I’m only up to episode 9, but I have to say that I’m enjoying this show a lot more than I expected. I really didn’t expect it to become so dramatic and emotional, especially after the first few silly episodes.
Episode 9
Poor Mai. You really have to feel for her in this one. At the end when you found out her friend had passed away, it was really heart breaking.
Can’t wait to watch the rest. I also think I need to add this to the list of Sentai series I need to buy.
That’s what surprised me too. I wasn’t expecting the turn it took at all, but now I’m definitely hooked. I can only imagine how it will all end.
it better not leave me crying for 10 mins…
i guess ill have to wait til tomorrow!!!
(thats if mediacom gets their sXXt together and updates AN on time.)
yoka
LOL Yoka - I hope it doesn’t either!
Wicca lies! She feeds on the tears and sadness of men! 
Episode 11
Another touching episode. It was very sad to see them all go their separate ways. But it also makes me wonder what changes they will cause now that parts of their histories are being rewritten.
It’s sad this show is coming to an end, but I can’t wait to see the last episode.
deep breath
we can all rest easy… the girls figured out they missed each other and decided to continue on with their journey. i could kinda see this coming from a mile away but at least it was a happy ending.
i cant believe the thrill ride this series has taken me on. glad to see it end on a light note.
whew!wipes forehead
yoka
So it’s over. but in the end the whole point of their journey, is to go on their journey? They don’t even ask the girl they were searching for much of anything about what or why, just everyone is frustrated and wants to quit. Then when they quit the realize they miss each other and their adventures more than their friends, so they decide to move on again anyways. Not that I was expecting anything too deep from this show, but the end was kind of a letdown.
grumble letting all my secrets out again… 
Ep. 12
Glad the maid was OK and enjoyed her pushing Keith away. Also glad the sisters came back together and found happiness. I was satisfied with the last episode.
Well this all ended just about the way I expected it to.
They realize they miss each other too much and would rather stay on their journey. But you know what they say, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey and the friends you make along the way.
Overall, I’ve enjoyed this series much more than I thought I would. I’m really glad Sentai picked this up, or I might never have seen it. I will definitely be adding it to my buy list.
OK, I’ve had some time to sit and think over the finale of Popotan, so here’s my take on it:
I am in agreement with all of you over being happy to see the sisters back together and reunited with Mea. I’ve been working on why they went their separate ways and why they came back together, as well as the motivation for Keith’s actions and the final “confrontation” between Mea and Keith. Here’s what I feel.
*
The girls were all affected by Keith’s admonition to Mai that every time they made a “jump” they ruined the lives of the people they grew close to. I believe this was the motivation for them to go their own ways-they wanted to go the the person they felt the closest to and try to repair that relationship. What they discovered when the did that was that they were not happy staying in one place and time, nor were they happy at being separated.
*
Each one of them found that their initial meeting, even with the sudden departure, did not ruin the lives of the people they touched but had in fact enriched their lives. They also found that, once leaving, they truly could not “go home again”. Mai’s discussion with Konami was the most persuasive in this respect, which was good as I think it was Mai that needed the most convincing that her “momentary” friendships were not harmful but enriching to the people they met and left behind.
*
While the sisters each came to the same conclusion, Shizuku brings back the home and released Mea from her stasis then sends her out to reunite the three of them. They resume their journey, now not seeking answers but seeking to touch as many people as they can and bring a special joy into their lives that only three free-spirited girls living in a Christmas store can bring!
*
Oh, and Keith? He was on the same journey-perhaps he was one of the brothers we saw Mea shepherding in her flashbacks-but that he hadn’t yet discovered that truth that he was on the quest to bring happiness into people’s lives. Perhaps he just couldn’t stand the parting himself? Anyway, as the sisters came into the realization of the real reason for their journey, Mea dismissed Keith and ended his power over them. (Did you also catch the way Unagi growled “una” when Keith appeared to Mea?)
*
Oh, and did you notice how the popotan were EVERYWHERE? One was in a pot in the cafe where Mai and Konami talked and another one was on the street with Nono and Mii in the snow! I wonder if that was how Shizuku and Keith kept an eye on the girls. I may never look at dandelions in the same way again.
