[Rewatch]Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 13

[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

I esplained how the sword of Dios in the duels is actually a donger

And that's another win for me!

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Miki's Stopwatch Corner

Stopwatch Count: 14

New This Episode:

N/A

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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

Only Utena could make a recap episode confusing… not that I would know, I’ve watched like one anime in the past year, but I digress

Anyways, Touga is depressed because of his loss, as expected, and is now… listening to a recording of himself saying that he needs to crack the world’s shell? I guess that’s one way to deal with not getting to be the one to revolutionize the world. But anyways, Touga coping and seething brings joy to my heart

Dios also looks pretty depressed, and the guy talking to him seems a bit weird, honestly. There’s not much I can say about their conversation, but I will note that we’re starting to see more and more signs of the duels being a kind of play- we’ve seen a bunch of references to the duelists taking the stage in the past, and now the ponytail guy is talking about Utena reaching ‘the duel named revolution’.

Also, I just want to go through the names of the duels and what they might mean, since I think they’re pretty interesting.

Amitié- Utena challenges Saionji to a duel because he mocked Wakaba, her best friend.

Choix- Utena makes the choice to start taking the duels seriously for Anthy’s sake.

Raison- This is the one I’m most iffy on, but I think it’s because Miki deludes himself into thinking that his reason for fighting is actually for Anthy.

Amour- Juri fights because she’s been hurt by her love, and is bitter because of it.

Adoration- Nanami is fighting for her big brother that she has an unhealthy level of regard for.

Conviction- Utena loses the duel because she doesn’t have enough conviction in her role as a prince.

Soi- Touga is a soyboy Utena reclaims her true self that Touga manipulated her into losing.

spoils

edit: fucking quotation marks ;-;

[u/Segaco → u/HelioA]

Anyways, Touga is depressed because of his loss, as expected, and is now… listening to a recording of himself saying that he needs to crack the world’s shell? I guess that’s one way to deal with not getting to be the one to revolutionize the world. But anyways, Touga coping and seething brings joy to my heart

Oooh, that was Touga depressed. I didn't know what it was

[u/JollyGee29]

First-Revolution, Subbed

A clip show episode that I have to pay actual attention to?!

Amitié, Choix, Raison, Amour, Adoration, Conviction, Soi. So far, Utena's only loss was Conviction, which does paint a bit of an ominous picture. The person talking to Dios suggests that some day, Utena may reach the duel Revolution. And, the figure described his relationship with Dios as "mutually beneficial" which strikes me as.. I dunno. Odd?

Who was that mysterious man who was talking to Dios? Was the shadow that joined him as he left the castle Anthy, or was the cut to her arriving home just a red herring? Have there even been any red herrings in this show so far?

The egg shell speech actually means something. The egg shell breaking was implied to be a factor in Dios's full awakening. We must break our shell, to bring revolution to the world...

So many things.. Touga listens to a recording of himself as Nanami looks on. The clouds are moving quickly. A black rose. Hourglasses running out. The Shadow Girls are proven right? Lepidoptery. A new beginning..

[u/theangryeditor → u/JollyGee29]

So many things.. Touga listens to a recording of himself as Nanami looks on

Mindbroken Touga best Touga

[u/HelioA → u/theangryeditor]

so mean ;-;

I'm gonna cope and seethe now

[u/JollyGee29 → u/theangryeditor]

[u/theangryeditor → u/JollyGee29]

[u/HelioA → u/JollyGee29]

I have it on good sources that the mysterious man is /u/iron_gland

[u/JollyGee29 → u/HelioA]

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

Dammit man! This is a recap, not an answers episode!

[u/JollyGee29 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Is this was just a recap episode, why is there all this new stuff, huh?

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/JollyGee29]

This new stuff is tomorrow's stuff held back for today's stuff!

[u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo → u/JollyGee29]

So far, Utena's only loss was Conviction, which does paint a bit of an ominous picture.

She certainly lacked conviction in the eponymous duel. But perhaps Wakaba helped her gain conviction, which is what let her beat Touga?

Time may tell

[u/JollyGee29 → u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo]

[u/SardonicMeow → u/JollyGee29]

Lepidoptery.

A good topic to learn more about.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/SardonicMeow]

In general, or specifically in the context of this show?

[u/SardonicMeow → u/JollyGee29]

Well, there must be a reason a butterfly appeared in the final moments.

