Violet Evergarden

Episode 6

Now that the anime has finally adapted a story from the light novels, the differences between the anime and its source material have become very clear.

First, let's talk about the context in which this episode took place. Episode 6 adapts the fourth story from volume 1, called “The Scholar and the Auto Memories Doll.” Generally speaking, the story plays out the same way in the anime: a young man named Leon encounters Violet through his work, falls head over heels in love with her, and has a heart-to-heart conversation about loneliness and love with her before she leaves for her next job. He's clearly a oneshot character, but he's the first person in the narrative to show obvious romantic feelings for Violet, which prompts her to reveal a side of herself that she's never displayed before.

The biggest difference between the light novels and anime lies in what they reveal about Violet to the audience. In the light novels, this story presents a lot of brand-new information about Violet, who had been portrayed as a distant figure until then. When Leon asks why she eats alone, she explains that it's a habit from her military upbringing. In the preceding light novel chapters she just disappears whenever it's time for a meal, initially suggesting that she may not experience the same bodily functions as other humans, so this moment removes some of the mystique surrounding her.

More importantly, this is the first time that Violet reveals there's someone so important to her that she would even abandon her duties if it meant she could save him. In the anime, Violet's relationship with Gilbert has already been well-established, so we don't experience an epiphany about Violet's nature. Instead, the anime asks us to compare the Violet from the first episode to the Violet we know now. Has she gotten any better at understanding her own feelings?

The answer is yes, in some small yet important ways. When asked about Gilbert, she volunteers more information about their relationship than she ever provided to Iris back in episode 4. She may claim to only understand loneliness on an intellectual level, but when Leon suggests that what she's feeling is indeed loneliness, she immediately accepts the idea. It's new information to her, but not a shock.

Violet's reaction is contextualized by her melancholy demeanor before this conversation with Leon. Her encounter with Gilbert's brother in the last episode is never referenced directly, but it clearly had an impact on her, because when her old friend Luculia mentions her job with the princess of Drossel, she literally pinches her cheeks and forces her face to form a smile.

This scene is anime-original (Luculia was never in the light novels to begin with), and it clearly attempts to put us into Violet's head, or at least try to imagine what she must be feeling. This is in contrast to the light novel's handling of this story, which only frames her through Leon's perspective. Through his eyes, Violet is a beautiful and elusive being, even as she opens up in ways she's never displayed before then. As a result of the anime's framing, Leon's presence feels more distant instead.

Perhaps this was for the best. In the light novels, his backstory gets more detail, but it also leans heavily into racist stereotypes about Romani people. Leon literally refers to his parents as “gypsies,” describes the prevalence of their “uninhibited” women who chase after men, and strongly implies that this was the reason he was abandoned as a child. The anime wisely removes all references of the word “gypsy” and reframes his mother's actions as a more personal act of passion, even as it retains her darker hair and skin tone.

I'm also struck by how Leon comes across as more endearing in the anime. I always liked him; he's basically a male tsundere. But the light novel lingers more on his hatred of women, whereas in the anime he just comes across as awkward. That scene where he asks Violet to go stargazing with him was especially amusing. His fidgeting movements telegraphed his crush on her, but when she says yes, he tries to play it cool and act pompous. Adorable.

If there was one scene from the source material that I would have liked to see in the anime, it's Leon's confession of love. In the anime it seems like he wants to say something, but he's deterred when he realizes the strength of Violet's feelings for Gilbert. In the light novels, he plows ahead anyway, knowing that he'll get rejected. As you might expect, Violet politely rebuffs him, but she also communicates how she's flattered and appreciates the courage it took for Leon to say “I love you.” This moment could have easily tied into Violet's revelation in episode 4, and its omission from the anime feels like a missed opportunity for both Leon and Violet.

Overall, I'm satisfied with how this episode worked as an adaptation. Even for a light novel reader familiar with the story, this episode provides new context for Violet's feelings. That stargazing scene in the anime may not have had the same impact as the corresponding scene in the light novels simply because of the timing, but it still marks a distinct turning point for Violet's character. I'm looking forward to seeing how the anime reframes other stories from the light novels, now that we have a better understanding of who Violet Evergarden is.

Rating: B+

Violet Evergarden is currently streaming on Netflix in select territories.