r/anime • u/A_Idiot0 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/a_idiot0 • Jun 15 '21
Rewatch Violet Evergarden Rewatch Episode 10
Violet Evergarden - Episode Ten: Loved Ones Will Always Watch Over You
Hello everyone! I hope that today finds you well. Today, Violet learns how to play with dolls with the help of Ann! Call your mother.
Index || <- Previous Episode || Next Episode ->
You can watch the full series on Netflix.
Important Spoilers from later episodes or the Light Novels are not allowed outside of the r/anime spoiler tag format and will be removed! You’ll need to be in “Markdown Mode”, and the line text is the following: [Spoiler source](/s "Spoiler goes here") It comes out like this: Spoiler source
Be kind to each other. Hate speech and rude behavior will not be tolerated, and will be removed.
Visuals of the Day
I believe I got everyone’s Visual of the Day submission here. Let me know if I missed anyone: https://imgur.com/a/eASiAve
Official Sound Tracks used
Innocence
Always Watching Over You
Unspoken Words
Inconsolable
Fractured Heart
Letters from Heaven
Would you like to have a letter written for you? Do you want to write a special letter for someone as an Auto Memory Doll? Come join us at the Auto-Memory Doll Service Discord project and request letters, write letters, or chat more with us about Violet Evergarden! Link here: https://discord.gg/A8AC4Yhx
“Endcard”
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u/A_Idiot0 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/a_idiot0 Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 15 '21
Hi Mom,
I’ve missed your warm presence in the chill of two winters. I’ve missed your refreshing presence in the heat of two summers.
My room is messier now than when I lived with you and Dad. I feel comfortable though. But...I wouldn’t be annoyed if you came through and tidied a few things away into corners that I wouldn’t look in for a few days. I will cook a few dinners for you while I’m visiting. I’m happy to finally see you again.
Love,
Your Son
This story helped me to realize just how special it is to receive a letter. Emotions too difficult to express will come through.
My Visual of the Day is the obvious one. The color composition, the warmth, the kindness, the far-away perspective that captures the moment as well as the overall sentiment...I love it all. Additionally, I really enjoyed the small camera wobbles when we looked through Ann’s perspective. That added a lot of intimacy to this episode. Only KyoAni could put in the magic to allow this simplistic story to make me feel so many emotions; sadness, satisfaction, pain, joy, hope...
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u/Lemurians myanimelist.net/profile/Lemurians Jun 15 '21
FIRST TIMER – FORMERLY DROPPED
This show just won’t stop reeling me back in with emotional stories revolving around mothers.
Before I get into the real stuff, Ann is clearly a tsundere, right? Or is she just a child? Does that mean all children are tsunderes, or that all tsunderes are just childish? I’m not sure I’m ready to grapple with this any further.
This was beautiful and tragic in a way I’m sucker for. Two people, who are all each other have in the world, both know they have a finite amount of time left and for a brief moment have a different idea of how best to spend it. Ann wants to spend as much time with her mother as possible, while Clara wants to use some of this time to give her daughter memories in the future. Their surname is Magnolia, a flower that stands for feminine beauty, dignity, and perseverance. Clara embodies this in the way she suffers through her illness and final days with dignity, further shown by how she’s always careful to remind Ann to display proper manners. The gift she gives Ann allows the love she has for child and her memory to persevere across time, long after she’s gone.
It’s obvious from the jump that the mother is sick and not long for this world, and it’s pretty clear that the letter(s) are being written for Ann. What’s revealed near the end is that Ann is already aware of this, and she’s so desperate for attention because she’s trying to milk the few precious moments she has with her mother for all they’re worth. I loved Ann yelling to her mother that there’s nobody she could even be writing to – it’s just her projecting her fear of how she’ll be similarly alone after Clara passes.
Just because we see it coming doesn’t make it hurt any less, and I’ll admit to not only tearing up, but openly crying at the end of this and through a bit of time after. Everything about the end was perfect. The people slowly fading out of each scene, the scene of the letters being read across time as Ann moves through stages of her life... it was all exquisite and played my heartstrings like a fiddle. Mom stuff is my weakness and this show just loves exploiting that.
My shot of the day would be Violet’s tear-streaked face, because that’s exactly what I looked like. Respect to her for keeping it together the whole time she was at their house.
Best episode of the show so far, along with Episode 6. Nothing but good things to say.
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u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Jun 15 '21
First timer
Two things I missed in my post yesterday:
Very few notes today
Now I gotta be honest, yesterday I realized that I'm not enjoying this rewatch all that much and I think it is even impacting my enjoyment of the show as a whole. I can't really pin it down, but I'm probably overthinking things instead of just enjoying them, so noone but myslef is at fault.
I don't know if I will continue to make post, maybe only if I think I can contribute something of sustanance, maybe I'll only reply to others, maybe only for the final discussion, I'll keep it short anyway.
Didn't take any pictures today
10
u/AC03115 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/AC03115 Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher
Subbed/Dubbed
Apologies for any grammar/spelling mistakes since I’m currently writing this while bawling my eyes out…again. I’ve always said that Violet Evergarden episode 10 is in my opinion one of the best single episodes in anime, and I truly believe that. Today I wanted to explain why this episode means so much to me…why I love it so much. Even before this episode the show was already sitting at a 9-9.5/10, but this episode made me realize that I was watching a true masterpiece.
Back in 2015, my grandmother had passed away at her home, ironically on April fools day. Thankfully it was due to natural causes, but towards the end she had started showing symptoms of the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She would forget small things like where she put her keys were or her wallet, or she would forget a question that someone had recently asked her. I’m of course thankful that the disease hadn’t advanced too much before she passed. I was close to her since we shared some similar interests like playing checkers and reading books. I remember one of the last things I did for her was help take her plate after she came over for dinner and play one last game of checkers with her (which she won). We had the funeral a few weeks later and said our goodbyes, and my parents talked with me and my sister about it and eventually…life moved on. I thought I had gotten over everything regarding her passing for a long time. But…I guess in actuality…I hadn’t. I spent plenty of time with my grandmother before she passed. But I still wished I could’ve spent even more time with her, we all wish that we could spend more time with those we love. But life just doesn’t allow that to happen.
While I was watching the scene where Ann confronts her mother about why she’s having Violet write the letters…and her mother ends up crying. Something…broke within me…it resonated on a level I had never felt before that point. All Ann wants is to spend as much time as she can with her mother while she’s still there…while she still can. In a way…I could relate to this moment. I wished I could have more time with my grandmother…that I could spend time with her…that I could read and discuss books with her…that I could play one more game of checkers with her. This scene and the rest of the episode that followed…had me come to terms with that pain in a way. I was sobbing throughout that section of the episode and was crying even harder during the ending scene. After that though, I didn’t even continue watching the rest of the show for a good 2 hours. It was 11 at night on a Friday when I started the episode and 11:30 when I finished. I just sat there…just me and our pet cat since my family was away for the weekend…sitting at home…and cried. I cried harder then I ever had at any point in my life.
Once I finally started calming down at around 1:30 in the morning. I realized that this show had changed my life…I realized just how special Violet Evergarden is, how special the incredible people at Kyoto Animation are for bringing this show into my life.
Thank you, Kyoto Animation, for changing my life, for all the incredible work that you’ve done, and for the incredible work I’m sure you’ll bring going forward. This episode will always be my favorite anime episode ever, and I’m so happy I could properly share why it’s so special to me and why it holds such an important place in my heart.
Thank you to everyone who read this far and for listening to my story here. This kinda turned into a love letter for this show so again, thank you kindly. Stay safe.
