© 森下suu・講談社/ゆびさきと恋々a作委員会
It's quite common for ongoing manga adaptations to have unconvincing endings. That's just the nature of the beast when it comes to anime, and I long ago learned to live with shows that end with little more than a hint of ending. However, it's not often that I see a one-off show with its extended storyline take on such difficult future themes. If you're hoping for anything but the highest resolutions for Shin, Emma, Oushi, or anyone else in the supporting cast, head to your local bookstore to pick up the manga or Start praying for part two. Those characters each get a scene to assure us that, in small ways, they are trying to grow, and that's it. The rest of this episode just involves our main couple having a cute date.
That's not exactly a complaint. While that leaves the film feeling incomplete, the decision to focus this finale entirely on Yuki and Itsuomi means we're going out on an incredibly sweet note. The loveliest part of the show has always been about the two growing closer, learning about each other, and finding different ways to express the rush of love. Watching most of that episode is almost a sugar overload, but it's exactly the kind of impact you want from a season finale. It's a great watch in itself. It just didn't feel like an ending.
That also means there isn't much more to say about this previously unmentioned episode. Ultimately looking back at Itsuomi's past is nice, but it doesn't reveal anything new about him or change our perception. Rather, it simply reinforces and reiterates the show's theme of the beauty of communication and how the study of language allows one to expand their world. Likewise, their date serves as a fun little highlight to the story thus far, demonstrating the ways Yuki and Itsuomi have grown closer, the small ways in which they remain distant, and emphasizing how they both want to overcome those obstacles. On that note, I don't know who decided that the emphatic “no” in JSL had to include the thumbs down symbol, but that person is an asshole. You're just begging for anime misinformation with that show, you idiot. Sure, it would make for a cute scene here with these two almost using some PDA, but still.
While this may not be the most exciting season finale you've ever seen, it still stays true to what has made A Sign of Affection so enjoyable all season long. The characters are all adorable, with strong chemistry that is both romantic and humorous. The animation brings those personalities to life through strong character acting, complemented by an interesting color palette and some striking backgrounds. Although I was a little disappointed to see the more dramatic elements pushed aside, I can't deny that I had a big, goofy smile on my face the entire time. This finale is essentially a greatest hits montage, reminding the audience of everything you already liked. If that counts as a victory lap rather than a finish then at least it was a deserved victory.
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A Sign of Affection is now streaming on Crunchyroll.