Common Name: Shoujo Shuumatsu Ryokou
Alternate Names: Girls' Last Tour, The End Girl Trip
Score: 9/10, 5/5
Length: 12 Episodes
Genre: Adventure, Shoujo, Slice of Life, Psychological
Summary: Following the events of a war the likes of which the world has never seen before, all that is felt of mankind are the hollow shells of their cities, their autonomous industrial facilities, and two young girls who managed to escape the destruction. Having no clear goal or stable means of survival it would be an understatement to call their situation bleak. Rather than fearing the end, Chito and Yuuri have decided to just live each day to the fullest. With no one to talk to but each other, though, it doesn't take long for thoughts and questions about the world before the catastrophe to filter into their daily conversations. Assuming they don't find civilization, at least they'll still be able to take comfort in each other's company as the end of the world slowly approaches.
Review: To anyone who follows the AR Facebook page, you probably already know that I adore this show. Though it doesn't have enough going for it to put it on the same level as some of the more standout shows of the season, it stood out and still stands out in my mind for two very specific reasons. First and foremost, it turned out to be a better version of Kino's Journey than the 2017 remake of that very series. Secondly, it presented itself in a manner that focused on a number of different dichotomies that bring the whole of this story together. Everything about this show, from the narrative and characters to the overarching themes and the art of the show itself, all come together to tell a story that is equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, cute and disturbing, thoughtful and simplistic. While there might not actually be a lot to Girls' Last Tour, it tells its story in such a masterful way that I'm honestly a little inclined to give it as much hype as possible so that at least have the appearance of being just as good as the greats of this season.
Granted, I'd be inclined to share how cute this show is, regardless of the overall quality.
Now, to be clear on one point, my first big reason for liking this does not mean I like this title more than Kino's Journey. That just isn't possible. Yet this show offered itself as a boon when Kino ended up being a mockery of its former self--full to bursting with incomplete thoughts, an inconsistent tone, and a butchery of the show's lead character. So, in comparison to lofty "what-if" scenarios that rarely got fleshed out, of course I'd be more than happy to lean on a show that features a similar premise with far simpler concepts to address. Rather than positing grand societal dilemmas/scenarios, Girls' Last Tour is a far more down-to-earth series. It tends to deal with concepts like defining happiness and acknowledging the breadth of emotions that can be expressed by music; yes, I consider that simple. At the same time, though, this show also stands apart from its contemporary because of its significantly more personable characters.
Yes, Yuuri, yes you are. Not exactly a great one, but no one's perfect.
Being mainly a character show, it figures that most of the appeal for Girls' Last Tour comes from its lovable, if a bit odd, characters. No matter how weird or dire things get, this is that kind of show that can always rest on the fact that Chito and Yuuri will find a way to keep going on and offer some good laughs while they're at it. The interesting thing to note, though, is that this show's mildly repetitive character comedy never really grows old or samey. In spite of it only having two characters to focus on, Girls' Last Tour just works because both Chito and Yuuri function as amicable opposites. They each have their own unique desires, quirks, and skills that separate them, yet they never feel tempted to part from one another. While it might be hard for the air-headed and morally unbound Yuuri to understand Chito's feelings, she does go out of her way to amuse and distract her traveling partner from the dark of the world around them. Similarly, it might be just as difficult for the principled and academic Chito to tolerate Yuuri's idiocy, but she does everything in her power to keep to keep Yuuri grounded and happy while they move ever onward. Alone, either of them would have likely died in this world long before now, but together they find a way to get through each day without ever really worrying about what troubles tomorrow might bring. So long as they have their vague goal and each other's company, there's nothing to worry about because at least they aren't alone.
And at the end of the world, not being alone can mean more than life itself.
