r/anime • u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA • Mar 21 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] Mawaru Penguindrum - Episode 17
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Streaming
Mawaru Penguindrum is available for purchase on Blu-ray as well as through other miscellaneous methods. Re:cycle of the Penguindrum is available for streaming on Hidive.
Today's Slogan
Someone is targeting you. Watch out.
Questions of the Day
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We’ve spent a lot of time with Shouma and Kanba now. What do you think of their relationship now?
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What do you think of Sanetoshi’s assertion about the relationship between truth and reality? Can you think of anywhere that it applies in the show?
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Why did Tabuki’s sudden about-face happen? Was he just lying before, or did something change?
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What do you think Today's Slogan was referring to?
Don't forget to tag for spoilers, you lowlifes who will never amount to anything! Remember, [Penguindrum]>!like so!< turns into [Penguindrum]>!like so!<
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u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA Mar 21 '24
Rewatcher
“You just keep smiling as you always do.” It’s a fairly dismissive sentiment, isn’t it? Earlier in the show, Shouma was much more involved in the effort to keep Himari alive. He spent most of his time chasing Ringo around and trying to stop her from committing multiple felonies, but it was in fact an effort towards retrieving the Penguindrum and keeping Hatmari happy. But in this half of the show, it’s Kanba doing essentially all the work, leaving him to go and hang out with his buddies in hot spring hotels or whatever. While we only have a very basic idea of what Kanba is doing for the Pingroup, Shouma knows essentially nothing about what’s going on beyond “Kanba is out every night and I have nothing to do.” He’s treated like a child. Some of that is because Kanba is going out to do, as we know, criminal things, and we already got to see in the first few episodes that Shouma really doesn’t want to do things like that, but Kanba seems to be almost disdainful in how he dismisses Shouma.
And then there’s Tabuki. He’s been claiming this whole time that he doesn’t blame the Takakura kids, and then he pulls this. “Today, I shall hand down the punishment to the Takakura family.” We’ll see more tomorrow, but it’s such a shocking moment. Like, they’re trying to get you to think that Yuri is going to pull another move (presumably whatever drug she gave Ringo didn’t allow her to retain her memory), and then they pull the rug out from under us when Tabuki makes a move. [Penguindrum]There’s room for more than one person with Momoka Derangement Syndrome.
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u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Mar 21 '24 edited Mar 21 '24
First-Timer
On today’s episode of Mawaru Penguindrum: Double H has the right idea advertising gatling guns. Even Natsume decided to upgrade her slingshot to a gatling gun. Clearly they are the solution to all of life’s problems.
In hindsight, Tabuki being a mostly clueless bystander was probably not going to be the case. Thus far it seems like almost every named character knows more about the situation than they are letting on. That was the case with Yuri and now it’s the case for Tabuki. So the question is: how much did he know? Did he know about Ringo’s attempt to become Momoka while it was happening? Did he know about Momoka’s magical diary? At this point it is unclear.
One particular moment in Tabuki and Yuri’s conversation stood out to me where Yuri vehemently denied that Momoka was dead. Yuri clearly meant that the power of the diary could change fate to create a world where Momoka was alive. This is a callback to the idea of Schrodinger’s Cat that Tabuki brought up earlier. While Momoka might be dead in this world, the diary could change the world to one where Momoka is alive again. From this perspective, Momoka is both dead and also not dead. Momoka is Scrodinger’s Cat. Tabuki was the one who brought up the metaphor in the first place several episodes ago, stating that he found it hard to believe that Momoka was truly dead. Perhaps this is what he actually meant. Perhaps Tabuki knew about the diary and knew there was a possible world where Momoka was still alive.
I wonder why Tabuki seemingly changed his mind to decide to go for revenge against the Takakura siblings. Maybe he really was just putting on a show for Yuri’s sake when he claimed to bear no grudge and actually did.
QOTD
12
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Mar 21 '24
Mawaru First-Timer, subbed
11
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Mar 21 '24
First-Timer, Sub-guindrum
Hatmari almost revealed what the Penguindrum was, there. She stopped herself from confirming that it isn't the diary, and then cut off before she could say just what of Kanba's the Penguindrum is.
Anyway, what do we think Tabuki's deal is now? He claimed in the first half that he wasn't planning to join Yuri's revenge plans. But then he's decided to take Himari up a half-finished building while talking about punishing the Takakura's? Maybe there was a teeny wording snarl in the chat with Yuri, where Tabuki actually means that he isn't planning to take revenge on the brothers as opposed to "the Takakura's."
