I watched this episode two days ago and I still can't stop thinking about it. I rarely rewatch anything yet I've rewatched this episode twice and am constantly rewatching my favorite scenes. I honestly don't know why, nor can I think of any appropriate words to describe why, but this episode was just so beautiful. It was an incredibly touching, warm hearted episode that made you feel for the characters yet at the same time the episode managed to feel soul crushing.
Last episode they mentioned this and it still went over my head but Hachimaki really is an astronaut. You don't seem to think much of it because of how common it is in the anime and because he's basically a garbage man but that profession is still incredibly special. Roland, a legendary astronaut, a pioneer of space exploration, made the moon, space, his home. After a career lasting over 20 years when he saw his death near he decided to end it in space. He abandoned his former home for the new world he called his own. His death while tragic was also telling of humanity as a species. A species of adventurers settling in whatever new land they discover. Even if that land may be as desolate as the moon.
Then take a look at Nono. A character who appeared tragic at first. Stuck on the moon for over a decade because of a mysterious disease rendering her incapable of returning to her home on Earth. If she where to die on the moon, it would not be because of her choice. Then in the end, we find out that's not true. Nono as it turns out is actually one of the first humans born on the moon. The moon is the only world the girl has ever known. The planet her species descended from, the Earth, is but a foreign land to her that at times might appear to be just fiction. Yet she still feels a desire to know the place. To explore the land that's she can only look at from afar. While this desire itself might seem tragic, as the girl has been robbed of a chance to live in humanity's cradle, for her, its simple curiosity. She holds no desire to live on Earth nor does she condemn her parents for her fate but instead simply wishes to visit. To her, the moon is her home. Its where she was born, where she'll live, and where she'll die. Nono is a product of humanity's desire to explore. She is in a sense one of the first from the new generation of permanent settlers.
The music, atmosphere, visuals, dialogue... everything in this episode was absolutely amazing. Nono and Hachimaki had incredible chemistry throughout the episode. Their conversations where a joy to watch. I rarely watch dubs but the dub voice actors have been astounding throughout the whole series and in this episode they really stood out. The final scene in the episode with Nono and Hachimaki going out into the surface of the moon was simply breathtaking. Hachimaki's final speech alongside the visuals and the OST made the whole scene simply incredible to watch. Easily one of the greatest scenes I've ever watched. At first I thought of Hachimaki and Nono's scenes as quite romantic so I'm kinda disappointed about her age... I think they would've made a cute couple. Oh well, Tanabe getting jealous was pretty cute. Her age did fit well with her character though as it explained why she can't go to earth.
There's still so much more I could say but to summarize I'd say this episode is one of the greatest episodes I've ever seen. It was simply perfect. I'd recommend someone to watch this anime just for this episode alone. |