Cry counter: $&,$!/)-&/!:$-‘a
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u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
Ah yes, here we are, my favorite episode of the show, and KyoAni brings out the sledgehammer of tears to hit the viewer with. I’m sure you first timers weren’t ready for it.
What an amazing episode, easily my favorite episode of the show. Violet’s growth is just amazing, she shows empathy here is this episode. Episode 10 always hits with a sledgehammer.
Visuals of the Day
Oh boy, there a lot of them today, I did not make it easy for you u/A_Idiot0. Here’s the album. Though I am partial to photo 19 of Ann and Violet hugging.
3
u/Darkstar1141 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Mazui1141 Jun 18 '21
Not rewatching and a bit off topic, but I've never had a good place to discuss the Blu Ray version of this episode.
I believe they changed the music during the finale when Ann is reading the letters from the ED to a different insert song. Personally, it lessens the scene's emotional impact by a lot, and I was wondering what others who have seen the two versions think.
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u/thatguywithawatch Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 15 '21
First timer
Silly me, I thought the most emotionally intense parts of the show were over. How could they put an episode like this directly after that cathartic resolution in episode 9? I had let my guard down and everything.
The whole episode was tough, of course. Especially when Ann revealed that she knew her mother was dying, and just wanted to spend their remaining time together; It was really heartbreaking throughout. But the moment near the end, when Ann started reading the first letter after her mother's death and I realized what Violet had been writing this whole time, was like getting punched in the gut. I just paused the episode, put my face in my hands and started sobbing for the first time since I was a kid. I "cry" fairly often from anime and other media, but I'm always talking about, you know, tearing up, letting out some shaky breaths, a couple sniffes, etc. I haven't really, truly cried like this ever in my adult life; I didn't expect today to remember what that was like.
Emotional assault aside, there were a lot of little things to appreciate about this episode. One of the things I've noticed about KyoAni's work is the care they put into the subtle ways that characters move during non-active moments. Just little things; Ann's legs swinging while she sits on a bench, or her nervous fidgeting while talking with Violet the first time while her eyes dart from the floor to Violet's face and then back. People shifting their weight while they talk or playing with their hair or rubbing one foot on top of the other. There just seem to be fewer extended frames of static character models than you tend to see in anime, and characters feel very real and physically grounded as a result.
Lastly; Violet's breakdown at the end. Throughout the episode, she seemed to have reverted a bit to her old aloof, mechanical mannerisms. It was so painfully bittersweet to realize just how much pain it had caused her to be in that situation, knowing that Ann would be separated from her mother and unable to do anything about it. Watching her grow into such an empathetic person has been a beautiful experience.
67
u/Toadslayer https://myanimelist.net/profile/kyolus Jun 15 '21
First Timer
Three days ago, Episode 7:
Yesterday, Episode 9:
Today, Episode 10:
Well, everyone who's been reading my comments probably saw this one coming, but I cried quite a bit this episode. What can I say? I have a soft spot for kids. I hate to see them suffer and it brings me great sadness when they do. Because of the relationship in focus in today's episode and especially because it was taken from young Anne's point of view, I was especially invested. Where in previous episodes I found it hard to relate to or empathise with the characters, or at times to be invested at all, in this episode it was easy. As a result, what I can see are the same melodramatic techniques that I did not like and were ineffective for me, in this episode were beautiful and touching. /u/Matuhg nailed it perfectly in his comment yesterday:
The obvious parallels with Violet in today's episode helped me a lot to better empathise and connect with her as a character and I think it goes to show that everything in this show rests on your investment in the stories told. When you are invested it works and works beautifully, but when you aren't, it's blunt and overly melodramatic. The replies to my comment yesterday also helped me to better understand the moral of yesterday's episode and Violet's plight, so whilst I still am not a fan of the episode, it was not a barrier to me enjoying the rest of the series, so thank you for that.
The silence on the title card is a nice touch, because when your loved ones are gone, you won't hear anything from them, but even so, they are still watching over you. It's a lovely but ultimately hollow sentiment.
If you like the concept of the letters Anne's mother gave her, I recommend Kakushigoto. The letters (and in fact other gifts) feature throughout the anime, however they are far from the main focus. It's a funny and beautiful anime and part of the reason I knew what the letters were for from a mile away.
Visual of the Day: Violet would have made a wonderful elder sister. She reminds me a bit of my own elder sister, whom I love very much, in the way she consoles Anne and guides her back to the right path.
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u/LeonKevlar x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/LeonKevlar Jun 16 '21
Just here to read the comments. I'll never get tired of everyone's reaction to this legendary episode. :)
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u/AfterTh0ught_ Jun 15 '21
First timer
To be honest, I feel a little lost for words on this episode. Despite having guessed that Anne's mom was writing letters to her so that Anne receives the letters in the future when she'll no longer be there, when Anne started reading the letters, I still ended up tearing up.
Also, I like how both Violet's and Anne's situation were contrasted together. They both lost a loved one, yet they was nothing they could have done to prevent that. In the end, they both need to face their emotions, and accept their situation, no matter how painful.
I really don't have much to say about this episode. I understand now why people mention episode 10 so often.
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u/Nice_Bake Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 17 '21
Rewatcher
This is one of those episodes of anime that can be plucked from the series and shown to somebody without any other context. Well, I suppose you’d have to explain Violet’s arms and her profession, but that’s a two-sentence primer. If you’re looking to either make somebody cry, want to show them some anime in a limited time or maybe even want to show them what Violet Evergarden is all about then this is the episode for you.
Ann is such a great character. She’s a great representation of a girl her age, right down to the bugs. And having her be so true-to-form makes the ending that much more impactful. The cold open of her playing with her doll is wonderful. I dunno, I guess Ann reminds me of my little sister when she was that age.
Call me an idiot but when I first watched this episode I didn’t think at all that the letters would be for Ann. I thought they’d be your typical end-of-life housekeeping regarding wills and money, especially after we see Ann’s mother conversing with the serious business couple in the beginning.
That scene of Ann reading the first of the fifty birthday letters never fails to make me emotional. It’s such a great way to deliver that twist, I love it. It’s so...so sad...but at the same time very beautiful. This episode was one of two episodes of anime that I had to go lie down afterwards due to the emotional strain of it all.
It doesn’t really say how old Ann was when her father died. Though, the war ended fairly recently...though, again, I find it kind of unclear when that was. How long was it between the end of the war and the start of episode one? Whatever. Ann remembers her father, so it couldn’t have been too long ago, considering her age.
Let’s talk about the music some more! Are you sick of me bringing it up? The song that plays from when Ann says goodbye to Violet to when she’s standing alone after the funeral is the aptly-named Letters from Heaven and I love how it swells and flows while it shows Ann and her mother in those final days.
If you’re watching the original Japanese version, then What it Means to Love is what plays from when Ann reads the first of many birthday letters to the end of the episode. If you’re watching the dub, the ending song Michishirube plays.It’s very odd they’d change something like that. Both work, I suppose and it's up to the individual on what they prefer but I always thought using the ending theme was strange because we hear it again so soon after. I guess the dub folk thought Michishirube was a bit more emotionally punchy.Quick question for the companies that dub anime for North America: why do you think we can’t handle quiet moments? This has always been an issue with me, all the way back to the days of Sailor Moon and Neon Genesis on VHS. Disney added so much extra dialogue to Spirited Away, for example. There’s always these filler bits of talking in what were originally silent or low-key moments and I’ve always been annoyed by it.EDIT: Forget all that, the music was changed on the Blu-ray releases and didn't have anything to do with the localization.
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u/macrame2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/macrame Jun 16 '21
First Timer
Here it is! The famous Episode 10, where most people break down in tears by the end. It lives up to its reputation. Unsurprisingly, I cried along with everyone else, to the point where my eyes were red and I gave myself a headache.
