For this G-View I will split it into two parts. Part 1 is the spoiler free G-View right here. Part 2 is of course the spoiler post discussing a certain something.
Let us get to it as we talk about the 5th (and presumably) final season of Senki Zesshou Symphogear, Symphogear XV.
My reviews of the previous 4 seasons:
- Senki Zesshou Symphogear
- Senki Zesshou Symphogear G
- Senki Zesshou Symphogear GX
- Senki Zesshou Symphogear AXZ
Full Title: Senki Zesshō Symphogear XV: Create a history, with the light God could not know
Genres: Action, Magic, Science-Fiction
Themes: Ecchi, Fighting, Music, Mecha Musume, Yuri
Number of episodes: 13
G-Rating: 10/10
No plot summary this time. Put simply it is the culmination of 7 years of the Symphogear series. Everything that made the show beloved by fans is here amplified to otherworldly levels of awesomeness.
Hibiki vs Milaarc of Noble Red.
The fights are more mega hype worthy and ridiculously over the top than ever.
The henshin sequences are the best the series has had to date. The most interesting one being Kirika’s.
The animation quality is at peak quality throughout. It is the most visually stimulating season to date. The soundtrack, as always, is excellent.
Noble Red. My personal favorite “Sympathetic Ladies Antagonist Group” and possibly the most controversial.
The character development and drama is at an all time high for some of the characters, specifically the latest “SLAG” of the series, Noble Red, and Tsubasa. They are connected so we will talk about them simultaneously. Like the description says Noble Red, consisting of Vanessa, Milaarc and Elza, are the latest group of cute and sexy ladies opposing our cute and sexy heroines and the rest of S.O.N.G. Without giving anything away their motivation is easy to understand. However, their methods, specifically one member in particular, will be seen as quite extreme and polarizing. While I ultimately understood why she went the extra mile compared to her beloved allies and she got the desired reaction from fans, I can understand some viewers not “feeling” her shall we say.
Tsubasa has had it really rough this season.
The one affected the most by the aforementioned Noble Red member’s polarizing actions was Tsubasa. Again without giving anything away it is a continuation of her deliberating her life purpose and family issues. Said actions affected her so hard it took her off her game big time. Once viewers see what happened it will more than make sense why she acts out of character for most of the season. Some of the series’ traditional super violent scenes involve Tsubasa. She was tested more than ever this time around. It is possible some viewers will not find as much enjoyment seeing what she goes through.
Chris had a long overdue more relaxed character development.
Chris fans will be happy to know she had the least personal luggage to deal with this season, which was a welcome surprise considering it looked like her suffering would be eternal. Said end of suffering has a big payoff at one point for viewers who paid attention to her journey throughout the series. Her development in contrast to Tsubasa’s has more to do with having an epiphany about her future.
ShiraKiri are as precious as ever.
ShiraKiri too have overcome their arduous past and serve as the central comedy relief of the season being adorable lovebirds as always and their reactions to stuff that is happening, especially Kirika. Like Chris them having overcome their past turmoil plays a big role at certain points.
Maria training is one of the best gifts of Season 4/AXZ, hence why we were treated to it again this season.
Maria’s development has to do with her being the oldest member of the team. That and a slight connection to her past. MariTsuba shippers will be blessed with more moments this season. Oh yes.
Our heroines’ other allies had their time to shine as well. Some even grander than others. Let us just say that the traditional fanservice of both the sexy and epic kind throughout the series went up to 11 this time around. Jaw dropping moments galore for longtime viewers who followed the series since 2012.
As for the big bad of the season, while not the best this kind of antagonist has always been more of a puzzle piece for the development of an important character connected to one of the protagonists. While I found some enjoyment from the latest big bad, including the #2 villain, there have been better final bosses in past seasons. This one served its purpose possibly being the ultimate threat because, give this villain credit, the whole Earth was rarely in as much peril as it was this season.
As readers have noticed I repeatedly brought up the past. While it has always been a theme throughout the series seeing our heroines confronting personal demons and threats originating from the past this time it is more important as many events throughout the show’s history culminate this season, not only answering several questions for viewers who paid but also include some game changing reveals. Basically people who did their homework will be rewarded. While there will be some potential holes and confusing reveals I commend the writers for doing the best they could connecting as many dots as they could from so many events throughout the series. I have seen many times how difficult it is to keep events in a long running series consistently sensible without slipping. Not easy at all dear readers.
HibiMiku’s development was huge this season.
