Higurashi: Sotsu’s conclusion leads to a difficult life lesson being learned – but in the end, what is all this really for?
The conflict between Satoko and Rika has finally come to an end, with no one resembling a clear winner. Gou begins a compelling story that shows great promise, but Sotsu cannot continue that momentum. Sotsu’s final episode leaves viewers with a gripping but ultimately unrelenting conclusion to what feels like a false story.
Satoko and Rika’s epic battle gradually comes to an end after they both take everything out of their chests. The two eventually acknowledged each other’s positions and hardly realized that they were more mature than each other. At this point, the two have returned to the timeline after the “Companion Festival”, and are soon joined by Keiichi, Rena, and Mion.
Realizing that something is wrong, the club members step in and discuss the strength of their relationship and how going their separate ways won’t affect their friendship in the end. . This seems to go to both Satoko and Rika, as illustrated by showing the two briefly reverting to their younger selves as they accept to leave the other behind.
When Satoko’s story ended, so did Eua. However, this feels more like a hasty way of taking her out of the story than anything substantial. Given Eua and her eccentric personality, Sotsu could have had a relatively well-founded ending. Sadly, Hanyuu’s battle with her doesn’t carry the same weight as Rika and Satoko’s battle, and the final conclusion seems a bit forced.
Everything is in order, Satoko and Rika prepare to go their separate ways. Rika leaves to attend St. Lucia as she always wanted and Satoko stayed in Hinamizawa. It was a bittersweet outcome for each of them, as they both got to do what they wanted but didn’t have the comfort of having the other around.
The two parted as Rika boarded the bullet train bound for the academy. They acknowledge the need to spend time apart, as their apparent immortality can cause them to grow weary of each other. This interaction really brings the teasers of Bernkastel and Lambdadelta to their fullest.
Although not explicitly confirmed, the new series hints at a connection between the two. Satoko and Rika’s farewell gives When They Cry fans one last bit of service, as both announced that they’ll be reunited “when something else cries” – along with the exchange before which, is a reference to the final match of Bernkastel and Lambdadelta exchanged in Umineko.
Satoko may not have got what she wished for, but the world she is left with is almost perfect. Each character has a happy ending, and Satoko herself is assisted by both Teppei and Shion in this segment. Feeling that she is no longer needed, the witch Satoko allows the human Satoko to take control of her body, presumably leaving to explore the Sea of Fragments. Even without Rika by her side, Satoko seems ready to move towards a happy future for herself and those close to her.
In the end, Sotsu played things relatively safe with its conclusion. The ending itself is a satisfying resolution to what was a very simple conflict, but the story lacks the intrigue and intrigue that Gou has established. At the very least, however, Gou and Sotsu have helped tie the When They Cry universe together, opening the door for different stories to be told in the future.