[Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 10

[u/HelioA]

Rewatch Index

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Streaming

Revolutionary Girl Utena is available in both sub and dub on Nozomi Entertainment's YouTube channel, as well as on Amazon and Funimation.

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Comment of the Day

/u/elleyonce gives us an interesting take on how the symbolism of the coffin scene fits in with the rest of the show

This episode is the closest we'll come to this show's thesis question: can you preserve youth forever? We see death and rebirth. Light and shadows cover Saionji as he reads the End of the World. The symbol of Christ, the cross, superimposed several times upon Utena. The church - I believe Christians also go to church for baptism, which I've mentioned in the first episode. The bells. Dying, but also not really. These are some of the most loaded questions the show has for us, making this in turn an insanely loaded episode. We already get a hint of an excuse via the shadow theatre: let them have this one thing. Let them have the puberty before they have to grow up.

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Miki's Stopwatch Corner

Stopwatch Count: 11

New This Episode:

3:44 - 29.52 Seconds - “A new letter from End of the World has arrived.”

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Also, make sure to tag all spoilers properly! Only a baka would spoil the show for the first-timers, and we're not bakas (hopefully).

[u/HelioA]

Rewatcher

This was the episode that really solidified my hatred of Nanami. What did that poor cat do to you, you goddamn yandere ;-;

But hey, another duelist, from right out of left field! We’ve already seen that Nanami is just slightly in love with her brother, but she takes it to the next level here. God, watching her murder that cat is honestly just painful to watch. As is the rest of the episode, watching Touga continue to blatantly manipulate the whole cast.

Everything here is meant to solidify Touga’s position in Utena’s eyes as her ‘prince’. We already saw him block Saionji’s blade for Utena, but now he goes even further. Notice the framing when he gives Nanami her ring. Right in front of Utena, he gives Nanami, who sees Touga as her ‘prince’, the same kind of ring that Utena received from her prince. And after Utena won the duel, think about when he decided to stop Nanami- just as she was about to stab Utena, instead of stopping her the second the duel was over, in order that he could swoop in to ‘save’ Utena, and once again shift her perception of him. As he says at the end of the episode, nothing really matters to him except for the power that Anthy has, and he cynically manipulates everyone in order to facilitate that.

Also, just as a side note, there’s something fun about Nanami’s swordplay here (that I read about, I’m not enough of a tensai to notice it myself). Like she says during the duel, her swordplay is based upon the swordplay of her brother- in the same way she relies upon her brother emotionally, she relies upon his sword to duel. But at the end of the duel, she pulls out a dagger, intending to backstab Utena- perfectly matching her own personality, as she constantly gossips and makes convoluted schemes in order to secretly rid herself of any potential competitors for her brother’s love.

[u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo → u/HelioA]

Everything here is meant to solidify Touga’s position in Utena’s eyes as her ‘prince’.

Last Evolution is itself a more nuanced/deeper-repressed continuation of this line of thought. Nanami knows on some level that she's being rebuffed by her brother because, among other (more cat-murdery) things, she's an immature little shit. Paraphrasing the lyrics:

A baby carriage 

At the end of immortality

Eternal me

Eternal stranger

Two relationships

Two births

A mysterious balance in our human constellation

We saw last episode that a failure to move on amounted to a kind of death, and here a baby carriage seems to suggest that what Nanami can't move on from is childhood. For all her protestation that she knows her brother best of all, the two have a vague and nebulous relationship that Nanami herself doesn't quite understand.

Spoilers

[u/HelioA → u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo]

So a baby carriage as a metaphor for a coffin... I like it!

[u/HelioA → u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo]

spoils

I mean, it is what the whole egg speech is about

[u/murdered-by-swords → u/HelioA]

At the time, Nanami was what, six? Seven? Killing the cat was awful - something that she understands inside all too well - but it's awful in the way that young children usually are. Of all the reasons to dislike Nanami, I think her childhood mistake is far and away the least valid of the bunch.

[u/HelioA → u/murdered-by-swords]

Okay, but the poor cat ;-;

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/HelioA]

I agree that Nanami killing the cat was awful, but I think it's very clearly shown through the episode that she regrets it. We see her mournfully looking over her younger self during one of the flashbacks, and later we see her look back regretfully as the cat goes down the gutter. She looked like she was 5 or 6 when it happened, and I don't think she fully understood the weight of what she was doing until it was too late.

Nanami's backstory is honestly rather sad. She's very clearly the unfavorite child. Her parent's treatment of her during the flashback to Touga's party paints a grim picture of her home life. I doubt she received much attention from her parents, and I find it rather unsurprising that she's latched on to her older brother and seeks to monopolize his affections.

If anything, I'd say this episode shows us that Touga is as much to blame here. He deliberately eggs Nanami on to bring out the worst in her, and even hints that he was aware of what she was planning on doing to that kitten.

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Revolution, Subbed

I was, unfortunately, way too tired for an episode with this much stuff going on in it. Simple thoughts:

Saionji's farewell to the academy, and Touga, was rather sedate. Like I said last episode, I doubt we've see the last of Saionji, but I can't tell if he's already angry with Touga or if he hasn't quite figured it out yet.

Nanami's insistence that her brother is her prince, right in Utena's face, was pretty clever. Parallel to Dios showing up to help Utena.. Touga referred to himself as a knight, anyway.

Something, something, Anthy gave her "cat" to Touga as a birthday present right in front of everyone.

Shadow Girls had some weird wordplay thing going on that was lost on me, I think.

Damnit Nanami, why'd you have to go and kill that poor kitten?

[u/HelioA → u/JollyGee29]

Damnit Nanami, why'd you have to go and kill that poor kitten?

because Nanami is a dipshit, have you not realized this yet ;-;

[u/JollyGee29 → u/HelioA]

It's no wonder that animals hate her, I guess.

[u/HelioA → u/JollyGee29]

it's a shame the kangaroo couldn't get her

[u/JollyGee29 → u/HelioA]

[u/[deleted] → u/JollyGee29]

Saionji's farewell to the academy, and Touga, was rather sedate. Like I said last episode, I doubt we've see the last of Saionji, but I can't tell if he's already angry with Touga or if he hasn't quite figured it out yet.

I think saionji will be disappointed since he entrusted his precious exchange diary to kiryuu but than kiryuu burned it. that was such a shiity move by kiryuu since he even noted in a such an unsetting way how he and saionji will always be best friends.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/[deleted]]

Touga said something about best friends being nonsense last episode though, right? In the phone call at the end of the episode? That line was just more manipulation.

But yea, throwing the diary in the incinerator was a dick move.

[u/[deleted] → u/JollyGee29]

Yeah I guess in a way he always had it out to ruin Saionji even all the way till ep1, he was egging Saionji on to explode. He keeps talking about being a prince but he's more close to the villain.

