Shidou Itsuka faces greater peril than ever due to his continued involvement with Ratatoskr. He has already sealed 10 Spirits, and Isaac Westcott, leader of Deus Ex Machina Industries, has finally decided to kill Shidou and plunder the Spirits' powers for himself.
To achieve his goal, Isaac declares an all-out war against Ratatoskr, forcing the organization to exhaust its resources to ensure Shidou's survival. Despite being severely outnumbered and outmatched, a glimmer of hope exists in the form of the Spirit of Time, Kurumi Tokisaki. Shidou must seal and acquire Kurumi's power to travel to the past and confront the Spirit of Origin—the catalyst that started it all.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Nenhum episódio encontrado.
Comentários
Extice
Date A Live V was a truly exceptional anime adaptation. The production quality was superb, with stunning animation, a captivating soundtrack, and a well-paced narrative. Each character was expertly developed, contributing to a rich and engaging storyline. The emotional depth of the series was remarkable, leaving a lasting impression. The season concluded with a heartbreaking cliffhanger, leaving viewers eager for more. As a dedicated fan of the Date A Live franchise, I hope to see the remaining light novels adapted in the future. Shido remains one of the most endearing and well-written protagonists in the genre. Overall, Date A Live V was a highly satisfying andenjoyable experience.
captainkunnka
If you disliked S4, you'll dislike S5, and vice versa. Date A Live has long since stopped being aware of how silly their show is. The things people are talking about haven't been the case since 2014. I'm surprised it's been getting this much praise. 1 - Melodramatic as HELL. Nothing about this season is self-aware or not taking itself seriously. Feels like I'm watching a spanish soap opera with the amount of cheap twists or drama. For example, the main villain is completely capable of acting as though he's defeated 5 times in a single episode, just to whip something out of his sleeve (or somethinghappens that feels like pure luck), and he'll be like "I'm playing 5D chess maaaan". Mindless character-killing on par with Akame ga Kill, to the point where I was completely devoid of emotion to watching these characters die. Two fake-out deaths that I can think of.
2 - Focus on fight scenes with 'big' stakes (when we know nothing will happen). Fights being a scream-fest (the last episode, every girl just screams the name of their angel and there's that).
3 - Lazy comedy scenes with jokes being oversimplified and with zero charm.
4 - Shido being such a weird character you can't even tell if he's supposed to be a playboy or a virgin. The confident Shido scenes gave me a headache, I audibly groaned.
5 - Laziness. Intriguing elements like the AST's involvement in the war oversimplified to safe on effort. Huge world-building details that change the way I view this world omitted until the last second. Shido whipping out powers we've never seen before to end a threat, because we've made the villain too smart.
6 - Ugly animation. Distractingly bad in fight scenes, and the studio completely gave up on animating facial expressions. Heavy hitting emotional scenes come off as odd because Shido will have the most mind-bending revelation thrown at him and not change his expression. It feels like I'm watching a child role-play with plastic, stiff figurines.
7 - Shido! Shido! Master! Shido! Darling! Shido! Shido! Boy! Shido-sama! Shin! Onii-chan! This is the extent of the dialogue whenever the group of spirits shows up. It literally gives me a headache, and I cannot understand why they felt the need to include the SAME scene so many times. That's pretty much all the girls do, too. In the one scene where they're not fighting, they're reminiscing on the things Shido did for them (and swooning over those memories).
In its defense though, I loved the flashback episodes. But the rest is simply bad. The show is DESPERATE to get you to feel something, and I simply felt nothing. I never sympathized with Mio, or Shido, or Ike, or Karen, or anyone. S1 was never desperate to grab you in, it did so effortlessly. S5 feels like they're simply trying too hard.
