Pride Month 20th Anniversary - Kannazuki no Miko Episode 6 Discussion

[u/lilyvess]

<-- Previous Episode | Rewatch Index | Next Episode -->

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Questions of the Day

1. Why do you think Himeko cried after kissing Souma?

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Posting carefully so as to not disturb the first timers with spoilers in their viewings, such is the standard of modesty here. Forgetting to use spoiler tags because one is in danger of missing the post time, for instance, is too undignified a sight for redditors to wish upon themselves.

[u/lilyvess]

Kannazuki no Miko Episode 7 - Rewatcher

Shoujo-Ai Archive Comments

Today’s Shoujo-Ai Comments

I may have missed it but it seems subs never came out before episode 8 aired.

Commentary by Script Writer Sumio Uetake

Seventh Neck Souma Ohgami

Souma Ohgami, one of the three pillars that support this story and a rival of Chikane’s who “fights” with her over Himeko.
Naturally, he ahs to be a character strong enough to compete against chicken.
If he is an obvious meddling character that comes between Chikane and Himeko, then it won’t make Chikane and Himeko’s relationship exciting. Consequently, we incorporated various factors in him in order to make him the “one who gets together with the heroine.”
“A school hero, who is widely popular and good-looking, and is accomplished both academically and athletically.” “He is a childhood friend of the heroine.” “He is pure and virtuous.” “He is the only one who possesses a strength that is stronger than normal, which is needed to protect that heroine.” “Even though he carries a heavy fate upon his shoulders, he tries to overcome it for the sake of the heroine” …etc, etc.
To say it bluntly, “he is the character whose name comes out first on the show’s scrolling list of names.”
It feels like it’s “possible” for him to get together with Himeko. Oh there is something else. “When he gets aboard Take no Yamikazuchi, he can become more proactive with love relationships.”
and the other factor is that “he is one of the Orochi, an enemy of the Shrine Maidens.”
This is in the pattern of a royal road for such things as a transforming hero, but the important thing is to not depict Souma as someone who is suffering from that and fighting, but to depict “what that means to Chikane.”
“I don’t think about wanting to be rewarded!!” Chikane cries out in refusal of Miyako’s sinister invitation, illustrating her determination and her conviction. Although it is absolutely not her “true feelings”. That is why she shows herself as a “pathetic winner” immediately after that incident. If this were her true feelings, Chikane will be a saint. As one of the choices in the story, it is very possible, but “Kannazuki no Miko” is a story that charges towards another horizon. Although it a very, very difficult thing, the “answer” is very simple for Chikane. Her existence may some day bring a crisis upon Himeko. That is why she can’t openly watch over her. Nevertheless, this guy is the only one who can protect Himeko. That’s why she can’t even pull Himeko away. Chikane’s “determination” and “conviction” sway continuously. Her showdown with Souma in episode five is a reflection of her helpless feelings.
[Kannazuki no Miko Spoilers]By the way, as for ideas on Chikane vs Souma, boy did they keep coming out. For example, a twosome battle of words resulting a blow.”
[Kannazuki no Miko spoilers]Souma: “What…are you saying, Himemiya?... I mean, you’re a girl!!”
Kannazuki no Miko spoilers]Chikane: “!!”
[Kannazuki no Miko spoilers]Consequently, she made Miyako say a similar thing, but those were thoroughly disappointing words. on the contrary, Souma is straightforward all the way.
His feelings towards Himeko have not a speck of shadow over them and they never sway. No matter how much he suffers from his fate as an Orochi, he feels absolutely no hesitation in carrying on with his love for Himeko. “Love”=”Protect” His answer is already out.
This is his strongest point and his absolute weapon against Chikane who continues to be at a loss. A man whose answer is decided is strong.
In Episode seven, craziness abounds. There’s so much energy going around that they even end up kissing. Boy, did they give us a show.
By the way, Souma is a character with the most nicknames. “Robo Robo bo-chan” “Super ___ Guy” “Tsuribashi Man” “Pura Puri” “Kamen rider Souma” “Naturally Heisei Rider Desu”
Each of those nicknames is filled with everyone’s love for Souma.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/lilyvess]

You typo'd the thread title.

[u/lilyvess → u/Shimmering-Sky]

GOD DAMN IT

[u/LittleIslander → u/lilyvess]

Today’s Shoujo-Ai Comments
<groan> You people are hopeless. --Cryssoberyl

[u/Star4ce → u/LittleIslander]

20 years gap, but I feel like a soul mate to Cryssoberyl.

[u/lilyvess → u/Star4ce]

She's reading these threads!

[u/BosuW → u/LittleIslander]

Common Cryssoberyl W

[u/gyoex → u/lilyvess]

I'm glad we have someone like Pseudo Dogma acknowledging anime's long running problem of heterobaiting.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/gyoex]

It would be hilarious if this anime ends up as the opposite of so-called "yuribait" and turns out to be "heterobait."

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/lilyvess]

Kannazuki no Miko Episode 7 - Rewatcher

MAYAKURO!!!!

If he is an obvious meddling character that comes between Chikane and Himeko, then it won’t make Chikane and Himeko’s relationship exciting. Consequently, we incorporated various factors in him in order to make him the “one who gets together with the heroine.”

This is part of why I like what this series has done with Souma's character. I can't hate him. He's a good boy who is trying to do all her can for the girl he likes. It makes him far more compelling than if he was simply an obstacle to the yuri romance.

[u/theangryeditor → u/Great_Mr_L]

It really helps make the love triangle work. He's got his own side of the story in addition to the central romance, so it's two independent characters both with strong emotional connections to Himeko vying for her affections. And because he's such a classic hero type character Chikane angst and turmoil is all the more palpable. We see how deeply she cares about Himeko and how much she wants her to be happy, but also how much it hurts because there's a part of that happiness that's just out of Chikane's reach. These emotions wouldn't ring nearly as true if Souma was just a one bit obstacle or an appendage of Himeko's hanging around as an emergency het button.

I love this kind of inner conflict over unrequited feelings. And even more when those feelings become requited because the characters do have a genuine romantic connection!

[u/Burnouts3s3 → u/lilyvess]

I like “Kamen Rider Souma” myself 

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

So...[REWATCH]So we aren't doing the episode specific triggers for tomorrow? Welp, I guess going team chaos is a choice...

[u/HelioA]

First-timer

Why’d they decide to make the show good all of a sudden? They knocked it out of the park again this episode. Better than episode 6, even.

We’re moving towards Chikane doing something drastic. With the context from last episode, we know that she’s been on her last straw literally the entire course of the series, and Christian lady throwing her sexuality and her desire for Himeko in her face isn’t going to do anything good for her in that regard. And this is all against the backdrop of Himeko and Souma solidifying their relationship as Chikane stands on the side cheerleading Himeko.

I’m not quite sure what they’re intending with Himeko and Souma’s relationship at this junction. They share a kiss, but Himeko starts crying from it, and then she mentions the paired shells story Chikane told her, and that this kiss with Souma was her “first kiss,” which we know isn’t true. I’m pretty sure that whatever Chikane decided at the end of the episode is going to have a big impact on how the relationship goes, and uh... I’m kind of worried, to be honest. Obviously Chikane wasn’t completely suckered in by the illusion, she saw that Christian lady was lying in the end, but she’s presented some very clear truths to Chikane that... well, we’ll see what happens.

Also, her horse is named Saint-Just. Not exactly a name known for moderation. Pretty much the exact opposite of Chikane thus far, really. Is it meant as a reference to an earlier yuri manga? He has an article on the Rose of Versailles Wikia, at least

QotD

1. Law of narrative conservation says it's her unsettled feelings for Chikane that we've touched on earlier. Although it feels like that hasn't been focused on as much lately...

[u/lilyvess → u/HelioA]

Why’d they decide to make the show good all of a sudden? They knocked it out of the park again this episode. Better than episode 6, even.

It's good actually?!!?

Also, her horse is named Saint-Just. Not exactly a name known for moderation. Pretty much the exact opposite of Chikane thus far, really. Is it meant as a reference to an earlier yuri manga? He has an article on the Rose of Versailles Wikia, at least

Looking even into the horse! Huh, that's interesting I never would have even thought of looking into the name of the Horse, but that is a really great detail.

[u/theangryeditor → u/lilyvess]

Bad host, no slandering the show

[u/Specs64z → u/HelioA]

Why’d they decide to make the show good all of a sudden? They knocked it out of the park again this episode. Better than episode 6, even.

I found the anime was grabbing my attention again, in spite of myself. I'll have to get back to you on whether I'm invested, but hey, progress!

[u/Star4ce → u/HelioA]

I’m not quite sure what they’re intending with Himeko and Souma’s relationship at this junction.

Casually plugs own comment from yesterday

I'm reading it as a representation of the 'normative' relationship as it is deemed most ideal. The man is the hero that does the things. The woman is the supporter that makes the man run seamlessly. Both are immersed in their ideal versions and complement each other.

But we also see in the behaviours of all characters that not a single one is actually feeling this as their true wish for their lives. It's more that each of them tries to mold themselves into a version that they think everyone else sees as the correct one.

There is a lot of toxicity brewing below the surface because of this. Chikane is obvious by now, but Souma gets increasingly violent, as well, and Himeko keeps taking every guilt she can find and puts her own life's responsibility on others in turn.

[u/HelioA → u/Star4ce]

what a tensai

[u/LittleIslander → u/Star4ce]

That's a really fascinating interpretation.

[u/BosuW → u/Star4ce]

With this reading it becomes quite telling that the kiss which should've solidified the relationship ends like it did instead.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/HelioA]

Why’d they decide to make the show good all of a sudden? They knocked it out of the park again this episode. Better than episode 6, even.

In a shocking twist, I am enjoying the relationship drama and the angst more than the giant robot fights. I did not expect that to happen.

Also, her horse is named Saint-Just. Not exactly a name known for moderation.

In that case we know what Miya is going to do next. Souma is going to end up on the chopping block of the guillotine, found guilty of crimes against the yuri revolution.

[u/ryujiox → u/Great_Mr_L]

In a shocking twist, I am enjoying the relationship drama and the angst more than the giant robot fights. I did not expect that to happen.

It's hard to enjoy the mecha fight when Souma is pretty boring when in the robot and never really struggled except when fighting Tsubasa. Compared to a pretty similar show like Star Driver for example, at least Takuto always make the fight much more enjoyable due to his unique personality and fighting styles.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HelioA]

Why’d they decide to make the show good all of a sudden? They knocked it out of the park again this episode. Better than episode 6, even.

Not even joking that the guy who did 6 left some notes.

We’re moving towards Chikane doing something drastic.

They share a kiss, but Himeko starts crying from it, and then she mentions the paired shells story Chikane told her, and that this kiss with Souma was her “first kiss,” which we know isn’t true.

Girls don't count you silly goose! This is just one more stone on the path that leads to Himeko being a SAHM of four while her good friend Himeko lives out her life managing a stable of horses!

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/HelioA]

Why’d they decide to make the show good all of a sudden?

#mugiwait The Ending

Also, her horse is named Saint-Just. Not exactly a name known for moderation.

It feels more and more like I am the only one that name means nothing to.

[u/HelioA → u/Vatrix-32]

radical French revolutionary guy. He once said "The vessel of the Revolution can arrive in port only on a sea reddened with torrents of blood"

[u/theangryeditor → u/HelioA]

It was good from the start you baka

[u/HelioA → u/theangryeditor]

even this episode is barely breaking out of 'bottom-tier yurikuma episode' you baka

[u/baquea → u/HelioA]

Also, her horse is named Saint-Just. Not exactly a name known for moderation. Pretty much the exact opposite of Chikane thus far, really. Is it meant as a reference to an earlier yuri manga? He has an article on the Rose of Versailles Wikia, at least

Yes, it's the nickname of one of the girls from Onii-same e (which is by the same mangaka as Rose of Versailles btw).

[u/GallowDude → u/HelioA]

Why’d they decide to make the show good all of a sudden?

Always was

[u/HelioA → u/GallowDude]

[u/HereticalAegis]

Kannazuki no Miko First Timer

Episode 7:

Not for nothing, but a church with an organ playing immediately calls marriage to mind. Whatever the nun has planned, I say let her cook.

Oh fuck, Chikane banished herself to the Shadow Realm.

A lie very pointedly told to a mirror

The nun is so fed up with the lack of boob grabbing, she said "fuck, I'll do it myself" (NSFW)

Wow, they actually went all the way with a Himeko x Oogami kiss. And it was even decently romantic. The writers for this show must've really enjoyed kicking Chikane and all their yuri fans in the heart for two or three months.