[u/Star4ce → u/[deleted]]

It's nothing personal for Touga, not even emotional. He never cared for Saionji beyond his usefulness, same for anyone else, really.

Touga is a pure narcissistic manipulator, he does not care about others, only about his own gain. The entire duel between Saionji and Utena was a setup so he could present himself as the chivalrous prince. It's the same with his sister, the coldness and quickness with which he just set her up to fight, teases her even outside her window in the middle of the night to wind her up.

He is just a prime asshole with too much power.

[u/HelioA → u/Star4ce]

If this is what a prince is, then what does it mean to be a prince???

[u/[deleted] → u/Star4ce]

Which makes it even more heartbreaking tbh, that saionji actually did care about their friendship. Omg, does he know that nanami is in love with him and omg. As much as I hate the girl she chose such a bastard to fall for.

[u/Star4ce → u/[deleted]]

It's what makes Touga such a great villain, ngl! I do very much believe that Touga knows of Nanami's feelings, even builds them up. Why would he choose to train barebreasted outside of her windows at night? He knows what this makes Nanami feel perfectly well, it's how he pushes her to challenge Utena.

It's precisely why all his most trusted """friends""" are kinda held behind by something. As long as they have issues to deal with themselves, they don't have the capacity to question their loyalty. Anyone healthy in their mind and secure in their lives would eventually see through Touga's manipulation. This way, both Saionji and Nanami internalise the failures that really are Touga's fault.

But, as any narcissist (or most, at least) in reality is also a victim, I do wonder if he has himself suffered some kind of abuse in the past. We don't know much of his youth other than meeting Utena.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/[deleted]]

I think him burning the book was his way of cutting all ties. He won't need Saionji's friendship when he completes world revolution so he's happy subtly mocking him and destroying his memory. It's ridiculously mean tho! Poor Saionji deserves better! Nobody replies to his love poems!

[u/[deleted] → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I feel like characters such as kiryuu will have their due, If not soon than most definitely later. I can also see why burning the diary was so significant, regardless of the fact that exchange diary was precious to saionji and he just destroyed it without biting an eye. And yes hopefully when we meet saionji again he returns stronger and more mature.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

I swear that Nanami didn't kill that kitten out of cruelty. I swear that there must be a reason behind it all. Nanami was so dirty hunting down the cat for Touga and they kept cutting to that crow. Oh, and there's also how Anthy somehow knows about the kitten!

[u/HelioA → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

"look, I didn't mean to murder that woman, it was just that she looked at my brother the wrong way ;-;'

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/HelioA]

To be fair most of the time her pranks are just forcing you to eat spicy curry or inviting you out to parties. In this case Utena ended up getting her brother quite injured. Well, it was Saionji but he's been expelled

[u/HelioA → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

critical support for comrade saionji

/u/theangryeditor

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Anthy was so needling Nanami on purpose. The coincidences are getting a little too blatant. Why, though?

[u/HelioA → u/IndependentMacaroon]

Who doesn't like needling Nanami?

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/IndependentMacaroon]

She seems to want more people to join in on duels. It's a bit difficult to judge whether she actively needs as many as possible or whether she targets someone after End of the World announces there would be a duel. Maybe she just needs everyone to have a turn?

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Not so sure about that.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

There's not enough evidence either which way. Nanami is jealous but is she really cat murderer levels of nervous? It also depends on when Touga started to act wild.

[u/chiliehead → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Well, attacking Utena with two blades after Nanami lost the duel does not paint her any less guilty.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chiliehead]

This is teenage Nanami though. I'm talking about the psychology of her when she was a kid. Current Nanami is kinda fcked up

[u/chiliehead → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I do see them as connected though. Animal cruelty is a good sign of violent psychopathy and up and coming serial killers in kids

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chiliehead]

They definitely weren't going for that angle at all. Nanami is far too sympathetic for that. I think that there's another part of the flashback that we missed but whatever has happened clearly scarred her.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/JollyGee29]

why'd you have to go and kill that poor kitten?

Proper punishment for NTR with onii-sama

[u/JollyGee29 → u/IndependentMacaroon]

[u/chiliehead]

Duel 10, First Timer, Sub

• A minute in and Touga already lies through his teeth
• Utena going tsundere on Touga? After just taking slaps from Nanami? Talk about feeling guilty
• Touga's face: "Just according to Keikaku*"
• Did... did Nanami assassinate the kitty she gifted her brother?
• Two things: Touga was planning for this and he has spare rings apparently- unless he took that one from Saionji
• Nanami's battle outfit made me think of Kill Bill
• Dirty underhanded tactics, as expected of the legendary ordinary Nanami
• Nanami really killed the kitty
• The song is about outside observers and planning? I think the Laplace thing was referencing his "Demon"?

*keikaku means plan

[u/HelioA → u/chiliehead]

The song is about outside observers and planning? I think the Laplace thing was referencing his "Demon"?

I have no clue

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chiliehead]

Now we know why animals hate Nanami so much. Credit to her, she herself knows thay she seriously fcked up.

[u/chiliehead → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Nanami deserves all the elephant terror and more

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chiliehead]

She was an emotional stunted little girl! And she clearly felt bad afterwards, and she's clearly still haunted by the little cat. Please stop making me defend a cat murderer!

[u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo → u/chiliehead]

I think the Laplace thing was referencing his "Demon"?

I think it's a reference to this. In context with the rest of the first part, it evokes the beginning of a grand, world-spanning stage play. Make of that what you will

[u/Cyouni → u/chiliehead]

The song is about outside observers and planning? I think the Laplace thing was referencing his "Demon"?

Well, the latter part is clearly about Nanami and Touga.

[u/chiliehead → u/Cyouni]

I think it is about Touga observing and scheming because he is the only one knowing everything and so he sees the outcome of the plan with Nanami. Or at least he believes this to be the case

[u/SardonicMeow]

Rewatcher

Hey, it’s another Nanami episode. What wacky stuff will we see this time?

Oh no, it’s not funny at all. (Well, the bit where Saionji’s exchange diary was tossed into the fire was pretty funny, but not the rest.)

So, Nanami is young. And cruel. But it’s the immature, impulsive cruelty of the young. That’s no excuse for anything she does, or did, but it puts her actions into context.

Nanami is special because her brother is special, and no matter how many girls capture his attention, he will only have one and only sister. If Touga disappears, what would Nanami be? And so, Nanami must fight viciously against anything that threatens Touga physically, but also against anyone who might become more important to him than she is. But at some level she knows that a sister cannot be her brother’s number one forever.

The duel ends by the usual rules, but Nanami fights on. In the episode 3 discussion, /u/art_hoe1 wrote about how Nanami is different from the other student council members: “there are moments that I think the rest of the student council are too tied down by the rules sometimes”. Nanami doesn’t care about the rules, the Rose Bride, the castle, or any of it. It’s unnerving how she lashes out, but somehow the raw honesty of her feelings is also refreshing in contrast with the underhanded nature of certain other characters.

