Grandpa & Grandma Turn Young Again episode 11 gave us one of the most heartfelt anime goodbyes. And with a bittersweet ending to such a beautiful romance, we can at least take comfort in knowing Mino and Shouta also get a second chance.
Time Isn’t Your Friend
There are some things in life that, no matter how much you fight against them, you can’t change. The biggest of which is that you’re on limited time. Sure, it’s of utmost importance to plan for the future, but your tomorrow should never cost you your today. However, be it because of necessity, ambition, or some third thing, modern-day life semi-promises a better tomorrow by taking today from us.
And while that’s something that, in your youth, you really don’t think about, once you notice that the sand in your hourglass is finite, you quick ly wise up to what the important things are. That’s why older people focus more on day-to-day living rather than ambition. Once you accept the transience of life, you realize that only a few things really matter.
A few episodes ago, in Ine and Shouzou’s world, it was summer. The cicadas were chirping, the warm air of the night was stifling, and the night sky shone with man-made stars. At that time, Ine was at her end, and Shouzou gave up half his life so she could continue alongside him. That was months ago. Now they’re getting ready for New Year’s Eve, several months have passed since that love-filled summer night. Now, Aomori Prefecture is barren and snow-covered. The trees have shed their leaves, and the air has been robbed of its warmth.
Yet, Ine and Shouzou are seemingly unaware of it, or at least pretend to be. As they spend what they know to be their last New Year with their family, they don’t throw a grand party or go with an all-out celebration. Instead, they spend a simple night at home surrounded by the people they love, basking in their warmth for the last time. As they say goodbye to their family members, they give their great-grandson the grandpa teddy bear and let him know that even if they don’t answer when he talks to them, they’ll always be there for him.
And as the last family car drives away, Shouzou can’t help but break down. While to some it may seem like an old man crying out of the goodbye, he knows it’s not just another goodbye. It’s his last goodbye. The Saitous promised not to tell each other how much time they have left, but individually they know how much they do. So at this point, he and Ine both know that time’s about to run out.
How Love Ends
If you knew today was your last day, how would you spend it? If you knew today was the last day you’d see the people you loved, how would you say goodbye? Well, in Ine and Shouzou’s case, they got up, had breakfast as they always do, and went to tend the apple orchard with Mino and Shouta. As the day moves on, Grandpa lets Shouta-kun know that he’s leaving the rest to him, and the grandparents depart on a stroll. Feeling the soft warmth of the sun against the chill in the air, Ine and Shouzou lay down against a tree and reminisced on the mundane aspects of life.
As Grandpa & Grandma Turn Young Again Episode 11 comes to an end, Shouzou asks Ine, if she had a wish, what would it be. To which she answers that her wish has already come true, a sentiment he shares. And as life begins to flash, they reach the true equalizer in this world, the one thing that unites everything under the sun, that last breath. And they pass on, resting against each other, still holding hands, surrounded by the apple orchard they so loved, under a tree they planted.
Grandpa & Grandma Turn Young Again Episode 11: Goodbye
Everyone talks about big displays of romance in anime and IRL, but the most meaningful gesture one can make in romance is spending time with you. And while the moments that take your breath away live longer in your memory, it’s the moments that remind you to keep breathing that are the most valuable. This show described that in a way I, as a writer, can’t. To see such a mature take on romance, and most importantly, the finality of romance and all the things that get in its way was riveting. I was moved in a way that would be hard to put into words.
Not only do I scribble for Anime Corner, but I also handle one of our side pages. We frequently posted about this show, it’s one of the most loved of the season. It was disheartening to see so many say that they want what this show depicts but can’t get it, won’t get it, or aren’t worthy of it.
It wasn’t easy for Shouzou and Ine, but they supported each other from start to end and only asked for the other’s company in return. Keep that in mind, be that to someone and you’ll get far. Should you need a little extra push, let me share a little excerpt from a song that says something I believe everyone should be told at least once: “Love will find a way. Love’s going to find a way.” And, with that, thank you for reading, tell the people you care about that you love them and hug them a little tighter from now on.
Screenshots via Crunchyroll
©Kagiri Araido, KADOKAWA/ Grandma and Grandpa Rejuvenate Production Committee
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