neko's thinkbox

ARIA The END. This is the episode summary only – a special Thinkbox entry will follow up soon.

It goes without saying that definitive spoilers are coming your way. Read at your own risk.

Episode summary:

You’re not here… for me?

This final episode kicks off with a flashback of Akari during her first day at the ARIA Company. We all remember the scene: Akari shows her dress to Alicia, and during lunch, Alicia stares at Akari, because she is a bit happy.
Back to today, Aika and Alice being with Akari at the ARIA company. But not to ask if she has passed the Prima exam, it was obvious that she would pass, but to ask if those rumors about Alicia were true. Rumors… that Alicia is retiring.

Akari explains to them that Alicia, despite her unmatched skills, was a bit overwhelmed with giving all her effort to ARIA company as well as to the future of the gondola pilotage industry. Add on top of that Alicia’s future marriage… Yes that’s right, marriage! Even Akatsuki couldn’t believe it. Anyway, Alicia had waited for Akari to become a Prima to finally announce her retirement.

Aika and Alice then wonder if Akari would be able to handle the ARIA Company all by herself, and she is pretty confident about it. However, later in the day, as she was alone trying to figure out some numbers on the company worksheets, Akari starts panicking, because Alicia wasn’t there.
Alicia was out on her gondola on her last days as an Undine, collecting heaps of flowers from townspeople, friends and fans. When she came home, she found Akari crying.

A-Alicia-san, I…

Akari explains that she doesn’t want Alicia to leave, reflecting the feelings of everyone in the city, still keeping that painful smile while crying bitterly. Alicia runs up to Akari and hugs her tightly, apologizing for her selfishness during all the time. Akari, in turn, apologizes for all the trouble and worries she caused to Alicia. She also tells her that she realized that everyone, despite being together, effectively walks their own path. She found her path, came to Neo-Venezia, met all the people she knew, and now wants to meet the future with a smile.

A few days later, on Alicia’s official retirement day, Akari gets a customer called Annonami Heisawa (I bet I misheard), who incidentally is the old postman Akari met so often as a Single Undine. It turns out that he has retired as well, and now is going to work in the post office management. He offers her some tea, and tells her that she will never be alone, that the whole town is with her.
In the evening, Akari shares the tea with Alicia. Athena and Akira arrive in their gondolas… it’s already time for Alicia’s retirement ceremony.

Such a beautiful ceremony.

On this beautiful Autumn evening, all the Undines of Neo-Venezia pay their last tribute to the legendary Water Fairy in a highly emotional ceremony. Alicia passes on her oar to Akari, and climbs out of her gondola, remembering her own promotion to Prima Undine… and even our tough Alicia can’t help but shed tears of sadness and joy. Under the snow (honoring once again her popular name of Snow White), the bell-ringing of the Campanile, and the applause of hundreds of people, Alicia takes her leave.

The next day… Akari wakes up as usual, walks down the stairs into the dining room, and sees many visions of her past memories: Alicia sitting and reading a magazine, the whole group having dinner altogether, sitting in front of the fireplace, having a snack at the basement… From now on, it’s Akari who will lead and work for the ARIA Company, and create many, many new memories. It’s a new beginning!

(Don’t miss on the epilogue after the screenshots!)

Click to enlarge pictures.

Epilogue

Life goes on…

Woody, the Sylph, always transporting stuff, brings Akari a basket of fresh eggs.
Aika, busy with the Himeya Company, remains the old crybaby whenever she meets Akari. She seems to be dating Al, the Gnome, who passed his exam too, and who sure has grown a lot… o_o
Akatsuki, the Salamander, of course passed his exam as well, and drops by the ARIA Company every now and then to greet Akari, and invites her to come to Ukijima once in a while. Guess they’re made for each other, after all!
Alice, as the Prima who skipped a grade, always is at the center of admiration. Her new “Self Rule” (from earlier in the season, if you remember) decrees that she, Akari and Aika need to meet regularly, or the world is going down.
Athena, most likely retired from the Undine business as well, makes her debut as a Bel Canto singer at the Opera, affecting Alice to tears… sssh, it’s a secret!
Akira keeps shining as the Number One Prima Undine, filling Aika with happiness and pride.
Alicia is pretty busy with informative meetings and stuff, and sometimes is even seen with Grandma doing special business in town. Of course, they do drop by the ARIA Company as well, to see how Akari and President Aria are doing.

And… it’s not over yet! In the future, Akari, who let her hair grow pretty long, has hired a new apprentice. You know who it is, you hear her in every episode at least once: Ai-chan! :D

Why hello there, Ai-chan!

On the first morning of her stay at the ARIA Company, it is pretty much the same thing like at the beginning, when Akari started a few years ago: Ai shows Akari her new dress while Akari is cooking in the kitchen. And during lunch, Akari stares at Ai… just like Alicia did. I guess… we’re all a bit happy!

Please do read the next entry as well for an in-depth review of the episode… somewhat. ^^;