Eh, Kouga pretty much just entered the story to serve as romantic tension anyway. He worked with them, and later Rumiko did use him for more than just starting an argument between Kagome and Inuyasha, but I never thought of him as one of the "team". After all, didn't it bother anyone else that the group chases down a demon who let wolves devour a whole village, and then goes, "Okay, guy, we'll help you out."

Sunrise having Miroku take the convenient antidote first really did suck. Sigh. But otherwise, I enjoyed this one, myself.  smaller(Quote)

Aw, I'm really escited to see how this ep worked out!  Yuki-Yasha(Quote)

excited**, sorry  Yuki-Yasha(Quote)

I'm agree with you!
Jinenji's scenes were really unnecessaries! and what's the kinda scene with sucks! D:
I'm looking forward to next monday!
wanna watch to the episode 25, wich with that preview caught me by surprise as well!  fsc_ryoga(Quote)

I'd like to think that Takahashi-sensei didn't forget about Koga so I'm going to go with the assumption that what she meant was that they didn't lose anybody while inside of Naraku and they have all gathered alive and well. I'm probably wrong but I like my little dream world.  animeluver89(Quote)

Episode was great! I do agree though that the background animation could have been better, but it honestly didn't bother me. Next week looks good too! Man, 2 more episodes…   missa(Quote)

I believe the last chapter will be one hour time.  Sama34(Quote)

Ha. I remember when this part of the manga came out. "We're all here!" The first thing I said was "… except for Kouga."
And then the same thing happened when that came about in this episode.
I have a feeling they might decide to have a KOUGA RETURNS LOL part in the final episode. Just because.

fff it's almost over. I'm gonna cry.
And duuude I totes hope the last episode is an hour.  Levia(Quote)

an hour long episode. That would be fantastic!  missa(Quote)

an hour episode sounds great, absolutely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lovely jubbly!  fsc_ryoga(Quote)

I have to admit it; when I saw Miroku take the antidote first my jaw dropped. But then I stopped to think about it, and an analogy came to mind. Isn't it kind of like putting on your own oxygen mask first in the event of a plane crash? He had to make sure he was okay first, so if disaster struck (once again) he would be capable of taking care of Sango. Ionno, I'm just trying to justify Miroku's actions via Sunrise. Whatever, Miroku truly does care for Sango, even despite that odd action…

If I was Naraku I don't think I could have handled that long of a lecture from Inuyasha and Kagome. "ZOMG STFU!" Seriously, I don't remember it being that long in the manga, albeit I do remember the significance of it, and oh boy did it live up to my expectations. I was literally cheering for them to kick Naraku's ass by the end of it.

Overall, I liked this episode. Solid and not as flat like last week. I honestly felt sympathetic for the characers.
The series may be almost over, but at least VIZ still has to dub it in English! I can't wait for that.  Yumi(Quote)

Between the 2 beers I had and the termination letter I was writing against a scheister mgmt co, I thought this ep was tedious and unemotional. I felt I was watching movie 4 all over again. Wow. Sunrise managed to take all the emotion outta the ending for me. Sad.

Since when was Kouga ever part of the group? He was just there, like that chick who had a crush on Miroku — Koharu. Plus, for the longest time he was written outta the manga prolly cuz RT had no use for him. He came and went a few times and finally left the bldg like Elvis. He served his purpose and when no longer needed, got shelved like a used toy. Maybe he's back in the mountains making puppies with Ayame.
Who knows? Kouga was never my fav character. Can you tell?

I could care less about the Jinenji bit, but to say the Well has closed up in the next to last ep is a little premature I'd say. WTF!? We've all read the manga but Sunrise is jumping the gun here.

An hour long final ep would be awesome.  psychosybil(Quote)

I think my biggest problem with the whole Kouga thing was that it seemed RT was setting him up to be part of the group for the end.

She gave him a weapon, his resolve was still there, even without his shards he could have probably been on level with Miroku or Sango, but she decided "nah," and put Sesshomaru in his place. Since when was Sesshomaru any more "part of the group" than Kouga was?

Seriously, if we want to talk about useless charters, Shippou, Rin, Kohaku and Jaken were part of the final battle, as well and they didn't do much. Not that'd I'd I expect them too, but still.

