Good stopping points for shows that lasted too long...

[vanfanel]

Usually, it seems like the problem is shows ending before they reach a satisfying conclusion, but have you ever seen an anime did reach a good place to end, and then just kept plowing on?

Kenshin's Kyoto arc comes to mind for me. Unlike many, I don't hate most of the third season, but that last episode of the Kyoto arc hit all the right notes, and would have been much more satisfying as an ending that the slow death of the series that followed.

Macross, ep 27 is another. I read somewhere it was originally supposed to end the series, but more episodes were tacked on because of the show's popularity.

As for Gundam, Char's Counterattack is the grand finale AFAIC. I knew it to be true after enduring Victory Gundam.

What are your good stopping places?

[Fencedude]

As for Gundam, Char's Counterattack is the grand finale AFAIC. I knew it to be true after enduring Victory Gundam.

What are your good stopping places?

Victory and F91 may as well be AU series for all the relevance they have to the previous UC storylines.

[vanfanel]

Thankfully, this is true.

[O-chan]

Usually, it seems like the problem is shows ending before they reach a satisfying conclusion, but have you ever seen an anime did reach a good place to end, and then just kept plowing on?

Kenshin's Kyoto arc comes to mind for me. Unlike many, I don't hate most of the third season, but that last episode of the Kyoto arc hit all the right notes, and would have been much more satisfying as an ending that the slow death of the series that followed.

Agreed here. When I expose people to Kenshin I always stop at episode 62.

Macross, ep 27 is another. I read somewhere it was originally supposed to end the series, but more episodes were tacked on because of the show's popularity.

While I do think episode 27 was a good stopping point (but I feel Macross: DYRL kinda fixed that) I felt the additional episodes were very good in further characterization for Misa and Hikaru. It also gave the show a more realistic touch and showed that even after the "big battle" everything is not just happily ever after. Minmei's popularity diminished, Kaifun became a bigger a-hole and a drunkard, Misa became more melancholy, and Hikaru...um...yeah, his life pretty much sucked period. Those last few episodes helped the characters redefine themselves and their purpose.

What are your good stopping places?

For my two favorite Takahashi shows I think it's best to watch the two part Reawakening Memories OAV after watching everything else in Ranma 1/2 since it's the only piece that gives Ranma and Akane's relationship a good "leaving off" point.

For Urusei Yatsura watch Movie 5 last and don't even BOTHER watching Movie 6.

For Slayers I think ,pre-Revolution, Slayers NEXT was always a good stopping point.

For You're Under Arrest it's probably best NOT to watch Full Throttle.

That's all I can think of at the moment.

O-chan

[something]

I can't call the end of Soul Society in Bleach "satisfying", given that nothing is really resolved, but I sure wish the show had stopped there. Or rather been structured as a ~60 ep show from the start.

Also, the Nanoha franchise should have just stopped after A's. The premise for StrikerS is enough to make anyone giddy and I was damn excited for it, but unfortunately the execution didn't live up to the promise at all. From two seasons which together rank as my second favorite show ever, to a third season that was nowhere near the same level, instead merely being "decent with horrible production values". It was saved by a really good last two episodes, but nonetheless is perhaps the show that wasted more potential than any I've ever seen. When I think of what it could have been... sigh.

I also stopped Kenshin after the Kyoto arc, mostly because I heard enough bad about the last arc that I didn't want to spring for the set. It's one of the rare shows I finished off via the manga, getting Vols. 17+ or whatever the heck it was.

Oh, and Gurren Lagann, amazing as it is (and damn it's *really* amazing), should have stopped before that final epilogue, or at least done it differently.

[Splitter]

Also, the Nanoha franchise should have just stopped after A's. The premise for StrikerS is enough to make anyone giddy and I was damn excited for it, but unfortunately the execution didn't live up to the promise at all. From two seasons which together rank as my second favorite show ever, to a third season that was nowhere near the same level, instead merely being "decent with horrible production values". It was saved by a really good last two episodes, but nonetheless is perhaps the show that wasted more potential than any I've ever seen. When I think of what it could have been... sigh.

I'm going to humbly disagree with you on that, solely because Nanoha gets more exposure in StrikerS as a character than she ever does in the first season or A's. Becoming a MILF was the best thing that ever happened to her character IMO... and I'm a Nanoha fanboy so yes, that's important to me.

[something]

I'm going to humbly disagree with you on that, solely because Nanoha gets more exposure in StrikerS as a character than she ever does in the first season or A's. Becoming a MILF was the best thing that ever happened to her character IMO... and I'm a Nanoha fanboy so yes, that's important to me.
I don't disagree with the tagged portion (btw Nanoha is my favorite in the series too), but that doesn't make up for the show pretty much ending my interest in the franchise in just about every other respect. It was not an acceptable tradeoff for me.

