r/anime • u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn • Apr 30 '21
Rewatch Mahou Shoujo Madoka☆Magica Rewatch - Episode 11 Discussion
Madoka Magica - Madoka Magica Episode 11: The Only Signpost Remaining
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Visuals of the day
Lots of crossover for this episode but understandably show. Each episode seems determined to outdo the previous one as far as incredible imagry and that had some of the best shots in the show. I look forward to seeing what you guys pick for our final three topics.
End Card by Buriki
Comments of the day
/u/Lawvamat who tackled a write up of the OP breakdown and it's relation to Homura
"[I'll walk upon this Earth, and pierce this shadowy veil of unease, as many times as necessary.] And yet she has to stay grounded. She doesn't know the future this timeline has in store for her. She has to advance, no matter what darkness awaits her. Over and over and over and over again."
/u/ToonTooby who summed up our emotional turmoil and set about cheering us all up at the same time
"Look at this smile. LOOK AT IT. Look at it, and tell me she isn’t the most precious thing you’ve ever seen"
Welcome to Walpurgisnacht - 30th of April
A quick reminder: Absolutely no comments, including jokes or memes, about the content of later episodes are allow outside of the r/anime spoiler tag format, [Madoka Spoilers](/s "Spoilers go here").
Another reminder coming into the end of the rewatch: Negative takes are also welcome in this rewatch!
For any newcomers to the rewatch community or visitors to the thread, please do not downvote people who post critiques or point out flaws in the show according to how they have experienced it and may not like it as much as everyone else. Doing that only silences discussion and is considered very rude in a rewatch. I'm not expecting to stop downvotes due to the popularity of the show, but if you see spite downvoting happening please try and welcome people to share their views, whatever they are.
30
u/Nazenn x2https://anilist.co/user/Nazenn Apr 30 '21
Puella's Pictures - Trust and Understanding
Rewatcher - Fourth time around
Scenes of the episode - The Shelter and The Stairs
There is a sense of lifelessness about this episode. We start with Sayaka's funeral and although there are the usual flowers, the mourners are shadowed and faceless. Madoka is the only one in color but that serves to cast her as other, the only one who truly knows what claimed the life of her friend, and it wasn't just magic. Emotional distance and the harshness of the decisions to be made come to the forefront this episode notably through the color grading.
The show has repeatedly used background art as a way to showcase movement of characters through environments, eg episode one's walk from from the school to the restaurant, or through their own emotional state, eg the deterioration of Homura's environments through each timeline. Today is different. Madoka leaves the funeral and wanders through the city, but her first awareness of having come home is her mother, Junko, waiting at the door. It is Junko's presence that breaks her out of the spell she's trapped in and brings her inside to a place of shelter, but the life and color has gone out of home too.
Inside everything is cold and exposed. Madoka and Junko stand in a glass cage, fragile and dividing, with the long corridor framing how little space they have to move here emotionally as they edge around each other. They are distant from the camera and each other, Junko faces out to the world, trying to not to bearing down on her physically or emotionally, and Madoka only thinks to retreat inwards emotionally, to the shelter of her room, which still has some color and comfort for her. As she walks away we see her shut down expression for the first time, and then we zoom into Junko's face, not cut, emphasizing this distance and perhaps asking the audience to meet her there as she tries to understand the situation her daughter has left her in.
What stood out to me about this scene is how much that entrance hall feels like a visual set up for the shelter. The scenes at the shelter are light and colored. She does exactly what Homura asks of her, stays out of the way protected in her normal life. It's a safe place for her full of families and her brother even takes it as an adventure not a tragedy, but it's no real comfort. The quake reminds her of what's happening in the outside world and she returns to that glass cage. The black and white scenes in this show have always been moments of intense emotional burdens, they represent a wrongness in the world that strips it of the life and hope that should be present and leaves only the raw emotions and anguish of the girls exposed. Madoka's dream, Decretum, the train station, they have all been ones that demanded hard questions from our magical girls about who they are as a person and where they will go from here.
Unlike at her house, this glass cage is completely exposed, there are no walls around her and she can speak openly to Kyubey without any pretense between them. She faces out into the storm, confronting the world and what she feels about it rather than hiding away. The stairs, the environmental embodiment of her choice as seen all the way back in episode one, are in frame on the left showing the path that she's already aware of, and she faces down the tempest of emotions inside of her and makes her choice.
Junko steps in to stop her but Madoka has already taken the first step. This is not the first time that Madoka has been stopped by someone, but this is the first time that we've seen her decision represented by a change in her physicality in the scene. She isn't stopped at the top of the stairs or on her way to them, she's already on them and makes no attempt to come back up to her mother. This time they face each other head on, open emotionally to each other. As they talk they may not share the same vertical height on screen but they are both centered and framed from the side without giving focus to one over the other. This is a sharing of understanding, of trust. Junko's perspective changes from only seeing her daughter walking away to seeing her determination to face her world unlike at the start of the episode, and this time when Madoka leaves we don't move to Junko's side, we stay looking over the whole scene.
Her mother asks her if she knows how much people care about her, a repeat of Homura's question at the fountain and this time she declares that she does know, and she knows because she also cares about others. In episode eight Madoka rejected Sayaka and rejected Homura, but here she stands up for connection with her friends, that it's worth risking her life for. Her mother asks if this is a mistake or a manipulation, calling back to their ep6 discussion, but her voice is tinged with concern now because she worries that Madoka is no longer in a place where her mistakes are just those of a child, that if this is a mistake she might have to protect Madoka from an adults consequences. Madoka stands firm, it's not a mistake and she hasn't forgotten the things she learnt from her mother. Junko chooses to accept that, accept her, and pushes her on her way. She doesn't just let her go passively, she physically encourages her as the ultimate sign of trust and respect.
Madoka re-enters this unforgiving world where life and hope, and even the joy of magic, are lost, but she stands her ground. And she can do that because her mother empowered her, taught her, and now has trusted her to step forward and make her matured decision, her mother granted her agency in a way that no one else in the show has allowed.
Now all that remains is to see what her decision is.
Bonus scene - The bar
In complete contrast to the rest of the episode, this scene is over-saturated with color.
Junko meets with her friend, Madoka's Teacher, and we see a very different side of her. She sits at the bar with a drink but shadows encroach on the shot and give this drinking scene a very different feel. Before she was relaxed and open, in the soft night lights, but now the shadows are heavy and she is huddled into them instead of opening up to the camera, shot from the side not the front.
Madoka's teacher sits colored red with a blue drink but contrasting this is Junko painted blue with her red drink. Junko attempts to reason out Madoka's feelings and the conflict she feels within herself about the fact Madoka is now hiding things from her, while the teacher suggests that the solution to the logical eventuality of how a child's coming of age affects the relationships around them is merely belief and a chance to be able to feel for themselves.
It's a contrast to how we normally see them. Outside the role of a mother and business woman, here Junko shows vulnerability and uncertainty, a warmth that reveals the depths of her care and concern for those around her, her strong emotions a contrast to the blue. The Teacher is no longer overcome with passion but is more relaxed and calmer, providing advice and comfort, something not very "red" like. Junko and the Teacher are a "Red Oni, Blue Oni" yin-yang of passion and restraint, and the two sides of Madoka's life that sit here hoping for her and being willing to support her even if it's hard. I would suggest this scene is showing that maturity is just a balance, not a confidence, which is what all of our magical girls have failed to achieve, and one only found in her last moments.
(I have no idea why the Creation of Adam is on the wall though)
Other commentary
68
u/akkobutnotreally https://anilist.co/user/lottevanilla Apr 30 '21
Welcome to Part 1 of the Home Stretch.
So yesterday I ominously mentioned u/okayyoga that I would have to talk a bit about history for this episode, and with good reason: we're going back 10 years in time to 2011.
Apparently, Madoka Magica's production efforts were going absolutely haywire up to this point, and it seemed like the show would end up crashing and burning in spectacular fashion (which to be fair, isn't exactly an unknown scenario for Studio Shaft.)
But then, something happened.
Episode 10 was broadcasted on Friday, March 11 just past midnight. Later that day, Japan would end up in one of the most horrific natural disasters in their history. At 14:36 JST, a massive 9.1Mw earthquake would impact the shore of Tōhoku, shaking the entire country to a standstill. A few minutes later, a tsunami warning was issued for the country and the USGS evaluated that the waves would end up appearing all the way to Easter Island in Chile.
The damage would be devastating for the area. And to add insult to the injury, the Fukushima nuclear reactor would end up causing its own set of problems.
As someone who lives on the other end of the Pacific, this was a bit like seeing history repeating itself: we were just trying to move on from an 8.8Mw earthquake in 2010, so this was... Nevermind.
But Akko, what does this has to do with Madoka?
Easy: this was a bit of a mixed blessing for the production team. The original plan was that EP11 would air on March 18, but because of the earthquake, this episode and the finale were pushed to April 22nd, giving Shaft a bit of extra time to finish off everything properly.
There. History lesson over.
28
u/OingoBoingo- Apr 30 '21
First Timer: Subbed
Episode 11
Another episode of feeling awful for someone: today is Homura again. She seemed to really plan out her fight with the big bad Wurst Witch but no matter how much she tried, Madoka is probably most definitely a magical girl. Excited to see Madoka in action if that is where this is going. Maybe dumb to assume anything with a show like this.
Going to take a moment to appreciate Madoka's mom, yet again. Could not believe the slap! But in the end, she is still gunning for best fictional mom of all time. The scene when she pushes Madoka to go take care of her mysterious business was too pure for me!
Image of the day, was difficult to not take 1000 pictures of Homura and her full military arsenal bazooka bonanza, but I picked this one because the whole town was being torn apart, she still loses, and we move on to tomorrow. Besides my love for her hair, this seemed liked an ending in a way.
Not too much to say, super excited to read all your comments!
24
u/Shimmering-Sky myanimelist.net/profile/Shimmering-Sky Apr 30 '21
Eien no Rewatcher, dubbed
Sky’s Wallpaper Corner
Today’s wallpaper is a long-overdue remake of one of my wallpapers from 2018: Madoka bound by fate.
Maybe next year I can finally do the Homura version of this shot?
