Finally, the end is here. I think that if you are reading this then you have seen the episode, if not then don't let me spoil this nice moving ending for you, because you would regret it. However, you may not be satisfied with the ending if you really hate deus ex machina, or if you wanted a bad end.
We start in the illusionary world. The robot is trying to move the girl who couldn't walk anymore and fell down on the snow. The robot says to himself that if things were to become like this it would have been better not to bring her here. Exactly the same thing says Tomoya, it would have been better if we never met.
Buried in the cruel cold snow, unable to move, she opens her eyes and talks to the robot. She tells him she saw a dream and finally understood why they were in this world, and that she can't leave this world because the world is she and if she left the world would collapse, and it would result into misery for many people. She tells the robot that there is another world where they live together, too, and that he will lose consciousness and regain it back in the other world. And then, she says to him: "Sayounara, Papa."
Tomoya left Nagisa pass by without raising his voice, but when he regains the part of his mind from the illusionary world, he realizes what mistake he has just done and shouts at Nagisa. She tells him that she was worried he might not have talked to her, and tells him not to regret anything that will happen from now on.
Nagisa's voice leads Tomoya to the place where wishes come true (Negai ga Kanau Basho - 願いが叶う場所, same as the title of the song from Clannad), and he realizes that the long journey is coming to end.
Tomoya wakes in his room and is holding Nagisa's hand. She has managed to give birth to Ushio and smiles.
Nagisa notices some lights outside the window and Tomoya takes a better look at them. The lights that bring happiness are floating in the air and are heading to the twilight sky.
The new life has been opened for Tomoya, Nagisa, and Ushio. The life everybody wished for, happy moments and also sad moments, but they will always face them together as a family. No matter what hardships are awaiting them, they will always overcome them with the strength of their bonds, because that's what family is about.
The city that is loved by its people loves the people and wants them to be happy, thus it grants them their wishes. But it would never happen if people didn't love the city. It's like a family, Big Dango Family.
The episode continues with Fuuko and her sister walking to the hospital for a check-up. However, Fuuko runs off to a forest nearby and finds sleeping Ushio there. At first, we see the Ushio from the illusionary world, but then the one laying her is Ushio from this world.
My final thoughts:
As for me, I love the way it ended. I didn't want a sad ending and I always hoped that something would happen and nobody would die in the end. At least not even Ushio. And I believed it might happen, because everybody knows that Key knows how to make a deus ex machina. In Clannad's case, it worked perfectly.
The way it happened is a little confusing and mysterious, and I have heard a lot of different theories about what actually happened. I think that nobody can say for sure that his theory is the right one, but I will try to explain the mine a little. But I'm sure that my theory is wrong in many parts.
I think that when Akki brought Nagisa to the place where the wish was granted, the illusionary world was born as a token of a bond between the city and Nagisa. Nagisa had to pay for the wish, though, and that's why she got the illness and she would have it until she would have paid off her dept. Ushio was Nagisa's wish and was born even in the illusionary world (don't know how and why though), and Ushio herself was one of those lights that were produced in both worlds. When Ushio in real world died, Tomoya wished for a change and because he was holding one of those lights that bring happiness and can grant wishes, he got the chance to have his wish granted, but he had to pass a trial. He was placed into the point where he could show if he would rather not get to know Nagisa in order to not cause her untimely death, or if he would choose to meet Nagisa again, despite knowing about all the hardships that are awaiting them. He chose the latter in the end, which was the right choice, because it also meaned that he would make a lot of people happy, help a lot of people with their problems, and bring happiness to everybody around. In other words, he would pay for his wish, and also pay off the dept which caused Nagisa's illness. City acknowledged his right decision and rewarded him with a chance for the new life, or rather a chance to come back in time, and also Nagisa's illness was cured. Which means that Nagisa survived the delivery and they could lead a happy family life.
Anyway, Clannad story has come to an end. I cannot say anything else than that KEY did an awesome job on the story about a cynical boy and a shy, ill girl, and KyoAni brought us this story beatifully animated. I believe that Clannad will never fall into oblivion, and there will always be people who will shed tears while watching this emotionally charged, touching masterpiece.
Sankaku Complex
