Genshiken 12
Ah, the final episode of Genshiken. Continuing on with the “slice-of-life” style of otakuhood, the series concludes in what other bloggers and commenters have noted as an complete cycle that started and ends with Sasahara. I’m in much agreement with what others have said as we see Saki’s breakdown and the Genshiken club’s continual survival through all the problems they face.
I don’t think I need to summarize what happens this episode as there are plenty other bloggers out there that have done terrific jobs themselves. So head over to bloggers like Garten, Momotato, Jeff Lawson, and tempy for synopsises and their final thoughts on Genshiken instead. I will, however, talk about some of my favorite parts from the final episode as I must give props for such moving scenes.
Hell’s Lair
I totally cracked up when we got to see all the Genshiken club members’ rooms. Varying from the mostly empty but big room to rooms literally filled with anime goods, there must have been a room for most degrees of anime otakus out there. I’m proud to say I’m no where near Madarame’s room, though I do bow down to his total otakuness. If I had to describe my room in terms of anime-related goods, I’ll probably be more along Sasahara and Kousaka. A decent amount, but not enough to totally take over my room… yet. If there was one thing I was disappointed with about this scene, it had to be that the staff left out Madarame’s photo collection of Saki dressed up as the Chairman 
I thought that was a hilarious scene in the manga where he tries to figure out where exactly to hide them, eventually putting them in with his hardcore hentai collection. The staff should have definitely kept that one in!
Madarame, The Man with Balls of Steel
After the temporary disbandment of the Genshiken, where they have to do community service for awhile to make up for the fire accident, they realize no one but Saki will be free to go to ComicFest. Of course Saki doesn’t want to go, but Madarame tries to win her over with his “moving” speech… ending up embarrassing the guys more, an punch to the face (though he was prepared for it), and Saki & Keiko “volunteering” (for the last time) to go. I have to hand it to Madarame for getting the courage to bluntly tell Saki why the guys must get some comics at ComicFest, even if she already knows why. His burning passion moved me to tears as I had to admit, he was a man among anime otaku men
3rd Chairman
Sasahara as the new Chairman of the Genshiken club made perfect sense to me. Much as we started off from Sasahara as our narrator of sorts, it was through him that we the audience learned the wonders of the anime world. It was fitting that Sasahara became Chairman as a way to complete our entrance into the world of all things anime. Dunno.. can’t word this correctly but I think you all get my point right? One last thing about Sasahara’s “rule” as Chairman and his decision to create their own manga; I REALLY wished they show how the club fares at the ComicFest. I so wanted to see how Kousaka looked in cosplay as Izumi! I hope if they do do an second season, the staff will continue exactly where they left off and start with the fest.
Overall, my thoughts on the final episode and the series Genshiken are all positive. For me, a semi-novice anime otaku, Genshiken was a pure joy to watch seeing other otakus in action and their not-so daily lives with each other. I can’t say I know people like the folks in Genshiken since I keep to myself about this hobby but I can imagine there must be a lot if one looks for it.
Beside the “realism” of Genshiken, the veteran seiyuu cast made the series that more enjoyable. Nobuyuki Hiyama, Ayako Kawasumi, Mitsuki Saiga, Tomokazu Seki, and Satsuki Yukino as the main cast with cameos from Yuuji Ueda, Kouji Ishii, Kaori Shimizu, Sanae Kobayashi, and Akira Ishida totally had me wetting my pants. It was surprising to see Tomokazu Seki still has some tricks up his sleeves as I initially didn’t realize he was in it since I’ve never heard him use that type of voice before. Nobuyuki Hiyama I’ve only heard about recently but all the roles I’ve seen him in are frickin’ hilarious (plus I’m pretty positive he used to do hentais too). Always always love Yuuji Ueda, and it’s no exception with the way he protrays the freaky Genshiken Chairman. And everyone else.. well, they all just rock too (man, Ayako Kawasumi and Satsuki Yukino have been in afew anime series together… like 3+ I think?)!
I probably would have more to say, but right now nothing is coming to mind so I’ll leave it at that for now. And if you didn’t know, Genshiken the anime and manga have both be licensed over here in the US so if you want to get your hands on the DVDs and manga… just wait 
… thinking about it, the Genshiken club’s Kujibiki Unbalance is like mine (and others’) Mai-HiME. Go fig.