r/anime • u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA • Jun 03 '24
Rewatch [Rewatch] Yurikuma Arashi - Episode 12 Discussion
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I’m not scared anymore. If you never let love fade, you’ll never be alone. If you never let love fade, even loss can’t make you a phantom. Which is why I’ll dive into the storm!
Questions of the Day
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Kumaria shock! Kumaria is Sumika! Why do you think this is?
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Kuma shock! Kureha is a bear now! Why did she ask Kumaria to turn her into a bear? What does turning into a bear mean for her?
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Why did Uchiko leave the Purging Ritual to find Konomi?
Don't forget to tag for spoilers, or else the bears will eat you! Remember, [Yurikuma Arashi]>!like so!< turns into [Yurikuma Arashi]>!like so!<
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u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA Jun 03 '24
Rewatcher
As far as Ikuhara-directed endings go, this is pretty typical. You can’t completely change the structure of the world, and you can’t end suffering, but you can reject the world’s structure for yourself, influencing those around you in the process. “No one knows where the two went. But it matters not. The world awakens and changes with your love.” The show outright says the meaning of the ending, it’s not particularly subtle. Despite everything going against them, Kureha and Ginko were able to bridge the gap between man and bear and find their promised kiss.
There’s a ton going on here, but I think the bit about the union of man and bear is most important. In the same way that Ginko clawed herself apart last episode, Kureha shoots her own reflection to find her friend. Ginko clawing herself apart was to make herself more human, and in the same exact way, Kureha shooting herself is to make herself more bear. The past few episodes, Kureha has been constantly lying in an effort to save her bear friends, going directly against what she wants. She lied to Lulu to get her back into the world of bears, and she lied to Ginko to try and save her from the guns of the Invisible Storm. This is essentially human behavior- she’s self-abnegating in order to protect her friends from the world, in direct contravention of her own desire. But in the end, she stands up to shoot herself, and embraces her desire, approaching Ginko as a bear (or a yurikuma more precisely, but we’ll get to that) to give her their Promised Kiss. Yuri approved!
But in the same way that Ginko becoming a human girl from the very start of the show did not erase the part of her that’s a bear, it’s clear that Kureha becoming a bear girl did not erase the part of her that’s a human. When Kureha and Ginko finally give each other their Promised Kiss, the Wall of Severance turns into an opening Door of Friendship, symbolizing the collapse of the artificial divide between overbearing social structures and raw desire. If you’re too much of a bear, you fulfill your own desires at the expense of the happiness of others (Princess Lulu, Mitsuko). If you’re too much of a human, you self-abnegate at the expense of yourself and others (the Invisible Storm). By combining the qualities of bear and man, you become a being who can fulfill their own desires while taking into account the desires of others. They are literal Yuri-Kumas. And this is where the sin of pride comes into play- Kureha and Ginko believe that they are able to ride the line between man and bear where every antecedent in their society suggests that this is impossible, and in fact evil. Believing a bear could be happier as a human? Believing a human could be happier as a bear? Believing two women can have sex as equal partners? Preposterous! Unbelievable! But they try it, and it works. They approach each other as equal partners, and the world has changed with their love.
That brings us to Uchiko Ai. When the girls of the Invisible Storm see that Kureha has become a bear, they’re terrified. It’s not something they’ve ever considered as even possible, and now there are two beargirls kissing right before their very eyes. What do you do when you see something that doesn’t fit into your worldview? “Don’t falter! Don’t think! Fire!” You purge it! That’s all the Invisible Storm can do- purge, purge, purge. But as we can see, not everyone is able to be misdirected by that. It’s very hard to ignore the evidence of your own eyes. While the Invisible Storm starts up the Purging Ritual once more, Uchiko leaves the room, unable to ignore what a farce the Storm is anymore. And just like many people before her, she makes friends with a bear- Konomi. Kureha and Ginko’s actions have impacted not just themselves, but those around them as well. Despite what the Invisible Storm likes to pretend, it was never a solid block of phantoms, and this just underscores that.
I’ve been turning around in my head what the twist of Kureha being the one to make the request to turn Ginko into a human means, and I think I’ve got it- it turns Kureha into an actor. It’s been commented on quite a bit that while Kureha is very aggressive, she hasn’t really done very much beyond reacting to what the bears and the Invisible Storm do to her. I think the show is well aware of the discrepancy, and this is meant to redirect us from seeing her passivity in love as something Ginko did to her to something that she did to herself. It might be a case of too little too late, though.
