One step forward, just like the prospective mountain climbers that make up the troupe of Yama no Susume. Though there was a distinct lack of a defined plot compared to the last season, the runtime was better spent on pointed character moments which had a real purpose, gluing together a narrative that you hoped to see from this ambitious series.

What really stood out this season was the contrast of Aoi and Honoka, confronting and living with two different forms of introversion. This show has been praised for its treatment of that personality type, and this season you see exactly how they react to different situations they find themselves in. Getting to know Honoka - though she may seem distant, to the point that you may start to not enjoy her - is a delight and introduces a new side to the "making memories" mission of the Yama no Susume story. Her particular obsessions make the dynamics of some of the characters feel fresh even after allowing their journeys for quite a while and show a side of introversion that's usually played for laughs in a very good light. Being vaguely in this personality type, I very much approved.

Focus has finally come to the series' narrative, and it's much stronger for it. While in one sense you can say that the forward momentum has stalled because of Aoi's traumatic experience on Fuji-san, but that opened up a huge narrative opportunity. The team gets to break off into individual groups and really start to have some meat put on the bones of their characters; it's very much worth it.

Unfortunately Kaede is largely written out of the major events in the story. That seems to mostly be due to her own actions and experience rather than a trick pulled by the writers though, so while it's lamentable it's not all that bad. It actually helps the story strike a more naturalistic tone - which honestly is rather refreshing compared to the usual writing of anime. Even the emotional climaxes continue to be fairly understated, yet still carry a certain power matching the naturalistic scenery of the world.

Compared to the prior season, there does seem to be a decrease in scale and splendor. Many of the landscapes feel condensed, though that does seemed to have allowed for a greater focus on detail. Seeing all of the named landmarks that the group encounters on their path from which they derive their own personal meanings from is something that's both appreciated and seems like a great use of the environment as part of the arcs. That does mean there's markedly less splendid scenery as in the first two seasons - though not none.

There are certainly a lot of things a viewer might find disappointment with in Yama no Susume Season 3 if they loved certain aspects of the first two seasons. For me though, I had a much better time with the investment I put into these characters. The flow is much improved, with scenes seeming to build on each other with more regularity. Even some big moments which seem to have no meaning still filled me with delight. Plus: It didn't leave on a damp note like the previous season - it actually provided a promise! That's more than enough of an endorsement to keep going.