MarkhamTalks401
Dal v feels like a once in a lifetime experience. Good it came at the solar eclipse.. A ln war arc that is built up so well, that it unveils what is set up at the earliest stages of the series, packs extreme emotion, gives major twists, and memorable moments. To finally see a light novel series reach its conclusion and to achieve what is often deemed impossible by light novel standards. This season didn't disappoint. It was masterfully directed in execution and avoided the problem many animes have of cheapened out or cutting action scenes altogether. You can clearly tell the extreme difference ifa dedicated fan made production committee handles an anime vs the corporate Kadokawa who chooses to. The change in animation allowed for the cgi to blend in well with the 2d, major step up from the season. The composition and mixing is well done and rarely seen outside ufotable, mappa, sunrise. Combine it with dem warships, bandersnatches. This allows for greater composition fights and beautiful back drops. A lot will be sure to be ingrained in your memory for years to come.
Goodshow, production committee, is 100% transparent in the production process vs other sleezy corporate companies that give false hope. This is rare in the anime community, and should be treasured more. Also you can see how the production committee chooses to stay the course through their game and not just run off with the money like how corporations handle their game.
Nothing in the season felt predictable. It managed to surprise people at every turn and avoid overdone fights. It also delivered the biggest surprise of the series. Something you will never expect to be animated as when it got mentioned in date a live 1 volume 7 11 years ago. Even small levels of dialogue as well as small symbols are revealed to have huge implications in the story's climax. This allows for a top notch finale and delivers something badly missing in many trilogy finales. Where trilogy finale feel strung up from thin air, without proper buildup and often done in caze.
The pacing is perfect and avoid dragging out episodes. This allows the season to feel almost like an extended movie. There is lots of humor and memorable memes. Also this season will have some of the most iconic moments you will ever see in anime, It captures a ton of emotion and suspense in a short running time and avoids wasting your time. Especially in episode 4, 5, 7, and 8. Masterful directing
Mark my words, this anime will be looked back fondly for years to come. Simply it is practically impossible to recreate a decade of build up and fond memories in this day and age. And is it impossible to have another ln series span over 10 years without readers losing interest and having to move on life Personally I consider myself dropping out of the anime community once dal ends. I know nothing else can recapture the insane excitement dal V has.
I used to have trouble choosing which anime or franchise I would support. Dal v convinced there is only one franchise to support from now on. It will be impossible to match the 11 years of the franchise with spirit pledge, build up, amazing figures, merchandise, humor.
If you want to see the epilogue, consider getting the mio takamiya blu ray package. It serve as memento of the amazing 10 years, and excellent payoff as unveiling of the very first episode. Amazing unveiling, humor, emotion, scale that will be remembered for many many years to come. It is a series that will gain more enjoyment from rewatches.
robert788
Date A Live V (2024) I want this to be a 10, I want it if not to be a 9, but I can't get past a 5. The show is the continuation as you expect but now the story is not really the fun dating with some battles but it is also not quite the battles you want it to be either. The show sits in the middle of what it is trying to achieve and gives me at least a mixed feeling. Does the story go full steam ahead? Yes. Is it satisfying? Not really. Is it bloated? Yes. Do the love connections make anydifference more than just shouting SHIDO! SHIDO! SHIDO! Over and over? Nope.
Does Kurumi still come out as the best girl? Yes, yes she does.
Can we believe it took them that long to figure out who Deus was? Apparently.
Has it ever been the same since Origami stopped being a pervert? No, it has not.
The show is at its climax, everything has come together and now we are met with the showdown, it is just a shame it felt quite hollow. The show looks beautiful in terms of characters for definite. Everything was good but not the best, it has been better before.
My biggest issue is that even with the ending, I don't feel like the story came together but it was just cramming a mass of chapters into 12 episodes. Maybe it was too quick, maybe it needed a climax movie to follow. I think now for me the show has run its course, time to leave it alone. 5/10.