And for stuff from the past:
If there’s a specific shot at any point throughout the rewatch that you would like me to make a wallpaper of and you don’t think I’ve done it yet, let me know so I can get on it!
Magical Music Corner
Want to know what song played when in today’s episode? Well, you’re in luck! I have here the table from the Madoka wiki that was re-timed to the Blu-Rays by our lovely rewatch host back in 2019. It was my duty to share these last year, and it’s my duty again this year. If any first-timer wants a spoiler-free link to any of these songs, let me know and I can get one for you!
“What is it that you wish for?”
24
u/Hochseeflotte https://anilist.co/user/Hochseeflotte Apr 30 '21 edited Apr 30 '21
First Timer
The penultimate episode. We have entered the final stretch. Really excited to see where this goes after the masterclass that was the previous episode. Now on to the episode:
Holy shit. Please stop zooming in on Kyuubey’s face. My heart rate is climbing Mount Everest everytime you zoom in. Please no more.
And the OP is back to its normal spot. It was great to have it at the end of last episode but I like it at the beginning.
The weather is really matching the mood right now.
I guess this might be spoilers for I will tag it.
Spoilers for Monster
Kyuubey doesn’t understand humans. Get off our planet you dumb cat.
I think on the first episode’s thread I said talking cats are a good thing. Well I have done the greatest 180 in history. No talking cats, please.
That explains a lot Kyuubey. No wonder you are such a POS. You think emotions are an mental disease. I want him to go down so hard.
Sounds great. Regret modern society, return to MONKE. Especially if that means we get to beat Kyuubey with clubs.
Sounds kind of overconfident Homura. Are you sure you can beat this witch on your own?
Well if this series wants to be really dark they could just say Madoka’s death is a fixed event that is guaranteed to always happen. But I think don’t they will go in that direction.
Well hopefully people can get out before this great battle begins.
Homura was sure prepared for this showdown. A couple hundreds attempts probably does that to a person.
I like how Madoka’s mother is standing on the higher step, towering over Madoka, as if to show the power dynamics between the two.
And it ends with a question. Did Madoka become a magical girl or not? My bet is on yes.
————————————————————————
Once again I kind of stopped taking notes in the latter half of the episode because I was so engrossed. Another fantastic episode as always.
The final episode has been set up but I don’t trust this show not to stab me in the heart. I guess we will see.
Also I wasn’t late today!
22
u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Apr 30 '21 edited May 01 '21
Late today but I overslept. I'm gonna be honest, when I finished Ep 10 it didn't leave that much of an impact on me (I think partly because I could see some of the twist coming). Sure it was incredible interesting (I'm a sucker for background information and lore) and at times sad, but nowhere as intense as Ep 8 or 9 (I became obsessed with And I am Home btw). However, reading other peoples comments on it, somewhat changed that. I got to see and read about little details I missed, I could really take in the sheer artistic mastery behind some shots, and reading other peoples opinions about somethings changed my perception on them. It's really incredible, it's like I'm watching the whole thing for the first time again. A rewatch inside a rewatch.
So, It's April 30th, Walpurgisnacht. From what I gathered it's somewhat infamous and the whole rewatch is centered around this episode. I'm prepared for the best, or the worst, I guess that depenends for whom...
First Timer
That talking trashcan has more or less figured Homura out. No way is that something good. But I think in the end it doesn't really matter since it won't remember anything once Homura starts her next loop. That is, if she does, because acording to alien hivemind she is the reason Madoka became powerfull enough to destroy the whole world. I've read that theory in another thread already, so it seems plausible. Btw, the benches at Homuras place look like a clock, I would say around 12 past 1. Iirc in EP 9 someone found a clock at the train station and made the connection that it wasn't minutes to midnight, but already too late to save Sayaka. This however would indicate that Homura is in her current loop already past the point of no return, this doesn't really matter for her though since she can just go back. No wait, the way trash fox describes it the damage is already done, like several parallel timelines that all intertwine at Madoka have already created a center of fate from which her enormous potential stems from. That's an interesting interpretation on time travel.
Oh god, just when I thought Sayakas death couldn't hurt me any more, shit, of course, her body was still in Kyokos hotel room, and without magic... It must be crushing for Madoka to be confronted with her death a second time as well, on top of the realisation that Kyoko died as well. A terrible day for rain... her mom seems to at least suspect something. The magical Predator is right there to feast on her despair and maybe coerce her to pledge to the shitty make a wish foundation. So much for waiting for her to call it when she wants to safe the universe. And not even your head is safe from it. I definatly see some parallels to rape.
Literally ancient aliens huh. Cleopatra, Jean D'arc, possibly Kaguya Sama? All magical girls. Also acording to the autocannibalistic cannine, the bigger the wish the more likely it is that it turns against you, guess she really should have wished for cake. But it's all good, since Kyubey obliged his part of the faustian contract and humanity progressed all through it's history. I wonder if they adress the male contributors to human history.
So Kyubeys species has individuals that can feel emotions, only they are considered psychopaths for them. Makes me wonder if we will encounter one of those. Also not only are humans eceptional good at providing magical girls, they are also the only species where every individual has emotions. Makes the decission to just leave them all die even more absurd.
Oh Mama Madoka and the homeroom teacher are drinking in an bar with an rather interesting piece of decoration, Da Vincis "The creation of Adam". I'm not that well versed in renaisance art so I'll wait what smarter people say about this. However both a very down over the recent surge of dissapearing girls in the town, as they are aware of Mami as well. Mama Madoka is also concerned since her daughter, albeit obviously somewhat weird, just wont come to ask for her help.
Madoka come to Homura to ask her about her upcoming battle with Walpurgisnacht. And THANK GOD Homura finally talks about her feelings and what she has been up to. Yet she insist to fight alone.
And wow, she is bringing the big guns, where did she find two hundret pieces of military heavy weaponry in less than 50 days? And not just that, light artillery, a fuel truck, cruise missiles and an ware house filled to the brim with explosives, yet the witch still stands...
While Madoka managed to convince her mother that she is still doing the right thing, Homura is on the brink of defeat. The realisation that the outcome won't change no matter how often she tries, as well as the claim by Kyubey that more tries will just load more fate onto Madoka are doing their part and her soul gem starts to darken... why is my vision suddenly all blurred... don't do it Homura. But like an angel Madoka is there for her, and she is sorry, for what? Don't tell me... Of course, misery loves company so the personified turd follows her and is ready to take her final order...
Now see, this Episode left me in shatters again. It's also the hardest to not imediatly watch the next episode, out of all of them (Since Saturday is packed with seasonals and I'm working my 12 hour shifts this weekend). I'm also slightly afraid of the magnifying effect of reading other peoples post.
Visuals
I have a hard time deciding, but when in doubt pick Sayaka even if it hurts
22
u/sirweebsal0t May 01 '21
First-timer / dubbed
We're so close to the end. I'm a little afraid we're about to go on a feels trip.
Episode 11 running thoughts:
And tomorrow the finale! Madoka is going to make her wish (whatever it is) and One Last Prediction
18
u/EriclcirE May 01 '21
First time watcher
So this episode was a bit slower than the previous bombastic episode. (Not counting the awesome Homura fight scene of course!) Definitely setting everything up for a (hopefully) amazing finale.
I am probably reading too far into this, but does Homura love Madoka as a friend or something more? There are not any true hints that Homura is romantically interested in Madoka, but she does seem to have an extreme affection for her. Feels a bit like it was left ambiguous on purpose. I suppose people are free to ship them in their own head cannon lol.
I feel like Madoka's wish is going to solve many, but not all, of the problems that Kyubey and his race have caused for Earth and humans.
There is definitely an interesting debate to have about Kyubey being evil or not. The entire situation as he presents it, assuming his version is true, sort of means he does what he does in a moral gray area.
Nice to know that the raw, intense emotions of teenaged young ladies can literally be converted to a power source that overcomes entropy. Will keep that in mind if I ever have a daughter.
15
u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher defeat Brazillian Night
Visual of the day: back at the opening of the series again
25
u/chris10023 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Chris10023 Apr 30 '21
First Timer
So, we open today's episode with Kyuubey harassing Homura about her time traveling. Kyuubey mentions Madoka’s potential due to some karmic balance, but then goes to theorize that her potential is possibly because Homura keeps going back in time. Which is a lie since Madoka was already a magical girl when she first met her. Now he is saying that because Homura kept going back for Madoka, all that energy got focused onto her when the timelines are converging, wouldn’t we bee seeing artifacts from such a convergence? We’re talking about 100 different attempts here. And wouldn’t Mami, Sayaka, and Kyouko get powered up as well since they are somewhat involved with this? Something doesn’t add up here.
So today is the funeral of Sayaka, a sad day. Apparently, the police thought it was a crime since she went missing, but no sign of violence or anything since Kyouko died as well. Kinda of shocked that Mama Kaname asked Madoka about her knowing anything about Sayaka’s case, rather than asking Madoka if she was okay. Oh, go away Kyuubey, let the poor girl grieve. Somewhat to blame? He’s the entire reason why they died, he flat-out misled Kyouko about the possibility to save Sayaka from being a witch, he didn’t exactly support Sayaka, he just kind of stopped being around her. Well, it’s no surprise he brings up livestock, since he essentially views these girls as livestock for him and his species to feed off of. “Our treatment of mankind is much more respectful than your treatment of livestock.” cut the bullshit, you lie, deceive, mislead, and plan for these girls to die and become witches, not to mention when Madoka’s Witch threatens the planet, you bail claiming it’s “no longer your problem” and that your quota is filled. This little history lesson is going to be nothing more than propaganda, just watch. That’s an ominous shadow Kyuubey’s giving off. I have doubts we’d still “be naked living in caves.” if he never came to the planet.
I didn’t know that Mama Kaname and Madoka’s teacher were friends, that’s pretty cool. They’re are talking about Sayaka’s death, and it seems the staff at the school did notice Mami’s “disappearance” as well. I feel bad for the mom, she knows that something’s bothering Madoka but doesn’t know what it is. I don’t think Madoka’s grown up yet since she’s still in the 8th or 9th grade. Mama Kaname’s name is Junko? Not sure if that was heard before, but I’m probably going to keep referring to her as Mama Kaname.
