History TearJerker / TurningRed

* When Mei decides that she wants to keep her panda form after all, she openly defies Ming's orders to remain during the ritual and runs off to the concert to reconcile with her friends, stating that she's done being desperate for her mother's approval. Unfortunately, this act of defiance accidentally damages Ming's talisman, and Ming is left in tears while being chastised by her mother, her sisters, her cousin, and niece for her inability to control Mei, though her husband tries to comfort her. As a result of her pride being broken thanks to Mei's defiance and her family's criticisms, Ming can't control her grief and anger anymore, [[RageBreakingPoint causing her talisman to finally break and unleash Ming's giant panda form, pushing her over the edge to disrupt the concert out of anger]]; even her husband, mother, sisters, cousin and niece are horrified to witness this, [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone realizing that they pushed Ming too far]].

** There's also when Mei discovers that her parents ''knew'' to expect the red panda all along, but never warned her. She's understandably deeply hurt by this, especially after her traumatic experiences at school and in town -- experiences that could have been avoided if she'd only known. Her [[WhatTheHellHero look of disbelief]] says it all when she calls them out.

* When Mei decides that she wants to keep her panda form after all, she openly defies Ming's orders to remain during the ritual and runs off to the concert to reconcile with her friends, stating that she's done being desperate for her mother's approval. Unfortunately, this act of defiance accidentally damages Ming's talisman, and Ming is left in tears while being chastised by her mother, her sisters, her cousin, and niece for her inability to control Mei, though her husband tries to comfort her. As a result of her pride being broken thanks to Mei's defiance, Ming can't control her grief and anger anymore, [[RageBreakingPoint causing her talisman to finally break and unleash Ming's giant panda form, pushing her over the edge to disrupt the concert out of anger]]; even her husband, mother, sisters, cousin and niece are horrified to witness this, as [[OhCrap they also realized that they pushed Ming too far]].

** Fearing her parents' reaction, she tries to hide her newfound form from them (unaware, at this point, that they already know it's [[InTheBlood going to happen someday]]), and also tries to convince herself the whole thing is just a nightmare.

'''Mei:''' No, it's not. [[SelfDeprecation I'm a freak!]] Just... just LeaveMeAlone... ''(sobbing, she curls up on the floor and grabs her stuffed animal Wilfred, as her friends, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness even]] [[GenkiGirl Abby]], watch in concern)''

* Mei attacking Tyler at his birthday party after he insults her family. While he was a jerk, the boy is left scratched up, [[BreakTheHaughty crying in shame, apologizing for his insults]], and [[AintTooProudToBeg begging Mei not to hurt him]]. When Tyler's parents are informed of this, they are so outraged as Tyler's father furiously refuses to accept Ming's apology for the incident and Tyler's mother furiously [[DehumanizingInsult calls Mei an animal]] for humiliating her son on his birthday. This event is also what drives a furious Ming to blame Miriam, Abby and Priya for allegedly using Mei's panda form for ticket money. Mei, still desperate for her mother's approval, can't bring herself to defend them.

* Mei's crisis after her red panda form manifests for the first time, and she expresses a lot of very realistic reactions for if any kid went through something like this, especially after it happens without warning:

--->'''Mei:''' I hate this! I'm slobby, I'm smelly... [[ParentalBetrayal My mom won't even ''look'' at me]]… [[FromBadToWorse and now 4*Town]]?! When are they coming?\\

--->'''Mei:''' I hate this! I'm slobby, I'm smelly... My mom won't even ''look'' at me... [[FromBadToWorse and now 4*Town]]?! When are they coming?\\

'''Mei:''' No, it's not. [[SelfDeprecation I'm a freak!]] Just... just leave me alone... ''(sobbing, she curls up on the floor and grabs her stuffed animal Wilfred, as her friends, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness even]] [[GenkiGirl Abby]], watch in concern)''

** After her parents tuck her in, Mei overhears Ming being worried for her daughter, but it only makes her feel like even more of a "monster" than she already did, and she breaks down sobbing. This gets worse as the audience's fears about Mei's mental health are confirmed the next day: she's [[SelfHarm slamming herself against the walls]] trying to make the panda ''go away''. When her friends show up, she tries to reassure them that her [[FalseReassurance condition will go away]]... before promptly bursting into tears ''again''. Rosalie Chiang's performance just sells it here.

