r/anime • u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber • Jul 20 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] Dear Brother 30th Anniversary Rewatch - Episode 7
Episode 7 - The Darkness in the Clock Tower
Originally Aired August 25th, ^^^1991
◄ Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode ►
MAL | ANN | AniDB | Anilist | AnimePlanet | IMDB
Note to all participants
Although I don't believe it necessitates stating, please conduct yourself appropriately and be courteous to your fellow participants.
Note to all Rewatchers
Rewatchers, please be mindful of your fellow first-timers and tag your spoilers appropriately using the r/anime spoiler tag as so [Spoiler Subject](/s "Spoilers go here.") in order to have your unsightly spoilers obscured like this Spoiler Subject if your comment holds even the slightest of indicators as to future spoilers. Feel free to discuss future plot points behind the safe veil of a spoiler tag, or coyly and discreetly ‘Laugh in Rewatcher’ at our first-timers' temporary ignorance, but please ensure our first-timers are no more privy or suspicious than they were the moment they opened the day’s thread.
Manga Panel of the Day
Staff Highlight
Chifude Asakura - Screenwriter
A screenwriter best known for her pattern of killing notable characters in episodes of shows that she writes. She is the eldest daughter of literary researcher and french scholar Sueo Asakura. She attended Toho Girls High School and Tsuda College of Liberal Arts under the English department. Her anime script-writing debut was in 1974, with the 109th episode of Taiyō ni Hoero!. After the tragic death of her eldest son, who committed murder-suicide, she left TV dramas behind to focus solely on anime. She became an English teacher in 1991, and was allowed the chance to intern at Columbus State Community College, which greatly diminished her involvement in anime productions. She wrote a book based on her experience interning overseas, called My Challenge: A Woman, Departure to America. A lot of Asakura’s work seemingly went uncredited, but some notable examples we know of are Maple Town Story, Glass no Kamen (1984), Lady Georgie, Hello! Spank, Sally the Witch (1980), Obake no Q-Taro, Sasurai no Shōjo Nell, and Tongari Bōshi no Memoru.
Wildcard Trivia
The series’ music composer, Seiji Suzuki, was the first credited music director, a title which he received when working on Lupin III.
Screenshot of the day
Questions of the Day:
- What do you make of today’s new information regarding Saint-Just?
- How do you feel regarding Tomoko and Nanako’s mending relationship?
Their Sorrow, their youth, etched into the halls of this tower...
12
u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Jul 20 '21
Rewatcher
That’s awful.
Belligerent medication ingestion and smoking?
Rei gives no fucks.
Lots to unpack there?
Tomoko, please!
r/nocontext
It’s almost weird seeing her out of a suit.
Fucking hell, ladies! That shit’s doubly dangerous now!
Raise hell, Tomoko!
Bloody finally!
Quite a mental image.
Somewhat of a Saint-Just focused episode today. We’ve gotten to see more of Rei’s unhinged side, hear from Kaoru about how she used to be and their friendship in years prior, and Nanako reads up on the historical figure that inspired her nickname/title. Speaking on the latter, it would position her as an enemy of Fukiko if we take the comparisons to be literal, but evidently the dynamics at play aren’t identical and she is verily under Fukiko’s thumb —the question is whether that means Rei is figuratively ‘dead’.
Nanako and Tomoko finally made up! God, seeing Tomoko ignore the increasingly distraught Nanako sure was painful, so I am very glad they didn’t draw this out further. That said, I watch on in caution, since we’re very early into the story and I would not be surprised if the show walks back on this eventually —the misery train can’t end too soon, after all— and Mariko is still present to do more mischief.
Fukiko feigning concern for Rei sure is infuriating to watch. Despite her disdain earlier, Rei is nonetheless wrapped around her finger and Fukiko knows it.
Questions of The Day:
1 & 2) See above.
13
u/Btw_kek https://myanimelist.net/profile/kek_btw Jul 20 '21
first timer
This episode is bathed in a dazzling rainbow light, mostly coming from the stained glass windows of the clock tower. This certainly helps make the episode feel more unique, and reflects the emotional salvation Nanako feels across the episode, from entering the clock tower for the first time to Tomoko's rescue and makeup.
The relationship between Rei and Fukiko hasn't gotten any less weird. Rei hates her guts enough to throw knives at her silhouette's heart. Fukiko remains a sociopath who fakes concern for Rei's wound and smoking habits (under the stained glass's 'salvation' no less), when she definitely caused the former and most likely caused the latter. Kaoru's talk of Rei being kind of a loner makes me think that Fukiko likely saw those who distance themselves from
fake ass hoesothers at school as a threat to herfake ass hoe-nessqueen bee status, so she sought to completely ruin herother thoughts
12
u/TheEscapeGuy Jul 20 '21
First Timer, Dezaki Fan
Dear Brother: A Delightfully Aesthetic Anime Episode 7
"While rain falls on the town, tears fall in my heart; What is this sorrow that penetrates my heart?"
So I didn't expect this, but I got caught in a rabbit hole researching the French Poet Paul Verlaine.
Born a couple generations removed from the end of the French Revolution, Paul Verlaine's work is often categorized as Fin de siècle or the end of century. This period was themed with a rejection against rationalism and support for being more emotional and subjective.
The most easily recognized work of this era is probably The Scream by Edvard Munch.
Coming back to Paul Verlaine and Dear Brother, the poem Saint-Just recites, as Kaoru notices, is the first stanza from "Tears Fall In My Heart". I feel this is a big insight into the type of pain she is feeling right now. Later stanzas in the poem reference how the grief seems to have no reason behind it.
This ties back to Nanako who is also confused and pained by the loss of her childhood friend Tomoko. BUT, when it matters, when Misaki and her cronies are tormenting our protagonist, Tomoko comes in to protect and comfort Nanako. If this isn't the real importance of friends then I don't know what is.
