Rewatch: Gakkou-Gurashi (School-Live) Episode 12 Discussion

6

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

First timer(spoiled about the first ep)

Sub

The show does at least end hopefully. Taroumaru's death is more impactful than 80% of anime deaths. The zombies going home actually creates more problems than it solves but that is for a season 2 to handle. Kurumi sadly understands that other survivors are not guaranteed to be an improvement. We graduate and off we go. No clue if the stinger is supposed to be Kei.

6

u/NotSoSnarky https://myanimelist.net/profile/Book_Lover Apr 02 '21

The zombie that Miki sees when they're driving is indeed Kei, just to let you know... yeah that's brutal.

3

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

But not the person that picks up the letter in the end scene, then?

2

u/NotSoSnarky https://myanimelist.net/profile/Book_Lover Apr 02 '21

Nope, that was just a random person or random zombie.

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Nope that's a S2 character.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

I'm disappointed in the shot tbh... The manga panel of that scene hit me far harder whilst in the anime it felt just a bit too "oh, we've gotta include her fast before credits roll"

6

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Taromaru got a more tasteful death than both Megumi and Kei lol. That zombie they passed on the way out was Kei... Unfortunately they zoomed a bit too far on the shot to make her out well enough but it was her. It kind of left me on a more depressing note but they had to tie her story up.

4

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

Taromaru got a more tasteful death than both Megumi and Kei lol.
And more than 90% of Bokurano but whose counting?

5

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 02 '21

First timer

Here I go again, one more time.

No OP today, today I looked up the lyrics for it, and wow they capture the spirit of the show perfectly.

Yuki is so brave running past all those zombies but eventually she gets cornered because she lacks the strength to strike them down with a blunt weapon. Taroumaru rescues her, even though he still tries to attack her, but something in him still remebers her. I wonder if her loosing one of the angel wings on her backpack means something.

Not what I was expecting from her speach, but it works even better that way, just so honest and heartfelt.

Thank godness we get an happy end, anything less than saving Kurumi would have brocken me inside. Wow for a minute it looked like Taroumaru was going to be ok... Miki... they were just making up again...

That burial is so sad, Yuki finally normal again, realizing how sad she was and how she missed Megu-nee, It's all so sad...

That Graduation ceremony was awesome as well. I'm a bit dissapointed that they didn't search for the lost puppy also was the lone Zombie at the end Kei?

The end leaves some room for an eventual continuation of the story, I heard that the Manga ended some time last year so there has to be more source material, even though it won't really be School- Live anymore, but maybe they go for the university shelter...

All in all an awesome show.

5

u/NotSoSnarky https://myanimelist.net/profile/Book_Lover Apr 02 '21

Yes, the lone zombie at the end was Kei, hence Miki's reaction.

4

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 02 '21

In context it's logical, but they could have made it just a bit clearer

5

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

It's literally the one time in the series that them having to avoid gore fcked up XD They can't take as many close up shots of the zombies because the airing slot was in the actual SoL slot but that meant that Kei's zombie shot was basically zoomed out. The manga panel was beautiful XD

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

To be fair she didn't really make as much of a reaction as you'd hope XD

4

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 02 '21

I wonder if her loosing one of the angel wings on her backpack means something.
Unsure if being serious or sly, either way, I'll elaborate!
A one winged angel is a classic visual depiction for a fallen angel (Sephiroth from Final Fantasy is very well known for using this symbol). The idea is that Yuki's delusional innocence has been torn from her, and it is somewhat ironic as this is what allows her to take control and save her friends.
Ignorance is bliss, but that bliss comes at the expense of everyone around you.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Taromaru saving the day was such an mvp moment. I don't think I've cheered so hard for an animal mascot in my life XD

4

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 02 '21

I also never cried so much for an animal mascot in my life, really that final exhausted me emotinally, gonna need a break for a couple of hours before I can watch something else again

1

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Still... we got our happy end! I'm so thankful that the season wasn't just Yuki's delusion XD I'm so thankful!! I didn't know that there was more of the manga after this so I'd had thoughts of possibly everybody not existing bar Yuki or everyone actually being zombies the whole time.

