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[REVIEW] One Pound Gospel - Final Round
The final episode! I could cheerfully watch it all over again. I know it wasn't to everyone's taste, whether they were Kame fans or not, but I loved it.
(This will be my last review until the next time Jin and/or Kame acts in a drama, as I don't feel inclined to go back and do old ones.)
One Pound Gospel - Final Round
Plot: Having beaten professional boxer, host, and all-round jerk Kurenai Ryuusei, our hero is now the Japanese champion! While everybody else (sans Ueda) celebrates back at the Mukoda Boxing Club, Kousaku dons the belt and runs off to the convent to give Sister Angela the good news. It's not much of a celebration because as Ishizaka points out, the main character's not there, and when Katsumi (who is wearing one of my shirts, I see) finally notices that Ueda is conspicuously absent, there's a definite air of 'shall we let the kid know?'. Ishizaka fills him in, breaking Katsumi's heart so badly that he's immune to his mother making another joke about how bad her parenting skills are.
Kousaku, too, gets his heart broken, though in his case it's by Sister Millie, who tells him it's all his fault that Sister Angela has gone to another convent. To be fair, it really is his fault, but that's not what the poor boy wants to hear. There's no point in being a champion if his beloved nun isn't around, so he gives his belt away to some kids who think it looks really cool.
Like Kousaku, Ueda is sitting around feeling sorry for himself. Unlike Kousaku, he's got Sister Angela in his line of sight. The nun is at the bus stop. She tells him he can't quit the gym because everyone will be sad; he tells her she can't leave for another convent. Convincing each other to stay could take some time, so they move the discussion to a manga cafe. While I can't make out the other series on display, I can see a number of volumes of Ranma 1/2 - there they go with their Takahashi Rumiko references again! The conversation goes nowhere, which is what happens when two people who don't really want to leave are waiting for someone to come up with a sufficiently convincing argument against it, and Sister Angela goes to leave anyway. Ueda promptly lies to a nun - shame on you, sir! - and says she has to read at least thirty volumes of manga before she can go.
Back at the gym, the guys are still sitting around with the celebratory banners, but Katsumi's not interested. I actually find it very sweet, the way he touches his hand to the bag and talks to it as though it were Ueda. And he smiles so hopefully when Ueda bursts through the door, interrupting all the conversation about him, in a desperate search for Kousaku. Ueda's explanation is absolutely hopeless, I might add. Sister Angela is happily reading thirty volumes of Inuyasha (Takahashi Rumiko manga again!), and she'll go to a distant place when she finishes those.
The ever-sensible Seiko tells him to stop babbling and go find Kousaku, and she knows exactly where he'll have gone to after striking out at the convent. To bury his sorrows under his favourite meal, of course. Kojima, Horiguchi and Ishizaka retrieve him from the Three Meals Cafeteria, where Nori-chan is looking on proudly as Kousaku devours his sixth bowl. Ishizaka hits him and gets Horiguchi to drag him out.
Meanwhile, Ueda has returned to the manga cafe, where he finds thirty neatly-stacked volumes and a farewell note. Sister Angela, it seems, is a fast reader. I'm really curious as to what's going on at the back of the cafe, because there's a little guy taking embarrassed bows and getting applause from the crowd. Did he just win a speed-reading contest or something?
Upon reading the note, Kousaku demands to know why Ueda only said thirty books, which I think is a little unfair of him given that he had no way of knowing Sister Angela could read that fast. The guys accidentally give away the fact that Ueda is leaving too, and that's just about all Kousaku can take. While Katsumi broods quietly, Kousaku shakes Ueda by the shoulders and yells at him.
There are times when Kousaku seems adult and responsible - usually when he's in the ring, or saying something that actually makes sense to everyone else. But he's still a kid, especially compared to Ueda, and that's readily apparent when Kousaku's curled up in bed, a little tearful, facing away from Ueda and asking him why they both have to leave. Ueda and Sister Angela are both constants in Kousaku's life, and at the moment he's faced with losing them both. He's worked so hard to make things right for Sister Angela so that they can be happy together - someday! - but now she's gone...and Ueda, whose support and friendship is basically taken for granted, is going too. That's a lot for a young man to take. That's a lot for *anyone* to take.