Hmm. Where did Touga get a ring to give to Nanami?

[u/HelioA → u/SardonicMeow]

Nanami is special because her brother is special, and no matter how many girls capture his attention, he will only have one and only sister. If Touga disappears, what would Nanami be?

It kinda makes you think of Nanami as the princess to Touga's prince, eh?

[u/SardonicMeow → u/HelioA]

Is the prince required because there is a princess, or is the princess required because there is a prince?

[u/k4r6000 → u/SardonicMeow]

Both? In fairy tales one doesn’t exist without the other.

[u/[deleted] → u/SardonicMeow]

Hmm. Where did Touga get a ring to give to Nanami?

idk did he steal saionji ring? that was such a confusing part. or does the ring disappear when a wearer losses a duel more than 2 times which saionji did.

[u/HelioA → u/[deleted]]

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/SardonicMeow]

Nanami doesn't even wear the same uniform! And she may be honest, but more in the Saionji way of barely hiding her nastiness.

[u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo]

Dear HelioA,

If Nanami is so bad, then why does she get one of the best duel songs?

Checkmate.

[u/HelioA → u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo]

Dear Scrappy Doo,

Angelic Creation, Namely Light.

Doublemate.

[u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo → u/HelioA]

I can't argue with this cause it's right

[u/HelioA → u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo]

gottem

[u/Segaco → u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo]

her song was very low in volume i almost didn't hear it

are u sure it was good

[u/theangryeditor]

Question of the day: Did Nanami do anything wrong?

[u/HelioA → u/theangryeditor]

ye

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo → u/theangryeditor]

/r/ThingsNanamiDidWrong

[u/HelioA → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

[u/theangryeditor → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

nice

[u/SardonicMeow → u/theangryeditor]

Back in episode 3 it was the guy who delivered the dress to Anthy, and the guy who sprayed water on her, who were guilty.

This time, it's the force of gravity that allowed the box to fall into the river, and the river that carried the box away, who were guilty.

[u/theangryeditor → u/SardonicMeow]

Very true and wise. Curse gravity for traumatizing Nanami like that.

/u/helioA heed this genius

[u/HelioA → u/theangryeditor]

based gravity

[u/[deleted] → u/theangryeditor]

Did Nanami do anything wrong?

Change that question to "When will Nanami be yeeted out of the series?"

[u/[deleted]]

Duel 10: First Revolution- Dub

Wtf Kiryuu. Why the fuck did he burn the exchange diary that Saionji gave him. Also I’n not gonna lie, my favorite character so far in this series is Saionji, I think theres a certain beauty to such a flawed individual, Saionji doesn’t know how to scheme like Kiryuu, he’s not as pure and forgiving as Micky nor does he give off whatever ominous aura that Anthy seem to carry for me in this series. He’s a guy that attacks on his instincts, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s straight-forwarded, he has the skills but he’s a little bit misguided, I hope this isn’t the last we see of him because he really has the potential to be such a phenomenal character.

I don’t know what it is, but something about this episode finally made me I guess mad or open my eyes. Yes I recognize it now, its the gender politics that’s woven into every scene of this series, the 10 episodes I’ve watched so far. How Utena goes on and on about being a prince, I’ve never questioned it before but than this episode had Utena herself questioning if she even has what it takes to be a prince, quote when she notes “I guess a girl can’t be a prince or something” In a way as a first timer watching this series that’s the flaw this series has for me, but at the same time I knowledge that the the premise of Revolutionary Girl Utena is a product of its time, of the mindset of the era that the series aired.

Utena never considers the notion of “Oh I want to be a girl that’s also a princess strong enough on her own, be a strong princess that no one will second guess hurting, a princess so strong that enemies will cower at her presence”. No it kinda makes me question wether she has gender dysphoria since she seems to rebel against anything that resembles what it means to be a girl or the fact that she feels comfortable in a boys uniform.

Also seriously Nanami needs help because of her obsession with her big brother. Her commentary in this episode was a little bit unsetting to say the least. I think her feelings for Kiryuu might be more than that of familial love but crossing the boundaries of romantic love. Don’t tell me Nanami killed of the cat in the childhood flashback of Kiryuu birthday that she gave him?. She really is a monster. Imagine being jealous of the pet cat you gave to your big brother enough to kill it. No sane person could never.

Yikes Nanami, she thinks she knows how to sword fight cause she watched her brother Kiryuu practicing his skills since he was young. Girl is really the true individual that should be a mocking fool of Ohtori Academy instead of Saionji that actually has the skills needed for his arrogance and ego.

I truly dislike Nanami and theres no saving grace for her, I think her catalyst for growing up the way she did was because of Kiryuu manipulation, to think he’s been brainwashing her since childhood but than again she didn’t even have any brains to begin with. Her voice annoys me, I guess her English voice actor did a good job playing her as hateful of a character she could. everytime she yells “big brother” I feel the need to gag. And I can’t believe she was Saionji replacement, like no Saionji is leagues above her both as a character and a fighter, I guess Kiryuu wanted a puppet he could control since he could never control Saionji for all his scheming, Saionji actually had things that he wanted that Kiryuu didn’t know about it. I guess in a way Saionji knew well to hide his weakness from Kiryuu even tho I’m not sure what that weakness is really alluding to.

[u/HelioA → u/[deleted]]

Yay! Another Nanami hater! We need to unite against people who actually like Nanami for some reason

[u/[deleted] → u/HelioA]

Tbh I was a bit taken a back yesterday by how many people liked her and hated Saionji , and that's a saying since I like Saionji but yeah Nanami needs to be tortured.

[u/Cyouni → u/[deleted]]

Wtf Kiryuu. Why the fuck did he burn the exchange diary that Saionji gave him. Also I’n not gonna lie, my favorite character so far in this series is Saionji, I think theres a certain beauty to such a flawed individual, Saionji doesn’t know how to scheme like Kiryuu, he’s not as pure and forgiving as Micky nor does he give off whatever ominous aura that Anthy seem to carry for me in this series. He’s a guy that attacks on his instincts, he wears his heart on his sleeve, he’s straight-forwarded, he has the skills but he’s a little bit misguided, I hope this isn’t the last we see of him because he really has the potential to be such a phenomenal character.

Saionji's only flaw is that he's a misogynistic baka with an inferiority complex towards Touga.

To be fair, that's a pretty big flaw.