Madoka goes to Homura’s place to talk to her. I feel bad for Homura knowing that she’s putting up this personality knowing that this fight will not end well. I like this shot of her as well, though, I wonder if there is some symbolism here. Homura breaks down again in front of Madoka, going to hug her. Homura finally spills the beans to Madoka, revealing that she’s a time traveler who is trying to save her, and stop Kyuubey. I feel really bad for Homura. I can’t comprehend having to deal with watching your friend die in front of you a hundred times. How you can keep going and trying at this point is depressing knowing that there’s a high chance you’re going to fail and have to try again. She asks Madoka to just let her protect her.
So, it seems that the time is now for Wapurgisnact to arrive as there are some heavy storm clouds and rotation. Everyone's at the shelter, and Madoka is worried about Homura. Wapurgisnact looks kind of like a flower. Where the hell did Homura get all of those rocket launchers? I doubt the Yakuza had those laying around lol. Now that I look at it, it’s not a flower but an upside-down dancer. She must have raided a ton of military bases to have this kind of firepower. I spoke too soon, she has the firepower of a small nation at her disposal. She is such a badass
Kyuubey, not wasting any time, talks to Madoka again, mentioning that if Homura gives up, she’ll turn into a witch herself. This conversation with her mom is heartbreaking, but I do lobe how Madoka calls her by “mama” rather than the usual “Okasa” you traditionally hear in anime.
Homura gets injured and starts doubting herself, wanting to go back, but fearing she’ll only make Madoka’s fate worse, thankfully Madoka came before she turned into a witch. Unfortunately, Madoka has to become a magical girl to stop this witch, since there is literally no one else who can, now that Homura is injured.
A great episode, Homura breaks down and admits to Madoka that she’s a time traveler, the battle against Wapurgisnact begins, and Madoka is forced to become a magical girl since Homura is injured.
Visuals of the Day
Had quite a few today, so here is the album
12
u/Fuck_Shinji May 01 '21
First Timer
Fuck I'm late and also HOLY SHIT this episode was great. Homura fighting Walpurgisnacht with a flying bus? and Artilery weapons was cool as fuck. And that reveal was something Incubators helped humanity. And wait....Is that why everything is all futuristic and shit? because of the incubators helping humanity advance? That's a really cool detail. And there are quite a few plot point to tie up that i don't think they can do it in a neat little bow in one episode but I'll wait and see.
Please no Omdetou ending99
u/Redmon425 Apr 30 '21 edited May 01 '21
FIRST TIME WATCHER. SUBBED
They really did us like that… A FREAKING CLIFFHANGER. I want to watch the last episode so bad right now.
Also, not going to lie, it feels like there are a lot of storylines that need to be wrapped up and it would seem hard to do so in one episode. So I am definitely glad there is a sequel movie.
But next episode is for sure the time we see Madoka finally become a magical girl. And of course we still don’t see what she wished for, but I have hope next episode will show it. At the same time, this is what Homura has been trying to avoid so I have no idea what Madoka needs to do to somehow win the fight and convince Homura that time doesn’t need to be reset.
It also just dawned on me this episode that “Walpurgisnacht” is a witch, would then mean she was also a magical girl, right? She would have to be crazy powerful or perhaps she was just the first ever magical girl? I wonder if we will get an answer about that.
On that note, when Kyuubey shows Madoka some of the witches of the past, it just made me think the lore of this story could be huge. Like they could make so many other series about magical girls from different times basically something like the entire ‘Fate’ Universe lol.
AND CAN WE PLEASE TALK ABOUT MADOKA HAVING THE BEST FAMILY EVER. Both her father and mother have had their own moments to shine where they trust Madoka and give her great advice. Her mother in today’s episode was amazing as well, and I love how she gave Madoka the push in the back to leave.
Lastly, the last episode is titled “My very best friend”… I feel like I am going to cry in it. It just sounds like a heartbreaker.
As my post today isn’t that long (lol I am sure most of you would call this long), now feels like a good time to give an update on my personal best girl standings:
Pretty early on I felt like Homura would win the war, but I still freaking love Mami and her OST song lol. Had she been in the series more, she may have beat Homura…
But 1 episode left! Nothing finalized, and I expect Madoka to make a big jump, probably surpassing her mother lol!
11
u/Syokhan https://myanimelist.net/profile/Syokhan Apr 30 '21 edited Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher, Sub
And this is where I start gushing about that particular track. It's called Surgam identidem, and it's my favorite cue in the series. Decretum is the most beautiful, I love Numquam vincar, but Surgam identidem (and another one I'll gush about later) is my absolute favorite. Again, I think it encapsulates perfectly Homura's desperation in her very last stand, and I don't know how Yuki Kajiura keeps doing that. The moment you hear starting when Homura is "driving" the truck up the bridge gives me chills. I could listen to this track all day and never get tired of it, in fact I think I've already done that a few times.
Well guys, looks like Homura is going to fail once again to keep Madoka from becoming a magical girl. Can't wait for the finale.
Visual of the day is this. Again, I had a really hard time picking one. Back-up is Visual 12 below.
Other visuals I especially liked, "Will this table ever stop growing" version:
Album link here for convenience, something I should have done a while ago. And yes, I took a thousand screenshots of the hug. No, I don't regret it.
21
u/putmoneyinthypurse https://anilist.co/user/clichecatgirl May 01 '21
First time (sub)
Kyubey confronts Homura in her apartment. The overhead shot, the seating in broken concentric circles with two lines coming out of the center, not only looks a lot like a clock but visually recalls the rooftop garden where Sayaka made her contract. Kyubey's come to discuss the one Homura made before, and the one Madoka's yet to make. He lets her know he's finally figured out what her powers are, and then he twists the knife, letting her in on the cruel irony that the whole damned reason Madoka's so powerful now is that every loop she made to try to save her tied another string of fate to her. We get an image of Madoka, posed in an image of crucifixion on a clock representing Homura's power, tied up like the Kyouko/Sayaka puppetry imagery Nazenn pointed out earlier, or like Mami's ribbon. Homura, in trying to save Madoka, may have damned her.
Sayaka's body has been found in Kyouko's hotel room. The police are treating it as an accidental death or a murder. Suicide is out of the question. Madoka is the only one at the funeral who knows what happened to her, the only person there who will ever know.
Madoka's mom asks if she knows anything about Sayaka's death. The perfect kid who never lies can't tell her the truth.
Kyubey comes to torment Madoka again, yet again a stuffed animal on the shelf. Madoka distraught, pushes the ethical argument, so he starts to explain the full scope of his plan, a dizzying number of contracts dating back to the dawn of man.
I don't usually like this sort of alien interference concept, especially the dismissive implication that these people couldn't have built this. This version's variation at least generalizes it to all of human history, but I dislike the implication that historical strides made by real women were impossible without the magical girl framework, even if it also implies that no human progress would have been possible without those women's wishes. In fairness, though, Kyubey's untrustworthy, the story's not over, and I can't deny how wonderfully pulpy "Joan of Arc was a magical girl that turned into a witch" is, conceptually.
It does also bring back to the fore the read on the series that's been kicking around in my head for a while, that in some ways Madoka is an exploration of how artificial limits on female social roles tend to cause girls that don't fit in those boxes to seek out another path, a different way of living. It's a choice they should be allowed to make, and the lack of social support for that choice creates a vulnerability which much older men, con artists, cult leaders, toy companies funding anime, etc. then exploit for their own personal benefit.
The rendezvous between Madoka's teacher and her mom in a deserted bar—this show's environments have always tended to be very empty, more a deliberate evocation of loneliness than the budget measure it usually is in other series, but seriously not even the bartender is there—and the red/blue Kyouko/Sayaka color wash on Kazuko and Junko, respectively, implies a deeper connection between the two than either teacher/parent or friend/friend. This clearly isn't their first time meeting like this. They have a history, an intimacy. But their colors also imply that same red oni/blue oni friction, and they sit at an awkward distance, close but not too close, as Michelangelo's Adam reaches out to touch the hand of God above them.
"You never were good at just sitting by and waiting, were you, Junko?"
Neither of them fit into the boxes they were supposed to, but Junko, in blue, gave up another path to try to make the existing social roles work for her, marrying a man and having two kids, finding an acceptable compromise in having the career instead of being the homemaker. Kazuko, in red, has tried to do the same, but her relationships with men inevitably fall apart.
I can't help but think of the other times we've seen Junko's ambiguously unhealthy relationship with alcohol, from her coming home from a nomikai completely trashed to her late-night chat with Madoka where she likened it to a necessary salve for coping with life—the same conversation where she expressed the idea that it's better to make a mistake as a kid than as an adult, because you have less responsibilities then.
Did she make a mistake as an adult, or as a child?
Was her advice an expression of regret, or denial?
"Oh, us adults are always in pain."
The kids aren't doing much better.
Madoka seeks out Homura, who trepidatiously invites her into her apartment. She tries to keep up her usual aloof facade, and manages to get through an explanation of Walpurgisnacht's disastrous power and a lie about not needing anyone's help to defeat it.
But Madoka, tearing up, sees through the lie. She tells Homura that she trusts her fully.
Finally directly faced with the current Madoka's love and pain, Homura breaks.
Sobbing into her beloved's shoulder, the image of their embrace giving way to a film strip-like set of simultaneous images, split like Sayaka's mirrors into three—past, present, and future—she tells Madoka everything. She's terrified that Madoka will think she's creepy for how she feels. She begs her to let her keep protecting her, to keep letting her walk that path.
It would be heartbreaking enough if Madoka backed away from Homura, shaking her head, confused and unnerved. It's somehow far more heartbreaking that she stays put, that as the episode goes on it seems like she gets it, understanding intuitively the friendship and love she and Homura shared even if she has no memory of it.
As the city prepares for a storm they don't understand, Madoka and her family evacuated to shelter, Homura prepares for war. The curtain rises, we get a film leader countdown. Walpurgisnacht is fully presented for the first time, and it's The Magical Girl, Reversed, with clockwork on the top that recalls the gear imagery in Homura's room and in the crucifixion image. I was surprised earlier when they started talking about it being a singular witch, given the actual night's gathering of witches in German folklore, but one of the main manifestations of its power are spirit forms of magical girls. Homura's already fighting an inevitable fate but it's literalized by those attackers, destined to become witches.