I'm not trying to argue with anyone; it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  Ginn(Quote)

Ginn: I think my biggest problem with the whole Kouga thing was that it seemed RT was setting him up to be part of the group for the end. She gave him a weapon, his resolve was still there, even without his shards he could have probably been on level with Miroku or Sango, but she decided "nah," and put Sesshomaru in his place. Since when was Sesshomaru any more "part of the group" than Kouga was? Seriously, if we want to talk about useless charters, Shippou, Rin, Kohaku and Jaken were part of the final battle, as well and they didn't do much. Not that'd I'd I expect them too, but still.I'm not trying to argue with anyone; it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense.  (Quote)

I think it was a good decision that RT put Sesshomaru in there instead of Koga, who never really played too much a role in the series anyway…

If you think about it, what WOULDN'T have happend if Koga didn't exist? Perhaps a few minor plot twists and whatever, but the team still would have ended up where they were today.

Now, if SESSHOMARU didn't exist, how could anything have gone on? I'm not just being a drama queen here; seriously, the very first time he comes into an episode, Inuyasha gets Tessaiga. Can anyone think of a logical way that the storyline would have progressed without Tessaiga?

Not to mention the whole sibling rivalry thing. Often times, Inuyasha would get stronger when he fought his brother. If I recall correctly, he learned the Wind Scar technique in a fight with Sesshomaru… Also, Inuyasha would not have gained the Meidou Zangetsuha technique if not for Sesshomaru, a vital part of defeating Naraku.

I think RT really characterized Koga in making him "give up the fight" once he lost his Shikon shards. If he believed his power came only from the shards, how could be trusted in a fight against Naraku? If Naraku were defeated and Koga had a chance to take the Shikon jewel, would he do it? Sesshomaru is so confident in his own power that he has never seen the need to use a Shikon shard, making him a more suitable person to put on the team in the final battle.

Plus, he's cooler   Lela(Quote)

missa: an hour long episode. That would be fantastic!  

It would. But 26 is only a half-hour slot.  Starks(Quote)

I didn't remeber the antidote thing NOT being in the manga
so while that scene came up
it didn't really bother me
I don't really watch it for Miroku and Sango's relationship
in fact I don't care for it in the least bit
but not regarding this episode
I was a at a bookstore yesterday browsing through some of the volumes I havent read yet. Then I reliezed just HOW many chapters I have missed and how many things they DIDN'T put in the The Final Act. I was like "wow" though most of it seemed uncecassry, like the cat demon plot. But there were a few chapters regarding dragon-scaled tetsaiga that I don't recall seeing in the anime. Man have I read the manga out of order.
I'll just have to start all the way from chapter 1!
so just how many chapters HAVE they skipped?
anyone know the answer?
would be greatly apperciated

anyway I pretty much liked this episode.
I almost giggled at how steriotypical the ending is.
Just like in the super hero movies
they all stand together and are like "YEAH WE'RE ALL HERE"
and it pans across all their faces.
come on
don't tell me no one has never noticed this?
also I was almost 100% certain that Naraku's death would be in the episode
I was suprised they ended it were they did
it was kind of what I was looking forward to this week
i could see a cliffhanger with Kagome being sucked into the meido and it fading out to the credits or something.
I hope this doesnt make pacing awkard for the next episode.
ONLY 2 LEFT
THE AGONY!  Curly(Quote)

@ Everyone

I hope it isnt too late to put my 5 cents in all of this. This isnt a review. this is a comment addressing the apparent roster that is the Final Battle.

To be honest. This is one thing i had hoped never to happen…Again.

At the end of this weeks episode, we have the death of one more antagonist, and the cornering of Naraku.

Noones being torn with an inner and immoral emotional decision between sacrificing an innocent life in the hands of a villan who chooses to supposedly make himself known right in front of his female enemy. Noones being subjected to draw out their suicidal curse, under false pretences. Noones fighting the core of the situation and the Shikon Jewel on thier own, while watching comrades left and right suffer.

And now we are where we are at, and we "aren't missing anyone".

Ive been hearing about this by plenty of people on Hulu, Youtube, and maybe DailyMotion but in the case of this, i have to ask WHY? WHY couldnt Sunrise have the balls to do what Mrs Takahashi couldnt, and place Koga at the end of this situation as well, and Not at just the beginning or imtermediate areas of this series.