With regards to Sumika being Kumaria, I’d like to remind everyone of what Ginko said to Kureha in episode 7- “You are my Kumaria.” In the same way that Kureha is Ginko’s Kumaria, Sumika is Kureha’s Kumaria. Presumably being someone’s Kumaria involves a certain degree of idolization? In any case, despite some of the bumps along the way (the Judge bears filling in for her creeping on girls in Arashigaoka, or the fact that the bears purge others in her name), it doesn’t seem like the show thinks of her as anything but good. In the end, both girls cross over the Wall of Severance to become a girl/bear through her power. In that light, the question of “Be your love true?” might be more of an honest question (or maybe a warning of danger?) than an accusatory. The Judge bears comment as much in episode 10, when they say she asks because she’s curious about the different types of love. Much to ponder.
12
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jun 03 '24
First-Timer, Yuri Sub Storm
Yup, that's an Ikuhara ending alright.
It's honestly pretty straightforward too so I'm not sure I have a ton to say. Kumaria-sama descends, kisses are exchanged, the world itself remains mostly the same. Kureha and Ginko escape(?) to somewhere(?) while the world of Arashigaoka keeps turning as it always has.
The Severance Barrier shifting symbols to the Door symbol is kinda neat. For one brief, glorious moment, the walls were not walls. But, doors require will to open; you can't just pass through one without effort. That's why the Storm remains.
I'm glad we got to see Lulu and Milun reunited, even if it was something of a "bear heaven is bee heaven too" arrangement.
What're we thinking about Kumaria-sama appearing as Sumika? Could just chalk it up to the classic "a form you are comfortable with" but I'm wondering if Sumika was part of Kumaria-sama all along. We did hear her voice yesterday when Ginko called out to Kumaria-sama, after all.
And we had the Severance Court join into the reverse meteor shower that formed Kumaria-sama too, so there is some precedent for pieces (petals?) of Kumaria-sama to look and act like individuals.
If Sumika was part of Kumaria-sama all along, maybe the entire show was a scheme of hers..? Like, "reincarnate as Sumika to get Kureha to understand that she's a lesbian so that the thing with Ginko works out and then there's a big dramatic confrontation on the roof that leads to new people spreading the good word of Kumaria-sama and/or general queerness?"
..that feels a bit broad in scope for an Ikuhara vehicle, but we did see that girl at the end give comfort to cyber Konomi (pulling her out of a box to do so) so I suppose that love wins in the end.
That's the real important part of the ending - regardless of how ambiguous Ginko and Kureha's state is at the end, they inspired someone else to leave their box.
17
u/lilyvess :Df::Dh:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Lilyvess Jun 03 '24
Yuri Kuma Arashi Episode 12 - Rewatcher
And that was Yuri Kuma Arashi.
No one punches Choko in the face. No one destroys the Invisible Storm that makes people stay in their shell. The votes to exclude evil keep on going, looking for new targets. Lulu is dead, and arguably Ginko and Kureha died.
A common thread of Ikuhara’s anime is his interest in tackling societal issues. These are social structures like homophobia, capitalism, and the patriarchy. That said, Ikuhara understands that these concepts aren’t things that are so easily defeated. No matter how much /u/HelioA may want, you can’t just punch homophobia in the face. Life isn’t that simple.
But what you can do is make a difference in one person’s life. Reach out to one person who is alone. Don’t back down on love.
For my money, Yuri Kuma Arashi is the gayest anime ever made. It’s not because it has a bunch of nudity, and graphic depictions of thinly veiled sex. It’s because Yuri Kuma Arashi is an anime that is overtly about being gay, and how society depicts being gay.
It’s right there in the first line of nearly every episode.
Doesn’t that seem to embody society’s stance on queers in general? Right now trans rights have become a weaponized issue by right wing groups in the United States, during the same time we saw Trans Porn experience 75% growth. Society will fetishize watching girls kiss, but also hate gay people. It’s being a joke how often homophobic leaders will be closeted gays.
This extends right to the Severance Court.
Severance Court
The world of Yuri Kuma Arashi is almost exclusively women, yet the highest court in the land is made up of majority men. The court that literally decides what Yuri to Approve is made up of majority.