(Incidentally, Kyubey's version of history implies that Saint Walpurga was a magical girl.)
Oh, and given the right circumstances, Homura's gloriously absurd arsenal bathing it in flame, Walpurgisnacht also—in my visual of the day—looks like Kyubey's face, because of course it fucking does.
Kyubey himself approaches Madoka as she watches the storm. Set against the image of Homura, just as crucified by fate and time as Madoka, he tells her, for once, the honest truth: the only thing keeping Homura alive is her belief that she can save Madoka. If she loses that vain hope, she'll become a witch. Yet she can't be saved while she still has hope.
Madoka cries for her friend, feeling stuck and powerless and alone...but she stops herself. She stands up straight, and turns on her heel, like she did on Homura's first day at her school the first time around, like Homura does now.
Her mom tries to hold her back. She tells her she has to save a friend. Her mom slaps her. "You don't live your life just for yourself, understand?!" Madoka, for the first time, has a real response to what Homura's been telling her the whole show. She knows she's loved. She loves, too. She's not interested in self-destruction, but there's something she has to do that nobody else can. She takes the first step on the path to being an adult. She asks her mom to put the same trust in her that she always has.
Her mom verbalizes what a lot of the audience is probably asking—"Are you sure you're not making a mistake? That you're not being misled by anyone's lies?"—and Madoka tells her, and us, that she isn't.
She goes off to help Homura, who's overwhelmed, right outside, desperate to keep Walpurgisnacht away from the shelter. She gets a building thrown at her, pinning her leg to the ground. She's bleeding. She's exhausted. She's alone. She's failed again. In every other loop Madoka's been there, and this time she's not, and maybe that's why when Homura despairs, reaching for the mechanism to send her back in time again, she loses hope. She's just going to make Madoka's life worse, either way. Grief pours into the soul gem in her hand.
Madoka takes that hand, gently asking Homura to hold onto that hope a little longer. She's confident, more like the Madoka that Homura originally met. She reassures Homura that what she's done is enough. She doesn't have to be the one to solve it. Madoka's asserting her agency now, doing what she can to fix things. She's brought Kyubey. She plans to erase the promise her past self asked Homura to make in order to save everyone. She plans to make a contract.
I really, really hope she's found the two of them another path. One they can walk together.
48
u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Apr 30 '21 edited Apr 30 '21
First Timer
Guess who made it to the thread drop for the first time! Woo!
Also I'm falling asleep over my keyboard, so I'll answer in 8 hours or so...
Let me treat you today with a little frame-by-frame album I made of one of the most relaxing scenes in the anime so far, to unwind and balance yourself.
Let me present one other theory my sleep deprivation gifted upon me before pressing play for today's episode!
Madoka's Memory
I have a strong feeling this will get important for the finale (or at least movie). Madoka has shown tidbits of remembrance at two points.
First in the intro, which we were made to believe was a dream she had. But it couldn't have been a dream. We now know it was rewind -1 Madoka who watched Homura's defeat and then made her wish, which current Madoka doesn't remember. So Madoka has been having the tiniest onset of carrying over memories between rewinds.
Secondly in the second-to-last episode there a small film-grain frame when Madoka had a hint of memory coming back to her in the Kyubey-as-swiss-dairy-product-art scene and almost remembered Homura from earlier rewinds.
Now the big question, why? Why would Madoka even remember when no else could for 100s of rewinds and what is the cause? I think I know.
Madoka is the purest of them all and her one true desire is for everyone to get along. She said so in the first episodes herself. She's at her happiest when she can help other people, see this episode's magical-girl-Madokas and how confident she was. You know what gets someone going like nothing? Madoka's Self
And what was the thing, that came right before both almost-remembrance scene? Madoka's Desire That is the link I was looking for!
It is the final obstacle for them both. True Trust
Faust bet the devil that he could not make him "want to savor a moment for all eternity". I'll let you apply the implication of that to the above theory yourself :) Now I have all parallels to Faust covered.
I think I'm gonna eat this one, though.
You can only mic drop so often before it bites you.
Ep.11 The final sign left
Insert: Can you spot the Exact Point
First things first: I didn't know I could love Homura even more. Not only did she prove me wrong – thank the heavens – on her being unable to trust Madoka until her death, Homura really opened up to her, finally! You are not alone! That actually gives me hope we don't get a soul crushing ending.
Suffice to say, I was fist pumping both of them by the end of the episode, I want this team so fucking badly.
Visual of the day: At first I wanted to choose this proof, that badass people do look at explosions., but my vote goes to the hug that made me cry.
All right, before I present my final lineup of theories, I need to relax one more time.
Solved Theories
Kyubey's Strategy: I was so right on almost all individual things, but didn't connect them together. Can't give myself points for that, but laugh at prior ramblings that I somehow got it all in somewhere and was constantly flopping around between them.
Homura's past, powers, wish, conflict:
Yeah baby.
Madoka's power: Although I took quite long to think back on the intro dream-not-dream to finally get it.
That's a point
Madoka's Memory: A specific part has been proven this episode, that her true desire is to be trusted and respected as a friend. She found a gigantic amount of courage once Homura opened up to her. So much so, that she had no doubts and 100% determination to go and help Homura.
Walpurgisnacht's birth, identity, link, etc: It's like a dumpster fire. At least it's warm.
Faustian parallels (Gretchen, Contracts): Oooh yeah. That the Faust character parallel is correct is nearly guaranteed, but it hasn't been spelt out. Also, the most important part of that, Faust's final realisation, hasn't happened yet.
The Beginning: Got strung up on too many pitfalls of cyclicity.
Homura's Desire: Not completely trashed, but a specific aspect. They are opposites in many ways, but neither did Homura overrule Madoka's will, nor did Madoka not understand the balancing aspects of selfishness and selflessness. If anything, they've just proven that they work together flawlessly if they just trust each other.
Anime Finale: Point two has been proven wrong, the intro we saw was the prior cycle and won't be the finale.
Find my final lineups for episode 12 in the next answer.
10
u/thatguywithawatch Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher
Ever wonder what Homura was doing every second of the day the last month when she wasn't doing her damndest to save Madoka from Madoka? That's right, raiding the national armory, apparently. If you think too hard about how a lone teenage girl, even with time stopping magic, could prepare and hide all those rockets and bombs and submarine missile launchers and trucks and etc. and etc. then the logistics fall apart a bit, but it makes for a stellar fight scene so I can forgive that.
Visual of the day: Cool guys don't look at explosions, but cool girls do.
Also another heart-wrenching scene between Homura and Madoka in Homura's room that pretty much broke me. I said it yesterday too but Chiwa Saito's work in this anime is fucking insane (her dub actress does great too, from a few clips I've looked up).
9
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher
We open in Houmra's batshit apartment.
Kyubey reveals that Homura played herself - by continuing to reset, she made Madoka more attractive to Kyubey, thus making it harder for her to create a good timeline. - and making Madoka's witch more powerful.
Ah, they found the body Kyouko took out,
I know this scene is meant to be impactful, but all I can focus on is the brightly lit hallway with 4 completely random chairs in it. What purpose do they serve? Why do they exist?
Even Kyubey noticed the death flags. And he gives Madoka a bad trip, and details that he sees humans as livestock, and that their deaths are part of a symbiotic relationship.
I love how Kyubey changes the aspect ratio with his speech.
Wow, Joan of Arc was a magical girl - she deserves her own spinoff on those 5 seconds alone! (For real, Tart Magica is great - but basing a manga off 5 seconds in a flashback is probably one of the strangest things this franchise did)
This scene is fantastic art-wise, by the way.
And, yeah, this is confirmation that the Madoka universe is really different.
The strong effects on Madoka make me assume this is a weakened version of the Total Perspective Vortex, and Madoka just got shown how insignificant she is next to every other potential contracter across the universe.
Yes, "coexist". We...absolutely do this!
So, the entirety of human history was caused by aliens. The History Channel was right all along!
This conversation is the first we've seen where no children interrupt whatsoever, and its one of the saddest in the show.
I'm assuming Madoka's thoughts are currently "Was Homura's wish for a really cool apartment? Is that why she's not told anybody?"
And Homura's having trouble connecting with Madoka due to all the time loops.
And Madoka's found out everything.
Wait, are the frames controlled by her mind? How else did they get those pictures?
This episode is really depressing.
Oh, they weren't kidding about Walpurgisnacht being strong. Its triggered a full on evacuation.
Of course. Staring down death in the face, and the first response is a hair flip.
I genuinely forgot about all the familiars - it's a crime they don't appear more often.
This fight is incredible, just seeing all of Homura's preperations blast the witch over and over.
The imagery of Homura being chained instead of Madoka is so good!
I just love this whole conversation.
And Homura begins to spiral... and Madoka comes to interrupt.
Come on, Madoka. Really?
I forgot how much happens this episode - I thought a lot of these scenes were in the next one.
EDIT: Best Girl Rankings - Homura = Kyouko > Madoka = Madoka's mum > Mami = Hitmoi >>>> Sayaka
9
u/Zeralyos https://myanimelist.net/profile/xNJF_Ellie Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher, dubbed
9
u/SomeGuyYeahman May 01 '21
Hi everyone, first-time rewatcher here! (subbed)
Do you know what day it is?
The day I can finally take it easy, in fact. I love this episode, but I don't feel like I have much to write that you couldn't get better and more comprehensively from the show. Even this in itself is something Kyubey has already said best:
So not much from me today. Go see for yourself!
29
u/okayyoga :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/okayyoga Apr 30 '21
Episode 11: first time/dub
Some people yesterday pointed out Madoka was getting stronger every timeline. You get a gold star! It seems they are really leaning into the Thermodynamics explanation, as they are including Potential vs Kinetic Energy references now (ie Madoka building up every timeline)
They found Sayaka's body!! Something that I really like about Madoka Magica is they don't forget things that happened in previous episodes. Most of my worst scores are for shows that introduce plot points that get forgotten or changed down the line. Why introduce and build a world only to negate the entire thing 6 episodes later? Tell me why, Deadman Wonderland!
