Violet Evergarden| 13 Episodes | DUB | Netflix
Initial Impressions: I want to watch more. It’s pretty and the story looks like it will be interesting.
Violet Evergarden is a solider. I mean this in both the literal and metaphorical sense. We learn a lot about her nature from the first episode and the most integral part of her core is that she is a tool for the Major. They fought in the war together and Violet is the only one we see come out of it, and she does so at the expense of both her arms.
I thought this was a really good first episode. We met the main character in such a way that we got to learn her personality. We saw the Major through her eyes and we saw glimpses of their interaction together so we could see how important he is to her. The short scenes of their interactions really built their characters to me and it was well done without being over the top.
I also liked Lt. Hodgins. He is very clearly a man trying to keep a promise he made to a dying soldier. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing and he’s walking around with a lot of guilt and uncertainties. He’s trying to do his best by Violet because of the Major, but he isn’t prepared or equipped to handle her. He’s nervous and a wreck and trying to keep a secret from her. He avoids her direct questions in what seems like an attempt to keep from crushing her, but she’s awkward and so used to war, she doesn’t know what to do if she’s not in a fight or given orders.
I liked that the first episode gave some personality and background to these characters. I’m glad that it was about them adjusting to each other and Violet adjusting to life after the war. I even kind of liked that, for her, the war isn’t over. There were certain elements of the story that were never explicitly stated, but it was implied, and I think that part was well done. I like that it leads you to reach a particular conclusion, but it leaves the door open for other things.
The only thing I didn’t like was the metaphorical burning conversation Hodgins and Violet had toward the end of the episode. I understand why it was placed there, it just felt a little forced where everything else in the storyline felt like it came naturally. It felt like forced foreshadowing or something. I could be wrong, but it just stood out to me as not the best part. However, that’s not to say it was bad though. It just struck me differently than the rest of the episode did.
Overall, the first episode was really good. I’m excited to watch the rest of it and see where this story takes Violet, Hodgins, and (hopefully) the Major.
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