Shoegaze has much of the same strengths as Alternative- of trying something new and striving to be its own thing with a more low key tone- while similarly failing to break into the stratosphere of greatness. Shoegaze and Alternative earn their existence more than Grunge and Progressive ever did. The last two lifelessly played the old hits. The former played the new stuff, and if it wasn’t as groundbreaking as their breakout song, it at least has a similar spark by striking out on their own. Not having Haruko at all was the first dating move. The second was actually having a queer and trans reading. Two guys blushing around each other having found each other again. A narrative of feeling like they don’t fit into the world, having the wrong body. It’s again not groundbreaking, but it was surprisingly nice. And it’s a nice epilogue for Kana, a character I’m fond of all things told, and who I maintain will be what’s most remembered of the FLCL revival now that it’s all over. She was a solid character, and the revival was strongest around her. I think the FLCL trappings might’ve restrained the stories they wanted to tell, now that we’re at the end of it all. It was there for Grunge and Progressive to cash in on nostalgia, but for Shoegaze and Alternative, they were chains, holding them back, dragging them around to technobabble and lore they didn’t need but that they had to resolve and return to as part of being the brand. They could’ve flourished as their own story, to really cut loose and find their own imagery, really commit to their own themes. But without the FLCL name, they probably wouldn’t have existed at all. And looking at it all, I’m glad they did, as flawed and constrained as they were. I’m glad for Kana, and Pets, and all their friends. I’m glad for the little spark of something new for the series, a queerness once sidelined or laughed about. I’m glad for the theme of moving forward, of growing up, but not letting completely go. Hold on just tight enough to remember, but loose enough for the memories to fade into a pleasant haze. That’s what Alternative and Shoegaze were, in the end. A pleasant little haze, a nice little feeling, of something that was once there and something new that just maybe could flourish as something else.

Love FLCL. S5E4 is available now on Adult Swim.