I cried so hard during Shiro and Allura's goodbye. I think that it was not only the most well written goodbye of her between a Paladin, but the best goodbye in dialect and emotion ever written on the show. ALSO SUCH A LOVING HUG!!!!
yeah. in the parts iāve seen of s8 there were some bits where the animation looked sloppy, or just generally unattractive (the animators in particular seemed to struggle with lanceās moreĀ āheartfeltā smiles, idk if itās because his pupils are small, or what, but??) but shiro, as always, is beautifully drawn, and so was every damn frame of this goodbye
iāve written before about why the dialogue of this scene hits so hard, but like, it really does bear restating:
Most of them wonāt know the sacrifice you made so they could live.Ā
The quiet dissuasion of this line hurts me so much. Itās a gentle nudge, a gentle question: is this worth your life? Is this sacrifice worth it? And thereās so much pain on his face as he asks it, in just his eyes. Heās seen her go through so much, has always done all he can to alleviate her burden, but he canāt do it this time (i mean, he could: his altean powered arm, anyone? but for the context of this scene that makes very little sense in canon, weāre going to keep going under theĀ āthereās nothing anyone can doā context). Even if he promised her, once. Iām not leaving you. It doesnāt matter, weāre not leaving without her. It doesnāt matter, weāre in this together, weāre gonna get out together. But this is as far as they may go, and he knows he canāt stop her, he doesnāt want to make this any harder on her. So heās gentle, and simple: he will have to live with the knowledge of her sacrifice even when everyone else she saved doesnāt. Is that worth it?
And theyāll never need to. Your selflessness taught me that.Ā
Do you think Allura wanted to ask him, what it was like to die? To transcend existence and be in another realm, unknown, and alone? Of what was on the other side? But Allura knows he died for her cause, for Voltron, and the Black Lion, for just one reality. He made that sacrifice willingly, and she knows he would do so a thousand times over. Knows that he would have let himself be captured and tortured by the Galra again to keep from leaving her. That thatās just who he is, who she is, who theyāve always been, but his selflessness gives her strength. And for that, she has to say:
I know we as a fandom have already talked about this, but Alluraās hug and goodbye with Shiro is the only one where any comfort is offered to her. In the others, sheās helping Hunk, or Pidge, or just flat out saying goodbye to Keith, or crying with Lance. Shiro is the only one who you can tell is devastated, just by the look on his face or the way he cradles her close like he never wants to let her go. But he still sets it aside, and puts her first, the way he always has since day one.
You never have to thank me for anything.
And all I can do is applaud not only the animators, but in particular Josh and Kimās voice acting because they really blew this out of the park, Josh especially. His delivery holds so much, as does the soft way their hair and cheeks meet, the tears in his eyes (when we have seen Shiro nearly cry over Allura twice before, but have not seen him actually shed tears over anyone, not even Adam, until now). Because in this one line, everything weāve wanted acknowledged between them is done so, deep down.
Allura giving him a purpose as Black Paladin after he was beaten and feeling broken? Allura sacrificing herself for him? Wearing pink for him, carrying his soul in her body, bringing him back to life? Allura building an arm for him and then sacrificing her motherās tiara for him? All, in some way, at long, long last, being acknowledged on screen.
More than that is its subtext within the dialogue itself.
Shiro says, Is every reality that ever has been or ever will be worth your one life?Ā and we know he thinks the answer is no, but he as always respected her as much as he cared for and protected her, so he will accept whatever decision she comes to. He always has.
Allura says, Yes, and you always sacrificed everything, and how could I do any less for you? Thank you, for giving me the strength to sacrifice my life for every reality, the same way you gave me the strength to sacrifice my life for yours.
And he says, What you believe I have done for you, you have done for me tenfold, and all the thank yous in the galaxy will never be enough to repay you. You have left me beyond gratitude.
They say to each other, your soul is the whole world, and was worth the worth of my life, and so I will save you in every reality alongside the universe, because itās what weāve both always done, what we always will do because thatās just who we are and weāve always been the same, and Iām sorry that this is the end. Iām sorry I canāt save you this pain. Please, take what I can offer.
But even then, Shiro keeps her spirits up as much as he can. Heās the only paladin to share a smile with her in this scene, and despite his devastation, he only lets it fall once sheās turned away and can no longer see him:Ā
Some animator did every frame of this scene so lovingly, and Josh and Kim brought their A-game, and I think theyāve always delivered the most emotional performances in the show as a whole, and justā¦
There are a multitude of very good reasons why if I think about this scene too long, no matter what Iām doing in my day, I nearly start crying.
Our babies deserved better, but even then, they were, and always will be, soulmates in every universe.