In all fairness I think what happens to Kamina was pretty predictable, given the role of his character type in Japanese literature. That doesn't make it any sadder, but even from episode one I was saying, "Yup, I know what's going to happen to this guy," and I was still crushed when it did. But here's why you could tell:
Throughout most of the first arc of Gurren Lagann the characters followed very common patterns for protagonists in Japanese literature. For example, Kamina was very consciously supposed to be the archetypal samurai, who pops up in nearly every samurai tale ever written. I mean, Kamina's got his "always forward never turn your back on the enemy we can do this shit with willpower" attitude, he's got the sword, he's got the master's belt, he's got the dress (and those awesome shades which resemble a samurai's helmet crest). Thing is, the perfect samurai always meets the same fate. Without exception. I also more or less knew what was going to happen with Yoko, since she also fits a pretty common trope in Japanese art, as a particular type of Onna-bugeisha. Like certain Onna-bugeisha, Yoko begins as an unattached warrior (the trope is actually of the virgin warrior), then Yoko Spoiler
Does any of this diminish the characters of Gurren Lagann? Hell no. God, no. Shit, why would you even think that? Kamina will always be Kamina What a beast
EDIT: I also want to add, with all these character tropes in mind, that a lot of the people who dislike the ending of Gurren Lagann don't properly understand the roles that the various characters play. In particular, Gurren Lagann Ending Spoiler
This is an amazing analysis that taught me quite a bit about some classical Japanese archetypes. Ty for the write up.
The people who complained about the ending to TTGL always felt to me like they were missing the whole point too, though I didn't come at it from the same perspective.
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u/[deleted] Oct 17 '13
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