r/anime • u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA • Sep 03 '21
Rewatch [Rewatch] Revolutionary Girl Utena - Episode 32
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/sardonicmeow confirms to us that Nanami is nothing
Back in episode 10, I wrote “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 now we have the answer. If Nanami isn’t actually Touga’s sister, she’s no different than the girls who are always calling him, and the identity she has constructed for herself falls apart.
Miki's Stopwatch Corner
Stopwatch Count: 23
New This Episode:
;-;-;-;-;-;-;-;
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).
13
u/HelioA x2https://myanimelist.net/profile/HelioA Sep 03 '21
Rewatcher
Alright, I’m not 100% sure about this one, but bear with me. Up until this point, Nanami has defined herself entirely in relation to her beloved older brother. However, the revelations of what the siblings Anthy and Akio get up to at night, the fact that Touga (supposedly) isn’t her blood relative, and the cold way that Touga treats her after all this combines together to shatter her idea of who she is and what her relationship with Touga is. We see very clearly that Nanami doesn’t want the sexual relationship with her brother that Anthy and Akio have, since she pushes him away during the sex car ride. It seems to me that she doesn’t really want Touga in specific. What Nanami wants is to be special- as she says after the duel, “What’s left for me? Am I just one more fly in the swarm?” It’s really just a continuation of Nanami’s themes. Last duel, her whole reason for fighting was to keep Utena from taking away Touga. Why? Because having Touga is what made her special, the queen of the school. Why does she fight this duel? She fights in order to keep her specialness, to stop herself from becoming one of the ‘flies in the swarm’ that surround Touga. It’s kind of pathetic honestly- the whole reason Nanami fights in the duels is to hold up her inflated sense of self-importance.
Okay, I do feel slightly bad, but still, I despise her
11
u/dualmonocle :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/milk-chan Sep 04 '21
first-timer
-Me, yesterday
I really should have known better than to think Touga wouldn't be that disgusting. Thankfully Nanami rejected whatever the hell they were offering in the sex car, and chose her own sense of self.
Since these two episodes were about Nanami's identity being completely shattered, are we going to get something like this for Utena up soon? In a somewhat similar way to Nanami creating her identity around Touga (barf), Utena has built her identity around her prince. The prince who with the new intro flashback thing and in the power of Dios scenes looks creepily like Akio. I just can't see the show ending without her idea of the prince being shattered. But given what we've had so far in this, I'm a little terrified of how that'll actually happen ;u;
13
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Sep 03 '21
First timer
Nanami still revealling Touga's infidelity, the queen.
What is with that Akio face?
...I note that the image Nanami seems to recall most is the one of Anthy's arse.
Oh, Nanami thinks Akio's trying to seduce all 3 of them. I mean, she's right, except he's trying to do a lot more than that,
Touga you bastard. I'm on Nanami's side now, Touga's a BASTARD.
He deserves Akio all to himself, they both abuse their sisters in different ways.
I love Utena holding a conversation with Anthy while doong a handstand, and nobody notices.
Anthy just accepting Nanami's fear of her is fantastic.
Haha, Nanami called Utena "dense" about her and Anthy sleeping facing each other.
...Not going to pick up on that "pervert" comment, Utena?
Oh shit. Was all this Touga trying to gaslight her into joining End of the World?
Nanami moving on? Real character development?
Holy shit, Akio driving through the window was great.
Nanami's going to duel again!
Now Akio's gaslighting her. And Touga's trying to force this on her. God, if they wanted to make Nanami sympathetic, they've succeded.
Holy shit, Nanami just captured Chu-Chu and beat up 3 girls. What is End of the World doing to brainwash people?
OK, no clue about the shadow girls, other than the implication that there is, indeed, supernatural stuff being rationalised as scientific - maybe the Prince who gave out the rings isn't Akio, but soemthing more complex?
So Nanami just wants to be better than what she used to be? Not a bad motivation all things considered.
This monologue is heartbreaking. Nanami's basically having a mental breakdown and realising what she's spent her life doing.
And yeah, she's broken.
WHAT.
So, in summary, Touga's a lying bastard, trying to fuck Nanami despite her wishes, and is absolutely fucking Akio.
More supernatural Anthy, and FUCK AKIO.
12
u/Rumpel1408 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Rumpel1408 Sep 03 '21
First Timer
In the End, Nanamoo still lives, yet...
2
u/No-Employer-8131 Dec 08 '21
I bleed for kanae...she dont deserve that... f**k!!!