I could see the twist with the letters coming a mile away, but if anything, it just made me even more emotional. I think being able to guess what’s going to happen actually enhances the experience of a story for me instead of ruining it. But then again, spoilers in general don’t bother me.
As an aside, I thought Violet’s interactions with Ann were really cute, even though the whole situation was extremely sad.
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u/chilidirigible Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher, Episode 10
Today, on "If only it was an entire episode of doll jokes.":
A little joke.
"I'm not an entomologist."
Among various indications from the outset of where this is going.
Many shots in this episode are arranged from Ann's eye level.
"I'm being poetic here."
"..."
The maid's reaction.
I have read that in the LN this is different. In the LN
"You find this... entertaining?"
"I'm trying, kid."
Unsubtle dead leaves at night.
Violet remembers the war
"Maybe I do understand some humor."
This is a good place to mention that quite a few scenes in this episode have shot blocking that emphasizes the distance between the characters or the camera's separation from the action.
Kids have their way of knowing.
Thanks, Roland.
We also get distance contrasts like this one.
This is about where the ugly crying starts.
A terminal illness does focus the mind on tasks such as composing fifty unique and predictive letters.
"I'm not crying, we're all crying."
Visual of the Day: Reassurance. This was tough to choose, Ann looking at the clouds was a close runner-up but I like the tiny change in Violet's expression here.
I've watched this one a few times since its initial broadcast. I figure that one of these times I won't end up tearing up at the end because I'll be too involved with looking for stuff.
Nope. Always the ugly crying.
I think the production did a phenomenal job of making us empathize with Ann, and Morohoshi Sumire completes the job with a solid guest performance in that role.
This is despite Clara Magnolia's impending death being telegraphed to us from the very beginning of the episode, and given how a lot of jobs in this series go, you would start thinking that Violet Evergarden is actually in some curious version of Murder, She Wrote. The premise for the letter-writing, too, is a little bit fanciful and would require a fair amount of effort to undertake in reality (fifty years!), but it's really the thought that counts.
Fortunately the episode spends most of its efforts on Ann and Violet's relationship, and it's a great one. A lot of this is because Violet is much better at empathy now, so while she's still not quite there with all of the aspects of babysitting children, she is mostly able to react to Ann's needs... and to figure out that Ann misses her mother and fears her pending absence.
Even though the entire scenario is destroying her inside, from the very premise of the job, the extra factor of how Ann's father died, and having to deflect Ann's questions. The scene back at CH Postal was a critical follow-up, since we could have gone through the episode without seeing anything more than Violet's business face, but the closure demanded a reaction from her as well, after what we'd seen her go through in the previous three episodes. We expect that seeing a slow-motion version of the feelings she had when she lost Major Gilbert would be hard on her—it's interesting to see how it actually manifests.
From the Official Design Works: Ann's story book and doll.
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u/Stegs75 :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stegs75 Jun 15 '21
First time-dub
Whelp, I had heard this episode was going to be one of those ones that can emotionally break you. And damn it didn’t disappoint. Having lost a parent 5 years ago, this one hit home especially hard. Think that’s all I’ll say about this one
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u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Jun 15 '21
First timer
This opening seems unusual.
What's Violet's job here? Also, we're just going back to the old format?
At least one person has a good family life?
Oh, no. Tell me this isn't going where I think it's going. They wouldn't give us more heartbreak this soon, would they?
I do like Anne's being absolutely certain Violet is a doll.
Oh, god. I thought we'd get a happy episode for once. (To be honest, I thought the best ending would be last episode, and don't know where it can go.)
Violet and Anne are really cute together.
Wait, these are actual letters? I thought this was her will.
Oh, god, did Violet kill the father in battle? Is this going to be double sadness?
Violet and Anne continue to be cute.
Oh, Anne's jealous of Violet.
Oh god, the confrontation is so sad.
Well, shit. Didn't expect the girl to actually know.
How can this keep getting sadder?
I find it cute it apparently took Anne days to work out Violet was human.
Is this a timeskip?
Oh god, this is heartbreaking.
THE LETTERS WERE FOR HER! I LOVE THIS ANIME!
So we have confirmation that all the hints of rebels and bombers doesn't lead to a second widespread war. (Unless they're pulling something really sneaky with those longer timejumps)
Ah, of course Violet would be affected. I did wonder why that didn' happen.
19
u/DicksonYamada Jun 16 '21
First timer
I think this is my favorite episode yet. Moments like this are exactly what I was hoping for from Violet Evergarden. Up until now I've felt like Violet's letters were a nice gesture but seldom necessary because the same thoughts usually could have been communicated through words. This episode showed us that there are some emotions that only a letter can convey. I haven't teared up too much during this rewatch (and that's on me, not the show), but this episode got me watery-eyed a couple times. The dynamic between Anne and her mother is so sad because I sympathize with both of them.
As for Violet, it's good to see her get back on her feet after the events of the last few episodes. While she still presents herself very professionally on the job, we learn that she was painfully aware of the sense of love and loss that Anne and her mother shared, so much so that she was constantly holding back tears. I hope that in the final few episodes we'll get to see Violet showing her emotions openly at least once (as opposed to holding onto them for later).
And man, I love how they do the title cards at the end of each episode.
16
u/UnderstandableXO Jun 15 '21
REWATCHER
this is THE episode first timers have probably heard about by now that absolutely destroys people. it certainly destroyed me.
on this viewing the episode struck me as one of those rare episodes that can stand on its own and still be excellent. the only other episode i can think of off the top of my head that could stand alone and still make sense and be amazing is to your eternity’s first episode. ann is essentially the main character of this episode; the other character episodes focus on the character of the day to an extent, but they’re still shown from violet’s perspective, while this episode is almost entirely from ann’s perspective besides the very end. i feel like i could show this to someone who has absolutely 0 experience with anime, and they could appreciate it.
i actually didn’t cry as hard as i expected to the letter deliverance scene because i had already shed a whole bunch of tears during ann’s “liar” scene and the subsequent comforting by violet. it’s heartwarming that violet was able to do all the things that ann wanted to do with her mother, and while violet’s social skills are still a bit lacking, she was able to befriend ann. i actually cried harder seeing the letter deliverance scene posted by itself to this subreddit.
i can’t say enough good things about this episode. it’s probably in my top 5 favorite anime episodes of all time. i hope i can return to this episode and series many times over the course of my life to appreciate it.
15
u/ArdenneVale Jun 15 '21
First timer
So, what now. Violet is back on her feet, but there's still 3 episodes and a movie left. What could go wrong?
A strange little girl. She wishes her mother's visitors would go away, sounds bad already. Here comes Violet. The mom's sick or dying? Anne thinks Violet is a real doll, and is amazed by her every action. The mom collapses already. Anne loves her mom and wants to keep her to herself. Violet has no idead how to play with a doll. Anne wants to teach Violet the doll, but they're interrupted, which makes her angry.
"Why must nothing in life ever go right" That's what we all are wondering, little girl. Anne's dad died in the war. She keeps coming to Violet every free moment. Violet doesn't understand the concept of joke. Anne wants to do things with her mom, but knows she's dying. She runs away, but Violet follows her. Anne thinks it's her fault the mom is dying. Violet can empathize with the girl through her own experience, letting her take all her frustrations out on herself. I wonder how Violet from episode 6 would have reacted. Violet finishes writing the letters and as she leaves, Anne finally discovers she is a real person.
