Violet Evergarden Episode 2 Discussion

mlubczyk said:
How can Violet be human? Wasn't she 2atanding up and speaking while armless, and trying drag someone with her teeth while armless in the first episode?

icontinuetofight said:


in the synopsys of the novel the dolls aren't humans, but in the anime there's no mention about it yet.

i didn't read the novel so idk if it's true

Hibikase said:
Lol, I accidentally clicked the spoiler tag. Wait so... is it true? Or are you just speculating? Have you read the 2 novels already? I had my speculations in the beginning so I was not so sure. The anime makes it seems that the plot point you are talking about is pretty set in stone, but maybe it may within another condition or context i am not aware of.

But cool.

destructo22 said:
So I'm going through the Netflix version with English dub. This little section is confusing me:

Cattleya: So, then treat me to dinner, Claudia.
Claudia: Don't call me by my name!
Cattleya: Why? Because you wanted a different girl? I can't believe you'd call out another girl's name in bed. That was terrible.


And then Netflix's English subtitles:


Cattleya: Hey, then treat me to dinner, Claudia.
Claudia: Don't call me by my first name!
Cattleya: Just because you wanted a girl I can't believe it. Calling out a girl's name in bed. That was terrible.

These two sound completely different! What is the original Japanese dialogue? Vivid Asenshi's subs are different as well, but they sound more appropriate for the situation. I don't speak Japanese

shanimebib said:
Not as good as the pilot episode but it gave us more idea of the setting of the world and how the dolls came to be. I like the two girls who got introduced in this episode even though I am reading that they are filler characters.

Nothing much to add but I am looking forward to know what actually happened to Gilbert. It is strongly implied that he's dead but it could be something else. Unless they tell me that he's dead, I will cling onto the brooch like Violet and think that he's still amongst the living.



You do have a valid point but it's not always the case. Hey, I myself for an example of someone who can read a couple of languages (one of them is Japanese, I would say I can read basic Japanese, around 500 kanji) but cannot write them (including some hiragana, the shapes are all over the place when I want to write them even though I know how they look like). Because I was never taught the stroke orders and the proportion of sizes nor did I learn them myself.

Violet Evergarden is actually a well thought out production so far.

I dunno how much is covered in the novel regarding the world but KyoAni already set the foundation of the world it is taking place in.

Lack of education happens in a post war era when the war was prolonged, that went on for like years so the public wouldn't have access to even basic education due to lack of infrastructure even after the war had ended. WWI and WWII are examples where the mainland of Europe and Eastern Europe had a demise in basic education. Also, we know that the technologies usually take giant leap during wars. WWI and WWII instigated some of the most amazing (originally developed for military purposes) technologies, byproducts of which also boomed industrialization during the post war era. An example would be the research and development of FETs that changed the whole civilization in the next 70 years to this date. This can be related to both the automobile industry that got mentioned in this episode through a woman who received Violet's ridiculously straightforward letter and the prosthetic hands that Violet has.

We have to understand that THEY are in a world that is similar to ours but not exactly the one we are living in. At least this should come across to fans given the way it is shown that the world is a mix of different cultures. Notice how Benedict is effortlessly using chopsticks to eat "Yakisoba" in a post war pseudo European setting. Sounds trivial, but it was shown intentionally, which is called visual story telling. It's a world where they use a language that is different from ours. The characters are a mix of different symbols and existing ones we find in different languages seen in the typewriter. "F" and "J" are mentioned but they don't even exist on the typewriter Violet was using. We will also notice the story also contains both Japanese and English honorifics when people are addressed.

If someone pays close attention to small details, it is actually a very well thought out writing. No one ever asked how and why Edward's hand or leg moved in FMA but people are trying to nitpick on almost anything in this one because they are too preoccupied with the idea that this story is taking place in OUR world when it clearly isn't. I will reiterate. THEY are in a world that is similar to ours but not exactly the one we are living in.

alpha_shadow said:
Well, I thought episode two was significantly better than the first one.

TheServant said:
This episode really showed how the quality really differed between the visuals & the script. As expected from the screenwriter. & the director did not help too. Well, let's see how the next anime from KyoAni will fare.

