SPOILERS BEWARE The four episodes that released all at same time are the conclusion to Magia Record. This may seem like a S3 but in reality its actually the missing four episodes for S2 since S2 had eight and this season has four making twelfth total. These episodes should have just come out with S2 to be honest since even the same ED song is used. The first episode of this season was so enlightening to the story for Magia Record. This episode Ui Touka and Nemus origins are revealed. They became magical girls in order to save Iroha and all magical girls. This plan however backfires as UI is unable to take all the negative energy hence her vessel for her soul gem shatters. Nemu in the dying moments isolated Uis soul into a baby Kyuubey as a new vessel so it all actually adds up as to who the baby Kyuubey is and why we saw it around Iroha so often. This also explains why Touka was acting the way she was as by isolating Uis soul Nemu was also the only one that remembered about her existence. When I started this final season and was introduced to such a great opening episode although in reality it should be the 9th of S2 I suddenly had higher hopes for the conclusion of this anime. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/970725514874593310/unknown.png In the next episode the Embryo Eve awakens which causes the doppels to take over the minds of weak magical girls as it disrupts the emotions in their hearts. Momoko and Mifuyu take it upon themselves to take all the negative feelings from these weak magical girls and their friends which ends up saving them however shattering their own soul gems simultaneously essentially killing themselves. In this scenario its one thing for another. This may be a rare occurrence where some important magical girls to the story so far actually die in this series. We know the original Madoka Magica wasnt afraid to kill off its cast so its no surprise that it finally happens here. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/970724432089870376/unknown.png 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/970724583692980244/unknown.png The third episode follows this trend as we explore Kuroes character whos been carrying a pretty heavy weight ever since she became a magical girl. She didnt even remember why she became one however this was due to Irohas plea. Iroha basically pushed being a magical girl onto Kuroe when in reality she didnt even want it but likely agreed to help her due to their friendship. The epilogue of this episode had some pretty dark yet powerful messages. It reads The soul gems are made from us. If we are not always on the side of goodness they shatter. Goodness is what kills us. So destroy it before it kills you. We will destroy all that is good. And then we will disappear. This epilogue hits pretty hard as some of those statements really hit home about the dark crushing reality of being a magical girl. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/970744679958204486/unknown.png The final episode concludes the story of Magia Record in which the power of friendship saves the day. Iroha and her friends after accepting themselves for who they are with the power of friendship defeat the greatest witch Walpurgisnacht and save the city from destruction. Humanity doesnt even realise that this miracle was caused by magical girls as many of the girls that survived the confrontation have their speeches regarding how humanity is turning a blind eye to magical girls. No human could ever even consider the terrifying and endless journey that magical girls set out on or the countless sacrifices that had to be made in the first place by turning normal girls into magical ones. I still think Im missing something from the conclusion to this series however knowing the original source would certainly help paint the full picture better. Needless to say these four episodes were actually pretty good especially after what the first season showed the second season split into two parts certainly improved on the issues which the first one had and made this experience more enjoyable. The original Madoka Magica is still superior however this side story was decent and had some nice moments throughout. 800https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/635602177833959439/971151270838689902/unknown.png S1 Reviewhttps://anilist.co/review/13488 S2 Reviewhttps://anilist.co/review/13920