Tengen Toppa Gurren-Lagann drew to a close this weekend, bringing to a climax Simon and the Dai Gurren Brigade’s quest for self-determination in the defiance of fate. Gainax did a laudable job of building up to a predictable but appropriate finish, avoiding what many feared would be a fall-on-their-face failure of a series conclusion.

There will be detractors, to be sure. Some people just cannot be satisfied. Bearing in mind that the story was at its heart a straightforward coming-of-age tale, all the pertinent loose ends were neatly tied up, the conclusion of the conflict was consistent with the over-the-top action that came before, and Simon’s eventual fate was appropriate to his character. Good job, Gainax. This was one of the better anime I’ve had the pleasure of watching.

Oh, and I was right about the brush-stroke titles in the end arc. Chalk one up for Burrowowl.