Ueda watches over Kousaku until he falls asleep, but he doesn't leave. He can't leave - not now, not until things are right for Kousaku again.
Which, judging by the way he's lying catatonic in the gym, might be a while. Ishizaka calls Ueda on it, insinuating that he doesn't really want to leave. Well, no one wants to Ueda to leave, and as Ishizaka's not the type to ever say that straight out, he leaves it up to Horiguchi and Kojima to make the advances. Leaving Ueda out of it for the moment, they try to get a response from Kousaku, using food (Kojima), distractions (Horiguchi) and threats of violence (the very blunt Ishizaka).
The response Ishizaka gets isn't the one he wants. Kousaku doesn't want to become the world champion - not without Sister Angela - and he maintains that he wouldn't have become the Japanese champion if she hadn't been there. Apparently, it was a miracle. Ishizaka maintains that it was because he did his best, and since Kousaku clearly doesn't understand the gravity of the situation it will be necessary to confront him with the championship belt.
Which, of course, is no longer there. Kousaku shocks everyone by casually admitting that he gave it away. Now, I'm not quite sure if Ishizaka is being upset in general, or if it's on Ueda's behalf, when he yells at Kousaku that there are lots of people who want to become a champion but can't. Either way, it's Ueda who follows him first when he storms off. (I still find their friendship very interesting.)
Seeing as how Kousaku's too busy feeling sorry for himself to worry about anyone else's angst, it's up to Ueda and co. to take matters into their own hands and go to the convent. Unfortunately, the first person they encounter is Sister Millie. Not a good sign. But you know, she and Ishizaka look a little like they might be related. Appealing to Sister Millie's better nature doesn't help.
Back at the gym, Seiko and Mitaka take a turn at watching Kousaku, who has now moved his catatonia to the ring. Coddling him won't help him keep his title, and as a champion, he must always be able to win against anyone in his weight class. He's carrying the dreams of other boxers, which means he needs to work hard for their sakes too. Purely to get away from the lecture, Kousaku declares that he is going for a run.
Sister Angela has evidently been hanging out with Kousaku too long, because she looks very guilty at being caught with food. (Well, I suppose it might've been for the birds, but she sure tucked it away fast.) Team Ueda spot her on the bench, as she still hasn't been able to leave - because, she says, she had to find out how Inuyasha ended. (Nuns demanding spoilers? What next?) No one believes her, of course, and they end up chasing her all the way back to the convent.
But before that, Sister Millie breaks the news to Mother Superior that Sister Angela never arrived at her new home. Mother Superior thinks she's cracked it, assumes Angela will be at the gym, but no, because Kousaku was by yesterday. There is a situation at the convent: Angela has locked herself in the chapel.
In fact, she hasn't just locked herself in - she's barricaded the door with furniture. Both Sister Angela and Kousaku exhibit some extraordinarily childish behaviour this episode. The difference is, Kousaku has a much cuter pout.
Ueda and co. attempt to negotiate through the door for the safety of the hostages...uh, sorry, to get the Sister out. Sister Millie's not thrilled about having them around, but they're determined to try. Kojima gets straight to the point, asking if she didn't leave because she liked Kousaku, but Ueda thinks a less direct method would be best so he talks about Inuyasha instead. Ishizaka lies about being interested in the Bible, Kojima wonders if perhaps Sister Angela would like to hear stories about his time in gangs, and Horiguchi wants to perform impersonations but can't. Ueda finally hits on the bright idea to fetch Kousaku, and sends Horiguchi to do it.
Kousaku is still lying down, moping, but now he's back at the park where he gave away his belt. So are the kids he gave it away to, and 'Champion Man', the wearer of the belt, is being beaten (gently) by two kids wielding plastic baseball bats. Kousaku borrows the belt and shows 'em how it's done, demonstrating a real 'Champion Punch' which immediately makes the kids fall for him. (We've seen it on CKT too - Kame is just irresistible to small boys. Actually, to anyone.) Seiko's speech about carrying the dreams of other boxers returns to Kousaku over a series of ring flashbacks, and Kousaku humbly asks if he can have the belt back. The kids approve, because the real Champion Man is cool...at least until he starts playing along with a transformation sequence and bragging about how the belt makes him a hundred times stronger. It's a good thing Horiguchi shows up at this point to tell him about Sister Angela, because Kousaku's about to form his own team of miniature superheroes.