Celby13
What can I say, is it a 10/10 worthy. No not really but after 11 Years, five Season and a lot of dates, in the end, it's a 10/10 Date A Live doesn't hook you up with great animation (at least since S3) There Character development isn't great either (for an Anime with 5 Seasons) and the Plot is kinda messed up at some point. BUT it will give you a weird feeling. A feeling you can't explain and will keep you awake for nights. The Story, The Characters, The bonds between them and the emotions they create made it a 10/10. Big probs to SweetArmsfor the great soundtracks they made for the hole series.
Thanks for this special Anime
Marinate1016
I’ve always been a fan of Date a Live, but I never thought of it as a “great” story. Great waifus and some solid fanservice, sure, but the writing isn’t something I praised when thinking of this franchise. Season V has completely changed my impression of this franchise, taking it from a fun comfort watch, to one of my favourite urban fantasy anime. This is the best that Date a Live has ever been and is a must watch for any fan of the series! Whew, where to start with season five of Date a Live? Picking up right where we left off after season IV,this season felt like everything that had been built up to since episode 1 finally paid off and it was beautiful. All the minor details that you might have not even thought about really came back and were tied together into one cohesive narrative. I thought of Date a Live at times as just wish fulfilment fantasy that you can turn your brain off and enjoy, but that’s such a disservice to the quality of writing in this story. This season chewed me up and spit me out several times, leaving me heartbroken and in tears due to characters’ backstories, worldbuilding, etc. This series is so much more than waifus and eye candy. It’s a genuinely gripping fantasy story that will keep you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns in this season.
I’ll use Kurumi as an example because my opinion changing on her, is really a microcosm of how my feelings for the series as a whole changed. I always thought she was such an overhyped character who was only popular because of her design and horny gooners. Oh how foolish I was. That was such a disservice to how well written she is. These last two seasons showed me the complexity and tragic nature of her character and turned me into a big fan. It was so satisfying seeing everything gradually come together and learning the true nature of the spirits, Shido and this world.
I think the biggest issue Date a Live had in the past was a lack of consistency with studios and staff. I mean changing studios every season up until season 4 is a bad sign for any show. Idc how well written you are, you need consistency to really succeed as a long running anime. As soon as Geektoys took over and this series got a consistent team behind it, it went to new heights. The animation, art and pacing improved instantly. The one issue I’d say I have with the production is the use of CGI. There’s so much of it in the action scenes that it’s hard to take some of it seriously. That’s a personal thing though, I’m not a fan of the CG look so I’m usually critical of it. The story is more than good enough to make up for it and with all the plot twists and reveals in this season, CG will be the furthest from your mind.
Really with how much Date a Live there’s been by now, if you’ve got to season 4 it’s a no brainer to watch season 5. If for some odd reason you’ve found this and haven’t seen Date a Live, please watch it if only just to get to these last two seasons. They’ve been phenomenal and if you’re a fan of well written harems where the girls don’t just serve as eye candy, but actual competent and important parts of the story and well written urban fantasy, look no further. This is it. The ONLY reason this isn’t getting a 10 is because the story isn’t over yet and I want to save that for when it is complete. If anything, this feels like the beginning of a new story in this upcoming final arc and I can’t wait to see that adapted.
Date a Live V gets 9 out of 10.
ganisberke
Frankly, I wish the anime had been done better, because there were so many things missing from the LN series. Especially in the third season, Mana's exclusion, Rinne's appearance, and Kurumi's journey to the otherside were so bland and underwhelming. Kurumi and Rinne could have even gotten their own anime, considering the sheer number of source material. At the same time, the poor CGI and overuse were troubling. The series' sales were hampered by the series' unfortunate circumstances, such as the series' companies changing hands, going bankrupt, or discontinuing production, which ultimately led to its obscurity. Date a Live is a magnificent masterpiece and definitelydeserved more. They've at least hinted at a sixth season, and I'm glad we're getting an anime series to complete it. Despite all this, Date a Live truly impressed me, especially with its music and characters. It definitely deserved a much better treatment. I hope one day we'll see more of Kurumi, Rinne, Mana, and more.
