There are as many ways to deal with grief as there are people in the world. Journal with Witch, one of the newest shows collecting positive reviews, explores how two people explore this sudden journey.

Journal with Witch follows 35-year-old Makio, a successful writer who spends her days holed up in her apartment typing away or playing Minecraft when struggling with writer’s block. She’s the ultimate introvert as she prefers the quiet chaos of her mind over socializing. When her sister dies in an accident, Makio decides to take in the orphaned 15-year-old daughter, Asa, after becoming frustrated with her relatives for treating the child like a burden when discussing what to do about her.

Makio and Asa are very different. Makio’s reclusive nature is Asa’s complete opposite: a social butterfly. The two make their situation work, but that comes with a string of challenges, both internal and external.

There are parts of Asa that remind Makio of her sister. It leaves a bitter taste in her mouth. However, she never takes it out on Asa. There are parts of Asa that Makio relates to when she learns that they both have shared experiences. In these moments, it’s hard to not become misty-eyed as Makio guides Asa to follow her heart.

Messiness of Grief

Children who lose their parents often go through an assortment of feelings. Sorrow, anger, and confusion are all feelings Asa goes through. In the real world, we’re expected to move on, even as children. If you’re lucky, you go therapy and hopefully work it out through there. You’re made to move forward and be happy again as soon as possible. No one likes you when you’re depressed. You will be abandoned if you’re sad for too long.

Luckily, for Asa, Makio lives on the fringes of society’s expectations. She offers Asa an outlet for her emotions and reassures her that there is nothing wrong with the way she chooses to express herself. She gets to explore the roller coaster of emotions that comes with losing both parents in a space almost no one gets. It gives her the strength to stand up for herself and set the tone for how she wants to be seen and treated by those in her circle.

Makio has a different beast to grapple with. Upon first meeting, Makio tells Asa she hated her sister, but also will not tell Asa why despite the child’s poking and prodding. Makio and her sister were too different to understand each other. She wanted to chase her dreams; her sister wanted her to be ‘normal’. Learning about her sister after her death stirs up resentment. It forces Makio to reflect on her beliefs about her sister. She never takes it out on Asa, but uses her past with her sister to try to undo some of the same damage her sister left on the child.

Navigating Adulthood

We’re told successful adults have good jobs, get married, and have children. It’s a lie, but it doesn’t stop society from pounding that into our heads. Makio rebuffs this notion and explores her own path, carving out a space for herself. Once Asa enters the picture, voices she wanted to keep out pour in. Not appearing on Asa’s first day of high school and dodging unknown numbers had adults calling Makio an unreliable adult. Once these adults saw how she and Asa exist together, they realized she is a dependable adult- even if she does things differently.

Successful adults in real life aren’t the mythical adults shown on television and film, but the ones who chase their dreams and do good for those around them. Of course, this looks different for everyone. Makio emphasizes her inability to understand others, and she expects no one to understand her. It’s standoffish, but as the show goes on, we learn it was for survival. Makio wanted to follow her heart, while others wanted her to stay in a box.

Now with Asa in the picture, Makio imparts her wisdom and hopes that the child will grow up happy. Isn’t that the best anyone can ask for?

Journal with Witch is now streaming on Crunchyroll.