Zoku Owarimonogatari is the ultimate conclusion to the monogatari-series (until the off-season and monster-season light-novels get adapted that is) but it fulfills this role in an unorthodox yet in my opinion brilliant manner. Zoku Owarimonogatari or Koyomi reverse as this story arc is known as is not the emotional or even thematic climax of the story. That title would go to Ougi dark, the final arc of owarimonogatari season 2, and this structural creativity immediately got me interested in what was to come in this installment, and boy did this 6 episode special deliver.
To start this review I want to take a look at the title of the season in question since that is something that often gives us more insight to what the themes of this particular season are. Zoku Owarimonogatari means "the sequel" or "the continuation to the endtale". It sets out to explore what happens after the end, in this case being owarimonogatari (which translates to "endtale" or "the end story") but it can apply to everything and anything since this story just like the entire monogatari-series is extremely metaphorical.
Having established this correlation to Ougi dark is necessary since without it, zoku owarimonogatari is not understandable so in the following section of this review I am going to briefly explain the thematic conclusions Ougi dark makes.
Ougi is the personification of Araragi's doubts and self-resentment but she is going to disappear because of the darkness since she hid this true identity and even acted to be the darkness and by extension to be the law of the universe, to be inherently correct. I believe that symbolises Araragi trying to force these thoughts on himself by hiding them as the truth. However they are not the truth as pointed out in Araragi and Ougi's conversation where eventually Ougi concedes telling Araragi that his positive side (Araragi himself here) is right and his doubts and regrets (Ougi) were wrong and so, Ougi let's herself be swallowed by the darkness...
But Araragi wouldn't be Araragi if he didn't save her then, after all that is what this "version" of Araragi is characterized with, he saves everyone regardless of the circumstances but still something is different this time...
For the first time ever, Araragi is finally saving himself and when he finally points this out, Ougi is able to see why one of the two doesn't have to be wrong, they can both be right. Saving others and offering yourself to others is right, but regretting things you did before and having doubts about the past is just as normal and thus equally right. In sodachi's case, Araragi was right, he was able to save her without any real repercussions but in Nadeko's case Ougi would've been right. Araragi would've never been able to save Nadeko due to her specific circumstances. Saving others and regretting or doubting those actions are 2 sides of the same coin. It isn't always going to work out perfectly but if you can accept that, you can keep helping others as long as you want.
This was all pretty clear to me when I was watching it for the first time but there was still something I didn't understand the thematic implications of and that is Oshino Meme's appearance and acknowledgement of Ougi but I think I understand it now after some thinking. Oshino finally acknowledges that Araragi is fighting for himself, saving himself. He acknowledges the existence of Ougi, of Araragi's negative side because he himself is finally able to face and accept those. And if others know you're trying your best to save yourself, the world knows this right? Because of that the darkness disappears. Ougi still exists in the world because Araragi will keep facing himself and keep having negative thoughts forever, but now he accepts this and is able to keep living knowing this. Monogatari is a story about accepting yourself, both the positives and the negatives, both fun and sadness, both the beauties of life and the wounds it may leave behind...
After such a thematically rich and climactic arc, Zoku's purpose in the story seems blurry and weird but instead of trying to top owarimonogatari in its climax it serves as a reflection on everything monogatari has delved in throughout the entire story.
Zoku Owarimonogatari delves into the theme of regret again, but from a different standpoint. In Ougi dark, Araragi saved his regrets but in Zoku Owarimonogatari, his regrets save him! This time Ougi saves Araragi. "I clean up after you, just as you clean up after me" the first part of that sentence references this. Araragi saved Ougi by accepting her and now she is also able to do the same for Araragi but that's not all. Zoku Owarimonogatari flips the entire thematic message on its head yet again. The second part of that sentence references Araragi who has to move on again after being saved by his regrets. Even if regrets are useful sometimes, we can't stay in our regretful state forever. When asked who he is, Araragi confidently replies with his own name. He is himself, he has already moved on from his regrets and this is visualized by Ougi falling out of the window, she isn't necessary anymore, he has finally "defeated" Ougi, he doesn't need his regrets anymore.
WRONG
When Araragi looked in the mirror he regretted something, he regretted leaving behind his regrets just like he does here, so what should he do? Move on but regret leaving behind his regrets or remain in his regretful state? Well why not both? I can't take it all upon me or carry it all, but. It should be fine for me to think back on it ever so often". We should move on but at the same time, have the capability to reflect on the past and on ourselves. Sometimes when you're at a crossing, you'll start worrying how to cross it. Do you set your left foot or your right foot first? How do you tackle this problem? Even if you understand that you have to start walking, your body won't let you. That's why when you are unsure just JUMP. If you know you will be able to reflect on the past, on your own story, you can move on. Towards the next story, we take a leap.
