Clannad After Story – 18
Ushio’s super robot adventures.
Summary:
Ushio tries to convince Tomoya to play with her while they are on the train, but after Tomoya learns what Sanae and Akio usually do to entertain her, he decides that he does not have the resources or energy to do so. Tomoya soon shouts at a nearby passenger in annoyance of her son’s disturbance, but afterwards, he finds that Ushio has disappeared from his side. Tomoya finds Ushio in the bathroom area, seemingly having just cried. Ushio tells Tomoya that she was not crying, as Sanae told her not to, but there was an exception that she clearly took advantage of. Tomoya suggests that Ushio cry all she needs to now, since there were many painful things that one could not cry about after becoming an adult.
At a stop, Tomoya decides to buy a toy for Ushio. This ends up being a robot, which Tomoya guesses she may not have liked as much as a girl’s toy, but Ushio expresses that she indeed likes it while back on the train later. At a hotel afterwards, Ushio leaves the room she and Tomoya are sleeping in to use the bathroom. Tomoya follows her, then explaining to her what a firefly is when they see one outside. Tomoya then clearly sees that Ushio wishes to say something to him, so Ushio finally asks for him to tell her more about her mother. Tomoya refuses to do this, only suggesting that she ask Sanae. Tomoya cannot help but observe Ushio while she sleeps that night, with an obviously troubled expression on his face.
Tomoya and Ushio reach their destination the next day, and are amazed when they see a large field of sunflowers. Tomoya helps Ushio to see even more of the scene by lifting her above his shoulders, then watching her as she plays in the field. When Tomoya wakes, he learns that Ushio has lost her robot in the field. He suggests that she give up after awhile, but Ushio would rather find it than buy a new one. As Tomoya continues to watch Ushio, he suddenly has a flashback from his own childhood. Tomoya leaves Ushio after realizing that he actually knows the area they are in, then meeting an elderly woman who seems to know him. To Tomoya’s shock, the woman introduces herself as his grandmother Shino.
Shino begins telling Tomoya about his father Naoyuki, and how they had once come to the same area with Tomoya hand in hand. Tomoya realizes that Naoyuki was not much different than him in the past, as he had lived happily just by being with Atsuko who he married. Naoyuki had lost Atsuko in an accident, but he did not despair since he still had Tomoya. He did his best at work to provide Tomoya with all the things children should have in their life, but this was very difficult for him. When Tomoya was old enough to make his own decisions and left, Naoyuki had lost everything. Tomoya is surprised that he had forgotten all of these things, then telling Shino that he has actually become a much worse person than his father. Shino finally suggests that it is time for Naoyuki to stop working and come home, telling Tomoya the message she has for his father to come back to her.
Shino eventually meets Ushio, as Tomoya returns to her. Tomoya convinces Ushio that they may not be able to find the robot, so they would just buy another one. Ushio expresses that there is only one though, as despite the fact that there were several like it at the store, this was the first thing she had been given by her father. Tomoya is brought to tears by this, then apologizing and wondering if Ushio would let him stay by her side from now on. Ushio replies that she wants him to, but she is also sad because she had lot something important that day. Ushio continues what she was saying earlier, as Sanae told her that the only two places she could cry were in the bathroom or in her father’s arms. With this, Tomoya and Ushio embrace in tears.
On the train ride back, Tomoya offers to let Ushio hear about her mother. Tomoya recalls Nagisa’s many features, such as her favorite food An-pan. This was what Nagisa always ate, as Sanae was busy at the time and unable to make lunches. Of course, Nagisa was the one who held back during these times. Tomoya begins to cry again after recalling these memories of Nagisa, seeing that Ushio does so too out of empathy. Speaking to Nagisa, Tomoya expresses that he has finally found the one thing that only he could protect. Wiping his tears, Tomoya continues his story for Ushio.
Preview: Return to the happy Dango Daikazoku days.
Impression:
Why, Clannad? Why? Why must you make me cry like some kid not once, but two or three times in this episode alone? My eyes are getting watery just remembering the scenes (damn you, summary writing!). Yeesh, I even had to increase the score I have been giving this show up until now.
