Not a traditional reaction vid, this is actually a longform interview with a US veteran from the war in Afghanistan, about his experiences returning to civilian life. I believe it qualifies as a video essay as it tries to put forward a cohesive picture, and even a subtle argument–for understanding of veterans’ experiences when they try to come home from war.

The anime and its representations of the challenges faced by ex-soldiers, being the central focus of the interview, allows it to serve as a contextual bridge of sorts. This helps people who have seen the show try to understand these perspectives and experiences they hopefully will never need to truly know for themselves.

Content Warning: audio of an Incoming Alarm siren, audio of a rocket attack, discussion of military violence, discussion of suicide, others.