Back at the chapel, Sister Millie goes for the commonsense approach and asks Sister Angela why, when it was her idea to leave, is she still there? Millie gets a trifle carried away and it's left to Mother Superior to offer Angela sanctuary. If she leaves the convent, everything will change, no matter what, and that's a scary choice. It's okay if Angela would rather stay where it's safe.
But safe won't get her Kousaku, and that's what she wants, even if she has trouble admitting it. The lad himself turns up and, yelling twice as loud as everyone else did to make themselves heard through the door, he tells Sister Angela that as promised, he has become a champion. It works, of course. She lets him in.
Congratulating Kousaku on becoming the Japanese champion is a much higher than usual class of smalltalk, but it's still smalltalk and the tension in the air is agonising. Neither party knows which way to jump. Angela confesses that she's scared, that if she allows herself to like Kousaku, everything will change and she won't be able to remain the same.
Kousaku...just about breaks my heart, here. He can't stay by Angela's side and protect her for the rest of his days, because he's a champion, he has to carry the burden of everyone's dream etc. See Seiko's earlier speech. He has to commit himself to his career. But...he'll always be waiting for her in the ring. Both of them are close to tears, and they're sitting about a mile apart.
Back at the Mukoda Boxing Club, Seiko and Mitaka have another one of those 'will they, won't they' moments that inevitably follows on from complaining about Kousaku. Mitaka appears to be about to confess, but...Katsumi gets home from school. This kid has the *worst* timing. The others return moments later, and everyone is surprised but oddly satisfied that Kousaku has broken up with Sister Angela. He's content to wait. For now, there is only boxing.
Kousaku even announces his intention of becoming World Champion! It's a fine moment for the gang, as Ueda declares that he will become a trainer (of champions), and Katsumi says that he will be in Ueda's care too. This earns him many points with his mother. Kojima wants a title too, and Horiguchi will be 'Rookie of the Year'. It's a wonderful scene for everyone, with a Mukoda Gym huddle - Katsumi included. They're all smiling, and enthusiastic, and even optimistic. They're a family again, and I love it.
More training. Even Katsumi's hard at work, much to his mother's approval, though he's such a tiny little thing that he looks like he's just playing around. (Kousaku's a musclebound hulk in comparison!) Having the Japanese champion as a member of the gym has, as predicted, brought in many new (paying) members, and the finances are no longer an issue. Poor Kousaku can't find a moment to eat his forbidden snack, not with new members fanboy-ing all over him!
True to his word, Kousaku trains incredibly hard. He's even able to run past the convent. Seiko congratulates him, the night before his fight, on no longer being a gutless glutton - because he did well without Sister Angela. It's time for Kousaku to defend his title for the first time. The gang leave him alone in the locker room to prepare, but what happens next is something Kousaku couldn't possibly have prepared for.
A nun no longer, Angela stands before him in regular clothing, revealing her hair for the first time in the series. She wanted to see him, and tell him to do his best. Kousaku walks into the light...and into his own wedding ceremony.
It's a strange event, with nuns and kids on one side, boxers on the other, and the photos being an odd mix of the two. Kousaku looks adorable in his white tux, but the shoes really have to go. I don't know what Meisa's heritage is but Kousaku's bride looks quite exotic, and I think the yellow suits her nicely. It's actually really sweet. Both of them in white, and it works well because they're just a couple of innocent kids. They're not perfect, but they're pure of heart.
As the end credits roll, we see what's going on with everyone else. The cafeteria has a new meal, which the nuns are a bit dubious about but Mother Superior really seems to like; Horiguchi becomes Rookie of the Year; Ueda trains Katsumi, who is properly into boxing now and seems to like the attention; Kojima uses his days in the gangs to motivate new gym members; Ishizaka's got a title match lined up in his own weight class (Bantam weight); and Seiko and Mitaka...haven't changed.