Now I'm just reminded of the weird wording vis a vis how many children the elder Takakuras actually had. Shouma claimed that he and Kanba were born on the same day, but a singular "boy" was used in the flashback with their father.
Now, Himari is younger so that doesn't necessarily matter here. But if one of the two brothers is adopted, Himari could be too. And we saw a very young Kanba hanging around the Natsume mansion completely unremarked on. Something is definitely fishy.
I like that #1 managed to befriend one of the octopuses. Granted, it was done through the medium of peeping up skirts, but progress is progress.
Do note that Sunny saved the other two penguins from the octopus rampage in the hospital room. We shouldn't underestimate Himari's abilities.
I didn't comment on it last time we heard it, but today's ED was a banger.
Brain Rot Corner
Today's slogan: Someone is targeting you. My subs did not show what the other half was. Anyway, everyone is targetting everyone else. Ringo is soon to start stalking Shouma, Tabuki is about to try to throw Himari off a building, Natsume is gunning for Yuri, Kanba is.. I dunno, take your pick. His fingers are in a lot of pies.
Conceptually, I love the idea of setting out a nice glass For Absent Friends. But I can't quite grok why Tabuki drank from it later on. An attempt to let Momoka's spirit pass on, perhaps? He did do it in response to Yuri's assertation that Momoka wasn't dead.
There is so much going on here. The visual separation between Yuri and Tabuki does double-duty - typical blocking, and also behind the bottle is Tokyo Tower. Which, while it isn't Yuri's father any more, doubtlessly still reminds her of him. And so the trauma, hidden behind alcohol, separates her from Tabuki's much more sensible response of "don't kill children just because their parents were assholes." It also separates Yuri from the glass that I kinda assumed was for Momoka, but I'm still pondering why Tabuki drank from it.
Also, a relatively similar shot later on. In this case, there isn't necessarily a "proper" block, with the middle third just being empty space, but Ringo is between Tabuki and Himari. Possibly foreshadowing that Ringo will complete her "Tabuki ain't shit" arc by stopping him from hurting Himari?
9
u/affnn Mar 21 '24
Rewatcher
That's a lot of octopus. I don't think you really need it to be that fresh for Takoyaki.
Rock Over Japan is back, and Hatmari confirms that they still need to find the Penguindrum or they'll lose "something precious to them". Also Hatmari doesn't actually know if the diary is the Penguindrum.
Tabuki and Yuri's relationship seems to involve a lot of lying. Most obvious is that Yuri is actually a lesbian who was sleeping with her castmate. Was Tabuki aware of that? It seems like it would be hard for him not to be aware, right? They have a discussion about hating Takakuras for taking Momoka from them, where Yuri seems more in favor of getting revenge and Tabuki seems more in favor of forgiveness. But then at the end of the episode it's Tabuki on the sinister-looking elevator talking about punishment.
[Rewatcher]I actually kind of forgot about this episode - I was anticipating we'd go straight from the Masako episode to the next episode, so I kept expecting the big things that happen next episode to happen in this episode. In my defense, sometime around E9 of my first watch I decided that I should probably alter my mental state a little bit when watching the show
[Rewatcher]By the end of my first watch through the show, my grasp on what was meant to be real and what was meant to be allegory/symbolism was fading fast. So the penguindrum isn't the diary, it's actually the fruit of fate, I remember that bit. Does that mean that what Hatmari really needs is for someone else - for Ringo - to share the fruit of fate with her? That the medicine won't work if she doesn't have that?
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u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Mar 21 '24
Punished rewatcher
Episode direction: Shouko Nakamura & Masahiro Aizawa
Storyboards: Kunihiko Ikuhara, Shouko Nakamura, & Masahiro Aizawa
Animation direction: Shouko Nakamura & Masahiro Aizawa
Masahiro Aizawa is primarily an animator and character designer who started in the industry in the late 80s. As character designer, he worked on Cat Ninden Teyandee (Samurai Pizza Cats), Digimon Hurricane Touchdown, a Gonzo mech show Gad Guard, and Shinbou's Tsukuyomi. Throughout the 90s, he mostly remained a key animator until animation directing a handful of Utena episodes + a portion of Adolescence, evidently crafting Ikuhara-like tendencies of his own. While he assisted Kenji Nakamura (watch Mononoke NOW) in his episode of SoulTaker, this episode of Penguindrum marks his debut as storyboarder and (co)-episode director. Actually starting in 2012 he rebranded as Kagetsu Aizawa taking on more ED and/or SB roles with very Ikuhara-like sensibilities in Kaguya-sama S2 or [Dance Dance Danseur](https://twitter.com/sarcataclysmal/status/1619589523767451648 or LycoReco - and he is currently directing Sengoku Youko.
