It's gift after gift after gift. They gave us an opening befitting of Made in Abyss. And I kid you not, the part where it zooms out of the island sent chills down my spine. Mainly because it's so incredible to me. Not only the abyss, but the people too. The way they live their lives and the connections they have. What's standard and what's not. The many cultures and diversity the island and the abyss hold is so vast. Plus the fact that it's way deeper than it looks… scared of the ocean? Great, this is worse! (I want you to know that, at the time of writing this, I have shed a tear because of my inability to adequately word my strong admiration for the world building and that my heart is beating very strongly trying to compress all my thoughts on it).
Being completely honest, I couldn't care less about the history of an anime. Normally they stick recaps in random places or dump lore onto us in hopes it'll set the scene !!NEWS FLASH!! it kind of doesn't. Thankfully, MIA's history was so fascinating to wrap my head around. Before this, I couldn't even begin to think about what the past could've been like, and oh my days was it so much more than I expected. I am only left craving for more history given this is just a tiny fraction of what makes the abyss, The Abyss. Of course this was only possible because of the seamless transitions between the past and the present; they constantly fed each other story providing one another with greater meaning, all to come full circle with Faputa. The tension and intensity between Reg and her were really real at times, and taught us a lot about the Abyss itself. Assuming you've watched the previous seasons, movies or read the manga (if you haven't then what are you doing here?) you know how this series continuously bombards us with unusual questions and answers them in the most riveting ways. Like how we now have some clues as to what Reg is thanks to Gaburoon's curiosity, or at the very least a path to follow. But uh… not sure how the story behind Reg being equipped with a fully functional junior is going to do us any good…
While we're on the subject, I would also like to bring up how we were greeted by Riko taking a dump and then had to witness a similar scene again later in the series. That's one way to make me freeze up in my own household. Wouldn't be the least bit enjoyable to be seen watching a fictional child poo on a large monitor in the dark. On the plus side, I did gain an insight into the toilets I definitely don't want to run into.
And that one scene where the shopkeeper (who fashioned prushka) said he did WHAT because it felt sensual? He... CLIMAXED? Not here to shame, but... wow.
At least I could easily forget that was ever said, because quite literally 2 seconds later Juroihmoh pulls up with a sword the same size as my genitalia (real).
After lightly exploring what will one day become Orth we are met with another completely sane child to protect, Irumyuui!
Tribe thought she was cursed because she couldn't conceive a baby… 
who tested that out?
^ Know that the text above was written when I was unfamiliar with the horrors to come. First of all, I am sorry, I thought it was funny at the time. Second of all, what. I am ACTUALLY unable to put my thoughts into feelings when it comes to her. Straight speechless. Just filled with that feeling of despair and unfair treatment. Not sure if it was on purpose, but wow did Akihito Tsukushi manage to SCREAM what trauma can do to a child. So, when looking at from that light, I love it and resonate with it. Unfortunately, there isn't really a positive way to view what happened to her. The problem is that the Cradle of Desire, which grants unconscious desires, wasn't necessarily doing any evil. It undoubtedly granted her wish but she literally had to give a being for a being. As if that wasn't enough anguish, they make her into a literal home where they can thrive happily. An insane amount of anger swelled up inside of me when it happened. God knows how twisted humanity can become. It really handed me false hope, thinking her wish to make everyone well would ever in a million years overpower the one thing that crushed her.
Pushing all the negative events aside, I'm glad Faputa was able to end her misery through learning about her own mother. It made me incredibly happy that the child Iruumyui worked so hard to give birth to loved her the same way she loved all her children unconditionally. The connections that were formed and lost in this season were phenomenal, every one of them, enough to bring me to tears.
The least I can say to Belaf is, thank you. Thank you for going insane. Thank you for being there. Thank you for making me think you would be the worst. Just, thank you. But also, sorry. Sorry, your morals were forced to be broken. Sorry, it was addictive. Sorry, your attempt at retribution didn't succeed. Sorry. He was forced to do something that went against his beliefs, even though his body accepted it. Simply left to writhe in his self loathe, crystallized by Irumyuui. I hope he truly got the punishment he sought for.
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There's not a lot to complain about, but there are still some faults. Now, this may strike some controversy, but I in particular did not enjoy the whole Nanachi being reunited with Mitty. I felt it failed to do its job, failed to antagonise the audience. What MIA succeeded to do this entire season, feed the story with the present and the past, it failed to do with the two. Yes, Nanachi got to reunite with the one she loves most, and that's awesome. However, it made the previous goodbye, the past, the tension all feel meaningless.
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I personally believe, and I know for a fact that many agree with me, the music for this season was insane. It did the scenes just, sometimes even ringing out the best in them. Belaf's Lullaby hit me hard. It was haunting yet calming, reflecting Faputa's feelings at that moment quite clearly. Not sure what the composer puts into his music, but oh boy is it addicting. It is certain that Kevin Penkin is unquestionably our HAKU; I hope he continues to compose for a long time. Let this be the start to his lengthy and fruitful career.
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