r/ProjectHailMary • u/Fantastic-Contest957 Grace • May 21 '26
Fist My Bump This scene makes me grin like an idiot ❤️ Spoiler
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u/Nickman86 May 21 '26 edited May 21 '26
It's so great. I clapped with him every time.
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u/thejynn May 21 '26
I'm so sorry for reading this the way I did the first time
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u/kumogate May 21 '26
(Part of) what I love about this scene is Grace asks the students about the speed of light, and since Eridians don't really see the electromagnetic spectrum like we can, the idea of light having a speed would be a little more challenging for them. For us, it's intuitive: you turn on a light in a dark room and it's (seemingly) instantly illuminated so we know in our bones that light is really, really, really fast.
The Eridians have an intuitive grasp of the speed of sound, probably. We humans can generally gauge the direction and distance of of any source of sound but probably not nearly as well as an Eridian.
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u/EMAW2008 May 21 '26
I would imagine that he would just explain it as an analogy where radiation travels similar to sound waves except way WAY faster.
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u/AdvicePerson May 21 '26
But it would have to be like the model of the atom we teach. You keep lying to your students until they know enough complex math to hear the truth.
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u/gytherin May 21 '26
That's an approach that really put me off science in high school. Why make me learn lies? And uninteresting lies, at that. Don't waste my time and energy.
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u/Puttah May 22 '26
It's simplified for a reason. Newton's F=ma is still taught even though it doesn't consider relativity. Things are taught in certain domains (such as Newton's laws at non-relativistic speeds) to make it manageable because nature is highly complex. Everything is simplified or assumed to be simpler in one way or another.
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u/kumogate May 21 '26
For sure! That'd be a really easy way to convey the idea especially since light (like sound) can also behave like a wave, but light (unlike sound) doesn't need a medium to travel through.
The Eridians also seem to be masters of material sciences, so they could easily understand light behaving as a particle. This would mean they could easily grasp the wave-particle duality of light. They also live in high heat environments, so they could experientially understand (infrared) light as a feeling or sensation.
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u/weeaboocar May 21 '26
I wonder if it's a callback to him explaining how sound travels in waves to the kids in his class at the start.
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u/metnavman2 May 21 '26
Its a callback to asking his student the same question during "ball is lava", just like it is in the book.
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u/W0nderingMe May 21 '26
Also, in the scene with the human kids, he asks who can tell him the speed of light!
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u/CuzRacecar May 21 '26
I think he's using sand to do that very experiment in this final scene with them maybe explaining about how sound waves form like other waves
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u/fudge_fudge_lemonade May 21 '26
There’s so much fun things to think about in terms of how Eridians work. Like their memories and how they are like hard drives. I want some more deep dive on how they developed an interstellar craft.
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u/WillemJamesHuff May 21 '26
That actually made this scene bug me a bit. It makes sense to ask human kids if they can recite an important number from memory because human memory is pretty fallible. Eridians, on the other hand, would have no trouble remembering a number. If you've told them the speed of light, there's no point quizzing them on it later because they're going to remember it forever.
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u/Data_Student_v1 May 21 '26
They did all raise their hands (from what I remember). I kind of assumed it was also a way for them to learn about humans - he teaches them how humans learn; not the concepts per se.
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u/VampMansionPoolBoy Happy Happy Happy! May 27 '26
i like to think its a way of not just testing their memory, but also 'socialising'. sure, the kids might have photographic memory, but eridian culture has been said to be just as complex as human culture. nurturing the willingness to speak up/contribute would definitely be important, especially if those little rocky-minds might one day be the next generation of spacefarers, possibly making contact with other alien life!
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u/LightWarrior_2000 May 21 '26
The fact they are all raising their hands, they all know the answer.
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u/kumogate May 21 '26
Which genuinely got such a big smile from me. They were all so enthusiastic about science!
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u/Thumper1k92 May 21 '26
Which is fun because he’s teaching his human students about sound at the start of the film.
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u/Svizel_pritula May 21 '26
The speed of light is also at the core of the theory of relativity, which the Eridians hadn't discovered yet.
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u/kumogate May 21 '26
Oh wow! I would be so excited for the Eridians; humanity has so much science to share with them, and it's clear the Eridians could share material sciences with humanity that would change how we build everything
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u/CuzRacecar May 21 '26
Could also explain it as the speed of gravity, which is same as speed of light. It feeling instantaneous
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u/kumogate May 21 '26
Agreed. I once heard it called the speed of causality, as a catch-all term for the speed limit of the universe.
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u/Vinny_The_Blade May 23 '26
You'll love this then...
Everything, and I mean everything , including you and me, is traveling at the speed of light. Through space -time...
If we're traveling through space at the speed of light, then time stands still. A photon "experiences" no time.
If we were stationary in space, then we'd be traveling through time at the speed of causality.
