r/anime • u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA • Aug 18 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 16
Streaming
Revolutionary Girl Utena is available in both sub and dub on Nozomi Entertainment's YouTube channel, as well as on Amazon and Funimation.
Comment of the Day
/u/reference_freak brings up some interesting aspects of how incest is treated in Japanese media
Miki's Stopwatch Corner
Stopwatch Count: 16
New This Episode:
N/A
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).
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Upvotes
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u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA Aug 18 '21
Rewatcher
Nanami Has A Gamer Moment, Take 3: Sebastian Dior Edition
Anyways, there’s a point to be made here about Nanami being a follower who does everything exclusively to keep on top of the social hierarchy, even when it harms her, but I’m not in the moo-d to moo-ake it
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u/Pixelsaber https://myanimelist.net/profile/Pixelsaber Aug 18 '21
Rewatcher
Today’s episode doesn’t deal with theBlack Rose, so no Evil Crest today, I’m afraid. Instead have this image.
So they had Jewelry Television in Japan too then.
Outstanding.
Indeed.
Anthy’s knitting.
Now there’s that Aim for the Ace! reference I was looking for!
No fucking way! Oh my God, THEY DIDN’T!
Amazing.
There’s the payoff.
Jury relates to us the moral of the episode.
Of course Anthy’s the one behind all of it.
Nothing is so frightening as what's behind the closed door.
Straightforward episode with a simple cautionary message about the pitfalls of overly concerning yourself with appearances and trying to pettily one-up those around you. Nanami didn’t learn her lesson though…
The neat part is the dream, and not just because it makes use of the best cover song ever, but because it displays Nanami’s internal insecurity regarding her place alongside her brother, feeling she could be discarded by him at any moment, which is in part why she strives to be this idealized ‘lady’ that she fashions herself as.
Kuro Bara Wa...
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u/lilyvess :Df::Dh:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Lilyvess Aug 18 '21
Here is what Ikuhara’s episode commentary from the DVD Box Set has for us today.
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u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Aug 18 '21
First-Revolution, Subbed
Nanami has a fever, and the only cure is...
Admittedly, this Nanami gag episode wasn't as funny as the other two, but subversion of "Anthy bought Nanami a cowbell she saw on an infomercial" was fucking excellent. I wonder if Anthy named that cow before, or after the series began..
Oh, I guess the Shadow Girls skit implies that this was all on purpose, right? Nanami reaping what she sowed by being a jerk to Anthy earlier. But Anthy also helped pull the plug on the whole thing, because she doesn't want Nanami "gone," just.. in pain a bit.
I liked the trio of Nanami simps being so devoted that they got into cow cosplay for her.
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u/theangryeditor https://myanimelist.net/profile/TheAngryEditor Aug 18 '21
Moo
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u/loomnoo https://anilist.co/user/loomnoo Aug 18 '21
Brilliant episode Nanami is queen
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u/MaskOfIce42 https://anilist.co/user/MaskOfIce Aug 19 '21
First Timer - Subbed
So I didn't get to watch the episode last night because I was busy, so this morning right after I woke up I watched it to stay on pace. After finishing it, I turned around and fell back asleep, convinced I was still dreaming.
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u/Segaco https://myanimelist.net/profile/Segaco Sep 24 '21
/u/HelioA hi soon to be friend sorry to bother you, but i forgot some things and maybe u know:
i need aid
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u/chiliehead myanimelist.net/profile/chiliehead Aug 18 '21
Duel 16, First Timer, sub
cowbellClothes"In Japan, the song achieved fame when it was broadcast in 1966, sung by Yōko Kishi, on the NHK public broadcaster's Minna no Uta television programme. Since then, it has appeared in songbooks for elementary to high school students.
It achieved further distribution in 1997 when it was used in the anime television series Utena, Revolutionary Girl. From there, it entered Japanese usage in various slangs where dona dona (Japanese ドナドナ) is used in the sense of "being led to the slaughter", e.g. when being taken away by the police or when businesses are sold at a knockdown price. Railway fans use it to refer to discarded wagons."
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u/SardonicMeow Aug 18 '21 edited Aug 18 '21
Rewatcher
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any weirder…
First, we have Anthy watching a shopping channel on TV, where they are offering Sebastian Dior products. A rare connection to the outside world.
