"Accidents Happen"

And this was a big one...

I had half a mind (probably more than half) to delete last weeks post. James talked me out of it. I wrote a mid season review on Fruits Basket: The Final [Fruba] last week...when this Monday was the series finale. How did this happen? How did I, a self proclaimed Fruba Super Fan, make such a colossal mistake? My answer is pretty simple, it's because I'm an idiot.

When the final season aired I had assumed, since the series up to that point had been true to the books and there was still so much content left, that the season would remain on the same track the previous two seasons had- 24 episodes. I never even thought to stop and check it. I admit, as the season progressed I had some concerns. If they were sticking to the books, they were altering the timeline a lot. I wasn't sure what that meant or what the intention was. It honestly never occurred to me that they weren't rearranging the scenes, but actually actively cutting large chunks of the story out. So, when episode 12 aired, I wrote my mid season review. My thoughts being that they would go into the parent's perspectives, loop back around to Yuki's solo arch, and end on the "send off". You can imagine my surprise when episode 13 started and I immediately recognized it as the end of the book.

Even still my denial persisted through half the episode before I finally voiced my concerns to my family. James looked it up and sure enough, we were at the end. A goodbye I thought was 12 episodes away was paused on my tv screen and I had no idea what to do. I honestly have been beating myself up nonstop over this. It was such a pointless mistake. Something so easily checked that I just as easily overlooked and took for granted. So, for anyone that I might have steered in the wrong direction because of such negligence- I'm sorry. I truly am very sorry.

Since I gave my review last week on the series up till now, all I can do is tell you my final thoughts on the finale. I will warn you though, I'm sure I am a little biased based on the feelings I've been marinating in these past couple days. The finale disappointed me. I was disappointed in all the last bits we missed. I was disappointed in the score. I was disappointed in the fact that the season wasn't what it could have been. But the more I think about it, the more I think that I'm just bitter that it all felt rushed to me and that was my own fault. Even still, I struggle with the fact that they were so true to the books the first two season and then, just like that, three volumes were cut right out of the script. It just feels like such a waste to me.

Even saying all that though...The beauty of this series- the beauty of Tohru's heart was not missed. Her words still reached fans because bright and early Tuesday morning Fruits Basket reach #1. I am so happy and so thankful that this series got a second chance. Even in the moments I am disappointed in, I am still just so happy that this anime exists. I didn't get to cry during the finale because I was too caught up in myself, but I want you to know I am crying while writing this. Fruits Basket, holds such a strong place in my heart. I will never forget the lessons it taught, or the words it instilled. But now that it has completed it's adaptation journey, I can watch it whenever I need a reminder, and it overflows my heart to know that it is there for everyone who might have missed it before too. I hope this anime reaches everyone who need to hear those words and learn those lessons. I hope it saves others the way it save me almost two decades ago.

I'm very sad that this is the note we're ending Fruba on. I have been so disappointed in this blunder, but James' gave me a gentle kiss on the head and reminded me "accidents happen". In that moment, I felt like that's what Tohru would have said as well. This story has so much to teach us, including how to forgive ourselves, and I'm trying to keep that in mind. In the end they even teach us how to say goodbye, but also in one of it's final moment's Tohru and Yuki teach us the difference between 'goodbye' and 'see you again soon'. Which is what we should say for now. While we say that, keep Kyo's words in mind as well, we are more loved than we know and at every new turning point of our life, remember, that another banquet is only just beginning.

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Thank you so much for tuning in to this very sad installment of Nerdom. I am filled to the brim with so many conflicting emotions. If you have not seen Fruits Basket, please check it out, you won't regret it. I hope the rest of your week going smoothly and everyone has a safe Holiday! We will not be having The Mess this week but we will be having Rantt, I hope to see you there! In the mean time, stay safe, stay nerdy, and stay messy otaku.