To start this review I want to take a look at the title of the season in question since that is something that often gives us more insight to what the themes of this particular season are. Zoku Owarimonogatari means "the sequel" or "the continuation to the endtale". It sets out to explore what happens after the end, in this case being owarimonogatari (which translates to "endtale" or "the end story") but it can apply to everything and anything since this story just like the entire monogatari-series is extremely metaphorical.
Having established this correlation to Ougi dark is necessary since without it, zoku owarimonogatari is not understandable so in the following section of this review I am going to briefly explain the thematic conclusions Ougi dark makes.
Ougi is the personification of Araragi's doubts and self-resentment but she is going to disappear because of the darkness since she hid this true identity and even acted to be the darkness and by extension to be the law of the universe, to be inherently correct. I believe that symbolises Araragi trying to force these thoughts on himself by hiding them as the truth. However they are not the truth as pointed out in Araragi and Ougi's conversation where eventually Ougi concedes telling Araragi that his positive side (Araragi himself here) is right and his doubts and regrets (Ougi) were wrong and so, Ougi let's herself be swallowed by the darkness...
But Araragi wouldn't be Araragi if he didn't save her then, after all that is what this "version" of Araragi is characterized with, he saves everyone regardless of the circumstances but still something is different this time...
For the first time ever, Araragi is finally saving himself and when he finally points this out, Ougi is able to see why one of the two doesn't have to be wrong, they can both be right. Saving others and offering yourself to others is right, but regretting things you did before and having doubts about the past is just as normal and thus equally right. In sodachi's case, Araragi was right, he was able to save her without any real repercussions but in Nadeko's case Ougi would've been right. Araragi would've never been able to save Nadeko due to her specific circumstances. Saving others and regretting or doubting those actions are 2 sides of the same coin. It isn't always going to work out perfectly but if you can accept that, you can keep helping others as long as you want.
This was all pretty clear to me when I was watching it for the first time but there was still something I didn't understand the thematic implications of and that is Oshino Meme's appearance and acknowledgement of Ougi but I think I understand it now after some thinking. Oshino finally acknowledges that Araragi is fighting for himself, saving himself. He acknowledges the existence of Ougi, of Araragi's negative side because he himself is finally able to face and accept those. And if others know you're trying your best to save yourself, the world knows this right? Because of that the darkness disappears. Ougi still exists in the world because Araragi will keep facing himself and keep having negative thoughts forever, but now he accepts this and is able to keep living knowing this. Monogatari is a story about accepting yourself, both the positives and the negatives, both fun and sadness, both the beauties of life and the wounds it may leave behind...
After such a thematically rich and climactic arc, Zoku's purpose in the story seems blurry and weird but instead of trying to top owarimonogatari in its climax it serves as a reflection on everything monogatari has delved in throughout the entire story.
Zoku Owarimonogatari delves into the theme of regret again, but from a different standpoint. In Ougi dark, Araragi saved his regrets but in Zoku Owarimonogatari, his regrets save him! This time Ougi saves Araragi. "I clean up after you, just as you clean up after me" the first part of that sentence references this. Araragi saved Ougi by accepting her and now she is also able to do the same for Araragi but that's not all. Zoku Owarimonogatari flips the entire thematic message on its head yet again. The second part of that sentence references Araragi who has to move on again after being saved by his regrets. Even if regrets are useful sometimes, we can't stay in our regretful state forever. When asked who he is, Araragi confidently replies with his own name. He is himself, he has already moved on from his regrets and this is visualized by Ougi falling out of the window, she isn't necessary anymore, he has finally "defeated" Ougi, he doesn't need his regrets anymore.
WRONG
When Araragi looked in the mirror he regretted something, he regretted leaving behind his regrets just like he does here, so what should he do? Move on but regret leaving behind his regrets or remain in his regretful state? Well why not both? I can't take it all upon me or carry it all, but. It should be fine for me to think back on it ever so often". We should move on but at the same time, have the capability to reflect on the past and on ourselves. Sometimes when you're at a crossing, you'll start worrying how to cross it. Do you set your left foot or your right foot first? How do you tackle this problem? Even if you understand that you have to start walking, your body won't let you. That's why when you are unsure just JUMP. If you know you will be able to reflect on the past, on your own story, you can move on. Towards the next story, we take a leap.