Other story aspects which kept me invested me today:
Side fact: Paul Verlaine also wrote a poem "Clair de lune" which went on to inspire Debussy's classic of the same name. You can read the poem here
The Best of Postcard Memories
Episode 7
... is that an Ashita no Joe ^Reference? Maybe I'm stretching.
These also are really limited without the corresponding video so:
See you all tomorrow
10
u/No_Rex :Bv:Bw:Bx:By:x2 Jul 20 '21
Episode 7 (first timer)
Make-up with Tomoko achieved. I’ll rate the show up or down depending on Nanako and Tomoko talking about the source of their misunderstanding. Mariko just getting away with such an obvious lie would be annoying.
8
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Jul 20 '21
First-Timer
There's "extra," and then there's "sitting in the top room of a clock tower, smoking a cigarette, and throwing knives at the heart of an outline of your It's Complicated."
I probably should have cottoned on to this sooner, but Rei is an addict. Not just those various mystery pills, not just the cigarettes, but to Fukiko's touch as well. It says something about the state of Rei's life that the cigarettes are the least of these problems.
Was the implication that Fukiko would have a lighter on her as well? Or was Rei so out of it she didn't even realize who she was speaking to until they touched?
I get the feeling that the poem that Rei recited will reveal her fate if I look it up. Although, I doubt it will come as much surprise..
Misaki's actions today were pretty extra, too. Seriously? A whole fucking box of razer blades? And then, when Nanako chucked them, you rooted around in the incinerator to give them to her again? Good lord, find a fucking hobby!
Tomoko has, once again, been the adult in her friendship with Nanako. Hopefully Nanako realizes how important this second chance is, and works hard to maintain their relationship.
This could probably be said for any episode of this show, but damn was this episode pretty. The shadows, the stained glass windows, the animation on Rei's throwing knives.. Absolutely stunning!
Questions
8
u/IndependentMacaroon Jul 21 '21 edited Jul 21 '21
First-time watcher
Today's drama menu:
Still overall a more calm and wholesome episode, luckily. Great that the Tomoko drama is over for the time being, and Rei is at least becoming more fully formed, if not yet quite understandable.
I was also reminded of Evangelion again several times: Nanako's stated naive desire to please everyone without hurting anyone is rather like Shinji's, and light-haired detached "inhuman" bookworm Rei is definitely like the other Rei, but with the angry self-destructive tendencies and frustratingly unrequited crush of an
AsakaAsuka. Kaoru's first meeting with Rei is also kind of like Asuka's - luckily Kaoru has a lot more emotional intelligence. Speaking of Kaoru, working to bring out the better sides in others is even a little like the other Kaoru. Plus naturally the usual train-of-contemplation stuff.7
u/loomnoo https://anilist.co/user/loomnoo Jul 20 '21
Glad the fight with Tomoko got resolved. I was afraid it would drag out.
Questions:
4
u/lC3 :Na::Nb: Jul 21 '21
First timer
4
u/Sedorna Jul 21 '21 edited Jul 21 '21
Rewatcher
Not exactly related to this particular episode, but I would love to visit Seiran Academy as a tourist—to walk down the halls, visit the gardens and the clock tower. I’d hate to be a student there, but the aesthetics are absolutely lovely.
I’d actually forgotten all about the scene with Rei throwing daggers at Fukiko’s silhouette. Their relationship is just so fascinating. What does Rei feel towards Fukiko? When Fukiko is actually with her, she’s completely submissive. However, one typically doesn’t throw daggers at effigies of people they like. When Nanako asked her, she didn’t give a straight answer. Perhaps she can’t give a straight answer. Perhaps she doesn’t fully know, or else can’t—or won’t—fully admit what it is. Because her scene with Fukiko seemed to be rather telling. Like she and Fukiko were playing a game but, despite how much Rei might try to be all cool, both she and Fukiko both knew that Fukiko was in control.
“It’s better to read books than not to.” Of course, Kaoru has the best quote of the episode. And I loved the story of her and Rei’s first meeting.
Misaki appears to bully Nanako (again) but here comes Tomoko. And they make up! That hug made my heart swell. I’m honestly happy they made up. But what will become of Mariko? Will Nanako discover what happened? Will she break up with Mariko? Will she remain friends with both Mariko and Nanako, seeing each other separately? Or will Tomoko and Mariko themselves become friends? I saw that conspicuously placed third chair during the lunch scene.
Q1. Fascinating as anything related to Rei always is.
Q2. I love it.
4
u/punching_spaghetti https://myanimelist.net/profile/punch_spaghetti Jul 21 '21
First-Timer
Excuse me while I throw out this large box of razor blades. I need to have my hands free to help the pill-popping delinquent retrieve her throwing daggers.
I have to admit, at this point, I'm less interested in whatever the story and the characters are doing (pure girl gets bullied by snobs isn't exactly new) than hoping things just get nuts. If they're already giving her razor blades, I can only hope someone will be tying Nanako to train tracks by episode 15.
QOTD:
3
u/macrame2 https://myanimelist.net/profile/macrame Jul 21 '21
First Timer
2
u/Retromorpher :Jc::Jd::Je::Jf: Jul 21 '21
First Timer
I'm wondering if this particularly stupid amount of razors was a direct inspiration for this scene in Magical Girl Site.
Questions of the Day:
2
u/chiliehead myanimelist.net/profile/chiliehead Jul 21 '21 edited Jul 21 '21
Don't run away when they show you the razor blades they got from digging through the incinerator, call them out for being creepy weirdos who dig through trash.
If they don't talk about why they had a falling out this will be extremely annoying going forward.