Buckle up folks this might be long, but I wanted to put my thoughts to paper and see if it helped anyone else sort out their feels over the ending.
First off I had to reread last ch because I was speed reading and couldn’t out it down…and at first read I genuinely thought it was a delusion after getting satoko’s final letters and shinpei reminiscing in their old home. Bitter sweet but showing how deep their love is,even after all these years shinpei always is reminded of satoko. (Also he hallucinated in the middle of story as well)
After all comments, I reread ch 79 again.. so I noticed the small panels of satoko older as well as the shift in letters talking about present times. If anyone was like me, these two things needed to be more blatant to avoid confusion from audience. Like maybe show satoko’s old smiling face ,then the panel bext to or below is a Parellel of her young again smiling-because it’s how shinpei always sees her,like time hasn’t changed.
SO IT WAS REAL. After many years being separated, our two main characters reunite in a loving embrace as elders. A pseudo happy ending.
Honestly this is a very touching ending. At long last they can have that simple life and love each other; that’s all they wanted.
Let’s discuss some issues people are repeatedly bringing up in distaste of ending. (Everyone has right to their opinion. I am only sharing mine in response to the problems pointed out)
1st Why the assumptions and lack of communication ? To be frank, think of time period Satoko was good as dead and probably went through many experimental,Hail Mary, heart surgeries that were new at the time with unforeseen outcomes all the while in another country. This would take time and a lot of hope. Not to mention communication of that time would be near impossible especially for shinpei traveling around. Satoko getting her surgeries or treatments probably took years and by then she assumed shinpei had moved on as stated in her letters. She hadn’t heard from him nor could contact so she hoped he was still alive and well living happily. Shinpei on his side had no other assumptions other than she was dead
2nd If satoko was alive and or could saved why couldn’t they have stuck together? The two, at least for me, were in this Romeo Juliet whirlwind of romance and drama yet both needed to grow. By being separated I think it did just that, shinpei had a long time to atone and hommie needed it- he killed sooo many people. As for satoko, she was always living for someone else or felt like she was relying on someone. She was able to survive and make an honest living for herself. Both grew but never forgot the other, their love standing test of time
3rd Why no happy ever after with family if she survived /why did so much time have to pass
I think the ending shown is a happy ever after in its own regard. It shows how true and deep the couples love is.(and tho it was portrayed in a confusing light) even after all these years the pair view eachother as they did when the first met. As if to say for shinpei and satoko, no time has passed at all, even though as an audience we know it has. Also the story mentions satokois a beautiful lady all the time, this ending with both of them no longer youthful but still seeing eachother as such, shows their love is deeper than the beauty aspect and always was. Now as far as the typical married life and having kid epilogue goes, I don’t think this story needed one. Yes it’s nice to get these things but the story never hinted at family or children but just the strong love between couple. Them reunited as an elderly couple to live out their quiet years, is a perfect sweet ending for them.
Overall this romance had very dark and heavy themes ,and it didn’t brush them off lightly. The ending matched that well with something bitter sweet, but in the end they did find each other again. Not a fairy tale but I don’t this story really was.
For me it was the right ending (after a re read)But I completely understand why some people don’t like the ending
I am curious on what the side chs will cover with this kinda nuanced ending. Especially since fans were up in arms.
Buckle up folks this might be long, but I wanted to put my thoughts to paper and see if it helped anyone else sort out their feels over the ending.
First off I had to reread last ch because I was speed reading and couldn’t out it down…and at first read I genuinely thought it was a delusion after getting satoko’s final letters and shinpei reminiscing in their old home. Bitter sweet but showing how deep their love is,even after all these years shinpei always is reminded of satoko. (Also he hallucinated in the middle of story as well)
After all comments, I reread ch 79 again.. so I noticed the small panels of satoko older as well as the shift in letters talking about present times. If anyone was like me, these two things needed to be more blatant to avoid confusion from audience. Like maybe show satoko’s old smiling face ,then the panel bext to or below is a Parellel of her young again smiling-because it’s how shinpei always sees her,like time hasn’t changed.
SO IT WAS REAL. After many years being separated, our two main characters reunite in a loving embrace as elders. A pseudo happy ending.
Honestly this is a very touching ending. At long last they can have that simple life and love each other; that’s all they wanted.
Let’s discuss some issues people are repeatedly bringing up in distaste of ending. (Everyone has right to their opinion. I am only sharing mine in response to the problems pointed out)
1st Why the assumptions and lack of communication ?
To be frank, think of time period Satoko was good as dead and probably went through many experimental,Hail Mary, heart surgeries that were new at the time with unforeseen outcomes all the while in another country. This would take time and a lot of hope. Not to mention communication of that time would be near impossible especially for shinpei traveling around. Satoko getting her surgeries or treatments probably took years and by then she assumed shinpei had moved on as stated in her letters. She hadn’t heard from him nor could contact so she hoped he was still alive and well living happily. Shinpei on his side had no other assumptions other than she was dead
2nd If satoko was alive and or could saved why couldn’t they have stuck together?
The two, at least for me, were in this Romeo Juliet whirlwind of romance and drama yet both needed to grow. By being separated I think it did just that, shinpei had a long time to atone and hommie needed it- he killed sooo many people. As for satoko, she was always living for someone else or felt like she was relying on someone. She was able to survive and make an honest living for herself. Both grew but never forgot the other, their love standing test of time
3rd Why no happy ever after with family if she survived /why did so much time have to pass
I think the ending shown is a happy ever after in its own regard. It shows how true and deep the couples love is.(and tho it was portrayed in a confusing light) even after all these years the pair view eachother as they did when the first met. As if to say for shinpei and satoko, no time has passed at all, even though as an audience we know it has. Also the story mentions satokois a beautiful lady all the time, this ending with both of them no longer youthful but still seeing eachother as such, shows their love is deeper than the beauty aspect and always was. Now as far as the typical married life and having kid epilogue goes, I don’t think this story needed one. Yes it’s nice to get these things but the story never hinted at family or children but just the strong love between couple. Them reunited as an elderly couple to live out their quiet years, is a perfect sweet ending for them.
Overall this romance had very dark and heavy themes ,and it didn’t brush them off lightly. The ending matched that well with something bitter sweet, but in the end they did find each other again. Not a fairy tale but I don’t this story really was.
For me it was the right ending (after a re read)But I completely understand why some people don’t like the ending
I am curious on what the side chs will cover with this kinda nuanced ending. Especially since fans were up in arms.