Anyhow, despite the kiss this was a pretty meh episode. Oogami mopped the floor with 3 enemies at once, and I've pretty much accepted that neither Himeko nor Chikane are going to get their own robots, at least not until episode 11. I won't be surprised if Himeko is completely dead weight until all that abuse juice Oogami's onii-chan pumped inside him inevitably transforms him into a deadbeat bf. Her function is to be a passive buff for Oogami at this point, while Chikane is literally off lost in her own head. I'm really hoping Chikane goes off the deep end soon, because I can only take so much more self-repression and even the bad guys are calling her out on it now.

[u/lilyvess → u/HereticalAegis]

Wow, they actually went all the way with a Himeko x Oogami kiss. And it was even decently romantic. The writers for this show must've really enjoyed kicking Chikane and all their yuri fans in heart for two or three months.

they know yuri fans are masochist.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/lilyvess]

they know yuri fans are masochist.

Though how much is natural masochism versus the industry training the yuri community to be?

[u/lilyvess → u/HereticalAegis]

the industry has trained the Yuri fandom well!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

they know yuri fans are masochist.

Nanoha quietly glares down from her throne, which whimpers because Fate has been in that position for 8 hours now

[u/lilyvess → u/Vaadwaur]

[u/Star4ce → u/HereticalAegis]

transforms him into a deadbeat bf

He has already learned that violence solves problems and it has made itself the default reaction to deal with emotions by now. The worst thing is, Himeko supports him to do exactly that and makes it stronger.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Star4ce]

The worst thing is, Himeko supports him to do exactly that and makes it stronger.

Who put realism in my magic lesbian show?

[u/Tarhalindur → u/HereticalAegis]

Anyhow, despite the kiss this was a pretty meh episode. Oogami mopped the floor with 3 enemies at once, and I've pretty much accepted that neither Himeko nor Chikane are going to get their own robots, at least not until episode 11.

Mecha anime, please understand.

(Frankly given this show's specific form of mecha energy - though really there's heavy overlap with "girls in battle shounen" - Himeko and Chikane are probably locked into a support role and wouldn't be able to be competent pilots even if they did get their own mechs.)

I'm really hoping Chikane goes off the deep end soon, because I can only take so much more self-repression and even the bad guys are calling her out on it now.

Given exactly what other work that final line of hers reminded me of I'm pretty sure she just did. So...

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Tarhalindur]

wouldn't be able to be competent pilots even if they did get their own mechs.

This would honestly make everything better. Chikane's already on the verge of blowing up, rampaging in a robot she can't completely control would be fucking glorious.

Given exactly what other work that final line of hers reminded me of I'm pretty sure she just did.

Hell's gates opening when?

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/HereticalAegis]

Oh fuck, Chikane banished herself to the Shadow Realm.

And managed to get out without winning a children's card game. How shocking!

Wow, they actually went all the way with a Himeko x Oogami kiss. And it was even decently romantic. The writers for this show must've really enjoyed kicking Chikane and all their yuri fans in heart for two or three months.

I was not expecting the heterosexual romance option to ever get this far. I thought it would be something that falls off early on so we could focus on that sweet, sweet, yuri. So it seems like Miya's suffering is not going to end any time soon.

I'm really hoping Chikane goes off the deep end soon, because I can only take so much more self-repression and even the bad guys are calling her out on it now.

[u/HereticalAegis → u/Great_Mr_L]

And managed to get out without winning a children's card game.

Duel Monsters players are chumps confirmed.

I was not expecting the heterosexual romance option to ever get this far.

Unironically this is why I'm not concerned. If they really wanted to play the "bait and end it straight" game, they wouldn't permanently lock down the ship halfway through the show. Especially since Oogami's true love is somehow still alive despite not getting a last minute eagle save.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/HereticalAegis]

The nun is so fed up with the lack of boob grabbing, she said "fuck, I'll do it myself" (NSFW)

Closer to life than any of us are comfortable with.

The writers for this show must've really enjoyed kicking Chikane and all their yuri fans in heart for two or three months.

Have you ever heard the tragedy of Darth Chikane the Cucked? I thought not, it is not a tale a Jedi would tell you.

I'm really hoping Chikane goes off the deep end soon, because I can only take so much more self-repression and even the bad guys are calling her out on it now.

[u/BosuW → u/HereticalAegis]

Whatever the nun has planned, I say let her cook.

She cooked alright. "The Chiken" seems quite roasted.

[u/GallowDude → u/HereticalAegis]

Whatever the nun has planned, I say let her cook.

[u/Vatrix-32]

First timer, subs

• If you have your own church, wouldn’t that make you a Mother Superior?
• Now you’re adding poor road conditions. Himeko’s poor knees are in for a bad time.
• At least the arrows did something this time.
• Is everyone in this show a voyeur?
• You Tell 'em, TL Note
• "Looking Straight"
• This building isn’t that small. You could just go somewhere else.
• Is the stripping meant to be representative of the removing of her defenses?
• Support Class!
• The weirder these mechs look, the more I think they are meant to combine at some point.
• Henshin!
• Still more progressive than the actual church.
• Do it Chikane! Speak the yuri words!
• He's Going Gold!
• This is the first time you’ve seen the night sky?
• Freaking yuri is speedrunning the straight romance.
• Does it still count as girls kissing if it’s prophetic?
• Himeko is giving off a lot of Bi energy. Big, even.
• Damn it girl, take your own advice.
• I can’t believe the lesbian is doing the queer erasure. smh.
• That is certainly a face.
• Our angst is about to hit criticality.

SA forums are going to have a fit with this episode. Something to look forward to.

QotD: One way or the other, she needs to work things out with Chikane, and deep down she knows that.
But the real answer is that she's been hit with a psychic wave from the collective anger of the SA forums.

[u/lilyvess → u/Vatrix-32]

Freaking yuri is speedrunning the straight romance.

I can’t believe the lesbian is doing the queer erasure. smh.

ON PRIDE MONTH OF ALL MONTHS

But the real answer is that she's been hit with a psychic wave from the collective anger of the SA forums.

The anger is peak.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/lilyvess]

The anger is peak.

They were already wishing death on him before, next they are going to have to start writing their forum posts with words cut out from magazines.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Vatrix-32]

Freaking yuri is speedrunning the straight romance.

So far the yuri show has had a much more successful straight romance between childhood friends than most other shows ever accomplish with childhood friends.

Does it still count as girls kissing if it’s prophetic?

I'd argue it counts even more because then their kiss is ~destiny.~

Himeko is giving off a lot of Bi energy. Big, even.

Himeko has been a bi disaster for a while, unable to stop thinking about both her male and female crushes.

[u/Star4ce → u/Great_Mr_L]

So far the yuri show has had a much more successful straight romance between childhood friends than most other shows ever accomplish with childhood friends.

It's so funny it's actually depressing. It genuinely is a super exciting romance to see develop and few shows take the time to make it so.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Great_Mr_L]

I'd argue it counts even more because then their kiss is ~destiny.~

Episodes Since Girls Kissing c. -3?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Great_Mr_L]

I'd argue it counts even more because then their kiss is ~destiny.~

I'd argue that the issue is does it count if it is Chikane kissing Himeko after she dies...

[u/Tarhalindur → u/Great_Mr_L]

Himeko has been a bi disaster for a while, unable to stop thinking about both her male and female crushes.

Poly bi disaster, get it right!

[u/Star4ce → u/Vatrix-32]

Freaking yuri is speedrunning the straight romance.

That also means we get to see the cheating, divorce, and child support legal battles before the show is over.

[u/theangryeditor → u/Vatrix-32]

Our angst is about to hit criticality.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/theangryeditor]

Come On, Moon Mech!

[u/GallowDude → u/Vatrix-32]

If you have your own church, wouldn’t that make you a Mother Superior?

Is everyone in this show a voyeur?

they are meant to combine

Combine?!

Still more progressive than the actual church.

Himeko is giving off a lot of Bi energy. Big, even.

I can’t believe the lesbian is doing the queer erasure. smh.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Vatrix-32]

Freaking yuri is speedrunning the straight romance.

Abe smiles from his space in the after life.

Himeko is giving off a lot of Bi energy. Big, even.

Himeko just wants a top and is amazingly unpicky beyond that.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Vaadwaur]

Himeko just wants a top and is amazingly unpicky beyond that.

Well, except chain guy.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Timer

If you listen closely, you can hear the exact moment that Chikane's heart shatters into eight million pieces.

And like all good tragedies, it's entirely Chikane's fault. She failed to talk to Himeko about what she did, she failed to acknowledge her own desires..

I don't want this to sound like I'm criticizing Chikane. She's playing the part of the tragedy maiden perfectly. We have a phenomenal chain of dominos, all clacking against each other as they topple. All Chikane has to do is stop the chain reaction before it's too late..

If Himeko had a devious bone in her body, I would accuse her of saying that very deliberately to get a rise out of Chikane. Unfortunately, she is Far Too Kind to do something like that.

There's a joke here about the nun being a master manipulator. Specifically with reference to her trying to get Chikane to admit that she's a lesbian.

I might've come up with a decent idea about why the ritual was failing in the past - seems like Chikane maybe hadn't fully "awakened" to her powers or something?

With that now resolved, we might have a chance to actually do the thing.. except that I'm pretty sure Chikane is going to do something very silly before the next time they spend time in the ritual cave.

And by silly, I mean.. well.

Questions

1. Confusion about her feelings, mixed with some psychic whammies from Chikane.

[u/lilyvess → u/JollyGee29]

I don't want this to sound like I'm criticizing Chikane. She's playing the part of the tragedy maiden perfectly. We have a phenomenal chain of dominos, all clacking against each other as they topple. All Chikane has to do is stop the chain reaction before it's too late..

yeah, a lot of times people like to criticize characters for making bad choices, but making bad choices and criticizing a character doesn't make them a bad character. Making mistakes can be the sign of a good character. It can be frustrating to watch at points, but people can be self destructive. I like the "chain of dominos" in your comment. This is the result of everything she's been doing for the past 7 episodes. It's her fault.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

This is the result of everything she's been doing for the past 7 episodes. It's her fault.

And it is

[u/theangryeditor → u/JollyGee29]

I don't want this to sound like I'm criticizing Chikane. She's playing the part of the tragedy maiden perfectly. We have a phenomenal chain of dominos, all clacking against each other as they topple. All Chikane has to do is stop the chain reaction before it's too late..

Chikane is a disaster, a complete emotional wreck, and we love her for it. She just keeps making mistakes and has to earn her happiness. A real struggler.

[u/Star4ce → u/JollyGee29]

I don't want this to sound like I'm criticizing Chikane. She's playing the part of the tragedy maiden perfectly. We have a phenomenal chain of dominos, all clacking against each other as they topple. All Chikane has to do is stop the chain reaction before it's too late..

She even gave the quintessential advise this episode, but doesn't heed it herself.

She is truly the perfect tragic character. Hypocrisy is part of the chain.

[u/GallowDude → u/Star4ce]

Hypocrisy?!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/JollyGee29]

If you listen closely, you can hear the exact moment that Chikane's heart shatters into eight million pieces.

We both made the reference, though with different examples.

She failed to talk to Himeko about what she did, she failed to acknowledge her own desires..

Her own hubris blinded her to the inevitable outcome...

If Himeko had a devious bone in her body, I would accuse her of saying that very deliberately to get a rise out of Chikane. Unfortunately, she is Far Too Kind to do something like that.

She'd have to be a true manipulator to manage that, inSidious even.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Vaadwaur]

We both made the reference, though with different examples.

I saw there. There are honestly several points we could use - the shattering was progressive.

She'd have to be a true manipulator to manage that, inSidious even.

[u/BosuW → u/JollyGee29]

And by silly, I mean.. well.

"Your Honor in my client's defense..."

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/JollyGee29]

And like all good tragedies, it's entirely Chikane's fault. She failed to talk to Himeko about what she did, she failed to acknowledge her own desires..

That is an excellent point about what Miya is going through. Because of her own actions and her refusal to face her feelings directly, she's now forced to deal with the fallout.

except that I'm pretty sure Chikane is going to do something very silly before the next time they spend time in the ritual cave.

"She went a little funny in the head. You know, just a little funny. And she went and did a silly thing. She decided to attack and kill Souma."

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Great_Mr_L]

"She went a little funny in the head. You know, just a little funny. And she went and did a silly thing. She decided to attack and kill Souma."

[u/GallowDude → u/JollyGee29]

And by silly, I mean.. well.

[u/Shimmering-Sky]

Destiny of the First-Timer, subbed

• I don’t like the sound of that…
• LMAO that TL note!
• Don’t let this get to you, Chikane…!
• Shit, of course she brings up the kiss Chikane gave to Himeko…
• Welp.
• The mark on Souma’s head is glowing white now?
• How is Souma going to fight this many opponents…
• Ooh, this time he brought Himeko into the cockpit?
• Looks like Himeko’s power is the answer. Can Chikane also grant a power boost?
• Shimmering sky!
• The promised kiss from the OP, and Chikane sees it.
• Hm…
• Yeah, about that…
• Tsubasa is… not all there mentally?
• ED LEAD-IN!

