Okay, buckle up, buttercups! We're diving headfirst into the swirling, rain-soaked world of Weathering With You (Tenki no Ko)! The question on everyone's lips: Does it have a truly, madly, deeply happy ending? Let's investigate!
The Flood of Feelings
First, let's acknowledge the elephant in the… well, perpetually rainy room. Tokyo is, shall we say, a *little* damp at the film's conclusion. Like, Venice-levels of damp. Imagine your morning commute involving a gondola instead of a crowded train! Chaos!
So, does that constant rain automatically disqualify it from "happy ending" status? Absolutely not! Think of it like this: sometimes you need a good cry to feel better. Maybe Tokyo just needed a REALLY good cry.
Hina's Choice, Hodaka's Love
Remember Hina, our sunshine girl? She makes a huge sacrifice to stop the never-ending rain. She vanishes, leaving Hodaka heartbroken.
But Hodaka, bless his impulsive, lovestruck heart, isn't about to let a little thing like societal norms (or, you know, THE WEATHER) stop him. He bulldozes through obstacles, yells a lot, and eventually, finds her! It's like a rom-com, but with significantly more rain and fewer meet-cutes in coffee shops.
He chooses Hina over the fate of the world. Talk about commitment!
The Real Question: What is Happiness Anyway?
Now, some folks argue that a truly happy ending involves everything neatly tied up with a bow. Perfect weather, everyone's happy, and maybe a unicorn sighting for good measure. But life isn't a Disney movie, is it?
Weathering With You challenges that idea. It suggests that happiness isn't about external circumstances being perfect. It's about connection, about choosing love, and about accepting the consequences of those choices, even if those consequences involve slightly soggy socks forever.
Think of it like this: would you rather have a perfect, sunny day spent alone, or a slightly drizzly day spent with the people you love? For Hodaka and Hina, the answer is crystal clear.
So, is it *Happy*?
Here's my take: it's a realistically happy ending. It's not the kind of "happily ever after" where everything is sunshine and rainbows. It's the kind where two young people find each other amidst the chaos, choose each other despite the odds, and decide to face whatever comes next, together.
They're together, they're in love, and they're ready to navigate a slightly waterlogged world. That sounds pretty darn happy to me. Plus, think of all the cool rain boots they can buy!
It is up to each viewer to decide whether or not they see the ending as happy. Ultimately, the movie leaves us pondering: what truly matters in the grand scheme of things? Is it societal expectations, or is it the bonds we forge with one another?
So, next time someone asks if Weathering With You has a happy ending, tell them it has a real ending. An ending filled with love, hope, and the occasional torrential downpour. And maybe, just maybe, that's the best kind of happy ending there is.