On the ending of Puella Magi Madoka Magica, I just think it's interesting that in the end Madoka's wish kind of did align with Kyubei's beliefs.
When she learns the truth of the Incubators actions, she vehemently rejects the idea that it is okay for a small amount of people to suffer for the universe to sustain through entropy. However, in the end she too decides that it is better for a handful of people - in this case she thinks it would be just herself - to suffer rather than the whole of magical girls.
And of course it was noble, it was and kind and goodhearted and incredibly brave of Madoka to do this. It was an action done out of love, entirely separate from Kyubei who acts out of self-sustainment.
But what of Homura's grief? Who will be the only one to remember her in this new timeline? Of her little brother who can still remember her, of her parents who only have the faintest of suppressed memories. What about Sayaka, who had to accept both her own and Madokas sacrifices in however brief the time was in which she had to accept it. Akane, Mami, Hitomi and Kyousuke who will have to live on with something missing in their lifes. And herself, having to exist in a place separate from them all, unable to grow up or move on.
It's like her mother told her in their final conversation, Madoka sacrifices herself without thinking about how the people around her would feel about it. And though her actions and intentions are undeniably good, she still acts as Kyubei does, sacrificing her life and the feeling of others for a greater cause.
I think it's an interesting place for the series to end on, which again highlights the shows themes of how self-sacrifice can be incredibly destructive and how you should value yourself as well. And I'm gald the series ends in a bittersweet spot instead of going for either a false feeling happy ending or an exaggeratedly tragic one, where Madokas action would change absolutely nothing about the new timeline.
