「夢の終わり」 (Yume no Owari)
“The End of the Dream”

I’m of two minds when it comes to Unnamed Memory after this week. One half is quite happy seeing some tangible (if breakneck paced) developments yielding some measure of resolution – after all, the season to date has been building to this right? The second half though is concerned about what comes next. If the entire premise has been wrapped up in nary half a season, just what are we getting to fill out the rest. That boys and girls is the million dollar question.

Alright, while the above is somewhat tongue in cheek (spoiler alert, I’m aware what’s coming down the pipeline), there’s little denying this week is the epitome of everything good and bad with Unnamed Memory’s adaptation. The positive naturally concerns a decent outcome properly foreshadowed (or at least teased with sufficient breadcrumbs) well in advance that wrapped up its package in the allotted time. Oscar came to the rescue; Tinasha was proven taking revenge and wanting to keep Oscar away long enough to secure it; and the happy ever after was definitely had. The issue? Pacing per usual. Although not as egregious as the arc involving Miralys (in part of Miralys’ superficial introduction and development), oh boy was the veritable air resistance felt as we moved quickly from continental war to surprise motives and right on into the final battle. I give Unnamed Memory some credit for keeping this material relatively coherent, but what we got here would’ve easily benefitted from two to three episodes worth of time rather than being force fit into one. Just goes to show that sometimes more time is the preferable approach to adaptations.

Outside of what could’ve beens, the major unknown is just what the hell happens next. Oscar finally secured that betrothal to Tinasha after all, and while a lie lasting for the rest of their contract to keep Tinasha alive, temporary has an uncanny habit of becoming permanent (particularly when emotions get involved). Then there’s also the matter of Oscar’s curse effectively being blocked by one of Tinasha’s which similarly seems to exclude any further reason for the two to keep up appearances for long. Thus the expectation that something out of left field will crash this party, and considering we’ve only seen two official witches to date (Lanak doesn’t count given how magic apparently affects the male mind), safe to say whatever it is shall involve one of them.

Missing the landing Unnamed Memory may be, but with five episodes to go and a major plot inflection point waiting for its time in the limelight, I dare say there’s time yet to make a proper impression.

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