Well that was…surprisingly underfreakingwhelming. Like wow, did the series suddenly forget it
had a finale it had to deliver on or did it just say, nope that Alucard vs.
Anderson brawl was pretty damn big so we are kind of at a loss for how we
should close things out. It wasn’t the
smoothest ride to this finale but it was a fun one…which is more than I can say
for these two rather lackluster episodes for Hellsing Ultimate.
The biggest problem with Episodes 9 and 10 (and there are
many) is just how plain slow and boring it all is. I know I praised and criticized the gore and
shock value of earlier episodes but it spoke volumes as to how far this
adaptation of the manga was willing to go.
The last two episodes would rather depend on endless monologues and
attempts to rationalize out of left field betrayals or overall motivations to
decades long plans. Is there action? Yes but it is far more minimal than should be
expected. I honestly don’t care about
why the Major does what he does or wants what he wants. His schtick has been the same since his first
frame and I was honestly tuning out his speeches during his big confrontation
with Integra. I…don’t…care. And really, how disappointing is it that
Integra and Seras fought their way through a literal picture of Hell incarnate
just to reach the final boss and endure another 15min monologue with little
action? I feel like calling this a
letdown is rather generous. Also the
Major is a cyborg? Jeez he’ll do
anything for attention wont he. Nope,
I’m checked out of his bs, I’m done.
Then there’s the matter of the aforementioned “Betrayals
out of left field”. Walters sudden heel
turn is…come on what the hell? Was he a
traitor all this time? When was he
turned? Was this really just to get in a
big fight with Alucard for the sake of a pointless battle (flashy but
pointless)? This wasn’t handled very
well in the Manga and it could have been a bit more cleared up here as well,
but it isn’t and only serves to hamper the finale even further. The madness of Maxwell and the slow powder
keg build up to Anderson’s rematch with Alucard all felt like natural
progressions for all characters and led to equally natural conclusions. The moment Alucard bids farewell to Anderson
could have been the moment the series ended for me even without the Major being
dealt with because that was one of the last plotlines I actually cared about. But when Walter appears and starts going all
traitor on everyone, that’s where the problems began and hardly let up.
Was there anything good about the last two episodes? Some but not much. Integra and Seras double teaming Millenium
was fun and Seras teaming up with Pip as her Familiar to kill the Nazi Werewolf
Captain was a pretty good time as well.
As for the time skip? I guess
it’s the only way to ensure that we got some kind of a happy ending after
Alucard was abruptly and confusingly removed from the last episode. I don’t get the Schrodinger’s Cat thing and I
don’t want it explained, like much else in this finale, I don’t care. What matters is that despite the Majors
insistence that he had won his only real battle in life, Alucard’s alive and
back with the two women who matter most (Seras and Integra), end of story. It was also neat to see an aged but still
gorgeous Integra training the next generation of Hellsing operatives alongside
Seras and see the Vatican is still in play despite heavy loses.
Time for final thoughts.
Hellsing Ultimate was a much more faithful adaptation of the Manga
compared to the TV Series, mostly because the Manga was finished and could be
told in full. And yet sometimes this was
a bit too faithful. From the monologues
to the emphasis on Hellish imagery, sometimes Ultimate lived up too much to its
namesake. Then there’s the last two
episodes that definitely detract a full point, maybe a point and a half for not
delivering on the massive build up of the previous episodes. Despite the shortcomings, we did get to see
Alucard, Seras, Integra, Walter and Anderson the way they were always meant to
be seen. The action was fast, furious
and bloody fun. The return of the cast
of the TV Series English Dub helped remind us why Hellsing isn’t the same without
them. And all three animation studios
worked overtime to bring us the full force of the nightmarish imagery show in
Hellsing Ultimate and all should be commended on a job well done. Some of that imagery could have be sacrificed
in favor of some better developed relationships (you could also sacrifice like
50% or more of the Major’s one note and on endless repeat monologues). Still, if you wanted violent action, you came
to the right place. Still, it’s hard to
believe the TV Series might’ve had a better ending because it was A. Shorter
and B. More happened despite it also being lackluster…man that’s wild.
Final score for Hellsing Ultimate is 7/10. I know that’s going to ruffle some feathers
but the mistakes of the finale and the main villain are things I cant ignore or
pretend I enjoyed. Other than that, this
is a good horror action anime that you’ll enjoy if you liked the Manga or the
TV Series. And when it’s at it’s most
fun (peaking around Episode 8), it is one helluva good time. With that all said and done, November arrives
next and with it my long awaited review of the second season of Kakegurui, Kakegurui
XX. My favorite sexy and insane
Gambling Queen Yumeko Jabami returns next Monday right here at the Gundam Anime
Corner. See ya then and Happy Halloween.