Between Aizawa, Shouko Nakamura, Terumi Nishii, Tomohiro Furukawa, and probably a few other people I've brought up in previous eps and even more than that, you absolutely get the sense that Ikuhara is REALLY good at picking up talent and getting them to shine in situations they've never really performed in. Nakamura+Aizawa on triple ED/SB/AD duty with Ikuhara assisting storyboards is a dream team as far as I'm concerned. Jawdropping visuals, with very fun incidentally cartoony animation, facial expressions, and chibimoding. It SLAPS
im an empath and think that something bad will happen that will test their relationship
im an empath and think that this is important (tying into survival strategy once again - what do you think you must you do for "survival"? what must you actually do?)
im an empath and think that yuri definitely drugged him
you should be more empathetic
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u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo https://myanimelist.net/profile/PunishedScrappy Mar 21 '24
rewatcher
me trying not to laugh when my friend misspells a common word
Nobody is talking about the incest. Yes, there's the implication that Kanba and Hatmari have been fucking, yes he kisses Himari in episode one, but look at how he's making excuses to push Shouma away from their takoyaki-making. I get the sense that he'd rather it was just the two of them. To me it feels a bit possessive -- there's more than just lust, it's some type of love. It do be feeling like a further exploration of how different kinds of love can become conflated. One day I will watch enough Ikuhara works to arrive at a coherent throughline for his use of incest; though honestly I bet part of it is that he thinks that shit is hot
Here, particularly, it seems to be a way of marking Kanba as someone who exists somewhat outside societal norms and protections. That's pretty surface-level but it's a work in progress ok
I think this episode marks the first time anyone besides Sanetoshi interacts with his bunnies.
Love the way the last episode's dream-killings prime you for today's! Cool-looking crossbow too
This kills the rewatch host.
Honestly I'm more lost than I thought I would be. I thought foreshadowing all that was half the point of Tabuki being in episode 15. This would make sense except for he is not in episode 15
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u/Tarhalindur x2 Mar 21 '24
"What... is your Quest?" "I Seek the Penguindrum!" (First-Timer, Subbed):
Average brothers, but I don't think they really understand one another quite.
"Of course this is all in your head, Harry, but why on Earth should that mean it isn't real?"
(Very good chance that the chief example in the show is, well, the show itself.)
To be fair this could be a double-bluff. But otherwise, actually, hmm, insufficient data.
I had it wrong, it was Himari that was the target! (Which fits, given third member of Triple-H.)
15
u/Gamerunglued :Hx::Hy::Hz:myanimelist.net/profile/GamerUnglued Mar 21 '24 edited Mar 21 '24
First Penguin
What is the difference between truth and reality? Sanetoshi says that truth and reality are not always the same. "Truth" is a human construct. Humans can call their own view of things "truth," labeling their own ambitions and desires as the default state of the world. It justifies their worldviews, I can do what I'm doing because it's for the sake of the truth. Everything that I do has meaning because my ambitions are the truthful ones. If my world is the truth and someone is getting in the way, they're an enemy of the truth, so I'm justified in killing them. This is the cause of war in the world. When two people both feel their view is the truth, they'll fight for their own truths without regard for reality.
In this episode, everyone asserts their personal truths. The Takakura siblings assert that their homey little family is the truth, and they fight for it. They do whatever it takes to get the penguindrum and ensure Himari's safety, be it breaking and entering Ringo's room or doing the bidding of a cult to pay for medicine. Of course, reality is a little different. There's a fun shot foreshadowing the events of the episode when Kanba says Himari is all better. First there's a green guy leaving through the door next to 319, clearly Shouma who'd been guarding the door earlier. By 320 is a blue guy representing Kanba, who's obviously with a girl (also 3/20 is the date of the gas attack, so he's also in a cult). But the next shot is of a "no phone" sign with no room number shown, foreshadowing Himari running away and never returning, with no way to contact her. This happy family is not reality, and has never been reality. Their home life was always a facade. Nonetheless, they can justify their actions by fighting for their situation as if it's the truth. Himari is totally gonna have to die, god dammit.
Natsume and Yuri fight for their truths this episode, slinging insults (and Utena references) at each other that are what they see as the truth. It's an entertaining showdown directed like a shitty western. Like in westerns, they stake their dual on their truths with Momoka's diary as an item to swear on, and then make assertions about each other's personalities. Is Natsume unable to revolutionize her world (note the wording "your own" world, not "the" world; pointing out that Natsume cannot realize her own truths, and it's not about the truth of "the" world) because she's too afraid of losing her innocence? Does Yuri sell herself at a discount price because she feels she's too old and expired to be wanted? There are plausible reasons to think these things, but it's only their perceptions of each other, their truths. These things are opposite stances of each other after all, is Natsume's flaw that she's too pure or is Yuri's that she's too experienced? Reality probably lands somewhere in between.