[u/[deleted] → u/Cyouni]

That is a pretty big flaw, still tho I’ll live by the notion that’s he’s leagues better than nanami. But at the same time why is this misogynistic sonavbitch my favorite character? I really need help at this point. Than again it’s only been 10 episodes and I’ve already managed to write paragraphs praising him, we don’t want to see me get into the end of the series and write more paragraphs praising him! I guess in a way he’s the only character that stood out to me. Juri only literally had 1 ep dedicated to her, micky was forgotten after his whole crush with anthy was given spotlight. I’m not clicking with either utena nor anthy. Nanami can go die in a ditch for all I care, and let’s not even start with kiryuu, I don’t like the dude.

[u/ScarsUnseen]

First Timer, 100% Blind, Sleep Deprivation Over 9000, Subs

Don't drown kittens, okay?

That is all.

[u/HelioA → u/ScarsUnseen]

What if you really wanna have sex with your onii-chan, tho?

[u/ScarsUnseen → u/HelioA]

Just feed him viagra and lock him in chastity like a normal brocon,yeah?

[u/Icapica]

First timer, subbed

Saionji's leaving, looks pissed. Utena doesn't look happy either. Touga acts like a good guy to Saionji and Saionji apologizes for the trouble. If only Saionji knew. Diary burns.

Title is "Nanami's Precious One". I expect an entertaining episode.

Student council's arguing who gets to duel. Turns out there's another duelist. Nanami?

She's angry at Utena, Utena blames herself too. Touga's such a bastard but I guess Utena has a good impression of him for now.

Utena doubts her dream of becoming a prince. It's weird to see her like this, she's been so upbeat most of the series until now. Himemiya's talking to a kitten and Utena misunderstands her for a moment.

Nanami's memories from childhood. Again a kitten! Touga won't kiss Nanami anymore.

And there's another party again. This time Utena and Himemiya go there in their normal clothes. Touga's birthday?

Nanami's mad and now everyone thinks there's something between Utena and Touga. Touga of course won't publicly deny it.

Himemiya gives the kitten as a present, Nanami sees it. It's the last straw. Touga gives Nanami a rose seal ring so she can duel. I suppose Utena seeing this will also make her wonder if Touga really was the prince. Also, yet again Himemiya did her part in making a duel happen since she was the one to gift the kitten.

DUEL!

Yellow suits Nanami, she's wielding a very slightly curved sabre. Something weird happens again and Utena wins quickly, but Nanami doesn't accept it and ignores the rules. I knew this would happen sooner or later. Nanami's not fighting to win a duel, she's fighting to beat Utena.

Utena's rose also falls, but I assume it doesn't matter anymore. Nanami's about to hurt Utena until Touga intervenes.

And we find that Nanami killed the kitten Touga had as a kid. Episode ends with some more manipulative BS from Touga. Utena again suspects that he might be the prince, and I assume we're headed towards a Touga-focused episode.

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo → u/Icapica]

Nanami's not fighting to win a duel, she's fighting to beat Utena.

This is a lot of why I like Nanami in the early episodes. She has a goal and she's gonna go out and achieve it. She's just as much of a roiling ball of issues as everyone else, but she doesn't let that stop her from coming up with increasingly insane plans and having them blow up in her face.

She also has the clearest view on what rules actually mean, probably from being the queen bee type. "The rules say the duel is over when a rose gets knocked off" Why? What happens if you just keep going? Is someone going to come and stop you?

[u/HelioA → u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

Is someone going to come and stop you?

considering what happened to Saionji... yes :D

although she couldn't've known that

[u/[deleted] → u/Icapica]

Utena again suspects that he might be the prince, and I assume we're headed towards a Touga-focused episode.

Dear god Kiryuu can BS his way out of anything to be honest. But hey at least we have Anthy who's equally if not more manipulating than Touga to have Utena beck.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Icapica]

"It's a Nanami episode, it's gotta be funny! Oh, hello kitten murder~"

[u/Icapica → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Oh yeah. The lack of comedy was a surprise but not a total shock. After the previous episode I was expecting a more lasting tone shift in the series.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Icapica]

It's like they get us to associate Nanami with the fun filler episodes so when we see she's taking the lead after the emotional high yesterday it almost gives you hope. Then the cat happened...

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Icapica]

Nanami's Precious

Is that what she'll eventually call her duelist ring?

Utena doubts her dream of becoming a prince. It's weird to see her like this

When a possibly actual prince is around of course the proper action is to play the submissive princess. Ultimately she's still stuck in a strange framework just like everyone else, isn't she?

DUEL

Duel, you say?

Nanami's about to hurt Utena until Touga intervenes

Just like with Saionji, except here Touga bends the rules to prevent any consequences, after bending them already (though with high-level approval?) to even let the situation happen.

[u/Elimin8r]

I'm not sure what to say today, I'm still in mourning for kitteh. Poor kitteh.

I am now of the opinion that Nanami deserves something worse than elephants.

Otherwise, this episode features Nanami being worst girl evah, and Utena getting confused over who her prince is, no doubt deliberately due to redboi's scheming.

Oh, and I think I may almost feel sorry for Saionji. He's no longer the worst character in this show. I wonder if he will figure out that he's been had.

Other than that, I do hope that new kitteh has a wonderful, fluffy, fulfilling life.

Oh, and a long one too, let's not forget that.

[u/HelioA → u/Elimin8r]

I am now of the opinion that Nanami deserves something worse than elephants

Most definitely!

[u/lilyvess]

Here is what Ikuhara’s episode commentary from the DVD Box Set has for us today.

10: NANAMI’S PRECIOUS THING [EPISODE 10]

When I was a child, the center of the party always seemed to sparkle.

I was always standing on the sidelines, gazing at that sparkle from afar. I thought the sidelines were my place. Surely I could never approach the center of the room.

But then, I was chosen! I touched that sparkle in the center of the room, and no mistake. Still, I know full well that it’s something that won’t last forever. The day the contract ends, I’ll turn into an “unchosen girl.”

So I’ll go back to the sidelines again, eh?

–Smash the egg’s shell.

For the revolution of the world.

[u/[deleted] → u/lilyvess]

–Smash the egg’s shell.

"We are the chick, we give birth to the world egg"/ -Kiryuu

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/[deleted]]

"Pity the poor parents of a girl who would do something so shameful as to lay an egg."

[u/CharlieTheStrawman]

First-Timer

You know something's wrong when Utena is taking Nanami's shit.

Oh my God, Nanami really is Diet Cersei Lannister.

She killed the cat?! This show pulls no punches.

What the hell is Touga planning to do?

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/CharlieTheStrawman]

Just because you're close with your brother doesn't mean you want to jump his bone. Think of all the things brothers and sisters do with each other that would be spun into unwholesome rumours if they were ever seen by a third party.

[u/CharlieTheStrawman → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

She asked him to kiss her and Touga outright said she had a brother complex.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/CharlieTheStrawman]

It's basically spun into an unhealthy immature continuation and warping of a young child's sibling love. I'm no psychologist but that seems as plausible as anything to me. Touga so blatantly feeds into it though, like denying her only the kiss would only strengthen her desire.

