Gankutsuou Episode 24 - At the Shore (END)
Five years have passed since Fernand’s attempted coup in Paris, as we return to see those who have survived the tragedy of the summer when Albert and Franz met the Count in Luna. Reunions, remembrances and regrets are in full force, as Albert comes to terms with the past.
The emotional climax of Gankutsuou was, indeed, the previous episode, but this was a fittingly poignant epilogue. Initially I feared it would be horribly cheesy, and it was (fairly), but the cast of Gankutsuou was such that I did actually care about what had happened to them. This episode had special costume designs by some famous fashion designer or other, but to be honest I’d almost completely stopped noticing the CG costumes or the visual splendour of the show as a whole by now, so focused I was on the storyline and dialogue.
So, that’s the end of Gankutsuou. For those who love the book, I fear the anime “adaptation” will prove too sacriligious for them to truly enjoy, as I’m well aware of the massive changes Gonzo made to the end of the story - given how closely parts of it stuck to the book, I can see why this would be incredibly aggravating. For those of us who are uncultured buffoons, however (myself included), Gankutsuou was a brilliant exercise in mature, pulpy melodrama, with fantastic production values and atmosphere (although some of Jean-Jacques Burnel’s music wasn’t perfect, Gonzo neglect to advertise how they use a lot of classical music AND had another composer working on the show, who make up for it!). While I frequently wanted to bash Albert’s head around for being so utterly idiotic a lot of the time, it didn’t actually affect my enjoyment of the series very much in the end thanks to the strength of his characterisation (he may have been a moron, but he was an interesting moron) and the rest of the cast - of course, the Count himself being a major part of this!
While I keep calling Gankutsuou a “melodrama”, it doesn’t really deserve comparison with something like Air, which is also extremely melodramatic in a lot of ways. I think the difference is that Air is entirely character driven, whereas while Gankutsuou is partly character driven the real joy is in the intricacy of the plotting and the wheels-within-wheels nature of the Count’s vengeance. I’d have to say that I enjoyed Gankutsuou a lot more than Air thanks to this - while I felt emotionally invested in Misuzu and co, by the end of the series I didn’t crave to find out what would happen next, whereas the end of each Gankutsuou episode left me begging for the next one.
Negative points? well, Albert’s thick-headedness, changes to the book and the unique visual style (which I loved) aside, I think Gankutsuou may put some people off due to its strangely ambiguously homoerotic nature. It’s really not the kind of thing I’ve come to expect from Gonzo (although they did animate Peacemaker Kurogane…), and it doesn’t really concern me at all, but I suspect swathes of fanboys won’t be picking it up because of it. Given that one of the main themes of Gankutsuou is desire in all its forms, most of the series is swathed in layers of sexual tension of some kind, so it’s hardly surprising to some extent, but I hope it doesn’t stop Gankutsuou reaching the audience it truly deserves.
As I’ve already mentioned, the Region 1 DVD release is in October. I hate to be cheesy AGAIN, but now I just have to wait…and hope, for one of the best series of 2004. Adieu, Gankutsuou.
April 11th, 2005 at 5:03 pm
Excellent review — In agreement, I’d have to say that this was, hands-down, my *favorite* title of 2004/5 — I don’t think I’ve ever been so compelled to snatch new episodes as soon as they came out.
I did feel a bit disappointed in the ending (Albert’s father’s death was quite contrived), and the conclusion seemed tacked on (case in point, I didn’t even know there was an episode 24, since it seemed to end at 23), but the first 20 episodes were absolutely *golden* — I tend to discard most titles and then pick them up in batches of 10, so I’m amazed at how consistent this series managed to be.
April 11th, 2005 at 5:03 pm
PS: Wait and hope?! XD
April 11th, 2005 at 8:56 pm
Can’t say the anime is anywhere near my top 10 (maybe not even 25 or 50) but it was enjoyable and I’m glad I watched it. The art was interesting and story was pretty good.
Albert being a fool did piss me off alot as did his homosexual tendencies. Can’t say I’d ever watch it again but if they had put in a lot of Eugunie and Albert moments I’d be happier to watch it again.
This is my assessment after watching up to 18 and skimming the rest. I’ll probably finish this in the weekend.
I really wish they showed more of Eugunie and Albert’s reunion. Albert says he loves her but waits 5 years before they even meet again? That was her in the end right?
April 11th, 2005 at 9:04 pm
Well nevermind, it was her. Seriously… Albert’s back to being a idiot for not trying to get in touch or meeting Eugunie for all this time.
April 11th, 2005 at 9:06 pm
Well said! I know a lot of people who have read the book (myself included) and have loved the story even more after watching GONZO’s interpretation of it. Sometimes an accurate book-to-film adaption is called for (e.g., the movie Mansfield Park was a horrible reading of the Austen novel), but other times, like with Ganku, old fans want to see something new.
PS: I also didn’t notice the designer fashions very much since the costuming has been steller throughout.
This is one of my favourite series to date, and I will be collecting the official (Geneon) discs. Actually, GONZO has produced some of my favourite series to date: Ganku, Last Exile, PMK. They’re red hot. I’m looking forward to their next major project.
April 12th, 2005 at 2:28 am
True there were homoerotic overtones, but there was also Albert/Eugenie for the hetero fans. I mean, A/E is the pairing I support, but I guess I didn’t mind the yaoi overtones since nothing actually happened.
June 4th, 2005 at 6:51 am
hello! i had just been surfing the web when i found this! i lurve your pics, like that insane-looking cavalcanti. i was wondering, because i had recently done this myself, have you read the original count of monte cristo book? ohhh its very good. i recommend it! ((except 1 thing: in the book, cavalcanti supposedly has a red beard…..???????))