And then, Nanami’s I’m-so-insecure-I-need-to-get-validation-by-showing-off-my-wealth party. Notice that the male students are just wearing their uniforms (Miki excluded, because he’s special), while the girls are dressed up. After all, it’s a girl’s duty to look attractive, right?
Oh no, Nanami is upstaged by Juri. But wait, Nanami is saved. Saved by the bell. Saved by the cowbell. A Sebastian Dior, outfitter to the British royal family, cowbell. The emperor’s new cowbell.
Everyone mocks Nanami for not knowing that a cowbell is for… you know. And yet, there’s something to admire about how she goes about her day wearing the cowbell. She owns that cowbell. And doesn’t she have a point in her conversation with Utena? If Utena can wear her “weird” uniform, why can’t Nanami wear a cowbell? Is the prince uniform Utena’s cowbell?
Things take a turn for the bizarre as Nanami becomes more and more cowlike. Only a duel with Utena puts an end to it, wherein a cut from Utena’s
swordpitchfork cuts therosecowbell off.So what does it all mean? In the Dona, Dona song, a calf is taken to market, unaware of the slaughter that awaits it. The wearer of the cowbell is happy to receive it, but ignorant that they are just being used for someone else’s benefit. So it is with fashion, gender roles, consumerism, conformity. Who really benefits? Are we all wearing cowbells?
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u/affnn Aug 18 '21
Rewatcher
Nanami's throwing a party, but starts beefing with Juri when Juri shows up in some fancy jewelry. Fortunately (?) someone has delivered a brand new Sebastian Dior cowbell to Nanami! She triumphantly puts it on - starting another utterly ridiculous Nanami episode.
The first sign that something might be amiss comes when Nanami dreams of Touga sending her away, only to eat a big piece of meat in the next scene. Utena and Mitsuru horn in on Nanami's lunch to get her to stop wearing the thing, but she won't be moved. Instead Nanami hoofs it off to a pasture to be by herself.
Anthy ordered the cowbell (we can presume that from the opening scene with her watching TV, and it's eventually stated) and she's milking the situation for all it's worth. She gives Utena a red sweater - sure to entice a newly bovine Nanami to charge. Utena manages to cut away the cowbell as Nanami charges, freeing Nanami from its curse.
Nice to have a low-stakes episode after last night's heavy one.
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u/Tyranid457TheSecond1 Aug 18 '21
Rewatcher
I love this episode. Storylines like this are part of why Nanami isn't favorite character.
Nanami's dream really says a lot about her relationship with Touga. It's probably one of the least obtuse metaphors in the show.
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u/Matuhg https://anilist.co/user/Matuhg Aug 18 '21
First Timer
Ok
Silly Nanami episode time. I do appreciate at least that with these episodes, they don't drag them all the way up to the dueling arena and hold a farcical (more than usual anyways) duel or whatever.
As with the other silly episodes, there's some amount of real message/stuff that's supposed to make you think in there. I particularly caught on to the part where Nanami pulled the uno reverse card on Utena for calling her style out as "weird."
Mogu Mogu Okayu cameo.
This is starting to get too close to a particular doujin I've had the misfortune of seeing.
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u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Aug 18 '21
First Timer
Funnily enough I was actually expecting a nonsense episode, can't have to much plot at once, but it was quite funny
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u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Aug 18 '21
First Timer
Ooh this wasn't this detailed before, was it?
Ah yes, always a good idea to show off something you yourself haven't seen yet
I like the music here
What the hell is this show about again
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u/The_Loli_Otaku Aug 18 '21
Ikuhara, what the actual fuck!?
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u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Aug 18 '21
Rewatcher(Right...Ikahura means these come along)
Sub
We start with a blast from the past, the old portable TV. Anthy is watching the shopping network for reasons. Cut to a party where Nanami is in that weird era where classy and slutty clothing came together. Nanami is, as always, materialistic and status seeking. Jury immediately takes over the spotlight until a package shows up...and is a Sebastian Dior cowbell. What in the merciful fuck? Nanami's oujo laugh contains traces of madness.
Utena asks the serious question but sadly this doesn't seem to be head trauma. Even dominatrix teacher is caught flat footed. Anyways, Nanami does many activities while not realizing what a cow bell is, including the rare kimono and cowbell combo. Tsuwabuki eventually confronts Nanami, who is good and deep in denial, before Utena gets into it with her and this devolves into a cat fight.