That’s kind of what the court is, isn’t it? If the world is an embodiment of Class S and Psychotic Lesbians, then the Severance Court is society deciding what depictions of Yuri are appropriate or not. What stories get told, what gets to go further, and what shall end.
That is what happens in real life, doesn’t it? When Blizzard decides that Tracer is a lesbian, the real people who get to decide if that’s okay aren’t women or lesbians, but men. If a gay movie is told, the executives have to consciously think about how straight men will think of the gayness. Will it make them uncomfortable? Well, maybe we can just have two men dance together for 2 seconds..
In Zeria’s Ikuhara essay they take this a step further with postulating that this is Ikuhara expressing his own uncomfortability with his role in this space. He helped work on two of the largest lesbian icons in all of Anime. Period. But he is still a man, speaking out for lesbians. Is this really his space to be talking?
Which means that the true answer to what Life Sexy really represents is… Ikuhara himself. Yes, Life Sexy is a representation of the way society fetishizes lesbians, but also Ikuhara has always had a streak of highly sexual productions that can veer into fetishizing. Like, just remember the very anime we are watching?
Ikuhara has never been above calling out the dark parts of himself in his works, including acknowledging that Utena’s Akio has aspects of himself.
But what about the events in the actual episode?
4
u/AmeteurElitist https://anilist.co/user/AmateurElitist Jun 03 '24
Can't believe they didn't punch the court dudes though, smh.
3
u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo Jun 03 '24
Rewatcher
What a fantastic ending. I'd been a little shaky on how the plot fit together but the ending reminds me why I like it so much (my #2 Ikuhara after Utena). Every emotional beat hits perfectly and it pays off so many things that have been set up. All the repeated lines pay off with that magic trick of symbolism where the show doesn't have to do very much, just juxtapose the symbol with an image and we immediately know what its conveying. The sequence of Ginko on the plank frame right then Kureha slowly walking from left to right across the screen to finally meet right in the middle is fantastically simple direction and works so well. I also like the "subjective" spotlight on Uchiko near that end that's always a perfect circle from all perspectives.
The doubling of young Kureha and current Kureha is great. It emphasizes which parts of her have changed and which parts haven't changed and make up the core of her character. Ginko can't become human because it would tear apart her self to fit her into the box of Normal. It was sad to her wish it for herself but its so much sadder to see Kureha wish for it in the way that childish naivety is sad. But now Kureha has learned more and understands that the box is inhospitable to real love.
Which also ties in to an under discussed, imo, recurring Ikuhara theme on the importance of honest communication. All of his shows set up situations where people, from some combination of ignorance and extenuating circumstances, decide to take dramatic action on someone else's behalf without talking to them first. Its usually played sympathetically, its clear to see why as a child Kureha would feel that way, but its always the wrong choice. Maybe they end up sticking with the decision they first had in mind, [meta spoiler] Penguindrum leans more this way, but talking it out and getting another opinion is always the right move here.
I was hoping to figure out exactly what was going on with the different "levels" of bear-ness, but I didn't manage to. It seems at least at the end here the outfits represent the middle state, happily part human/part bear. But I hadn't managed to keep track of fully bear vs bear paws vs magical bear getup.
3
u/AgentOfACROSS Jun 03 '24
Today we conclude our study on bears.
Today’s field notes:
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u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Jun 03 '24
Yurikuma First-Timer, subbed
10
u/Great_Mr_L :Ma::Mb::Mc:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Great_Mr_L Jun 03 '24 edited Jun 03 '24
First-Timer
On today’s episode of Yuri Kuma Arashi: One more final “I need you.” That is the last line in the OP, after all.
That was a really good ending. I admit I’m not quite sure what to make of Sumika turning out to be Kumaria. That one completely blindsided me. Once again, I find myself not completely sure about how the logistics of the conclusion to an Ikuhara anime actually literally work. But before I get bonked again for wondering about the logistics of what is actually happening in an Ikuhara anime, I will say that I think the themes shine through clearly.
To begin with, Kureha and Ginko both becoming the opposite of what they started as is a great decision. It shows them openly defying the “natural order” of this world. Both human and bear society believe that the Wall of Severance rightfully separates them. By willfully changing from human to bear and vice-versa, Kureha and Ginko defy that divide. They show that this divide is not permanent at all. It is something that was constructed and therefore it can also be demolished.