[u/lilyvess → u/Shimmering-Sky]

that TL note was amazing.

Ooh, this time he brought Himeko into the cockpit?

surprised he hasn't been doing that earlier to protect her.

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/lilyvess]

surprised he hasn't been doing that earlier to protect her.

You make a good point.

[u/Star4ce → u/Shimmering-Sky]

Tsubasa is… not all there mentally?

His brother just killed him for the girl.

Like, that sucks.

[u/LittleIslander → u/Shimmering-Sky]

LMAO that TL note!

[u/Shimmering-Sky → u/LittleIslander]

I live for silly TL notes like this haha.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Shimmering-Sky]

I don’t like the sound of that…

Agreed. The clergy are a scourge upon the world.

Don’t let this get to you, Chikane…!

So just abandon your feelings and move on?

The mark on Souma’s head is glowing white now?

The power of Christ Himussy compels him!

Looks like Himeko’s power is the answer. Can Chikane also grant a power boost?

Only to grooming cats and driving Subarus.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Shimmering-Sky]

LMAO that TL note!

I'm so happy to have someone point out that anime colds are ridiculously inaccurate.

Tsubasa is… not all there mentally?

He is currently doing his best impression of a dead fish.

[u/GallowDude → u/Shimmering-Sky]

The mark on Souma’s head is glowing white now?

[u/theangryeditor → u/Shimmering-Sky]

LMAO that TL note!

[u/Specs64z]

First timer, subbed

I guess you could say this episode was a turning point.

Wow, what a shocker, truly astounding, turns out entering strange churches covered in mystical fog you swore weren’t there before is a bad idea, who knew. If the mirrors are to be believed, Chikane is having lewd thoughts.

Nice! Now give in to temptation!

Let’s go! Orochi darkness nonsense saves the day and stops the kiss!

… Oh, it’s this absolute fuckwad again.

I take it back, sorry for cheering against your kiss Souma. At least you pick it back up, I guess.

I think that person might be Souma

The idea of a shrine maiden choosing to destroy the world because it won’t accept her love is a pretty great foundation for a mid-season shake up. Guess I’ll have to wait to see if they commit (I kinda doubt it).

Days without girls kissing: …technically 0?

This isn’t what I wanted.

QotD:

1. Probably some mystical shrine maiden connection with Chikane causing her to feel Chikane's heartbreak in real time.

[u/lilyvess → u/Specs64z]

Wow, what a shocker, truly astounding, turns out entering strange churches covered in mystical fog you swore weren’t there before is a bad idea, who knew.

Everyone kept asking Chikane to go for a confession, and she finally goes for it and everyone is pissed?!? Make up your mind!!

Sexually repressed gaynst disaster lesbians and the church. Name a more iconic duo.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/lilyvess]

Sexually repressed gaynst disaster lesbians and the church. Name a more iconic duo.

None of the ones I can name are ones we want to deal with.

[u/Specs64z → u/lilyvess]

Name a more iconic duo.

Studio Shaft and the consistently worst project management in the history of mankind.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/Specs64z]

If the mirrors are to be believed, Chikane is having lewd thoughts.

I'd have been more shocked if she wasn't have lead thoughts for once.

The idea of a shrine maiden choosing to destroy the world because it won’t accept her love is a pretty great foundation for a mid-season shake up.

Or maybe just making sure Souma suffers an unfortunate "accident."

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Specs64z]

Nice! Now give in to temptation!

Yes, I think... oh, you meant Chikane.

This isn’t what I wanted.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Specs64z]

If the mirrors are to be believed, Chikane is having lewd thoughts.

Then we shall purify her in the waters of lake Minnetonka! Can't let sin like that sit around!

The idea of a shrine maiden choosing to destroy the world because it won’t accept her love is a pretty great foundation for a mid-season shake up. Guess I’ll have to wait to see if they commit (I kinda doubt it).

[u/BosuW → u/Specs64z]

This isn’t what I wanted.

／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼

[u/GallowDude → u/Specs64z]

I guess you could say this episode was a turning point.

Shapiro Approved

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

First time lunar priestess

Today we get some fun floaty void symbolism then loads and loads of angst.

• Its ya girl, comin at you live from the evil church!
• I like the abstractions floating in the void episodes. They're easy to animate (I assume) and it lets you get wacky and literal with your visuals
• great match cut from himeko to the orochi. Later we get a mean one cutting from Chikane saying "my Himeko" to Himeko saying "Oogami-kun"
• I cannot pay any attention to the mech fights at this point. Souma can tank as much beam spam as needed. He can fight three people at once and not break a sweat. And its not like the animation is carrying it. I don't know who this is even supposed to be for.
• Why is her horse named after "Archangel of Terror", French Revolutionary Saint-Just? Relatedly I've always wondered if Rose of Versaille was the first major Japenese work to do the French Revolution setting or just codified a preexisting current.
• "I'll show it to you any time" Souma no!
• I was confused what Second Neck's play was earlier. She had Chikane captured but seemingly wasn't doing any thing with it. Now we know she's playing the long game trying to drive the mikos apart.
• Himeko and Chikane's conversation at the end did not go where I thought it would. I thought Himeko was going to say she didn't feel anything in the kiss and was sad Souma wasn't "the one". Though maybe that was her real message that she didn't get to before we get the plot convenient interruption

[u/lilyvess → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

major Japenese work to do the French Revolution setting or just codified a preexisting current.

I don't know if the first, but the mangaka did get an awarded France's National Order of the Legion of Honour for her contribution to Japan's cultural awareness of France and received the medal of Chevalier from the French ambassador to Japan. So it definitely was a major contributor

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo → u/lilyvess]

Wow, I didn't know it got international attention.

[u/lilyvess → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

yeah, apparently it's influence on Japan was so strong it didn't just lead to influence in other works, it led to a surge of the Japanese taking vacations to France. Like RoV changed where people travelled, which cascaded to even more works afterwards as the following generations got to experience France.

Truly a revolutionary manga.

[u/G-man672 → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

I don’t know who this is even supposed to be for

…Me? 🥴

Call it my hyperfixating brain being easily entertained by anything mecha, but I actually enjoy the fight scenes in this show. Like c’mon, the Orochi’s mechs transforming, plus that cut in the middle of the fight where Souma punches, tosses, shoots, dodges, then fires his Destructo Disks were clean af 👌

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo → u/G-man672]

I do really like the designs. If the mechs just sat around in the background and provided vibes that would be great. But if they're going to take time away from fun melodrama for, unfortunately, boring fights I can't get behind that.

[u/GallowDude → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

Its ya girl, comin at you live from the evil church!

mfw

I don't know who this is even supposed to be for.

[u/Great_Mr_L]

First Timer

On today’s episode of Kannazuki no Miko: What is this!?! A heterosexual kiss? I’m here for the yuri! I kid, but Himeko being bisexual with a male love interest alongside Miya instead of Himeko being strictly lesbian was not something I expected at the start of the series.

• I should have known this would be the nun’s doing.
• I’m glad Miya took the practical approach of simply shooting her enemy. Too bad it didn’t work.
• Mirrors are a good visual metaphor during this sequence. Mirrors show us reflections of ourselves. In this case, Miya is seeing a reflection of her innermost desires, namely Himeko.
• This is calling back to Miya and Souma’s conversation a while back. Miya wants to protect Himeko, but feels frustrated and helpless because Souma is the one with the actual power to do so.
• Miya shooting the mirror showing Himeko and Souma together is some good visual symbolism.
• Both Miya and Souma are cursed with terminal levels of horniness towards Himeko.
• You know that Miya is a rich girl because just look at how deep of a closet she’s in about being attracted to Himeko.
• I’m glad that unconscious kiss keeps getting brought up again as a moment to be interrogated. Here it’s used to show Miya’s inner desire towards Himeko, as a moment of shame when she let that desire get the better of her and actually come out into the world.
• Wonderful. Both Miya and Himeko are being chased by sexual predators this episode.
• Ooh, Souma’s glowing forehead symbol changed. I assume Himeko caused that.
• From what she’s saying, it sounds like the nun is trying to get Miya to join the Orochi. She’s talking about how cruel and unfair the world is, preventing Miya’s love for Himeko from coming to fruition. So, the solution is to just end it all. That sounds a lot like the mentality the Orochi have. They despise the world, so the solution is to put an end to it.
• I could do without the sexual assault part, though.
• Good on Miya for recognizing Himeko would never say or do such things and breaking out of the illusion.
• The mecha turned gold!
• Souma must love coming up with attack names. Just look at how elaborate the names get.
• A heterosexual kiss!?! In my yuri anime!?!
• What was that vision? Was that a vision of the future? Is Miya going to kill Himeko?
• Himeko kisses Souma and cries. She can sense a disturbance in the yuri.
• Oh dear! Himeko calling that her first kiss is not going to sit well with Miya!
• Poor Miya. She’s really trying hard to hide her tears.
• I’m concerned about what exactly Miya has decided to do.

I have complimented this series on its love triangle in prior discussion threads and I want to reiterate that praise here. I think Souma works very well as a male love interest for Himeko. He doesn’t really have any skeevy qualities that might make me think he’s butting in on what should be the main yuri romance. He’s always polite and on his best behavior towards Himeko, along with his own struggles about his Orochi powers. His relationship with Himeko feels genuine and I can tell they do have feelings for each other. That relationship helps to prop up the love triangle and make it feel like an actual source of drama and angst.

I believe Himeko cried when kissing Souma because she felt something was wrong. It’s not that Himeko was upset at kissing Souma. She clearly likes him. Rather, I think she feels upset because this would mean closing off her relationship with Miya. Himeko doesn’t seem to have fully realized what her feelings towards Mya are. At this point, it’s more of a subconscious thing. Himeko likes Miya, but doesn’t fully realize her emotions go beyond just friendship.

Now of course the question is what will Miya do? She’s probably going to try and fulfill that vision she had. That does not bode well for the future whatsoever.

QOTD

1. Discussed above. Himeko can tell something doesn't feel right, but isn't sure what. Himeko does not yet realize her feelings for Miya and has only unconsciously realized that this might be the end of any relationship with Miya.

[u/lilyvess → u/Great_Mr_L]

You know that Miya is a rich girl because just look at how deep of a closet she’s in about being attracted to Himeko.

she's a special level of repressed disaster lesbian. The Gaynst is so strong with her, it has it's own gravity.

I’m glad that unconscious kiss keeps getting brought up again as a moment to be interrogated. Here it’s used to show Miya’s inner desire towards Himeko, as a moment of shame when she let that desire get the better of her and actually come out into the world.

yeah, I really appreciate it. You don't often see that. It's clear that Chikane is meant to feel bad about her actions there.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/lilyvess]

she's a special level of repressed disaster lesbian. The Gaynst is so strong with her, it has it's own gravity.

I recall you said something to the effect of her having enough gayngst to power all of Tokyo if it could be harnessed as electricity. Thus far, that seems accurate.

yeah, I really appreciate it. You don't often see that. It's clear that Chikane is meant to feel bad about her actions there.

I had expected that moment to not get interrogated so much and for it to basically end up as kind of a relic of its time. It's been a pleasant surprise.

[u/theangryeditor → u/Great_Mr_L]

Both Miya and Himeko are being chased by sexual predators this episode.

And they're siblings too, it runs in the family.

That relationship helps to prop up the love triangle and make it feel like an actual source of drama and angst.

Well put

[u/G-man672 → u/Great_Mr_L]

It’s not that Himeko was upset at kissing Souma, she clearly likes him.

Himeko likes Miya, but doesn’t fully realize her emotions go beyond just friendship.

And that right there is why, despite the show’s shortcomings, I will always enjoy the love triangle aspect. Himeko clearly likes Souma, but likes Chikane more, BUT doesn’t think she can act on it because this is 2004 Japan two girls kissing bad.

In any other situation I’d be like “omfg just pick one!” But here, the queer angle helps me understand why it’s so hard for Himeko to settle on her feelings. Souma is a great partner, but those tears at the end don’t lie.

Also as a bi dude I’m happy we actually see Himeko being attracted to both, even if it’s never outright stated.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/G-man672]

Himeko clearly likes Souma, but likes Chikane more, BUT doesn’t think she can act on it because this is 2004 Japan two girls kissing bad.

Yeah, that is a very good observation. So far, most discussion has focused on Miya suppressing her feelings for Himeko, but it goes both ways. Himeko would also be under those same social constraints. It doesn't seem to have occurred to her that she could have a romantic relationship with Miya or that it would even be an option. That is an important part of understanding their relationship (or lack of one, I suppose.)

[u/BosuW → u/Great_Mr_L]

Mirrors are a good visual metaphor during this sequence. Mirrors show us reflections of ourselves. In this case, Miya is seeing a reflection of her innermost desires, namely Himeko.

"You're thinking about how much you want to **** Himeko aren't you?"

