Sometimes we don’t understand how important acceptance is until we finally receive it. It can be even more powerful when it pops up in unexpected places. I did not grow up in a household that was approving or even tolerant of alternative lifestyles and sexualities. I carried so much guilt and shame around my early sexual experiences, especially the same-sex ones I was led to believe were errant, deviant and definitely temporary. This could not be who I was. It was not until I was married with three children that I began working through my emotional development and self-acceptance, finally discussing my feelings and experiences as an adolescent and very young adult in an open manner. During a conversation with my husband spurred by a random pop news article he mentioned he believed I was pansexual. And I realized, of course I was. His acknowledgment and immediate acceptance healed something inside of me. I finally gave myself permission to be queer despite everything else. While it may not be as powerful as an in-person balm, hearing/seeing acceptance play out on screen is no trivial thing.

Tengoku Daimakyou is an anime I watched earlier this year on Hulu. After the first episode I had so many questions about the storyline and its trajectory. I was intrigued by the suspenseful, supernatural, and sci-fi elements along with the nonlinear timeline that keeps you on your toes. We follow Maru (a young teenage boy who like many young people in this anime grew up without his family) and Kiruko (hired as his bodyguard) through a post-apocalyptic world full of dangers—man and monster alike—as they search for a place called Heaven. They face these obstacles together even though a paid job is the only tie between them. They use their unique skills to protect each other and become a formidable traveling team. 

A secondary thread that unravels parallel to Maru and Kiruku’s pilgrimage focuses on students attending a nontraditional and tech-heavy boarding school. We discover alongside them that their situation isn’t what it initially seems. There is a premonition of coming change, and these students cling together as the odd tension plays out. We see acceptance in light of, not in spite of, their differences. The friendships formed are strong and without judgment. Their situation remains somewhat unresolved at the end of the season, but trust and compassion remain as we piece together clues as to where certain decisions led some of these characters.

The setting and plot of Tengoku Daimakyou are riveting, but the show is not without its flaws. While many strong bonds are built on screen, there are also some questionable scenes sprinkled throughout the season. There has also been some debate over the handling of a major trauma for one of the characters, but I’m holding off judgement on this issue until we see how the next season addresses the fallout. While many things are still up in the air, one thing that is not blurry is a theme of acceptance for atypical identities and relationships. This is summed up perfectly in one line in the last episode and is what fully sold me on the series and characters.

“You’re the one I’m in love with,” Maru tells Kiruko. While these words may seem simple, they are part of a bigger conversation between them that has been building all season. Maru, who we have come to know as a strong and resilient boy, tells Kiruko, a dynamic character with a complicated backstory and identity, he sees them for who they are and loves them as they are, however messy that reality may seem. This complete acceptance is raw and hopeful, and it spoke directly to the way I love and desire to be loved. Seeing this acceptance play out on screen was an empowering experience. Tengoku Daimakyou provides for intriguing entertainment and touches on themes many people would benefit from witnessing and openly discussing. With so much still to resolve, the true origin of certain characters and the man-eating monsters they fight, I hope to see a second season. And for those readers who might be in need of some acceptance today: I see you. You are amazing. Be your awesome self today and always.

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Melissa Nunez is a writer and homeschooling mother from South Texas. When not in the classroom or behind her computer, she is most likely to be found attempting to identify a local species of bird or plant or watching a really cool show (not always, but very probably, anime). She is contributor for The Daily Drunk Mag and Yellow Arrow, and staff writer for Alebrijes Review. Twitter: @MelissaKNunez