Episode 12 -
The episode starts off with an interesting scene of Konami’s daughter, Mai and Daichi’s son talking about the girls. I wonder how they found each other.
Ai is now little Daichi’s teacher, but she isn’t a very good one. She is too kind hearted and her students constantly take advantage of her. On the way home one day, Daichi mentions Mai and asks when she is coming for a visit, but Ai says that she is in a school very far away.
Mai is in a store with Konami and sees a sales lady that resembles Ai, which surprises her. She seems to be missing her. Later, Konami mentions the past, but Mai tells her that she doesn’t want to think about it.
The shrine is once again decorated for Christmas and Magical Girl Mii and Magical Priestess Nono are playing in the courtyard when it begins to snow. Mii gets excited and Nono reminds her grandfather that when Mii first got there, she never even left the house, but Mii is so much happier now. Her grandfather is skeptical, but hopes she is happy. Then Mii thinks she sees Mai and goes running after her, only to find that it really isn’t her. Nono catches up and realizes that Mii is only forcing herself to be happy.
Keith is with Shizuku, and asks - “do you think this is the fate they truly desired?” Shizuku says that she will watch them a little longer. (She most likely does this through the popotan - they are in every scene. I also wonder if Shizuku is actually guiding the house to where it appears and when it appears - perhaps to the people that need to have the sisters touch their lives.)
Ai is at home. She isn’t happy and starts to cry. Keith appears and surprises her. He wants to know why she’s crying. He says that she got what she wanted but Ai asks why he’s there. Keith says that the sisters believed that they could find a place to be happy and that “such a place simply does not exist”. He informs her that he had checked on Mii and Mai and that they aren’t happy either. Keith tells Ai that he was once a traveler too and went through the torment of leaving people behind. He said that he never found a place he could call home and acted the way he did to protect them. He says that “there is no place for us in this world” and Ai screams at him to leave, so he disappears.
Konami is still bothering Mai about the past, upsetting her and causing her to run off.
Keith is back with Shizuku and tells her that the girls’ fate has been concluded, but Shizuku corrects him, saying that they still “have some fight left”. The house then appears with Mea and a surprised Keith exclaims – “there’s no way”.
Daichi and Asuka ask Ai to go out with them and they take her to the spot where the house used to be. Asuka thinks that she and Mai should make up, that they must have had a fight and that’s why Mai never comes to visit. Ai explains their story and why they aren’t together. Daichi is upset by it because he knows they belong together.
The same sentiment is echoed by Konami to Mai. She says that she liked the old Mai better and Mai cries. Mai says that if she hadn’t come back to see her, that Konami would have been sad the rest of her life, tied down by memories. Konami says she’s wrong - that there is a place inside her heart for Mai where they’ll always be together. I think Ai and Mai both realize that Keith was wrong in that they don’t leave complete sadness behind them when they meet people.
Ai is still with Daichi and Asuka when the house appears with Mea. Ai gives Daichi a great big kiss on the mouth – I doubt he’ll ever forget her now! – and heads towards the house. Keith appears and tries to warn her one more time and Ai tells him that they don’t need to search anymore. They have found their place in the hearts and minds of the people they meet and the friends they make. She tells him that his “services as a guide are no longer required”. As she moves forward, Keith tells her to wait, but Mea knocks him down, saying that it is her duty to protect them and he is not to bother them again. Ai leaves Keith with a final wish that she hopes he finds his place someday.
Mai says goodbye to Konami and joins her sister and Mea in the house.
Mii is so happy to see her sisters and as she hugs them, they all end up crying joyful tears.
The last scene is back to Konami’s daughter and Daichi’s son. Mai is saying that memories of the girls will continue to bloom in the hearts and minds of the people they touch – “exactly like a popotan flower”. Daichi’s son says that he can hardly believe that they are real since he hadn’t even been born the last time they had visited. He says that he’d love to meet Ai – the one that had given his dad his very first kiss. And then the house appears…
A very nice ending to another surprisingly deep story. I thought this was just going to be a light, fluffy comedy, but it turned into so much more. It became an interesting story with lovable characters and a nice message about the impact of people that touch your life, if only briefly. Again, some questions were left unanswered, but all in all it was a very satisfying ending.