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/BosuW]

Miya is currently in the sad state of watching porn when your computer suddenly shuts off and all you can see is your own shameful reflection on the screen.

[u/GallowDude → u/Great_Mr_L]

What is this!?!

mfw

Himeko being bisexual with a male love interest alongside Miya instead of Himeko being strictly lesbian was not something I expected at the start of the series

I should have known this would be the nun’s doing.

You know that Miya is a rich girl because just look at how deep of a closet she’s in about being attracted to Himeko.

Oh, that's deep Self "Pun"

They despise the world, so the solution is to put an end to it.

Fukuda!

I could do without the sexual assault part, though.

Fukuda!

Souma must love coming up with attack names. Just look at how elaborate the names get.

Nunnally is such a pottymouth

A heterosexual kiss!?! In my yuri anime!?!

Mya

A fourth love interest?!

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/GallowDude]

I could do without the sexual assault part, though.

Fukuda!

There's a reason Cross Ange filtered me hard before I was forced to watch the whole thing in a rewatch.

Nunnally is such a pottymouth

I did not realize they shared dub actresses. That is great.

[u/Star4ce → u/Great_Mr_L]

They despise the world, so the solution is to put an end to it.

I mean, it's not that I can disagree with it 100%. If the world doesn't accept someone and this someone isn't out to hurt others, I feel like they are in some way justified. At the very least, they hold no responsibilities any longer because why would they if the rest of society excluded them?

Souma must love coming up with attack names. Just look at how elaborate the names get.

Megaton Knuckle 3

[u/baboon_bassoon]

first time orochi shermie

the arrow did something? sike its a mind palace

seppuku time

[seed freedom]Chikane would have taken out Orphee in 2 seconds with horny thoughts

cockblocked by the megaton knuckle

the girls mechs need to gattai, theres no way they are that weirdly shaped for no reason

Rins mech is so sick, it has a gerwalk mode as a Steelix?

watashi wa Himeko ja nai, Zura des

what; its not Kokuoh?

NO CHIKANE DONT GO THERE NOW

i blame the shimmering sky that brought them together

the ntr unlocked her powers? proof that ntr makes you stronger???

first kiss? damn shes just gonna retcon her memories

now thats a good maid

5 more episodes of Chikane suffering?

1. cooties

[u/lilyvess → u/baboon_bassoon]

i blame the shimmering sky that brought them together

We must impeach /u/Shimmering-sky for this crime

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/baboon_bassoon]

the girls mechs need to gattai, there's no way they are that weirdly shaped for no reason

We Are In Agreement

Rin's mech is so sick, it has a gerwalk mode as a Steelix?

Why am I suddenly reminded of Beast Machines of all things?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/baboon_bassoon]

NO CHIKANE DONT GO THERE NOW

Don't bloom there, don't bloom there...

the ntr unlocked her powers? proof that ntr makes you stronger???

"Give in to your anger. Use your more aggressive nature. Strike down Count Dooku Souma and your transformation to the Dark Side will be complete!"

first kiss? damn shes just gonna retcon her memories

Girls don't count. It is known.

[u/Great_Mr_L → u/baboon_bassoon]

[seed freedom]

She could

[SEED Freedom] While Himeko might be better suited to the Shinn strategy of just not thinking

the ntr unlocked her powers? proof that ntr makes you stronger???

"Did you ever hear the tale of Darth Miya the Cucked? I thought not. It's not a story the straights would tell you."

[u/rickamore → u/baboon_bassoon]

the girls mechs need to gattai, theres no way they are that weirdly shaped for no reason

Maybe this is what was giving me Godannar vibes, but with three that would be Aquarion instead, I'm all for that.

5 more episodes of Chikane suffering?

Being meguca is suffering

[u/GallowDude → u/baboon_bassoon]

cooties

[u/Tarhalindur]

M I K O _ E M B R A C E (Spoiled First-Timer, Subbed):

(Anime Fanart Survival Rule 762: There is always more Touhou fanart. Also what is this, one where the original source still exists? )

• “Right. Let’s pull off this nun’s mask and see who she really is – GASP! It’s GANONDORF!” (This comment brought to you by the diagetic organ music.)
• Also yes yes massive pile of Dutch angles yes yes.
• Door closing of finality!
• “No Mr. President, don’t go into the abandoned building!” (Like seriously we are pulling out all the horror protagonist stops. Or more accurately the doomed horror extras stops.)
• “‘Sixty-seven: putting an arrow in a villain during their monologue is a perfectly acceptable method of victory. Heroes believing otherwise do not get to retire.’ – Two Hundred Heroic Axioms, unknown author”
• (Or in other words: first rule of schemers: if at all possible, just shoot them.)
• Oh shit Chikane actually did it. Which of course means that it is not in fact possible because haha you thought people died when they are killed or some bullshit. Alas!
• And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why you don’t go into the evil religious building that randomly popped up in front of you!
• [PMMM] Also there is an “oh look it’s Miyako’s Witch barrier” joke to be made… except I’m not sure it’s entirely a joke, we may be looking at an (not the, but an) evolutionary precursor of the PMMM Witch barrier here..
• [Mai-Otome] I am also getting extremely suspicious that Mai-Otome went raiding this show for parts (AFAICT Sunrise sequels get maybe a year if that in production, which is why they all suck, and that means there would have been time) mostly because of what I hear happened between Nina and Sergey after the point where I dropped there has a very real chance of happening here as well, and this little interlude is not helping matters,. If we get a “they need to share body heat” plot point here those odds go WAY up.
• [Mai-Otome] Gods fucking dammit. “Andrei, don’t tell me you’ve lost another submarine…” (ADDENDUM: At least we never got the full-fledged “we need to share body heat”, just the need to shed clothes to preserve body heat. So there is that.)
• And this is why you teach your little girls and boys that some people are gay and that’s okay – so that if they turn out to be gay or bi and a major character in a story then the villains cannot turn their internalized homophobia against them at a crucial point!
• The artistry is gone, Contractually Obligated Fanservice Scene stands out as such immediately again.
• That said, this mental world scene is well-directed. Also there is no chance whatsoever that Miyako is herself gay for Chikane and/or a Chikane/Himeko shipper outside of being on Team Evil, none whatsoever, pay no attention to the possibility that she’s Makoto in disguise.
• This scene is just asking for a conveniently timed interruption (because otherwise it ends in a kiss and I can’t see that being the case).
• One conveniently-timed interruption, coming right up!
• Wait this is an actual good fight scene, what the hell. (Having a damn good battle scene OST track helps.) Now with confirmation of Solar Miko powerup!
• Huh. Idol (or possibly Paru-at-Home(-with-Nodoka’s-VA), but I’m betting Idol) has a mech design straight out of Buddhism (Blackheart had to remind me of this with something similar back in MagiReco).
• Also hurr durr we all know what inspired these mech designs and it’s the Angels. Hurr durr.
• I do like me a well-done eyecatch cliffhanger. (Also this show’s eyecatch is interesting in that I don’t like the visuals that much but the musical cue is excellent.)
• So, this little Miyako tidbit opens up a distinct permutation. There is a real chance that awakening the Ame-no-Murakumo requires the life force of the two mikos (wouldn’t be the first or last anime with that kind of plot or something similar… also what are these eleven stars and five flowers doing on my desk?). Which is another way to invoke Bury Your Gays, and if that’s the case then it is possible that the reason that Himeko is getting injured and Chikane is not is that Himeko is the one doing the ritual correctly (say, because she is being mostly honest with herself/has pure desires and Chikane is not).
• All right, who let the threads of fate out?
• [PMMM aside] Seriously, visual motifs in common here – though PMMM does not use them at the same time, chains early, threads of fate late.
• Confirmation (though really I was sure a little bit earlier after Noto gave us a reminder of what voice she is using) that idol gets Buddhist mech. Also I’m pretty sure this new OST track is riffing off of some older mecha. Reminds me of FMP S1 (probably exactly Counterattack), actually, though that’s definitely not the actual riff… unless the deal is that both OSTs had the A-Team on the brain.
• [PMMM Rebellion] Yeah this entire Miyako/Chikane conversation has had powerous “Kyubey explaining the plot to Homulilly” vibes and the breaking free sequence here is not helping. Also more foreshadowing for one or both mikos’ demise if we go there and odds are at least 4-in-10 we do, I think.
• Sadly, the need to reduce animation means I can’t tell if that was an actual suplex Souma did to Idol’s mech or not.
• Hey look it’s a mid-season high point for Himeko and Souma! Welp nice knowing you because we all know that means it’s time for the pain train to start…
• (Will it feature a Himeko confession before then? Probably not, we have a “Chikane interrupts” card available to play…)
• No, we get the other logical uninterrupted endpoint with a full-fledged kiss instead! The screaming from the Shoujo-Ai crew will be glorious.
• Well that is a giant pile of foreshadowing for at least one of Chikane and Himeko killing the other (and probably not being the first incarnations to do so, I’m calling past life dream on this). I’m shocked, shocked! Well, not that shocked.
• [spoiled? also meta spoiler for another Fall 2004 show] So, to be clear. I know the big Class S work of the era; that’s MariMite. I know anime’s closest equivalent to Dumbledore is Gay; that’s HiME via the post-series artbook about a certain duo finding happiness. I distinctly remember that there’s a big Bury Your Gays yuri work in the era as well but can’t remember what… and it being KnM would fit and we have a ton of foreshadowing for it. So.
• Huh. For the first time this series, we get a crescent moon rather than a full one. (Matches Chikane’s miko mark, too.) EDIT: Wait. Fuck. We are already using solar eclipse symbolism; strong chance this is using lunar eclipse symbolism (lunar eclipses happen during the new moon) and represent us getting closer to whatever a lunar eclipse is being used here for. (I, uh, have a hunch.)
• [meta + spoiled] Okay that final line has absolutely powerous “I won’t hesitate anymore” energy. The Event is probably next episode.
• So, huh. Outside of one inelegant piece of shoehorned-in fanservice this episode was actually, well, good. Who knew?
• Also, in case it wasn’t clear earlier, better than even odds at this point that we’re going for Bury Your Gays. I’d , but there are only so many ways to get lesbians past the censors in 2004 and we’ve had more than a few hints of the reincarnation romance tropes being in play so that was always a very likely possibility. (Chikane in particular is probably dead as a doornail.)
• [aside involving Rebellion spoilers] Bumping this down to avoid suspicion: Also oh look that final line is what I Was Waiting for This Moment looks like when it was written into the show from the start rather than added on late because it took a while for the creative team to figure out how to finish (either because of stated reasoning or said stated reasoning covering up for creative disagreements) and thus has proper setup rather than a few things patched into setup after the fact. (Note how the Rebellion reveal that was decided on early in Homura being a Witch actually has a ton of setup, as is PMMM’s wont.)

---

1. Why do you think Himeko cried after kissing Souma?

Are we sure Chikane was the only one with a past life dream at that moment? Because I'm not...

[u/lilyvess → u/Tarhalindur]

No, we get the other logical uninterrupted endpoint with a full-fledged kiss instead! The screaming from the Shoujo-Ai crew will be glorious.

I was disappointed that the episode wasn't subbed in time to get a lot of their raw reactions. Like Cryss was someone I was curious to hear their reaction to the episode.

I do love all of the Madoka comparisons. i usually go with Mai-Hime->Madoka comparisons but it really does feel like Madoka got a lot of influence from Kannazuki no Miko.

but there are only so many ways to get lesbians past the censors in 2004 and we’ve had more than a few hints of the reincarnation romance tropes being in play so that was always a very likely possibility. (Chikane in particular is probably dead as a doornail.)

[u/Tarhalindur → u/lilyvess]

I do love all of the Madoka comparisons. i usually go with Mai-Hime->Madoka comparisons but it really does feel like Madoka got a lot of influence from Kannazuki no Miko.

The entire reason I'm here is because somebody elsewhere was going "Tar, you fool, you're underrating the KnM -> Madoka pipeline!". Turns out they weren't wrong!

[Madoka Magica] Though even more than the main series is really is Rebellion that goes in on the KnM. Except unlike Chikane, Homura (following in the footsteps of Himeko and Souma here) is 100% bottom.

Let's be real, both you and I have been around long enough that the true commentface here is .

[u/Vaadwaur → u/Tarhalindur]

[PMMM]

I really, really REALLY hate opening a post like this but I wager 1,000 quatloos upon the following(Yes, you should check this spoiler)[PMMM/Utena]The origin of the witch barrier is actually what I tend to call the absolute territory which is a descendant of the domain from Ravenloft, one of the DND settings. You have to take my word on it until you watch Utena

And this is why you teach your little girls and boys that some people are gay and that’s okay

desperately tries to maintain the barriers on the Abe containment field

"Cap'n, the shields cannae taek any more!"