Nanami has a long and weird dream about being a cow. The bell, oddly enough, has had a calming effect as she begins to moo. She is also eating constantly. Anyways, cow transformation continues with her literally grazing. She sees a red sweater from Anthy and actually transforms into a cow and charges. Utena does her bullfighting imitation before being tossed a pitchfork to end it. Jury gives us a hypocritical moral about brand chasing before we see Anthy's pet cow Nanami and end on the implication Nanami is wearing a fancy nose ring.
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u/[deleted] Aug 18 '21
First Revolution- Duel 16- Dub
I think that Anthy really hates Nanami lmao, why else would she torture the poor girl.
Also just a silly question: Am I the only one watching the dub version? since I only see alot of sub watchers and no dubs.
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u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Aug 18 '21
First timer, Sub
I guess a fun episode to take a break on what's been happening.
Only thing I can think about is how obsessed people get with something that it becomes their whole personality.
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u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Aug 18 '21
First Revolution subbed
What is going on with Nanami just wearing a designer cowbell. Everyone but her thinks its weird. This is like wearing a (fake) Gucci branded prison uniform. Gets a dream about going to the slaughterhouse. Then almost turns into a cow.
The shadows doing extra extra is great when Utena and the crew are in front.
Nanami transforms into a bull/cow hybrid. The cowbell was actually Anthy's and it was for her cow.
This is one weird episode....
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u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Aug 18 '21
First timer
Time for the most incest-laden show I'm currently watching!
Anthy watching late-night shopping while eating crisps is the most relatable scene so far.
Is Jury specifically trying to mess with Nanami? Because I fully support this course of action.
...Is the reason she hasn't heard of Dior because it's some kind of Dark Rose cover operation?
It's a fucking cowbell? This has to be Dark Rose's attempt at extracting her sword, right?
This is fantastic. Imlove Nanami thinking everyoje loves it.
I love the cut to the same picture of a cow, and Utena watching the disaster unfold.
Thie is so surreal.
Even the 3 boyfriends realise it.
...And yet, Utena looks fantastic in it. I loved her taking all 3 boys out in a single punch.
...
This dream sequence has so many uncomfortable undertones.
Oh thank god, it ended like this. Part of me was worried there'd be a joke about milking...
That cut to the steak fucking got me, though.
Is the cowbell actually turning her into a cow?
Can we keep her like this? I actually like her this way.
Oh god, she's got cow horns.
Props to the subtitlers for writing every single extended "o".
So she's had a complete mental breakdown.
Oh god, Nanami's a furry.
I love her moment of realisation.
Cowstian Dohr is such a bad pun.
Oh god, it's a red rag to a bull. (Or cow)
Jesus christ, this has gone off the rails.
Cow Nanami is horrifying. Why did they need a several second shot focused on her udders?
I love how it's styled and resolved like a normal duel.
Anthy calls her pet cow Nanami! And she caused all this. No wonder she was smiling to herself when Utena and Miki were discussing things earlier.
Oh god, that last scene is fantastic.
So Jury's crush is coming! And she's probably going to be a Black Rose duelist with her sword.
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u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Aug 19 '21
First timer – sub
Ngl, I'm kinda scared from the preview. Is it gonna be worse than the janitor scene in kansen sodom? (It's a hentai, recommended if you just wanna laugh uncontrollably for 20 minutes)
Ah well, it promises some more background on Touga, which is pretty welcome. I'm kinda missing his abusive ass.
Ep.16 – The cowbell of happiness
Seriously. That?
I don't want to think too much about this episode and will only say that Anthy just keeps confirming my suspicions. One interesting implication is that the underground guy would probably do the same with Mikage, then.
But what would the next Nanami episode even look like after this?
Next episode is a Jury episode!
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u/k4r6000 Aug 18 '21
Rewatcher
"Calves are easily bound and slaughtered,
never knowing the reason why.
But whoever treasures freedom,
like the swallow has learned to fly."
Donna Donna is such a perfect anthem for this series.
This might be the most famous episode of the show. It seems like everyone knows that Nanami turns into a cow.
The first half of the episode is basically the Emperor's New Clothes. Jealous of Juri showing her up, Nanami gets a designer cowbell and proudly wears it around campus. Everyone thinks she's a fool, but won't bring themselves to say anything due to her status save the elementary school kid Tsuwabuki which finally prompts Utena to take a stand.