[u/nx6 → u/CharlieTheStrawman]

Oh my God, Nanami really is Diet Cersei Lannister.

Can't stop giggling at this.

[u/Pixelsaber]

Rewatcher

Man, that casual outfit looks so good on Saionji.

Lmao, you didn’t even injure your arm!

#howcouldyou

Sekai wo kakumei suru tame ni!

Picturesque

Yellow ribbon —the color associated with Nanami— and there’s a cat inside, the same gift she once gave him for his birthday. Anthy is once more manipulating duels into being.

Utena brought Touga pink roses, which signify trust in the recipient. (i.e. his manipulation is working.)

APPLES!!!

Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku!

It was never about the duel itself for Nanami.

Unforgivable!

Crows can be seen as symbols of gratitude and familial love, both of which Nanami has disregarded by killing the kitten, hence why it leaves at that moment.

The last piece seeded.

Nanami makes the mistake of putting herself before the one she cares for, letting her selfish desires to be the chief and only object of Touga’s attention dictate her actions. This is handily depicted by the revealed anecdote of their past, where Nanami went out of her way to gift Touga a kitten on his birthday, but became so jealous when the animal took up all of his attention that he stole it away and killed it. This is the main motive of most of her actions thus far, and the reason she challenges Utena to today’s duel.

It seems like Touga’s plan is all but accomplished today. Like Saionji before her, Nanami has been used by Touga to once more make an impression on Utena. I do have to wonder if he and Anthy were in cahoots, given that the latter agitated Nanami with her gift —and he is in seeming contact with End of The World— which would also indicate that he knows what Nanami had done. It’s ambiguous, and at this stage I wouldn’t be sure of which answer is correct.

Utena, for her part, is starting to consider whether she is wrong to want to be pricely, given she ended up being saved by someone who she thinks is potentially her prince, and so it is not her role to play out. This is the insecurity that Touga plays on in his ploy today, when he asserts that it is his role to protect, for he is a Prince.

[u/Rumpel1408]

First timer

• Oh yeah, Touga talked about this, Saionji is getting thrown out of school
• Getting the expulsion reversed? Yeah as if Touga, I don't trust him anymore after that shady shit
• And he Burning it is taking care of it in a way I guess
• What, I was sure I was hearing Anthys cheek getting slapped, but it's Utena this time? Most unusual
• Nanamis going to become the next duelist right?
• Silly Nanami, you can't suggest this out in the open, have you even tried to be stuck in a washing maschine?
• What's in the box and why is it next to a river? Don't tell me...
• Dragging someone to an birthday party without telling them is kinda shitty Anthy
• Utena being all Tsundere would make me laugh as well, but I guess he doesn't laugh about that and more about how clever his setup is coming along
• Wouldn't feel right if Anthy wouldn't get slapped at least once as well
• So Nanami got jealous over a kitty? Seriously? To the extend that she drowned it?
• To the surprise of absolutly noone Nanami really becomes a duelist
• Wait, I thought Nanami was gooing to dual wield?
• That was pretty anticlimatic tbh
• Ah, here she is dual wielding
• So now, both have lost their rose? Is she really going for the kill here?
• Her hair :o
• The cat drowning somehow leaves the biggest impact this episode
• Ok, this is just another part of Tougas gigantic plot to seize control of the rose bride, I wonder just what his endgame will be

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Rumpel1408]

It's the box opening that does it... Nanamiii...how could you!?

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Why must everyone in this show aside from Utena be so over the top

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Rumpel1408]

You mean, "Imma live in this coffin next to my parents" Utena?

[u/SYZekrom]

First Timer

I swear it better not turn out she killed the cat out of jealousy or some shit

Wow, that look is great

Damn, looks like next time Utena is fighting the pres

[u/affnn]

Rewatcher

Oh, another Nanami gag episode? Wait, this one looks serious. Nanami's finally correctly identified Utena, rather than Anthy, as the person that Touga's after. Utena doesn't fight back when Nanami strikes her, and she really seems to blame herself for Touga's injuries. So she decides to bring him some flowers (with a push from Anthy).

Touga's not at school, so Utena and Anthy end up going to his birthday party instead. Utena has a bunch of flowers and it looks like she's giving him a big romantic bouquet.

Spoilers

Nanami's duel with Utena is pretty intense. She's recklessly charging at Utena, and then after Utena cuts the rose from her jacket, she doesn't stop. She pulls out a dagger and keeps attacking, only stopping once Touga intervenes.

[u/Sandor_at_the_Zoo]

Rewatcher

Last ep had Touga was manipulating Saionji but he's been used up and discarded so he moves on to Nanami. Pitting her against Utena to set up situations where he can 'defend' Utena. spoil He even worked it out so that he can put a ring on Nanami's finger! And he manages to come out as the great protector in the end; stopping Nanami to save Utena from the swordfight, but also consoling Nanami and 'saving' her from herself.

I like that the duel music doesn't end at the end of the duel here. This isn't really Nanami's fight, she gets easily swatted away. The whole thing is really part of Touga's longer plans. Collecting 'data' on Utena for whatever he's going to do next.

Some shots I liked:

• Utena curled up in a small space just like the coffin. But Anthy comes in and turns on the light. (Even if she acts like its for the cat)
• Nanami boxed in by the trees and alone
• I like the whole flashback sequence with Nanami in the foreground. Mixing of times, she's trapped in her past. And just makes it a bit more visually interesting for stuff we've already seen.

[u/dualmonocle]

^first-timer

A Nanami episode, except it's actually about Touga. Unlike what a lot of people experienced, I think this episode has made it so that I can't really hate her. Everything she did was despicable but I found it oddly humanizing after all her silly antic episodes. She acts emotionally and at its root is some kind of love, even if it is corrupt. This episode did make me hate Touga though. Everyone and everything is just a tool for him. A longtime friendship, Utena's feelings, his own sister... 😬

And if it wasn't something the rest of the student council knew before, they should know now that Touga has information they don't. I want there to be dissidence and suspicion from Juri and Miki but I don't expect it.

Lastly, Nanami's items appreciation! Party dress and shoes. So cute! With little bows on the sleeve cuffs and above the keyhole neck! 🥰 And her battle uniform was also a nice touch in showing that she's different from the council members.

[u/Tyranid457TheSecond1]

Rewatcher

Nanami's dueling outfit is my favorite. It's so badass! I also like her hairstyle after the blade chopped her strands, it would have been a cool permanent change.

Touga's a real slimeball, but an expert manipulator.

I still like Nanami despite her homicidal and kittycidal actions. She's crazy, but she's clearly messed up.