* During the fight, you can hear in Mei's TheReasonYouSuckSpeech to her mother that she's righteously angry, but her tone also has a sadness to it. She's positively furious at her mother for not accepting her choices and blaming everyone else she cares about in general for making her a "disappointment". At the same time, she's heartbroken that she's fighting against '''''her own mother''''' because Ming just can't control her temper and is too arrogant to admit her own faults. It takes Mei ''literally'' knocking some sense into Ming to finally subdue her. After this, Mei [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone is distraught that she just hurt her mother]], rendering her unable to move back to the circle.

** But after Ming is called out by Tyler's parents, it seems like she's about to yell at Mei for her deception, and the little girl is ready to take it... but to Mei's horror, she's actually angry at ''her friends'', [[MisplacedRetribution blaming them for "manipulating" her daughter]] and not even taking into consideration that ''Mei'' was the one at fault. She just looks so heartbroken and disillusioned, yet is still afraid of losing her mother's approval and doesn't even say a word in her friends' defenses, understandably much to their shock.

** After her parents tuck her in, Mei overhears Ming being worried for her daughter, but it only makes her feel like even more of a "monster" than she already did, and she breaks down sobbing. This gets worse as the audience's fears about Mei's mental health are confirmed the next day: she's [[SelfHarm slamming herself against the walls]] trying to make the panda ''go away''. When her friends show up, she tries to reassure them that her [[FalseReassurance condition will go away]]...before promptly bursting into tears ''again''. Rosalie Chiang's performance just sells it here.

'''Mei:''' No, it's not. [[SelfDeprecation I'm a freak!]] Just...just leave me alone... ''(sobbing, she curls up on the floor and grabs her stuffed animal Wilfred, as her friends, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness even]] [[GenkiGirl Abby]], watch in concern)''

'''Mei:''' '''''THE 18TH?!''''' There's no way this will be gone by then! Just go! Go become women without me!\\

[[caption-width-right:350:''"No one can see her like this...I never wanted this for her."'']]

* Similarly, when Ming tries to insist on joining Mei for the "group study session" (really Mei trying to sneak out to Tyler's party), shooting down every reason Mei can think of for Ming not to, Mei eventually blurts out, "But I don't want you to!". It's brief since it's almost immediately followed by the arrival of Mei's aunties, but for the two seconds in between, Ming is clearly hurt and betrayed by the idea that Mei doesn't want her around. Becomes HarsherInHindsight later when Ming admits that she's scared that Mei is drifting away from her.

* Mei attacking Tyler at his birthday party after he insults her family. While he was a jerk, the boy is left scratched up, [[BreakTheHaughty crying in shame, apologizing for his insults]], and [[AintTooProudToBeg begging Mei not to hurt him]]. When Tyler's parents are informed of this, they are so outraged as Tyler's father furiously refuses to accept Ming's apology for the incident and Tyler's mother furiously calls Mei an animal for humiliating her son on his birthday. This event is also what drives a furious Ming to blame Miriam, Abby and Priya for allegedly using Mei's panda form for ticket money. Mei, still desperate for her mother's approval, can't bring herself to defend them.

** There's also when Mei discovers that her parents ''knew'' to expect the red panda all along, but never warned her. She's understandably deeply hurt by this, especially after her traumatic experiences at school and in town - experiences that could have been avoided if she'd only known. Her [[WhatTheHellHero look of disbelief]] says it all when she calls them out.

--->'''Mei:''' I hate this! I'm slobby, I'm smelly... My mom won't even ''look'' at me...[[FromBadToWorse and now 4*Town]]?! When are they coming?\\

--->'''Mei:''' ''(physically exhausted and crawling on the floor)'' Please...just...go away... ''(curls up into fetal position, right before panda-ing again)'' Oh, WHY?! ''Why''...?

** Fearing her parents' reaction, she tries to hide her newfound form from them (unaware, at this point, that it's InTheBlood), desperate to believe the whole thing is just a nightmare.

** When she explodes into her red panda form in the middle of class, she runs away from school, and while running across town, many civilians scream at the sight of her newfound form, one even calling her a "monster". During the chase, Mei is almost hit by cars and just barely saves herself from a multi-story height. When she makes it home, the poor child is hiding under the covers in shame and scared out of her mind.