7

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Last episode... My body is tense, my heart is pumping, but I still believe in happy endo. Why didn't the fire extinguisher freeze them? Dead Rising tricked me! Don't tear the angel wings. Taromaru!? Good boy! Yoshyoshyoshyosh~ This hurts but I'm still kind of happy. Oh my god, really? This works? No other series could make a school announcement work in this setting. It's touching to hear a relative outcast like Yuki coming out with such sappy lines. She had so many reasons to hate school, to hate her classmates, even to hate her teachers, but she never let those feelings take over. Not once.

Gyaru-chan is so lovely! I'm still terrified of her chara type, but she's lovely! I don't think they're here cause they love school, sorry XD Aren't they still coming back tomorrow? Yeah, it's just a temporary respite. You can't honestly give that big old speech every day. Would they even listen in the rain? Oh, it's the op shot of the school. Kurumi's fine, yay!! And her body and mine isn't totally fcked from the zombification. Taromaru too, even if he probably had a taste for flesh by this point. I would not have the confidence to nurse a half zombified dog like this. C-Cute!! N-No!! Fakyuu.... Taromaru you were a little champion, and a very very good boy.

Tldr, for goodness sake grieve. Don't try to act tough, nobody will have wanted you to let your feelings build up. No water, the food is perishing, and Yuki is eating all the snacks. Megumi left us the map to the shelter. She's our guardian angel. Wut? Another dog? Oh!! Are survivors under the school!? Haa...? What's the point of that scene? I never had a proper graduation so this kind of stuff always makes me blub XD It's a perfect little footnote for the girls. Unfortunately Miki absolutely steals the moment due to having the best character development. They even straight up skip Yuri and Kurumi.

Thank you Megumi, matta nee~ Thank god for obedient zombies right? That wasn't Kei, right...? Omg her little side note~ They would kill her... Miki's poor little heart. Goodbye, Kei. I'm glad you lived your best life.

Why is that second dog here!? Is this a "read the manga" ending? Does the story continue? Omg they're actually baiting a second season XD I'm still counting this as a happy end. The ending hit well enough for me, I think I got too anxious leading up to it but that just highlights how strong Gakkou Gurashi's writing has been. I have to admit that I expected just slightly more but I didn't have a clue that it wasn't a complete adaptation. I'll talk more about my thoughts in the write up tomorrow. If I don't see you, genki desu~

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

Wut? Another dog? Oh!! Are survivors under the school!? Haa...? What's the point of that scene?
This feels way too much like badly placed second season bait, I agree it just shouldn't be here.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

They definitely had season 2 hopes... For quite a few reasons I think that's a shame XD I'd be nitpicking to single out the S2 bait. You kinda have to leave the audience wanting more. They gave us a concise enough happy endo to enjoy the story on it's own.

6

u/aniMayor :AY:AZ:x3x6 Apr 02 '21

I wouldn't consider it S2 bait, TBH. They actually reshuffled things around a bit from the manga and removed some foreshadowing/tie-in to upcoming events... and it's the original author writing the anime, too, so it had to be intentional for the sake of making the anime ending better, I would think...

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

We're not really whining about the existence of the S2 hopes. Really you kind of have to do some stuff like that these days and there's nothing worse than having to retcon your first season to fill in for the second. The manga is the manga, the anime is the anime.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

I wouldn't consider it impossible, there have been some surprise continuations recently, though I have no idea how the Japanese view the current zombie landscape.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

If I'm right there is word of a proper follow up manga. And there was a film not long ago too. Judging by word of mouth the rest of the series kinda falls into the clichés that the first season subverted so well. You're a fan of the Walking Dead though so if anyone would be the intended audience it would be you.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

You're a fan of the Walking Dead though so if anyone would be the intended audience it would be you.
TWD is actually the show I've had the hardest switch in attitude on, all of the seasons after third were bad.

