The first like 7 eps are getting to Antarctica, and even that was amazing, it was 7 eps to build up the friendship between these so-so friends. Everyone wanted to go, but nobody wanted to go for the same reason, it was just how it worked out, yet these girls became so close on this journey. When they first touched the ice, and they screamed "IN YOUR FACE" I actually teared up smiling for Shirase, all the haters were proven wrong, and all the small drama with the friend group, and their personal lives all were laid out bare for everyone to see. Antarctica cant let you hide anything. They were molded by this, and took the opportunity to grow closer. When they finally went out on the expedition I thought "ok here comes the cliché", but instead it didn't happen. It was so real. They went and performed the duties they were set to do, and when they finally got to the station they were set to rebuild the girls refused to let Shirase think there was nothing of her mom there. They search around finding the laptop and give it to her, and all the emails start populating, I am ugly crying at this point right along with everyone, Shirase knows her mom is dead, but she needed closure, and this provided it. She knows her mom loved her very much, even if it seemed like she chose her work over her. With the closure, they pack it up and head back. they have a goodbye party for the girls, and Shirase now with her heart partially healed tells them she will be back, and leaves the laptop with Gin. Gin logs on and sees the final email unsent to her daughter. When they are on the ship looking up at the aurora lights and the message comes across sent from her moms phone and its a picture of the Aurora lights I continue to cry so hard, I didn't stop crying until they got back home and talked about their home views.
Sometimes its not about having the happy ending, but instead getting the closure needed to move on with your life, and I really think that was captured perfectly in this anime, it helps you to not always have the expectation everything is going to go your way, but to know that you can find a way to cope with whatever has happened in your life.