After finally getting around to watching FLCL Progressive and Alternative, I have to say I’m pretty happy with what they’ve done with these new seasons and the series overall. I have some issues with Progressive specifically in terms of the plot and cohesiveness of the season (let’s be real, there was randomly a whole episode of completely different animation style), but I feel that the messages of these new seasons are very characteristic of this series and appropriate for the overall story they were building. Alternative was a dream from start to finish. Beautiful animation, mindful character development, and story pacing that not only built the narrative for it’s own season, but tied together the other seasons as well. I have absolutely no complaints about this season, it is that good. Ultimately after having watched all 3 seasons, it very much feels like a cohesive story tied up in a bow of fun chaos, absurdity, and sexual innuendo. Each season has a different message to impart on it’s viewers. FLCLassic tells the story of Naota and his anxiety over his future and trying to grow up faster than he needs to. Through his wacky experiences with Haruko, he eventually learns that pushing yourself to be someone you are not, or someone you aren’t ready to be, isn’t beneficial and it’s better to take life at your own pace. Progressive tells the story of Hidomi who is numb to the world and stuck in the past, and through her time with Haruko and Ide she learns to let go of the past and move forward seeing the good things that life has to offer despite the things that are less than ideal. And finally, Alternative tells the story of Kana who is rooted in the present and desperately wants things to always be the same. Despite her efforts to intervene and control her and her friends’ lives, she eventually learns the harsh but necessary lesson that change is inevitable and you have to be open to it or else it will destroy you. Although many were apprehensive about there being new seasons following the masterpiece that is FLCLassic, I personally feel like the creators made something worthwhile in each of these seasons and I’m just happy that we have been able to experience more of this wonderful show after so many years.
