Overview (Spoilers Below): Clover heads into the depths of Achromatic Darkness to find its Abyss Gate.
Our Take: With Yuke finally finding his closure thanks to Tenebre’s illusion of Thunder Pike, the team can now focus on their continuing journey through Achromatic Darkness. Considering that we’re nearing the end of the season, it’s best to block out all the distractions for this one. Of course, it’s not a final showdown without the reunification with our old friends from previous endeavors, including Mamal, Benwood, and Maniella from Duna. However, they’re only present to handle the Shadow Stalker army while Clover travels through Achromatic Darkness once more. But, just like their previous venture through this dungeon, the trip through Achromatic Darkness is far from easy. Their latest battle against the steel crab was a piece of cake, though from a critical perspective, the impact of the fight was lost due to its lack of sound mixing. I really thought the series learned this lesson long after the first half, but alas, the issue persists, even when we’re nearing the endgame. The real challenge they encountered was from Achromatic Darkness itself, as it separated Yuke and Rain from the group, launching Yuke back to his childhood, where his mother was killed by the Tenebre. The show briefly explored Yuke’s childhood in the earlier episodes, mainly his friendship with Simon, but this is the first time it’s explored further through his mother. However, this also raises Yuke’s concerns about telling Clover about his past, fearing being looked down upon if he does. Given that we’ve been down this path multiple times before, this revelation didn’t do much to make the stakes more convincing. “The End of the Darkness” follows a typical pattern, similar to other penultimate episodes from comparable shows, primarily the “road to the endgame” narrative. But regarding the run-of-the-mill character growth, the excitement for the show’s ultimate confrontation, and Yuke’s past, didn’t provide the particular spark needed to send the season off with a bang. But, at the very least, after half the year, we’re finally at the end of this surprisingly long season. While it has its merits, particularly in the harem team’s chemistry, the show still couldn’t reach the top rank due to its formulaic narrative, which hinders its potential.