Ouroboros ep 10 finale [review]

Based on Twitter reactions last night, I have decided to brave myself to whatever this drama will offer me in the end. I knew it won’t be blissful but there was a tiny hope inside of me for a miracle. Well, let’s just get on with the finale.

Ikuo was at the stadium and Kitagawa revealed that he was his real father. Of course, Ikuo was shocked beyond words and ended up having a headache and recalled everything. He was too shaken to kill Kitagawa.

Meanwhile, the rest of the gang gathered to watch Yuiko’s tape recording. Remember Danno left it for Mishima and Chouno in the previous episode? Yuiko told everything she knew about Mahoroba and left messages to the kids, namely Sousuke and Ikuo. For Ikuo, she said he might be the most affected once he found out the truth about Mahoroba. But she was sure he would be fine. She hoped he would make another new family and have someone to make him his favorite omelette rice. We know Mizuki already made him so at least that’s one wish came true.

Danno was actually also at the stadium and planned to kill Kitagawa but Ikuo being there messed it up. Danno decided to let it go for now after he saw how shaken up Ikuo was. After that, Ikuo contacted Mizuki and they returned to his apartment.

Ikuo told her he remembered everything about Kitagawa. They played catch before he sent him to Mahoroba. Kitagawa also told him to keep this a secret (about him being his father) and that he would come fetch him someday. Obviously, he never did.

Ikuo also said his memory loss before wasn’t because he couldn’t recall, it was because he didn’t want to. To which Mizuki replied, it’s normal for people to not remember things like that.

 She then said she’ll always be by his side. She won’t disappear from his sight. Damn it, why can’t they just leave everything and go to some place nobody knows them and start over! I realized most of my OTP never ended up together, that hurts.

This is probably the only most intimate moment between these two for you guys out there who are shipping these two.

Later, Mizuki met Danno who asked how was Ikuo. As Danno expected, Ikuo was confused and it took him hard. Danno said he still has plans to continue. Mizuki told him she wouldn’t stop him and for Ikuo, she’ll protect him. Danno thanked her for that.

 Next day, Tachibana and Mizuki went through Kitagawa’s profile and past. Apparently, he was the sole survivor when he came home one day to find his whole family killed. When he grew up, somehow he ended up with the killer’s daughter, and that was how Ikuo happened. Tachibana said it was like God’s trick upon Kitagawa. When he separated with Ikuo’s mother, Ikuo took his mother’s family name, hence he had different surname. One day, Ikuo’s mother asked Kitagawa to look after Ikuo so that was how Ikuo ended up in Mahoroba. Kitagawa has gotten married again and built a new family.

Chouno went to find Kitagawa in fear of Danno targeting him. True enough, Danno was there and held his family hostage.

But he didn’t expect Ikuo to show up either. Ikuo told him after 20 years of chasing after the truth, there’s no way he would leave it just like that (meaning, he will be on Danno’s side till the end).

 Danno tied up Chouno, Kitagawa’s family upstairs. There was a lot of talking here. Basically Kitagawa told them the reason why he created Mahoroba. I just felt like whatever his reasons were, it was still a wrong decision to sacrifice innocent lives. He was just whitewashing his actions. I don’t really see how he was even repenting his wrongdoings, he didn’t seem to regret a bit.

He then narrated what went down 20 years ago. He found out that Yuiko and Hibino was working behind him to save the kids. So he was there that night to order Yuiko to stop working at Mahoroba. The kids will then be sent to another place, in another person’s hands. Yuiko resented that decision and took out her gun to stop Kitagawa. That was also when Ikuo saw her and followed her outside.

Kitagawa saw Ikuo and ordered Yuiko to kill Ikuo as farewell. What the hell? He’s such a scum I have no feelings for Kitagawa at this point. How could he ask someone to kill his own son? Yeah, I know the son was an accident, something he didn’t want to happen, what’s more, the mother was his family’s killer’s daughter. Ikuo probably brought unhappy memories to him, still…what the hell?

 Yuiko then pointed her gun towards Ikuo and we’ve seen this scene, nothing new. But she turned around after that to shoot Kitagawa but she was too late. Kitagawa knew she would aim it at him and shot her first. Already injured, Yuiko managed to pull the trigger and shot one of the Public Safety guy.

 Mizuki went to find Ikuo only to find his apartment empty. He wrote her a note ‘Goodbye’. She rushed to Danno’s office and Fukamachi told her Danno was nowhere to be found too. She knew both of them were targeting Kitagawa.

