“Tragic Backstory” is probably a trope, that may not be bad in itself, but if indeed ‘used as a crutch’ – a way too easy path to suggesting ‘depth’ it wouldn’t be as good.

But how do we know if it’s a crutch? When can we tell if it’s propping up weakness in character presentation? I’m neither being sarcastic or rhetorical here. I would really like to know – especially in the case of Toradora!

Faux-depth, as you call it is I think more a problem of the viewer who labels the persona behind a social mask who immediately concludes it as deep.

I don’t want to get back into the “intention means nothing, there is only interpretation” argument (it’s hard to win that one with you ), but some blame must be put on writers who use that as a crutch. As for Michel, he was the victim of another anime writing crutch: Vaguely Tragic Backstory.

What I’m concerned about is that we have been strung along enjoyably, and now that there’s only a few episodes left – there may not be enough breathing room for proper resolutions, unless there is some kind of cliffhanger for some characters.

I think in light of episode 21′s events, there’s plenty of time. The alternative would be going on for another 25 (or even just these 5) episodes without any suitable resolution, whatever that may happen to be.

Will Ami be as interesting or remarkable for you if her behavior isn’t explained or resolved this season? I’ve no idea if there will be sequels, though I do know that the narrative is extended in the light novels.

Given that you mentioned that Toradora doesn’t let us past the masks, what if it never did? Would it be as satisfying?

I don’t know. But I think so. There is no reason we should ever have to know everything, and there’s nothing that keeps people talking long after a show’s aired than continued mystery. It mirrors that “what if” that we feel about our own lives sometimes. As for the story, I’ve heard that the novels have ended and most speculation has leaned toward a (probably faithful) ending for the anime as well.

Omisyth:
Let’s hope not. I can think of few worse disservices to a quality show than to have it ruined by a typical ending. Satisfaction for shippers or neatly tying up all the ends is rarely the right way to resolve things.

Were we given enough insight to Michel Blanc’s character as to why he’s a playboy? Why does he really keep Klan Klan away? We know that there’s a sensitive person beneath the callow exterior due to what happened to his sister, but the correlations are sketchy at best.

“Bitch masquerading as cutey-pie” is obvious as all hell, and it’s where a lot of anime storytelling would stop. But what about her reasons for acting the bitch? Now that’s a truly intriguing question that we haven’t really gotten an answer to yet, even if the hints are there.

What I’m concerned about is that we have been strung along enjoyably, and now that there’s only a few episodes left – there may not be enough breathing room for proper resolutions, unless there is some kind of cliffhanger for some characters.

Will Ami be as interesting or remarkable for you if her behavior isn’t explained or resolved this season? I’ve no idea if there will be sequels, though I do know that the narrative is extended in the light novels.

Given that you mentioned that Toradora doesn’t let us past the masks, what if it never did? Would it be as satisfying?