Dona Dona Dona Dona...
I am mildly perplexed by the level of technology in Revolutionary Girl Utena. Mobile phones and rotary phones and gramophones? Computers and telegrams? I suppose it's possible for all of these things to coexist, but it does seem slightly odd.
Also, I cannot believe there is an episode named 'Cowbell of Happiness'. That is ridiculous. The episode itself is also ridiculous, of course, but the title is possibly the most ridiculous thing about it. The cowbell didn't even bring that much happiness! (Those of you who haven't watched Utena: you know you're curious.)
Oh, episode twenty of Utena ('Wakaba Flourishing') is awesome. Utena! Trying to defend Anthy, but unable to use her sword against a friend! I love her so much!
And, er, I think the thirtieth episode ('The Barefoot Girl') may be one of my favourites. Even though it shouldn't be, because it is entirely about Akio being really creepy. Well, it's also about Utena being emotionally confused, and I do like emotional confusion, but the parts I felt compelled to watch multiple times were the 'Akio being creepy' parts. Apparently I enjoy it when Akio is creepy and sexual and emotionally manipulative. This worries me.
Also, I am becoming increasingly afraid of Anthy.
'Her Tragedy': I love the weird little details in Utena, like the statue that changes every time it appears in this episode. Is it symbolic? Is it just bizarre? In any case, it's pretty awesome. (The devolving butterfly in the Black Rose lift really freaked me out the first time I noticed it.)
I was actually terribly distressed by the reveal that Touga wasn't Nanami's blood sibling and the way she took it. I hope she recovers and they can go back to their 'caring (if sort of a git in every other aspect of his life) big brother/INSANE OBSESSED LITTLE SISTER' relationship. I love all fictional sibling relationships, it seems, no matter how unsettling and incestuous.
Well, all right, that's a lie. Akio/Anthy is possibly a little too unsettling and incestuous for me. (In the previous entry, I asked whether there was a single sibling relationship in this series that wasn't vaguely incestuous; as one is now explicitly incestuous, I suppose the answer is a slightly hesitant 'yes'.)
And then, of course, 'The Romance of the Dancing Girls' came along and invalidated much of what I just typed about Touga and Nanami up there. Although I suppose their relationship is still broken, so that holds. You're an evil man, Touga. (I am fascinated by the fact that he tried to kiss her after having misled her into believing they weren't related by blood. And by the fact that that wasn't what she wanted.)
Also broken: my heart. Nanami! I never suspected I'd end up feeling so sorry for the poor girl.
Are Touga and Akio having sex? I honestly can't tell. I suppose it's safest to operate under the assumption that Akio is having sex with everyone. (Even you?)
Also, I cannot believe there is an episode named 'Cowbell of Happiness'. That is ridiculous. The episode itself is also ridiculous, of course, but the title is possibly the most ridiculous thing about it. The cowbell didn't even bring that much happiness! (Those of you who haven't watched Utena: you know you're curious.)
Oh, episode twenty of Utena ('Wakaba Flourishing') is awesome. Utena! Trying to defend Anthy, but unable to use her sword against a friend! I love her so much!
And, er, I think the thirtieth episode ('The Barefoot Girl') may be one of my favourites. Even though it shouldn't be, because it is entirely about Akio being really creepy. Well, it's also about Utena being emotionally confused, and I do like emotional confusion, but the parts I felt compelled to watch multiple times were the 'Akio being creepy' parts. Apparently I enjoy it when Akio is creepy and sexual and emotionally manipulative. This worries me.
Also, I am becoming increasingly afraid of Anthy.
'Her Tragedy': I love the weird little details in Utena, like the statue that changes every time it appears in this episode. Is it symbolic? Is it just bizarre? In any case, it's pretty awesome. (The devolving butterfly in the Black Rose lift really freaked me out the first time I noticed it.)
I was actually terribly distressed by the reveal that Touga wasn't Nanami's blood sibling and the way she took it. I hope she recovers and they can go back to their 'caring (if sort of a git in every other aspect of his life) big brother/INSANE OBSESSED LITTLE SISTER' relationship. I love all fictional sibling relationships, it seems, no matter how unsettling and incestuous.
Well, all right, that's a lie. Akio/Anthy is possibly a little too unsettling and incestuous for me. (In the previous entry, I asked whether there was a single sibling relationship in this series that wasn't vaguely incestuous; as one is now explicitly incestuous, I suppose the answer is a slightly hesitant 'yes'.)
And then, of course, 'The Romance of the Dancing Girls' came along and invalidated much of what I just typed about Touga and Nanami up there. Although I suppose their relationship is still broken, so that holds. You're an evil man, Touga. (I am fascinated by the fact that he tried to kiss her after having misled her into believing they weren't related by blood. And by the fact that that wasn't what she wanted.)
Also broken: my heart. Nanami! I never suspected I'd end up feeling so sorry for the poor girl.
Are Touga and Akio having sex? I honestly can't tell. I suppose it's safest to operate under the assumption that Akio is having sex with everyone. (Even you?)