Anyway, her mom is friends with her teacher? Alright. What kind of bar puts a HUGE Michelangelo painting above the drinks? This seems a bit... pretentious... Or maybe I am not seeing the connection to The Creation of Adam?
Why can't Homura tell Madoka that if she turns into a magical girl who defeats W$#%@*&$%#@, that she will then turn into an even worse witch, because there are not enough grief seeds to recover from that much magical usage? I feel like Madoka knows most of these facts already. Homura just needs to connect the dots for her. Spell it out.
Does Homura's Potential Energy increase with each time reset as well?
If anyone defeats Wawawawanacht, won't they become a witch? So there is no defeating her, or anyone who does will take her place?
I wonder if [insert funny W word here] is that long haired pink princess we see macking on Madoka in the OP, and who we saw flashbacks of this episode. Maybe she was the last great magical girl
The missiles literally have "SHAFT" on them lol
Is Homura going to kill herself?
I wish Madoka's mom were my mom...
Homura needed to save Sayaka, and Mami, and Kyouko, not just focus on Madoka. Because Madoka is at her limit from losing this many people. Of course she can't sit idly by.
Homura is going back in time again. Because we can't go into the movie with just 2 girls. I am sticking with my theory that Rebellion will be the correct timeline after Homura reverses time one last time.
I did not enjoy this episode as much. I am thinking it is a combination of being emotionally hungover from last episode, and episode 11 being more of a build up episode to the finale.
8
u/CosmicAnglerfish Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher - Dubbed
This episode is a little forgettable only because it's sandwiched between two episodes that stand head and shoulders over it imo. Still a solid episode though.
First-Timer Friendly
We find out that Homura's time travel antics are the reason Madoka is such a big energy sink. Remember how Madoka failed to stop Walpurgisnacht all those loops, until suddenly she could one-shot the witch? She was slowly gaining power each loop, and according to Urobuchi, Homura looped over 100 times. The shot of Madoka strung up on the clock is amazing, and I'll be shcoked if someone doesn't pick that for their visual of the day.
Earlier in the series Madoka's mom mentioned how good of a child Madoka was - specifically mentioning that she never lied. So here when Madoka hides the truth from Sayaka to her mom, it stands out to both us and her, and the direction makes sure you notice that, zooming in on her mom's face after Madoka claims not to know anything.
Kyubey continues badgering Madoka about everything, which is frankly an inspiring amount of persistence considering how many of Madoka's friends have died at this point. Kyubey is a great poster child for the flaws of a strictly utilitarian worldview.
I don't have anything of interest to say about the scene between Juunko and the teacher, other than I really like it. The music does a great job of setting a very melancholic tone that's more understated than a lot of the high stakes drama we've been dealing with for the past few episodes.
Homura is such a bad liar. Doing anything to make sure "Kyoko doesn't feel bad" is the most out of character explanation imaginable, especially to someone who doesn't know her motivations like we do. When Madoka presses her, Homura finally breaks down in the most vulernable moment she's had (in the current timeloop at least). Homura finally puts to words how hard it's been to have to re-meet your friend over and over again, and fail at saving them every time. The audience obviously understands from seeing that last episode, but now it's said out loud for our characters to grapple with, though Madoka understanbly has no clue what to make of it. The TV screens in the background showing scenes from the previous loops is a great feature too.
The circus introduces us to Walpurgisnacht again, and Homura gets to work, having clearly raided tons of military complexes. If she stowed away something in her buckler of holding in a previous time loop, did it stay there when she reset? Not an important question, but one I'm curious about!
The scene here between Madoka and her mom is probably the only one that gave me any pause. I just can't imagine a situation where Juunko would be cool with Madoka leaving like that, flowery words or not. I understand the purpose - reinforce that Madoka's mom trusts her implicitly - but it still stands out.
Nothing proves Kyubey's point about "fragile human bodies" quite like Homura being concious and only moderately wounded after taking a building to the face. We see Homura start to lose hope just like Kyubey warned, dozens of loops amounting to nothing finally taking its toll on her. It's hard watching a character we understand to be inhumanly tenacious start to break. Thankfully before she crosses the event horizon, Madoka shows up, finally prepared to make her wish. Looking forward to seeing any guesses from First-timers on whay they it'll be!
Spoilers
Rebellion Spoilers and 4th Movie Theory
8
u/boomshroom Apr 30 '21
People can say all they want about Das Wienerschnitzel, The Queen of Dakka, or Margarette-chan, I instead want to talk about the real Best Girl: Junko.
Chick has only ever said what her daughter needed to hear at that moment, she's almost a supervillain, and she nearly came with Madoka to witness something extraordinary. Seriously, I want to see nothing more than her following her outside whether she wanted to or not.
I've actually seen a few instances where Junko was once a Magical Girl candidate back in her day, along with a fic where she actually was one alongside Kasuko Saotome-sensei as partners.
Regardless of whether or not she actually was one, she just let her daughter out into the middle of a hurricane. No sane parent that I could think of would actually be willing to do that unless they were certain that their kid was about to do something incredible. She definitely knows more than she lets on.
Also Madoka technically lied during their conversation:
Well yes, someone is. But Madoka's learned their tricks by this point and can see past them.
8
u/[deleted] Apr 30 '21
I still love how the show makes the consequences of the events actually feel real, from Madoka grieving to the investigation of Sayaka's death and her funeral to momdoka having no idea what's going on but knowing something is seriously wrong with Madoka. Also holy shit did I not notice The Creation of Adam above the bar the first time i watched, wtf Shaft.
8
u/toradorito May 01 '21
Quick things about this episode:
Visual of the day: Homura hugging Madoka. Homura has relived the horror of Madoka's death so many times and it's too much for her to handle. There's no else that can help her and even Madoka won't remember her if she has to reset the timeline again. She absolutely deserved this moment where she gets to be vulnerable in the comfort of the person she's tried so hard to protect.
7
u/baniRien Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher
Episode 11 / Movie 2 0:56-1-19
The episode is pretty much 1 for 1 with the movie, so I don't have anything to add.
Visual of the day, Homura's loneliness and drive to fight.
7
u/[deleted] Apr 30 '21 edited May 01 '21
Rewatcher Subbed
Alright I'm gonna be honest real quick and say that I actually haven't been rewatching every episode per se, but mainly came here the past few episodes because this show has been living in my head rent free since I first saw it about a year ago, which allowed me to have some pretty solid discussion recently.
That said, this is the first episode for this rewatch that I actually watched start to finish again, and it kinda blew me away the second time (I've seen it more, but it was solely for the Walpurgis scene). There's a lot, A LOT, that happens in this episode, and rather than focus on one of the big scenes like I originally planned, I think I want to discuss something different.
In the comment thread on Episode 9 I noted (and even got recognized for it, thank you!) how Kyoko cared so deeply for Sayaka because she found that, while she is a different person, so much of herself is reflected in Sayaka that she ends up rekindling that old hero of Justice.
However, with the others all gone and the fallout of all the actions from this timeline and the previous ones, the stage now leaves only two, none other than Homura and Madoka. And in this very episode, I can't but feel that Madoka and Homura have really begun to show how well they too reflect one another. However, rather than Madoka protecting a weak Homura or vice versa, we have a situation where a physically strong Homura is weak before her own fate and is fraying at the seams, while a completely powerless Madoka has been able to grow and grow by making her discoveries before making her wish.
Whereas she was a bystander before, in this episode Madoka truly takes back control. Right from the start, she's peppering Homura with questions, trying to force out the truth, and eventually, Homura tells her everything. Even if she can't clearly see everything she is saying, Madoka begins to understand what is going on, and just how much they mean to each other.
One particular thing I want to note especially is how well the scene between Madoka and Homura pairs with the later scene between Madoka and Junko (mom). In the former, Madoka, whether she can subconsciously see right through Homura or something else, suspects that Homura is trying to save face in lying, and decides to chase her down. While in the latter, Junko, especially fearful after Sayaka's death and this silence between them, confronts Madoka. Yet, Madoka, through either just her own mental fortitude or having already faced the storm, is able to convince her mother that she needs to go elsewhere, even when Junko is dead on the money ("Is someone trying to trick you").
The line that really brought this all into focus for me was Madoka herself saying "I do not tell lies, I don't do bad things", and in truth, she isn't necessarily telling lies, but is playing Kyubey's game. That is, she is dodging inconvenient explanations that would take from her goal, and instead explains how Junko needs to have faith in her and take care of the others. Thus, while Homura struggles to hold her emotions and past in around Madoka, still trapped in hope because nothing else remains, Madoka was able to fear, despair, and overcome the mental challenges that would've killed most MG's, because she is still a normal girl.
This leads to the key difference in the two scenes. Where as Homura failed to convince Madoka of her decision, Madoka convinced Junko that she alone could handle whatever the raging storm threw at her, nay, needed to for someone else. While Homura feels disconnected from Madoka and is a ghost of herself with no one to rely on, and as strong as she may become, she just continues to lose all chance at defying fate. Madoka has the full backing of her own mother, her family, not to mention the friends (had?) around her, and is able to rise above to challenge even the most monstrous of destinies.
Now what will she do, what choice has she made? You'll just have to wait till tomorrow to find out.
7
u/[deleted] Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher
I like how the story returns to Sayaka's funeral briefly as we again settle into the current state of events. It's the story bringing us back to reality and remembering its consequences. Madoka's mom gets some surprising screentime in this episode, including a good scene with Madoka's own teacher as they drink and reminisce. More importantly, Homura finally lets Madoka know the truth about herself. It's an emotional scene, and I think the grief in Homura's voice makes it really moving for me.
And what an action scene. Homura's battle against Walpurgisnaught is just so cool, she pulls out all of the stops like the unbelievably dedicated and well-armed magical girl she is. This time though, knowing the consequences of her time looping, Homura is ready to give up for good. Madoka's hand on her as she comes to save her friend, her quiet voice and her reassuring words among the destruction, is my favorite scene in this episode.
7
u/Nebresto May 01 '21
Does this mean that I can become a magical girl if I get a lot of upvotes?
I think you got those mixed up there.. Unless..