Silent-Ninja said:
People making rash judgements on a show's overall quality within two episodes never ceases to make me laugh and face-palm so hard. A true representation of the Internet lol. xD

How do I feel about the show so far? KyoAni always deliver fantastic visuals in their productions, so that's no surprise. Although, they could tone down some of the exposure or filters in some scenes as I found they were a bit too much. The story's premise of a former child soldier who's been robbed of her humanity, shaped into the personification of a "doll", and wishes to regain her humanity through the profession of composing letters for people holds potential. However, my biggest fear for this show is that the show's writing may not be up to par with the visuals. I'd rather be a surprised pessimist than a disappointed optimist because I want to be proven wrong.

In terms of the second episode, I felt it was lackluster in comparison to the first episode not because of its slow pacing alone. It's also come to my attention from some people's comments that KyoAni has decided to add in non-canon characters who I found bland which made it feel more dull. This is a terrible combination and a likeable cast of characters would surely make it much easier to enjoy the show's slow pacing. 3-gatsu no Lion is a perfect example of how to write an engaging slow-paced slice of life show by adding in a lovable cast of characters. I also really hope the show does a great job with Violet's character development because her "doll" personality can only go so far without making the entire show dull and the ending song was just not very good.

I don't intend to drop this show anytime soon. I intend to see it all the way through to the end before I form my opinion on the entire show's overall quality. Definitely looking forward to the next episode.

Julle said:
But keep your expectations low.

megaload said:
There is something lacking here, maybe because those 2 episodes are anime original.

megaload said:
Those high heeled boots (katsu044 already mentioned that) are for riding (to hook the stirrups).
Primarily used by asian male riders, latter popular among european aristocrats and just after that became fashion only for women.
Maybe in the VE world there sill used by riders (even by motorcycle riders...some tradition?) but also wearied by the ladies.

Eanraig said:
Thought it was another painfully mediocre episode. Really disappointed in this show so far.

sherpico said:


I was expecting characters with at least some degree of emotional resonance. Nothing about Violet is relatable. Pitiable, yes, as she's suffered through war and abuse. But her reaction to that so far – pining after the major and 'wanting to know what love is' – is not realistic or compelling.

RealityRush said:

Talked to my friend that speaks Japanese, the Netflix ones are more correct according to him. This line here:

"Cattleya: Just because you wanted a girl I can't believe it. Calling out a girl's name in bed. That was terrible."

Is weird because Cat doesn't actually use a subject in the first part of that sentence. Asenshi added "your parents" implying they wanted Hodj to be a girl, but there was no actual subject given to assume that with; she apparently says nothing about parents. Netflix's "you" makes a lot more sense though given the context of the scene as Cat is trying to overtly flirt with Hodj and it was probably an unfinished sentence to mess with Benedict who was watching nearby. Aside from the first part of the third line, the rest is pretty directly translated. Asenshi goofed on this one. The English Dub, ironically, is probably the most correct translation for the situation here.

destructo22 said:
Thanks for some insight on this one.

CatSoul said:
If anyone else was confused by the "calling out another girl's name in bed" scene with Cattleya and Hodgins, Netflix's translation fucked up.

Cattleya and Hodgins don't have an intimate relationship already, nor did he call out "Claudia" in bed. Hodgins' real given name is Claudia—his parents wanted a girl. Cattleya is saying that it would be embarrassing, hypothetically/teasingly, for her to call that name out in bed.

FMmatron said:


She's such a Boa Hancock look alike.

Really nice episode again,even better than the first one for me,getting the feel for this show and I can relate to Violets struggle.

zzshcl said:
This show is extremely overrated just because kyoani is doing it


The episode was BORING

RealityRush said:

Or maybe it's because, ya know, people enjoy different things than you. Mind blowing, I know.

This series so far (in a lot of ways), is reminding me of when Hyouka aired.

shanimebib said:


This episode pretty much explained what are dolls. They are hired living breathing human beings (I think only women) to write for those who cannot write. It was explained by Erica through her monologues how the term dolls came to be.

sherpico said:
...this one seems anything but mature. It wants to be, with its themes of war, suffering, and Love™ but it all comes off like a teenager's unrealistic, overly romanticized conception of those things.

GangsterCat said:
this anime...
Expectation: about war veteran Violet recovering from war PTSD and getting some love drama or something like that.
Reality: about legit autistic, socially inept toddler Violet learning some social etiquette, tact and common sense (with drama).

and that ending song's singer sounds absolutely awful btw. remove the vocal and the song might actually be really good.

icontinuetofight said:


that's why i asked if the anime is original content already.

the synopsys of the novel says the dolls are products and they can be manufactured. violet is one of them