Episode 24: The Catcher in the Rye | ライ麦畑でつかまえて [FINALE]
The finale is here, under the banner of J.D. Salinger’s most famous work – and Salinger, of course, is also the author of A Perfect Day for Bananafish, the series’ namesake. The Catcher in the Rye’s famous imagery has already been used for the second ending’s visuals, in which Ash watches over Eiji in a field. This innocuous metaphor turning titular screams an ominous literary device as the curtains part for the final time.
Episode 23: For Whom the Bell Tolls | 誰がために鐘は鳴る
We’ve reached the penultimate episode, which means this is the final chance to watch the unlucky romance of Ash Lynx and Eiji Okumura and assume everything will work out exactly the way you want it to next episode.
Episode 22: As I Lay Dying | 死の床に横たわりて
It’s a mean title for a mean episode.
Episode 21: The Undefeated | 敗れざる者
“Undefeated” is a pretty lofty title when you’re reaching the finale of an action epic. I’m already wincing, but that might just be whiplash from the fact that episode 21 has a fuck ton of ground to cover and only twenty minutes to do it.
Episode 20：The Unvanquished | 征服されざる人々
Pictured below: the actual Unvanquished.
Episode 19: Ice Palace | 氷の宮殿
Banana Fish is at its best when I hate it the most. It’s mean, it’s hard to watch, and it’s so cruelly poignant that it transcends its own brutality into art. Even when the plot is at its most far-fetched, the raw emotion is authentic and meaningful.
Episode 18: Islands in the Stream | 海流のなかの島々
This episode has everything you’ve grown to love about Banana Fish – Ash/Eiji romantic insinuation, gunfights, literal and figurative explosions. But you might hate it anyway.
Episode 17: The Killers | 殺し室
Ah, New York. So full of culture. Opportunity. Romance. And people who want to kill Ash Lynx. Check a tourist guidebook, honestly. It’s really mostly those things.
Episode 16: Lo, the Poor Peacock | 哀しみの孔雀
After a brief foray into science fiction, Banana Fish is back to what it’s best at: setting Ash loose in dungeons so he can kick ass, smash the patriarchy, and make everyone else look utterly incompetent in the process.
Episode 15: Garden of Eden | エデンの園
Rolling into Episode 15, Banana Fish has really developed since episode one. Literally. As usual, Ash once again has the cards stacked against him, but what’s a little impending doom when you have an IQ for days, an ass that won’t quit, and most of all, a fucking vendetta.
Gay Anime Symposium 