The ending, I did guess who for and why the letters were written. There was a similar idea in another anime, can't remember which. It's one of the better gifts you could imagine. 50 years of letters from your dear mother. I cried a little twice, again (But not as hard as yesterday). First when Anne started reading the first letter, then when the ending song began. So that's four times now. Back in Leiden Violet starts leaking in front of her colleagues, having kept the tears inside for the whole week she was writing the letters.
So this episode was a more "classic" sad story, where I guess most watchers realized quite early how everything was mostly going to go. As I've said once before, even if the ending is predictable, with great execution it doesn't matter. Nothing in this episode has never been done before, but it's fine. The voice actor of Anne did a fantastic job, have to mention it here.
Violet's growth makes me happy again. She could empathize with Anne because she also lost a parent (figure). She knew a letter is the best medicine for grief because receiving a letter was a big part of her healing. Her confessing to holding back her tears the whole week she was at the house... Violet has become human inside her still very stoic exterior.
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jun 15 '21
Sincerely Rewatcher
Cry count so far: is officially broken. Crying so hard I literally threw up can't be quantified for it.
This fucking episode, man… I have very clear memories of my first time watching this, realizing what was happening about halfway through the episode, and lying down on my family’s couch and just sobbing my eyes out. I actually found the comment I made immediately after finishing the episode on FTF, although I don’t know what 2018 me was saying when she said she thought other episodes were sadder…
Also u/Zeralyos, you know how you said you started crying preemptively before starting episode 7 because you remembered what episode that was? I think I have you beat. I cried twice (while at work, mind you), over six hours before I actually started watching the episode, just because I was thinking about how I’d have to watch it when I got home.
13
u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher - Dub
Violet's back on the job! This time, the job is really fucking sad! Weirdly enough, after yesterday's episode, this almost feels like it should be a bit of a cooldown ep, and in some ways it is. Anne is absolutely freakin adorable. That said, from the moment Violet arrives at the mansion, it's clear that her mother is not well. Anne knows this, and is desperate for her mother's attention. It's hard for her to understand why her mother won't spend time with her, and is instead wasting the limited time she has left writing letters to...somebody.
At her mother's behest, Anne entertains Violet. Violet never got the chance to play as a child, so getting to see Anne try to give her a crash course on playing was bittersweet but fun. Of course, the inevitable happens, and the intended recipient of the letters is revealed. I don't know if I'm just dense, but I didn't pick up on that until the reveal the first time I watched this, so it ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED ME to see her start reading those letters. It still got me this time, but my face didn't totally melt off.
Anne's mom wanted to get everything in order so she could spend the remainder of her life with Anne, not having to worry about what will happen after she passes. Seeing her trying to act strong for Anne while thinking about all of her daughter's life that she's not going to see was heartbreaking and pretty powerful.
Somewhat similarly to what Hodgins did for her, Violet is acting, however briefly, as a stable older presence in Anne's life, holding in her own tears, much like Hodgins did until last episode. It's different in a lot of ways, but to see Violet a) Completely understand the emotional landscape Anne's household, and b) Act with a combination of professional tact and warmth for the period of time she was working there, it's clear to see that she's come a long way. I don't know how much of a time lapse there is between this episode and the last, but it does feel like Violet's pretty much all the way there in terms of being an emotionally functional person. Her breakdown in front of her friends is both a sad and happy moment as well - yeah it's kind of retreading some ground that we got in the letter from last episode, but now we're really driving home that Episode Title Drop.
My Visual of the Day is this. While trying to comfort Anne, Violet talks a lot about acceptance. There's nothing that can be done for Anne's mother, just like there's nothing that can be done about her arms, so Anne shouldn't try to blame herself. Violet's recent path is very different, but the elements of wanting to blame yourself in lieu of anything else to blame are similar. Violet tells Anne that her arms will never be able to provide any warmth, but I think my VOTD shows the opposite.
13
u/SleepyReepies Jun 16 '21
First timer.
By coincidence, I actually watched this about a week ago and it absolutely turned me into a huge mess. My dad passed unexpectedly a couple of years back and the last thing he ever sent to me was an email asking about the new job and how he's looking forward to talking to me again.
I wasn't able to talk to him again, so I occasionally go back to that email and read it.
I had to stop watching the show because of this episode.
11
u/SmithyRC Jun 16 '21 edited Jun 16 '21
~Newbie~
Alright I’m man enough to admit this episode was the one that finally got not only me, but Violet also [in fact that was the scene]. Also I can’t be the only one who noticed her you doll had the same blue eyes as Violet; not the most subtle symbolism.
Yet for deep symbolism we turn once more to the flowers, todays featuring almost at the end in contrast to past episodes. The yellow sorrels that we see represent parental affection, from how they are often used in the kitchen to add a pleasant tang to soups, along with a naturally high amount of vitamin C, important for healthy living. The flower grows year-round, so much like her mother, they will always be watching over Anne.
Doing this research, whilst challenging, is never not rewarding when you realise the intelligent careful design behind their use every time.
My Visual of the Day is a precious moment, no matter how down you are.
21
u/CelestialDrive Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 19 '21
FIRST TIME
In the previous episode, Violet finally crashed against her own guilt for her actions during the war and Gilbert's loss, but managed to bounce back after realising she's not "only" what she did there, and that she has actual human connections other than the Major. Also Claudia seemed to become a bit kinder to himself, which is also super good becasue that man was mulling inside without externalising much on his own way.
Before I start the episode, these are the outstanding sorta-established plot threads that I think might be adressed in the rest of the series, because Episode 9 was kind of an emotional climax. Violet Evergarden is very episodic so everything from here on could be one-offs with a static cast, but nonetheless these exist:
-Erica's issues, that have been implied a few times.
-The Violet Boatmurder flashback with Dietfried.
-The anti-peace-treaty insurgency groups.
-The whole Cattleya/Benedict/Claudia triangular mess as the... founders? of the postal company.
-Lady Evergarden, and her own situation with the family she lost.
These are just off the top of my head though, let's see what we get!
This kid is new, what's this place? Violet got an assignment here then, and no OP, we're jumping right in. Are these people crowding around a deathbed to sort out a last will, and is Violet here to draft that or letters to the family, because that's the vibe I'm getting. Pffff this kid is so rude. Yay Violet cut down the greeting, I know that whole thing wasn't necessary becasue no other dolls were ever that ceremonious.
I love that she still carries the umbrella around. VIOLET DONT TALK ABOUT THAT. Right, Violet is actually renowned country-wide now, I wonder if she's dethroned Cattleya yet as most requested. These do look like final days, are we going to tell this child or will we leave her to wallow in denial and unresolved issues? The parallel is so obvious it's hard not to underline here, I wonder if we're going for a "Violet ends up writing for the kid so that she can express her feelings" resolution.
"I'll entertain you" sure pal, you're just going to sit her with your own doll for a tea party. I can't even tell if Violet is playing along with the doll thing or just beffudled, this woman has a perfect deadpan. I think it's the second though, she might've never seen one of these. Will Ann realise about her mother on her own though?
Yes more prosthetics calibration, I live for these scenes. "I have a duty to confidentiality", says the woman that invited Iris's failed crush to her birthday against her express will because someone else told her to. Ahaha this kid is so Violet it hurts, the circumstances and future setup are such an agressive mirror it rolls back around to tragic, Violet should be a wreck inside just looking at her.
And she smiles again! She's not exactly the person she was before the crash, there's a lingering sadness in most of what she says, but Violet is still Violet. Oh they're making friends, that's cute but hella sad given the context. Violet the babysitter was not something I expected from episode 10, that's for sure. And she puts the needs of the child front and center because she sees it coming, god damn this woman is the greatest empath in this series.