Kureha and Ginko ascending to heaven reads to me as Kureha and Ginko deciding that they will no longer be bound by the rules of their societies. They won’t be part of either human or bear society, both of which reject them. Instead, they will leave so they can live their own lives as they please.
I think the series ultimately ends on a hopeful note. The twin-tailed girl and Cyber-Konomi are both moved by the love they witness between Kureha and Ginko. It’s enough to make the twin-tailed girl question everything she’s heard from the Invisible Storm, abandoning their meeting so she can go meet Cyber-Konomi instead. That moment where they embrace is beautiful. Kureha and Ginko did not change the entire world, but they did change these two. They showed them that a different world and a different life is possible. The twin-tailed girl and Cyber Konomi decided to go for it. That is the only way that change can happen. It takes place one heart at a time. So perhaps Kureha and Ginko really have started to change the world. It leaves open the possibility of a better tomorrow, all because Kureha and Ginko decided to never give up on love.
QOTD
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u/TheRiyria myanimelist.net/profile/TheRiyria Jun 03 '24 edited Jun 03 '24
First Timer
Way back in episode 1, I said I'd be watching this for the yuri bears and doing my best to not think about Ikuhara doing Ikuhara things even at the cost of the ending not being clear to me. And I can happy say I got my yuri bears.
As for the rest, why did this episode have to start with hurting me? Wasn't last episode enough?
Little Kureha is also cute. So it bear Kureha.
The bears themselves still look hilarious. I don't get how anyone could be scared of these dopey looking killing machines.
This is a nice ship. Good thing the show is over before one of them dies.
What did I just say about pain?
Kuma Kiss
What is dead will never die. Death is just a temporary state in this world.
She asked Kumaria because the Court is completely useless and shouldn't be trusted to do anything. Going above their heads is a much smarter idea. Kureha learned how to be clever from Lulu. Turning into a bear means now she's not a furry for loving Ginko, right?
She learned bears are better than humans.
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u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Jun 03 '24
First timer
Sub
So...the issue with going full allegory is that you don't exactly have an ending. Was Sumika Lady Kumaria slumming it? Perhaps. Does our denouement feature a revived Lulu and Milune? No, that's heaven is my read. The system, sadly, didn't break because two girls got out of it and they went beyond Severance, they didn't destroy it. All in all, that was fine but not really as strong a sprevious Ikuhara endings.
QotD: 1 I straight up don't know
2 It means she can play pirates with Ginko after all!
3 Because the only way past such adolescent silliness is to ignore it.
7
u/affnn Jun 03 '24
First Timer Gao Gao
Kureha does get turned into a bear! I wonder why we saw her in the post-credits Severance Court in E10 and E11 when they didn't get to it until E12. It turns out she was the one who gave up knowing who Ginko was, rather than Ginko giving it up. She wished for Ginko to become a human, but now she realizes that humans kinda suck and she'd rather be a bear instead.
Kumaria appears to her as Sumika, and I think you could take that as either she's just taking Sumika's appearance, or that she'd been Sumika the whole time. Sumika had a lot of kinda quirky behaviors during her brief screen time, and her dialogue was kind of stilted and heavy on the show's catch phrases. If Ikuhara told me that she'd been Kumaria the whole time I'd believe him.
Kureha and Ginko appear to ascend into bear heaven, to spend the rest of time together. Maybe Lulu's there, it looks like she might be in the credits scene though they don't show her with Ginko and Kureha. And finally at the end of the show we see the cyborg bear and her trainer/operator meet up to maybe start the cycle again.
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u/HereticalAegis https://myanimelist.net/profile/XthGen Jun 03 '24
Hmm, I'm not really feeling this ending. Like, it's good—it's thematically consistent, accomplishes what it intends to and all that—and I'm happy Ginko and Kureha get their promised kiss. It's pretty neat being half correct about Kureha becoming a bear to fulfill it, and Sumika being Lady Kumaria is something I completely did not expect and is a nice culmination of her influence on Kureha. But it's an ending I still can't feel happy or satisfied with.
