"Even if it's my own grave I'm digging, I keep going! Once I've dug my way through, that means I've won!" -Simon the Digger
So many threads coalesce here to create the greatest moment of personal triumph in the entire series. We see how integral Nia's arrival was in breaking Simon out of his downward spiral of grief. She was the only one who could wholly and truly empathize with him, as both of their senses of self worth were tied intrinsically to another person. It was only through the kindling of their relationship, and the way they revealed to each other the value they inherently held, that they could break through and shatter the preconceptions they had of themselves. Nia also dispels the notion that Yoko kept insisting upon (he had to break out of the funk on his own, or it would be meaningless), that she had also been using to justify the burden she was placing on herself.
However, I'd be remiss to downplay the independent progress Simon makes. I think what makes those literal "breakthrough" moments so powerful is that all the people who saw him suffer so deeply in the wake of Kamina's death, also see him overcome despair in their darkest hour. His digging through bedrock and Lagann's forgiveness inspire team Dai-Gurren (which Kittan finally accepts as their name), while his "I'm not my bro" speech and finishing move are projected in the sky above the earth to embolden all of humanity struggling on the surface.
For how goofy and irreverent this show is a lot of the time, its love for humanity and how we grow/evolve always shines through. It treats grief with all the gravity it warrants, but makes it clear that we are obligated to move forward through it for our own sakes and for those we hold dear. "Let me see you grit those teeth!" 10/10.
So many threads coalesce here to create the greatest moment of personal triumph in the entire series. We see how integral Nia's arrival was in breaking Simon out of his downward spiral of grief. She was the only one who could wholly and truly empathize with him, as both of their senses of self worth were tied intrinsically to another person. It was only through the kindling of their relationship, and the way they revealed to each other the value they inherently held, that they could break through and shatter the preconceptions they had of themselves. Nia also dispels the notion that Yoko kept insisting upon (he had to break out of the funk on his own, or it would be meaningless), that she had also been using to justify the burden she was placing on herself.
However, I'd be remiss to downplay the independent progress Simon makes. I think what makes those literal "breakthrough" moments so powerful is that all the people who saw him suffer so deeply in the wake of Kamina's death, also see him overcome despair in their darkest hour. His digging through bedrock and Lagann's forgiveness inspire team Dai-Gurren (which Kittan finally accepts as their name), while his "I'm not my bro" speech and finishing move are projected in the sky above the earth to embolden all of humanity struggling on the surface.
For how goofy and irreverent this show is a lot of the time, its love for humanity and how we grow/evolve always shines through. It treats grief with all the gravity it warrants, but makes it clear that we are obligated to move forward through it for our own sakes and for those we hold dear. "Let me see you grit those teeth!" 10/10.
