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gonna be honest - waited a year and a couple of months before finally watching. i did this out of uncertainty for how the series - one that'd already "ended" several times, each time mesmerizing but never conclusive - would once again "end".

not being ironic when i say this is the absolute dream conclusion for something that, more than any series ever, desperately needed one. the hopelessness that permeates much of the preexisting media has been consumed and experienced by both fans and casual watchers for decades now, that retreading into yet another apocalyptic finale with nary a glimpse of hope would've been redundant as ... hell. here, we have every tool in the toolbox working together to craft something strikingly different without losing the core elements that make NGE such a standout series.

sure, at times it can be overly gratuitous - but this feels earned, for a series that's had such a tumultuous history since its very conception. genuinely heartfelt moments do end tragically in several cases, but many of the events you see on screen seem to all center around one core value: redemption. something anno, and this beloved cast, have long deserved.

it's spectacular to look at, self-referential in very exciting ways, traumatic, thought-provoking, perplexing at times and downright infuriating at others, questions are answered with even more questions, "loose" ends never quite being tied together = the classic evangelion formula, and this bookend stays true to form.

the criticism that the film felt "dumbed down" i have to disagree with. what was truly the case was that the film was, in a first for the rebuild series, digestible. its beginning, middle, and end throw so much at you, and yet it wraps up so nicely that any strings left dangling don't really feel the need to be tied. we accept them for what they are - ornamental reminders that this batshit series that has changed lives and the industry forever can stand on its merits of mystifying worldbuilding, characterization, creative writing, and cast full of anime's most iconic characters - some you love to hate, others you hate to love, some you'd just like to see *smile*.

not many anime series have made me dribble into a puddle of sobbing, primordial slop following an episode - less series have made me do so over a string of 4 to 5 episodes, without room to breathe. right from jump, nothing feels -quite right- as if there's always an air of uncertainty looming within every interaction. even when you're flashbanged an entire cast within just a few minutes (some, who aren't even addressed by name right away) there's an eerie vibe that continues to not settle well. keep in mind, that that vibe gets worse and worse, as you progress through the plot and ... each twist the series throws at you.

triggering subject matter is found throughout, more than i can list off the top of my head so proceed with caution. its usage of cgi is very "of its time", but the key take away for me is that it's so "of its time" that it unironically achieves a certain uncanniness that, oddly in an aesthetic sense, benefits the genre as well as the type of subject matter the series spirals into - even more so enhancing the aforementioned "eerie" vibes. it's a very traumatic series with a hefty cast that you will most certainly feel for to varying extents. even if you aren't a wet piece of tissue paper such as myself and shed not nary a tear to this anime, i doubt you'll ever forget it - not because of the mecha fights, don't come here for that. come and sit and stay, to contemplate what life on this earth means and what (if anything at all) is worth protecting when you're up against all odds.

sidebar: it's one you'll wanna watch the OP for each episode (and not only because the song is probably one of the best in the history of this universe, but- watch for yourself, feel everything)

a deconstruction, of a deconstruction, of a deconstr-

OK, but - throughout all the layers to this series, its humor and self-awareness make it one of the more enjoyable anime in recent memory. it's flashy, referential, spirited (and all to such extremes) that it is hard to look away at any given moment, because some small (but worth seeing) detail might get missed. it certainly has something, somewhere, for everybody, and so its a great one to watch with someone else/a small group. it's a polarizing one for sure, which honestly makes it all the more exciting so see it in its complete audaciousness. buuut all ... in all, regardless of where you stand at the end of everything, at the VERY least, it isn't an anime you will forget anytime soon. that's worth its merit, i think

As someone who's more versed with magical girl series such as Sailor Moon, Utena, Yuki Yuna, Madoka, aka the shows where the heroines are often going against dark agencies and battling against baddies to save the world, Fancy Lala is far from that beaten path. But, still, the catchy opening and exceptional artwork (considering the time and perhaps budget) were enough to have me hooked at first glance.

As simple as the premise was - young girl encounters magical creatures who grant her the power to transform into the (older) girl she finds herself cartooning about in her spare time - there were so many poignant ... moments that viscerally brought the show to life - specifically two off the top of my head, Episode 8 and Episode 12.

Miho is, as Lala, completely relatable - she never quite looses that childish charm and naivete, even when she's entering into the more-adult world of modeling and being an idol. There's a sincerity there that genuinely makes you wonder if she's going to come out of alright.

The characters are all believable to be honest, and the story moves at a pleasant pace. There isn't much room for fillers, every episode serves its purpose ultimately. And, by the end of the series, we're left with many bittersweet (but ultimately, sweet) feelings swirling in our gut. This show is exceptional, a hidden treasure, and a must for anyone seeking some purity in a world where anime seems to gravitate towards quick-gratification instead or weaving a tale that touches upon our dreams and deep desires.