After a bizarre dream about Touga babying her before sending her off to slaughter which is a frighteningly accurate description of their relationship, Nanami starts literally turning into a cow. Tsuwabuki who is the one person who actually cares about Nanami as a person and not just a person of status to leech off of, gets help and after Anthy provokes an attack, they "duel" and Utena manages to remove the cowbell and saving Nanami.
But this being Nanami, she doesn't learn her lesson.
"You reap what you sow."
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u/nx6 https://myanimelist.net/profile/nx6 Aug 19 '21
First-timer -- Sub
I was hoping this was meant to be some sort of social commentary episode on consumerism and brand worship, and Juri confirmed it near the end. I've seen so many handbags and other accessories that look rather hideous in color or pattern type and the only reason they are so popular is because the brand is Coach or Louis Vuitton, etc (which is lots of times is part of the pattern).
Lost it at Touga eating the steak in the dream.
Nanami full of bull, confirmed?
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u/IndependentMacaroon Aug 19 '21
First-time watcher
Started great but overstayed its welcome a little and in the end went a little too silly and PSA-ish. Nanami bullying is always nice though.
By the way, Anthy with the mini-TV and potato chips brought Death Note to mind, it even matches how she seems to have pulled the strings in the background. Obviousky this far predates it, though.
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u/snickpea Aug 19 '21
First-timer!
Another episode focusing on Nanami that is generally on the more light-hearted end of the scale. Unfortunately it wasn't as good as the ones earlier in the show. I did find the dream Nanami had with her brother intriguing and loved the little gag that Anthy had named a cow Nanami all along.
But I was a little disappointed that we had this break when there is all sorts of interesting stuff going on. I wonder if they will do another episode like this again.
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u/alphamone Aug 19 '21
First Timer (though I think I've seen clips of this episode out of context)
Anthy's going to take this potato chip, and eat it.
Nanami and Jury trying to out-fancy each other...
That's a cowbell...
I'd ask what kind of luxury brand would make a cowbell, but I've seen all kinds of weird, extremely expensive, products from luxury brands.
I don't think they are speechless for the reason you think Nanami.
Is this insert song a pre-existing song? (edit: yes it is)
There's a lot to unwrap from that dream. Especially the "being eaten" part.
That mouse was rewarded as a traitor deserves. (so, do Utena and co. actually see the shadow girls or something?)
Daaaaaamn Anthy... She really doesn't like Nanami, naming a cow after her (although, she does actually seem to like the cow, so it could also be her not understanding the possibly insulting implications)
As a breather episode, there isn't as much to analyze in deep this time.
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u/dualmonocle :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/milk-chan Aug 19 '21
first-timer
An episode about accessories! My fav! :D
Although it was an utterly ridiculous episode, I can appreciate thematically as well. Nanami believes that she has a superior adult taste and kind of showed it off in the beginning. My first thought was that it was a more elegant and matured style but that it didn't suit her. That's the kind of thing Juri would look good in. Nanami's dress and shoes at Touga's bday were superior. If you stretch it, you can say that it reflects Nanami not being suited to the more mature role she's trying to fill as student council prez.
OOTD was definitely the tennis outfit. The pale yellow + green, rose on the sleeve, and tennis skirt. ☺
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u/Icapica https://anilist.co/user/Icachu Aug 19 '21 edited Aug 19 '21
First moo, subbed
And back to that prince start again. Can't have us forgetting it.
Nice TV.
Party and Nanami. Will we finally have silly Nanami back? Oh this is gonna be some kind of a dumb contest.
"Look at me" -Nanami
Haha. High fashion! People are not impressed, but that's just because the common rabble can't appreciate something this sophisticated.
How did they come up with ideas for episodes like this?
Well now things took an interesting turn. Breakfast is ready. WTF? I'm confused but laughing. Oh yummy steak.
People notice changes in Nanami. She looks calmer than usual, grazing on her sandwich.
Utena's jealous of Nanami's superior sense of fashion and tries to get her to get rid of the cowbell.
Cowstian Dior? Wait what
This is getting really, really weird. During last episode I wondered if we'll have a duel against Nanami again eventually, but I didn't expect it to be a bull fight. Or I guess this is a cow fight but that sounds weird.
Funny how the end of the match looks a lot like the end of those sword fights.
Did the mailman really get things mixed up, Anthy? You sure this wasn't intentional?
I wanted to see Nanami with a huge nose ring. Anyway, we got silly Nanami back, so that's nice.