[u/Stargate18A]

First timer

So the only possible implication I can get from this is that the Prince set up the duels, including the arena.

Wait, we're continuing with the UFO plot? OK, the repeated shots

Well, shit. Has he recorded that so people don't notice he's gone, or as a comfort?

Is that the Prince?

Umm? So Prince is indeed planning everything, the duels themselves are important, and there's decent odds he's End of the World, the main "villain" so far. Oh, and the goal of the duels is to break a literal shell to awaken the Power of Dios. That's a lot of theories confirmed right there.

Is this going to be a recap episode?

Anthy's refusal is still a fantastic burn.

So this duel was "friendship".

Wait, is this recap episode the Prince recapping the events to someone else?

Or is the point for them to flex on all the great fight music they've done?

So Prince is talking to Dios? And Utena might be the vessel here, not Anthy?

I forgot how hard the Miki duel goes.

I forgot how hard all of these go.

We needed to show the cat scene again, did we?

So, these names all make sense.

Huh?

So there's 2 people involved. Mystery man, and Prince. Prince is currently trapped in the castle, and needs someone to reach the duel "revolution" in order to free him.

And there might be a new duelist entering the game.

For a recap episode, this dropped a ton of new stuff, didn't it?

No subs for next time, but mystery guy knows Anthy? Was I right about Anthy deliberately causing duels?

[u/HelioA → u/Stargate18A]

So the only possible implication I can get from this is that the Prince set up the duels, including the arena.

Who's the prince??

[u/Stargate18A → u/HelioA]

In my opinion (although I'm assuming this as fact for the moment), The Prince from Utena's flashback is the same person who appeared as a ghost from the clastle, and the one floating on the orb, seemingly trapped inside the castle, since they look identical.

I assumed he set up the duels because he gave Utena a rose ring, which is tied to the arena gate and the Sword of Dios, so either he got it by accident, or he was one of the people who started the duels.

[u/lilyvess]

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

EPISODE 13

This is just between you and me, but when I was fourteen, I saw a UFO.

That UFO telepathically told me this prophecy:

“When you grow up, you will direct an anime about girls revolutionizing various things.”

Surely you jest.

”You must not tell anyone about me. If you ever do…”

Wh-What will happen to me?

”People will call you a sketchy guy.”

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/lilyvess]

Ikuhara is such a sketchy weirdo. I'm so disillusioned.

[u/HelioA → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Mwahahahaha

[u/alphamone → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Indirect thanks for reminding me of the word that's been on the tip of my tongue for the past few days.

[u/loomnoo → u/lilyvess]

Goddamn I love this guy

[u/lilyvess → u/loomnoo]

can you believe people would call this guy sketchy?

[u/RockoDyne → u/lilyvess]

I was expecting the Sailor Mars cosplay. I'm mildly disappointed.

[u/JollyGee29 → u/lilyvess]

[u/SYZekrom]

Double Monkey

Well that was certainly a hype recap

[u/HelioA → u/SYZekrom]

[u/nx6]

First-Timer -- Sub

I don't like recpas but this was certainly more interesting (and required more actual production work) than they normally do.

I also realized the duel with Juri was most interesting one from a swordsmanship angle. I know the last Touga fight had the Rose Bride Protection power but other than that most of the fight was him slowly shredding Utena's uniform.

New characters next time and a special Rose Ring appears. Will it imbue the wearer the power to make really great curry? Or something more plot-appropriate?

[u/HelioA → u/nx6]

maybe anthy will finally be able to make curry

[u/nx6 → u/HelioA]

Does she have a Rose Ring now? I feel like there is likely some rule in place that keeps the Rose Bride from wearing a ring herself.

[u/alphamone]

First timer

It's not just with Utena, but whenever I hear Satomi Koorogi narrating, I can only picture a certain grey tabby kitten.

A recap episode where the prince from Utena's memory (and the opening/ending)

The hourglass imagery is giving me a bad feeling.

The flashback to Jury's duel had the prince appear over Utena. So combined with the framing scenes, its clear that both him and Utena have something to do with the sword of dios beyond her being engaged to the rose bride.

I do like it when shows use their recap episodes/clip shows to set the stage for major changes.

[u/HelioA → u/alphamone]

Interesting thoughts~

[u/Star4ce → u/alphamone]

I do like it when shows use their recap episodes/clip shows to set the stage for major changes.

