Kaleido Star 50
The final showdown between Layla and Sora.
I have to say I was initially excited at the promise of another Layla versus Sora showdown but after everything was said and done, I felt disappointed. The showdown was really more a psychological inner monologue battle (and recap of the series) between the two women than any amazing feat of physical abilities. Understandable that in reality, the last challenge by Layla was her way of passing the torch of “the best” in Kaleido Stage to Sora,vbut I wanted more action than good-time feelings! I will admit though, the ending part of the battle when Layla admitted her lost and saw Sora’s “angel” with the cuing of the-song-I-don’t-know-the-name-of was very cool. Cheesy but cool.
I have to say overall, the next to last TV episode of Kaleido Star was a joy to watch the first time around but after seeing it again for blogging purposes, loses its flair to invoke the emotions from the initial viewing. The passing the torch speech Layla gave to Sora, the Angel’s Act battle, Sora fixing Leon’s “wounds,” and everyone becoming mystified while watching the battle were essentially the major highlights of the episode. All important points in tying up loose ends yet the predictability in doing so somehow diminished the charm of the episode, and series in general.
I think my biggest issue with the later half of the second season of Kaleido Star is simply the fact it doesn’t have the same tension and charm the first season did. There’s no real challenge to Sora’s competing and trying to be the best in Kaleido Star even since Layla left. Period. Sure there are some small challenges like May and Leon’s tragic history but nothing as comparable to Layla herself. Also compared to the Mystical Act of the first season, the Angel’s Act is kind of weak. Weak in the sense the Angel’s Act is more of a emotional challenge than anything physical and dangerous like the Mystical Act. I’m all for emotional challenges that make the character develop but I also want some equally satisfying action to go along with it!
Maybe I’m comparing apples to oranges. The first season were all physical challenges and seeing amazing physical feats as Sora worked her way into becoming a star in Kaleido Stage. The second season still had challenges for Sora, however almost all of them were emotional ones. There in lies the problem. I’ve come to grow and love seeing the physical challenges so to switch to more emotional character driven ones had me thrown off. The series is still fun to watch but somehow had lost some of its charm. It just feels that we all know Sora will move forward and any conflicts that’ll appear will be solved. There’s simply no real challenge left.
For all the negatives I may be presenting in the last half of Kaleido Star, it is still a very good series I honestly think everyone should watch. I think just re-watching episodes the second/third time around lessen the charm of the show, at least for me, and that’s partially why I can’t help saying “oh this is all SO predictable!” The mixed reviews are my fault alone, so please do not let them ruin your own viewing of the series. Kaleido Star is too good to be passed just because one small time anime blogger gave some negative comments to what has otherwise been a excellent series to watch and blog about.
Comment by Anna
October 10, 2005 @ 12:41 pm
The episode looks good, but what is with the outfits on Yuri and Leon? They don’t look all that great.