DzoniTS
Now that I have reached the end, I can say what I want: Finished on 13th July 2025, Anime was so good! All seasons rating combined, I give this anime 8.8! 🔥🔥 My favorite were: All Date a Bullet, Kurumi Star Festival OVA, Season 5 and 4. ❤️ Even though it says harem, it doesn't give vibe of a harem anime, it's more then that and I really liked it! My favorite character is Kurumi, I also started show because of her. I had to see what show famous Nightmare belongs to. But this show seriously grew up on me, and it's not just Kurumi, it's entirestory that is just amazing! At first, it was always same scheme: Beginning of the season is good, then Kurumi shows up at the end and makes it great! But season 4 and 5 were literally overall GREAT, not just because of Kurumi, but everything that happened!
I really hope that new project that was announced is Season 6, because I want to see what is left in those 3 Volumes of Light novel. 🤧🥳🔥
KANLen09
Date A Live V - We're finally entering the endgame of this rather long, but epic journey of Spirits, kisses, and a grand reconciliation. But don't get out of your chairs yet, because this journey still has aways to go before its grand finale. It's been exactly 11 plus years since the anime adaptation for acclaimed novelist Koushi Tachibana's Date A Live first started, and it's really been a long time coming for both fans of the LN and the anime to witness one of the best LNs of all time adapted to completion, though at the behest of lots of studio changes (before settling toGeek Toys for Date A Bullet and the anime beyond Season 3) and rushed pacing that leads to cut content. Still, you can't dispute that Date A Live was a genre-breaking game-changer back when it first started in Spring 2013, and this ride, now into its 5th iteration, doesn't slow down the series one bit. Also, I echo @SpiderMiles3523's sentiment that DAL is not just a very difficult series to review; it's one of (if not) the hardest franchises to review ALL seasons of, while being spoiler-free as much as possible.
With Season 5 covering Volumes 17 to 19 of the LN, we've reached the final Spirit to be planned for Shido Itsuka's Seal of Kiss: Mio Takamiya, though unlike the rest of the pack, she's an entirely different being as compared to Tohka and the others. And if you need any reason to doubt that Mio is the toughest Spirit that he has ever faced, the said girl is the Spirit of Catalyst, the Alpha and Omega of everything that the series has resulted from the get-go, setting up the premise of how and why everything happened in the first place: Shido with Ratatoskr, Isaac Westcott with DEM, and the battle of good and evil with the use of Spirits for world peace against domination. It truly is an epic battle that transcends both time and space, weaving the past into the present that will determine the future of Earth being either maintained or destroyed by the Spirits, something on which the series has always focused left, right, and centre, keeping tensions running high without ever giving either side a moment to rest until all is said and done. And trust me, you'll want to endure all the way to the end, especially if you've seen through the ups and downs of the franchise that have all led up to this penultimate season.
Ever since Geek Toys took over as the residing studio for Date A Bullet and Season 4, one can argue that it would be hilarious if the "tradition" of changing studios every season is still needed. But it's instantly clear that Date A Live has finally found a home that it can connect to, along with a dedicated staff team (after the horrendous shuffle that was much needed after Season 3) who is willing to take the franchise to even greater heights as the anime approaches towards the final notes of the LN.
Believe it or not, the music is actually really good this time, going back to the DAL style of greatness. I was expecting to hate Miyu Tomita again after a rather stark departure with her OP song "OveR" last season (which IMO was horrible), but her follow-up OP song "Paradoxes" for this season was such a tonal departure...that surprisingly fit the season so gosh darn well. I'd even think that apart from sweet ARMS's iconic OPs for the franchise, this is single-handedly one of the best songs from said artist that I've ever heard. And speaking of sweet ARMS, the girl group that is now forever relegated to the ED side of things, also earns a W for their ED song that is just so whimsically magical that it too also fits the tonal change for the season as a whole. Easily the 2nd best OP/ED pairing of the series IMO.
