English Dub Review: Platinum End: “Symbol of Promise”

Overview: Mirai (Alejandro Saab) helps Saki (Laura Post) come to terms with her past, move forward and rediscover her true self.

Our Take: Hot off the press of my previous criticisms of Saki’s monotone character or general lack thereof, the ship adjusts accordingly to show just how much depth she truly has and how she got to that point, even if it does entirely encompass around that of the main character, Mirai.

With Saki’s passive attitude at the forefront and little else up to this point, I grew tired of her due to her role on Mirai and Nanato’s team feeling very similar in it being fleeting and without much contribution. Her cruelty towards Mirai with her friend and others during their childhood was the first flickerings of something resembling a flame of personality, albeit an unlikable one but unique nonetheless. Her selfishness becomes a relatable one of giving into peer pressure no matter how wrong it may truly be. Witnessing Mirai supposed suicide being the final last straw in her mental breaking point that was already tipped over due to self-loathing and depression is a stirring and compelling development in her attempt of suicide and origin of her angelic abilities and meeting with Revel. It also stands to reason that Saki’s recent observations of Mirai fittingly being her point of inspiration as she slowly but surely becomes more hopeful. Her past flashback scenes, just like Mirai’s, continue to be a weak point due to their continuously vague and idealistic striving for happiness that are conveniently scripted with what present Mirai and Saki’s goals are. Mirai, too, is more starkly impactful than he has ever been in how he forces Saki to come to terms with how she truly feels with more intensity than ever before, making their relationship at last genuine with how compassionate their heart-to-heart is.

With her huge character moment, Saki finally comes into her own and stands out now as a helpful and contributing member of the team with her confident and proactive attitude. She helps bring some much needed momentum on helping the team with a new base of operations and determination to fight alongside them now. She finally is someone I can root for, rather than against and I look forward to the trio’s newfound chemistry as result. Nanato’s death remains a saddening looming shadow as he prepares to give his wings to Saki and heartbreakingly creates his young daughter’s wedding dress before his inevitable demise, as Kanade seeks to lure them out in a series with characters that, similar to the plot, little by little, goes up in quality.