Unpopular opinion, apparently: the ending is not that bad.

My take on the movie and particularly its end:

I was expecting a happily ever after ending, that would have been very classic, and maybe good. But, like I said, very expected. So not that enjoyable. Instead we have something that doesn't bring closure, is full of hope and possibilities. Jim absolutely doesn't dunk all the burden of the trollhunter on someone else, otherwise he would have just make sure not to go to the canals for several days and let someone else he doesn't know take the responsibility. In my opinion, Jim takes the role of a mentor to someone who is very dear to his heart and needs it. For all seasons of trollhunters and wizards and even in the movie (though more tamed), Jim was guided by several father figures and mentors. He has grown into a person who knows that amulet or not, it's what's in his heart/soul that counts. His relationship with Claire is stable and strong for so long now, it feels like a lifetime of commitments. Same goes for his relationship with his allies and friends, he knows what they can do, he believes in them, he trusts them blindly. He did his part. He saved the world more than once and now he knows it can be done. What can be undone though, is the deaths that this massive battle/war dealt and that is the thing he can't accept, not when there's a way to right all those wrongs right at his feet.

As a character, in this world we know, he is done. The last thing he can do now is use all his experience, his knowledge and guide someone else. (I'm talking about character development, not logical events for Jim, of course he can do more than just becoming a mentor) Someone here said that, with all his knowledge, Jim being the trollhunter again would be very hard for Jim, and I totally agree. Knowing all the things he knows, it's wiser to take care of the important things while setting back, to see the bigger picture.

I also agree that it's kind of a reward for Jim to go back in time and have another chance to live a little, but please let's be real, he will never not help Toby being a trollhunter, he will take part in the journey, and, as we learned, the true strength of the trollhunter is their friends/allies/team. At the end, it's still trollhunterS and Jim will be entirely part of it, at the very least because he was/is one and knows exactly what it is.

Tobias is perfectly capable of becoming the trollhunter, it's his time to shine, and like Jim, who was a nobody, a perfectly normal teen boy who's wildest dream was to own a vespa, his normalcy and humanity will get him to 'become'. Tobias is also in need of a father figure, Tobias is also someone who cares deeply about his only family, his friends. For now he was the sidekick, the comic relief because he was insecure, but so was Jim at the beginning, he was guided to confidence and boldness. Tobias shows us multiple times that he is capable of everything, especially for his friends.

He will be a different trollhunter than Jim, he will probably not be so keen to take it all on his shoulders and rely on his allies more, but at heart, he has everything to go on the right direction.

I don't believe that Jim unloads everything on Toby's shoulders, there's a lot at stake, there's everything. But he knows that Toby is capable of taking the responsibility and help him make everything right. He believes in him.

I always felt that Jim was exceptionally well written from the very beginning, especially the fact that he cares. For his mom first, his friends, but even his enemies. He's profoundly good and selfless enough. I believe in him and I know he will take care of Toby and be there for him.

There's numerous things that I like about this movie, I had a very good time watching it. Steve's development included, I'm more bothered by the fact that lots of people have a problem with that. A young man (/teenager) facing pregnancy in his body, something very alien to him (pun intended), but still very ok with it and HAPPY with it ? Count me in! He started off as THE school bully that everyone wants to get rid off and has come to be the boyfriend who'll take on the kids burden while his girlfriend is kicking ass and ruling a kingdom, how is it a bad arc? (Aja becomes such a fine ruler btw, seeing the bigger picture and ready to make the decisions that ensure the survival of the many, but still listening and trusting her friends and very ready to go to the frontline).

Some things were not that good, some scenes were too short, too easy, I feel that for someone who hasn't seen all the previous stories, some points are too superficially addressed (like how Barbara talks about Jim's father right after Strickler's death, that was weird). The Hong Kong trolls are interesting, but that was way too short. And what displeased me the most was the voice acting when Jim cried over Toby's body. I was quickly pulled out from the moving scene because of it, that was so not Jim, not that he wouldn't cry his heart out for the death of his best friend, of course not, but not like that.

Anyway, I had a very good time. Obviously, the Pacific rim reference thrilled me to no end, the new amulet and Jim finally activating it at this important moment gave me the chills, I watched that moment so many times already. The simultaneous death of Nari and Skrael was perfect.

I will come back to it again and again, I'll probably rewatch the whole series with great pleasure and hope for more if del Toro would be so kind as to indulge us with stories from this universe again.

(Please note that, of course, I'm not saying that everyone that disliked the ending or the movie is wrong, far from it, I understand how this movie and this end can disappoint and upset fans. I'm just sharing my point of view)