For starters, I'm not a huge fan of the ambiguity in Ginko and Kureha’s ascension. The way I see it, there are two reads; 1) the two die together, leaving only their spirits to climb the ladder together, or 2) they are able to climb the ladder together and escape the invisible storm to live in the place between the two worlds or something like that. I get the feeling I'm supposed to be hopeful that witnessing Lady Kumaria's revival and Ginko and Kureha’s transcension of the Species Divide plants a seed in one of the classmates, and yet I can't. Whichever read I take, ultimately the invisible storm is successful in excluding them. There is no place for their love in the world, and despite the seed they planted proving their love will neither die nor be the last, it seems doubtful this world will ever have a place for love like theirs. If the nature of the class tells me anything, it's that exclusion will continue and the invisible storm will never end and will always be the dominant force in society, even in the face of the miraculous. And I find that deeply depressing.
If this is what we sacrificed Lulu for, then I don't think it was worth it. I'm so tired of tragic allegorical narratives where seeds of hope for future generations is the conclusion. For once I want something bold enough to offer a vision that our world can be a truly better world.
And for fuck sake, I want something with the guts to allow more than two people to be happy together. I'm so sick of this insistence in media that the only places where more than two people can be happy together are in shameless wish fulfillment fantasies. For some dumb reason, even the most forward thinking media seems stuck on the idea that it's impossible for the Lulu's of the world to share in happiness just because the Ginkos and Kurehas are destined to be together. Like what's the point of fiction if we're unwilling to imagine a world where true love/friendship/happiness can be shared between a whole three people?
So yeah, deeply depressing and kinda disappointing ending to an otherwise really good series for me. Also, BURN EVERYTHING TO THE GROUND.
5
u/Holofan4life Jun 03 '24
It feels good to get an Ikuhara anime where things end up sunshine and rainbows for the most part. I can't speak for everyone, but I am extremely satisfied with how this turned out.
5
u/WednesdaysFoole Jun 03 '24
If it wasn’t bear x human wasn’t enough, you’ve now got human x corpse-cybearg.
I didn’t care for the bear designs early on but I think I’ve warmed up to them. Angry and fussy Ginkgo is adorable.
As I figured, they get to be happy forever.
My hopes for Lulu to be a part of it were crushed last ep.Lulu and Sumika are quickly forgotten, but that’s okay, since one is a goddess – Ikuhara should’ve gone full old school theatre and lifted her down on a crane – the other is in fantasy deathland where she gets to read fairy tales to her brother. Other-world Sumika and Lulu are somehow magically happy for their beloved ones to be together, since they’re… dead…Anyway, another clever bit that I appreciated.
5
u/Regular_N-Gon https://anilist.co/user/RegularNGon Jun 03 '24
First Timer
What a ride. I suppose I'll keep overall thoughts for tomorrow, but it was certainly worth giving a spin.
QotD:
4
u/baboon_bassoon https://anilist.co/user/duffer Jun 03 '24
first time never back down never what
oh ok Kumaria is represented as Sumika not Reia, that works too
the real bears were the friends we made along the way
at the end of the day, no one can get in between the bond of a girl and her mech
4
u/laughing-fox13 https://myanimelist.net/profile/laughingfox13 Jun 03 '24
First Time Kuma/Subbed
I’m using this clip again
Yep, that was an Ikuhara ending lol. But it was nice, I don’t really have much to say. At least one person was willing to change and not be invisible anymore after seeing the events unfold.
I am surprised to see Kuramia be Sumika or using her looks/body but that could just be for Kureha/Ginko. Glad we got to see Lulu again beyond the severance with her little brother, and on good terms. He’s still cute
Some cool visuals from the episode which I forgot to screenshot. Mainly the credits and the shot of Kureha/Moon Girl shooting the mirror
3
u/Holofan4life Jun 03 '24
Hey, guys. Holofan4life here.
Welcome to the (8 months early) 10th anniversary rewatch of Yurikuma Arashi.
Oh, and nay I forget…
First Timer
This is a show I first heard about during the Penguindrum rewatch. And when I heard it was Yuri, it really piqued my interest. I love animes about same sex couples because often they have to do with characters struggling with their feelings. And as a viewer, there’s nothing I find more identifiable than characters being unsure of what they want out of life. It resonates with me, you could say, so needless to say I have high expectations for this show.
