s***@deathquaker.org
2005-07-08 01:54:28 UTC
I am late (but is anyone counting?) and I'm only bringing up one
episode. This is in part because I've been running around like a
madwoman this week, and in part because every time I watch this episode
I feel sort of nauseous and violated and have to go do something else
afterward to sort myself out (in this case, watch an episode of the 70s
Wonder Woman series while doing laundry).
Despite any feelings of ickiness, on my part, however, this IS an
utterly fascinating episode, really, so let's get to it. Again this
discussion is open to any and all, even if you didn't sit down to watch
this a few minutes ago.
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
P
A
C
E
Episode 30: "The Barefoot Girl"
"I seem to be seeing this car a lot lately." -- Utena
So! The episode starts with Tatsuya and Wakaba--I had completely
forgotten Tatsuya ever showed up past the Black Rose arc, so this was a
nice surprise. The argument about lying to get a kiss was very cute,
and it was funny to see Wakaba so indignant.
I in fact forgot that Wakaba figured so much in this episode (as for
the most part she really is a non-entity in this arc). She safely rides
in the Akio car (I some how think she was not deflowered ^^) and really
gets up Utena's nose about Akio.
Of course, Utena's being really blockheaded through the whole episode.
I spend much of this episode wanting to scream "NO UTENA YOU IDIOT." In
part, because she's being stupidly thickheaded about admitting her
infatuation with Akio. And in part, because she's infatuated with Akio.
But she's a 14-year-old with an extremely charismatic man who so well
brings forth these ideals that Utena wants to see in him, so what can
you do? Akio, I don't like him, but he's _damn_ good at what he does.
If he were a D&D character his Charisma would be, like, a 62 (the
highest normally being 18).
And along with Utena being a blockhead, she says the line I put up
above, "I seem to be seeing this car a lot lately." She is confused by
this... but COME ON, UTENA, put two and two together already! In fact,
I really do wonder if at least a part of her knows/suspects Akio's
involvement in her "other" life. She just doesn't know what the heck to
do about it. I think perhaps she does put it together as the series
progresses (we'll see).
A progression of Utena's guilt cycle... the first time she makes goo
goo eyes at Akio, she then eyes Anthy and then looks extremely guilty.
Then she mentions Kanae several times as to that's not why she
shouldn't be interested. THEN she mentions her Prince several times and
insists she can't love him because she loves her prince. Another guilty
look at Anthy and then it's back to her Prince. In love with passion,
friendship, and her romantic ideal of nobility? Where does the truth
lie, o pink haired one?
Akio says they have something in common because they both "defy the
rules" but she insists "But I do it for my Prince"--but I think his
true rebel/bad boy nature is what makes her feel all tingly inside.
Anthy is watching. Ewwwww! And with the scary glowing Glasses of Doom
(TM)!!!!
Shadow play is a play on the fairy tale of the cursed red dancing
shoes, the ones that once you put on you can't take off and dance until
you collapse and die. A-Ko accepts her fate and the curse. B-Ko seems
to be the voice of common sense until we learn she carries her shoes
with her... really wanting to also fall to her dancing doom.
Is B-Ko being Utena?
Also, a random comment: the three candles. Utena's resolve wavering...
but also her fear?
The conversation between Akio and Touga was interesting... Touga
reveals he is falling in love with Utena because he "shook my core
beliefs. It was the only time I've reconsidered how I live my life."
Some rare genuine sentiment from the redhead, and some insight into why
he feels for Utena. I didn't get the sense that Akio agreed with him--I
mean, he also finds Utena fascinating, but I don't think she shakes his
core beliefs. Shakes something else, maybe, but not his beliefs. Akio's
too set in his jadedness to consider another world view. But thus we
see a difference between Touga and Akio. This episode I think made me
respect Touga more the first time I saw it, or maybe at least like him
for seeing what he actually thought of someone (and then I saw what he
did to Nanami in the following episodes and forgot about this. But
that's then and this is now.)
And finally we have the Mrs. Ohtori scene. Not much to say on this
except to show that Akio is SOOOOO bad (and so good at being bad), and
that Mrs. Ohtori has really cool hair.
And that's all I can think of and look! It's time for bed. Questions,
comments, flames, love letters, and recipes all welcome.