Every season of Date A Live raises the stakes further, and Season 5 is no different at all, especially being the penultimate season before its TRUE grand season finale (being Season 6) to put an end to the humans vs. Spirits battle of good and evil, for better or for worse. One can complain that DAL has been cut out a lot in the last 10 years or so, but for the hardcore fans (like myself), that is tantamount to payoffs that enlarge as the seasons progress towards the finish line.
I have nothing but praise for director Jun Nakagawa, series composer Fumihiko Shimo, and the production staff team at Geek Toys for giving nothing but their very best for the 2 years since they took over from Season 4 onwards, and this is a clear indication that they also want a beloved fan-favourite franchise like Date A Live to end with a bang, and a memorable one at that.
So, Geek Toys, give us one more ounce of effort and finish Season 6 as fast as you can, but with quality to back it up. We can wait for how long it takes to ever see the ending of the LN come to the small screen, and say that we've been there from the VERY beginning, all the way to the end.
roupaaz
Date a live is 100% my fav anime of all time, I enjoyed every second while watching it and it was totally worth it to give it a try, but I feel like the animation in this last season was looking a little different and odd in some fight scenes, but appart from that I really liked date a live and it will be hard for some other anime to take its place, I hope there is a 6th season also because I know there is more to adapt from the light novel, and I hope they fix the animation problem that happened last season.I really recommend this anime, it has a little of everything and every single character has a place in my heart.
Zrynix
### Review of "Date A Live" Season 5 Season 5 builds on the complex world established in previous seasons. It focuses on uncovering the secrets of main characters Shido Itsuka and Mana Takamiya, as well as the motives of antagonist Isaac Ray Peram Westcott. The fights were particularly impressive, with the territory clash being beautifully implemented. his deep connections with the Spirits are further explored, adding depth to his character. Mana's background and her relationship with Shido offer new layers of complexity. Even the antagonist Westcott becomes more nuanced, making his motives understandable and adding to the overall richness of the story. The Spirits, including Tohka, Origami,Kurumi, and Mio each have their moments to shine. Their interactions with Shido and their individual storylines contribute to the emotional depth of the season.
Overall, I gave this season a 10/10.
XeeNox
Only here to say, my Mio is the cutest. She is the loveliest, most precious, and undoubtedly MY Life.. She did so much, suffered so much and waited so much when she wasn't supposed to be here begin with. Also, the english VA did such an wonderful job with such a soft voice that highlighted Mio's innocence and softness so much. What makes Mio truly exceptional is her depth and the way she challenges the typical boundaries of morality in the series. She is a character who defies simple categorization, existing in a gray area that makes the audience question the nature of good and evil.Her love for Shido and the lengths she goes to for that love adds a layer of tragedy to her character, making her one of the most emotionally complex figures in the anime.
Her design and presence in the series are also striking, with her calm demeanor and almost ethereal beauty adding to her allure. Mio Takamiya is more than just a powerful spirit; she is a symbol of love's enduring, and sometimes destructive, nature. She remains a favorite for many fans, not just because of her power, but because of the depth and nuance she brings to the story. If you're a fan of complex characters who challenge your perceptions and tug at your heartstrings, Mio Takamiya is undoubtedly one of the best in "Date A Live."
Eva_PhoenixAnime
Date A Live V is a delightful and most appreciated return to the beloved world of spirits, romance, and epic battles, and it does not disappoint in delivering high-stakes action with emotional storytelling and splashes of humor. Fans of the series will be thrilled by how this season continues to weave the intricate relationships among Shido, the spirits, his allies on the Fraxinus and his enemies at DEM, all while finally offering long-awaited answers to the backstory of Shido and the Spirit of Origin. Where Date A Live V truly shines is in how it finally brings closure to the long teased mystery of Shido’s origins,how he has spirit power and the Spirit of Origin, the driving force behind much of this season. The season masterfully ties together lingering plot threads with revelations that feel earned and satisfying. Without spoiling too much, the connection between Shido and the Spirit of Origin is revealed in a way that not only explains many of the strange occurrences in the series but also elevates the stakes, making this one of the most compelling story arcs yet.
