REVIEW: ‘To Your Eternity,’ Season 2 Episode 19 – “And Then, Dawn”

Spoiler Warning: This review contains major spoilers for To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 19.

With Bon’s sacrifice, Fushi has been restored. But Bon’s body is able to grant Fushi important insights he didn’t have before, which may finally turn back the Nokkers from the streets of Renril in To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 19.

Now that Fushi has been restored and has access to Bon’s body, he can see, hear, and interact with the spirits around him who wish to aid his cause. His reunion with Tonari, Gugu, and others is a wonderful, uplifting moment that is only enhanced by how emotionally rough the series’ recent entries have been. Seeing all these old faces smiling and happy has got to be one of the biggest pure joy moments I’ve ever experienced in anime. Plus, Fushi finally gets to have a real exchange of words with March is perfection. Despite her prominent place in the story and Fushi’s development, he hadn’t actually been able to carry on a conversation when March made her sacrifice early in season one. Seeing Fushi with his mom is a moment I knew was coming, but still wasn’t emotionally prepared for it.

The other big payoff this development brings to To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 19 is how it resolves Bon’s arc. While he remains present in spirit, he insists that Fushi does not bring him back, as restoring Bon would cost him his newfound abilities. Seeing it as more important that Fushi possess it, Bon resigns himself to remain as a spirit. I was happy to see this conclusion, as it allows weight to Bon’s sacrifice. I was leery of getting too committed to Bon’s death in the last episode, as I assumed he would have Fushi restore his life. His acceptance of his place feels like a choice made for the best of reasons, helping redeem some of the character’s more questionable decisions.

The round-up of the battle is a fantastic sequence of seeing fan-favorite characters come together to clean up the last remaining resistance from the Nokkers. Getting to see all these characters teaming up to finish the fight is pure fun to watch.

While most of this episode is on the bright and uplifting side of the emotional spectrum, there is a moment that brings the episode’s energy back down about mid-way through. This episode takes some time to catch up with Eko and her struggle with the Nokker that came to infest her arm in the last episode. The young girl’s struggle as her arm drags her along is animated in a way that is genuinely upsetting. Coupled with the voice actor’s delivery of Eko’s fear of the unknown that awaits her and the sequence delivers some poignant moments.

When all is said and done, To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 19 delivers a fantastic wrap-up to the substantial Battle of Renril. While both the actual battle, as well as the elongated preparation for its commencement had their share of ups and downs, this episode manages to make the journey worth every bump along the way.

To Your Eternity Season 2 Episode 19 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.