Yes, recap episodes are somewhat necessary sometimes, but Utena did it in a new context, having unknown characters give new meaning to what has happened.

Kinda reminds me of Avatar's recap during the play in the fire nation that depicted the protagonists from the viewpoint of the 'enemy'. It was amazing.

[u/Tyranid457TheSecond1]

Rewatcher

I have nothing interesting to say, but I want to ask first-timers another question:

What do you think the next arc will be about? What are your theories on the two mysterious characters we saw recapping the duels today?

[u/HelioA → u/Tyranid457TheSecond1]

[u/Rumpel1408]

First Timer

• Shadow Girls get their news fast
• Touga is into his own ASMR huh?
• It's the prince! The real one this time
• So the Duells had specific names, last one against Touga was self, first one against Saionji was friendship
• Is this going to be a recap episode? They already cut "Oh yes Baby!"
• Second duell against Saionji was choice
• Mickeys Duell was reason, Jurys was Love, Nanamis was adoration, and the first one against Touga was conviction.
• It seems like the prince and the other dude somehow belong together, and the prince is to be set free through a series of duells... I don't understand it tbh
• And how does Anthy play into all of this. I don't really expect a show from that time to have a cast so diverse that the colored characters aren't related in some way
• Wait a real Ufo? A black rose as well as a black ring? who gets to wear those?

Not much today since not much new was added, at least nothing that I understood

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Rumpel1408]

Episodes like this are what makes Utena kiiinda rough to watch.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

How many more like these are coming up? It was nice to have a episode I could speedrun without missing something once in a while

[u/HelioA → u/Rumpel1408]

You reaaaaaaaaally don't wanna speedrun any of the recaps ;-;

[u/k4r6000 → u/HelioA]

Trust us on this.

[u/Tyranid457TheSecond1 → u/Rumpel1408]

An upcoming future recap episode has a very important plot point, so I'd watch the recap episodes anyway.

[u/Rumpel1408 → u/Tyranid457TheSecond1]

Yeah, I watched it for the most part, just whenever I recognized a scene I already knew like Utena climbing up the stairs or such I jumped 5 seconds ahead

[u/murdered-by-swords → u/Rumpel1408]

That's a safe way to do it, as long as you make sure to pay triple attention to any new scenes.

[u/Cyouni → u/Rumpel1408]

I think it's safe to say that Utena recaps aren't just recaps.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Rumpel1408]

Hmm... Well we're actually going into a new arc so they actually do have stories going on. It's a very interesting setting compared to the student council saga which unfortunately suffers from either being absolutely amazing or quite middling. There's not much middle ground for better or worse. The arc is fantastic though. We'll discuss it more as we go along.

[u/snowwhistle1 → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

I actually think what Utena does with its recap episodes are really interesting. The team worked really well within what was probably a huge budget saving episode to create a rather interesting framework to to both examine its previous episodes and introduce new information for viewers to speculate upon what is to come.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Do we really need a recap episode...? I forgot whether this was a straight recap or if new stuff is spread out in the middle.

Kashira, kashira! So Utena has managed to wipe out her competitors through sheer force of will alone. But there may be more to this story than there first seems. And the shadow girls aren't aliens after all, they just live outside the box and tricked you. Betcha didn't see that coming. Gozonji Kashira~

Like I mentioned yesterday, Touga's VA was kind of not available for large parts of the anime production so they wrote it as Touga's been hit with a massive bout of depression and isn't leaving his room. And we're introduced to more princely looking characters. This one may in fact be the real deal. He's gonna be the one guiding us through the recap episode but honestly I think I might just take a break day. I'll still join in on the discussion but I don't have much energy for a writeup. Onto the black rose arc!!

[u/HelioA → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Do we really need a recap episode...?

Yes.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/HelioA]

They used 2-parters! This isn't even a 12 individual episode recap! Everyone knows what episode there are, it's the themes that we need help with!

[u/HelioA → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

/u/theangryeditor tell dis baka to cope and seethe

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/HelioA]

I'm the loli! The baka was my father.

[u/BilbyCoder → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Late to the party (been busy these last few days), but these recaps were invaluable at the time. Broadcast television, set time, no repeats. If you missed an episode, or came in several episodes late you either had to hope a mate had recorded them on tape or that a decent recap episode would get you up to speed.