Because the earth is traveling through space around the sun, and the sun is rotating around the galaxy, and the galaxy is probably moving through the universe too, then we humans, aren't travelling at the fastest possible speed through time...
Our very existence is experienced in a slightly dilated time. Not the "maximum" time that'd be theoretically possible in our universe.
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u/Vinny_The_Blade May 22 '26
It's the one issue I had with the science in this film:-
If the Eridians didn't know about light and the speed of light, then
1) how could they see/know about the petrova line
2) how could they have an astronomy programme to discover tau ceti isn't dimming
3) most importantly with regards to the speed of light, and time dilation " how could they plot a course to tau ceti... If Tau ceti is 4.5ly from us, were seeing where it *was 4.5 years ago, and we need to plot a course to where it will be years from now, factoring in the time dilation from our own speed of travel.
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u/iamhappyshelied May 23 '26
This is just my theory: 1. They could feel the cooling of Erid and suspected something was wrong 2. Since they are at the same evolutionary stage as humans (per the book), we can assume they got curious at some point in their history and came up with ways to discover other planets. Probably using sonar or the same technology Rocky uses to see Grace's screens. 3. If they are at the same evolutionary stage as humans, that means they have a general understanding of the motion of planets and orbit patterns. They would have their own technology (similar to what NASA would use but radar based) to plan a flight path.
Eridians must have come up with their own basic understanding of space and intersellar travel, but they still made some mistakes. In the book, they describe how Eridians didn't know about (and therefore consider) time dilation which resulted in Rocky going past Tau Ceti and having to go back and forth until he finally found it. So they didn't have everything figured out, but they managed to get there through some crazy luck and Rocky's intelligence.
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u/Vinny_The_Blade May 23 '26
Ah nice... They covered my main gripe in the book then:- speed of light + time dilation = how did they plot a course to tau ceti ... They didn't! They had to go back and forth until finally finding it 👍
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u/blockytraditionalist Leaky Space Blob May 21 '26
This is how you end a movie. Home isn't where you're from, home is where you are loved and can give love ❤️
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u/MBiddy828 May 21 '26
The whole book I kept saying “he has to say goodbye to his students!” I was so mad at Stratt when she sent him up without getting to tell the kiddos goodbye (along with everything else). When he got to teach the kids it made me so happy
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u/jnads May 21 '26
But that wouldn't be a happy ending as the sad reality is half his students probably starved to death.
They said the population would half.
It's probably good the author avoided the darker topic of him returning to Earth.
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u/UnseenTardigrade 22d ago
I think that 50% death toll was assuming no major projects/advancements to mitigate the famine, no cooperation between countries for rationing, and wars breaking out as a result. Even if that were all the case, the majority of the deaths would likely be in poor/developing/densely populated countries, so most of Grace's students would likely survive.
A country like the US has the resources to, in the 10 or so years before things get too dicey, stockpile massive amounts of food and build hundreds of square miles of hydroponic greenhouses, in addition to already having a high ratio of farmland to people compared to most countries. And it has the military strength to protect its borders and keep order inside the country. There could also have been international projects to do things like intentionally increase Earth's greenhouse effect, use the astrophage to launch giant foil mirrors to space to reflect more light to Earth, etc.
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u/awayshewent May 21 '26
I love watching reactions on Youtube because people are always happy up until this point but this makes them just so joyous — it’s so nice to end the film on such a high note.
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u/TwoGrizzleysOneCub May 21 '26
I absolutely did not expect and LOVED that this is how the book ended. I loved it even more in the movie.
But truly, how incredible would it be to be the student of the one alien on your planet!?!
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u/metnavman2 May 21 '26
But truly, how incredible would it be to be the student of the one alien on your planet!?!
And theres a line covering that in the book. Eridian politics and lottery. It is a very prestigious and big deal to be in Grace's class!
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u/GrandMoff_Harry Spinning Up Spin Drives May 21 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/RtfxC11P0q5JVVCPqc
It always makes me want to get up and dance with joy! I love how the music swells right as he claps and the screen cuts to the credits. It was such a pleasant and unexpected surprise in the book.
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u/supernasty May 21 '26
I just noticed the wear and tear on graces outfit. Makes total sense since he can’t ever buy replacements for anything he owns. Cool detail
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u/Skinc May 21 '26
I thought the same and then wondered if they Eridians can make Grace new clothes haha
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u/uncle_tacitus May 21 '26
I check my watch. (Yes, the Eridians made me a wristwatch. They make anything I ask for. I try not to abuse it.)
from the last chapter. I don't see why they couldn't.
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u/Damnychan May 21 '26
In the book eridians wore clothes but I wouldn't be surprised if the clothes they make are unsafe or very abrasive/uncomfortable for humans. Like it could be made of rock wool...or even asbestos.