See what I mean about innocent kids? The newlyweds have a little apartment of their own, with a cute nameplate on the door, and they're so happy that they just can't stop smiling adorably at each other. Not that Kousaku's new bride will let him get away with sneaking off to eat sweet potatoes - not when he's got a World Championship fight! Marriage hasn't diminished his dorky, try-hard enthusiasm one bit, and he's still the same lovable idiot he always was. Only now, he's got the girl of his dreams (who looks lovely wearing her hair in a ponytail) and with her on his side, he'll definitely win!
Best scene: The episode as a whole was great, but there weren't so many individual scenes that stood out for me this time. I'm going to go with the entire last six minutes or so, with the catch-up on everyone else's lives - I'd love to have seen Ishizaka's title fight - and cute domestic bliss with the Hatanaka couple. Over the course of the series. the story became not just about Kousaku and Sister Angela but about their friends, and even though the cast was pretty big, somehow they all managed to become worth caring about. (Hey, even Sister Millie smiled at the wedding! Though she might just have been amused by the groom's shoes...) So it was nice to see what happened to them. Ueda is one of my favourite characters and it was lovely to see him doing so well in his new role, and seeing Katsumi, through him, finally become one of the family.
Conclusion: What can I say? The series was short, but so was the manga it was based on and at least there was a sweet, conclusive ending. It really is a case of everyone living "happily ever after", and I love that. No ambiguity here. Kousaku got to be the Japanese champion (we assume he'll win the World championship fight as well) and he got to marry the girl he loves. It was a long, hard road for them, and they understand each other much better now than they did at the start of the show.
One Pound Gospel is funny, sweet, heartbreaking and complete and utter crack, depending on which scenes you're watching, and the characters take root in your heart and resist all attempts to tear them out. Gorgeous music - if you're looking for that lovely angsty piece, it's track nine on the OST - and all of it used to great effect.
Okay, so there's no great mystery (other than exactly how Kousaku is able to consume that much food), there's no earth-shattering revelation that'll change your life and it's probably not going to leave you sitting there thinking about how deep and profound it was. So what? It's fun and it's gorgeous and Kame gives the performance of his life.
(This will be my last review until the next time Jin and/or Kame acts in a drama, as I don't feel inclined to go back and do old ones.)
One Pound Gospel - Final Round
Plot: Having beaten professional boxer, host, and all-round jerk Kurenai Ryuusei, our hero is now the Japanese champion! While everybody else (sans Ueda) celebrates back at the Mukoda Boxing Club, Kousaku dons the belt and runs off to the convent to give Sister Angela the good news. It's not much of a celebration because as Ishizaka points out, the main character's not there, and when Katsumi (who is wearing one of my shirts, I see) finally notices that Ueda is conspicuously absent, there's a definite air of 'shall we let the kid know?'. Ishizaka fills him in, breaking Katsumi's heart so badly that he's immune to his mother making another joke about how bad her parenting skills are.
Kousaku, too, gets his heart broken, though in his case it's by Sister Millie, who tells him it's all his fault that Sister Angela has gone to another convent. To be fair, it really is his fault, but that's not what the poor boy wants to hear. There's no point in being a champion if his beloved nun isn't around, so he gives his belt away to some kids who think it looks really cool.
Like Kousaku, Ueda is sitting around feeling sorry for himself. Unlike Kousaku, he's got Sister Angela in his line of sight. The nun is at the bus stop. She tells him he can't quit the gym because everyone will be sad; he tells her she can't leave for another convent. Convincing each other to stay could take some time, so they move the discussion to a manga cafe. While I can't make out the other series on display, I can see a number of volumes of Ranma 1/2 - there they go with their Takahashi Rumiko references again! The conversation goes nowhere, which is what happens when two people who don't really want to leave are waiting for someone to come up with a sufficiently convincing argument against it, and Sister Angela goes to leave anyway. Ueda promptly lies to a nun - shame on you, sir! - and says she has to read at least thirty volumes of manga before she can go.