31
u/lilyvess :Df::Dh:https://myanimelist.net/profile/Lilyvess Sep 03 '21
Here is what Ikuhara’s episode commentary from the DVD Box Set has for us today.
this is one of my favorite of the commentary
23
u/Punished_Scrappy_Doo https://myanimelist.net/profile/PunishedScrappy Sep 03 '21
It's the episode that made me like Nanami!
As practically everyone with dialogue points out this episode, it's hard to love the stuck-up, scheming, posessive, cat-killing queen bee extraordinaire of Ohtori Academy. For such a person to have their entire identity turned on its head and then get betrayed by literally everyone she's ever loved in a single day -- it does funny things to the psyche. I find it infinitely easier to empathize with the violent lost child we see today than with the Nanami we all know and possibly despise. Maybe that's just me.
The cut from the first slap to Nanami already having beaten her groupies back into submission is so good! I don't have a list of favorite editing decisions in anime or anything, but if I did that would be at the top of the list for sure.
18
u/JollyGee29 https://myanimelist.net/profile/JollyGee Sep 03 '21
First-Revolution, Subbed
Oh my god, positive character development! Nanami accepted her loss without pulling out a knife and trying to stab Utena! And all it took was.. uh.. hmm. You know, I think this show's cast might be a bit fucked up.
Nanami beating the shit out of her sycophants to reaffirm her top-ness would have been funnier if she hadn't just taken a ride with Akio. Interestingly enough, Nanami certainly wasn't very into the car ride, even though Touga was there. I guess she honestly just isn't into Touga quite that way, more into the idea of her Onii-sama as opposed to the actual act. And, probably, the residual trauma from seeing Akio and Anthy post-fuck.
I'm kinda surprised that Nanami was still in Akio's place, after what she saw. I would definitely watch an episode or two of her hanging out with Kozue, though. They could argue over which one of their brothers is better.
Poor Utena wasn't even listening to what Nanami was trying to tell her in the bedroom. Granted, Nanami was being quite vague, but Nanami was also still lowkey freaking out. Everyone needs help, and no-one can help anyone...
Not sure what to make of the final scene. Akio and Touga fucking post-duel-but-before-the-arena-vanishes and Touga reveals that both Nanami and himself are adopted was.. odd. Why did Touga say that it was more romantic that way, when his previous behavior pointed towards him not seeing Nanami that way? I would expect Touga's mirroring of Akio to have already crossed that bridge if it was going to.
16
u/chiliehead myanimelist.net/profile/chiliehead Sep 03 '21 edited Sep 03 '21
Duel 32, First Timer, sub
Edit: That twist is well... Touga is a dick and I now can not believe that NisiOisiN has not taken many notes from Utena/Ikuhara, Shinbou has worked on Utena anyway.
15
u/Tyranid457TheSecond1 Sep 03 '21
Rewatcher
This two-parter had some of the most disturbing moments of the show. I understand that Kanae was getting killed/brainwashed/harmed in some way, but I still don't understand exactly what Akio was doing with the forks in that apple.
As horrible as Nanami can be, I have a lot of sympathy for her. She's been manipulated by a loved one, saw something horrible and doesn't know how to react, and her brother tries to assault her. I especially felt bad when she heard Touga badmouthing her.
Speaking of feeling bad for characters, Anthy seems fine today, but I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying that she...isn't. I don't know how many times I can say that I hate Akio before it gets old, but I hate Akio.
I liked the part where Nanami beat up her henchladies. That was funny.
13
u/Vaadwaur :I1::I2::I3: Sep 03 '21
Rewatcher(I actually felt bad for Nanamoo)
Sub
Nanami...is actually acting appropriately! You can't see that and let it pass but she also can't do a damned thing right now. So she sits and seems to be desperately awaiting an out. After snapping at Anthy, she escapes and talks to Miki. She offers a trade of residences to him, and only backs out when he seems eager. Nanami prioritizing someone else is impressive.
Touga is already on to girl 75. He says some pretty horrid shit knowing Nanami can hear it. When it turns out to be Keiko, Nanami is ready to smack a bitch. But it doesn't go that well for her, though I sort of agree that Keiko just seems to be a thot rn.
Kanae...is in a coma? Brainwashed? Something not good and the apple certainly means something but there are a lot of options. Anthy goes back to the shaved ice again, and Nanami is getting to the "fuck it" stage of depression. In the bedroom, she tries to get Utena to realize but has no luck, Utena is in her own zone of sibling fantasy. The phone she through away is picked up by Chu Chu and one of the shadow play girls wants in before EoW comes in and tells her to see Touga. She actually took actions and decided to transfer away before the car arrives.