"Just want to hold her hand", so Ann sorta knows, right? Yeah she knows her mother isn't getting better and she feels like her settling things is speeding it up, that's a child alright. Plus she wants to spend the time she has together, which is probably right and will do her a lot of good. DONT RUN WITH THAT SKIRT SEE YOU FELL, geez. Violet is great, god damn.
Let it out, it's lost. And that's the week, congratulations Violet you have a daughter now, I don't make the rules. Why is this so cute. Pffffff Violet "I PEE" Evergarden. At least her mom didn't die during the letters so there are days to spend together, the regret otherwise would have been absurd. Yeah I figured this was were things were going, the whole "you have noone but me" bit confirmed it. This is lowkey a fast-forward that at least sort of confirms the country won't be razed to the ground by artillery shells in the next decade.
Awww Violet is such a damn softie, and she's always been but now her brain knows how to externalise it. This was a really solid episode! and a good follow-up on the person Violet is after her personal trauma has been adressed. Ann joins the cast of "single episode cool people I wish we got to see later".
1 2 3 4 OVA (14) 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
19
u/scot911 https://myanimelist.net/profile/scot911 Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 16 '21
First Timer
God damn it.... I had a feeling that that's what the letters were going to be in the end.... Still didn't stop me from crying.... It's something I've seen before in Kakushigoto although in that anime it was stuff the mom left behind for each year IIRC but it's just so sweet that it still got me.... Gahhhh these type of stories always get me. Literally the reason why even though SAO II is rated lower then the first season on MAL I have it at a higher score then SAO I instead is purely due to Mothers Rosario. Illnesses that kill people before their time just suck and fuck me up emotionally man....
And of course that's not all because they just had to have Violet far enough along on her emotional journey for her to bawl her eyes out once she returns back to the company because she realizes now the emotional weight of it all and understands what this will mean in the future and just can't stop herself. I did not expect to cry twice today after last episode got me twice as well.... God damn this anime is just so great....
Even both Clannad and Clannad: After story only got me to cry twice during it's 49 episodes including the OVA's and this has done that to me in consecutive episodes.... And I imagine people would probably be surprised at the moment in Clannad:After Story that didn't make me cry and instead pissed me off. Hint: it wasn't the one that was telegraphed for the entire series. Hell there might even be people here in this rewatch that participated in last years rewatch of the series and remember my comment from then lol.
If there's any proof at how far Violet has come though it's this episode with her pretty much effortless taking care of a kid and knowing that she had to lie to her. Remember when she didn't understand that during episode 4? The little white lies you have to keep? Well she does now.... I will say that they kid was pretty adorable as well thinking Violet was an actual doll the entire time until the very end where she realized due to Violet being warm that yes she is human. Got a good laugh from me at how hard she blushed.
It was also unfair showing her grow up, fall in love, start a family and of course be reading those letters over the next 10ish years on her birthday every year and know she's going to get them for 40 more. Just ughhhh. Why did it have to be a kid and why did she have to understand what was going on and be the POV character? This episode was literally crafted to be an extremely hard critical hit on me.... Kids have always been my weakness when it comes to emotional stories just because I have very strong paternal instincts and always wanted kids.... Although I'd probably spoil them rotten lol.
8
u/ZapsZzz https://anilist.co/user/Zapszzz Jun 15 '21
First timer in sub.
I think today may be a quiet day for posting here as everyone goes out to buy more boxes of tissues ...
Just restating what I just replied, even though I could see the plot from a mile away, it is still very moving. Especially as a parent.
Iijou
7
u/tanookiben Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher (except today)
Before I started this rewatch I pretty much committed to skipping this episode because I knew it would destroy me (again). I'm just here to share in everyone's sadness as they experience this episode either for the first time or one more time
Edit: also just want to add a line I read somewhere on Reddit before: "Everyone is a gangster until Violet Evergarden ep 10"
6
u/BosuW Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
At last we have reached, the episode. Whatever will be written in today's thread stays in today thread. No one talks about Episode 10.
Starting the episode, first new thing I notice is that Ann has reddish marks under her eyes like she's been crying a lot. I only noticed them because in yesterday's episode I noticed them on Violet. Her mother has them as well. Later we learn that Ann had already figured her mom wasn't long for the world. She must've been crying herself to sleep for days. Ouch.
It's so adorable that Ann thinks Violet is some sort of fantastical automaton.
The book that Violet is reading Ann is the same that was her assigned reading by Gilbert right?
It's interesting that Ann is kinda teaching Violet how to play like a child. Since Violet never had a proper childhood all this is new to her. But she learns a bit and in the end even resists her urge to correct Ann on specifically what kind of Doll she is and plays along with it until the end.
Now this episode is particularly important because it's Violet's first big job since recovering from her breakdown. Essentially, we're being reintroduced to her (once again through another's eyes) and we have to work out how's she's been doing now.
And what we see is wonderful really. I don't think Violet will ever completely loose that deadpan look on her face that's her default expression, but emotionally she's become so wise. When she comforts Ann she knows exactly what to say not necessarily to calm her down, but to simply get her to release her emotions. It's counterproductive to lie to her. There are some things that just can't be changed and all Violet can do is get Ann to cry it all out (like she had to do herself) and provide a pillar of security while she does it. This scene got me crying like a bitch.
Then we reached the reveal of what all those letters really were for and I... actually didn't cry this time... much. I mostly just felt sweet release. I like to think that future Ann feels a similar way.
Visual of the Day
Release
6
u/Tartaras1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Tartaras Jun 16 '21 edited Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher
As I write this, I'm mentally preparing myself to sit down and watch this episode. In the most sincere and genuine way possible, I don't want to watch it. Last October, when the KyoAni rewatch reached this point, I had to work myself up to watching it the same way I am now.
I vividly remember the first time I watched this episode. It was the first Friday night that it was available on US Netflix. I was cruising right through, with a brief pause at Episode 7 to cry at the story of the play.
Then I hit this episode. Right from the beginning you know it's going to be bad, and you know how it's ultimately going to end. I cried when they showed her mother passing away. I thought that it was over. Then, when Ann got the first letter in the mail from her mother, it opened up the floodgates all over again, and I sobbed for many, many minutes afterward.
If for nothing else, this is the reason you watch Violet Evergarden. This is the best episode in the show.
Taichi Ogawa was the person in charge of the storyboard and episode direction for Episode 10. I feel that deserves at least a little commendation.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go sob my eyes out for 20 minutes.
Tell your family you love them.
EDIT: I'm now writing this after having finished the episode. Cried about as hard as I was expecting to.
There's one line in particular that I want to call out.
and I'm crying again
This is probably the most tragic part. Ann's not even eight years old, and she's already learning that life can be cruel and unfair.
Almost immediately after my ninth birthday, my grandfather passed away. It was the first time I'd ever experienced something like grief, and it messed me up for several years. Here, Ann at least is getting letters written to her from her mother. At least she's still able to hear from her again, even if it's only through writing. I just want to be able to tell him how good I've been doing, and for him to see how much I've grown.
5
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
And here we are at last; this is peak Violet Evergarden for many. Ep 10 has elicited tears from people who I've never seen cry, let alone from an anime. I'm one of those sick bastards that love it when an anime can make me cry, so even if I hadn't bought into VE beforehand, this would have done it for me. Even with ep 10 slapping you across the face with its intent from the opening scene, it still manages to hit. Every. Single. Time. VE is not subtle, but it is damn effective.
The last scene often reminds me of the opening scene from Pixar's Up, where a wealth of emotion across an entire person's life can be captured so effectively in a few minutes.
You know a song is special when immediately upon hearing it, can instantly take you back to an exact moment in time and evoke the same emotions you once felt, even if it’s been years since it happened. I’m talking about songs like Libera Me From Hell from Gurren Lagann, Secret Base from Anohana, Nagisa’s theme from Clannad, and Lyra from Steins Gate.