Back at the gym, the guys are still sitting around with the celebratory banners, but Katsumi's not interested. I actually find it very sweet, the way he touches his hand to the bag and talks to it as though it were Ueda. And he smiles so hopefully when Ueda bursts through the door, interrupting all the conversation about him, in a desperate search for Kousaku. Ueda's explanation is absolutely hopeless, I might add. Sister Angela is happily reading thirty volumes of Inuyasha (Takahashi Rumiko manga again!), and she'll go to a distant place when she finishes those.
The ever-sensible Seiko tells him to stop babbling and go find Kousaku, and she knows exactly where he'll have gone to after striking out at the convent. To bury his sorrows under his favourite meal, of course. Kojima, Horiguchi and Ishizaka retrieve him from the Three Meals Cafeteria, where Nori-chan is looking on proudly as Kousaku devours his sixth bowl. Ishizaka hits him and gets Horiguchi to drag him out.
Meanwhile, Ueda has returned to the manga cafe, where he finds thirty neatly-stacked volumes and a farewell note. Sister Angela, it seems, is a fast reader. I'm really curious as to what's going on at the back of the cafe, because there's a little guy taking embarrassed bows and getting applause from the crowd. Did he just win a speed-reading contest or something?
Upon reading the note, Kousaku demands to know why Ueda only said thirty books, which I think is a little unfair of him given that he had no way of knowing Sister Angela could read that fast. The guys accidentally give away the fact that Ueda is leaving too, and that's just about all Kousaku can take. While Katsumi broods quietly, Kousaku shakes Ueda by the shoulders and yells at him.
There are times when Kousaku seems adult and responsible - usually when he's in the ring, or saying something that actually makes sense to everyone else. But he's still a kid, especially compared to Ueda, and that's readily apparent when Kousaku's curled up in bed, a little tearful, facing away from Ueda and asking him why they both have to leave. Ueda and Sister Angela are both constants in Kousaku's life, and at the moment he's faced with losing them both. He's worked so hard to make things right for Sister Angela so that they can be happy together - someday! - but now she's gone...and Ueda, whose support and friendship is basically taken for granted, is going too. That's a lot for a young man to take. That's a lot for *anyone* to take.
Ueda watches over Kousaku until he falls asleep, but he doesn't leave. He can't leave - not now, not until things are right for Kousaku again.
Which, judging by the way he's lying catatonic in the gym, might be a while. Ishizaka calls Ueda on it, insinuating that he doesn't really want to leave. Well, no one wants to Ueda to leave, and as Ishizaka's not the type to ever say that straight out, he leaves it up to Horiguchi and Kojima to make the advances. Leaving Ueda out of it for the moment, they try to get a response from Kousaku, using food (Kojima), distractions (Horiguchi) and threats of violence (the very blunt Ishizaka).
The response Ishizaka gets isn't the one he wants. Kousaku doesn't want to become the world champion - not without Sister Angela - and he maintains that he wouldn't have become the Japanese champion if she hadn't been there. Apparently, it was a miracle. Ishizaka maintains that it was because he did his best, and since Kousaku clearly doesn't understand the gravity of the situation it will be necessary to confront him with the championship belt.
Which, of course, is no longer there. Kousaku shocks everyone by casually admitting that he gave it away. Now, I'm not quite sure if Ishizaka is being upset in general, or if it's on Ueda's behalf, when he yells at Kousaku that there are lots of people who want to become a champion but can't. Either way, it's Ueda who follows him first when he storms off. (I still find their friendship very interesting.)
Seeing as how Kousaku's too busy feeling sorry for himself to worry about anyone else's angst, it's up to Ueda and co. to take matters into their own hands and go to the convent. Unfortunately, the first person they encounter is Sister Millie. Not a good sign. But you know, she and Ishizaka look a little like they might be related. Appealing to Sister Millie's better nature doesn't help.
Back at the gym, Seiko and Mitaka take a turn at watching Kousaku, who has now moved his catatonia to the ring. Coddling him won't help him keep his title, and as a champion, he must always be able to win against anyone in his weight class. He's carrying the dreams of other boxers, which means he needs to work hard for their sakes too. Purely to get away from the lecture, Kousaku declares that he is going for a run.