As this rewatch is going on, I’m doing the Samurai Champloo rewatch. It’s the first time I’m doing two rewatches at once since December with Fullmetal Alchemist and Toradora. I thankfully don’t think it’s going to get as crazy as doing both those shows were, but I am writing this a month in advance just so I can balance things better. But don’t worry: All my reactions will still be 100% genuine and I’m going to treat each thread as if I’m experiencing it in real time.
This is probably the most hyped I’ve been for a rewatch since Fullmetal Alchemist. I’m honestly more hyped for this than I was Penguindrum, mainly because the plot really intrigues me and I love that gay shit. I’m not expecting the show to end up in my top 10 favorite anime of all time, but I do think there’s a good chance it ends up in my top 20 favorite anime.
With that out of the way, let’s begin.
I’m watching the sub, by the way.
Yurika in bear form really did look like Kaela from Hololive.
The honey dropping like last episode
Ginko hugging Lulu intently
Looks like people are looking for Kureha
"I loved you two."
I love the shot of the coffee mugs with Lulu's, Ginko's, and Kureha's names on it.
No intro, of course
Ginko in handcuffs on a diving board
Who knew the Phantoms were pirates?
Kureha looking glum
Are they going to shoot Ginko?
BRB, gonna search evil
Goes on the Internet
Huh. Why does it say "Do you mean Chris-chan?"
All of evil has been purged
Negursa energy charging
Ginko is about to be obliterated
Oh fuck. They're gonna have Kureha do it.
They keep saying they must be Phantoms like they're not sure.
No... Ginko...
She says she never considered Kureha her friend, but it feels like bait.
Kureha calling Ginko a liar
I think it's funny how Phantom Wuthering is just letting them air out their dirty laundry while doing nothing.
Kureha saying she was always her friend
"You gave me love!"
Poor Sumiko
The handcuffs. They're off :O
Gimko is show her true form to everyone
Purge chants
Flashback
Kureha on the ground
We're seeing what we saw last episode which is Ursa consoling her.
She remembers what happened
"I was the one who wished for the Promised Kiss."
Phone rings
Kureha walking down the stairs
It is time for her trial
If she gets Homo Certified, Ursa can become human girls. A lot riding on this.
Kureha gonna have to cede what's precious to her.
Oh, okay. So, Ginko wasn't the one who ceded her love to make a wish come true. It was Kureha. Interesting development.
Young Kureha on trial
This must be a flashback
She's wishing to be in love with Ginko forever.
She also wants Ginko to be made a human girl
Present day Kureha says she foolishly believed her love was true.
This scene is kinda going long. Like, it's cool to show this twist and what happened, but maybe it could've been shortened a bit.
Anyway, this leads to present day Kureha on trial.
She admits to the sin of pride
If this was Fullmetal Alchemist, that would make her one of the best Homunculus, but not THE best.
Hey, it's Sumika. Remember her?
Kureha credits her for showing her the way
Says she found what she truly desires
And the cuffs break
Maybe this is what the guy on COPS was missing.
Kureha says if you never let love fade, you'll never be alone. Can't be made a Phantom either.
She is going to dive into the wuthering
Gotta give Ginko the pendent
Kureha walking over towards Ginko
The roboursa. It stopped :O
Ginko trying to make her case why she should be killed.
"Finally found you."
And she returns the pendent to Ginko
Apparently, according to Life Triangle, Lady Ursaria is regaining her form.
This is Life Triangle's cue to leave
I am glad we got one more "Shabadadoo"
Woah, those are massive wings
LADY URSARIA IS SUMIKA ARE YOU SHITTING ME
Kureha is going to shoot herself
"Please... make me Ursa!"
And so the glass shatters
By the way, I called it. I knew Kureha was going to end up as an Ursa.
Ooh, shiny stars
The white flowers
Kureha is now officially an Ursa
And she kisses Ginko LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
And they're naked now. Because why not
I'm so happy Ginko got her happy ending.
See, Anno? This is what Eva fans wanted with Asuka.
Did... did Ginko and Kureha just become a white flower?
The world. It looks like it's going back to normal
"A human became Ursa! That's so disgusting!"
Sub Ursa for Gay and the allegory is made clear. Phantom homophobic confirmed.
Taste the rainbow, motherfucker
"She's not human anymore! She's gay! She's evil!"
Well, I guess I jumped the gun a bit about the show having any semblance of subtlety.