[pluvia33]

The Kare Kano (His and Her Circumstances) anime is the first thing to come to mind. I don't remember when in the series it was exactly (been a while since I watched it), but there was one point where it would have been really good to end the series. I think it was a little after the two main characters had sex for the first time. But then they went on to introduce a few new characters (like that basketball guy) and explore them for a little bit and then they talk about making a play for the school festival and then the anime just stops abruptly without any of these new story elements being resulved. Lame. I still need to get around to reading more of the manga....

[bluesilo]

Death Note - episode 25
Code Geass R2 - 21 (I've not watched any episodes after this and don't plan to.)

[Doom85]

Gundam Seed's story ended on its last episode. Destiny didn't happen, we didn't have to endure garbage like an annoying "protagonist" who drove me nuts until Kira thankfully took the spotlight again, every Athrun/Cagalli fan was given the finger, and an awesome Seed death was retconned in a sloppy way.

DBGT also didn't happen, and thankfully, we have the creator on our side on that one as well. I'd say the same about the Buu Saga as well, but less strongly (poor, but not THAT poor).

[pianocello]

I'm going to humbly disagree with you on that, solely because Nanoha gets more exposure in StrikerS as a character than she ever does in the first season or A's. Becoming a MILF was the best thing that ever happened to her character IMO... and I'm a Nanoha fanboy so yes, that's important to me.
I don't disagree with the tagged portion (btw Nanoha is my favorite in the series too), but that doesn't make up for the show pretty much ending my interest in the franchise in just about every other respect. It was not an acceptable tradeoff for me.


The only thing that StrikerS did right was in introducing Subaru and Teana who are even gayer that Nanoha and Fate.

[Zalis]

I don't watch too many megalong series, but here's a few ideas for stopping points in shorter series.

Bleach -- episode 63, end of the Soul Society Arc. I'm not sure what happens in the series beyond ep 91 as I've had it on "extended stall" status for months now. But ending it at 63 gives a conclusion that's open-ended yet still emotionally satisfying.

s-CRY-ed -- episode 25. Yes, episode 25, with one episode left afterwards. For me, Scryed started out as a by-the-numbers shounen shoutfest, but developed a respectable story and characters that I liked. Then it threw most of that away in the last episode with that one "we must settle who's strongest once and for all!!!!!!!" fight between Kazuma and Ryuuho.I mean come on, the main ideological conflict had been solved at the end of 25!

Kodocha, Marmalade Boy -- before their respective New York City arcs. I'm sure this qualifies as "Nuff said."

Arc the Lad, Otogi Zoshi -- these don't exactly go on too long, but both have stopping points after their 13th episodes, which tie up story arcs and give a sense of completeness. Arc the Lad with Elk finding and being forced to mercy-kill the childhood friend he'd been searching for -- there's even a different ED that starts in that episode, perfect for a "last episode special ED" situation. Otogi Zoshi had the conclusion of the Heian arc, though I'm sure that's not really a spoiler to anyone who owns the series.

Magical Project S -- though I haven't seen the last 2 episodes, I'm tempted to say episode 20; Sasami learns Pixy Misa's true identity, many tears are shed (by the characters and by me).

[Drgnfuel]

The very first thing that comes to mind is of course Death Note. It should have ended when L Dies. It would have made it an utter freaking masterpiece. But it turned to a lot of filler garbage(comparably) with one of the most disappointing endings I have ever seen. It breaks my heart.

[mitamaking]

Two disagreements, I actually like that Death Note went on past 25, I know 25 would be a good ending, but it needed a real ending.
Scryed did what no other show dares to do, actually have the 2 rivals have an all out fight, it was a great ending to finally see them truly fight.

And as for 2 I think
Tokko-take away the final "twist"
DBGT-take away GT and end it with Z.

[Helschadenfreude]

Huh. I don't really get all the hate for GT. Maybe because I started off watching that first?

Prince of Tennis should have ended like... a zillion episodes/musicals/live actions/ovas ago, any one of the "huge" matches would have been a good stopping point.

[Buckeye]

For Naruto, 135 is where you should stop and then skip directly to Shippuden. After that episode is just fillers where Naruto is assigned to various missions with the other Leaf Village ninja. Ranma 1/2 I stopped after the 4th season. For 12 Kingdoms, episode 39 is a good stopping place since the climax is reached there and the last few episodes are just side stories. Then for Tenchi Muyo, I would stop after Tenchi Universe. Tenchi in Tokyo and GXP are independent stories and not so much worth watching.

[pianocello]

Kage Kara Mamoru
Delete the last 3 minutes.

Zero no Tsukaima season 2
Delete the last 3 minutes.

[Mr. Nail Bat]

Cowboy Bebop would have been an enjoyable one-episode OVA, but they just had to make a whole series of it.

[Fudce]

Cowboy Bebop would have been an enjoyable one-episode OVA, but they just had to make a whole series of it.

Agreed. :P