Overall, Episode 26 is a 9.2/10-rated finale on IMDb that successfully bridges the gap between the Ripple-era stories and the future of the franchise.
The latter half of the episode provides a "mundane" yet deeply satisfying wrap-up for the cast:
: In a classic Joseph move, he crashes his own funeral, revealing he survived the fall and married Suzie Q, but simply forgot to tell anyone. JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (2012) (Dub) Episode 26
: The episode updates viewers on the lives of Erina, Speedwagon, Lisa Lisa, and Smokey, adding emotional weight to the journey. Fans particularly noted the bittersweet "mundane" deaths of heroes like Erina and Speedwagon as a grounding contrast to the supernatural battles.
The episode kicks off with the final confrontation between Joseph Joestar and the "Ultimate Thing," Kars. Overall, Episode 26 is a 9
: The moment Kars is launched into space is elevated by the return of the Part 1 opening theme, "Sono Chi no Sadame," which turns the scene into a moment of pure cross-generational hype.
: The final scene jumps to 1987 at JFK Airport, introducing an older Joseph Joestar and teasing the arrival of his grandson, Jotaro Kujo, in a Tokyo jail cell. This cliffhanger, accompanied by a snippet of the Stardust Crusaders soundtrack, remains one of the most effective transitions in anime. Dub Performance Highlights Fans particularly noted the bittersweet "mundane" deaths of
: The psychological horror of Kars’ end—floating eternally in the void, eventually "stopping thinking" because he cannot die—is a haunting and creative resolution to an otherwise "unkillable" villain. The Epilogue: Heart and Humility