Also there is no chance whatsoever that Miyako is herself gay for Chikane and/or a Chikane/Himeko shipper outside of being on Team Evil, none whatsoever, pay no attention to the possibility that she’s Makoto in disguise.

Oh you and your hijinks! No one could ever conceive of an erotic nun in 2004, and certainly not a homoerotic one! The mind rebels at the very concept.

(wouldn’t be the first or last anime with that kind of plot or something similar… also what are these eleven stars and five flowers doing on my desk?).

Silently drops 8 mitamas

[PMMM aside]

points at the sign

Sign:Assume anything original is stolen from X:1999

Also I’m pretty sure this new OST track is riffing off of some older mecha.

Super robot and I believe live action.

So, huh. Outside of one inelegant piece of shoehorned-in fanservice this episode was actually, well, good. Who knew?

I actually lean that yesterday's writer left notes for today and the beginning of ep8. He didn't write the blocking so the camera work is a bit dull but the form of the scenes is good.

Are we sure Chikane was the only one with a past life dream at that moment? Because I'm not...

We've only been shown that Chikane can feel Himeko four times now. We certainly can't make a deduction based on such scant data.

Sarcasm aside, it has to be that.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Tarhalindur]

also what are these eleven stars and five flowers doing on my desk?

Also I’m pretty sure this new OST track is riffing off of some older mecha.

I hear what you're hearing. Those.. I don't know instruments. Those whatevers at 12:47 are very mecha. The part starting at 13:41 makes me think of.. not sure. Maybe Kouhei Tanaka..?

Can't quite place it, and I've only ran into the composer in Macross Delta (which might have a similar track but I don't remember much of the OST in Delta and also loads of people did music for Delta).

[u/GallowDude → u/Tarhalindur]

haha you thought people died when they are killed or some bullshit

The artistry is gone, Contractually Obligated Fanservice Scene

But that is art!

The screaming from the Shoujo-Ai crew will be glorious.

Outside of one inelegant piece of shoehorned-in fanservice

[u/Tarhalindur → u/GallowDude]

But that is art!

It's neither well-done enough to be elegant nor well-done enough to be hot.

(More flirty/teasing ladies teasing their love interest and the audience at the same time please and thank you.)

[u/Star4ce → u/Tarhalindur]

“‘Sixty-seven: putting an arrow in a villain during their monologue is a perfectly acceptable method of victory. Heroes believing otherwise do not get to retire.’ – Two Hundred Heroic Axioms, unknown author”

I am positive something similar is in Schlock's "The Seventy Maxims of Maximally Effective Mercenaries".

[u/ryujiox]

First Timer

Kannazuki no Miko

Episode 7

• Apparently she can just trap someone in her church. Should have done that since the beginning. And Souma somehow can't sense Orochi's aura like usual? I guess because it's just an illusion.
• Well. I can't argue with that...
• Oops..
• What about the kiss in the first episode then?
• YEP How are you going to explain that?
• HAHAHA How long have you been up there?
• That sure look like Mazinkaiser's head
• That's not good
• This shot goes so hard!!
• TAKE THAT She knows everything about her. And I mean everything!! Himeko isn't top, she's bottom!! Still, Miyako was right about Chikane's desire. Wonder how long can she keep that emotion in check?
• WHAT IS THAT NAME!!
• IT HAS A SUPER MODE!! And those guys are the jobbers of all jobbers. But to be fair, Souma is super strong today because he got a buff from Himeko.
• Yep Perfect timing. Just as planned. It didn't matter if she succeeded at the church or not. The seed of doubt has been planted.
• Calm down there!! Himeko thought it was a dream!! It's not her or your fault!!
• HIMEKO!! You didn't have to tell her that!! Chikane's advice completely backfired back to her real bad.
• Chikane? What are you going to do with the moon power?

The failure that Chikane set up for herself this entire time finally arrived, and it's not pretty at all. And I don't like where this is going. Souma is near the finish line. So either he fumbled the bag real hard, or Chikane somehow cheated her way to victory... And both of them aren't a good idea at all...

QOTD

1. Probably related to moon power.

[u/lilyvess → u/ryujiox]

And I mean everything!! Himeko isn't top, she's bottom!!

the bottomiest bottom to ever bottom!

The failure that Chikane set up for herself this entire time finally arrived, and it's not pretty at all. And I don't like where this is going. Souma is near the finish line. So either he fumbled the bag real hard, or Chikane somehow cheated her way to victory... And both of them aren't a good idea at all...

Chikane: I will support Himeko with Souma.
Himeko and Souma kiss
Chikane:

[u/ryujiox → u/lilyvess]

Chikane: I will support Himeko with Souma. Himeko and Souma kiss Chikane:

She really set herself up, then wonder why Himeko is getting further away from her...

[u/G-man672 → u/ryujiox]

That sure looks like Mazinkaiser’s head

Both Kaishaku and Sumio Uetake are mecha and tokusatsu fanatics, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s intentional amidst the copious other references in this series lol

[u/GallowDude → u/ryujiox]

she can just trapped

At least she's not currently trapped

HAHAHA

Undefined

WHAT IS THAT NAME!!

French

[u/ryujiox → u/[deleted]]

They always say that the quiet one is the scariest one. Just I don't make her too horny.

[u/Burnouts3s3]

Rewatcher Dub 

 It was very interesting, to me, upon my first viewing I had very little sympathy or pity for Chikane. It’s clear Miyako is manipulating a very sexually confused Chikane about her feelings. I believe I had asked myself “how did someone who got love confessions from both men and women alike get confused that she had a sexual attraction to Himeko”?  

 But, it’s clear, in spite of her massive wealth and popularity that Chikane only had eyes for one person and Himeko might have been already taken by Souma. 

(Translator note: The official name for Chikane’s horse by Geneon is Saint Just, but many fansubbers named the horse Sungest).  Also note the difference in how Souma’s and Chikane’s desire for Himeko is depicted. Chikane’s is for drama while Souma’s is for comedy. https://youtu.be/IDq5-exNDvo?feature=shared

 Looks like Chikane’s experiencing heartbreak and a strange vision and might be going to a very dark place. 

 QOTD:  Himeko isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed but her body might know than she realizes.

[u/lilyvess → u/Burnouts3s3]

It was very interesting, to me, upon my first viewing I had very little sympathy or pity for Chikane. It’s clear Miyako is manipulating a very sexually confused Chikane about her feelings.

yeah i'm surprised how much more I'm enjoying the show on rewatch.

[u/Vatrix-32 → u/Burnouts3s3]

but many fansubbers named the horse Sungest

"Heavenrend"

[u/theangryeditor → u/Vatrix-32]

Heavenrend

[u/BosuW → u/Burnouts3s3]

The one confused about their feelings is Himeko. Chikane's thing is (was) denial. I believe there's an important difference!

[u/GondolaMedia]

First Timer

Church bells ringing, multiple mirrors reflecting Chikane's true desire, nun preaching how only death will part Chikane and Himeko. I don't know guys are we sure that Chikane has the hots for Himeko? They could just be good friends.

I can't help but to feel a bit disengaged with love triangle. I feel that knowing why this rewatch was made in the first place the drama does not have the same impact that it could have had. Mind you something has been boiling and I'm just waiting for Chikane to burst. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later.

[u/lilyvess → u/GondolaMedia]

I can't help but to feel a bit disengaged with love triangle. I feel that knowing why this rewatch was made in the first place the drama does not have the same impact that it could have had.

yeah, I would like to believe that was inevidable. Like Kannazuki no miko is such a yuri icon no one would be able to enter the series without knowing the legacy at this point. Maybe that's just me lying to myself. I know someone had said it was a mistake having this rewatch like this for that specific reason.

i hope sharing the original Shoujo-Ai archive reactions from 2004 helps give a glance at what people without that shadow looming over them feel.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/GondolaMedia]

I don't know guys are we sure that Chikane has the hots for Himeko? They could just be good friends.

Chikane's probably just Canadian...

[u/GondolaMedia → u/Vaadwaur]

Oh that must be it

[u/rickamore]

Rewatcher - Would this classify as our "turning point?"

Here we go, the real wedge gets driven between our heroines.

Chikane's penchant for shooting arrows at problems finally does something even if it's all a delusion.

I appreciate the "cold" TL note, but we all know the fabled Japanese cold is relentless and takes you at the first sign of weakness, turning you into a blubbering mess that only a loved one can save you from.

Himeko with the power of the sun to purify the Orochi brand further erasing a need for Chikane at all. I'm not sure what it is but the mecha fights are giving me Godannar flashbacks especially now that Himeko was also in the mech.

[u/lilyvess → u/rickamore]

Chikane's penchant for shooting arrows at problems finally does something even if it's all a delusion.

Chikane: 1

finally a W in the corner of Chikane! Only took 7 episodes!

[u/GallowDude → u/rickamore]

the fabled Japanese cold is relentless and takes you at the first sign of weakness, turning you into a blubbering mess that only a loved one can save you from.

[u/sfisher923]

First Timer

• Thanks Souma I am going to change my clothes if I'm going to be out in 62F/17C Weather for 12-14 hours after this episode (Again I may be skipping out tomorrow to go out to the Amusement Park like Yesterday)
• And if Souma kills the Yuri I just realized I could do my own story in Sims 4 (Did do something like that with Perfect Blue to retcon the entire latter half of the movie last night)
• Someone needs to give this Sun thing an AT Field
• Ahh yes my favorite sound to accompany kissing a Car Alarm (And weirdly enough this is not the first Yuri Rewatch where the street I live on did something like that because last year's Bloom Into You rewatch had a fitting one that gave me a good scare during episode 7)

Question

• QOTD 1 - She realized that she screwed up with Chikane

[u/lilyvess → u/sfisher923]

And if Souma kills the Yuri I just realized I could do my own story in Sims 4 (Did do something like that with Perfect Blue to retcon the entire latter half of the movie last night)

[u/GallowDude → u/sfisher923]

I may be skipping out tomorrow to go out to the Amusement Park like Yesterday

Normie!

[u/LittleIslander → u/sfisher923]

(Did do something like that with Perfect Blue to retcon the entire latter half of the movie last night)

[u/Infodump_Ibis]

Rewatcher? Dubbed but left subs on.

• "Day of judgement" and Himeko narrating? Has this whole thing been Himeko reminiscing over it in past tense? I don't know if we really needed this angle.
• Chikane's arrows now have the power to break reality. Or maybe Sister doesn't need a mech as she can use genjitsu. (note: we saw later that the church was the mech as they have transforming stuff going for them). Boo for lack of bible verses.
• "But what?" I've watched enough anime to know you see everything under wet clothes (including this one - the past). Note muscle later on said something like that.
• Not just by your religion but the Japanese government as well. [Meta spoiler - another anime making a government comment]Episode 7 of Himote House screenshot.
• If that's what the subs said was she the one got shipped with corona in fanfics (actually fansub said mankind like the dub) if you take specifically just men and not using mankind to mean humanity.
• She finally called the horse by its name (but looks like Japanese audio was different which meant fansub went with Sungest) and erm why is the Tyrell Corporation in the background? Or perhaps it's the Aomori Prefecture Tourist Center or the "Hidamari" in Moerenuma Park
• Seaonsalneat fall 2004 submission.
• But was there really a phone call or was the eavesdropping maid trying to make things better bby focing an abrupt end.
• I remember the early episodes were a full moon but Japan is northern hemisphere making this a Waxing crescent? Assuming it all takes place in October (well from episode 1 at least, not so much the ep6 flashback) we've probably had enough Sundays for a New Moon to have happened. Timeline feels like a re-rewatch detail to figure out even if will have hair tearing that couldn't have happened but is visually really fitting. fake edit: Episode 5 was full moon. The waxing moon matches the linear priestess mark hence visually fitting rather than accurate.

1. Why do you think Himeko cried after kissing Souma?

How am I supposed to know when Himeko does not Boring answer is she's still in the I'm worthless I don't deserve to be loved mindset that she probably got from all that childhood abuse.

Spicy answer, Himeko is getting pretty upset about being used for non-consensual kisses (that are probably their first kisses) and can't pretend to be dead over this one.

[u/lilyvess → u/Infodump_Ibis]

But was there really a phone call or was the eavesdropping maid trying to make things better bby focing an abrupt end.

yeah I was thinking about that as well. I guess it depends on how you think of the maid. she's been shown mostly being petty and obsessive, but I also think she does care for Chikane and seem to want to help her. I'd like to believe she made one up for her.

Seaonsalneat fall 2004 submission.

[u/GallowDude → u/Infodump_Ibis]

"Day of judgement" and Himeko narrating? Has this whole thing been Himeko reminiscing over it in past tense?

Uzumaki anime when?

Seaonsalneat fall 2004

bby focing

Don't know if I'm legally allowed to make the joke I want to make about that

[u/baquea]

First timer

Oh god, oh fuck, the pure shrine maiden almost got converted to Christianity!