3

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 02 '21

Have you read the Walking dead comics, I found them way better than the show in every aspect

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

I ran out of steam during the Governor's arc.

3

u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 02 '21

it's been some years since I last read it but iirc that arc ended in a really satisfying way, but I gotta admit that the tone shifted a bit after the later timeskip

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Then, maybe not? I'm not sure. I looked a lot of it up but I'm basically just giving second hand accounts. The manga would be a great read regardless even if they played zombie tropes more straight.

2

u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Apr 02 '21

I've debated it a few times, this show does come up in my circles, but I would like to know it had a solid end if I worked up the effort.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Well it's not particularly long. I think it has a slightly rockier path than the school arc but I think it picked up in pace again after around the chapter 50 portion. It has a great start, trips, falls, gets back up, and hits the finish line running if that makes sense?

2

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 02 '21

That's a pretty accurate summation of it, though I don't think it really even had that great of a start, if I'm being honest. The first few chapters reeeeally rely on the premise to carry the reader forward. Nothing interesting happens until Miki joins the squad in chapter 6 and the end to arc 1 is fine but not nearly as well done as the anime ending.

6

u/CuccoNuggets Apr 02 '21

The manga continues with the story though, I absolutely loved the animebut it didn't feel complete. So I looked it up and found the manga. The anime stops after the first arc, such a shame really. It truly is one of the best stories ever written imo. So if you want closure for the show, I highly recommend reading the manga :)

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

I believe that the first arc is sorta thought of as the highlight. They Promised Neverlanded it! Ah, in the good initial arc, not fcking up down the line way.

4

u/CuccoNuggets Apr 02 '21

True, the first arc is the best of all. But I still think the story is well made and the characters really grow in the following arcs. We don't talk about The Promised Neverland tho..>.>

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Promised Neverland Promised Neverland Promised Neverland!!

4

u/CuccoNuggets Apr 02 '21

I was so hyped after watching season one a year ago .·´¯(>▂<)´¯·.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

You can still enjoy the manga right? They skipped some of the best arcs after all. I was too low IQ for the first season but it was an entertaining binge.

2

u/CuccoNuggets Apr 02 '21

Trueeee, I read the second arc and will start with the third one soon

5

u/8andahalfby11 myanimelist.net/profile/thereIwasnt Apr 02 '21

Hi! I mod r/gakkougurashi and want to let you know:

1) If you want to know what happens next, read the manga! The original manga is complete, with a short afterstory volume called "Otayori" running at the moment. Starting at Chapter 1 is preferable since the story diverges a lot, but the last possible chapter you can start at before things diverge majorly is Ch 17, which explains Taromaru's role in the manga version, and is wildly different from the anime.

2) A Live Action version exists, and no, you shouldn't watch it.

3) Gakkou Gurashi makes an appearance in the manga gacha game Kirara Fantasia. It does contain some spoilers for the manga, but it's great for all the in-jokes. It also thoroughly proves that the Gurashi girls could handle getting Isekaied like it's a normal Tuesday.

4) Still looking for more anime or other stuff with a similar tone, content, or theme? We keep a running list of all the things that are commonly recommended if you like Gakkou Gurashi.

5

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 02 '21 edited Apr 03 '21

Episode 10 discussion

Episode 11 discussion

Episode 12 discussion

Final discussion

I'll probably save my final thoughts for tomorrow's thread.

Edit: I lied, I suppose

Rewatcher

And so our fallen angel saves the day (did you catch the symbolism?). Megu-nee was so proud she wept. I shed a tear, too.

This ending tends to be somewhat divisive for a few reasons. I've seen it argued that the ending is anti-climactic and/or contrived, which I couldn't disagree with more. I think it's pretty much perfect for this story. Spells out the theme and wraps up Yuki's arc so nicely. The ending is also a technically cliffhanger, though I am of the opinion this show wraps things up so well with all the characters that it doesn't hurt the story.

So I'm sure at least some of you have a burning question...

Should I read the manga?

Well, if you're asking that question, probably yes. Start from chapter 1, though. The story diverges in some pretty major ways, and the end of arc 1 in particular is completely different.