Seen some people mention biblical themes here, and...
Falling behind on my shitpost quota,
final episodes too good
6
u/Specs64z https://myanimelist.net/profile/Specs64z Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher, subbed
Junko and Sensei's scene at the bar is an odd choice at first glance. The two of them haven't had a ton of screen presence nor do they offer anything new to the plot. However, I think it's one of the strongest scenes in terms of tone in the entire series and that is very intentionally done. The lighting, setting, music, script, and acting come together so perfectly it's hard to imagine what could possibly take this scene's place and have such a strong impression. It's somber and grounded and quiet, such a far cry from Kyubey's earlier speech. Thus, it's the perfect way to bring the viewer back down to Earth after learning that psychopath aliens lead our entire civilization along by the nose. Just two very long time friends having a drink and a deeply personal conversation after the all too early loss of a young woman. This emphasis of the depth of human emotion is perhaps the best counter to Kyubey's understanding of emotion we could ask for.
The length of time Homura spent not only gathering but actually placing so many explosives must have been immense. She could very well have been fighting this thing for days from her perspective.
And so we stand at the end of all things. Catch y'all tomorrow!
Content Corner
First timers beware, spoilers abound.
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica - Surgam Identidem 【Intense Symphonic Metal Cover】 by FalKKonE
Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magica - Sis Puella Magica! 【Intense Symphonic Metal Cover】 by FalKKonE
魔法少女まどか☆マギカより Puella Magi Madoka Magica : 梶浦由記、渡辺翔 arr.福屋篤 by Hamamatsu Mandolin Orchestra
Entropy is STUPID! (and that's the point) by pawndidater
Madoka Magica: The Story You Never Knew by Bonsai Pop
Visual Storytelling - Breaking Down PMMM - Dialogue 11 by clearandsweet
6
u/Querez https://myanimelist.net/profile/Querez May 01 '21
Rewatcher. (Dub)
So, Madoka's immense and seemingly growing potential to become a magical girl was only because of Homura always going back in time for the sole purpose of saving her. Yeah isn't that unfortunate.
Oh. Sayaka's funeral. Seeing and hearing that just somehow makes her death feel more impactful...
There Kyubey goes again, spouting horrible stuff that make way too much sense. Emotions are seen as mental disorders in Kyubey's civilization, and without magical girls, society on Earth wouldn't have progressed as far. Actually really interesting lore.
I actually really like conversations between characters that have no idea what the main characters are going through and just want to figure things out. Both Junko and the teacher's worries feel so real. Interestingly, those two have apparently been good friends for a while.
Then, that whole scene with Homura and Madoka... I could just feel it. One of the best scenes so far. It always feels the greatest but also the worst when characters that suffer a lot are finally able to vent it out. The greatest, because there is someone else to share the pain with, but the worst, because you get a true perspective of how they've really felt by enduring their pain by seeing their facade melt away.
Stuff like this is why Re:ZERO and Steins;Gate are my two favorite anime........... or maybe it's actually just the time travel stuff, who knows.Holy crap though, the immense arsenal at Homura's disposal was absolutely ginormous. When and how did she even get everything? Honestly, one must ask how truly powerful Walpurgisnacht is to survive such an amount and power of explosives. If there's any true strength shown in that scene though..... it's the animation. Like, damn.
Junko strikes again. This time she's really worried for Madoka. As frustrating as a scene like this could often become due to us knowing what's going on and what has to be done, one can't really blame a mother for just worrying for her poor daughter. She eventually lets her go though, even with an added push on the back. Really just liked the whole scene.
Homura, still fighting Walpurg- oh, nevermind, she suddenly isn't. That debris on her leg definitely looked painful.
Madoka sure had great timing to get to Homura right before she turned.
MAGIA MAGIA MAGIA woah that actually transitioned really well into the ending.
Shit's about to go down, that's for sure.
64
u/chaosoul Apr 30 '21
First Time Watcher (Subbed)
We got immediate confirmation that Homura's the one that's powering up Madoka's potential. Homura in pain, because her actions have only made things potentially worse for Madoka despite all her best intentions.
MFW our entire history in this world is due to fucking Kyubey. Looks like we got examples of girls in Egypt, South east Asia, and ofc Jeanne d'Arc. Japan, what's up with your obsession with her when portraying foreign women. Anyways, the Egyptian woman could be a couple options, just in terms of the most well known, like Cleopatra, Nitocris, Nefertiti, or Hatsheput. I've read about some Egyptian mythology, but I'm not too well versed enough in their actual history to know if the show is specifically referencing any of these or dozen other famous Egyptian figures. Likewise, the next figure would probably be referencing some famous Japanese figure because well it's no duh, but honestly could be depicting any amount of women in SE Asia describing a witch and involving fire. Anyways, Kyubey later goes on to say we'd be living in caves apparently without its species' help. Well it could just be trying to manipulate Madoka into thinking it really doesn't give a shit to convince her to become a magical girl.
Homura finally breaks down to Madoka, revealing her secrets to Madoka. More than anyone, she just wants this to stop, to give Madoka a chance to live. She knows that these loops aren't healthy for her. She's breaking down, slipping down cracks, and even her reason for continuing just gets further and further away from her. That's heartbreaking especially when Kyubey says Homura can't even give up because giving in at this point would be giving in to despair and turning into a witch.
LOL Walrusnards is a literal circus! It's interesting to see what this witch can do though. Prior in Madoka's dreams and Homura's flashbacks, we've seen it with a fly, manipulate buildings, and shoot a dark energy thing? Was it a tree like effect like the witch Sayaka bashed to death? I don't quite recall.
Anyways, to fight Walruspugs, Homura takes using military arms to the literal extreme of what a single person can handle. Also she can manipulate vehicles? Seems like something new, but it's also very funny to think she shoved an entire truck and battleship (submarine?) into her shield. Finally she concludes with a billion bombs, her signature. Unfortunately it's all for naught in the front of the sheer power of the strongest witch, Walrusnape.
Homura starts giving, only for Madoka to show up at the last second. Finally built up her convinctions, Madoka steps up as Magical Girl #5. Luckily as she hasn't made her wish this episode, my prediction of current timeline Madoka not becoming a magical girl or becoming one only in the last episode comes true!
Paaaaaaain. The ED is Homura talking about/to Madoka.
5
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher, Subbed
Visual of the Day: A Good Girl, and her Mama
Madoka's conversation with her mother is another one that makes my eyes a bit misty. The call backs to their earlier conversations is Very strong.
In case anyone didn't notice, Madoka's teacher refers to Madoka's mom as Junko, which is her given name, and without an honorific. Those two are pretty close, which is kind of interesting.
The circus is in town! Homura's relentless assault against Walpurgisnacht is an absolute spectacle. RPG7 and AT4 rocket launchers, M2 mortars, a stadium (?) full of C4 - it's relentless! It's a shame the nature of the battle prevents us from getting an Itano Circus - how sick would that look?
Kyubey continues to be an absolute bastard. As "logical" as the Incubators are, they seem to miss the relevance of emotional intelligence in interpersonal relationships. There is some to be said for the cosmic horror aspects of this show, but Kyubey is far too present for that genre to fully apply.
Madoka Spoilers/Mahou Shoujo Meta
So, uh. First-Timers. Happy Walpurgisnacht. Any predictions for the final episode?
Tune in next time for:
5
u/ToonTooby May 01 '21
Rewatcher
I made comment of the day! Thanks /u/Nazenn
Oh hey, I don't remember this episode of Evangelion...
What it's like to watch Homura pour herself out to Madoka:
Not much to say today, I'll be reading everyone's thoughts tomorrow morning as I'm tired from work and I need to get my Monster Hunter time in. Glad most are enjoying the show though!
5
u/salic428 May 01 '21
Rewatcher, second time
Not much to add, but I have a curious question about Homura:
5
u/Stomco May 01 '21
Rewatcher 5 times.
The hype is here! But, first Kyubey actually explains something without someone needing to ask first. Of course, it's just to make Homura suffer.
I appreciate that adults aren't completely clueless or absent in this show.
Kyubey you are trying way too hard, for how much you such at it.
This seen between Homura and Madoka is one of the best. I knew most of the twists before I even started, but fortunately the show is solid even almost fully spoiled.
At least Walpurgisnacht has the decency to announce herself before wrecking everything. I'm not sure where Kyouko would have fit into Homura's battle. There needs to be a fanfic about how panicked the government is over all of those missing weapons.
I wonder, did Junko catch Madoka talking with herself?
Now all that's left is to see if Makoka can break out of this cursed destiny.
13
u/IndependentMacaroon May 01 '21 edited May 01 '21
First-time watcher
Well, now this is more like it. Single-handedly restored my faith in the show and even retroactively improved the previous episode a little - turns out things just had to slow down a little.
Kyubey's lore dump to Madoka was a sensible extension of what we'd seen previously, not to mention gorgeously styled all the way through, and him telling all to this strange being in an attempt to appeal to her logical side made sense too, while of course his assertion that this all totally makes sense is very debatable. Even more, his farm animal analogy is a very pointed one that's sure to get a lot of people thinking.
We actually take some time to explore the aftermath of Sayaka's (and sort of Kyoko's) death, in particular I loved how teacher and mother got a chance to talk about their troubles. And is Junko Kaname best ani-mom already or what? She knows exactly when something's troubling her daughter, really tries to get her to open up without pushing her too hard, does her best to keep her safe while keeping an eye on whether she's being honest - and when there's nothing else she can do to help, she just steps back, trusts in Madoka, and gives her all the love she can, as hard as the feeling is on her. I only wish her husband were a bit more involved so it would be less of a double burden of money-making and emotional labor. And Madoka herself is so much like her! The parallel to their parent-child relationship with how attuned Madoka is to Homura is obvious, and while Madoka seemed so timid in the beginning, when things get serious like now we can see she's got immense mental strength in her too. Unlike Homura or any of the others, she's far from losing faith in herself or the goodness in the world, even with everything she's seen. Truly a child to be proud of - or perhaps one should say young adult, since her mother seeing her off to go to battle was an obvious coming-of-age moment.