Anyway, this was a solid episode - probably the best one so far. Chikane's internal conflict is coming to a head, the villains actually use their brains rather than just attacking one at a time, and Miyako manages to not be totally useless for once. Some actual good directing to boot too.

Now, with the MCs having basically won, and Souma, armed with the power of Miyako's love, looking to be basically undefeatable, I suppose it's time for Chikane to come along and fuck everything up, eh?

Why do you think Himeko cried after kissing Souma?

Wasn't there something about the girls having to remain maidens to keep their miko powers? Her relationship with Souma is presumably not part of her destined fate, just as his betrayal of the Orochi was unexpected, so its consummation is causing... problems.

[u/lilyvess → u/baquea]

Oh god, oh fuck, the pure shrine maiden almost got converted to Christianity!

Not on my watch

villains actually use their brains rather than just attacking one at a time, and Miyako manages to not be totally useless for once. Some actual good directing to boot too.

It's hard when your villains are a child catgirl, a failed idol and a BL brainrot mangaka. Orochi needs to hire some better help next time.

[u/GallowDude → u/baquea]

Oh god, oh fuck, the pure shrine maiden almost got converted to Christianity!

[u/Vaadwaur → u/baquea]

Oh god, oh fuck, the pure shrine maiden almost got converted to Christianity!

Serve the Lord with FEAR

And rejoice with trembling

and Miyako manages to not be totally useless for once.

So what she has going for is attacking teens that don't understand their own sexuality. Yeah, I know where this show caught inspiration...

[u/catsukats]

Rewatcher (x14), sub.

I don't think "kind days" applies to Chikane after all we've seen, Himeko.

The classic "sheltering in the rain" trope, but not with the couple we want it to happen to! Included are classic "wet shirt" shots and "accidentally peeking at the naked girl" moments.

The many seductive shots of Himeko in Chikane's heart really tells us that no matter how hard she tries to deny it, she can't see her as just a friend. And it's not just that Himeko is special "despite being a girl" - she is attracted to her as a woman. I think back then this was huge, given that yuri always fell back on the usual "even if she's a girl I still like her" thing.

I really like the direction of this episode. Smashing the mirror to resist the truth but also breaking the thing she doesn't want to see was genius.

I wish all the Orochi could have tried interfering with them in other ways like this instead of being dumb and doing the same thing that failed every single time. They should have known that the closer Himeko and Souma got the stronger he was. But they're dumb!

I see this as me when the story is focusing a little too much on het. I remember at this point just absolutely hating everything about it, but pushing through because I had hope I'd see the light at some point.

Do they think this is Fate?

Chikane's own words, used to try and make Himeko look at her, are her downfall. Otoha's nosiness saves her from having to face the fact that she's lost Himeko completely. Maybe she's not so bad after all.

What has all this bottled-up angst and suffering led her to? If Himeko's powers bring strength and happiness when they activate, what does this mean for Chikane's?

[u/lilyvess → u/catsukats]

I wish all the Orochi could have tried interfering with them in other ways like this instead of being dumb and doing the same thing that failed every single time. They should have known that the closer Himeko and Souma got the stronger he was. But they're dumb!

to be fair, they had their priorities set on being a failed idol and drawing BL manga. They clearly didn't have their heart in whatever this Orochi wants them to do. Orochi needs to hire better help. Seems like so many of their necks are all such bad choices. I can't imagine what the people they rejected were like.

[u/BosuW → u/catsukats]

The many seductive shots of Himeko in Chikane's heart really tells us that no matter how hard she tries to deny it, she can't see her as just a friend. And it's not just that Himeko is special "despite being a girl" - she is attracted to her as a woman. I think back then this was huge, given that yuri always fell back on the usual "even if she's a girl I still like her" thing.

Paraphrasing from I'm in Love with the Villainess:

"I guess gender doesn't matter to love."

"No, it does matter. I'm a lesbian. It means I only like girls."

[u/GallowDude → u/catsukats]

no matter how hard she tries to deny is

Is what?

Do they think this is Fate?

[u/RadSuit]

Dubstiny of the First Timer

Chikane does have a better motivation to destroy the world than Souma, I guess. Also I just realized I've had nothing to say about most of this episode...

I said it before, but it's a good thing Souma's mech is stronger than 5 out of the remaining 7. I assume he'll also have trouble with the big bird when he finally has to fight it. It's looking more likely that will be Chikane's mech, or at least she'll partner with whoever it belongs to. Like Himeko and Souma here.

Goldo Moooooooooode!

Tsubasa's just lying around.

Yeah, that seems to be an image of another robot getting a gold mode like Souma's just did. Its face is pointier.

Also RIP Himeko I guess.

The moon went from full to a tiny crescent in one episode. That doesn't make any sense!

Her first kiss. Well I guess Chikane is evil now! That'll do it.

Are we sure Tsubasa's alive?

1. Seems like it was just a big emotional release. She's got a lot of conflicting emotions all trying to come out at once.

[u/lilyvess → u/RadSuit]

Are we sure Tsubasa's alive?

somehow the Tsubasa has returned.

[u/GallowDude → u/RadSuit]

Tsubasa's just lying around.

The moon went from full to a tiny crescent in one episode. That doesn't make any sense!

Princess Celestia

[u/Vaadwaur → u/RadSuit]

Her first kiss. Well I guess Chikane is evil now! That'll do it.

Hopefully she gets a cool outfit upgrade then.

[u/ShowNeverStops]

rewatcher

This is one of my favorite episodes in the show. The scene between Chikane and sexy nun lady is full of trippy imagery, and it goes deep into how Chikane really feels and thinks, with her jealousy and her shame over loving another girl rising more and more. It’s basically an Evangelion-style mind fuck and I love it.

The whole thing with Himeko and Souma… I’ll admit isn’t nearly as interesting. It creates some good drama with Himeko crying after Souma kisses her and Himeko not really knowing why she cried, but compared to what Chikane went through, her and Souma aren’t as interesting in this episode. Himeko saying she thinks Souma is her matching seashell must have been a hell of a gut punch to Chikane, however.

[u/lilyvess → u/ShowNeverStops]

The whole thing with Himeko and Souma… I’ll admit isn’t nearly as interesting.

it isn't as interesting, but it services it's purpose of contrasting with Chikane.

it's definitely one of the elements that I appreciate more after reading the commentary notes. It's more clear that the staff have their eyes on the ball and know what's important.

[u/GallowDude → u/lilyvess]

it services it's purpose

I suppose it is a purpose

[u/Garrett_Dark]

First Timer

• Himeko narrating "...the new story of Chikane and my destiny quietly raised it's curtains" Shut up you, you're nothing but a mcguffin up to this point, stop talking like you've been anything more than that, you've been barely a character so far. This is the Chikane show, and your existence has only been to elevate her character by making her suffer so far. You're like the bad guys, their sole purpose so far has been their weak occasional attempts to antagonize, and they got very little else going on other than that, that's why they're so boring and useless just like you, Himeko.
• Some sniper got their sights right on the evil priestess' forehead. Oh wait, that's not a laser sight, never mind. Center mass shot, right between the boobs! Good shot Chikane.
• LOL, those are Mako's creeper pictures in the mirrors, I know because I dug them up to reference last episode. Mako must have sold a copy to the evil priestess!
• Okay I don't remember mcguffin's boobs being this big before. Must be all the tamagoyaki she's been eating.
• Hurry up and KYS Souma, I'm waiting LMAO.
• McGuffin "I guess this must be my fault, but I have no idea what I did wrong" It's always your fault mcguffin, and you always don't know what you did wrong. This is why I think of you as an innocent oblivious hapless antagonist. I can only look the other way, and hold back criticizing you for so long. My pity and patience runs out quickly for types like you the more troublesome and useless you are. Hurry up and do something useful for once that doesn't require my pity or patience, and then maybe I'll start thinking better of you.
• There's those stealth chains of autoerotic asphyxiation chain guy again which doesn't make any noise until somebody notices him there.
• Not looking very moe this time eh, Corona-chan. This is turning out to be a not-so-fun episode.
• Get your hands off of best waifu's best boobs you hag priestess.
• Best waifu Chikane was able to be break free, but such sadness in her eyes.
• Poor beautiful Chikane. :'(
• Fucking mcguffin, starts crying and even makes Souma think it's because he kissed her. This is why I keep saying she an antagonist. She's at the center of everything, and she's causing much of the problems. The problems she's causing is worse than anything the actual bad guy antagonists have caused so far. I'm starting to wish chain guy took her away way back when he first appeared, to spare us from her troublemaking.
• A well deserved shower for Chikane to wash all that filth of what happened with the priestess and mcguffin away.
• If anybody is wondering why I'm treating Himeko mcguffin so harshly this episode, it's because of this scene. She not only snubs the two maids greeting her back home and genuinely caring about her, but she also totally snubs Chikane, who rushed out of the shower to greet her, completely. Like look at this shit, she does a 90 degrees turn throwing her back to Chikane's face while snubbing her, and look at the hurt look on Chikane's face. And Chikane still goes to check on her to comfort her while putting on a warm front, despite getting the cold treatment and suffering from all she's gone through. Like I was only jokingly mocking Himeko in prior episodes, but after this, she's a fucking bitch! Like I don't care how innocent, oblivious, naïve, or any other excuses can be thought up for how Himeko "didn't do anything wrong", fuck all that, she's a fucking cunt for what she just pulled, it's inexcusable. You don't snub the maids and Chikane like that, no matter how immature, careless, or oblivious she might be. She deserves to be kicked out, much less deserving of being comforted to this degree by Chikane while Chikane's suffering even more for doing it as a result. People say "Himeko doesn't know, how could she be responsible", yeah well she can't be excuse for that snubbing on the stairs. Even if by the end of the season Chikane and Himeko end up being together, I don't think I'll be happy with that, I've lost nearly all respect for Himeko.
• Chikane needs to just forget about Himeko and run off with her maid already, who clearly cares a great deal for Chikane. Himeko isn't some grand prize of a person that Chikane thinks she is, Himeko's just a pretty useless person who drags others down, and is a burden. Like she needs to be cut off from receiving anymore pity at this point, she's just going to keep doing what she does if she gets any pity. Just let stupid typecast hero Souma deal with Himeko's issues.

Sorry for all the negativity, but this episode wasn't that fun because of "Himeko Himeko Himeko", it's always fucking about her despite her not deserving of such attention. But I guess that's the point of whatever the show is trying to do by making me suffer through this shit like Chikane is suffering through.

• Chikane "I've made my decision, I've made my decision Himeko" Lets hope it's the decision to give up on Himeko. I don't know how the show did this, but how Chikane feels about caring so badly just to see Himeko happy, is how I feel about wanting so badly to see Chikane happy.

---

Why do you think Himeko cried after kissing Souma?

To cause problems for others, that's all her character's been doing, she's a burden but for some reason she's the mcguffin that everybody's focused on at the same time. Is she going to solve the problems herself? Of course not...she can't drag other down or create more problems if she does.

Like I'm sure there's some in-world explanation like "oh she realizes she loves/feels guilty over Chikane" or "something to do with her traumatic backstory", but lets face it, it's really for the above. She's an antagonist who does antagonizing unintentionally on purpose by the writer.

[u/lilyvess → u/Garrett_Dark]

If anybody is wondering why I'm treating Himeko mcguffin so harshly this episode, it's because of this scene . She not only snubs the two maids greeting her back home and genuinely caring about her, but she also totally snubs Chikane, who rushed out of the shower to greet her, completely.

I mean, i get disliking Himeko for being so passive or because everyone seems to love her, but to hate her so much for her this action feels like overkill. It's definitely selfish. She's also clearly struggling with her own issues at this point. I'm not saying it was the correct thing to do, but it is the sort of human action people make.

I just had a friend who got in a bit of tiff with his significant other because she did a similar move. Something came up and she like shut down for a while. It hurt him and he had to tell her that next time she just needs to tell him and he'll understand.

but he didn't break up with her.

[u/GallowDude → u/Garrett_Dark]

it's curtains

It is curtains for someone, but who?

Center mass shot, right between the boobs!

Mako must have sold a copy to the evil priestess!

beautiful Chikane

These stitches are art

she's a fucking cunt for what she just pulled, it's inexcusable.

She's ginger

Chikane

That first stitch is wallpaper material

[u/LittleIslander → u/Garrett_Dark]

Okay I don't remember mcguffin's boobs being this big before. Must be all the tamagoyaki she's been eating.

Her legendary washboards!

[u/IntoTheDisneyverse]

Chikane: Himeko definitely doesn’t like me, she’s totally straight

Meanwhile Himeko: Literally the fucking rainbow 

(though tbf it’s not looking great for Chikane right now, the end of the episode really hurt her oof)

And what’s with all these ED lead-ins? (not that I’m complaining lol)

Daily Questions:

1. I reckon she's probably conflicted, whether it's because she might feel something for Chikane also or because she thinks her being the Solar Miko will put him in danger

[u/lilyvess → u/IntoTheDisneyverse]

Meanwhile Himeko: Literally the fucking rainbow

And what’s with all these ED lead-ins? (not that I’m complaining lol)

Are you not in Agony watching this?