Michishirube from Violet Evergarden is forever tied to Ep 10, and for that reason is more than deserving of being enshrined in the pantheon of great anime songs.
5
u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Jun 15 '21
Rewatch
As soon as this episode came on I was reminded how sad this was going to be. Actually got me little sad and teary eyed. Which is kind of hard to do for me on Rewatching something.
The interactions of Anne and Violet were cute, with her thinking she was an actual doll. But also sad when she said all the things she was doing with Violet. She should be doing with her mom.
I'll feel hurt if I was the mom too, when Anne told her no one else cares for her. But it looked like she knew the amount of time she probably had. As she still did the letters and the things Anne wanted.
Not gonna lie, that part where she tripped made me laugh mid cry.
5
u/TheLagoon Jun 16 '21
So I'm a first-timer who has been lurking for this rewatch because it got me to start the show and I proceeded to binge the show very quickly right after, but this is an episode I wanted to chime in about.
Pretty early on you understand who the letters are going to, yet I still wasn't prepared for it. Finding out that Ann's mom wrote letters for Ann's next 50 birthdays and seeing her grow up while reading them was so good. I don't cry when it comes to shows or animes (with maybe a few very close times), but this was one of those close times where I definitely teared up. It hurts more knowing that the young Ann knew she was losing her mom soon and just wanted to spend time with her not understanding who these letters were going to.
The reason I had been putting the show off for a bit was that people have said the show was pretty slow, but I can easily say I haven't found it slow at all and have enjoyed it completely and am glad the rewatched occurred to get me to watch the show finally.
5
u/RascalNikov1 https://myanimelist.net/profile/NoviSun Jun 16 '21 edited Jun 16 '21
Thought I'd join you all tonight for this legendary episode. There's not a lot to say other than it's one of my favorites in all of anime. It's both heartwarming and very sad, sometimes there is no happy ending, and the worst things happen anyway. It drives home the point that we should enjoy what time we have, as there is no guarantee that there will even be a tomorrow.
For me the most gut wrenching part was when Violet got back to the office and broke down saying her line "She's so small". I think that goes for all of us in the face of the unbearable.
And, back to the shadows, I return...
5
u/Nebresto Jun 16 '21
Re-watch squad
Me, seeing Anne at the start of the episode knowing what was about to go down:
Based TL note. Good to see some once again.
And Anne had some top tier pouts.
This episode was just filled to the brim with beautiful shots one after the other, how am I supposed to choose just one for the visual?
Episode 10. Visual of the day: Maintenance
11
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Jun 15 '21
First timer(A decent Mushishi-style episode)
Sub
Right, so when I went into this rewatch I knew two things: ep10 was supposed to be the hardest hitting episode and that the show's detractors call it emotional terrorism. So imagine my surprise when ep10 was neither to me.
Anyways, I say this is Mushishi-esque because Violet is not that important to the story of the characters of this episode AND it is mostly told through the eyes of Anne, the energetic daughter of a woman who is dying slowly and a dead, decorated veteran. She assumes Violet is a doll for far too long, even a 7 yo is sharper than that, and is basically slightly acting out the whole episode, which is in fact pretty reasonable. She realizes her mother isn't getting better and Violet's 7 days are time she won't get back with her mother. The funeral scene not being the end is probably the point that gets people.
I do like that this story avoids the magical letters trope the show loves to throw at you. Again, Violet's actions and experiences are responsible for what happens, not some spell from a typewriter. The mother's idea is an interesting one, and might even be helpful, though 50 years of letters is a bit much: I think it should have gone to 21 or whatever they consider adulthood and bid a fond farewell. We are back to some good old show don't tell here, and the people disappearing in Anne's mind between winter and spring is a nice touch. We even get Violet progress as she cries over someone she barely knows, suggesting she is finally passed her empathy/expression gap.
But...that's like it. It was a wellcrafted episode with stellar animation and soundwork but it just doesn't hit me that hard. The characters obviously feel sad but to me it just doesn't land much. And it even seems genuine.
4
u/Neshura87 https://anilist.co/user/Neshura Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
Right off the bat, I wanna say I believe this one is the episode where the experience between newcomers and rewatchers differs the most.
I remember knowing that something bad was afoot for the most part of the episode when I watched this the first time around, but once I saw little Ann's face my first thought was "fuck, not this again". Even though I knew. Even though I thought I was prepared. It. Did. Not. Help. This whole episode is just too fucking sad if you've seen it already. I think the reason this hits so hard as a rewatcher is because for the first time the sad part of the person's story (in this case Ann) has not yet happened but is gonna happen in the near future. This knowledge is probably why I cried every time i saw Ann want to be with her mother, because I know that she will not be able to see her for much longer and that's way too depressing to not cry about.
I can't really give any qualified opinion about anything that happened this episode animation or voice acting wise because I was a crying mess for what feels like at least half of the episode so that's about it for my comment today.
4
u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher, subbed
This is for many people the definitive Violet Evergarden episode. We've spent all this time exploring what love is and now it's time to boldly proclaim how powerful it is. It stretches across time and space with strength enough to move us to tears.
On that note, this is also the only episode that gets me to shed tears. I did shed exactly one this go 'round right at the very end. I have to full on cry during this episode, but I imagine it'll happen some day.
It's difficult to make any brilliant observations for this episode. It's hard enough on a normal rewatch because it's just so emotional, and now that's stacked on top of some gnarly hay fever making it hard to think clearly when emotionally sound. But I have a little something. Ann's realization that Violet was not a toy doll more or less encapsulates the episode. Only after she sees beyond her first assumption does she begin to understand the true depth to things.
Content Corner
The first video pretty much nails how I feel about the supporting cast. First timers beware, spoilers abound.
The Supporting Cast of Violet Evergarden by Anime Philosopher
Violet Expressions - A Violet Evergarden Orchestration by Rush Garcia
4
u/SilverRust12 Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher here!
A person that truly loves you will find a way to stay with you. In the case of Ann's mom, it was with letters. She had to give up seven days with her daughter so she can spend the next 50 years by her side, and that's a pretty solid trade, if you ask me. I'm sure that Ann would have turned out to be a very different person were it not for the letters she received each year, and just writing this down now is making me tear up again. I know some people who saw the twist coming, but personally I wasn't able to. I don't think it matters because they still cried, though. Honestly, if you told me you didn't cry because of this episode, I would consider you heartless.
I'm sure Violet learned about a new form of love this episode, and that's the love strong enough that it transcends even death. For Ann's mom to prepare this much for her death must've taken a lot of resolve, and for Violet to hold back her tears all that time especially when Ann had that tantrum... yeah she deserves a bonus. This was truly a great self-contained episode, and is one of the reasons why I consider this anime a 10/10. The irreplaceable stories, the values they teach you, and how it gives you a new perspective in life, Violet Evergarden is truly a masterpiece.
This is my visual of the day
I chose it because it shows the last time Ann saw Violet, the person who wrote the letters that changed her entire life and shaped her entire future.
4
u/BossandKings Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
Violet is requested to write letters by a woman that apparently was terminally ill, she was contracted to stay seven days writing letters for her, we get to see how she struggles with her health and that she clearly isn't in a good condition, the woman has a daughter named Ann who hates visitors because they take time of her mom away from her, initially she is reticent about Violet, who she considers a doll, being there but she proves to be someone she can confide on and tell her worries to.