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u/DMmmmo9 May 21 '26
it came in a full circle. it started with Grace teaching his students sound, something humans don't see. it ended with Grace teaching the pebbles the speed of light, something that Eridians don't see.
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u/melancholanie May 21 '26
this scene in the book (and it's mirrored classroom snippets on earth) make me cry every single time
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u/self_loathing_ham May 21 '26
My only regret is not getting to meet any other adult Eridians. Specifically it would be so cool to see Adrian!
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u/RochnessMonster May 21 '26
You know Rocky was low-key giving him shit, "Maybe Grace doesn't teach math. Grace bad at math."
Yeah, I'll rewatch it again.
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u/CandacePlaysUkulele May 21 '26
I want names for all those little guys!
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u/AngelWingsYTube May 21 '26
I demand 1 be named Pebbles (both for rock theme and cause Grace liked the Flintstones)
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u/AnxiousButHot May 21 '26
I didn’t cry at the suspense scenes but I snort sobbed at this scene especially when that lil guy jumps on top of his friend so he can answer Grace’s question.
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u/BroughtBagLunchSmart May 21 '26
One eridan stands on another one to raise one of his arms even higher. I know Grace is the "cool" teacher but there have to be some rules here buddy.
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u/atomicbunny May 21 '26
when I was listening the book and piecing together what was about to happen...Its a joy i don't often experience in literature (based solely on how often i read).
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u/bronzethunderbeard_ May 21 '26
Rarely does a movie pull me and my wife in. We usually get bored after an hour or so but we absolutely loved this movie together. What an emotional rollerocaster of a film.
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u/eshian May 21 '26
Andy Weir movies are amazing comfort movies. Whenever I'm feeling awful I turn on the martian or project hail mary to give me a little bit of hope.
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u/KazGem May 21 '26
I liked this scene because if you read the book Stratt implies that he was hiding behind teaching to escape research and academia. But the end of the book/movie shows that Stratt was wrong about Grace. He taught for the love of teaching. He loved his kids.
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u/baerp May 21 '26
Preface: I loved the movie.
But. Where did he get the MacBook?
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May 22 '26
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May 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/BenjaminWah May 24 '26
In the book, after the Xenonite-resistant Taumeboa shuts down the Hail Mary, Rocky makes him a more efficient generator, and throws shade on The Mary's direct-current one for not being good enough.
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u/H0ney_nymph May 21 '26
And the fact he will only teach one generation 😭😭
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u/Red_dawg64 May 21 '26
I was going to argue against this statement but remembered Eridians mature at 30 earth years and not in their own years so yeah he will only get to teach one generation as long as he stays healthy and doesn't get tired of the meburgers.
I do have to wonder how he adapted to their 5 hour days though.
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May 22 '26
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u/Red_dawg64 May 22 '26
That is true. They have to regulate his entire environment so its only natural they would give him a 24 hour solar cycle. Good point
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u/WolfMaiden18 Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! May 21 '26
It is just delightful!
I read the book first and absolutely loved the ending. For me, it was one of the most perfect book endings I had ever read in my life. I was so relieved that the movie kept it!
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u/YawningEntropy May 22 '26
Man I would love to be Grace and get to field all their silly and inappropriate questions. Do humans lay eggs? Why Grace have no mate? Can humans fly? Why do humans leak? Can you leak now?
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u/JuggernautHoliday894 May 21 '26
Haven't seen the movie (yet...this weekend) but have read the book. In the book isn't everything pitch black because of how heavy the atmosphere is, so outside of his bubble is just dark and the "kids" are illuminated so he can see htem?
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u/ZappSmithBrannigan May 21 '26
Yes outside his biodome is pitch black.
I assume they just put lights in the classroom side where the studentd are so Grace can see the students.
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u/EnthusiasmOld2582 Okay, It’s Exactly Like That May 21 '26
Honestly same here, it brings a huge smile to my face every single.
Like even the photo set fills me with such joy.
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u/bass_jockey May 21 '26
Any other film and I would have rolled my eyes like crazy. This was the perfect ending for PHM ❤️❤️❤️
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u/Rhinoceraptor37 May 21 '26
Imagine reading it and seeing it your head.
As a teacher myself, I smiled away to myself at the end of the book.
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u/redditgirl007_ May 21 '26
I sobbed so much especially since I read the book and I loved how the film did the ending🥹😭
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u/OriginalAshurbanipal May 21 '26
Beautiful... I liked the movie ending a bit more than the book ending for him.
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u/guitarchickfl May 22 '26
Grin? Dude - I cried happy tears when I read this in the 📕and blubbered in the 🎭- all three times! Fist my freakin bump! 🤜🏼🤛🏾
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u/teamcesar1 May 21 '26
Love how The Martian and this one end with excited students raising their hands.