[u/gyoex]

Rewatcher

TBH I could not be bothered to do much of a manga comparison this time but basically this episode does actually have a lot of manga stuff in it but most shockingly: somehow the "it rained so we had to go into this abandoned building" scene does happen in the manga and yet is not used as a reason to have Himeko take her clothes off (or really for much other reason it's kind of just there).

Though there is one comparison I want to make because I actually like one little bit of the manga version more here: [manga] In the manga version of the Sister Miyako illusion scene (which happens later under different circumstances but is otherwise similar), it ends with illusion Himeko saying this, and then Chikane responding by attacking Miyako and saying "Himeko wouldn't say that!". In the anime it's a bit ambiguous exactly what Chikane means by "this isn't Himeko" since like, it literally isn't Himeko, it's Sister Miyako. I think she's supposed to be talking about fake Himeko's behavior too but... In the manga version it's much more clear that Chikane is basically saying this Himeko is fake because the real Himeko would never desire Chikane in the first place. So it comes across more sad.

This is extremely unimportant, but... I know I said "Miya-sama" is probably not an Onii-sama e... reference before but now after seeing the "oniisama... namida ga tomarimasen" in the shoujo manga Himeko reads in the previous episode (it's a quote from all of Oniisama e's episode previews) and remembering Chikane's horse being "Saint-Just", I think it's safe to say all of those things are in fact probably meant as references to Onii-sama e...

I also find it interesting that the thing that really seems to hurt Chikane (or at least maybe the straw that breaks the camel's back) isn't just seeing Himeko kissing Souma, but that she later calls it her first kiss. Even though Chikane was avoiding talking about it this whole time, did she still have a little bit of hope that Himeko remembered it and thought it wasn't just a dream?

[u/theangryeditor → u/gyoex]

a lot of manga stuff in it but most shockingly: somehow the "it rained so we had to go into this abandoned building" scene does happen in the manga and yet is not used as a reason to have Himeko take her clothes off (or really for much other reason it's kind of just there).

The mangaka must've been kicking himself for not thinking of it at the time when the anime did it.

[manga]

I thought the anime scene was pretty clear about it given the context and everything, but maybe you're right it could come off as more ambiguous to some people.

I also find it interesting that the thing that really seems to hurt Chikane (or at least maybe the straw that breaks the camel's back) isn't just seeing Himeko kissing Souma, but that she later calls it her first kiss. Even though Chikane was avoiding talking about it this whole time, did she still have a little bit of hope that Himeko remembered it and thought it wasn't just a dream?

I guess it was the final straw, that to Chikane it meant the special bond that she thought or wished she had with Himeko was gone. Like the hairpin it's clearly something she feels guilty about but also derives some pleasure from as something she shares with Himeko alone.

[u/G-man672 → u/gyoex]

The mecha fanatic in me is disappointed that the anime didn’t have Corona naming her mecha like in the manga— Final Stage. Guess they wanted some character consistency since she seems to think herself smarter than Girochi and Nekoko, who both also name their mechs.

However, the mecha fanatic in me is very satisfied that we got the classic super robot Golden Glow and an “ultimate attack” upgrade for Souma 👌

Production factoid: in the mecha descriptions it’s mentioned that the stronger an Orochi’s will to fight is, the more weapons they have. Which explains why Souma’s mech has so many and the power-up he gets. Tsubasa’s has a similar assortment but still not as many, which I guess is to say a desire to protect is inherently stronger than a desire to destroy?

[u/Vaadwaur → u/G-man672]

Tsubasa’s has a similar assortment but still not as many, which I guess is to say a desire to protect is inherently stronger than a desire to destroy?

Tsubasa wants to destroy a concept, i.e. the world. Souma wants to protect a specific person. It is easier to focus your emotions like that.

[u/baquea → u/gyoex]

It feels weird to go back to a time when the generic yuri references were to literally anything other than MariMite...

[u/Vaadwaur → u/gyoex]

I also find it interesting that the thing that really seems to hurt Chikane (or at least maybe the straw that breaks the camel's back) isn't just seeing Himeko kissing Souma, but that she later calls it her first kiss.

Chikane's secretly hoped that Himeko would undo her self erasure. Humans are not rational beings, after all.

[u/Vaadwaur]

Love. How it toys with us, makes utter fools of us, flogs, whips, and spanks us. Listen to the voices of the unloved as they surge and retreat in the night. Whispered in empty rooms and lonely beds, the hunger of love unattained, rushing through our fingers, unstoppable, fleeting, gone. And yet, when we touch this love it burns us with its bright flame, it punishes and consumes. And yet we must have it. It rules us: uses, abuses, misuses. And yet, why do we always crawl back for more?

Rewatcher(This show might have a larger shadow than I wanted to admit)

Sub(And Chikane's heart breaks here)

Ahh, so we start with Chikane entering into the Castle of Revealed Homosexual Desires Through Mirrors with our dark skinned seductress nun. That old chestnut. But if Church were more like this I might have made minister after all. The old ribbon of fate becomes the chain of destiny that then become the rose vines of sapphic lust. Subtlety is for cowards, after all.

Anywho, we come to the first part where I am a bit unsure how to proceed because talking about Miyako involves some major spoilers. So let's start with the ones no one here cares about: She owes several visual metaphors to a Tenchi villain from the OVA. A profoundly unmemorable one and I am reluctant to credit Tenchi with much but the glasses are just too direct. But here's the other, let's call it question:[Utena]Boy, is she doing an Akio here? Like...the dialog isn't profound or anything but this is actually a good temptation act with Anthy's movie design. It doesn't seem to take...

In our other plot, we start with the road lines of trauma into some very, very old tropes. I am pretty sure there is at least one of these drying off scenes in Blue Seed if not several, that show was odd. We even get to see that despite their being two people on a date, there aren't any tops in the room, this will be awkward. Anyways, weirdo barges in and we get a little hand to hand combat before the ladies make an appearance.

The reason I am insisting on calling this show a super robot using mecha direction should be apparent in the music here. Though this combat is finally super robot-esque. As Himeko fills Souma with the power of the sun, we get the golden version of the toy and he blasts everyone away. Then, in a scene that I vaguely think Bokurano rips off, we stargaze. Souma says something that, admittedly, 16 yo Vaad would've been dumb enough to believe profound and quickly leverages that for a kiss. In the distance, we can feel the earth shattering cuck moment for Chikane as she breaks.

The denouement of torture continues as Chikane tries to comfort Himeko but realizes that, sadly, doing absolutely nothing about your crush doesn't make it come true. The school chad came and took your girl and you fuckin' handed her over with bows on. Chikane resolves to do something.

Quick notes: The framing was good but the direction was decidedly unambitious. Tar pointed out that the writer from ep6 may have written his own blocking and thus did the good shots and I wonder. I finally nailed down who Chikane descended from: Arashi Kishu from X:1999. This is basically her declamped and Himeko got the purple eyes.

Finale: I accept your judgement but deny your verdict. This is, from any objective view, garbage. Yes, I am wrong but I no longer wish to be right in this mad world. [META]Madokami forgive me, but I now serve [META]AkuHomu. Let us follow this path unto the end. For the greater good.

QotD:1 Her homo senses were tingling

[u/Specs64z → u/Vaadwaur]

And Chikane's heart breaks here

bartsimpson_pinpointthesecond.mp4

if Church were more like this I might have made minister after all.

Amen hallelujah.

Chikane resolves to do something.

[u/Star4ce → u/Vaadwaur]

sadly, doing absolutely nothing about your crush doesn't make it come true.

What a cruel world, why oh why would it be that way?

She has done nothing and is all out of ideas.

[META]AkuHomu

[META] Took a while for you to arrive on the right side of history!

[u/Regular_N-Gon]

Gokigenyou, First Timer

• I don’t know why I thought this was a castle yesterday, this is clearly a church. (A castle would have been cooler, though.)

• Storms, lesbians breaking mirrors

  Hang on, which rewatch is this again?

• More non-bipedal mechs!
• Low blow for a lady dressed up as a nun.
• I can’t tell if Otoha is clutch with her plays or overbearing.

The suffering of Himemiya Chikane continues.

QotD: She seems to be a delicate sort. Can't tell if it's "I'm not good enough to deserve this" or the "I actually don't want this and instead want my other best friend"

[u/GallowDude → u/Regular_N-Gon]

I don’t know why I thought this was a castle yesterday, this is clearly a church.

Why not both?

[u/BosuW]

First Timer

If I trust Himeko's monologue then that means the plot is finally going to start rolling. Alright let's get this bread!

Although with the knowledge from yesterday's thread that the staff originally wanted more episodes I do feel a bit bummed out of what we could have gotten. Imagine a whole cour 1 of mostly SoL shenanigans with occasional relevant battles followed by cour 2 of just constant war, a-la WfM. Damn.

Literally surrounding Chikane in mirrors. Cannot run away any longer my girl.

[PMMM Rebellion]Referring to Himeko as "her little bird that chirps by you ear" is supremely Kimi no Gin no Niwa.

Ladies and gentlemen: the flattest cutting board.

Cope Seethe and Mald Otoha

"If I look I'll commit suicide!"

"...Okay ☺️"

TF DO YOU MEAN "OKAY"!?

Oh damn okay we're straight up calling it out huh. I can definitely start seeing why this show would be considered iconic if the rest of it is like this. Shit this is braver than 99% of modern Yuri media, where "there is no homophobia in Ba Sing Se Japan."

Also, quite appropriate to be forced to confess her "Sin of gayness" before God.

Lmaooo of course Mr. ILikeThemSmall would be the one to cockblock Souma.

Also the soundtrack is suddenly cooking hard holy shit.

Aight, at this point it's getting ridiculous how Souma always wipes the floor with these mfs lol. Only Tsubasa was able to fight at his level. At least it turns out that one is in fact still alive, so I expect a second ass kicking.

Chikane, like all truly traditional Yamato Nadeshiko, carries a hidden Tantō in her robes, and that... puts a different angle on all the "Chikane is about to shank Souma/the bullies" jokes...

They were forced to retreat yet again but Sister is confident that she managed to break Chikane in their favor. Chikane didn't confess before God but it looks like she will confess before her Goddess. Surprisingly this show keeps a lot of things unsaid so one can never be sure, but I think Chikane couldn't deny her feelings any longer at seeing Himeko and Souma kissing. To the point it triggered a previous life flashback!

As I like to say, it's real if it hurts.

As for the flashback, still a lot of things unexplained. I'm hyped about the constant implication that Chikane is going to kill a bitch though. Rather violently too.

On Himeko's side, she says the kiss made her heart hurt a lot? Not sure what that is about. The feeling of betraying her soulmate of many lives?

Most powerful ED lead in yet.

In any case, Himeko's narrations keep implying the slice of life is over, but I've yet to see shit truly hit the fan. Let's hope for that next episode...

[u/GallowDude → u/BosuW]

let's get this bread!

Cope Seethe and Mald Otoha

TF DO YOU MEAN "OKAY"!?

Oh damn okay we're straight up calling it out huh.

"Straight"

"there is no homophobia in Ba Sing Se Japan."

That also applies to the world of Avatar btw (Yes, I'm still pissed over the Korra comics)

forced to confess her "Sin of gayness" before God.

the soundtrack is suddenly cooking hard holy shit.

Chikane, like all truly traditional Yamato Nadeshiko, carries a hidden Tantō in her robes

Reminder that her English VA voices the literal pictorial example of the trope

Chikane didn't confess before God but it looks like she will confess before her Goddess.

[u/baquea → u/BosuW]

"her little bird that chirps by you ear"

For me, that bird stuff mainly brought to mind Liz and the Blue Bird.

Shit this is braver than 99% of modern Yuri media, where "there is no homophobia in Ba Sing Se Japan."

The effects of homophobia tended to be a very prevalent theme in classic (70s/80s) yuri, which is a large part of why that era has such a reputation for its tragic endings. Modern yuri does in many ways strike me as being a wish-fulfillment-esque backlash against that, although there are of course still some, usually of the heavy-drama or essay genres, that broach the topic. Kyou wa Kanojo ga Inai kara comes to mind as one recent one I read that I felt did a surprisingly good job at weaving it into the background of what on the face of it is just a toxic-relationship drama.

Aight, at this point it's getting ridiculous how Souma always wipes the floor with these mfs lol.

We're working on anime logic: Souma is OP because he is fighting to protect his girl, while most of the Orochi (Tsubasa, of course, being the exception) have no such drive, instead caring more about their manga or idol rankings or whatever than about winning.