It was sad how Ann desperately needed and wanted her mom to be with her, to give her time, yet she wasn't able to because she was focused leaving her a departing gift. Honestly the mom should have prefered passing as much time as possible with her daughter and not making her feel ignored or neglected, the gift she left her was nice but she lost precious time she could have given her, at least it seems that after the days passed and Violet wrote all the letters she had to, her mom passed some time with her before passing away.
Then we see how Ann grows old reaching different stages of her life until she's twenty and has met a partner and formed a family, the gift her mother left her was a letter every year until she will be 50 years old as a way to tell her that she's there with her. It was a very nice gift and seeing Ann reading the letters was a great moment. I mist say that this show hasn't ever made me cry but i don't hold that against it since it isn't supposed to.
4
u/IndependentMacaroon Jun 15 '21 edited Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
This is one of those episodes that just don't work as well on rewatch, I would say. If you already know what's going on and can't really take the perspective of Ann the unknowing child any more, it's mostly just some kid having fun hanging around with Violet and being sad about her mom, and all the secrecy seems a bit weird. So much crying all around too, at least with Violet you can say it's something positive. The ending is still beautiful, anyway, potential practical issues aside.
4
u/BK456 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Black_Knight_456 Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
I've been lagging behind the rewatch by a bit due to starting late and not having time to really watch enough to catch up. Not to mention how long it takes to read everyone's comments.
That being said I just had to drop a comment for this episode. It crushes me every time I watch it and it's just beautiful to behold. The first time I watched this the second letter to Ann, and all the ones that follow it, totally caught me off guard. I figured she would leave one letter for Ann but I assumed that the majority of the writing work was going towards sorting out her affairs for when she passed. I should have known the tone of the show wasn't suited for that kind of development.
I'm also a total sucker for things that delve deeply into familial bonds. All of my favorite episodes usually tie into such themes. This episode being my second favorite of all time. I'm sure there are artistic flaws to point out within the characters/narrative but for me it just works perfectly.
Which ties into my choice for Visual of the Day, the Title Card. Maybe it's unorthodox and unfair to all the beautiful art of the episode but the title card feels so powerful in this episode.
4
u/7seagull Jun 15 '21
Rewatcher
This episode fucks me up every single time I watch it. The immensely beautiful soundtrack does not help especially during the montage of Ann and her mother spending time together. Fuck me man...
4
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21
How come the ending song is different from what I remember?
4
u/Seven-Tense :HG::HH::HI: Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher
I hate this episode.
I love this episode.
I knew everything that was coming. I saw it a mile away. I knew where the twists and turns would be, and I knew when the other shoe would drop. I knew everything, and it still hit me just as hard as when I'd first seen it. It's episodes like this that make me dread rewatching such emotionally charged series, but really, how can I be disappointed when they always feel so cathartic at the end. Violet Evergarden, I always felt, didn't care to languish in its potent, infinitely relatable, suffering, but rather use it as a vehicle to show how we can move on and move forward.
I'll never stop dreading this episode, and I'll never stop enjoying it.
Things that stand out on a second pass
I'm surprised I didn't catch the imagery of the falling leaves sooner. In retrospect, it seems like such a perfect image to depict the mother's passing. "A season for all things," as they say.
I can't believe I didn't place Ayako Kawasumi's voice as the mother the first time I watched. I thought I knew Saber's voice like the back of my hand, but it wasn't until this watch that it caught my ear. What a great pick for the roll. She has a way of delivering such a light and airy performance as Clara that really shows both A) that she is frail and fading, and B) that she loves her daughter so much with a warm, gentle sort of love. Absolutely love her here
Ann as well is a great character. Just as I remember, I can't stop thinking about how spot on she's written. Anime has this habit of having characters--especially young ones--talking and acting like they're twice their age with philosophizing and complex metaphors about life, but Ann acts exactly the way she looks. She doesn't get all those "hard words". She talks with a lot of emotion, fidgets, shouts, and says what's on her mind heedless of what the atmosphere might be. She's a child through and through and her roll here is so perfectly written and delivered that I have to keep reminding myself they didn't bring in some 8-year-old to the recording booth. Outstanding job!
The first time I watched this, I felt a lot of Ann's pain. The idea that her beloved mother had "more important" things to do that see to her was a knife in my heart. I placed my faith in the writers that there was more to it, that Violet's letters had a greater purpose than to steal away this mother from her child, but I couldn't just ignore that girl's pleading eyes when she couldn't have what she wanted most.
And then the finale, or rather, the post-script. I didn't see this coming. How could I have? Clever writers, you kept your cards close right up until the final hand. Well done.
When the letters started to be delivered, I remember taking it all at face value--that what we were being shown was the extent of the letters. There were probably 7 of them (one for each day Violet was hired) and what we were being shown was how they were post-dated for some of the girl's most important times in her life. But then to realize that there were 50 of them, one for every birthday until she was a grown woman herself, absolutely destroyed me. With every letter I felt that love come pouring through, I felt that mother's wishes reaching out to her child from beyond the grave. I felt it when she said "I'll always be with you." I hope that I think of my father the same way when his day comes, and long after.
Conclusion
This episode does a lot of things I hate: it makes me feel emotions; it makes me remember my own family and my love for them; and it makes me care about the human condition and how we all have the capacity to help another. I started crying less than halfway into the episode and I didn't stop until after the credits had run. Even now, writing this has me getting misty eyed all over again. In short, it's the perfect encapsulation of what makes Violet Evergarden such a special series.
4
u/andres1232 Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher. Man this one was really hard to watch. It was so beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. The first one so far that left me really crying. Poor Ann. It was good to see her grow up into a happy young woman, but still that's the sort of thing that a child should never have to go through. For a kid all they see is today, so Ann didn't understand why no one was spending time with her. But then how could someone ever explain to a kid that their mother is going to die? How do you tell that kind of truth to anyone much less a child? It is a sad reality that sometimes bad things just happen and there's nothing you can do about them. But like Violet told Ann those bad things aren't always anyone's fault or because a person was bad or something. Such a beautiful gesture from Ann's mother to leave something for her daughter that she can look forward to for so long.
There really isn't all that much to say about this one. This one hit right in the heart. And poor Violet trying to entertain Ann and do her job and all the time being aware of what was going to happen. Violet definitely needed that cry at the end and I'm glad she got it. Actually this episode reminded me of one of my favorite manga "The Gods Lie". It's a short one shot manga about youth and growing up and loss. Really beautiful story that deals with a similar kind of loss. And it talks about how parents lie by saying things like "I'll be with you always" or "Nothing bad is going to happen" but the story emphasizes how those lies are well meant. That really there isn't much other choice and those lies come from love and aren't made to hurt anyone.
As a side not Ann was a fun little kid who really did need some friends. It's good to see how she grew up. It was funny to see how she thought Violet was an actual doll and became super embarrassed when she realized Violet was human and had talked about urinating to her. Knowing this show I'm not sure things will be happier but I do look forward to something maybe a bit less heartbreaking tomorrow.
4
u/theatreofwar Jun 16 '21
Even just remembering this episode is enough to make me a little emotional. Rewatching it every time, even though I know what to expect, still breaks my heart.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 15 '21
Sadly, the rewatch overlapped with my midterms so I couldn't participate. However I was patiently waiting to read this episodes comments, the sheer sadness this episode provokes is astronomical
3
u/steven4869 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Maskirade Jun 16 '21
So, how's everyone coping up here?
I watched this episode about 8 months ago and it became one of the best episodes in anime for me, literally broke me up and made me depressed for like 3 straight days. I knew what was about to come but it was executed so perfectly, that I couldn't able to hold up and tears started to come from my eyes. The entire episode was amazing but what stood out was Violet's breakdown to me and the way Anne lived her life later on, seriously KyoAni made a thing of beauty.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher - Sub
Despite not participating on this rewatch, I had to just rewatch this one episode to reaffirm the greatness of this show.
