Sound! Euphonium - Season 3

So, I’ve finally finished the last season and the entire series of Hibike! Euphonium, and I had to take a moment to decide whether it deserved a gold medal from me or not. Honestly, I'm a bit disappointed. This final season flew by way too quickly for my taste. The whole school year went by like a wave of a magic wand (or rather a conductor’s baton, given the musical theme). I expected a deeper dive and a grand finale similar to the second season, perhaps a movie or at least an extended episode to wrap things up in a grandiose manner. That didn’t happen, and I feel like the hype surrounding the second season’s finale, including the movies, either set the bar too high or this season didn’t get enough hype from the creators. There seemed to be less focus on the music. We had three competitions, but we only really saw one – the main one. The longer musical numbers were mostly in the last two episodes. Personally, I think Kumiko outplayed Mayu in their duel! This season reaffirmed that Kyoto Animation remains at the top of the animation industry. Visually, it was stunning, with exceptional detail, color work, and reflections – all top-notch. The dramas within the school orchestra, the emotions of the students, and even Mr. Taki were all conveyed excellently. The series taught us that life doesn’t always go as planned, and in large groups like the school orchestra, individual wishes must often yield to the group’s goals. Group dynamics are crucial, and Hibike! has always excelled at portraying this. Psychologically, I enjoyed everything that happened. Some decisions and outcomes were pleasantly surprising and defied the expected clichés. I also continued to enjoy the relationship between Kumiko and Reina, which still feels like the biggest fake yuri bait in anime ever. The finale was good but didn’t feel as grand as a series finale should. The final musical performance aimed to tug at the heartstrings of viewers who had followed the three seasons, but it didn’t quite manage to move me. In the end, while I’m fairly satisfied, it didn’t deliver the kind of performance that would earn it a gold medal from me – it’s more of a silver. But I can wholeheartedly recommend the series to anyone who loves music, drama, or simply beautiful animation. 8/10 (30/06/2024)