Don't get me started on shows with poor endings... It might just be my extremely high expectations but... most modern anime that I have been watching and recently finished haven't had good endings. Madoka Magica's was not good (Katrix, don't kill me), Kill la Kill's was STUPID, and a good number of other sub-par endings... It especially breaks me when the show in itself can be very good. Like Madoka Magica. Beautiful and great show but its ending was its weakest point.
When it comes to looking at a show or any piece of fiction, I look at several things:
- Characters. This is the biggest point as I cannot like a show or fiction unless I have characters to like. If the characters are dreadful then I will not even bother. And this can be the biggest saving grace should a great character appear. Nui? She saved my interest in Kill la Kill due to her nature and interesting personality (but she is not worthy like Flandre or Regina).
- General Story. Is the story actually good or not? If not, expect a quick departure and quit.
- Context-based Judgement: "Is it a good show in its genre?" "Is it actually funny?" "Does it get its message through?" Context sensitive judgement that varies from genre to genre.
- The Ending. The ending in itself comes under a different category from story because of how it can depart from the story in terms of quality and feels. Some endings are great like Chobits' but other can be bad like Kill la Kill's.
If a show can satisfy these criteria then the show is definitely one that can't go wrong. That is unless the f*ck-up actually lies outside these things.