=====
Death Quaker!
Shiori's Prince
http://www.deathquaker.org
episode. This is in part because I've been running around like a
madwoman this week, and in part because every time I watch this episode
I feel sort of nauseous and violated and have to go do something else
afterward to sort myself out (in this case, watch an episode of the 70s
Wonder Woman series while doing laundry).
Despite any feelings of ickiness, on my part, however, this IS an
utterly fascinating episode, really, so let's get to it. Again this
discussion is open to any and all, even if you didn't sit down to watch
this a few minutes ago.
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
P
A
C
E
Episode 30: "The Barefoot Girl"
"I seem to be seeing this car a lot lately." -- Utena
So! The episode starts with Tatsuya and Wakaba--I had completely
forgotten Tatsuya ever showed up past the Black Rose arc, so this was a
nice surprise. The argument about lying to get a kiss was very cute,
and it was funny to see Wakaba so indignant.
I in fact forgot that Wakaba figured so much in this episode (as for
the most part she really is a non-entity in this arc). She safely rides
in the Akio car (I some how think she was not deflowered ^^) and really
gets up Utena's nose about Akio.
Of course, Utena's being really blockheaded through the whole episode.
I spend much of this episode wanting to scream "NO UTENA YOU IDIOT." In
part, because she's being stupidly thickheaded about admitting her
infatuation with Akio. And in part, because she's infatuated with Akio.
But she's a 14-year-old with an extremely charismatic man who so well
brings forth these ideals that Utena wants to see in him, so what can
you do? Akio, I don't like him, but he's _damn_ good at what he does.
If he were a D&D character his Charisma would be, like, a 62 (the
highest normally being 18).
And along with Utena being a blockhead, she says the line I put up
above, "I seem to be seeing this car a lot lately." She is confused by
this... but COME ON, UTENA, put two and two together already! In fact,
I really do wonder if at least a part of her knows/suspects Akio's
involvement in her "other" life. She just doesn't know what the heck to
do about it. I think perhaps she does put it together as the series
progresses (we'll see).
A progression of Utena's guilt cycle... the first time she makes goo
goo eyes at Akio, she then eyes Anthy and then looks extremely guilty.
Then she mentions Kanae several times as to that's not why she
shouldn't be interested. THEN she mentions her Prince several times and
insists she can't love him because she loves her prince. Another guilty
look at Anthy and then it's back to her Prince. In love with passion,
friendship, and her romantic ideal of nobility? Where does the truth
lie, o pink haired one?
Akio says they have something in common because they both "defy the
rules" but she insists "But I do it for my Prince"--but I think his
true rebel/bad boy nature is what makes her feel all tingly inside.
Anthy is watching. Ewwwww! And with the scary glowing Glasses of Doom
(TM)!!!!
Shadow play is a play on the fairy tale of the cursed red dancing
shoes, the ones that once you put on you can't take off and dance until
you collapse and die. A-Ko accepts her fate and the curse. B-Ko seems
to be the voice of common sense until we learn she carries her shoes
with her... really wanting to also fall to her dancing doom.
Is B-Ko being Utena?
Also, a random comment: the three candles. Utena's resolve wavering...
but also her fear?
The conversation between Akio and Touga was interesting... Touga
reveals he is falling in love with Utena because he "shook my core
beliefs. It was the only time I've reconsidered how I live my life."
Some rare genuine sentiment from the redhead, and some insight into why
he feels for Utena. I didn't get the sense that Akio agreed with him--I
mean, he also finds Utena fascinating, but I don't think she shakes his
core beliefs. Shakes something else, maybe, but not his beliefs. Akio's
too set in his jadedness to consider another world view. But thus we
see a difference between Touga and Akio. This episode I think made me
respect Touga more the first time I saw it, or maybe at least like him
for seeing what he actually thought of someone (and then I saw what he
did to Nanami in the following episodes and forgot about this. But
that's then and this is now.)
And finally we have the Mrs. Ohtori scene. Not much to say on this
except to show that Akio is SOOOOO bad (and so good at being bad), and
that Mrs. Ohtori has really cool hair.
And that's all I can think of and look! It's time for bed. Questions,
comments, flames, love letters, and recipes all welcome.
=====
Death Quaker!
Shiori's Prince
http://www.deathquaker.org