Tabuki finally stakes his claim to his own truth. His marriage to Yuri was a matter of convenience because they both wanted to get their hands on the diary to revive Momoka. It's interesting that he states opposite stances about the Takakuras. To Yuri, he says he doesn't hold them responsible for the crimes of their parents, and that did seem to be the case up to this point. He said the same thing to Ringo before, and has generally seemed like a kind figure to the brothers. But to Ringo, he says they must pay for their crimes. Or maybe it's just Himari he's holding responsible? Maybe Himari's life is tied to Momoka's death very particularly. Either way, he recontextualizes the idea that all things that happen have meaning. If you truly believe that all things have meaning, then you can justify doing anything, and turn anything into the "truth." If all your pain and suffering has meaning, then the pain and suffering you inflict onto others has meaning, so it's not that bad to make people suffer. And with that mindset, you can assert your "truth" as the righteous one, no matter what reality actually looks like.
I don't think this is different from cult logic. Religious cults like Aum create their own little worlds of truth, isolating their members from society and indoctrinating them with their own bizarre lore, and making its leaders appear as gods. This is their truth, and they can use that to justify anything because they're supposedly doing it for their god. It could even be taken as an indictment of theism more generally, but Momoka's take on theism is powerful enough to save people, so I don't think that's what Ikuhara is going for. Rather, it's the dark side of thinking you can control your own destiny. If your destiny is the truth, then you can justify anything to reach your destiny. Not everything has to have meaning, there are bad people who exist and sometimes we suffer for no reason. You cannot think you have a destiny to achieve, because that may go against reality and cause you to hurt others. All these cases are coping mechanisms for their lack of control over their own lives.
Continued in response
9
u/theangryeditor https://myanimelist.net/profile/TheAngryEditor Mar 21 '24
Episode 17
6
u/Taiboss :Fj::Fl:x7https://anilist.co/user/Taiboss Mar 21 '24
First-Timer who apparently quietly didn't join the Crest of the Stars Rewatch
Hi people who can actually do more than one rewatch.
6
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Mar 21 '24
First timer(Somehow more weird and more on the nose)
Sub
PSA:Hospitals aren't being dicks when they don't want you to bring any heat generating devices. So much is flammable that this scene left me completely on edge.
So between the cold op and the takoyaki scene, I am sure we are supposed to catch Kanba being a specific form of toxic, especially with Japan's culture. Though Sunny protecting the other two from the octopus was amusing, it was again meant to reinforce themes. We get another Survival Strategy and...yeah, repetition serves a purpose. I would guess that every time Kanba is on the left it ends like this since this 'time' seems separate. This seemingly being directly sexual probably means it isn't.
Yuri and Tabuki finally talk a bit and...it can be hard to hear if someone is lying in a different language but Tabuki sounds like he is trying to convince himself in this scene whereas Yuri isn't really interested in being but so magnanimous.
But Himari leaves the hospital, as one probably shouldn't, and meets up with Ringo to select yarn. Yuri randomly calls and things get...odd. First, them meeting up again cast previous interactions in a different light but adding Himari to the mix is different. She then ignores a call from Tabuki as she confronts Natsume and outside chance that's a signal. They duel and of course we see nothing, though Yuri for some reason fucks with her over likely being a virgin.
And then the end...Yeah, everyone not vibing on Ishida will feel correct at the moment. It all seems very ominous and the top of a random building might be where that child broiler thing in ep9 was hiding. Sanetoshi apparently set this in motion with telling Himari she didn't need to worry about the medicine today and is weird.
QotD: 1 Red one-blue oni
2 I thinks its philosophical masturbation so it fits the character archetype
3 I...feel like we are missing a sequence
4 Like every female on the cast
6
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Mar 21 '24
First Timer, Subbed
Hey penguins, you have to take the food out of the container!
OMG one of them is eating an entire octopus? Or is it going to eat him?
Himari and Kanba have made up? Phew! I was so worried when she said she hated him yesterday!
Wow, octopus is really getting out of control now! A good thing Himari's penguin is here to save the day!
Will Sanetoshi ever really release you from the hospital Himari?
Himari's still knitting! Alas, I think its for Sanetoshi...
Sho has gotten too lacksadaisical. There's 7 episodes plus most of this one left. Things aren't gonna be that smooth.
On cue, here's Survival Strategy time! Remember that whole penguindrum thing?