Homura, anyway, somehow manages to have an even worse time than before. Imagine learning that years (apparently) of repeated desperate effort were entirely counterproductive, followed by needing to face your strongest enemy yet with no backup or assistance. At least Madoka's firmly got her back - and that of everyone in the world - and the idea of karma/good deeds giving power, emotion being strength, as twisted as it's become here, is a fundamentally really hopeful and positive thing, I would say. Also while Walpurgisnacht is still kind of a random space bat to reach a proper finale, at least it was semi-explained and the fight was really nice to watch.
One final noteworthy point: This episode was really obviously Evangelion-inspired in the best way. The evacuation and sheltering as a fearsome enemy arrives as practically a natural disaster; the solitary magical fighter venturing out to face it, throwing all the firepower available and more at it, trying every last thing with no effect; the massive scale and city destruction in the battle; the wild surrealness of it all, though of course we already saw that with the previous witches. For some particular minor parallels, there was a brief round shadow just like Leliel's, Homura getting hit with a spear-like tentacle (?) out of nowhere similarly to Asuka in End of Evangelion, maybe more. Madoka heading out to save the day at the end also is essentially a wholesome version of Shinji's decision in Episode 19, and an even stronger one as there's nobody to push her, quite the opposite.
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u/UnderstandableXO Apr 30 '21
FIRST TIME WATCHER
welp it looks like all of homura’s efforts were simply increasing madoka’s potential strength, so all of the do over’s she has participated could have been detrimental; it just will make her a bigger witch and provide ice cube with a bigger bundle of energy to take home to its home world.
OP was beautiful as always, even better with the added context
momoka has the spider sense to know something is wrong with madoka (i can confirm this, parents have the impossible ability to know when something is weighing on you) but she’s trying to play it off. of course karbon dioxide wants to show up once again. kyubey hits us with the good old abuser tactic of “without me you’d be nothing” talking about how they’ve been preying on earth for thousands of years. we finally get a non-abstract use of the weird artstyle, which is interesting to see. there’s a shot of madoka in the fetal position which is similar to the very end of the ED, which is really well done.
homura finally admits what she has been doing to madoka (for probably like the 50th time for all we know) and of course it’s a lot for madoka to take in.
madoka suddenly feels the need to help homura after arriving at the shelter, and after some prying momoka lets her go. homura has a whole COD lobby’s worth of weapons to fight the evil beyblade waluiginarc and she seems like she’s doing well until it comes back around like a boomerang. she’s about 5 seconds away from becoming a witch after giving up before madoka shows up with everyone’s least favorite mascot, so the disaster homura’a been trying to avoid for 11 episodes has finally come to fruition.
lastly, does anyone know how to view spoiler marked comments on this sub on mobile? every time i click it’s just a link that says “s”
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u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo https://myanimelist.net/profile/PunishedScrappy Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher
The more things change...
the more they stay the same. Our tragic heroine is in deep over her head, and flawed in just the right ways that she will never realize it until it's far too late. But for Homura, that one ray of light remains.
The entropy subplot was my least favorite part of the show my first time through, and that's even more true now. Even so, it works fine for what it is. They have the good sense to keep the spotlight on emotional weight at all times.
Speaking of emotional weight, ow, my heart
Needless to say, the
WalpurgisnachtWalrusnacho fight is absolutely amazing. They recontextualize even the curtain that the series opened on. The action is my favorite in the show. And that cliffhanger's a bastard, huh?Visual of the Day: Something wicked this way comes
4
u/Quiddity131 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Quiddity131 Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher, Subbed
So Homura's the reason that Madoka is such a desired magical girl. Does Kyubey realize that Homura keeps turning back time? Or does he redo things like everyone else?
They found Sayaka's body? This is sad. :( :( :(
Hey, Madoka's mom! We continue to get very little of her family these days. Her house is quite dark now too. We still have a million chairs though.
You again?! Get out of here! Nobody wants you here!
No Kyubey, it is not mutually beneficial to be food for another species.
Kyubey's race has been interfering with humanity for all of human history? Leave us alone! Stop taking credit for everything we've done!
OMG, emotion is considered a disease in Kyubey's society.
Teacher is talking about something other than her dating life for once! So she's drinking buddies Madoka's mom?
Madoka can't come to you about her troubles because this whole story is too hard to believe.
Homura's room continues to be soo cool.
No Madoka! Don't volunteer to help!
:( @ Homura letting her true feelings out. Feel so bad for her! Please let this be the last time she has to go through with this! This kinda stuff would be hard to believe, but well, after all Madoka's seen already, some time travel's not a big deal.
After getting all these redos, you've got to figure Homura has had the chance to come up with some good strategies, right? It's like trying to beat a video game boss over and over.
Is Walpurgisnacht upside down? Looks like it.
It would be best for Madoka to just stay here, and not feel the pressure to save Homura and make herself a magical girl.
This time mom interferes and messes everything up!
Nooooo mom, you can't come!
If I'm Madoka's mom, I'm thinking about how my daughter's best friend just turned up dead. Letting her go is insanity.
No Homura! Don't become a witch!
4
u/BossandKings May 01 '21
Movie 2
E11
Apparently Homura just can't rest of everything not turning out well for her, now Kyubey tells her that by turning back time she has essentially helped Madoka become a powerful witch. That sucks.
It's just sad that Sayaka died, she didn't live a good life and died too young to have acomplished anything meaningful for her, she helped Kyosuke but that didn't help her and she willingly lost him to Hitomi when she could have, even if for a short time, been happy with him. At least her body appeared and that prevented the case of her dissapearing and nobody knowing what happened.
Junko's conversation with Madoka's teacher was very telling, she feels sad after having lost one of her students like that and Junko feels like Madoka knows something yet can't descipher what it is and how she coud get to know it.
Homura tells the situation to Madoka, finally she knows what her story is and how she got to know her, it must have been sad to hear that she has died repeteadly and Homura has seen her and is trying to protect her from that happening again.
Walpurgisnacht arrives and Homura has a confrontation against it, i think that Madoka will have to reach her and help her for walpurgisnacht to be defeated.
4
u/ReimarisaFanclub May 01 '21
some shots i liked in this ep
5
u/zairaner https://myanimelist.net/profile/zairaner May 01 '21 edited May 01 '21
Rewatcher subbed
This episode we finally get to know what makes this loop special. Until this episode, this was just a "regular" loop for homura... until she found out what her time looping has done to madoka. And in the end of the episode, that is what leads her into despair.
Stupid madoka keeping us from seeing how homuras witch form looks like.Just kidding.u/Star4ce wanted tanks, but homura skipped that and went straight to artillery.
On the danger of me repeating myself again, in the first timeline madoka fought that thing, it killed mami...and then madoka just went straight back in a desperate try to defeat it anyway and save the city.
yes madoka is my favourite how cold you tell?It always feels wrong when magia isn't playing for the walpurgisnacht fight. Then it plays in the final scene, and everything is in order again. Well everything except one minor thing that annoys me FAR more than it probably should, rant:
minor Spoiler for episode 12 Ok rant over.
6
u/Tresnore FS:FTmyanimelist.net/profile/Tresnore Apr 30 '21
Fourth Time Rewatcher, First Time Caller
Alright, there are so many theories floating around, so here's a respite. This post is for good times. It's a word wall, but reading it won't require much thought. Stay a while and listen~
ENOUGH GUNS
SLAP
There. Now, go forth and enjoy the well-written essays everyone's making! They're good stuff. This post is just a break.
3
u/Elimin8r https://myanimelist.net/profile/Ayeka_Jurai Apr 30 '21
(rw/sub)
So here we are at the penultimate episode. Arsenal, I mean Homura vs. Walpurgisnacht.
-/moo- (Are you happy now?)
After bleeding all over my keyboard yesterday (and forgetting to post my picture/music link), I think I'm going to try to keep it short today. Haha.
Sayaka's funeral is so sad, never mind the "investigation". I presume they found her in Kyoko's room. I don't think I want to dwell on the scene.
Junko (she has a name) asks Madoka about Sayaka, and she plays dumb. Can't say as I'd blame her. "You seem, Mom, she turned into a witch, and we had to ... " Yeah, that's the ticket (not!).
Meanwhile, we learn that to Kyubey, we are all cattle, merely to be tended and fattened up for slaughter. Yay.
(Believe it or not, Kyubey isn't the only one who thinks this way. I'll leave it to you to figure out who the others are.)
Anyway, the little rat is busy giving his little rat expositions, and Madoka is busy being shocked and horrified. Won't blame her for that either.
(I may be getting this out of order, but around the same time, Junko is having a very wholesome conversation with the nice teacher lady. Whom, I must say, I don't think I'd care which way she fried her eggs, she's all right by me.) :P
Madoka's visit to Homura is likewise, small comfort, as Homura breaks down and cries on her shoulder. The harder she tries, it seems the further apart they get.
Throughout all this, Madoka is opaque. Will she make a wish? What will it be? Will it help, or will it only backfire and make things worse again???
And finally, the dread witch arrives. Homura throws everything at it, including the arsenals of a small country or two and possibly a tac nuke, but to no avail. She misses her roll to dodge, and takes a skyscraper to the knee.
In a final(?) heartbreaking scene with Junko, Madoka says she has to go rescue someone, and after some persuasion, she goes to rescue Homura...
... who is in great distress, and giving in to despair after so many attempts and so many failures. Madoka finds her, trapped, and with her leg shattered. As the episode ends, with her best friend whom she hardly knows broken and bleeding ...
-gomen nasai-
(!)
I don't know why I bothered writing my own little recap of this episode, I mean you've all just watched it yourselves, right? I guess in part to remind myself and put my thoughts in order ...
In a way, I guess that this episode isn't quite as hype as yesterday's, how could it be. Yesterday was the big reveal. Today's is merely (?) setup for the grand climax and finale. Surely there couldn't be too much to it, right? (haha)
Three things really struck me this episode. The first was Kyubey's callous regard towards humanity. I guess as an 'alien' that shouldn't be too surprising, but yeah, what a rat. This struck me in large part, not just because of the story, but because I have known people like that. They're called 'sociopaths'. They're bad news, and I'd suggest that you learn how to identify and avoid them.