** There's also when Mei discovers that her shapeshifting [[InTheBlood runs in the family]] and her parents ''knew'' about it all along. She's understandably hurt that her own parents neglected to even ''warn'' her about it beforehand (given her little incidents at school and in town). Mei's [[WhatTheHellHero look of disbelief]] says it all when she calls them out.
** After her parents tuck her in, Mei overhears Ming being worried for her daughter, but it only makes her feel like even more of a "monster" than she already did, and she breaks down sobbing. This gets worse as the audience's fears about Mei's mental health are confirmed the next day when her friends show up, she tries to reassure them that her [[FalseReassurance condition will go away]]...before promptly bursting into tears ''again''. Rosalie Chiang's performance just sells it here.

** Fearing her parents' reaction, she tries to hide her newfound form from them (unaware, at this point, that ItRunsInTheFamily), desperate to believe the whole thing is just a nightmare.

** There's also when Mei discovers that her shapeshifting [[ItRunsInTheFamily runs in the family]] and her parents ''knew'' about it all along. She's understandably hurt that her own parents neglected to even ''warn'' her about it beforehand (given her little incidents at school and in town). Mei's [[WhatTheHellHero look of disbelief]] says it all when she calls them out.

** Fearing her parents' reaction, she tries to hide her newfound form from them (unaware, at this point, that ItRunsInTheFamily).

** When she explodes into her red panda form in the middle of class, she runs away from school, and while running across town, many civilians scream at the sight of her newfound form, one even calling her a "monster". When she makes it home, the poor child is hiding under the covers in shame and scared out of her mind.

* When Mei decides that she wants to keep her panda form after all, she openly defies Ming's orders to remain during the ritual and runs off to the concert to reconcile with her friends, stating that she's done being desperate for her mother's approval. Unfortunately, this act of defiance accidentally damages Ming's talisman, and Ming is left in tears while being chastised by her mother, her sisters, her cousin, and niece for her inability to control Mei, though her husband tries to comfort her. As a result of her pride being broken thanks to Mei's defiance, Ming can't control her grief and anger anymore, [[RageBreakingPoint causing her talisman to finally break and unleash Ming's giant panda form, pushing her over the edge to disrupt the concert out of anger]]; even her husband, [[OhCrap mother, sisters, cousin and niece are horrified to witness this, as they also realized that they pushed Ming too far]].

---> '''Mei:''' ''[sobbing intensely]'' What's happening to me?!

---> '''Mei:''' I hate this! I'm slobby, I'm smelly... My mom won't even ''look'' at me...[[FromBadToWorse and now 4*Town]]?! When are they coming?
---> '''Abby:''' May 18th. They just announced it...
---> '''Mei:''' '''''THE 18TH?!''''' There's no way this will be gone by then! Just go! Go become women without me!
---> '''Miriam:''' Mei. It's gonna be okay.
---> '''Mei:''' No, it's not. [[SelfDeprecation I'm a freak!]] Just...just leave me alone... ''(sobbing, she curls up on the floor and grabs her stuffed animal Wilfred, as her friends, [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness even]] [[GenkiGirl Abby]], watch in concern)''
*** Just look at what happens to Mei's bedroom after her parents cleared out all the furniture and belongings to reduce the amount of damage any further transformations could cause. Everything about Mei - her trophies, her photos of family and friends, her books - completely removed from the room. As though Mei herself was getting erased and left with nothing.

---> '''Mei:''' ''[physically exhausted and crawling on the floor]'' Please...just...go away... ''[curls up into fetal position, right before panda-ing again]'' Oh, WHY?! ''Why''...?