Sister Angela has evidently been hanging out with Kousaku too long, because she looks very guilty at being caught with food. (Well, I suppose it might've been for the birds, but she sure tucked it away fast.) Team Ueda spot her on the bench, as she still hasn't been able to leave - because, she says, she had to find out how Inuyasha ended. (Nuns demanding spoilers? What next?) No one believes her, of course, and they end up chasing her all the way back to the convent.
But before that, Sister Millie breaks the news to Mother Superior that Sister Angela never arrived at her new home. Mother Superior thinks she's cracked it, assumes Angela will be at the gym, but no, because Kousaku was by yesterday. There is a situation at the convent: Angela has locked herself in the chapel.
In fact, she hasn't just locked herself in - she's barricaded the door with furniture. Both Sister Angela and Kousaku exhibit some extraordinarily childish behaviour this episode. The difference is, Kousaku has a much cuter pout.
Ueda and co. attempt to negotiate through the door for the safety of the hostages...uh, sorry, to get the Sister out. Sister Millie's not thrilled about having them around, but they're determined to try. Kojima gets straight to the point, asking if she didn't leave because she liked Kousaku, but Ueda thinks a less direct method would be best so he talks about Inuyasha instead. Ishizaka lies about being interested in the Bible, Kojima wonders if perhaps Sister Angela would like to hear stories about his time in gangs, and Horiguchi wants to perform impersonations but can't. Ueda finally hits on the bright idea to fetch Kousaku, and sends Horiguchi to do it.
Kousaku is still lying down, moping, but now he's back at the park where he gave away his belt. So are the kids he gave it away to, and 'Champion Man', the wearer of the belt, is being beaten (gently) by two kids wielding plastic baseball bats. Kousaku borrows the belt and shows 'em how it's done, demonstrating a real 'Champion Punch' which immediately makes the kids fall for him. (We've seen it on CKT too - Kame is just irresistible to small boys. Actually, to anyone.) Seiko's speech about carrying the dreams of other boxers returns to Kousaku over a series of ring flashbacks, and Kousaku humbly asks if he can have the belt back. The kids approve, because the real Champion Man is cool...at least until he starts playing along with a transformation sequence and bragging about how the belt makes him a hundred times stronger. It's a good thing Horiguchi shows up at this point to tell him about Sister Angela, because Kousaku's about to form his own team of miniature superheroes.
Back at the chapel, Sister Millie goes for the commonsense approach and asks Sister Angela why, when it was her idea to leave, is she still there? Millie gets a trifle carried away and it's left to Mother Superior to offer Angela sanctuary. If she leaves the convent, everything will change, no matter what, and that's a scary choice. It's okay if Angela would rather stay where it's safe.
But safe won't get her Kousaku, and that's what she wants, even if she has trouble admitting it. The lad himself turns up and, yelling twice as loud as everyone else did to make themselves heard through the door, he tells Sister Angela that as promised, he has become a champion. It works, of course. She lets him in.
Congratulating Kousaku on becoming the Japanese champion is a much higher than usual class of smalltalk, but it's still smalltalk and the tension in the air is agonising. Neither party knows which way to jump. Angela confesses that she's scared, that if she allows herself to like Kousaku, everything will change and she won't be able to remain the same.
Kousaku...just about breaks my heart, here. He can't stay by Angela's side and protect her for the rest of his days, because he's a champion, he has to carry the burden of everyone's dream etc. See Seiko's earlier speech. He has to commit himself to his career. But...he'll always be waiting for her in the ring. Both of them are close to tears, and they're sitting about a mile apart.
Back at the Mukoda Boxing Club, Seiko and Mitaka have another one of those 'will they, won't they' moments that inevitably follows on from complaining about Kousaku. Mitaka appears to be about to confess, but...Katsumi gets home from school. This kid has the *worst* timing. The others return moments later, and everyone is surprised but oddly satisfied that Kousaku has broken up with Sister Angela. He's content to wait. For now, there is only boxing.
Kousaku even announces his intention of becoming World Champion! It's a fine moment for the gang, as Ueda declares that he will become a trainer (of champions), and Katsumi says that he will be in Ueda's care too. This earns him many points with his mother. Kojima wants a title too, and Horiguchi will be 'Rookie of the Year'. It's a wonderful scene for everyone, with a Mukoda Gym huddle - Katsumi included. They're all smiling, and enthusiastic, and even optimistic. They're a family again, and I love it.
