Ascendance of a Bookworm 11-14 END
This has been such a strange show for most of the part, the story seemed almost aimless, nothing to indicate where it would head or if it would head anywhere interesting. I was beginning to think I made a mistake, though I was curious if indeed was going to end as unremarkable as it started off, given we're hinted about the end right at the very beginning.
Well, here we are, except it wasn't so much how Ascendance was ending at this point but it really seems to begin here. The initial segment of the show extensively gushed on all about Main's obsession with books (just an obsession to read, I wish this had better depth) and her other-worldly knowledge that helped her around financially but they're playing a bigger part than in the past only now. While it's understandable that Main needs to survive, find a profession and ultimately relive her obsession in this life - it never seemed to rise up beyond that. Don't get me wrong, that's actually enough elements to begin with but her talents and means are far more mundane for the viewers than they are to the characters of the show. Though, there is some world building here in the context of the trade, social structure and economics (and those one or two plants that seemed to have their use) - it's still really rudimentary. I suppose the most interesting tid bit was the idea of contracts binded by magic.
The 'world building' is where these last few episodes shine in understanding the theism of this world told through beautiful drawings and the social dynamic between Nobles and commoners. We remain as clueless as Main relying solely based on our interactions with the church who mistook her to be a Noble. Even while the reactions of Benno and her parents hinted on potential danger we never really realize this until the moment her parents meet the Head Priest. It all comes together elegantly at this point - not just the events of this final arc but also taking note of the Nobility's influence since the very beginning. This status quo is likely what Main's struggle is going to be from this point which seems more interesting.
All this is while the show remains consistently decent in terms of the character art and animation, if not also with geat background art. I do wonder if
HosannaExcelsis watched it.