Back at the police station, Tachibana and Mishima tried to ask their superiors to send people to Kitagawa’s place. But the bosses were reluctant to take action. (The whole Mahoroba case would only bring shame on the force and they probably wanted Kitagawa to be sacrificed and get it over with.) That pissed Mishima and he was going to punch the superior but Tachibana shoved him.

She punched the superior instead haha That was great.

At Kitagawa’s house, Danno wanted to kill Kitagawa but Ikuo stopped him. He said it would only be appropriate for him to be finish him off.

However, Kitagawa’s son managed to free himself and found a hidden gun in their house. He aimed at Ikuo telling him to stop. Danno tried to persuade him to drop the gun but instead got himself shot.

Ikuo was pissed and fired at the son, Kitagawa blocked and his shoulder was shot.

I’m just gonna rant about the son here.

STUPID SON! HE RUINED EVERYTHING!

For someone who just appeared out of nowhere, he sure knows how to make me boil up with anger. Aside from Kitagawa, I hate this baka son as well. Yes, hate is a strong word, I just need to let it out somewhere.

 Ikuo wanted to fire again but Danno stopped him, telling him it’s enough.

Running out of time, Danno began to move away. This scene was touching. Oguri Shun really did an amazing job portraying Danno Tatsuya. He reminded me of his role in BORDER, that final episode.

 THIS BROTHERHOOD T____T

When they went out, Mizuki and Fukamachi were there. They tried to stop them but Danno told Fukamachi not to and thanked him for everything. I never really mentioned Fukamachi much but he deserves some praise, since this is the end, I’ll do it. He’s such a loyal assistant, did everything for Danno without reasoning why, he’s great. He rocks!

Mizuki then chased after Ikuo and stopped him.

 I’m sorry, Hibino-san. I’m glad to have met you. – Ikuo

Damn it Ikuo! That’s not how you say farewell with someone you cared so much ughhh

They drove back to Mahoroba, the only place they can call home. On the way, Danno told Ikuo he watched Yuiko’s video. Yuiko was beautiful, as always. Yuiko said Danno is someone with bad mouth, doesn’t care about others etc but that part of him is actually the gentlest side. She understood that. She reminded him of her younger self too.

 Watching Danno cry is such a rare thing in this show that whenever he shed a tear for Yuiko, I was just so touched. His attachment to Yuiko was so deep that it hurts.

 By the time they reached Mahoroba, Danno was dead already. Ikuo carried him inside and sat down beside him. He then picked up his own gun and most probably committed suicide (thought it wasn’t shown).

When he closed his eyes, we saw this imagination of where Yuiko greeted them ‘Okaeri’ and they said ‘Tadaima.’

This is SO SAD~~~

Even sadder when the rest arrived the next morning to find them.

You know, the dead have it much easier. It’s the living that needs to figure out how to move on while carrying the heavy memories of the dead with them.

I love the way they shot this scene. They put the background music but silenced the real scenes. So not being able to hear Mizuki’s cries made it even sadder. I feel sorry for her. I really do.

This Fukamachi scene too as he ate Danno’s favorite omelette rice.

In the end, Mizuki was seen wearing Ouroboros necklace, it was fitting. Afterall, that was probably the only thing closest to Ikuo she could keep as memento. (Somebody pointed out that this might be the reason why Ueno Juri was wearing V-neck shirts in this drama, I realized it was rare for her to wear V-necks too, so probably only to show the necklace lol)

Some people might not like the ending since it’s not a happy one. I’m fine with it, I’ll just cry about it and feel depressed for a while. Then I’ll move on. Of course, Ikuo didn’t have to choose to die. He could very well stay alive and probably start a new life with Mizuki. However, in the flashbacks during the scene he was with Mizuki at the apartment, it was shown that he was the one who killed the policeman (first episode) and Danno’s rival gang leader. So he probably never thought of running away from his crime and decided to end his life from the start after their revenge. There was a glimpse of doubt after he met Mizuki of course but in the end, I think even if he did stay alive, he’ll be sent to prison (and maybe sentenced to death) so there’s not point, it won’t change much. I mean, I’m trying to think of alternatives for him to live but he probably would not be able to live with the guilt. Maybe this was for the best.

Well, overall, this is a dark intense drama and while the plot has holes, I still love this show. The cast did a great job, I think this was a pretty good adaptation from a manga. Thank you all for visiting this blog, spread the Ouroboros love ^^