The animation quality in this season remains as vibrant and dynamic as ever, due to the team at Geek Toy's improving on the last season, particularly in the battle sequences. The energy and tension in these scenes are palpable, yet the series never forgets to make time for quieter, more emotional moments, which truly enhance the overall experience and gives time to enjoy the atmosphere of this series.
For long-time fans, Date A Live V is a rewarding watch that perfectly encapsulates the essence of the franchise—romantic, comedic, intense action, and above all DATING. The balance between answering the burning questions about Shido’s past while still developing the relationships with the spirits ensures that the season feels both climactic and fulfilling. If you’ve been following the series, this season is a must-watch. If you have never seen Date A Live then nows the time to do the greatest anime bing and watch all of this amazing series that has spanned over 10 years.
Prothreera
Shidou is a character that I think has not developed very interestingly. He has a flat character dimension. Throughout almost 60 episodes, we do not see any clear changes. What is dating but let others point fingers and tell him what to do from the beginning to the end, even though dating is something specific to two people. The actions should come from Shidou's heart, what he really wants to do, not for others to think for him. Although this story is a harem, it does not fully bring out its emotions. The service scenes are ordinary. The distribution of roles to some girls is alsolow. It's like after the date ends, they become support characters instead. It might be because there are a lot of characters.
The action scenes do not feel particularly exciting. Shidou, who should be the strongest, looks strangely weak. It might be because Shidou is just an ordinary student. But even so, he has no training in fighting.
In the end, this anime really has girls carrying him, but it still cannot fully bring out the emotions. Although the previous episodes were not very impressive, the last episode did a good job of making the audience sad with the story and I'd be happy if the anime ended like this rather than ending like the novel with a bad ending, because the novel ended too sadly.
Trikkiez
One of the worst anime of the year. Im going to put as much effort into this review as they did in the anime. The cg is horrendously bad and the plot is so ridiculous it genuinely rivals some of the worst anime ever. Random things happen that make no sense every episode and somehow date a live 5 managed to find a way to 1 up itself from its previous seasons and hit a new low that i didn't think was possible. This anime is not good. Every episode had cg that was so bad i was constantly rewinding and laughing. The creators clearly dontcare at this point.
najueon
That was totally a waste of time. I couldnt drop it because I was curious about how ts gonna end, and that was worst final ever. Heard theres more in vn but no Im done. The story has a classic harem shounen with all dumb and annoying fake personality. And he saves a lot of souls with kissing(2 child included they dont even go to school but our mc kisses and goes out to a date with them anyways). The point where I hated it is when he made a lesbian into him and she is only into him off all males, what writer eventhought when he writing, ts is the most annoying thing ever. He is so so handsome, attractive and optimistic(like a cheap version of naruto) he can get all girls included lesbians ,childs and his sister XD. So annoying he dates anyone forcefully lesbians, childs, his own sisters, whats next?
Animations were terrible too I mean between all of the bad features, they could at least make good animations. It looks like some cheap video game.
Anyways it was one of the worst animes oat. Go watch an average harem anime instead, U'll get more than that. Even on 2x I got bored so bad and got annoyed asf. What makes people enjoy this I really cant understand.