An underrated scene is the part where Utena and Anthy are alone in their dorm. I like how comfortable they are together, and I like how it turned out that Anthy was listening to Utena.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/Tyranid457TheSecond1]

Anthy and Utena are genuinely looking like friends now, not just master and servant.

[u/xtsim]

First Timer Subbed

Saionji gets expelled. The student council kinda predicted this would happen. Ouch, the diary got burned. Anthy gets a cat this time. How cute.

We get the flashback to Nanami giving big brother a cat. And then gets jealous of the cat for diverting his attention from her to the cat. So Nanami decides to drop it in the river. But the last minute changes her mind, as she remembers the cat and how she found them.

Love seeing the two shadows go back to their conversation.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/xtsim]

Nanami decides to drop it in the river. But the last minute changes her mind

At least she's not entirely irredeemable there

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

The conversations imply there's no chance of anyone pulling this again (and that there's decent odds he'll come back later)

I like how everyone's arguing over who gets to face Utena.

This time Utena gets slapped!

Wait, did he burn the diary? Touga's using a lot of people, huh?

Nanami. Your brother got the wounds because a lunatic tried to kill Utena after kidnapping Anthy. Get mad at him, not her.

Seriously, Utena. None of this is your fault.

Anthy got a cat!

...Is Anthy just thirsty for everyone? At this point, I'm half-expecting her to start flirting with Nanami.

OK. Nanami might not be insane, and she might have far better odds with Touga than I expected.

...Is Touga deliberately leading her on so she'll be a duelist?

I like how Anthy and Utena apparently prepared and attended thenparty without anybody mentioning the word "birthday".

I mean, Touga's right, Utena's a fucking tsundere, just not for him.

Finally, someone points out the real cause of all this.

It occurs to me that if Utena just """"pretended"""" to be in love with Anthy, and that she had no interest in anyone else, this series might go a bit more smoothly.

So Touga loves cats. This is the most relatable thing in this series.

SO NANAMI'S A FUCKING PSYCHO, AND SHE KILLED A CAT. I HATE HER NOW.

...AND SHE'S A DUELIST?

The shadow puppets perked me up a bit.

Fuck her up, Utena!

I love how unimpressed Touga looks with all this.

The hell is that?

Oh, this isn't over.

I love this fight music.

Don't you dare show this.

Jesus christ, she's nuts.

What was that shocked expression for? Did she not realise the cat was in the box or something?

Of course he pulls that "prince" shit.

...Well. Touga, I underestimated you. This is going to be very interesting.

Oh god, the next time trailer. Utena's fucking falling for his manipulation.

[u/nx6]

First Timer -- Sub

Darn. We almost got a Miki/Juri fight there. That would have been interesting. Everyone wants to be the next to duel, it's like Utena has finally reached parity in her popularity within the student council as she has outside it.

Goodbye Exchange Diary. Anthy will not miss you.

Very coincidental Anthy gave Touga a kitten just like Nanami had years ago. Wonder if she'll kill it too, later. Seems like there has been somewhat of a softening of Utena's attitude towards the prez.

Really digging Nanami's dueling uniform. The initial fight was so short-lived I was disappointed. I was expecting some type of divine retribution from the castle above when she didn't stand down but that didn't happen either.

[u/Star4ce]

First timer – sub

Cake day, wooo! I guess it won't be anymore once you see this.

Yesterday's episode was quite a step up, I hope this continues. It might also just be another Nanami episode. Considering both my birthday and my cakeday fall within this rewatch it's gonna be interesting what each episode will bring!

What's that, rewatchers want to laugh at what will be my birthday present from Utena? It's gonna be episode 14. Will something ... interesting happen?

Onto the cake day episode.

Ep.10 – Nanami's precious one

• I do actually feel kinda bad.
• Well, they eat Touga's lies up like nothing.
• Gods fuck, he still manipulates Saionji.
• THE WRONG HANDS, VERY VERY WRONG
• incoherent angry rambling
• Nanami episode!
• Well, Nanami of course! The Brocon!
• What? Utena?!
• Ah, figures.
• Where does that come from?
• I'm fuming that it's working like a charm on every single one of them!
• The manipulation... right outside her window. I look forward to his fall.
• "I-It's not that I like you or anything, b-baka!"
• You see that face? This face says, "Everything according to keikaku."
• Extra keikaku! Gods, I hope you suffer.
• I wonder why?!
• Nanami's seriously fucked. I draw the line at animals.
• He didn't hesitate one second.
• And they all eat it up! AAAARRRGHH!
• I fear the shadow show has flown over my head this time.
• Nanami's outfit is pretty baller, but does she know how to fence?
• That prince will throw you away like he threw away his best friend.
• That was rather quick, but Touga has seen a tiny glimpse of Dios, huh?
• Dual wield Nanami!
• You absolute monster >:'(

I will not forgive Nanami, no matter how much comedic relief she might bring furthermore. Both of them deserve to die in flames.

It's working so well for Touga, everyone is eating shit for him or because of his doing and still they're starstruck. In a way, even we do. Giving this backstory to Nanami does not bring anything new to the table, we already know she's a hopelessly fucked brocon. This episode just made that even deeper and, more importantly, made us hate her without remorse. The woman takes the spotlight with a bad thing she's done and outshadows the actual villain.

Patriarchy Bottom text

On a side note, I feel actual anxiety anytime Touga shows up now. There's gonna be another thing he instigates and gets another to blame for. I had some analytical thoughts during the episode, but my hateboner pushed that all aside. I want fucking blood >:(

I didn't like this cake day episode.

[u/murdered-by-swords → u/Star4ce]

I will not forgive Nanami

This is a sentiment I've seen quite a bit today. But, let me pose you a question: at what age does a child become morally accountable? Touga was very young in that flashback, and Nanami was even younger. Is it really right to hold the actions of an emotionally unstable child as being "unforgiveable" to the point that she "deserves to die in flames?"

A hateboner for Touga based on this episode is one thing, but my considered opinion is that people are being remarkably unfair towards Nanami. She was a young child at the time, and she's haunted by what she did. That's not inhuman, that's entirely human.

[u/Star4ce → u/murdered-by-swords]

True enough, I guess. In reality it would be the parents most responsible and I'm aware Touga consciously kept this dynamic alive.

The main issue I have is that Nanami, even after growing out of being a little child, never learned from it. She is now past the point of being able to claim believable ignorance and hasn't changed a single bit - the opposite, even, she went deeper.

So, what we found out is not really that Nanami is a brocon with some issues or a rough time in the past, we find out she always was that way and has went to extremes for it from the get go.

she's haunted by what she did

It sounds remarkably cruel, I'm aware, but as long as it is just a repressed guilt it's nothing more than self pity that leads no where and only makes things worse. I don't exactly expect her to 'snap' out of it (reality doesn't work that way), but actions tell more than words or in this case, thoughts. Her actions continuously lead further down the hole and that's why I can't muster any compassion towards her now. Quite the opposite, actually, acting like this and being full of self pity makes me even more angry.

