Fruits Basket: The Final Season
Synopsis
Hundreds of years ago, the Chinese zodiac spirits and their god swore to stay together eternally. United by this promise, the possessed members of the Souma family shall always return to each other under any circumstances. Yet, when these bonds shackle them from freedom, it becomes an undesirable burden—a curse. As head of the clan, Akito is convinced that he shares a special connection with the other Soumas. While he desperately clings to this fantasy, the rest of the family remains isolated and suppressed by the fear of punishment. Tooru Honda, who has grown attached to the Soumas, is determined to break the chains that bind them. Her companionship with the family and her friends encourages her to move forward with lifting the curse. However, due to confounding revelations, she struggles to find the tenacity to continue her endeavors. With time slowly withering away, Tooru contends with an uncertain future in hopes of reaching the tranquility that may lie beyond all this commotion. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Fruits Basket: The Final receives high praise for its emotional depth, character development, and exploration of complex themes, however, some viewers found the pacing uneven and criticized the handling of certain sensitive topics, leading to a somewhat polarized reception. While many consider it a masterpiece that teaches valuable life lessons, others find it overrated and problematic in its portrayal of relationships.
Strengths
- Beautifully crafted world with interesting premise and promising characters.
- Addresses themes of love, grief, letting go of the past, and becoming your own person.
- Deep character growth and complex portrayals of common feelings and emotions.
Weaknesses
- Pacing issues, with some parts of the plot moving too slowly or too quickly.
- Overrated with writing that becomes laughable, particularly in the final season.
- Romanticization of grooming, abuse, and toxic relationships