Thoughts on endings
So, I've finished the manga, having read it over the last week.
I think the first half was very good, I really enjoyed it, but it began to drop off as time went on, and by the time of the final chapters what little I liked about the ending just couldn't make up for the parts that hit me as wrong, especially as I got to chapter >!96 and onwards with Phos being consigned to ten thousand years on earth absorbing Kongou's memories and all of the gems and everyone else being fine with it with the exception of Euclase and to a lesser extent Cinnabar who at least realizes they should be sad.!<
>!I know the manga is heavily buddhist in themes, but in all honesty Phos' fate reminds me as the scapegoat. They are consigned to bear their sins while the others party it up and in the end they reap all the rewards for the pain and suffering forced on Phos.!<
>!Things are a little better after what I felt was that absolute nadir, but in the end the stuff with the rocks and Pitapat couldn't make up for it. Phos finally realizing what she wants and getting it is nice, but it's with a cast there isn't the time for me to connect to. I like them, but it feels hollow compared to the existing supporting cast.!<
>!I also really dislike the Prince's plan going off without a hitch. Just personally, regardless of it's relation to the quality of the story, found it really distasteful.!<
>!The ending is...better. God-phos burns and at least ends their torture and perhaps finds a better place, even if we can never know. Rock-phos is not the Phos we knew but at least is having a better existence. As long as they don't break more.!<
>!I also found the commentary on humans just very tired and personally kind of insulting. I've seen it before, executed better, and with less...pretentiousness I suppose. In my current mental state my only two mental reactions were to feel even more down and then just angry about it.!<
>!Ultimately I just hope that if God-Phos ends up with the other gems somehow, or if rock-phos finishes fragmenting into nothingness and ends up with them, they'll have a more peaceful and compassionate time than they did in the events of this story. !<
>!And hopefully with less being manipulated into being a scapegoat.!<
I might recommend the story in the future, but I'm going to be careful with it because I ultimately found it very depressing, and it just left me feeling hollow by the end. I wouldn't call it a bad ending, but it's not one I'll ever feel like revisiting, or much of the back half of the story.
It's not an ending I hate. It's not Oshi no Ko or Battlestar Galactica or a half dozen other endings I've heavily disliked.
Sorry if I insult anyone with this. I don't think people need to dislike the ending. I just needed to say my piece on it.