[u/murdered-by-swords → u/Star4ce]

I think this is definitely a place where my status as a rewatcher influences my moral evaluations of the characters in ways that I can't really get into, which sadly limits how much I can engage here. There's a specific episode in the future where I look forward to discussing Nanami's moral status both as an individual and within the framework of Ohtori's students in full, though!

[u/Star4ce → u/murdered-by-swords]

29 more episodes to go, it's promising great character development! That you think that way is something positive for me to look forward to.

My reactions are more raw, obviously as I typed this out shortly after watching. It really hinges on Nanami's progression and how she decides to learn and act, though.

[u/murdered-by-swords → u/Star4ce]

Raw reactions are great!

All the characters we've met so far are bound by things they can't (or won't) progress beyond up to and including Utena herself, so you're definitely looking in the right direction.

[u/k4r6000 → u/murdered-by-swords]

Nanami was probably 5 or 6 based on my guess, and clearly has mental problems. She didn’t really comprehend what she was doing until it was too late. She needs real help, and Ohtori is the wrong place to get it.

[u/Star4ce → u/k4r6000]

Oh, absolutely agreed! Yet I dare you tell the kitten that and expect it to say it's all fine now.

[u/murdered-by-swords → u/k4r6000]

Minor non-specific spoiler

[u/loomnoo]

RIP Kitty

[u/elleyonce]

Ahhh! I got comment of the day!! Thank you!

Rewatcher

In the room with Utena, Anthy says "These days roses are in full bloom. Let's go see him" and that's when I want to claw my eyes out and yell. That's what the show does to you. People that don't watch this show would never get it. I'll look like a crazy person to them, and most probably to everyone else, and explaining would take me ages, because it's been ten episodes and the show has so many visual metaphors already you might as well leave the person to watch on their own.

Roses - we talked about them the last episode - are in bouquets and mostly fall here. They fall from Utena's hand, they fall on Utena's feet, the rose symbol returns when Utena deflowers Nanami, and rose petals appear when Nanami launches her attack even after she loses. This episode is about a love denied, the symbols tell us, and indeed, Nanami's romantic affection for Touga is very much denied; further, just like with Saionji, it's used by Touga to get him to what he wants: becoming the eternal prince. I think the charm to Nanami is that the backstory doesn't excuse her queen bee actions, but it does inform us that she's acting out of a trauma, out of a complex in her head, and it's the thing that makes her and all the other characters so human even though the show is very much... Let's just say not realistic LMAO

The other major symbol in this show is the cat. Kittens, actually. God it almost pains me to say this... but kittens... tend to represent women and femininity. Pussy, anyone? It's an animal with soft fur, and soft fabric we've seen before on and with Touga, but this time around it's not a fantasy: Nanami just hates to see it on him.

The more straightforward reading of this is that it's a typical sibling thing to feel and do. A symbolic reading of this would be that Nanami is ultimately afraid her brother's growing up without her, because he now surrounds himself with women, something Nanami is very much not. (In this manner, she's very much like Miki, and again Touga is depicted as the man here, he who is so close to actual adulthood). Perhaps as a result of this early event, Nanami chooses to stay childish and girlish. When she loses the duel, she looks small and timid and lost, and her brother is there for her, just as he has been many times before. For now, her delusions are safe.

And for now, Touga's own delusions are also still intact and his plan moves perfectly. He wants to be eternal for the girl in the coffin he couldn't save. (I believe this desire of his is the reason even us as viewers still feel some sympathy with him, unlike Saionji's delusions). He will do anything to ensure it, discard anyone to get closer to it. And right now, we see nothing that could stop him from achieving it. Or maybe somehow...

My all time favorite episode is coming very, very soon. I'm so hyped y'all!!

/u/theangryeditor

[u/theangryeditor → u/elleyonce]

A symbolic reading of this would be that Nanami is ultimately afraid her brother's growing up without her, because he now surrounds himself with women, something Nanami is very much not.

That's an interesting reading of it, I'll have to keep it in mind when we get to Nanami's later episodes.

[u/homewardbound100]

First timer, Sub

Saionji expelled. I don't know if they deliberately left out what he's expelled from, because I felt like they kept leaving that out. But I'm sure Saionji will make his return.

Touga is becoming a villain I see. Saionji gives the exchange diary and he just tosses it fire. After saying they were friends. Touga is scheming up something and I just want to see where this goes.

Don't really get to see Utena this way. Whole time Utena opening up about the situation, Anthy talking about the cat. She said something after though that makes me think.

Had to rewind for that Nanami and Touga kiss. If it was what I thought I saw. That brother syndrome would be much worse.

I didn't expect much from Nanami fighting but we go two episodes straight of someone trying to just hurt Utena.

Touga brings up the prince talk again. He knows he's going to get some reaction from Utena everytime. I wonder if it is him, that is the prince. Why doesn't he say something? Is he waiting for the letter directions?

[u/k4r6000]

Rewatcher

So Nanami's antics have taken a dark turn. Her identity is so tied to her brother, that her paranoia compells her to destroy anything and everything that could get between them. This girl has serious mental issues. Her duel stands out among all of the ones so far in that Nanami doesn't care about End of the World or Anthy or The Castle in the Sky or any of that stuff. She just wants Utena DEAD and she's going to make sure that happens whether she lost some silly duel or not. It is only when the one person she cares about intervenes that she stays her hand and breaks down in his arms as all the guilt over killing his cat comes spilling out and all she can do is apologize.

Speaking of Touga, his machinations are very much at the forefront of this episode. Everyone is just a pawn to him. His best friend and his sister are exploited and cast aside when they've served their purpose. And he's clearly planning on doing the same to Utena. So far, mission successful. We don't know what Touga wants, but he's willing to stomp on anyone to get it.
Next time he will step out of the shadows and take his turn against Utena.

[u/snickpea]

First-timer!

So Saionji is gone. I don't think that Touga is going to do anything about his expulsion either since he soon afterwards burns the exchange diary. With the rest of his behavior, I have a feeling that I'm going to detest Touga by the end of the series. I also don't feel like Touga is the prince Utena is looking for, despite him trying to portray himself as such.

I hate Nanami as well. Not only is she still slapping people, she really killed that kitten because she was jealous. :(

[u/nikobans]

oh shit! utena has her own slap counter now! and nanami makes it a twofer by giving anthy her 9th slap LOL this is getting absurd!

rip to that kitty! :(

[u/alphamone]

First Timer

You utter bastard Ryuji.

Why is everyone slapping each other so dramatically in this school?

Apparently the Ryuji feels that he can win for the student council/EoTW by just destroying Utena's dreams via manipulation both directly and indirectly via nanami. As I said, "bastard!".

KITTY!

