How One Problematic Netflix Series Produced 2018’s Most Heartbreaking Anime Moment

There’s no denying Crunchyroll’s status as the king of anime streaming in the West, but Netflix has been putting an undeniable level of pressure on them lately. Netflix has done a great job of acquiring great exclusives across a myriad of genres, proving that Crunchyroll’s status isn’t permanent.

Out of every Netflix exclusive series, few have made the impact that Violet Evergarden made when it first came out. After nearly a decade, it still stands out thanks to unbelievable animation, a simple plot, and some of the most emotionally moving episodes in the genre. In fact, Violet Evergarden might have the single most emotionally moving episode in anime, but it also has its share of serious issues.

Violet Evergarden features some incredibly concerning ideas about age gaps in relationships, and unfortunately, these ideas mar what could be one of the best emotionally-driven series in a generation.

Netflix Has Amazing Exclusives

Netflix has no shortage of amazing exclusive series. They have some of the best romance series around, plenty of action-packed sensations, and mature series that push the medium of anime to its limit and beyond.

The Ramparts of Ice is Netflix’s latest romance series, and through just four episodes, the first season looks like it has serious potential. It stars an incredibly introverted main character who is learning how to create and maintain legitimate relationships with the people around her as she recovers from the bullying she suffered in middle school.

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity is another top-tier romantic comedy, and it might just be the anime version of Romeo and Juliet we’ve always wanted. Outside of romance, Netflix also has exclusive rights to the powerful JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure franchise. While they’ve done a poor job releasing the series, JoJo’s will always be one of the most beloved franchises in anime.

Out of every Netflix exclusive, few have garnered a near cult-like following like Violet Evergarden. The series has more than a few highs; sadly, it also has some lows that can’t be ignored.

Violet Evergarden Is a… Complicated Series

There is a lot to Violet Evergarden. It has some of the best animation in anime, full stop. Most of the episodes look like they belong in the movie theaters, and the series really has no faults when it comes to pure animation. Violet Evergarden also has a few plot lines that are nothing short of beautiful, but that’s not all it brings to the table, sadly.

There is a huge issue with age in Violet Evergarden. Episode 5 of the series features Violet helping a princess of a kingdom write letters to her husband to be, and at its core, it’s an adorable episode where two people learn more about themselves, each other, and what it means to be in love.

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The crushing reality of the episode finally hits when it’s revealed that the princess set to be married is only 14 years old while her husband-to-be is 24. It’s a disgusting age gap that the show doesn’t bat an eye at. If anything, Violet Evergarden propagates the idea that “age is just a number” and that it cannot stop two people from falling in love.

This episode shakes the foundations of the series, and it’s only made worse when Violet develops romantic feelings for Gilbert, the man who raised her and is 15 years her senior. Violet is only 14 during the main events of the anime while Gilbert is 29, heavily implying that Gilbert groomed her from a very young age.

One Episode Is As Emotionally Moving As It Gets

While Violet Evergarden has some deeply troubling ideas about age gaps and grooming, there’s one episode that doesn’t have anything to do with these ideas, and it’s emotional power simply cannot be denied. Episode 10, titled “Loved Ones Will Always Watch Over You,” features Violet heading to a remote home to write letters for a sick mother.

The episode is tough to watch from the beginning, as Clara is constantly ignoring her daughter, Ann. Clara is incredibly sick and has Violet write letters for her to an unknown person, and Ann is having a hard time being separated from her mother. By the end of the episode, it’s revealed that Clara was writing letters to Ann for every birthday she would inevitably miss.

The episode then shows Ann opening her letters on each of her birthdays, growing up without her mother physically but having her mother’s spirit alongside her. It’s the most profound, moving episode in anime, and there isn’t a viewer who can walk away from this episode with dry eyes.

It’s such a beautiful, touching moment that it makes Violet Evergarden stand out from every other series that tries to be profound. Sadly, even this episode can’t expunge Violet Evergarden’s horrible ideas about grooming.

Violet Evergarden Could Have Been Perfect

Violet Evergarden is so close to perfection that it’s sickening. If it didn’t include grooming and terrible age gaps, its underlying ideas about the nature of love and paternal relationships would make it one of the best anime series ever made. If Gilbert and Violet shared a purely father-daughter relationship, this series would be unstoppable.

Unfortunately, the fifth episode and Violet and Gilbert’s eventual romantic relationship make this series deeply troubling. The tenth episode can stand alone as an incredible piece of work, but nothing can change Violet Evergarden’s disgusting ideas about age gaps.

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