Personally, I really enjoyed the series – both for its technical aspects (it was visually stunning, and I loved the sound design) and its writing. I also found the ending satisfying enough, even if the final minutes felt a bit abrupt. I don’t interpret Lara’s farewell as a permanent departure from Mari, but rather as a decision to move forward in the world she so desperately wanted to be a part of, and to become more independent, much like the other people she met during her stay on land. I like that Lara rejected the fairy-tale trope of a “saving”, all-consuming love for a single person, and instead, her love extends to the world, Mari, and herself, without being the sole thing that defines her. Could this idea have been presented better? Probably. Did that make the ending bad? I don’t think so.

I’m also glad the story didn’t go in the direction yuri fans might have wanted, as I find stories, where romantic love is practically the only thread holding everything together, boring. It makes no difference to me whether it’s yuri, yaoi, or a heterosexual relationship; the specific dynamic is irrelevant to me. I don’t need a scene where two people kiss passionately to recognize the love between them.

So, overall, I liked the show very much. I give it 9/10