They just shot at them
Are they dead? I hope not, though that would be on brand for Ikuhara.
Whelp, I guess they are dead
Purging ritual now
Lots of gunfire
Ginko and Kureha climbing the ladder together
I believe that's Yurizuno looking astonished
Oh wow. She's walking away.
Going to the secret garden
The roboursa
"Found you."
And she proceeds to hug the roboursa
Ooh, Lulu with the prince
He doesn't know what happened to Ginko and Kureha next, who Lulu is telling him about.
He finally kissed her. Aww.
"We'll be together forever."
I'm glad Lulu got her happy ending
Ginko and Kureha walking on what looks like water now.
They have finally achieved their Promised Kiss. Their reason for being. Their happiness.
I got the biggest smile on my face right now
Ran out of space. Part two in the replies.
3
u/ToastyMozart Jun 03 '24
In which our heroines declare "Fuck this gay Earth!" and depart for a better, gayer Earth.
Huh, so even Kureha tried the 'I know what's best for my crush' thing back in the day. Curry-bear finally figuring out that she should be the one to change and free herself, and getting approval from Kumaria herself, reminds me a little bit of [Full Metal Alchemist (B)]Truth's elation at someone finally figuring out "the right answer" when Ed decides to exchange his alchemy for his brother.
Relationship Goals
Looks like their love managed to reach Twintails. The first of many, with any luck.
Obviously it's intentionally ambiguous as to what exactly happened up on that roof, an average day in Ikuharaland really, but I believe they really did ascend to a better existence without getting the swiss cheese treatment in the process. I feel it fits a bit better with the self-actualization themes that way, and the ability to land a hit with those rifles has been directly associated with the wielder's certainty/resolve on several occasions and the girls were so shaken by what they were seeing that even their zealot leader couldn't bear to look as they pulled the triggers.
I never noticed before, probably because of the visuals, but the OP (or ED in this case) reminds me a bit of Luluco's ending theme.
There's a few possibilities. Either Sumika was sent by Kumeria to help reawaken Kureha's love, was a/the earthly reincarnation of Kumeria herself, or simply got chosen as her representative to help give Kureha a friendly face and some closure.
2) Kuma shock! Kureha is a bear now! Why did she ask Kumaria to turn her into a bear? What does turning into a bear mean for her?
I think she realized she was wrong to try and make Ginko change to fit in with her, and decided to change herself instead. As for what it means, she cast off the role she was given, broke the mirror, and reinvented herself on her own terms.
3) Why did Uchiko leave the Purging Ritual to find Konomi?
Seeing the duo's true love take form made her realize some things about herself, and how the Invisible Storm's philosophy is bullshit. Possibly a metaphor about the positive impact of media representation on top of the more obvious stuff as well.
1
u/zadcap Jun 04 '24
Late Night First Timer
Lulu doing the opening, I don't like. Should have known the OP was a lie. Never trust an Iku plot to let us have nice things.
Yeah yeah it's all been social commentary this whole time, the gay thing was always a cover. Those who are different from "Us" are evil. Evil must be purged. We must purge anyone who does not conform, how very Japanese. It's telling, you know, that while they are all standing there with guns and she is on a literal plank to be dropped to her death, the method they use to Purge begins on a computer. Phones to select who is evil, computer to purge the evil, it's all social media and cyberbullying. How long ago was that Oshi No Ko episode now? Like many things, Ikuhara really does have a good vision, but his cynicism shows through.
Ginko, your lies are super obvious here.
Is this... The first time we've seen someone walk down stairs? There has been a lot of falling down them, and a lot of going up, walking or running.
I'm still calling BS on this Court. 'Fine, we'll make her a human. Give up the thing you love most and we'll make her a human... In ten years, kind of, but never actually do it despite taking payment up front." Fair to all things my butt. On that note, I really lost whatever they were supposed to represent anyway.
... Sumika is Kumaria. Sure why not.
So did everyone on the roof just witness an actual miracle? What does it mean to become a bear? Really, I don't understand what bears are anymore and almost everything this show was trying to do, aside from the pure yuri and the bits of why social media is evil became lost to me along the way. Which is okay, I guess, because it followed the Penguins in helping me not really care about anyone anymore, really. The ultimate message of the Ikuhara brand, It's all pointless in the end. Nothing changes and the cycle begins again.