* Similarly, when Ming tries to insist on joining Mei for the "Group study session" (really Mei trying to sneak out to Tyler's party), shooting down every reason Mei can think of for Ming not to, Mei eventually blurts out "But I don't want you to!!". It's brief since it's almost immediately followed by the arrival of Mei's aunties, but for the two seconds in between, Ming is clearly hurt and betrayed by the idea that Mei doesn't want her around. Becomes HarsherInHindsight later when Ming admits that she's scared that Mei is drifting away from her.
* At Tyler's birthday party, Mei initially refuses to change into a panda, after being warned by her grandmother that not doing the ritual will make the transformation permanent. Without the remaining $200 they need for 4 tickets, Abby, Miriam, and Priya decide that if Mei can't see 4-Town, then [[HeroicSacrifice they won't go to the concert either, as their friendship with Mei is more important]]. However, [[EverybodyCries given how the three of them become on the verge of tears immediately after doing so]], it's very clear how upset they are about missing out. This is what prompts Mei to turn into a panda again, so that none of her friends should give up their chance because of her.
* Mei attacking Tyler at his birthday party after he insults her family. While he was a jerk, the boy is left scratched up, [[BreakTheHaughty crying in shame, apologizing for his insults,]] and [[AintTooProudToBeg begging Mei not to hurt him]]. When Tyler's parents are informed of this, they are so outraged as Tyler's father furiously refuses to accept Ming's apology for the incident and Tyler's mother furiously calls Mei an animal for humiliating her son on his birthday. This event is also what drives a furious Ming to blame Miriam, Abby and Priya for allegedly using Mei's panda form for ticket money. Mei, still desperate for her mother's approval, can't bring herself to defend them.

** But after Ming is called out by Tyler's parents, it seems like she's about to yell at Mei for her deception, and the little girl is ready to take it...but to Mei's horror, she's actually angry at ''her friends'', [[MisplacedRetribution blaming them for "manipulating" her daughter]] and not even taking into consideration that ''Mei'' was the one at fault. She just looks so heartbroken and disillusioned, yet is still afraid of losing her mother's approval and doesn't even say a word in her friends' defenses, understandably much to their shock.

** Not just the happy moments it's brought her. ALL the moments it's brought her. The happiness with her friends, the confusion of her first transformation, the panic when she transforms at school, etc. That even though not every moment with the spirit has been a happy or good one, it's still not something Mei wants to seal away forever.

* When Mei decides that she wants to keep her panda form after all, she openly defies Ming's orders to remain during the ritual and runs off to the concert to reconcile with her friends, stating that she's done being desperate for her mother's approval. Unfortunately, this act of defiance accidentally damages Ming's talisman, and Ming is left in tears while being chastised by her mother, her sisters, her cousin, and niece for her inability to control Mei, though her husband tries to comfort her. As a result of her pride being broken thanks to Mei's defiance, Ming can't control her grief and anger anymore, [[RageBreakingPoint causing her talisman to finally break and unleash Ming's giant panda form, pushing her over the edge to disrupt the concert out of anger]]; even her husband, [[OhCrap mother, sisters, cousin and niece are horrified to witness this, as they also realized that they pushed Ming too far.]]
-->'''Ming:''' ''[sobbing intensely over Mei's defiance]'' How could she... ''[get extremely furious]'' ...how could she do this to her own... '''''MOTHER?!''''' ''[the talisman breaks, and Ming's panda form is released before merging into Ming's body, [[GlowingEyesOfDoom causing her eyes to glow red]]]'' '''MEI-MEI!!!'''

* After the climax where all the women in Mei’s family undergo the ritual, Mei finds a young Ming in the astral realm sobbing, having regressed to the state she was in after the fight with her mother that led to Grandma Lee getting her scar. Mei sees that Ming went through the exact same struggle of trying to maintain her mother’s approval and the conflict it led to that she did.
-->'''Teenage Ming:''' [''sobbing''] I'm just so sick of being PERFECT! I'll ''never'' be good enough for her! ...Or anyone...
** An even more sad interpretation is that Ming is also crying because she realized that in losing control of her temper, '''''she attacked and insulted her beloved daughter.'''''

** After her parents tuck her in, Mei overhears Ming being worried for her daughter, but it only makes her feel like even more of a "monster" than she already did, and she breaks down sobbing. This gets worse as the audience's fears about Mei's mental health are confirmed the next day when her friends show up, she tries to reassure them that her [[FalseReassurance condition will go away]]...before promptly bursting into tears ''again''. Rosalie Chiang's [[SugarWiki/SheReallyCanAct performance just sells it here.]]

** When Miriam pleade with Mei to tell Ming the truth that it was all her idea, Ming looks worriedly at Mei, as if fearing the idea that her perfect little Mei-Mei would actually choose, of her own volition, to do something like this.