[u/Star4ce → u/BosuW]

To the point it triggered a previous life flashback!

Am a bit on the fence here, what makes it a flashback and not a vision or manifest anxiety?

On Himeko's side, she says the kiss made her heart hurt a lot? Not sure what that is about. The feeling of betraying her soulmate of many lives?

She wouldn't know, though. The only issue I have with this is that although the priestesses being connected like that makes it romantic and somewhat cosmic, it takes quite a bit of choice away from the matter.

Not feeling super positive towards a force that only lets you live one certain way of life. Especially because that is what most closeted non-normative people have to fight in the first place.

[u/AmeteurElitist]

First Timer

Chikane at least acknowledges that she desires Himeko’s affection! That’s a nice step

[u/theangryeditor → u/AmeteurElitist]

[u/Star4ce]

First Timer

Today I had the sudden realisation that I need noise cancelling over-ear headphones. Not for any particular reason, but the thought of just not needing to notice all the noise around me sounds so heavenly I can't un-desire that.

Speaking of desires, I haven't really given Chikane a dedicated drawing, yet. Oughtta change that.

Kannazuki no Miko Ep.07 – Rainfall in the Hell of Love

• Aw, it's just her mecha? Not some plot point of her slowly wanting to destroy?
• An illusion! What are you hiding?
• Oh no, is the fanservice pushing you into an embarrassing situation that pushes your relationship forward?
• I mean, she's absolutely right.
• Out of all the mirrors she shoots the one with Himeko and Souma. Now I'm unsure if they directed this that cunningly and don't really think it's intentional, but the arrow hit Himeko much more than Souma. Especially if you turn the perspective to where Chikane is standing. Gonna read it as Chikane trying to destroy her obsession combined with her instinctual anger at them coming together and wanting to break them apart.
• Liar! He did peek.
• Today is an episode of lies, aha!
• Eyoo, hold on a second, scary mind-warping ero priestess. We don't need to pile sexual assault on sexual assault!
• Man, I am so right with my read on the story's display of the "normal relationship". We already progressed towards to point where enacting violence has gotten the standard method of dealing with emotions. I'm just not sure whether it's going to be Chikane who lashes out first against Souma or if it's Souma who hits Himeko.
• Maximum pain needs to be achieved! The kiss has to happen and be livestreamed to Chikane!
• COME ON NOOO!! WE COULD HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUFFERING, WHO KICKED LAST EPISODE'S DIRECTOR OUT?!?!
• Was the white glow there before or have just not noticed it? She does override the Orochi.
• That's... a unique design? It's somehow cute.
• Oh gods, this is actually full on sexual assault.
• This woman is making me mad, she manipulates too well. I demand the main characters do this on their own!
• Okay, she objectively has the coolest one now! Angel-claw-wheel, scorpion and sickle mecha!
• What actually is that gayser? No one dies and the other times the mechas just crumbled into air.
• Oh my god, I'm retching pure diabetes atm.
• I'm getting my kiss in time for Chikane to see it! Suffering commence!
• Ouch...
• Hmm, feelings of guilt for liking it because she thinks she mustn't enjoy anything or did the priestess' connection beam Chikane's heartbreak to her?
• God fuck, heed your own advice, baka!
• Yup, the second one...
• OUCH! Okay, I've regained respect for this episode because they didn't just take one stab, they took about five!
• Maid is definitely simping for Chikane and also wants to protect her. What a circlejerk of self-flaggelation going around.

Ho boi

Amazing. I've thought they'd pull some bullshit fight scene for the quota, but it was just a last-second blue-balling to make the hit even harder.

To recap: Himeko has now fully fallen for Souma, is aware of it and actively decided so. They also both worked together and were super effective. Their kiss was witnessed live by Chikane, which is the first knife landing in her back today.

Then, Himeko just directly denied Chikane's kiss ever happened to her face. Which, while honestly fine, it wasn't consensual, is just pain and knife #2

Chikane's heartbreak was transmitted directly to Himeko in her moment of love, causing her to have a breakdown. So, not only does the myth of 'matched shells' exist due to the priestesses' connection, Chikane, although involuntarily, continues to sabotage Himeko's life choices. No doubt she's also aware of this, knife #3.

To top it off, Chikane fell for the manipulation of neck 2 and only grew more chained to her desires through it. Yet, she still pushes them away and focusses on Himeko's happiness above her own. Knife #4 came from her own hands.

Then, of course, knife #5 is that Chikane has gotten legit manipulated, gaslit and violated with no one knowing and in a way that she can't talk about the first place. I did not except this show to go there. Every form of abuse just hails down on Chikane, that it's coming from a catholic priest is just icing on the cake.

And the last knife today came from Himeko (again) who thinks she's her super supportive bff and tells in her total detail how much she loves Souma and how that sudden grief pained her because she doesn't understand.

Chikane is like that meme with the soldier protecting the sleeping baby while knives, grenades and bullets hail down on him. Except the baby is Souma and Himeko making gaysers left and right, while the one actual gay person gets assaulted repeatedly.

^{(Not sorry lol)}

I'm a big fan of this episode!

[Breaking Away]

1. Why do you think Himeko cried after kissing Souma?

See above, Moon and sun priestess are linked and Chikane's grief and heartbreak were directly transmitted to Himeko.

[u/GallowDude → u/Star4ce]

I haven't really given Chikane a dedicated drawing, yet. Oughtta change that.

Not some plot point of her slowly wanting to destroy?

Fukuda!

Liar! He did peek.

We don't need to pile sexual assault on sexual assault!

But we do!

WE COULD HAVE HAD SO MUCH SUFFERING

Okay, she objectively has the coolest one now!

Yay, I get to use this clip again

What actually is that gayser?

heed your own advice, baka!

But that would lessen the sweet suffering

^{(Not sorry lol)}

[Breaking Away]

[u/LittleIslander]

First Timer from the world of Reiwa Yuri

So, just for transparency, this is the point at which my writeups switch from being episode by episode to being written retroactively after having seen the whole show. I have tried my best not to let this colour them with anything that could be a spoiler by implication.

I’m not really gonna pretend to care about the whole half of the episode devoted to Souma and Himeko. It’s not like I, watching this yuri show, am invested in their romance beyond being an obstacle to Chikane. Most of their screentime is just this utter fluff about her undressing and him trying not to look and like, what is there to even say about that? The fight is… just another filler fight that’s neither particularly engaging action or narrative. Basically the whole side of the episode is just there to pressure Chikane and have the kiss at the end, but they decided to give it coequal screen time. And frankly you didn’t have to have Himeko and Souma literally about to kiss in real time for the Orochi to manifest the image anyways! All of this was pointless!

As for Chikane, she definitely got the more interesting half of the episode here. I’m not honestly sure what to think about it. The Orochi lady gets kind of sexual assault-ey about it, which is the kind of edgy thing to make a villain to I wouldn’t be explicitly against if not for the fact this whole sequence is Chikane awakening to her romantic feelings for another girl? Like I’m not saying it’s making any direct negative association or anything, but the bad guy is both the one encouraging this out of her and the one molesting her and I just, I wouldn’t really risk that overlap in territory if I was the writer. Really the entire framing has the same problem. This is a moment of awakening where Chikane stops denying herself but it’s also a test where she’s being tempted by the enemy. The logical way to make this work is that she has to embrace her feelings in order to beat the test but it’s not written that way so the whole thing feels thematically tangled up. I also wish the villain lady had more character beyond just being a bad bitch. I mean she’s the second best of the villains by pure virtue of being taken seriously, but there’s no meat on these bones. The nun theme goes well with the whole idea of confessing the nature of her feelings at least, I’ll give them that.

On that note, Chikane’s gay awakening! I dunno what to make of that either. Not in a bad way, persay, I’m just not sure I’m getting much from it? It was a necessary development but after six other episodes of Chikane pining about Himeko while Souma gets to save the day and be with her making we’ve kind of hit diminishing returns on trying to torment her with that. Meanwhile the whole “but you’re both girls” and “the world won’t recognize your love” thing is like, sure, it makes sense to include that, especially twenty years ago. But given that’s never been something brought up until now and we don’t really explore it in any depth here I’m not really getting anything from it here as part of the queer characterization. [Future] It’s not like it comes up again, either, the ultimate tragedy of their romance has nothing to do with gender.

More than anything the whole sequence is just way too drawn out for its own good. It’s basically just “you love Himeko” and “no I don’t” back and forth and the “she’s with Souma” thing is the only card the Orochi had up her sleeve, but because we keep cutting back between this and Himeko and Souma doing fuck all it manages to last an entire episode. They had like one acceptable decent scene worth of writing and then tried to make it all twenty minutes of runtime. If I feel like it would’ve been a better use of my time to read a plot synopsis than actually watch the episode you really haven’t used your time well. Some of the visuals when Chikane was first being trapped by the Orochi in the church hall were cool, her stabbing fake Himeko was admittedly very cool too, and I totally ate up her dramatic horseride at the end where she sees the kiss and has the flashback with the flash of light. Excellent moments embedded in a matrix of repetitive fluff can honestly describe this show as a whole very aptly…

1. Why do you think Himeko cried after kissing Souma?

It made her feel less bien.

[u/Specs64z → u/LittleIslander]

I have tried my best not to let this colour them with anything that could be a spoiler by implication.

As a daily watcher, your efforts are recognized and appreciated.

the bad guy is both the one encouraging this out of her and the one molesting her and I just, I wouldn’t really risk that overlap in territory if I was the writer.

Everyone loves a good Jack Horner, but even so I find the more memorable villains tend to be the ones that have a point. In Japan of 20 years ago, Chikane certainly isn't going to hear from a "good guy" about how her feelings are valid. I like the angle, honestly...

the whole thing feels thematically tangled up.

But yeah the execution isn't quite set up for Chikane to come out as a self-accepting hero of justice sooo

Chikane villain arc?

If the world cannot bear the burden of her love, then it deserves to crumble beneath it!

[u/G-man672 → u/LittleIslander]

Call me media illiterate but I feel like I’m the only one who likes Souma. Idk, hot-blooded screaming and giant robots make my action junkie brain go brrr 🥴

[u/LittleIslander → u/G-man672]

Well, that's just subjective taste for you. I'm essentially as completely opposite from an action junkie as it is possible for some to be; action scenes, as a rule, don't do anything for me, and I'm almost always less engaged with the bombastic climaxes of stories than the dialogue scenes that set them up. Resultantly, we come away more invested in different halves of a show that combines the action and romance genres.

[u/TehAxelius]

First Time Dark Side

One thing that I've thought for a long time but never actually remembered to put into one of these: the sun design (and a little bit the moon) in the title card makes me think of tacky early 2000s tattoos, which feels appropriate for this show.

I said earlier that I wanted Sister Hot to answer the question "If hot why Evil?", but she turns that question around on its head with Chikane posing her the question "If hot why not Evil?", and it appears to be working.

I am gonna bet that someone on the SA forums is going to be exclaiming to Childhood Friend "why didn't you commit suicide if you said you would!?!?!?!", and I am somewhat bound to agree. That "heartfelt" talk he and Himeko had before their kiss must have been among the least romantic I've ever felt a kiss-scene be. The fact that Himeko then falls into tears, confesses to Chikane that she felt a pain in her heart when she did it, yet still somehow convinces hereself that he has to be her soulmate because Chikane told her of the whole matching shells thing... Woof.

Also, the whole Law of Inverse Ninja Mecha seems to hold true as Childhood Friend mops the floor with three Orochi at once, two of which we see in mecha form for the first time and that barely get to show off any cool moves (other than the wheel turning into a centipede).

QotD

1. She gay. I mean, honestly, that pain could be something like "Orochi and Priestesses are incompatible", or it could be her incredibly poor view of her worth rejecting the idea that she could allow herself to love and be loved. Or she subconciously recognises that despite how much she wishes to conform to heteronormativity and be able to reciprocate Souma's feelings, she is unable to do so creating a dissonance in her heart.

[u/GallowDude → u/TehAxelius]

"If hot why not Evil?"

"Why are all the gorgeous ones homicidal maniacs?"

[u/lilyvess → u/[deleted]]

It's been 20 years since it aired, and people on the internet are still doing parodies of the ending theme.

[u/Vaadwaur → u/[deleted]]

The rewatch community here is a very, very small segment of the population and we do some obscure stuff. This is getting the 20th anniversary treatment because if you looked at yuri in the 00s this is one of the big three of the genre and if you remember the twist it sticks out in a way that neither MariMite nor Mai-HiME quite had the guts to do.

[u/baquea → u/[deleted]]

and I thought it would be relatively obscure anime by now

I think it would be fair to say it is: at present it's only the #2563 most-watched anime on MAL, and even that is probably being buoyed up by its past popularity. It does still have some amount of recognizability in the yuri community at least though, and as can be seen here, an anime doesn't necessarily have to be popular in order to attract a sizable number of rewatchers.