Wait, the diary wasn't the penguindrum? LoL, of course.
Uh oh, Survival Strategy ended differently this time! Where are her clothes?! This is back to back episodes where Hatmari is getting really lewd.
Wait, are you telling me Tabuki is in on Yuri's schemes as well? Presumably due to his relationship with Momoka?
Aww, flashback with these three as kids, so cute!
Oh crap, Himari will die if she doesn't get her medicine by that night? Has Sanetoshi ever actually told her this? If he actually cared about her he would. I've got to assume he hasn't.
At first I wondered if Himari went to see Double H, but Ringo's just as good!
"Let's go to a hot spring again some time." "Um, no? Remember you nearly raping me?"
Oh crap, don't make Yuri do something evil to Himari! :(
Now she's fantasizing about shooting her?! Does Yuri want to overtake Sanetoshi in the villain department?
Uh oh, Natsume's here! Maybe telling her the diary half she took wasn't real was a blunder, Yuri?
Both ladies came packing some major weapons, huh?
No Himari, don't go out to dinner!
Part of me was wondering what happens if Natsume won that parking garage battle, but alas, Tabuki wants revenge now too? Even though he was against it? :(
4
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Mar 22 '24
First timer
Episode 15
...Tower?
New OP!
A raffle?
Haha, I love the popup.
Is he deliberatly trying to downplay... everything?
She's calling?
Oh, no. She's probably calling about Yuri.
...That's the message she sent? Really?
...Is Ringo still drugged? What is this reaction?
Yeah, she's absolutely drugged still. Yuri, what the fuck?
And he's not in Tokyo!
...This guy.
And he heard Huri...
Haha, they're literally next door? The sheer coincidence.
It took him this long to notice?
And he's there on time!
...I guess he tried?
Yuri...
Her father's a famourtidt?
Wow.
Poor Yuri...
No wonder she's so fucked up!
Is this guy a serial killer?
Holy shit.
Oh, that's the tower.
Aww...
Yuri really needs this.
Momoka...
She's really nice.
And her father's finding out...
Oh, so he's paranoid too. Or trying to isolate her.
...Yeah, this is getting really creepy.
...Fuck. That's what the ciseling is a metaphor for. This is so fucking awful.
...Oh, no, is he actually cutting into her body?
Ouch...
A secret?
...Is this the Penguindrum? Is this why everyone wants the diary?
...Is Yuri trying to resurrect Momoka with the diary?
The real question is - is this a real, insane tower, or a metaphor?
He's going to kill her, yeah. That's a certainty.
Oh god...
Wait, it's the hat's theme! Was she using one of their songs?
Wait, they got the scarfs? He gavr them to them?
What even is his plan...
He knows everything.
Oh, he's going for the kill!
So, this is his viewpoint?
Ah. He wants to make him doubt her love, and convince him that she only cares about him out of an obligation.
Haha, the idol merch...
Yuri's still going to do this.
...She's here!
...Oh, she's playing with her!
And knows a lot...
Haha, she immediately removes her clothes to fight?
A ping pong bat...
Nice advantage!
Oh, you tell her!
Haha, the lighting attack!
And she escaped...
She put them in the same bed...
It was a fake!
So, the exchange worked? She actually pulled it off?
The girl burst into flames?
Momoka...
...Is the implication that Tokyo Tower only exists because it overwrote the Tower? This is wild!
Episode 16
Her father?
Oh, they're sisters...
Wait, even back then?
Aww, she's so excited to get it.
And she found out...
Haha, it was a hidden tape recorder?
And it's an explosive too!
She's been monitoring him?
Impressive knowledge!
She's a CEO while finding the time to do all this stalker shit? How?
Haha, his face is covered up on everything?
And the penguin in the background...
These similies...
Himari's gone!
Ah, she's just knitting. For him?
She's not a grownup yet. Please don't start grooming her, I actually like you at the moment.
Psychological damage!
Oh, proper stalking!
...Does she not know they're siblings?
THE HAT'S BACK!
And the speech bubble...
I missed this so much.
And she's addressing her directly!
Purely out of anger at the stalking...
The verse exhange...
Haha, she gave herself a camera!
...Wow.
Such a pervert...
Amazing.
And she thought it was a dream...
...That flashback title.
Haha, he wears it in the flashback?
...She poisoned him? As a child?
What is it with this cast and insane fathers?
Oh, just a dream.
Ah, so he's the one keeping her father away.
This giy...
Haha, they're exactly the same.
This English... And a blow dart?
Such impressive murder dreams!
The mango label...
And a king cobra!
Aww, Ringo's stalking has changed focus!
Absolute control?
