreshingly subversive bit of messaging from a source medium that’s generally pretty corporatist in its outlook, though the finale doesn’t pound that angle too hard.
Winter Season and Fresh Directorial Talent
Winter was a good season for first-time series directors making their splash. Shinohara Keisuke certainly did so with Bisque Doll, and Ikaraiya Atsushi does so with Sabikui Bisco. This show didn’t have anything close to the budget that one did, but Ikariya delivered plenty of old-school panache. He betrayed his Gainax roots here to be sure, and Sabikui Bisco was a fine marriage of the novel’s world-building and the adaptation’s ability to create iconic “widescreen baroque” moments. Even if the substance did get a bit plodding in the end, the style kept powering on through. Whether we see another season of this series or not, I’d love to see more anime in the same vein – the medium is marvelously matched to this style of science fiction, and all too often it acts as if it’s forgotten that.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the final episode of Sabikui Bisco may not have been filled with surprises, but it provided a low-key, if somewhat expected, ending to the series. The neat and tidy conclusion leaves us wondering how much of it was anime-original and whether there will be a second season. The unexplained developments, particularly the fusion of Bisco and the rust eater, add to the unique narrative style of Sabikui Bisco. The destruction of Tetsujin and the role of mercy in achieving it highlight the importance of each character’s contribution. The romance aspect of the story remains ambiguous, leaving viewers uncertain of the series’ intentions. However, the portrayal of the government as the true antagonist brings a refreshing subversive tone to the narrative.
Winter season showcased talented first-time series directors, such as Ikaraiya Atsushi, who brought their unique styles to the screen. Despite budget constraints, Ikariya delivered a visually stunning anime that beautifully captured the world-building of the original novel. While the substance of the series may have faltered towards the end, the style and panache remained captivating. This serves as a reminder that anime has the potential to excel in the realm of science fiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Sabikui Bisco an anime-original series?
No, Sabikui Bisco is based on a light novel series, but the anime adaptation may have diverged from the source material in its final episode.
2. Is there a possibility of a second season?
The possibility of a second season remains uncertain, as even the producers may not know at this point.
3. What role does mercy play in taking down Tetsujin?
Pawoo’s combat style, based on mercy, allows her to split Tetsujin’s armored head, revealing the vulnerable center without triggering the self-destruct mechanism.
4. Are Bisco and Milo in love?
The series presents a mixed message regarding the romantic relationship between Bisco and Milo, leaving viewers in a state of uncertainty.
5. What does the portrayal of the government as the antagonist signify?
The government’s portrayal as the antagonist is a refreshing departure from the corporatist outlook often found in similar narratives, highlighting its monopoly and opposition to Bisco and Milo.