August 28th, 2005 at 7:15 am
I cannot emphasize enough how much I love this series. The end of episode 15 (I think?), when the Gank starts to laugh maniacally after sending Albert back to Earth with the most earnestly sorrowful look on his face, is pure genius. But there were a few things about the show that I found disappointing, and it would be nice if someone could offer an explanation that would redeem the series to perfection (in my eyes).
- I’ve already sort of rationalized the excessive homosexual overtones of the series. I want to believe that such themes were included to portray the confusion over sexual orientation that people naturally tend to experience in their adolescent years. But, like I said, it was a bit excessive, and homosexual occurences in animes always serve to cheapen the title, because you can’t help but wonder if they did it just to appeal to some audience at an immature level. And that’s definitely not something I want to believe GONZO did with GANK.
- Why did Fernand die/die that way? I thought that was pretty pointless. I don’t know. Maybe I’m missing something to think that suicide is not an honorable form of redemption. Or maybe the point is that he is a tragic character, and you’re meant to feel sorry for him. Either way, it leaves something to be desired.
- What’s up with the Dantes at the end? He was released from the clutches of the Gank, and he still wanted to kill Albert? I thought the Gank represented Dantes’ undying hatred, so I expected a more human Count to remain after the Gank was “exorcised” from his body. Then, even more confusing, he just drops it a second later and dies uttering some last words that were equally disappointing in their ambiguity and seeming disconnection to the context of the dialogue. I thought that was an end most unbefitting of such a powerful and amazing character.
- Finally, it would’ve been nicer if, in the final episode, they had shown Albert and Eugenie actually meeting each other, instead of just vaguely and very faintly hinting at it. I mean, if I remember correctly, the last thing you see, right before the “Fin” screen appears, is Albert walking through the streets of Paris. I mean… what were they thinking, seriously?
All in all, I would have to agree with David on this. Episodes 1-20 (and probably 21, 22, and most of 23) were priceless. I really want to dub this series my favorite of all time, but I think these qualms I am having with it are keeping me from doing so. Still, at the very least, I can safely say that this is the best series Gonzo has put out to date (in my opinion).
February 23rd, 2006 at 4:28 am
i need see Gankutsuou , i love it, but i donīt know something: i need to know if the count hold albert or something like that, i read the book and i love it so.. if you can tell me that i’d be very very happy , for ever and ever :D (sorry my english, i’m chilean)
April 2nd, 2006 at 11:00 pm
In response to Yoshi’s post above:
I think what they intended with Fernand’s death was that he knew he deserved to die and decided to stop running away from consequences of his actions. In the book he is killed by the Count.
As to why they killed Edmond…well it’s anime. You know how they love to kill of characters. I agree it wasn’t a fitting for his character, but I think lot of that is because I have the novel’s POV also. As much as it was about revenge, it was also about justice. I think they missed a big opportunity with the ending here. In the novel Edmond is pretty lost once everything is finished. He’s been looking for revenge for so long he doesn’t know what he wants anymore.
As a reader of the novel, my one disappointment was that the moments where the Count sets up each of his adversaries with bait (which they instantly take) didn’t seem as big as they did in the novel. Granted they show it, but there’s less importance placed on those key moments.
May 7th, 2006 at 5:14 am
In the book, Fernand is NOT killed by the count at all !! Have you actually read it ??? you missed the whole point !!! He gave up on vengeance and chose to forgive those who betrayed him… He rose above his thirst for vengeance and chose to start his life anew.
I urge you to read the book, miles above that sorry excuse of narration that is Gankutsuou ( the first half was amazing but then … )
June 18th, 2006 at 11:50 am
Another supreme anime from Gonzo. Yeah, they changed a bunch of things but I dont mind. Now I can only wait for them to produce something simmilar like this…
September 15th, 2006 at 2:35 am
It needed more Eugiene and Albert. Otherwise the ending would’ve been great.
The ending of the book is still a lot better though. But the anime version stands on its own quite well.
September 15th, 2006 at 2:44 am
“In the book he is killed by the Count.” - Wynter
I’d like to point out that this is inaccurate. Fernanad actually comitted suicide out of disgrace. The Count did not kill him, at least not directly. And Boulayman brings up a good point as well, by the end of the novel the count had actually given up on revenge and sought redemption instead. Of course, this is *after* he executes his revenge that he feels regret.
At the end of the novel he gives up his fortune to Maximilian and Valentine and sets off to “retire” with Haidee as his lover during a sunset. The message is still the same though –hold out hope. But in the novel is a little more explicit in that it’s not just hope, but it is God’s will if revenge is suitable. That was one of the bigger points in the original story, the count replacing God to take actions in avenging an innocent man. Alexendre Dumas then carefully points out how things happen when you don’t put God first. If you read the book, you know how everything spun out of control, including the near death experience for Valentine. (The book is riddled with Christian idealism).
If you thought the anime was good, I strongly encourage you to read the book. It’s long, but you’ll fly through those pages. Trust me.
May 2nd, 2007 at 5:38 am
Re: homosexual overtones.
I think if you find the homosexual overtones odd, you need to look at the cultural context. Over and over again is stressed the aristocratic milieu Gankutsuou takes place. Both in Japan and France, homosexuality is just *there*. There’s nothing odd about it and if anything, I found it kind of understated. If any of this surprises you, you should probably go read some more Oscar Wilde (and pay attention to the last episode - note that Albert is carrying the ”Tale of Genji” with him when he returns).