Clannad ~After Story~ - Episode 20

I was perhaps being a little premature in my thinking that After Story would have been better had it ended with the reconciliation of Tomoya and Ushio - Sure, this wasn't a powerful and emotional instalment like the aforementioned episode, but it did at least rekindle some of the fun times of the first series (despite its decision to put a massive dampener on the whole thing come the end of it).

There are really two major points of note for much of this episode, the first being the revelation of Kyou as Ushio's kindergarten teacher. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for her, so it was nice to see the now adult Kyou make an appearance, complete with now huge Botan.


Continuing with the blasts from the past, we also get plenty more of Fuuko this episode, as she comes to play with Ushio for a day. I know her original story arc wasn't everybody's cup of tea but I enjoyed it, so I derived a fair amount of amusement from her behaviour in this instalment, not least the suggestion of a game of Blackjack with Ushio - and why not? You may as well start 'em young...

This episode was looking likely to be almost entirely a fun and frivolous one, which is more than fine by me, but I suppose Clannad wouldn't be Clannad without some hurt and upset around the corner, and so it looks as though we're set for another rather depressing episode next time around. Not quite a tissues at the ready story I would assume, but it certainly isn't looking bright and breezy - A bit of a shame, as I really enjoyed the admittedly pointless hijinks of episode twenty.