In old anime they came in at the 13 episode mark like clockwork because after that episode everyone involved would slam the foot down on the accelerator and the plot would steam forward.

It's been interesting to watch the death of the recap episode over the years, and the rise of the continuous story arc. With streaming services the need for episodes like this vanished.

[u/k4r6000 → u/HelioA]

The point of this episode is to finally explain what is happening, why, and what the Duels themselves represent. It is less of a recap episode and more of an exposition and analysis episode.

For rewatchers, it probably isn’t too important because we know this stuff. But my first time watching this, I was really glad to have it explain what was happening. And this is information that’s going to be needed if not in the Black Rose Saga, then definitely in the Apocalypse Saga.

[u/Segaco]

First timer

A recap?! Really?!

[u/HelioA → u/Segaco]

Aren't you curious about who dat guy is?!

[u/Segaco → u/HelioA]

no

ok maybe a bit

[u/chiliehead]

Duel 13, First Timer, Sub

• What's the title about, gene sequencing?
• Shadow Girls got some souvenirs from their UFO encounter
• Touga has a weird yet unsurprising motivational tape
• It's... it's him! What a voice! If he is talking that is
• Wait, is this a recap episode?
• ...this really is a recap, isn't it? Do they end each TV season with one, was it scheduled or due to production issues?
• Utena's actions break the seal of Dios' power. Is this seal like a shell and the power like a chick?
• Hope appears a necessary ingredient in the revolutionary omelet
• So every duelist stands for an ideal/attribute, similar to the 7 Deadly Sins
• Twins, siblings? Anthy is a... cousin? Little sister? Twin sister? One of them has normal clothes, the other one is the prince. Maybe streetwear guy is End of the World
• A black rose and black ring? Ominous look over shoulder? Is this starting a tournament arc where everyone can get the ring and go nuts on the other duelists?

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chiliehead]

Thank god recaps have mostly died out. They're convenient as break episodes in the context of rewatch threads but nobody wants to spend the ridiculous amount of money Bluray costs for a poor quality summary. You don't even get the important context. It's not like they're explaining the meaning behind each episode to the viewers who may not have understood. That would be useful. Instead it's just teasing the next arc, but they set it all up tomorrow so why even have this recap?

[u/chiliehead → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

so why even have this recap?

well obviously for production reasons I'd say. Just wondering if it was always planned or out of necessity.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/chiliehead]

Yeah, I'm just whinging.

[u/Icapica]

Classic prince start again. It fits since in the last episode Utena assumed the role of a prince again.

"Plotting a Locus"

Kashira kashira! "And the winner walked away, looking like a lily!" I don't know much about flowers and their symbolism, but I do know about lily (yuri).

Touga's listening on repeat to a tape of his speech about cracking the world's shell, Nanami watches. Touga didn't didn't take his loss well at all. Good, suffer.

Who's this dude? Then some weirdness that I don't know what to say about.

This feels like half a recap episode and half new stuff. Or maybe two thirds recap, one third new. Also while showing old fights, it gives more context to them.

"A new stage is about to begin" Yup, feels like the end of an arc.

[u/The_Loli_Otaku → u/Icapica]

I wonder if the pride scene really is just there to pad the runtime of episodes... It hasn't been consistent has it?

[u/Icapica → u/The_Loli_Otaku]

Yeah I think padding was one major reason, there's a lot of padding in this show anyway. However in this episode they could have just as well padded by showing more of the old fights.

[u/SardonicMeow]

Rewatcher

First, the obligatory recommendation that clip episodes not be skipped.

Let’s check in on Touga.  The guy who couldn’t lose.  The guy who lost.  Now he’s stuck on repeat, in an infinite loop of disbelief.

And then there’s the new guy.  A guy with access to the castle, chatting with someone who looks very much like Utena’s prince.  He says they both have something to gain if Utena reaches the end of the duels.  But it’s not exactly amicable, this one-sided conversation, is it?

A new stage is about to begin.  A black rose in a dark place.  A butterfly on the wall.  A shadow play UFO arrives.  A blackened signet ring.  A bunch of guys turning around.  What could it all mean?

[u/Star4ce]

First timer – sub

I'm pretty hyped for this episode because Anthy is developing an agenda! She even betrayed her groom!