Its not about whether i like him as a character or hating him. Its about his integral role in the series. I mean why wouldnt it be integral, after all Naraku killed Kogas comrades, and it shouldnt suprise anyone that the wolf has been driven to revenge. EVERYONE shares a common cause. Inuyasha, and his group have all suffered thier own personal pain because of Narakus machinations. WE DONT NEED TO BE REMINDED ANYMORE.

Sesshomaru, up until episode 80 and 81, had nothing at all to REALLY bluntly do with Naraku. At an early point of the series he had done nothing but pursue the Tessaiga from inuyasha. Over and over again he tried to take that sword. It took several fights, several episodes, and one movie thats based on thier family history. The Full Demon has spent obviously a lot of time working, and fighting his way to get that sword. My point is that Koga to me has done more work in fighting Naraku. Sesshomaru has never killed an incarnation of Naraku. It just seems as though he hasnt done that much compared to anyone else, in the quest to kill this evil demon.

He has 3 reasons for revenge against Naraku.

Attempting to use him as a pawn to kill Inuyasha, rather than have it be done on Sesshomarus own stance.
Also for Kidnapping Rin and using it as an excuse to control him. Before now, he was responsible for Killing Kagura.

Koga wants to protect Kagome, Avenge the Death of his comrades, Avenge the death of Kai's, Shinta's, and MORE comrades violently slain, attempting to devour him on Mount Hakurei, the list goes on.

Sorry to list these things but if Koga has encountered Narakus henchmen AND the Akago empowered Moryomaru, more times than Sesshomaru has (its the same number Anime or Manga folks) than why couldnt the writers have Koga CONTINUE to pursue Naraku with the Gorashi. He can still run on his own stance. He wasnt exactly given those abilities by the shards. He just been empowered temporarly.

He still has the Lightning Claws so what would be wrong with making whatever more use of it that he already has? One can argue that he doesnt have his Jewel Shards, or the Divine Protection of his Ancestors anymore.(To be fair though, its not as if he wasnt at a disadvantage before, with the whole Midoriko freezeing Koga's putting him at risk with anyone in battle trying to reassemble the Sacred Shikon No Tama Jewel)

You think Sunrise wouldve done Kogas character some justice, and leave him to hang with Ayame and accept her as his woman. She may be a filler character but she can provide him with a sense of natural progression in his life because he has come to understand that Kagome wants to be with Inuyasha.

He understands that when he sees Inuyasha's first love Kikyo die, and his depression over her loss.

We all know the end of this point of the story here, where Kagome goes back to home for good. Inuyasha makes it out of the well on his side where he belongs.

Sesshomaru, Sango, Miroku, Kaede, the kids, and the Villagers look at his return and realize that the Shikon Jewel is gone. It is at this point that i want to ask, Is it so hard for Sunrise to try and flesh out a little more continuity by having Koga showing up at the final battle to comment on all thats happened recently, and how he'll miss Kagome too now that shes never coming back and Ayame kinda tries to talk through it and then they get together.

I bet Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise Animation's writers didnt want Koga and Sesshomaru to meet up, over the Awkward situation over having killed a little girl that was revived by a healing sword not a lot of people wouldve thought to exist.

Koga and Sesshomarus group have already met in ONE OF THE FILLERS, episode 99. They didnt kill each other and just went on thier way, for thier own reasons. In the Rumic world.com summaries of THAT anime episode, it says that Sesshomaru right there and then knew that they share the same goal, "kill Naraku".

At the same time though with the Jinenji example, I like it when Sunrise adds subplots like my whole take on what would be wrong with Koga being at the final battle. I like when Sunrise has good writing for Subplots BUT NOT at the expense of cutting out original material. I think we should just have our cake and eat it too. The company would probably make more money because of it.

Whats wrong with Koga getting a little more of a legit Closure in this series, instead of just going home never to be seen or heard from again. and instead of Sunrise just Copy/Pasting Rumikos written storyline to TV.

On my review though i will comment about the "Scenery" and the art. I am satified with the way this episode is, except with two other things to go over.  Inuyasha Anime Examiner(Quote)

STARKS, you got a take on my huge comment? and sorry i havent been around in weeks.

Didnt there used to be more people around though STARKS?  Inuyasha Anime Examiner(Quote)

Let's see….Why was Sesshoumaru part of the group? Maybe its because they have the same father and are 1/2 brothers. Also, Sesshoumaru was introduced early on in the manga as an actual protagonist than good old doorstop Kouga ever was. And since when did Kouga ever add to InuYasha's character development? Never, I'd think. Kouga was a rival for Kagome and that was about it. There are some good eps involving Kouga, like the BAKA scene w/IY and the encounter w/Sessh, but most of them leave me kinda saying, "KEH!"