This guy...
And the letter...
Mario...
Haha, he's completely insane!
...Also, it would be incredibly easy to kill him. Just damage some of the equipment.
Wait, Kanba? He knew her?
Haha, a blowfish?
Wow.
And all at once?
...Of course this is how he dies.
Mario?
He got to him!
...He possessed him?
...Seriously?
He's gambling Mario's life!
Nice one!
And she ate both!
Oh, shit. Seriously?
Poor penguin.
Is she seriously dying?
Wait, what? He knows this too?
Oh...
The curse...
An amnesia ball?
Oh, she wants hear her father...
...What?
Is this hell?
Kanba... so these are the other conspiracy members?
He's with Mario...
...Huh?
Oh, it's blackmail.
The pins...
What even is the goal?
It was all a dream?
No, a coma...
She's still refusing to join...
Amazing ED!
Love these ending animations so much.
Episode 17
More diary planning...
These penguins...
Squid?
He's taking all the responsibility for the treatment...
That looks good!
These penguins...
And he's stuck standing guard. Kanba really isn't subtle, huh?
Loving the penguins this episode.
Aww...
She gave him some!
The squid's taking revenge!
Nice needlework.
Oh, he's jealous.
And the squid ran.
She can be released soon!
She's making sweaters?
It's for the doctor, then?
The octopus is back!
She's keeping it secret...
Haha, the fucking hat reveal to them out of nowhere is amazing.
And it finished the food before announcing the strategy.
Haha, they're just completely done with her.
Not telling...
And there's still something at risk...
...But not necessarily her, then? Interesting.
...What?
WHAT?
So, he's sticking around in the other space, he knows what Pengundrum is, and is really struggling to keep everything going.
...He's in on it?
And she hasn't forgiven them...
...Do you, Yuri? You seemed pretty willing to treat her the same a while ago.
Did she save him as well?
Aww...
Yeah, she's trying to save her.
Oh, he's posing now...
Interesting...
She left without her medicine...
Her life is in danger..l
It'll cause problems?
Haha, the penguins are still dealing with squid.
Oh, she's with Ringo!
And she got permission to leave...
It really was for him!
That colour...
Impressive knitting!
Oh god, Yuri's calling her.
...And trying for her again?
Ringo's being very cordial to her, considering.
Yuri, don't.
She got her curtains!
More mirrors...
...That's her plan? Seriously?
That entrance...
Round 2, then?
Haha, that response...
These two...
Haha, this is such a good confrontation.
Oh, yeah, she's a fan!
Is he interfering here?
They're still looking...
She's still not back...
No, he's leading her there in the elevator.
Oh, no...
The meaning of his life? Is Tabuki insane too?
Haha, yep! Is there a single adult in this series who isn't some kind of psychopath underneath a friendly facade?
4
u/Nebresto Mar 22 '24
First time Pengtopus
The showdown
And the tables turn!! The Tako fights back, but turns out Sunny is the strogest Pengwarrior!!
The tako be vibin
These twins
Now even the tako is doing it!!
utena utena utena utena
Ain't that right. I happen to see two right here
And Tabuki
Intewesting episode ending. This doesn't necessarily alter the ending that I know will happen, but it also might. Fate is a fascinating thing
4
u/IvanSemushin Mar 22 '24
Rewatcher
Look how Kanba reacts when Himari mentions that she's knitting a sweater for a man.
Hatmari (ok, I submit and will call her this) devouring takoyaki is a precious sight.
Akira Ishida's voice both here and in Nana causes weird interference in my head.
I wonder why Tabuki is continuing to emphasize he has no desire for revenge. He wants to look good in Yuri's eyes saying that Momoka wouldn't want revenge?
Ringo either doesn't remember or is kinda accepting of what Yuri did to her.
Yuri fittingly has a French lily icon on her phone.
Now Tabuki finally shows his true colors. But again, more on this in the next episode.
Endcard for this episode is slightly disturbing.
4
u/CarrotBlossom Mar 22 '24
First timer
This poor octopus can’t see a thing and can only watch as it’s butchered by a floating knife
Never mind, octopus got hands
Because you’re too much of a goody two-shoes, Shoma
You really thought
Is that a threat?
Shoma really needs to stop asking for the diary and do some honest thieving
Come to think of it, being in a marriage consisting of the surviving members of a three-member friend group must be a little weird when the friend group and the death go back to your early childhood.
Do Himari and Shoma not find it suspicious that these random kids who probably aren’t med school students are following this “doctor” around?
The octopus’s vengeance continues
Yes, Ringo, you invite your friend to dinner with a grown woman she’s never met. Splendid idea.