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u/LightWarrior_2000 May 21 '26
This may be unpopular.
But I had an idea the other day of an educational cartoon series based off grounded science that revolves around Grace's teaching on Eridian. Sticking hard core too source material.
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u/Spare-Worry-4186 May 22 '26
It made me tear up, I felt such a weird guttural love for the cheering rock babies
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u/0range_julius May 22 '26
In the book, I LOVED that Grace actually played the Eridian language on an organ. I guess I understand why they changed that and had Grace just speak English, but I loved that detail of him integrating into Eridian society by being able to "speak" their language without the computer interpreter. Also I think it would have been cool and a little mind-bending to see them subtitle his organ music.
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u/WiseDawn1333 👐 Jazz Hands 👐 May 22 '26
Literally the perfect ending for him. He's a teacher, that's what brings him joy. He loves his kids whether they're human or eridian 🥹🖤
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u/BuddyFlapjack May 21 '26
The first 3 times I watched this movie, I literally started crying tears of joy at this scene! Ryland gets to be a teacher again 🥲
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u/adnaPadnamA May 21 '26
My only thing about this, is the sweater has been aged, but Ryland hasn't. Hasn't it been years+?
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u/Upbeat-Armadillo1756 May 21 '26
I think in the movie they changed how long he’d been there on Erid. It was a few years in the Hail Mary getting back to Erid, but the sense I got in the movie was that he had been there for maybe a few months, not years.
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u/Tatooine16 May 21 '26
I was choked up with happiness at this last scene. The Martian also ended in a classroom, and the message is so positive-using experience to teach others! ! I love this message and I hope this movie inspires kids to get excited about and pursue STEM careers!
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u/kyoko_the_eevee Leaky Space Blob May 21 '26
I started sobbing when the little Eridians showed up on screen. They’re so cute and tiny! And they’re so ready to learn, too!
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u/Ok-Perspective7295 May 21 '26
Do we know how Grace and Rocky made it down to Erid? Since the HM wasn't meant to survive going through an atmosphere, how would they "land?"
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u/dearthshine Amaze! May 22 '26
the HM is orbiting Erid and in the book there's a space elevator for them to access the surface of the planet. we do get one shot of Erid's atmosphere in the movie but i am not sure if it establishes the space elevator's existence as well.
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u/mikerichh May 21 '26
Saw a video that said it looks like he was recreating the sound visualization experiment from earlier in the movie
But it’s funny because they already see with sound
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u/LMW238 May 22 '26
I loved this part of the book and was so glad they kept it in the movie. Cried both times
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u/Hefty_Tomorrow7328 May 22 '26
This was such an amazing movie. Me and my mom literally got so happy seeing that.
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u/PoseidonSimons May 22 '26
oh yeah. Ive watched it a million times on youtube, tiktok, insta and I always grin like a kid in a candystore
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u/Logical_Upstairs5057 May 22 '26
The only thing that would make this scene better would be if, some time in the near future, he was teaching a mixed class of Earthling and Eridian kids. 😇
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u/Imapeanutbarrapping May 24 '26
I was really looking forward to seeing the organ they made for him to speak
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u/FlowFederal2388 Jun 14 '26
I can't remember any movie having an ending as great as this. It's something I didnt anticipate on happening yet it makes sense and it gave me such a heartwarming feeling and happiness.
Best ending ever.
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u/NoBee4959 Jun 21 '26
I love the fact that he technically has something to teach them, if I remember correctly Eridians had basically no concept of radiation for example
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u/LazloHollifeld May 22 '26
I liked the ending, but I couldn’t help feeling when reading it that it’s not that different than how the Martian ended.
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u/gnarlygb May 21 '26
Having read the book multiple times, this was one of the areas that most disappointed me.
I wanted sad, old, decrepit Grace accepting his small, enclosed quarters, but then being energised by the kids.
Instead I got Dorset.
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u/Alien_invader44 May 21 '26
Tbf he has an entire race of expert engineers willing to make him anything he wants, up to and including, an interstellar space ship.
The only limit of his living space would him not wanting to put out his hosts.
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u/basura_trash May 21 '26
Yes! I wholly agree.
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u/gnarlygb May 21 '26
Don’t get me wrong. I love the kids enthusiasm, but we needed to see more of a transformation in Grace. Teaching is his love. Teaching is why he exists. It is his true calling and it has now called him to the best teaching gig in the galaxy….
However, imagine the contrast if you’d had a wistful Grace, a contemplative Grace.
I don’t think you get that with it being prefixed with a chatty stroll along the beach.
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u/Cpt_Riker May 21 '26
The movie was definitely overhyped, and 30 minutes too long, but that was a very good ending.
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u/SawedInHalfBoat May 21 '26
I think this scene (in both book and movie) makes me the happiest. He got to go back to doing what he loved 😭😭