And now for the main event…I will save that for the spoiler discussion because I have a lot to say about their development.
Overall Symphogear XV was a fantastic culmination to the series. Symphogear is not only my favorite action anime but one of my all time favorite anime. This season delivered “eleven fold” in my humble opinion. It of course is not without its flaws as others will no doubt point out but to me the good has FAR OUTWEIGHED THE BAD throughout its 7 year run. It has everything I love about anime and then some, like with Mouretsu Pirates. Longtime fans who enjoyed everything up to this point will (most likely) find plenty to love here. As for those who got into the series only recently I THINK you will enjoy this season too.
If this truly is the end of the series remains to be seen but I think a potential movie can be pulled out of the writing desks. Whether we get one or not remains to be seen. Right now I am more than satisfied.
The Yuri Empire 
at last. the long journey end. this week i cried so much. one from this, and 2 from granbelm and machikado mazoku. all these series hit my kokoro so much, even my towel can not handle. also they play gyakkou no flugel as in kanade and tsubasa song and it is still in my top song list. farewell to lots and lots of lovable characters. tq for the marvelous2 yuri. may we meet again in some next seasons :”) *wipe my tears off
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Hopefully in a movie or OVA.
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We better get a movie or something down the road.
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A wild RR appeared outta nowhere.
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That’s me. Popping by once in a blue moon when I remember to.
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OVA/movie would be good because of the – in my opinion – unsatisfied ending.
Especially because of M x T, where the build up leaded unfortunately not to the climax point I wished for at the end. The moments were there, but the final words didn´t come out of M´s mouth.
Same did go in a way for H x M, too.
S6 isn´t necessary, but an aftermath OVA/movie with at least a M x T confession – and H x M, but not absolutely necessary – would be a good and – in my eyes – true happy yuri ending.
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No more Yuri goggles required, there is no denying the canon now.
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I mean it’s been pretty much canon since Symphogear G. Waikyo Shenshoujing was basically a love confession from Miku.
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Long before that song but it unquestionably confirmed it, yes.
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There was never a need for goggles.
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As the others have said we need a ova/movie also some of those cute specials they did for the first 2-3 seasons also as kracen said the goggles are no longer needed then again we could see it back in season 1 still and apologies for caps but I WANNA HEAR THE CONFESSIONS BETWEEN HIBIKI and MIKU AS WELL AS TSUBASA AND MARIA we want and need them
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Yup. Goggles were never needed. Just wait and hope for the writers to do the right thing, which they did.
We all do. Hopefully we get to see an “aftermath” of sorts in OVA or cinematic form.
As I said in Part 2 of the review MariTsuba compared to the other two couples are just getting started. I suppose they are further along than my hopeful 4th pairing but not by much.
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I’ll wait for part 2 to say more, but I do believe that if we get anything, it will be an after OVA.
Maybe a Movie giving us a taste of where the next project will lie. There’s no real reason to continue this story at this point. It’s the beginning of something new. Everything with the others has basically been taken care of. All we would need is a short look at “how things are now”. Life never ends, and conflict will always be there sure, but they’ve finally taken care of the conflict that was at the core of everything.
Slight spoiler to what I will be saying in Part 2: Tears would not stop and I need a break from such amazingly emotional things XD
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Yup. We went into more detail in Part 2. We agree here that a movie or OVA should suffice. You brought up a good idea. Should the series somehow continue a new generation of heroines can step up like in Nanoha StrikerS and Vivid.
I was the opposite. I had a big stupid smile throughout the finale and went nuts for the big moments. Had to pause the video several times to let what happened sink in as I watched.
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It looks like this is the end of this brilliant story. It´s a shame if we won´t see Hibiki and Miku fighting at each other side if this is truly the end.
We all know what they are about to tell to each other and even our airhead finally figured out her feelings this season.
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Precisely.
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if there’re no more baddies to beat up Kirika can always become a pole-dance instructor for her second act 😀
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I don’t think Shirabe would like that
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Yup. She gets to dance for Shirabe and Shirabe only.
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I’m sure Shirabe will find something for her to do. Dem dances are Shirabe exclusive though.
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10/10 Hands down one of the best series I’ve ever seen. Symphogear always amazed me. Top-notch story, great characters, fantastic battles, even the villains were great. I can’t really mad at them. And the finale, man, it blew my mind. I’ll recommend this series for people who are a fan of action show. Like mine.
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One of the best ever made without a doubt. Of course not everyone can get into it but viewers who can are in for one heck of a treat!
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