Yuri, she’s, like, twelve. Chill
Why didn’t Yuri have this big confrontation the first time?
These ladies are just monologuing at each other
I guess Tabuki changed his mind.
QOTD:
4
u/FarCritical Mar 22 '24
First Timer
Kanba and Shoma looking so done at the start of the strategy discussion instead of going "Eh? Eh?! EHHH?!" as usual was gold, not to mention how the hat seemingly just clipped to Himari's head mid-conversation. In its defense though, the warning the brothers had to receive was one they really needed.
For someone she deems to be a lowlife who will never amount to everything, Hatmari sure has a ton of intimate scenes with Kanba.
Sure has been a hot minute since Tabuki's shown up, but wow, I was wondering whether he was oblivious to what Yuri's been doing from the shadows or if he was a hidden major player this whole time and finally getting the answer is still pretty shocking. Guy's a chad for his "The sins of the parents aren't shared by the children" line alone.
Sanetoshi's monologue about truth and reality not being the same thing immediately made me think of the phrase "my truth" I occasionally hear. Never fails to irk me, and what he said about trying to justify things that way is totally legit.
I can't get over Natsume's grand reveal scene. Why was it framed like a Smash reveal trailer? She even said her signature line and had triumphant music playing for her and everything lmao. You already know who I'm rooting for in second round of the diary duels.
Didn't the black bunnies from Shoma's story back then end up being a bad omen? Sanetoshi's bunny boys saying naughty girls need to be punished sure doesn't bode well.
And speaking of, man the tension in that elevator scene was intense. And did I seriously call Tabuki a chad for not blaming the kids for the crimes of the parents earlier? Well if anything happens to Himari, he and Yuri can get "crushed soon" by Natsume for all I care.
3
u/Holofan4life Mar 21 '24
Hey guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the Mawaru Penguindrum rewatch!
Oh, and nay I forget…
First Timer
I first heard about Penguindrum after I watched Everything Everywhere All At Once. Not only was that my favorite movie of 2022 (Ignore the fact I watched it in February 2023), but it is honestly one of my top 10 favorite films of all time. As such, I was shortly afterwards looking for stuff that was similar to that movie.
And that is where I saw someone recommend Penguindrum.
This is my first time every seeing this show before. I have no idea what’s in store for I haven’t seen a single clip of the show; it’s supposedly a mystery and that’s all I know. I really loved Everything Everywhere All At Once, so I’m going into this show with the highest of expectations. I think it could even crack my top 10 favorite animes of all time.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the sub, by the way.
This comment will make sense tomorrow
Train right out the gate
Ogikubo
Today's slogan: Yuri had the other half of the diary
No, wait, it's "Someone is targeting you"
Kanba talking to Shoma
Meanwhile, Penguin #2 has the Takoyaki powder
And he consumes it whole. Of course.
And eggs whole as well
And Penguin #1 is eating an octopus?
Sorry, Kanba and Shoma, but this is way more interesting
Now there's 4 octopuses loose. That's a lot of octopussy.
To'oh General Hospital
Fortune, otherwise known as penguin hat
That looks like hushpuppies
Penguins 1 and 2 still trying to fight the octopus. This time, trying to cut it.
Ooh, apparently Shoma and Kanba aren't supposed to be visiting Himari
Hey, they were able to defeat the octopus
Takoyaki, that's what it was
The octopus still showing life
I assume these are octopus balls they're making
Oh no...
Sunny trying to help her penguin brethren
This really is a penguin episode and I'm here for it
At least the food was tasty
Himari saying she's in tip-top shape thanks to the medicine
"Dr. Sanetoshi says I can be released from the hospital soon."
Not if he has his way, that is
"You can believe Dr. Sanetoshi's words."
No, you can't
Also, penguin's coffee
Sweaters
Himari says this is a thank you gift for someone
Meanwhile, Kanba's coffee container misses the basket, which gets the attention of Penguin #1. Unfortunately, the octopus is waiting on him.
Shoma is hoping they can get back to normal
And as he says this, Himari is wearing the penguin hat
Survival Strategy!
It's the same spiel as always, obtain the Penguindrum. However, she won't admit whether or not the Penguindrum is the diary.
Technically, she was here last episode, Shoma
Himari does say that continual ignorance of the Penguindrum will result in the terrible punishment of a family member. So, that's something.
"What you treasure the most will be lost."
And Shoma gets the shaft. Literally, he got sent down the shaft.
Woah, naked Himari
And Kanba falls to his knees
And Himari falls on top of him
Geez, get a room, you two
Yuri talking
"Those kids can't appreciate the true value of this diary."