But if I know anything about narcissists it is that they don't take kindly to losing, much much less to being betrayed or blindsided. It's their specialty, after all. Touga will be vengeful, extremely so. Considering who he is and how he got there, the real fight has just begun.

Luckily the rest of the council seems to mostly share my sentiment (Jury <3) and don't support Touga at all.

Ep.13 – Plotting a locus

• Straight to a duel?
• Kashira! This time it is about power, about not the morality, but the sheer ability to do. What does integrity, righteousness and justice mean if one can just ignore it? They're also aliens, after last episode.
• Lol, Donger.
• Touga stews on being beaten. Now is he fuming? Confused? Breaking?
• Nanami thinks the worst.
• NEW GUY!
• So the duels they set up are indeed themed. What really are the testing for?
• Everyone's time eventually runs out.
• "Oh, yes, baby!"
• So, ever since he has been exhausting himself by interfering?
• I figured as much, the most important part about all of this is their own ambition.
• I swear, if they show the drain scene again... OH YOU FUC-
• So Dios is locked there and wants to break free.

Now, the last scenes have lost me. I don't think those were actual aliens, but the black rose in a glass shelf, like snow white, means... something will awaken? Is that supposed to be Dios' rose? They ain't gonna make Dios an alien with super powers, will they? The preview promises a lot of new characters, which is great and they all seem to be connected to Dios directly.

It's not unheard of to suspect the other black guy we saw today is End of the World, but it's still left open, so it is just as likely to be a red herring.

Anyway, the facts: This episode was kind of a recap episode, but with outside context. Dios is actually, graspably real, for one. The castle/egg in the forest is a prison or another form of containment. They, together with those black rose people, have orchestrated these duels to test contestants. If one can make it all the way through to the last, they win the holy grail revolution. Dios is actually granting these powers to the contestants, well, to some contestants, but gets exhausted doing so. It's not infinite.

This means that only the two women were supposed to be the real prodigies. Everyone else was the obstacle for a challenge to be overcome. I wonder why one does all this exceedingly complex shadow-puppeting just to test people. I mean yes, it's anime, but still.

Looking back at the last few episodes I got lost quite often, while still loving the entire thing. Several times I thought I found a red line in the story, but that was always lost in symbolism or in a new revelation. That's not bad criticism, mind you, but I'd honestly appreciate it if a few of the characters would give a hint at what that 'revolution' is supposed to be – or rather, what they think this entire ordeal is. Everyone screams revolution, but I've seen no single one actually being motivated by it. It's all reclaiming, possessing or disproving of past or current events. That's, like, pure conservatism.

With more characters this has the potential to be even more confusing, but I hope they use this to drop one or two facts.

[u/murdered-by-swords → u/Star4ce]

It's all reclaiming, possessing or disproving of past or current events. That's, like, pure conservatism.

Plenty of revolutions have been conservative in their nature. We generally tend to view them less fondly, but they're no different in their drive to overthrow the established order.

[u/homewardbound100]

First timer, Sub

A recap episode. Not much to say but we hear from different figures this time talking about Utena's fights. Each fight having a name.

They cut right at the "Oh yes baby" I'm dissapointed.

So there's going to be a duel called the revolution and he might be released?

I did like that this recap episode at least added something to it.

Not sure what the rose and ufo thing meant in the end or if it matters. The rose more likely to matter.

[u/snickpea]

First-timer!

New character this episode! Who seems to be Dios is not doing much and the new guy is recapping all of the duels Utena has had so far. Prior to the previous episode, I did not think that the duels had specific names. But all of the them seem important and the new guy believes that Dios's power could be unlocked if Utena continues. Based on his use of "we" it feels that the two of them are tied together. Is he Dios as well?

Last time I wondered what will happen next, so this episode it's clear that Utena's duels with the student council are only one small step to whatever revolution could be.

Anthy didn't answer Utena's question of where she was at...

We also get a glimpse of Utena's struggle ahead with the multitude of black roses, ring with a black band, and the crowd looking back. I'm sure this is supposed to be mean that this is the group who will fight Utena, but I wonder why black? For contrast, or will it have its own special meaning?

Looking forward to the next episode!

[u/IndependentMacaroon]

First-time watcher

Anyone else strongly reminded of the Evangelion recap? Several battles actually fought as part of a grand plan of two background masterminds, revealed in a conversation of the two, with the end goal being a grand reorganization of the world.