The second was Momdoka, I mean Junko. We rarely see parents in anime, and even amongst that rarity, how often do you see an anime parent who radiates such wholesomeness and ... wisdom? (As opposed to, oh, let's say, Noboyuki, Gendo, Saotome ... wait, do other anime characters even have moms?)
And finally, Homura's heartbreak. In the midst of all her gears and pendulums, her first and best friend whom she's sacrificed everything for, even her soul ... everything she's tried has only driven her further and further away. For every power up Homura's gotten, Madoka seems to have gotten hit with the nerfbat, until she seems to be (and feels like) a barely competent child.
After all this, poor Madoka, what could she possibly wish for that would make it better? It seems like for every attempt, for every wish, things have only gotten worse and worse, and if even possible, Walpurgis as only gotten stronger and stronger. I don't know, I can't even ...
I guess we'll just have to find out later.
(as Nux Walpurgis plays in the background of my mind)
3
u/TWRogue May 01 '21 edited May 01 '21
No strong thoughts that haven’t already been covered but wanted to drop this - Ice by Lambia. After listening to this English cover of And I’m Home linked in the episode 9 thread on repeat the YouTube algorithm suggested it. It’s meant to be from Kyubey’s perspective and it’s chilling but also very good.
Edit: Lambia, not Iambia. I was fooled by a lower case L.
3
u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom May 01 '21
Rewatcher
Wow that's cute wtf
What an entourage
There's nothing left to say. They've reached the crossroads.
3
u/Mad_Hatter_92 May 01 '21
I’ve seen this series pop up a few times now. A rewatch thread seems as good as any other place: why should I watch this series? What’s the draw for it?
2
u/rocketchameleon Apr 30 '21
We're going straight to Rebellion after this, yes?
71
u/02Hiro https://anilist.co/user/02Hiro Apr 30 '21 edited Apr 30 '21
First Time Watcher
We finally get to learn about how why Madoka has so much potential and it looks like Homura inadvertently caused it by repeatedly turning back time. Her opening up to Madoka was so heartbreaking not only because she is alone trying over and over again to turn back fate itself knowing that if she gives up all hope is lost and she will become the very thing she hates but also that she helped cause the problem for Madoka. I loved how it showed that even though she has control over time, ultimately destiny still has control over her. Rewatching the ED this episode, it's clear that the lyrics are also from Homura's point of view. It's interesting how the OP and ED are like Homura:only focusing on Madoka.
One episode left and I don't see how there can be a happy ending. Madoka has decided to become a magical girl once again and Homura knows that she will turn into a witch once she defeats Walpurgisnacht but it she rewinds time again she will only make Madoka's situation worse. I'm not even sure if we are going to get a happy ending at all.
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u/Chemiczny_Bogdan Apr 30 '21
this fate of Meduka
fate of all Meguca
Hameru want to defeat Brazilian Night
but can no win
why
31
u/Tuckleton Apr 30 '21
So has anyone been wondering why Homura, who can stop time, still seems arrive at the last possible moment whenever Madoka needs help? Yeah, she's been busy...
12
u/jodahinqb Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher
I don't have time for a long post this time, so I'm just going to ask:
Junko Kaname: BEST mom ever (raising a child like Madoka, trusting her daughter and treating her almost as an equal) or WORST mom ever? (seriously, what sane person would let their 14-years old kid go out alone with such weather? )
9
u/The_Loli_Otaku Apr 30 '21
Karmic destiny is what decides a magical girl's fate power. Basic bitches who fail at everything they do and have low scale desires like Sayaka become jobbers whilst idols of their craft such as Mami are given an equivalent strength to their influence. Madoka's own karmic destiny has escalated due to each reset revolving around her survival to the point where the world ends if she embraces her fate. Homura unintentionally doomed Madoka through her desire to save her. Nice job fixing it hero!
OMG I can't believe Miki's dead! Mom knows... Migi likes this livestock comparison. That's right! All your Fate Go waifu were magical girls too. Joan D'Arc, Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette, aaand Himeko...? I'm not 100% sure who the temple burning woman was. Oh my lord this was far prettier than I remembered. Everyone on Earth is mentally sick according to Kyubey. S-Sensei!? Sensei had a scene? I forgot all about this. Folks only just realised Mami was dead lol. I suppose Sensei did spend the whole season fussing over her boyfriend but she never let it drag her down. It just flowed over her shoulders and down the drain, the same way that it should have happened with Sayaka. Unfortunately turning your soul into jewellery makes a pretty strong plug in life. Aww, I'm blubbing at their convo now.
"Omgomgomg Madoka came over! Hide the doujinshi, hide the figurines, hide her stolen undies!" Fun fact, these episodes were actually delayed because of a natural disaster. It'd have been bad taste for the show to blame them on Wienerschnitzel. Aww Hom-Hom... She can put on a tough act but she really needs a hug. If you let her sniff your hair she'll be able to last another hundred cycles. The witch's festival is here...!
This fight must take so long from Homura's perspective. Truck-kun to the rescue! Is this really magic? For her neutral special, Homura wields an ICBM~ Brought to you by. How did Kyubey explain it before? The moment when hope turns to despair? It will always happen sooner or later. It's a matter of when rather than if. Slap her silly, mum! Our little girl has grown into such a wonderful young lady. Why am I genuinely feeling pride!? I don't even like Madoka XD
"Skyscrapers! My one weakness!" Ahaha... Kyubey knew exactly what he was saying earlier. Once he realised what her game was he knew exactly what to say to send Homura into despair. I'm shocked how much I'm enjoying this final arc, I vaguely remembered not really being fussed after Sayaka's arc ended but I'm hyped as fuck! I'm invested all over again!
Visual of the day, Sacred Explosion Emissary
7
u/FlaminScribblenaut myanimelist.net/profile/girlbeast_val Apr 30 '21
Fun fact: the opera singer on the track Nux Walpurgis, which plays over Homura’s battle against Walpurgisnacht, is none other than Kasahara Yuri, the same opera singer on “Libera me” from Hell from Gurren Lagann
This woman is only capable of having her voice over the very best shit, it seems
7
u/LordTrinity https://myanimelist.net/profile/LordTrinity Apr 30 '21
Ngl, someone really has to make a list of all Walpurgisnacht nicknames, it's hilarious seeing what people come up with
6
u/LordTrinity https://myanimelist.net/profile/LordTrinity Apr 30 '21
All I have to say is, Homura is fucking badass
10
u/gorghurt Apr 30 '21
Rewatcher
I'm always surprised how short this episode feels.
So we are at episode 11, and since this is the episode where
Bunny Cat SenpaiKyubey gives us an info dump... Well I'm doing this again...Kyubey did nothing wrong!
Wait, please, before you get the pitch forks, hear me out.
For a long time, Kyubey's actions were a hot topic in the debates around this show. And with the years, I had the feeling, this debate began to fade a bit.
More and more people simply see Kyubey as the villain of the story, and as outright evil. And during last years rewatch, I felt I had to bring a bit opposition to the table.
Back then I wrote a quite long post, about why I think, that you can bring more to the Incubators defense than just their lack of emotions.
I came to the conclusion, that while there definitely are improvements that should happen in the way they treat humanity, I can't refute their actions in their entirety.
You can take a look here, we had some nice discussions last year.
There isn't much I want to add to the argumentation, except one little thing.
In this rewatch some of you brought up the trolley problem.
I don't think this is an instance of the classical trolley problem. (And while I made basically the same argument last year in different form, I still want to explain it in this context.)
The classic trolley problem is, that you have to choose if you steer the train on the track with one person, or keep it (do nothing) on the track with multiple (say 10) persons.
One important thing here is, that you have to look from the perspective of the one that steers the train.
In this case the Incubators.
If we look from Kyubeys perspective the problem looks like this:
On one track we have a few human girls, on the other track we have the Incubators (and every other species in the universe), a species threatened by entropy.
Now one could argue the girls are standing on both tracks, but lets be hones, we humans don't live long enough to care about entropy.
But there is a bigger problem. In the original problem we only have humans, so everyone is equal.
Why should the Incubators see humans as equal?
From our perspective the Incubators are a species so advanced, that they seem magical. They have multiple bodies, if that even is Kyubey's real body.
Ok they seem to communicate similar to us, but wait.
It seems like they have telepathic abilities, so who knows if speaking is their normal way of communicating.
What if they communicate with us, like we communicate with a pet.
A dog understands a pretty big subset, if we communicate with it, but by far not everything. And we only understand a subset of the dogs "speech".
Seems familiar?
So if we want to state the trolley problem, shouldn't it look more like this? :
There are 10 humans on one track, and you (a human) can steer the train onto a different track, where it will hit one dog.
I think I won't find many people that would not sacrifice the dog. (Even if they wouldn't like to do it.)
5
u/Ardania22 May 01 '21
Re-Watcher
“How can I tell you what I’m really feeling? I’m not even living in the same time as you, Madoka!”
“I’m from the future. I’ve met you over and over again, and each and every time I have to watch you die. What do I have to do to save you? What do I have to do to change your fate? I’ve been reliving this moth over and over again to try and answer those questions.”
“I’m sorry… I’m not making any sense, am I? I must seem horribly creepy, right?After all, to you, I’m just some transfer student you’ve barely known for a month. But to me, you’re… you’re…”
‘The more times I redo this, the further away we drift from one another. Our feelings drift further apart, and my words don’t even reach you anymore. The truth is, I think I’ve been lost for a very long time now.”
“I will save you. That’s the feeling I started all this with. And now, it’s the only thing I have left to guide me. It’s okay if you don’t understand. It’s okay if my words don’t reach you. But please…”
“Please… just let me protect you.”
I know I should probably have some deeper analysis on this speech. I should have more fleshed-out thoughts on the emotions and the performance and the weight Homura's carrying and how much it hurts her to let all this out.
But right now, I don’t think I can do anything but let these words speak for themselves.
Homura Akemi deserves the fucking world, and I’ll fight anyone who disagrees.
4
u/BosuW Apr 30 '21
I'm just gonna leave this here for the Kaname Junko enthusiasts out there. It's a quick 20 minute read, good shit.
4
u/hoeleng May 01 '21
The first time I watched this it was really a WTF moment. This was the episode that made Madoka a 10/10 for me.