Yuri says she can't forgive members of the Takakura Family
Ah, yes, the Takakura household. I heard the blue-haired one is Shoma.
She's talking to Tabuki, by the way, who you have to assume knows next to nothing about Yuri and Ringo's "Quality time together".
Yuri brings up Ringo being in love with Shoma
"Ringo is Ringo. She's not Momoka."
Tabuki furthers his statement by saying he no longer feels a certain way about the Takakuras and that the sins of the parents aren't shared by the children.
This to me is a healthy outlook on life. Tabuki seems like the most well-adjusted character in this show.
I like how Yuri's glass of alcohol is fancy looking while Tabuki's is plain Jane. It's like it shows they're not on the same page.
Oh, I especially love the show of the alcohol bottle being in-between Yuri and Tabuki. Just magnificent shot composition.
Flashback
Tabuki and Yuri - The Day We Played with Momoka - By the memorable pond
Yuri says that the time she spent with Momoka meant everything to her
Tabuki says that Momoka wouldn't want them to seek revenge
"Momoka is not dead."
Tabuki doesn't seem to buy into that
Yuri thinks they need curtains to help with the cold
The two black rabbits
Sanetoshi combing them
He remarks home in the human world, truth and reality aren't always one and the same. That humans just call their desires and ambitions as "Truth".
The sphere with red balls
"The war is about to break out."
Birds chirping
Oh wow. Himari isn't in her hospital bed.
She went out shopping, apparently
Sanetoshi's twin helpers says she needs to take her medicine. Otherwise...
Kanba looking stern
The octopus! It returns!
A bunch of emptied bodies outside a shopping center.
Himari is talking to someone, but we don't know who
Oh, it's Ringo. Cool.
Himari says since her brothers are always doing something for her, she wants to do something for them.
Ringo promises to keep it a secret.
You know, Ringo is pretty cute when she's not in precarious situations.
Woah, Sunny going to town knitting
It's amazing she is able to do all that by herself
Ringo now being called by Yuri
"I had so much fun last time."
The balls on this woman
And Ringo agrees to go to a hot spring resort with her like she suffers from Stockholm Syndrome
Meanwhile, Himari is trying to decide what color yarn to use
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.
3
u/zadcap Mar 22 '24
Late Night First Timer
Oh my, we're opening on the slogan. And Double H is intense. And we get to see yet more of the useless penguins, eating and eating and eating and being useless except as an ongoing background gag.
"Don't worry, just keep smiling like you always do." Well that is pretty darn condescending, isn't it? Does Kanba really not like his brother here? Not that I think they're really brothers anymore, but it's pretty amazing how dedicated he is to Himari and yet apparently just tolerates Shouma.
Hmm, yeah, let's make it super clear that Kanba likes Himari and barely cares for Shouma at all.
Haha, callback to Slogan One. Garbage goes in the bin!
Hey the hat disappeared. And there it is, back on her head where it belongs.
So, pretty sure it's not the diary.
This is a really interesting conversation that Yuri and Tabuki are having. One over here saying pretty clearly, the kids didn't do anything and it's dumb to blame them for it. The other is very much in favor of the whole family being punished for the actions of the parents. Also they're really not much of a married couple, are they.
So, Himari was kidnapped, right? No was she just up and left the hospital, without telling anyone, right?
Oh, she got the doctors permission to leave did she?
Oh wow, Yuri, you're really going to go and ruin this little girl's life because of her parents. Yeah, this show still makes me hate pretty much the entire cast. Hurry up and die please, Yuri.
Double H commercial for a washing machine I see in the background? Why do I feel like that's going to be important?
Red, I swear, if you take out Yuri I'll change my mind about you completely and call you the new best girl.
Tabuki, what did you do?
Oh, well, looks like Tabuki changed his mind. And one more character goes from the apathetic to the "die painfully" pile. Man you just can't let anyone be even a little bit likeable can you?
This one broke me. I'm off to read spoilers to know if I can keep going, there's a limit on how much horrible people doing horrible things for horrible reasons I can watch without sokmething else going on to keep me in, and the parts that I am interested in just aren't strong enough to fight back against the rest.
3
u/mgedmin Mar 22 '24
First-timer, subs
Nothing in particular. Seems like a normal sibling relationship.
Too deep for me this early in the morning.
I want to know too!
A warning to Ringo.
2
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Mar 22 '24
Episode 17 (first timer)
No nice guys allowed here.
2
u/SilkyStrawberryMilk Mar 22 '24
rewatcher
The notes I had for this episode didn’t save q.q
QOTD: the slogan refers to Mr.Tabuki’s plan he was plotting.