Going into the first season’s final episode, we return to the earlier format of two skits with two different girls. Apparently Itoshiki recovers back to full health from the accident, so we get to meet two more of his deranged students.

First up is Ai Kaga, a girl with an extreme guilt complex. She constantly worries what others think of her and if she is bothering others with her presence. The girl always frets that she is troubling others and apologizes for her actions non-stop. Itoshiki enters the classroom and effortlessly detects Ai’s guilt complex. Itoshiki explains that guilt complexes develop so regularly because of the self-deprecating teachings of Japanese society.

Ai’s guilt complex proves to be contagious as it spreads to Nami and Kaere. Ai runs out of the classroom thinking she’s caused enough trouble for the class. Itoshiki, Chiri, and Kafuka give chase and find themselves at a traffic crossing, which Itoshiki dubs to be a “Guilt complex crossing”. Everyone they encounter at this intersection has severe guilt complex.

Most notably, the group witnesses a car accident in which both parties consider themselves at fault for the collision. More people come out of the woodwork from the car dealer to the factory worker, all of whom take responsibility for the auto accident. Itoshiki and Ai run away from Tokyo to Okinawa but soon realize they are a bother in Okinawa too. Itoshiki hangs himself, but all the girls take fault for his death. Fed up with all the apologies, Itoshiki opens the lid of his casket and tells them to stop apologizing for an action that was his own fault.

The second featured girl is Mayo Mitama who is misunderstood in the wrong way. She looks evil, but people give her the benefit of the doubt by not judging her based on appearance. However, she is evil and uses this knowledge to her advantage. When she victimizes an innkeeper, he cannot bring himself to believe that Mayo did it. Itoshiki witnesses the act and cannot believe his eyes. When the man notices Itoshiki nearby, it is Itoshiki that is mistakenly punished for the prank.

Itoshiki catches wind of what’s going on and exclaims that when someone fits a stereotype too well, people become skeptical. He dubs this phenomenon the “Innocence complex”. If there is too much evidence; Like witnessing a burglar rob a house, you figure that it isn’t a burglar because it is too obvious.

Itoshiki is aware of Mayo’s evil nature, but no one will believe him. Nami accuses Itoshiki of being a man that judges people based on their appearance. Mayo reigns terror upon her classmates, but no one suspects her because there is too much strong evidence against her.

Mayo clubs Majiru with a baseball bat and Itoshiki comes running. Itoshiki refuses to believe Mayo did it, even though she is caught red-handed. She bludgeons Itoshiki with a brick and he still refuses to believe it was her, because the evidence is too perfect. She even blows up his house, but no one will believe that she is an evil person.

That’s it for SZS season 1. Hope you all liked it as much as I did. It had its fair share of ups and downs, but it was a fun ride. A highly recommended dark comedy that is a refreshing change of pace from the usual anime.

Final Rating: 9/10

Tags: sayonara zetsubou sensei

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