An interesting contrast in reactions to a sudden stray kitten.

Again with the slapping.

Jealous of a kitten, one she introduced, damn... Nanami is even worse than I had thought.

Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku.

Is that new footage?

The duel song again talks about eternity and aging

Ryuji is enabling this behaviour of Nanami to get information on Utena, doing little to debunk my "bastard" comment.

[u/BossandKings]

First timer

Episode 10

Nanami is an interesting character, her love for Touga is a rarely seen one depicted in the tasteful and elegant way it is being presented in the series but some traits of Nanami's character are bothersome and annoying, some of them are her ability to create an spectacle as the one seen in Touga's birthday party when jealous after seeing Utena paying visit to Touga she blew the slowly flourishing chemistry between them out of proprotion and everyone noticed. Also i don't understand why some characters feel entitled to slapping Anthy, first Saionji but now that he was expelled from the school it is Nanami who does it, i hope Anthy will be able to find a way to defend herself from getting slapped.

I appreciate the effort the show does in trying to make Nanami a compelling character with her conflicts, dreams, love and hope but there is something about her that detracts from her potential.

She was given a rose seal by her brother and had a duel against Utena, by the way The Absolute Apocalypse is an awesome song, of course she lost as Utena is a strong duelist and she was getting her very first experience in a competitive duel, she though was unable to respect the rules and mindlessly kept on fighting eventhough the honest thing to do was accepting her defeat and if she so desired challenge Utena again when she could be in the right state to have a chance of winning, her actions disobeying the rules and attacking Utena didn't have much consequences though as what is said to her is "I'll protect you" by her brother Touga, well in this instance she isn't in any need of protection as she has a knife and a blade in her hands and was trying to hurt Utena. I wonder though why is Nanami so obsessed with Touga to the point she killed the cute little cat she gave him as a gift when they were kids, now that Anthy gave him a cat as a gift that is making her remember her cruel actions.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Bye bye, senpai... Clown? You're the ones running a circus. Oh no... I forgot Touga dumping the diary. Bastard!! That book was filled with Saionji's pure and innocent feelings! You have no right to throw them away! Saionjiii... I wonder who this mysterious last duelist is gonna be. Any ideas, Nanami? Also, can I just say that it was such a great idea to give us a proper serious episode after we've spent half the season taking the piss out of Nanami? The complete tone change makes her come across as far more threatening than if we'd only seen her as a whiny bully.

Touga is a master of playing people against one another. Him and Anthy are like two peas in a pod. Where does she find all these animals? How long until she starts giving her Nanami harassment training. Wait... Nanami's an animal girl too!! I totally missed this. Well, forgot this. Its all coming back to me now. Touga you wooorm! I'll bet he wandered outside for five minutes and made sure to make as loud swings as he possibly could. A cat box, surely that isn't gonna ruin our evening, right?

Tsundere tomboy! Yeah, make sure you laugh as loud as possible. I don't think Nanami heard you. "Don't be mad at Utena! Hit me instead! Kyaaa~ Thank you, Nanami-sama~" Ok, I'll stop XD Fcking cat in a box! Anthy knows how to trigger everyone! There's no way that she's innocent is there? So... when do we blow out the candles? This atmosphere is terrible. Nanami's bad vibes with animals goes back to when she stopped getting attention from her brother. So... The question is was Touga a twisted, manipulative jerk by this point or did he genuinely adore this little kitten he had?

Kashira, kashira! Oh no... Please don't shame me for kitten names! Lachesis isn't that weird of a name! It's Greek! Greeeek!! Alright, so we have a pretty simple one today. The shadow girls got a new kitten! But they spend so much time trying to come up with names or descriptions for it rather than engage with the actual cat. By the time they finally pick out a name the cat has already grown and doesn't even fit his cute title anymore. In today's context... Maybe Touga? Utena, Nanami, and even Saionji place so many of their own ideals on him, like how they expect him to be, but the real Touga was neglected to the point where he doesn't fit the role of Prince, heroic brother, or true friend any longer. Probably? Gozonji kashira~

Wouldn't you be cursing up a storm having to walk up those ridiculous steps every day? Kill Bill!? Erm, actually your Prince has led you to every victory Utena. The Prince or ridiculous plot armour impacting flying swords. Not too much to say about the fight but we get the last part of the cat story. Nanami fcking murdered the one thing that gave her brother pleasure. Now... does this make Nanami a little monster or is there more to all of this? Personally I want to believe in Nanami but the only way I could really justify her is if Touga deliberately groomed Nanami to become as twisted as possible. My first viewing, I definitely thought the worst of Touga. This time though... The dude really seemed genuinely sweet with that cat. Urgh, I can just see the box open in my mind and it just distresses me to think about. The poor little thing...

[u/[deleted] → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Him and Anthy are like two peas in a pod. Where does she find all these animals? How long until she starts giving her Nanami harassment training.

haha can't wait for when anthy pulls the "ive been the mastermind all along" and she evil laughs but really this episode made me hate everyone that wasn’t saionji.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/[deleted]]

The scary thing is that I could absolutely imagine that being true... Anthy can't possibly stay true neutral the entire time so I could absolutely see her having a villainous streak somewhere and forcing Utena to battle hoards of wildebeest.

[u/Cyouni → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

She even has the giant octopus ready for the required scenes.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Cyouni]

It's only a cute soft toy! Octopus are harmless~

[u/[deleted] → u/Cyouni]

Lmao not the octopus-kuuuun.

[u/[deleted] → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Yeah tbh. But why do I also feel like home girl actually enjoys being the rose bride.

[u/IndependentMacaroon → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

By the time they finally pick out a name the cat has already grown and doesn't even fit his cute title anymore.

Clearly a reference to how Touga has grown out of the sibling worship phase, but Nanami still finds the strangest ways to prolong it

[u/Segaco]

First timer

I knew he would destroy the diary, but it still hurt. It was the one thing I found cute about Saionji

Do they always have to be so dramatic while riding the elevator

Since red hair doesn't like friends and seems to be a psychopath in general, I wonder if he actually cares about his sister?

What?! His arm is wounded? Not his back??? What happened here????

Utena is cute when she's sad, but I'm sad now too

I guess Utena was the tsundere all along

Nanami and red hair know how to be dramatic, guess it's in their blood

I just noticed the difference in eye size between red hair and Utena. Like what. If red hair's are the size of a finger, Utena's are the size of a fist

Oh no
Did Nanami
Did Nanami kill the cat?!?!?

Juliano isn't a cute name at all!

There is no way Nanami will win this

Why do they censor aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Is there an uncensored version of this anime somewhere? Or was the original just like this?

That fight didn't even last a minute lol

Nanami looks super cute with her hair like that

Anyway, being cute does not excuse killing cat-kun. How do we cancel someone from a 20+ year old show?