Obviously, family has always been the central theme in Clannad. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out after 42 episodes, but this put everything else to absolute shame. Tomoya’s seeing visions of himself and his father while watching Ushio, his realization that his father had fallen because of him, and his finally seeing the need to protect Ushio were all themes that would make any person with a heart spread their eyes wide open. Ushio’s simple statement about the toy robot being her first gift from her father would have been enough to start a baw-fest on its own. Don’t even get me started on the imagery, which was most all of cinematic quality.
Ushio’s not initially revealing the full story about places where she could cry made for even better direction and writing, creating a climax upon climaxes that I don’t see how anyone would be able to resist. I could go on and on by spouting out more spoilers/restatements about the themes of loneliness, forgetting once important things, or simply the visions this episode presented. It’s like everything we’ve been waiting for in Clannad has finally started taking place. We all know that this isn’t the end though. Next week looks just as awesome, and I can only hope from here on that we’ll be getting a happy finale to top off what has mostly been a buildup of bittersweet endings.
Be right back. Re-watching the episode. Oh man… I need some tissues.
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Need to rewatch the episode too. Of all the kanon-mesia packed into this series, this is probably the best. Still needs one more episode like this to make up for all the useless side stories.
Now, this is the CLANNAD we have grown to know, to love, and to cry. Kyoani really outdid themselves and the emotional transitions were things we could relate and understand. (stick to this Kyoani, and then proceed to Munto/SoraMiHi) I feel teary again. ;_;
I cried more tha in episode 16 with the last scene T_T
Oh man. ;___; Too many episodes left. They’re going to pull a heartwrencher on us again, just you watch.
Rewatched it. Still cried.
So how are you guys liking that robot foreshadowing?
Also, GREAT grandma alert!
Theres still one more bad ending before the good end, sadly.
With what man0warr said, there will be one more sad moment and it will gut you all in the stomach, very hard
I haven’t watch this episode yet,
but seeing your screenshot, make me remember this story from the game.
it already make me cry :_(
It’s a really touching episode, I’m sort of surprised that I did not cry, but I came close to it
It’s not Nagisa’s Grandmother at least.
I don’t even want to start seeing Key families with GGMILFs.
Rewatching the episode as well!
This was bar-none: THE. BEST. EPISODE. SO. FAR!
I cried twice already in this episode.
The part where Ushio cry on Tomoya’s arms really made me teared up. Especially when the background music escalated at that point. The two-three minute segment defined the whole episode.
Reading this makes my cry…
DAMN YOU CLANNAD!!! T_T that whole ep made me cry yet feel happy, so goood
Lost it when Ushio uttered Daddy.
“Papa.”
I regret deleting my archive of Clannad.
*adds herself to the crying list*
God, this episode the tear-driving and heart-wrenching overkill TT_TT
Ushio, that cutest kid for long time, says “Papa” finally and I am lost in tears. And Tomoya’s reaction is even stronger to that point. He apologizes and everything…the train scene goes the same way, the lack of Nagisa is so bitter. But the ending! Nagisa is watching over them and she sees how their reunite, finally! T_T
I need to watch this episode again and again. Thanks for the pics and the summary, I could only find a raw until now.
Lovely greets, Mina
Best episode ever! I wish there would be more episodes like that. But I heard that in the game something bad happens to Ushio, I hope they will make the anime different (but there are 6 episodes left, so I don’t think it would stay the way it is =(
TT__TT I got my little tear damn she word “papa” to Tomyou .Best episode ever Tomoyou tell story about Negisa i remember when i cry
my heart
I had it till she said where she could cry.
Then I lost it.
For several minutes.
OMGGG this episodee makee me cry sooo badlyyyyyyy
WHy did NAgisa dieEE ?T_T
This anime is amazing, I keep crying.
This episode was probably the worst one in terms of crying.
I even cried in the first season of CLANNAD.
I think that this anime has one of the best love stories ever told.
Nagisa…. TT__TT
P.S. I love Ushio! I love it everytime she says “Poop”
aw… how sweet. it’s sad though because later on when Okazaki realizes that he wants to raise her she gets struck w/the same disease as Nagisa… TT~TT she eventually dies too… sad.. but if u wana learn more than u get to see that okazaki has the chance ti change everything (like… uhh.. bring back Nagisa?! woah! wasn’t expecting that right? xD)
Wow.. I love this description, really relays the message. And yeah, makes me teary.
But they ended up together, him, nagisa and ushino.