Punch Line | Episode 12 (Finale)
Sensuifu: Not the ending I expected, but I guess it works.
Though emotions were being manipulated a bit with Meika’s death, only to have her auxiliary backup revive her.
Thought the insert song accompanying Pine’s disappearance into the ether and the meteor shower from the asteroid diversion was a nice touch though.
Decent action in this last battle, with all members of Justice Punch equally contributing their efforts to save the world. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this series. It actually surprised me more with all the twists as the story played out; and though there are some things that could’ve been better, it was definitely entertaining. The music direction, the character designs, the wonky plot line…all attractive pieces to make this show a fun watch.
bctaris: Wow, that was a real fine last episode. Tied up what needed to be tied up, had a very nice progression from “final battle” to “emotional conclusion”, and really just fulfilled all the themes of the story.
This was the most fun series this season to follow, with my expectations constantly but happily disrupted in the first several episodes, to the creative and surprising twists and turns of the middle and second half. I like, more than anything, how the whole “panty” theme evolved from something baiting, to misdirection, to farce, to parody, to, at times, not really even there when it really mattered. The final bit, chasing Muhi, with the coincidental cover-ups, was like a final, cheeky, cherry on top to the whole bit. (It’s worth noting, in fact, that Yuuta’s last power-up was not from seeing them, at all.)
It does raise the question though of what happens to the “extra” Yuuta here if all goes well, with this timeline’s Yuuta in spirit form, and his body in control of the last timeline’s Yuuta. Would think the “current” Yuuta would want his body back…
And question answered. The previous timeline’s Yuuta, like billions before him, simply perishes; and it only makes sense that the current Yuuta remains–sort of. Now he has to set things up. And that is a curious paradox, this in a certain logical sense, I kind of appreciate…
Amusing run of credit and end cards there. One that showed that they really thought through this was Chiyoko having to put on a disguise as her old body so she could keep up her duties to her idol group.
Sensuifu: Still a lot of small gaps that weren’t thoroughly explained, though the fax theory I suspected turned out to be true (except for who was possessing Rabura at that time). Though I think the time traveling 25 years back into the past to possess her, somewhat messes with the progression of the timelines. That would imply some paradox, that Pine would’ve had already switched bodies before the actual event happened, unless it’s following the overlapping-parallel universe/timeline structure. But with the way some events unfold just seem disjointed at times, especially now that Pine/Yuuta mentions having to return to the past at a point where none of them were alive except Dr. Tenga and a 5 year old Rabura.
bctaris: I think a fair way to interpret it is that, first of all, it’s an event before all these billions of progressive timelines split off, and second, you only need this one “successful” timeline to go back and make that possibility possible. Seems pretty neatly wrapped up in that sense.
Sensuifu: The interesting thing though is how the ending is conclusive yet also seemingly opened to further development. Yuuta’s goal to ‘make a supremely peaceful and happy future’ could also suggest that this current timeline was meant to be altered once again…to a timeline where the world not only survives, but a world with Pine/Yuuta alive and living in it as well. I suppose when all members of Justice Punch are alive, then could they truly know they’ve achieved this ‘supremely peaceful and happy future.’ Reconstructing his path seems to have an infinite amount of outcomes, which I’m guessing is what the author wanted to convey to the audience.
bctaris: And that is an interesting question, and I had to work through a couple thought experiments to sort of test it. The paradox of it I think proves, at first, that this is as happy as it can be. No matter what this Yuuta has to go back to the 21st just to make it all work again–and to work, there has to be a spirit Yuuta at the end of it to go back and make it work. It’s an eternal cycle he’s stuck in, just as it’s been for 6 billion+ times, but the only way to get to this ending. There has to be a past Yuuta to inhabit his body to know what to do to make this future happen.
Sensuifu: That’s what it appears to be, that this infinite loop is actually one part/thread of a multiverse that forms as the basis for the different, possible outcomes. So in essence we’ve only seen one of a possible infinite number of ‘happy futures’.
bctaris: But… What if there was a result where the previous Yuuta, in possession of the current timeline’s Yuuta-body, does survive (now that the cycle of Yuuta’s knows, at the very least, how to get to one happy ending, they can presumably never backslide); the spirit Yuuta (former inhabitant of that body) could still go back in time and start the process. It would still be that process, but one where each Yuuta, kicked out of his body on the 21st, eventually would get to inhabit his body (or a body, in any case; if such a future exists, who knows if he’d still be in Chiyoko’s) for a longer life come next timeline.
Only way to side-step this altogether, of course, is to go back and prevent things from getting here–but he can only, seemingly, posses Rabura. Best place to prevent this, with everyone happy, might be to rescue Guriko (in Pine’s body) from the water before Qmay’s lab people do–but she’d be 9 or 10 years old. And can only possess her for 6 minutes at a time. Would it be worth him experimenting on that, or any other scheme, and potentially altering the timeline to be even worse?
Sensuifu: I think the timeline would just continue to flow based on the other characters’ actions. It does seem like time’s progression is strictly dependent on Yuuta’s influence on it, but given that Qmay and all the events that happen with him and the rest of Justice Punch, it’s possible the timeline will allow Yuuta and his spirit form to alter each distinct path. Chiranosuke also acts as a dependency for all this to be possible as well.
Also, who was possessing the general that Rabura was exorcising? Guriko’s spirit from another time?
Asrialys: I think it was the former Qmay group leader.
Sensuifu: yeah, that’s seems likely who it was. Completely forgot about that possibility since I didn’t think we’d see him return to possess another person after the teacher.
Another question I was curious about- if Qmay’s spirit was capable of possessing people just as Yuuta’s disembodied spirit did, wouldn’t that suggest he’s capable of transcending the timelines too? I wonder if that would’ve played any role in Rabura’s childhood since there seems to be a link between exorcising and spiritual possession in her past. Guess we’ll never know the details on that, among other things (i.e. Yuuta’s sister- how did she take his death?; Chiranosuke’s origin- who exactly gave him to Ito?; why Rabura of all people to fax Tenga?, etc.) 
bctaris: … the general was indeed the former Qmay leader, once again trying to get Muhi. I’m willing to bet (go, Rabura!) that he’s been thoroughly exorcised this time, banished perhaps from this plane of existence, so I don’t think he could do anything else (he is the ultimate villain, remember, causing Guriko to become what she did). Something about the way he left that body was different from previous spirit evacuations.
Sensuifu: True. The Qmay ghost doesn’t appear to be any threat anymore, at least in this timeline and from where Yuuta successfully created the branch to lead to the happy ending.
And the physical appearance of Chiranosuke? What an awkward moment, though a bit funny seeing Meika’s reaction to him.
bctaris: And Chironosuke? So he comes from the future–this future, it seems, we know that much. So all the times he was talking about that happy future, he knew what it was. And it answers, for me, what he was: not a trickster, but indeed sincere about trying to get Yuuta to get to a point like this. But then how did the bad cycle of timelines start, so that, once dead and a spirit (and intelligent) he had to help correct it? Presumably something happened in this future, or some future, that affected something in the past.
Sensuifu: 
yeah, see that was one of my main (unanswered) concerns, seeing Chiranosuke alive yet still an important role player in the timelines’ progressions. There must have been something in the future that he was responsible for. Or could we theorize he’s just a possessed feline, who happens to be holding the spirit of someone who has ‘direct’ control of these multiple conclusions? Another spirit of Yuuta from a parallel thread? His true identity is still a complete mystery.