More training. Even Katsumi's hard at work, much to his mother's approval, though he's such a tiny little thing that he looks like he's just playing around. (Kousaku's a musclebound hulk in comparison!) Having the Japanese champion as a member of the gym has, as predicted, brought in many new (paying) members, and the finances are no longer an issue. Poor Kousaku can't find a moment to eat his forbidden snack, not with new members fanboy-ing all over him!
True to his word, Kousaku trains incredibly hard. He's even able to run past the convent. Seiko congratulates him, the night before his fight, on no longer being a gutless glutton - because he did well without Sister Angela. It's time for Kousaku to defend his title for the first time. The gang leave him alone in the locker room to prepare, but what happens next is something Kousaku couldn't possibly have prepared for.
A nun no longer, Angela stands before him in regular clothing, revealing her hair for the first time in the series. She wanted to see him, and tell him to do his best. Kousaku walks into the light...and into his own wedding ceremony.
It's a strange event, with nuns and kids on one side, boxers on the other, and the photos being an odd mix of the two. Kousaku looks adorable in his white tux, but the shoes really have to go. I don't know what Meisa's heritage is but Kousaku's bride looks quite exotic, and I think the yellow suits her nicely. It's actually really sweet. Both of them in white, and it works well because they're just a couple of innocent kids. They're not perfect, but they're pure of heart.
As the end credits roll, we see what's going on with everyone else. The cafeteria has a new meal, which the nuns are a bit dubious about but Mother Superior really seems to like; Horiguchi becomes Rookie of the Year; Ueda trains Katsumi, who is properly into boxing now and seems to like the attention; Kojima uses his days in the gangs to motivate new gym members; Ishizaka's got a title match lined up in his own weight class (Bantam weight); and Seiko and Mitaka...haven't changed.
See what I mean about innocent kids? The newlyweds have a little apartment of their own, with a cute nameplate on the door, and they're so happy that they just can't stop smiling adorably at each other. Not that Kousaku's new bride will let him get away with sneaking off to eat sweet potatoes - not when he's got a World Championship fight! Marriage hasn't diminished his dorky, try-hard enthusiasm one bit, and he's still the same lovable idiot he always was. Only now, he's got the girl of his dreams (who looks lovely wearing her hair in a ponytail) and with her on his side, he'll definitely win!
Best scene: The episode as a whole was great, but there weren't so many individual scenes that stood out for me this time. I'm going to go with the entire last six minutes or so, with the catch-up on everyone else's lives - I'd love to have seen Ishizaka's title fight - and cute domestic bliss with the Hatanaka couple. Over the course of the series. the story became not just about Kousaku and Sister Angela but about their friends, and even though the cast was pretty big, somehow they all managed to become worth caring about. (Hey, even Sister Millie smiled at the wedding! Though she might just have been amused by the groom's shoes...) So it was nice to see what happened to them. Ueda is one of my favourite characters and it was lovely to see him doing so well in his new role, and seeing Katsumi, through him, finally become one of the family.
Conclusion: What can I say? The series was short, but so was the manga it was based on and at least there was a sweet, conclusive ending. It really is a case of everyone living "happily ever after", and I love that. No ambiguity here. Kousaku got to be the Japanese champion (we assume he'll win the World championship fight as well) and he got to marry the girl he loves. It was a long, hard road for them, and they understand each other much better now than they did at the start of the show.
One Pound Gospel is funny, sweet, heartbreaking and complete and utter crack, depending on which scenes you're watching, and the characters take root in your heart and resist all attempts to tear them out. Gorgeous music - if you're looking for that lovely angsty piece, it's track nine on the OST - and all of it used to great effect.
Okay, so there's no great mystery (other than exactly how Kousaku is able to consume that much food), there's no earth-shattering revelation that'll change your life and it's probably not going to leave you sitting there thinking about how deep and profound it was. So what? It's fun and it's gorgeous and Kame gives the performance of his life.