Violet Evergarden Episode 3: A Therapist's Perspective

Episode 3, titled "May You Be an Exemplary Auto Memory Doll", stands out as a pivotal moment in Violet’s journey toward understanding emotions and the meaning of human relationships. In this episode, Violet is assigned to assist a young playwright, Oscar Webster, in completing his long-overdue script. Through this task, the episode explores into profound psychological themes such as trauma, loss, emotional repression, and healing.

1. Grief and the Burden of the Past

Oscar Webster is a man deeply entrenched in grief following the death of his daughter. His inability to finish his script is not merely a matter of procrastination—it is a psychological barrier caused by unresolved trauma. His daughter’s passing has left him in a state of stagnation, mirroring the way grief can freeze individuals in time. Psychologically, this aligns with the idea of complicated grief, where an individual struggles to move forward due to the weight of their emotions.

2. Emotional Repression and Violet’s Struggle

Violet herself is a character shaped by emotional repression. As a former child soldier, she was trained to follow orders and suppress emotions, making it difficult for her to relate to or understand the deep pain Oscar experiences. This lack of emotional fluency represents the broader challenge faced by individuals who have been conditioned to detach from feelings due to trauma. Throughout the episode, Violet’s mechanical approach to assisting Oscar gradually shifts as she begins to grasp the importance of empathy and emotional expression.

3. The Power of Storytelling in Healing

One of the most powerful elements in this episode is how storytelling serves as a mechanism for healing. Writing the script becomes Oscar’s way of confronting his grief, and Violet’s involvement allows him to externalize his pain and transform it into something meaningful. This reflects the therapeutic concept of narrative therapy, where individuals make sense of their experiences by constructing and reinterpreting their personal stories.

4. Symbolism of the Lake and Letting Go

A key moment in the episode occurs when Violet attempts to reenact a scene from Oscar’s story by jumping across a lake—an action inspired by his deceased daughter’s playful spirit. This act is symbolic of catharsis, allowing Oscar to see his daughter’s memory not as a source of endless sorrow but as something beautiful that can still inspire him. This represents the transition from grief to acceptance, a crucial step in psychological healing.

Violet’s Growth Through Connection

By the end of the episode, Violet not only aids Oscar in completing his script but also takes another step toward understanding human emotions. Her journey parallels Oscar’s—both are learning to navigate loss and the complexity of emotions in different ways. Episode 3 of Violet Evergarden beautifully illustrates how grief, emotional repression, and healing are interconnected, making it one of the series’ most touching and psychologically insightful episodes.