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See You There, Beyond the Ocean feels like a critical examination of how a relationship can change your life. After following two third graders and their budding friendship, both through ups and downs, we see how heavily the good and bad times shape one of them following the two bonding over common interests. And because of the way the story goes, it almost leaves the reader with the impression that Ko-wei’s unfinished Voice of the Ocean comic would have been about her relationship with Hsiao-jung.
Editor’s Note: There will be no See You There, Beyond the Ocean spoilers below.
See You There, Beyond the Ocean begins with a grown Hsiao-jung visiting her mother’s home to get things ahead of her impending marriage. As she does, she comes across comics she drew as a child. However, among them is Voice of the Ocean, which is a bound and more detailed art book of sorts. We then learn that, growing up in Tauchung City, Taiwan, she was bullied and mocked for a number of reasons. The only thing that saved her ended up being chance encounters with her classmate Ko-wei after starting third grade. The two ended up connecting and developing this strong relationship and bond.
Part of what makes See You There, Beyond the Ocean so emotional and touching is the series lures a reader in with sweet, lovey moments. There’s Hsiao-jung being unable to resist touching Ko-wei’s ponytail in class. Ko-wei convincing Hsiao-jung to watch a magical girl cartoon series so she can talk about it with her. Ko-wei, when she sees Hsiao-jung retreating, being silly with her and talk about what she “can’t talk about” in cat speak, resulting in the two just being together, supportive and meowing. The two taking part in their “comics class” together. And, most importantly, Ko-wei starting to create Voice of the Ocean and telling Hsiao-jung she can see it when it is finished.
From there, we get to see the more dark and unsettling moments that can define a relationship. One is jealousy. When the two were in the same class at their school, they could spend all their time together. There was constant reassurance of their bond, which was defined as “best friends” at that point. But when they’re placed into separate classes, there’ a divide. Hsiao-jung sees her with others and even purposely ignores her to try and make Ko-wei hurt and feel the way she does.
All this means when we do get the more tragic and heart-wrenching moments, it hits harder. Hsiao-jung’s reactions feel more meaningful since we experience how she’s affected by certain events. While we never see her outward anger, it comes through in her art. When she considers what she wants to do in the future, her relationship with Ko-wei leads to her deciding to go overseas for school. I don’t want to get into too many spoilers, but we see how Ko-wei changed her life.
See You There, Beyond the Ocean is a perfect example of cause and effect, with the highs and lows of a relationship shaping a life. We watch how the two first connect. We see moments that build that bond up both in the main story and a critical bonus side story at the end. Then we see how that carried over to affect Hsiao-jung for the rest of her life. It’s very comprehensive.
See You There, Beyond the Ocean is available in English via Yen Press.
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