MNexon
Story (6) : This season is better than the previous season, the introduction is quite good, then I like the direction of the story. And there are some plot twists too which I think are good to strengthen the story of date a live. the one that is lacking is one flashback that is really flat or ordinary but the reason is like still a child. So the character wants to achieve that goal because of the flashback that is flat. Then every time there is a fight between A and B, but the cut scene is different to the fight between C and Dwhich is very long. Then the fight here is really weak, only fighting for 10 seconds then there is a lot of small talk. Which results in destroying the fighting choreography. However, the last episode looks like they used their fighting budget there. but overall, I quite like the direction this story ends
Characters (7) :
Compared to the previous season, here all the characters are really involved because this seems like the biggest fight in Date a Live to end the story conflict. I quite like the villain Isaac Wescott, he uses various ways to achieve his goals because he is smart. And I like anime villains that really fight using their intelligence. Then the new character Mio here is very OP, I also like her character and her backstory. Then Tohka & Kurumi are really MVP in the fight. Especially Kurumi because of her intelligence by using her skills
Visual (5) :
I gave it 5 because, the visuals are already good but what I'm confused about is the 3D CGI. In Date a Live Season 1 - 3 they rarely used CGI, but in Season 4 & 5 there was a lot of 3D CGI, so the visual fights were honestly very disturbing and disgusting to watch.
Audio (8) :
I quite like the Opening & Ending because it feels relaxing with full of emotion. Then the OST is very suitable for each scene, some are even from Season 1 OST. Then the sound effect is also good, and the Voice Actor also really feels real and passionate with the emotional conditions of the characters that occur
hexashadow13
The fifth season of Date A Live finally hits the endgame on a lot of the overarching plot threads and provides the answers to most of the mysteries that had been accumulating over the course of the series. This is the season where the conflict between Rototoskr and DEM reaches its climax. It’s also the season where the truth behind the Spirit of Origin is revealed and ultimately dealt with. As such, it’s a very different experience from past seasons. There’s very little in terms of romantic fluff or slice of life. It’s heavily plot oriented and overall pretty serious all the way through, forbetter or worse.
It’s difficult to describe without going into spoiler territory, but I view this season as having two phases. The jump from the first to the second will be incredibly obvious once you reach it. The first phase overall has a very epic feel to it. There’s a lot of great large-scale action. I especially liked some of the gimmicks. There are some really strong emotional gut punches in this phase. It becomes clear pretty quickly what’s going to happen, but it still flows well enough to hit pretty hard due to the investment built up in the main cast.
Shidou’s growth as a character came through very well in this phase. The rest of the main cast didn’t get as much time to shine but I think everyone got at least one good moment. Mio makes a fantastic and unique villain due to how she genuinely loves and respects all the spirits, but still doesn’t feel any hesitation in massacring them. Other similar betrayals have the villain get tripped up when confronted on whether their relationship and all the fun they had was fake, but Mio fully embraces it as true and thanks them for being such good friends. She’s completely insane to the point she makes Kurumi look normal.
The second phase I wasn’t much of a fan of. The focus here is the relationship between Shidou and Mio. The problem is that it’s overtly messy. I feel that there were two ways the story could have gone in this regard and I would have been fine with either, but the writing was constantly flip flopping between the two. I suppose that adds more suspense to things as things are more uncertain, but this isn’t really the type of plot thread where predictability is a problem. The inconsistent flow results in things being thematically inconsistent and both Shidou and Mio end up getting muddled as characters which significantly diminishes both of their character arcs.
With that said, there were still some great moments in the second phase as well. The climax was exciting and ultimately it did resolve most everything it needed to other than Mio in a pretty satisfying manner. The epilogue was pretty rushed, but a nice touch to end on. Thus, I still enjoyed this phase and overall am happy with this season. And of course, I would definitely watch more seasons if they were ever made.
The art and animation this season unfortunately took a noticeable dive. There’s just way too much bad 3DCG. In season four it was isolated to only the especially active action sequences, but here it was pretty much everywhere. It really dragged things down and made some key moments nowhere near as impressive as they should have been. Though the change in art style that was introduced in the previous season works really well for the tone of this one. The OP and ED are both decent enough, though they also have a pretty different style from previous seasons to reflect the difference in tone. The soundtrack was surprisingly great this season. The use of instrumental versions of the first season’s OP was fantastic.
tl;dr: A season with some major issues regarding a core plot thread, but that still manages to hit some really amazing highs.
