I wrote this review over six months ago, and since then I’ve come to understand and appreciate the ending of the series better thanks to other people’s commentary. I realize that I should have reworded myself and clearly stated that I simply didn’t understand the ending instead of saying it was flawed.

For me it didn’t seem rushed. Coming from a broken family, and seeing many being broken in the process, you see stories like this all the time. You spend years searching and looking for someone, and in an instant, only to have them turn their backs on you, it happens.

If they had the reunion you people wanted them to have, admit it, you wouldn’t say it was rushed. Because then, everything in the story would have fit together and wouldn’t have been in vain. But because it wasn’t one of those happily ever afters, everyone’s calling it hurried.

As far as the whole tattoo mystery, yeah it would be nice to know its orgin but its not really important. Let sleeping dogs lay, everything doesn’t need a story behind it, maybe thats what the tattoo can represent.

As far as Hatchin being Michiko’s daughter, as much as that would make me happy, the is no possible way. Hatchin was 9 years old when she was found by Michiko. Michiko had been in prison for 12 years at the time of her break out. Unless Hiroshi stopped by to make a conjucal visit, which i doubt because he was pretending to be dead, there is now way that could happen.

The ending did feel rushed but its wasn’t a bad rushed were they were like screw it just end the damn show, but more like if we have to end it so abruptly then let have a semisweet happy ending. Yeah she didn’t get the guy or her happy ending, but she got something better than what Hiroshi could have provided, a home and a family to comeback to. Only Hatchin could give her that, Hiroshi was to flaky, by the time she got out of jail she would have no clue were he was, (hint the 22 episode journay looking for him) or whether or not he would stay with her, but instead she has a “daughter and grandchild” that she can call family and I think she is quite happy with the way things ended, I know I am, I clapped at the very end, almost cried, and i rarely ever cry or clap at any anime ending because some are just predictable, this one wasn’t and that was the best part.

I agree with what most have said above about the ending.Nuff said

To my mind it did seems a drop rushed ,but i guess thats par for the course and no use crying over split milk.
As much as i would like I don’t even really think this this needs a second season, cause the story has been told.

1) The ending being rushed to a conclusion signifies that it is not the destination that matters but the journey took place and the relationship of Michiko and Hatchin.

2) Some character development was given to Hiroshi during the episodes, e.g; he’s not committed because he kept on running away throughout the whole show! His personality is revealed and reflected in the other characters, there does not need to be a biography of Hiroshi at the end he’s not relevant. But why should his character be developed? It’s not called ‘Michiko, Hatchin to Hiroshi’.

3) The separation was essential, come on think about it. If they all ran off together the cops would still be chasing after Michiko. Yes the cops were chasing them from the beginning but it doesn’t mean Michiko wanted a never ending police chase. What kind of life would that be for Hatchin? Michiko sacrificed herself so that Hatchin would be able to have a normal life with her father. Plus I have my suspicions that Michiko made some sort of deal with Atsuko.

4) The reunion at the end again re-emphasises the point that the journey is more valuable and important than the destination and their relationship is proof of this. Michiko’s love for Hatchin became stronger than her love for Hiroshi. Adding a touch of feminism, it shows that women are heroes in worlds known to be ruled by men, throughout the series Michiko and Hatchin are portrayed as strong female heroines and men are seen to be weak, unfaithful and ignorant.

5) I also like to think that Hatchin having a baby shows that the baby will have a better life without a father than Hatchin did with one.

But I totally AGREE with you about everything else ^_^
(Yes, I’m very biased towards this show, it captured my heart!)

Is this a sign that there will be a sequel?

Altogether, absolutely a top-grade series, as good as Bebop, Champloo, Miyazaki’s films, etc. It’s a real shame that it did badly in terms of ratings and had to be rushed at the end. I think the real talent shows itself when a director is forced to cut up his own work due to outside forces and still comes up with a way to make it a masterpiece.

****************YEAH, SPOILERS HERE**************

the point, precisely is that hiroshi is a good for nothing, a lazy neer do well who spends his time mooching and having no care at all in the world, and i have know some people just like him.
and satoshi and michiko adored hime because they both were so strong willed, to the point of complete insanity, that their personality seemed to reflect in hiroshi (a big cue about this is when satoshi confesses to hatchin what he liked about hiroshi, and her answer.)

besides, atsuko negotiated with michiko the time to meet hiroshi and say good bye to hatchin (she was very concerned about the time in the airfield) in exchange of her surrender, which would restore atsuko´s place in the police after being disgraced one too many times…

also, michiko finally saw through hiroshi in the train station, thus i guess she didnt wanted to have anything to do with that husk of a man.

and… i think michiko IS hatchin´s mother, in part because hatchin´s daughter, and because when she got “genki” after knowing michiko was on her way home her nose bled, just like michiko´s…

despite all the deus ex machina it had, the characters feel real, not the usual stock.

and, in case someone missed,… atsuko had the hots for michiko all the time…