Kouga was like the stuff you find in 99 cent packages of hotdogs: Filler.

Although, there is nothing like a good, well prepared hotdog.  psychosybil(Quote)

@Psycobil

I never said that Kouga adds to Inuyashas character devlopment. And i certainly wasnt arguing whether it should either be Sesshomaru OR Koga at the last battle of the series. I just said that compared to Sesshomaru, Koga should have stayed in because of more of what hes done throughout this ongoing story.

They BOTH should have been around to fight Naraku also, seeing as Inuyasha, Sesshomaru, and Koga were at the (Anime Exclusive) Panther Demon castle on each side in the same sacrifical location. To be honest, it wasnt all meets and greets since they were more focused on the enemy tribe over anything else.

And i will continue to say this. Koga isnt really what youd call filler. Thats Ayame in the anime. Koga had his own part in the original story besides being Inuyashas rival for Kagomes love. I mean it didnt even START OUT that way with him at first (He greeted Inuyashas group with a fight, and kiddnaping if you will recall). Koga added more to the series after Chapter 356/ Episode 167, like him meeting Kikyo for the first time, and coming to understand that his shards need to go away.

The anime and manga had its uses with him. and a sudden dissappearance, just doesnt suit the audience when you check on every other character with a real ending to this series. Thats all im trying to say.  Inuyasha Anime Examiner(Quote)

There's a reason why Kouga isn't at the final battle:

Sango tried to kill Rin. Kouga succeeded.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9505/55500.png  Starks(Quote)

@ Inuyasha Anime Examiner

Thank you for taking the words out of my mouth and presenting them as you did. I didn't mean to start a whole debate over his character, but I do feel he was sort of cheated out of a proper ending in the manga. I'd like to see him find Ayame again or something in the last episode.  Ginn(Quote)

Starks: There's a reason why Kouga isn't at the final battle:Sango tried to kill Rin. Kouga succeeded.http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/9505/55500.png  (Quote)

Even further, Sango did it out of desperation. She was reluctantly willing to sacrifice someone to get rid of Naraku and save her beloved.

Koga did it for the lols.  Dox(Quote)

@STARKS

Hey Starks, i know you did your estimate for the pacing and which chapters we'll be seeing for the last two episodes but do you think its possible for Sunrise to carry chapters 550-555 in one episode??

Grant it, chapter 558 is two chapters together, and we have to account for 556 and 557.

Do you believe we'll be seeing bonus material than just the original chapters?? I would take that MORE over the copy/paste means of what Sunrise has done.

Plus Sunrise also cut the part in episode 24 where Naraku seperate the lower half of his giant body in an attempt to escape Bakusaigas destruction…..

That part DIDNT happen, or at least not yet anyway….
I really did like the shot of everyone in one Single WHOLE 1 paged panel of the characters looking at Naraku during strong winds, and flying into the sky.

And as for everyone else… i wont be doing a review this week. Given that we are approaching the final 2 Inuyasha episodes that will end this series for good. I am busy looking for future animes list for my viewing. Its one part of my personal life routine i am building, even though i LOVE going out, and getting a lot of fresh air. Anyways in the long run, i have and will continue to stick with series such as CaseClosed, Lupin the 3rd, Bleach, and One Piece.

Are there any good animes you all want to recommend me BESIDES FMA Brotherhood. Any ideas anyone?  InuyashaAnimeExaminer(Quote)

a mistake on that last part. I am doing a review for episode 21 and should have it not too long from now.

I will NOT be reviewing episode 25 until we at least recieve episode 26. Im holding off on watching Inuyasha and trying to give myself a Back to Back satisfaction.

It wouldnt kill you guys to do it too, so youll feel like having more time than 22 mintues to say goodbye…  InuyashaAnimeExaminer(Quote)

@ Inuyasha Anime Examiner
Yay! A One Piece fan! That's my big one right now. Sorry though, I can't think of any new anime's that are worth watching right now. I even gave up on Naruto and Bleach (evil EVIL fillers!!!).  animeluver89(Quote)

beautiful episode!   fsc_ryoga(Quote)

@FSC Ryoga

How was it

Im trying to abstain from watching it though till next week.  InuyashaAnimeExaminer(Quote)