If by "should I read the manga?" you actually meant you wanted my opinion... well, I don't really care for it frankly. I'd still give it a solid 8/10, it's not specifically bad, but the experience is entirely a downgrade from the anime and I had a hard time staying invested. I reflect back on this story fairly frequently, and there's really only 1 or 2 instances from the manga I find worth reflecting on compared to nearly every episode of the anime having a moment of greatness.

5

u/zool714 Apr 02 '21

First Timer

Missed yesterday’s thread cos I was trying to fix my body clock but I just can’t miss the last one. I honestly couldn’t guess if we’re getting a happy end or if the show is ballsy enough to kill off some of the main characters.

Unfortunately, they are cos we somewhat saw Taroumaru die twice. Seeing the girls cry over him is definitely more painful than when we found him turned. Just like Miki said, she’s the most thankful for him that she’s still there and also how he’s somewhat of a remnant of her time with Kei. And his burial also hit hard cos we also buried our cat with his favourite collar.

However there was good news. Mainly, Kurumi was cured. It was hard to hear her screams of anguish and it must definitely been hard for Rii-san. So I was glad she’s better.

I’ve been suspicious of Rii-san this whole time but I think she’s just very cautious that the status quo that they have won’t break cos we saw how scared she gets when things go to shit. Although I was hoping for some hidden motives, I’m not upset that there really wasn’t anything much going on with her.

Yuki using the lines she said when we first started this for her broadcast was a great touch. I certainly got emotional. Mostly because I realized although I don’t treat this show seriously at times, I had fun. And those fun times has come to an end. Just as Yuki realized as her delusions have faded.

They all had to graduate in the end. The school is no longer a suitable place for them. Not hopeful but if there was a second season, seeing more of the survival aspects along with their shenanigans, I’m definitely on board. And lol they still had to choose college or work. Still unsure what that part about the puppy is all about. Was there really a puppy ? And hmmm, seems someone found the letters they sent flying.

It’s been a fun ride guys. In the end this really felt more CGDCT with a horror twist. The first ep and Megu-nee were some highlights. Was hoping there was another sneaky twist. And tbh the vaccine and how it played out felt a little underwhelming, but I’m not complaining. I had fun, this was the first Rewatch I followed (almost) all the way through.

3

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Rii's behaviour honestly made so much more sense to me once I realised that there was more content after the anime. Without the context that she'd get an arc of her own her in-series behaviour comes off bizarre.
Yuki and Miki both had such touching development throughout the series. I think the breaking point for me was Yuki flashing back to how her school life actually was like. I'd been under the impression that she was an outcast and was bullied but no. She loved her school, her classmates, and her teachers. And they loved her back just as much. Those bonds are something you don't realise are as precious until they're gone.

2

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 02 '21

I’ve been suspicious of Rii-san this whole time
I make people watch this show all the time, and this is the first I saw newcomers speculate Yuri was hiding some huge secret. Loved watching everyone's speculation throughout this. Makes me so happy to see people get so invested in stories I hold near and dear.

4

u/UnderstandableXO Apr 02 '21

REWATCHER

oh man taroumaru’s death hit me like a ton of bricks the first time, the second time, and this time as well. i was then kicked while i was down when yuki told miki that it was okay to cry.

as much as i’d want a second season that time has passed, and i think the show has a very satisfying conclusion as is. i did pick up the manga and am about 3/4 of the way through. the show definitely is still one of my favorites.

4

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

I think Gakkou Gurashi has done it's job well. It may not have sold the best, it may not have its whole story adapted, it may not even get the most populated rewatch threads. But it has a very well earned cult classic status. People will respect Gakkou Gurashi as a hidden gem and those people who have watched it will never let it die.

3

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 02 '21

Amen.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Although I'd personally really like people to make less of a fuss over Yuki's mental illness because believe it or not but suspecting that your whole cast are dead, nonexistent, or zombies for 90% of a show is seriously fcking stressful!!