When regarded from a more analytical level, the reason the relationship between these two characters works becomes fairly obvious. It is because they function as dynamic opposites. In other words, where one girl might hold one opinion, it is likely the other will think otherwise. Rather than functioning as polar opposites, beings that are bound to bicker and argue until the world comes tumbling down, they typically turn their disagreements into a discourse that lands in a kind of happy, but distinctly separate, medium. They find a way to compromise and go on with life because neither values their differences in opinion more than the commonalities they share. For example, where Chito functions very much as the guiding light and source of hope in the pair, Yuuri has functionally given up on this world and lost all interest in social or moral standards. I say this because Chito is the show's sole source of forward momentum. She hopes and dreams and wishes that they might be able to return to the way things used to be, if only they could reach the top of the city. On the other hand, Yuuri is very much a source of social nihilism that is selfishly and solely interested in the here and now and whatever strikes her fancy at that moment. For her, the past and everything tied to it mean nothing because they are usually just a source of melancholy and pain, so why hold on to those things that would only serve to distract her from what little happiness she can take in the moment? Yet neither girl resents the other for their beliefs because there is still some part of them that agrees with the other. While Yuuri might see no value in the past, she still values Chito's happiness. While Chito might cling to and unreasonably value old ideas and dreams, there is still a part of her that acknowledges the hopelessness of their situation. So, interestingly enough, the reason these two work so well together is because their differences bring out the best in one another while their similarities also help them fight against their more negative traits. In this way, Yuuri's nihilistic pursuit of momentary happiness becomes the emotional support of the group while Chito's stubborn determination ensures their continued survival. So, I suppose the easiest way to put this is that Yuuri is basically the Yin to Chito's Yang.
It's all pretty Zen when you think about it in that much detail.
The main thing that is fascinating about Girls' Last Tour, however, is that it is full to bursting with similar kinds of harmonious dichotomies. As I said before, everything about this show, from the narrative and characters to the overarching themes and the art of the show itself, all come together in such a way that it brings home a kind of unified theme. And that theme is the fact that beauty can be found in the way two very opposed things can harmonize in spite of their differences. For example, the unsettling juxtaposition of these two girls playing around, singing, and having fun in spite of living in a crumbling world that could kill them at any moment easily turns into a general statement on the power of childish innocence. The stark and bland atmosphere of this world is similarly rendered into a thing of beauty as the girls find ways to turn rubble and trash into music or a game to pass the time during a downpour. Yet all of these dichotomies do not strictly hinge on the presence of these two girls. Some of them actually go so far as to speak to the whole of humanity. For instance, the way the machines and industrial facilities still chug on even though humanity's disappearance has rendered them useless speaks to how the creations of humanity have a way of going on and living in spite of the creator's demise. More noticeably, however, is the designs present within the city these girls traverse itself offers a great deal of insight into the nature of mankind. Following a cubist and minimalist design patterns, the buildings and layers of this city speak volumes on the harsh, pragmatic, and yet very simple efficiency that can be seen in human designs. Alongside these imposing and bleak structures, however, there are also a few structures that look more like massive pieces of found art which reflect on humanity's more creative and frivolous nature. In other words, this dichotomy of designs offers a glimpse into humanity's naturally dualistic nature, particularly when dealing with things like "art" or even "God."
What it also offers, though, is a visual aesthetic wholly unlike anything seen in the slice of life genre thus far.
Of course, even that long list of dichotomies doesn't even begin to touch everything this show addresses. In the interest of leaving some things unspoiled though, I won't go into some of the other, more poignant discourses this show gets into. In fact, I'm actually pretty content with just saying, "Damn this show is good" and have done with it so you can just go watch it yourself. In all seriousness though, I cannot recommend this show enough. Like Made in Abyss before it, this is one of those gems that deserves all the attention it can get. Is it for everybody? Most certainly not. I know way too many people that dislike slow and thoughtful slice of life shows like this on principle to even dream of recommending it to everyone. If, however, you don't mind sitting back and letting this show send you into a kind of moe-based meditation, you'll find yourself watching a show I'm already inclined to label a "cult classic."