Violet Evergarden is a child soldier, struggling to find her place in a world without war. Though peace may have been the goal, war was the only thing she knew. Well, that and the Major.
This is a story about loss. Violet herself lost both hands and her superior officer, but she meets many people who have lost things as well, both from the war and otherwise. She's taken in by an acquaintance from her time in the military and is employed by a post office. There, she becomes an Auto Memory Doll -a woman whose work is to write letters for those who can't- and ends up learning about all the things she'd missed in a world dedicated to fighting.
This was recommended to me on Discord, and was well enough sold that I decided to binge watch it all in one morning.
#Thoughts
This is, for the most part, a splendid show. The audiovisual execution alone is worthy of a lengthy essay, and the stories are very well done.
#What I Liked About It
This is a very well made show. The expertise shines through every frame and it's very pretty.
The world and characters are very rich. It's apparent to me that there are still details that were never quite explained but yet were still considered and integrated into the story, making it so that, even at the end, there is are still tings you don't quite know. Of course, none are important details, so it doesn't affect the story and only serves to make it feel just a little more real.
This show knows how to make you sad. I must have cried on at least three or four different occasions, and that's saying something.
#What I Didn't Like About It
Okay, I want you to take everything good that I've said so far, and apply it up until episode 9 (including the special, which I watched after episode 6). Afterwards, well, I think the show makes a grave
Episode 9 is an ending, but the series is 13 episodes long. Episode 10 was good, and I liked it, but it felt like a prologue. Episodes 11-12-13 were, in my opinion, completely unnecessary. Before it had always been a serious and thoughtful anime -with a few moments of comedy- but these last episodes turn into cheap action with a very black and white, good vs evil story. It's always implied that Violet is good at fighting, and this is fine, but it was a mistake to try and actually show it, because it's just generic, overpowered, fighting. There's actually a scene with anime running and bullet dodging, and that's just so tonally dissonant with the rest of the show that I can't ignore it.
#Who Would Like It?
If you're looking for a beautiful and thoughtful show about how people cope with loss, then this is the show for you.
#Personal Commentary
This show has me somewhat conflicted. On one hand, it's excellently produced. On the other, it makes such a grave mistake that I really can't overlook it.
My recommendation: Watch the first 6 episodes, the 40 minute special, then up until episode 9. At that point, the story is finished. You can watch episode 10 if you want to see the prologue, and episode 11 isn't that bad, but 12 and 13 I really can't recommend.
Still, I give this four stars, because it only made one mistake. A big one, but just one.
As a bonus, I've added a poem I wrote which was inspired by this show. I think it turned out pretty decent, if I do say so myself.
I was a puddle,
On the soft ground.
I watched the sky,
As it turned around.
You sent a ripple,
My surface curled.
The waves you made,
Showed me the world.
But now you're not,
And I am still.
You can't come back,
But I hope you will.
The world is gone,
Out of frame.
How did I live,
Before you came?
35.5 out of 41 users liked this review