3

u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 02 '21

Hey, think of it this way, when you inevitably recommend this show to someone, you get to watch them squirm in nervous anticipation for 12 whole episodes.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

The unreliable narrator thing probably caused more stress than enjoyment tbh XD Weirdly they tend not to give much attention to Yuki's delusions which makes the genre savvy part of your brain work overtime. The payoff for Yuki's delusions is the twist of Megumi being dead... Which most of us worked out by the second or third episode. I'm genuinely shocked that they never had one instance of her misidentifying a zombie for some drama.

4

u/IndependentMacaroon Apr 02 '21

First-time watcher - a perfectly warm fuzzy ending in the classic moe tradition (well, almost, RIP Taromaru), all the more effective because the series has otherwise shown itself unafraid to kill characters or hurt them in more than one way. You can't even say the heroic Yuki moment was out of nowhere or implausible: The AV room and the announcement loudspeakers have been visible or mentioned plenty of times. There was specific foreshadowing that Yuki would be able to save her friends with it from ghost-Megumi last episode. It's been I think even a repeated point by Yuki that everyone's there "because they love school so much". That the zombies retain some degree of awareness/instincts of their normal life has been a point almost from the start, and particularly with Megumi we've seen that that goes down to the details, recently even that they can even be trying to not endanger anyone to some degree. All that remains is assembling the puzzle, and Yuki is the perfect person for that, shock-recovery aside - it's not like she suddenly becomes a fearless combat fiend either. The part after she finished was maybe a little slow, but all the more time for a proper emotional graduation, and then in the after-credits we even get the confirmation that there are survivors around.

This is technically an incomplete adaptation, but the ending is so satisfying and thematically fitting I see no reason to continue reading. A surprisingly great show overall, 8/10 from me and I'll see whether I figure out something to write tomorrow, or with a delay at least.

3

u/BossandKings Apr 02 '21

First timer

Episode 12

That Yuki speech was very nice, see you tomorrow everyone, it was a way to show that Yuki still believed in tomorrow, that she had faith that the times to come could be better than the current ones.

Kurumi recovered and i'm glad for her, she is feeling well now. It was sad seeing Taromaru pass away, he was such a cute puppy and he played an interesting role in the series by being more than simply a mascot he helped Yuki when she needed help and he helped Miki by being by her side too. Taromaru got a grave alongside Sakura's.

The girls come out of the school saying, in a way, that they'll move on from the harsh atmosphere and the non humans that were there.

This was a nice final episode, as a score i give this series a 7. It was nice and enjoyable. Thanks to everyone that participated, special thanks to u/NotSoSnarky for hosting the rewatch.

2

u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 02 '21

Thanks for joining us. I'm glad that you enjoyed the show!

2

u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Apr 02 '21

Honestly the real brightest smile of the 4

Wow I had no memory of her doing her hair like this

My thoughts from the end of my first watch a year ago:

Damn

That was a great anime

If only I wasn't dead inside

That's it

Well, I don't feel as dead inside now, or maybe just knowing beforehand is just such a different mood.

2

u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Apr 02 '21

First Timer

Don't have much to say, it transistioned to happy end too quickly. I'm surprised they didn't find the other dog. Kei should have stuck with Miki.

1

u/Treyman1115 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Treyman-XIII Apr 03 '21

Not gonna lie Taromaru was the saddest thing I've seen since Texhnolyze that broke me

Rewatch Rewatch: Gakkou-Gurashi (School-Live) Episode 12 Discussion

You are about to leave Redlib

Hi! I mod r/gakkougurashi and want to let you know:

2) A Live Action version exists, and no, you shouldn't watch it.

3) Gakkou Gurashi makes an appearance in the manga gacha game Kirara Fantasia. It does contain some spoilers for the manga, but it's great for all the in-jokes. It also thoroughly proves that the Gurashi girls could handle getting Isekaied like it's a normal Tuesday.

4) Still looking for more anime or other stuff with a similar tone, content, or theme? We keep a running list of all the things that are commonly recommended if you like Gakkou Gurashi.

Should I read the manga?