So maybe I exaggerated; I do have a few comments to make about the end of Toradora! I mean, it felt strange not doing so anyway; it seems obligatory (as Cuchlann observes as well).
Eons ago, I wrote the following:
…if [Taiga and Ryuuji] decide to try romance, will they listen to Ami for once and realize that, once they’ve started, there is no going back?
And, what do you know, they even touched upon that.
Taiga likens the kiss to “a rough, dry wilderness.” This is after she says “it’ll definitely hurt.” Not that she doesn’t like it in the end, but she comes to realize the place of the kiss amidst all that’s happening: it signals a definite end to one thing and the beginning of another in an unavoidably physical way. It’s simple, but that’s really all I ask for. Toradora! delivers this little detail for me just as it’s delivered so much else.
I like Ghostlightning’s final thoughts on the show:
Trust in people, be responsible, delay your gratification, look past what is apparent, be true to oneself, be free to love, treasure your friends, cherish the family you’ve got… I can take all of these away from watching Toradora! and wholly without irony. Instead of being clobbered on the head with these ‘life lessons’ I feel invited to consider them. My enjoyment of the show isn’t contingent to these, but they do add value. I seldom if ever watch a show for its ‘message.’ But I’ll gladly take away a message I discover or create out of my experience of a show.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. Which, uh, is why I blockquoted Ghostlightning.
Thanks man! Very gratifying.
You captured a beautiful moment there. I was too busy getting caught up with what was happening to take note of the lovely dialogue — that I must say is a lot less cheesier than what I used to say at their age.