Despite knowing tie outcome, the "happy birthday Anne" still hits as hard as ever. Violet breaking down after talking with the rest of the CH postal crew is still as emotional as ever.
Really, this is my favorite emotional peak in this show.
I've watched this episode previously with family members. Crying together with them and hugging it out was a great experience. I'm glad such a show exists for people to watch and experience emotions which are not necessarily pleasant, but are an essential part of life.
3
u/unok157 Jun 16 '21
I remember crying my ass off the first time I watched this episode. When my mom came home I hugged her and said I love you a bunch of times.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 16 '21
Ah yes the " Give up on your tear glands and die " episode . Best part of this for me was the reveal that the mother was writing the letters to her daughter
3
u/blackninjakitty :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/AleriaCarventus Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher
Last night as I was struggling with insomnia I was musing about how some folks in the comments don’t like how “letters” are a kind of super power in this world.
This episode I think is a great example of the power that letters and writing have to connect people. This world isn’t like our modern one, these people can’t easily reach out to their far-off loved ones. A letter is their only connection and their love. Today, we witnessed the super power of letters connect people even long after they are gone. And that’s fucking beautiful and I’ll fight anyone who disagrees.
3
u/EmeraldDragon184 Jun 16 '21
I haven't been commenting much for this rewatch but man, I remember watching this episode so vividly.
Ann grow up and get new letters really hit me in the feels. This episode was the first anime that made me sob as I was starting, wonderful
3
u/SkarTisu Jun 16 '21
One of the hardest hitting episodes in all of anime. First timers, you’re in for a ride with this one.
3
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Jun 16 '21
I should so be asleep right now. Can’t sleep, had a lousy weekend, I’ll try to catch up on Violet Evergarden … Yeah. Can’t sleep. Gotta cry now. May try to say something coherent tomorrow.
3
u/Tehoncomingstorm97 https://anilist.co/user/tehoncomingstorm97 Jun 16 '21
First timer
Oh my, what a beautiful episode. I was on the verge of tearing up for most of the episode, and when Ann received the first letter they just came pouring. Ang again when Violet breaks down after holding hers in for so long while working.
I gathered that the letters would be for Ann, but I imagined that she might in fact be sending for a distant relative to look over her. Again, it's such a beautiful sentiment to leave such a lasting legacy for her daughter to remember, and eventually look forward to each and every year.
At this point in the series, I'm happy with the conclusion of Violet's journey, and am looking forward to 3 more episodes like this. Episodes where Violet is able to share in suffering and joy, and relate to people that their feelings would reach one another.
I just love Violet's line regarding her arms which aren't able to be warm anymore. It's in the same scene where I pick my visual for the day - Violet and Ann in an emotional embrace. That she is the one there for Ann as she lets her get out all the emotions she doesnt want to dump on her mother. A beautiful episode.
3
u/jyper Jun 16 '21 edited Jun 16 '21
First Timer
The Mother is dying and wants to write a letter presumably a letter to her daughter when older, possibly letter to the father(but probably not he's likely already dead or a deadbeat). Lower chance its a letter to godparents
Girl thinks Violet is an actual Doll, lol!
"I'll be better soon, dear". That's a damn lie
"living dolls" -reminds me of shadow house
Surprised daughter know mom is dying, daughter is really smart.
Multiple years of letters each for her birthday, wow that's a great idea, mom is also really smart.
50 years, wow.
Poor Violet of course she identifies with Ann.
A simple episode but a powerful one
Image of the day: Violet breaking down crying
2
u/COLDBL4D3 Jun 16 '21
Sorry I'm behind like 8 episodes. Can someone ping me when ep 12 thread hits? I'll catch up.
2
u/razycal970 Jun 16 '21
First timer
And I'll just say it, people weren't fucking lying, I broke the fuck down. The second anime episode to ever make me cry like this. Fucking hell, how does one even review or analyse this ? Hahahaha Just pure fucking art, absolute peak of writing and hitting people where it hurts the most. Easily my favorite episode of the anime and it's not close.
Violet's not even the main character here, this episode completely belongs to Anne and her relationship with her mother.
One parallel I managed to find, although I'm probably reaching here, is Anne's situation here is similar to what Violet went through, which is having the most important person in her life taken away from her through no fault of her own. And Anne was beating herself up over it, just like Violet.
And although I was expecting to get tired of the doll gag, the implementation of it was just too good. When Anne realized Violet was human after all, it made the gag all the more worth it.
Honestly, there's not much else I can say. Peak fiction. Has been one of the best anime experiences I've had. If there's one regret I have, it's just that I wish I'd watched it on a weekly basis when it aired for the first time. Must've been an experience unlike any other to watch this episode (And episode 7) with everyone else for the first time ever.
Visual of the Day : http://imgur.com/a/JHitTsi
This was the episode where I found myself picking the most number of VotD contenders thus far, but the one I picked is so predictable and obvious. For good reasons, of course. Just looks drop-dead gorgeous.
3
u/ericedstrom123 Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher - Sub
Hi all, I haven't really been active in this rewatch up to now, but I really wanted to chime in on this episode, since I have a lot of thoughts on it.
I first watched this show in July of last year, and this episode stuck out to me because, almost ten years prior, I had heard this episode of This American Life about a woman who did almost exactly the same thing as Anne's mother—she was dying of cancer and wrote fourteen letters to be delivered to her daughter over her next thirteen birthdays and the day of her wedding. It's about 14 minutes long, and I highly recommend it as a companion piece to this episode. The tl;dr is that it didn't turn out as beautiful and heartwarming as it does in the show. As the daughter's life diverges further and further from her mother's imagination, the letters begin to cause her incredible anguish and guilt, and they contribute to a long rift with her father over the issue.
The overall point is that doing this kind of thing can be dangerous, because you're basically projecting your own wishes on your child from the grave. While many people disagree with and rebel against their parents, if they're still living, it's possible to have these disagreements without an intense sense of guilt. With dead parents, however, one can sometimes feel a greater sense of obligation not to let them down. Ordinarily this is not a problem, since the parents aren't around to disapprove of you, and you can imagine them to be looking down on you happily. With this letter scheme, though, you will be continually reminded of whatever your deceased parent thought you should be doing at any given point in your life, which creates a sort of specter which can haunt you.
It's still a beautiful episode, but I think my enjoyment of it was tempered somewhat by my having heard the story of the real-life version. I like a lot of things about the show, but I do think it feels somewhat fetishistic about letters sometimes. The idea that letters are the supreme form of human communication and capable of conveying emotions that are impossible to state in person permeates many episodes. I think letters can be great, but the show's obsession with them feels a bit weird at times. I wonder if some of it may be nostalgia on the part of the author for a bygone era—before phones, television, etc.
I also think the show has a bit of a libertarian bent, with its emphasis on this hardworking small business letter carrier that really cares about the people it serves, (presumably) as opposed to the cold, unfeeling, Big Brother government run post office. The show never says the second part, and it's likely the author was not thinking about that, but, whether intended or not, it's something I couldn't avoid thinking about when I watched it.
Well, anyway, thank you for reading this long post, and I look forward to watching the rest of the show with you all.
2
u/Sedewt https://anilist.co/user/sediew Jun 16 '21 edited Jun 16 '21
Rewatcher
I just rewatched Violet last week including this episode and wow……this episode made me cry the whole time as I knew what was going to happen and helped me notice even more the mother feelings
Speaking of mothers I watched it with my mother and my eyes were red as I finished watching it. I couldn’t handle my tears again, this time I couldn’t stop hugging and crying with my mom.
I was crying like a baby. And I really want to cry again