Dandadan’s Finale Will Leave You Hanging

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Summary

  • Okarun and Jiji’s relationship development was a highlight, making Jiji more endearing and balancing out his personality.
  • The season finale felt anti-climactic, lacking the excitement one would expect.
  • Despite the underwhelming finale, Dandadan’s strong storytelling and character development shined throughout the season.
Title Dandadan
Director Fuga Yamashiro
Studio Science Saru
Episode Air Date 12/19/2024

As someone who has spent countless hours immersed in anime and manga over the past few decades, I must say that Dandadan’s finale left me with a bit of a mixed feeling. On one hand, the development between Okarun and Jiji was quite entertaining and added a new layer to the central romance. It was refreshing to see the two characters bonding in a friendly and humorous manner, which made their dynamic even more engaging.

heads up: the ensuing information may reveal small details ahead of time about episode 12 of Dandadan titled “Let’s Go To The Cursed House,” currently airing on Crunchyroll.

The current episode of Dandadan seems somewhat disappointing given that it’s the season finale and doesn’t offer much excitement at this stage in the story, despite generally being well-executed. This is unfortunate, as a strong finish would have been more fitting following an outstanding first season.

Last week was quite hectic for the group, what with Jiji’s lively first appearance, Okarun feeling down after considering losing Momo’s affection, and a mannequin acting strangely as if in love (also a mannequin). Seeing this sentient mannequin’s dedication to his loved one inspired Okarun to be more straightforward with Momo and overcome his fear.

Okarun and Jiji’s Mandatory Team Building

In order to wrap up the season successfully, it needed to ensure Jiji felt included as a true team member instead of an unwelcome visitor causing discomfort for Okarun. While some may have found his behavior amusing enough to endear him, others, including myself, found him a bit excessive. However, I must admit that the finale managed to win me over.

To put it simply, the way things unfolded emotionally for me seemed quite remarkable. For Okarun, Jiji was merely an obstacle causing trouble, but the audience is led to view him similarly. However, once Okarun discovered how enjoyable their conversations about the supernatural became with Jiji, it felt like a veil had been lifted from his eyes. Suddenly, Jiji seemed less antagonistic and more acceptable in Okarun’s sight, all thanks to their newfound ability to communicate like ordinary people (who would have thought?).

This Episode Changed The Way I View Jiji

It’s great that the pair openly discusses their feelings about Momo, making it less tense and more enjoyable. Meanwhile, with no signs of spiritual activity at Jiji’s house, Momo takes off to a hot spring alone, allowing the gang to proceed without her. Interestingly, it seems Momo intentionally left them behind in order for Okarun to find a new friend, showcasing her thoughtfulness once more and reinforcing how wonderful Momo truly is.

frankly speaking, this episode stood out for me as it made me understand that I had immaturely hoped Jiji wouldn’t feature prominently, similar to Okarun. In essence, it underscores the captivating and alluring nature of the central romance and demonstrates how impactful the drama can be when an unexpected obstacle arises, metaphorically speaking.

A Very Anti-Climactic End

This episode, while watchable, lacks the intensity one usually associates with a season finale. The sudden cliffhanger isn’t as impactful or fitting as expected for the final installment before a break. It’s common among manga adaptations to struggle when the episode count doesn’t allow for a grand conclusion. In this case, it seemed like just a bit more was needed to make the ending truly satisfying.

Now that the season premiere has been revealed, they’ve officially announced Season 2 for July. History may view this as a minor oversight, overcome by the next episode that automatically plays after it. However, overall, it falls short in terms of a satisfying finale. In the first instance, Okarun and Jiji discover a hint to the eerie secrets hidden within the house. On another note, Momo encounters strange men at a hot spring, which strangely completes the loop for this season.

Looking At the Big Picture

While it’s important not to dwell excessively on this topic, Jiji and Okarun laid a solid foundation for an engaging relationship, and the mystery surrounding Jiji’s otherworldly predicament is quite intriguing. Unfortunately, there seems to be a prolonged gap between seasons due to Momo being repeatedly subjected to implied sexual violence, which brings a rather grim outlook to the storyline. In truth, there isn’t much of a silver lining in this situation; it’s simply unfortunate.

Over the last several months, Director Yamashiro and the Science Saru crew have navigated a series of intense emotional ups and downs that they can truly be proud of.

The concluding part of Dandadan felt underwhelming in wrapping up this season’s story, but it doesn’t diminish the overall impressive work done by director Yamashiro and the Science Saru team over the past few months. They’ve created an emotional journey that’s reminiscent of a thrilling rollercoaster ride, which they should rightfully take pride in. However, don’t be surprised if your initial reaction upon its end is something along the lines of “That’s it!?

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2024-12-20 19:04