No two ways about it, that was a truly stellar final episode of Koukyuu no Karasu. Left us hanging a bit, but the source material is ongoing so can’t really complain about that. I sort of had a feeling this series was going to stick the landing for whatever reason. It gets so many little things wrong (or at least awkwardly), but always seems to rise above that. It’s a lot easier to build on a really solid foundation even if the detail work is off, while papering over a rotten foundation with glitter and polish is innately less effective.
There were a lot of right choices in this finale, starting with the ED (itself a good choice – it’s great) and ending with the OP leading the pack. It set the tone for the episode and made it feel as if something really special was about to happen. Xiao Yue’s demise seems to have been real (his golem form, I mean) but we clearly haven’t heard the last of him. Shouxue’s concern over what appears to be a minor injury on Gaojun’s arm reflects just how strong feelings between them have become – which is an enormous problem in and of itself, given what we know of the mythology.
Xue Yuyong has become an increasingly important character as the series has developed, and he’s the lynchpin of this final arc. It was he who invited Xiao Yue into the inner palace, and he who visits the Raven Consort in the end with intent to kill her. There’s no question Xue Yuyong loved her predecessor, that was pretty clear. The reason, more or less, seems to be resentment over how much better Shouxue’s life as Raven Consort has been than Li Niang’s. Of course what Gaojun points out is very true – Shouxue is the only thing that made Li Niang’s life bearable. But I wonder if that wouldn’t anger Yuyong even more because in his own mind, the one doing that should have been him.
It’s interesting that Yuyong refers to Shouxue’s existence as “blessed”, given the consistent messaging that she’s living under a curse. Gaojun allowing the old man to retire peacefully after all that is an act of extraordinary mercy, even for him. Shouxue may have thought she was okay with dying at Yun’s hand, but in the moment the truth become apparent. And honestly, I don’t know how anyone can really doubt that what has grown between the Emperor and the Raven Consort is romantic love. The one thing, sadly, that is absolutely forbidden both of them – for him with her, and for her with anyone.
The matter of the bruise on Gaojun’s arm is quite unsettling indeed. It seems as if he’s been marked by the Owl – though just exactly what that means isn’t entirely clear. A worst case scenario would be that the Owl is now able to possess him – if his sister can do that with a person, I don’t see why it’s not theoretically possible. Ultimately it’s Niao Lian’s possession of Shouxue that stands as the one certain hanging thread in the main story. Surely she’s started her eight-year clock if we’re still playing under the old rules – she’s now got human connections out the ying-yang.
Of course, we now know (or at least we’ve been told) that Niao Lian is a victim herself, someone who needs rescuing as much as Shouxue does. To her brother that meant setting her free through death, but it may be possible that there’s another way. That makes the last words of the episode especially cryptic – was that the Raven talking, or the Raven Consort? It was all very bittersweet – Yi Shiha talking about his home, forever lost to him, Gaojun taking comfort in sleeping close by to the woman he loves, when his true desire is denied him, Shouxue sliding deeper into the trap fate has laid for her even as she opens her heart to others. Bittersweet is pretty much the default setting for Raven in the Inner Palace, and it knows how to execute it with grace and emotional impact.
The scene with the Magpie Consort’s father was a fitting way to boil the story down to its essence. Life is forever tinged with tragedy, and only kindness can allay it in any small way. These two people are indeed kind (one can only imagine what it meant for that man to see his emperor shed tears for his daughter). Their kindness and the nuances in their relationship are the big thing Koukyuu no Karasu got so, so right – that which allowed it to thrive in spite of whatever flaws in execution it had. In its quiet way this was a rather beautiful story about two beautiful souls, and anime certainly can’t have enough of those.
Polly
December 25, 2022 at 4:50 pmI think you’ve confused the names here.
Yun Yongde is Gaojun’s Prime Minister and Huaniang’s grandfather.
The old man who featured prominently in this episode was Xue Yuyong, the Minister of Works.
Guardian Enzo
December 25, 2022 at 5:00 pmHey, it’s easy to do when you have to remember 2X the names.
Nellie
December 25, 2022 at 6:22 pmI said this this after episode 11, and I’ll say it again: MY FEELS! MY STINKING FEELS!
The LN series is complete at 7 volumes, and the anime’s covered up to volume 2. Can I hope for a 26-episode season covering volumes 3-6, and a movie for the conclusion?
(Hey, I can fantasise, right?)
I don’t think the Owl will ever possess Gaojun the way Niao Lian- in her deranged state- will (eventually) possess Shouxue- he’s made clear that finds the act of possessing living people repugnant. I wouldn’t rule out some other sort of spiritual connection, though.
The first episode (and at least one episode that came after that came after) had story about a Turtle God. I wonder what that was about. It’s never been followed up on- so I assume it’s a plot point from the later novels.
Graceful really is the perfect word for this show. It’s sneakily climbed up the ladder to become my favourite show of the season, and possibly the year- there are other shows which outrank it in artistic merit and writing skill, but this is my favourite even it’s not the best.
We’ve all gawked the big names in the supporting cast, and it was particularly nice to see Sugita Tomokazu deliver a performance completely shorn of his usual scenery-chewing and trademark swagger. I want to praise Mizuno Saku (a rookie) and Mizunaka Masaaki (been around for a while, but relatively low-profile- most would probably know him for Baji in Tokyo Revengers). Shouxue’s and Gaojun’s dynamic was dignified and restrained, but brimming with unmistakable curiosity, compassion and warmth. The two actors complemented each other wonderfully- and really sold the slow burn nature of Shouxue and Gaojun’s relationship. Perfect casting.
I’m off to watch the episode again. And pre-order the first volume of the translated LN while I’m at it.
Thanks for reviewing this, Enzo.
Guardian Enzo
December 25, 2022 at 6:27 pmYou’re very welcome. I wish I could say your wistful prediction of a sequel was realistic but I think it’s very, very unlikely. That said, I’ve been wrong plenty about anime and almost everything else, so who knows.
Panino Manino
December 27, 2022 at 3:27 amAt least we can read the novels. Someone was translating it but next month it’ll be officially published in english guaranteeing the full translation.
But yes, would be nice to see it all animated already (though having watched is creating a problem for me while reading the LN, I kept remembering scenes from the anime instead of the pages I read. There aren’t much differences but the small ones that are confuse my memory)
Nicc
December 27, 2022 at 2:05 pmThe ED showed up about a minute in and I was thinking, “Well, that was the shortest anime finale I’ve ever watched. As for the series review…” Of course, that wasn’t it and instead we got an extended version of the ED. It’s a cool down episode after the events from the previous one. One of the highlights of this episode for me was when everybody was waiting for her as she woke up from her slumber. It shows just how much they mean to her and what she means to them.
We also figure out exactly who allowed Xiao Yue to enter the Inner Palace. The previous episodes mentioned somebody on the inside, but I never guessed it would be Xue Yuyong. I may have to watch the previous episodes to see if there were any clues. It was due to resentment, as you said, and he really did get off easy and considering the mess that was caused from allowing Xiao Yue to enter.
My shipping goggles are often fogged up, but it’s very clear that it’s romantic between Shouxue and Gaojun. I mean, that hand massage scene was so full of intimacy. As to show how comfortable she has become with others, she visits Huaniang on her own volition. The apology scene was another highlight of this episode and it ends with a cryptic dream. There are still plenty of unanswered questions and plot points that will have to be saved for a future installment, which we may or may not get. It will be a shame if that’s the last we see of this series, but it has been a very enjoyable one.