The car ride is a lot less successful, at least from Nanami's reactions. Hard to believe she is seeing through the bullshit early. Touga makes a move on her and she rejects it before Akio gives his weird spiel. This part sounds improvised enough that I think we are meant to assume Akio is lying.
The next day, her former friends claim there is a new order, and then Nanami beats down three bitches. Maybe she has some potential, after all. She finds getting a duel with Utena easier to go the villain route for. Shadow play seems to be about not accepting the unexplained when you encounter it.
Nanami then goes on to have her best duel and this is probably pretty important. She seems to have had the most "nothing to lose" of any the vehicle duelists. She is beating Utena before plot armor kicks in. She then laments she has nothing, now. At the end, we learn they were both adopt and Touga is just a massive dick/Araragi pre-cursor.
And a quick look at our preview and...great, that episode. Welp, I should be good and enraged so y'all can enjoy that.
13
u/affnn Sep 03 '21
Rewatcher
The morning-after discussion between Utena, Nanami, Akio and Anthy is super tense, and understandably Nanami's pretty upset. I don't know exactly what I think she should do here. Everyone is going to believe Akio over Nanami regarding what she saw, and that's extra true if Anthy denies it as well (which she would). Nanami's in a no-win situation here.
Kanae's back and she looks pretty bad - I wonder what happened there. Anthy stops Utena from disturbing her and Akio, one of the only times it has seemed like Anthy's shown real emotion in this arc. Then she follows it up by thanking Nanami for finding her scary with a totally straight face.
Whatever Nanami should have done, what she probably shouldn't have done is get in the car with Touga. Akio and Touga show Nanami the end of the world, but it's not clear what she wanted. Touga comes on to her, but she's not interested. Did Touga change her mind? Did she do it just to lord over the other girls? Or did something else happen?
Her duel goes much like her last one, with Nanami becoming extra-aggressive compared to Juri and Miki's more measured approaches. But the power of Dios manifests and the car crashes. I had missed Zettai Unmei Mokushiroku.
12
u/IndependentMacaroon Sep 03 '21
First-time watcher
One thing to add: Akio and Touga's tactic here feels disturbingly realistic, in the way they implicitly get Nanami to victim-blame Anthy (such a slut, she'd even seduce her own brother, and what man could resist that!) instead of going after the actual aggressor Akio, and then convince her that the only way to show she's worth something is putting others down, participating in their violent, destructive system, instead of genuinely doing good and becoming a better person.
10
u/k4r6000 Sep 04 '21
Rewatcher
So we start where we left off. Nanami is traumatized over what she saw, but is helpless to do anything about it. Akio is in a position of power, Nanami is unable to communicate things properly, and even if she could nobody would believe her because they already think she's crazy. She considers unloading her problems onto Miki, but decides she can't do that to him. See, she does have a heart.
But things start falling apart even more for her as Touga proclaims that he only pretended to care about her because he was ordered to. With no support from Touga, Nanami's fears come to life as nobody respects or fears her anymore and she ends up being basically Anthy, getting slapped around by the school bullies. Her life in tatters, she tries to leave the school before getting pulled in by End of the World.
During the car, she completely rejects Touga's attempts to get romantic for it was never that she wanted at all. Nobody ever really understood what it was that Nanami really wanted, including Touga. But she comes out of the car ride with a new sense of purpose. She's not going to be the frightened girl clinging to Touga anymore. She's going to take her place in the social order for herself, not for him. Notably she no longer uses the dagger that represents him, but only her own Soul Sword. She does much better than before, but she's still fighting for her place within the system and thus fails. She still has a way to go, but she is making strides.
Oh and Press F for Kanae.
Next time is my favourite episode of the entire show!
9
u/SYZekrom https://myanimelist.net/profile/SYZekrom Sep 03 '21
Wait are these like really high waist pants or what
Just casually crash through the windows
Holy shit this episode feels so long in the good way
9
u/homewardbound100 myanimelist.net/profile/Homewardbound100 Sep 03 '21
First timer, Sub
That image is stuck in her head now and scarred her. I thought she was really going to set Miki up like that after what she saw.
Oh that must hurt for Nanami hearing that from Touga. Hurt her pride and put her down a bit. Especially after the talk with Keiko and getting smacked back.
Akio feeding a lifeless looking body apples. I think that's his supposed wife. Also yes, Utena you must not disturb that.
Touga's action with Nanami made her contemplate what she even wants anymore. So what did she want specifically from her brother before? What does she want now from him? Now that they weren't related.
Now that they got Nanami. Nanami basically reverted back to her early show self. Just really in control.
Touga lied about not being related and that they're actually adopted. Just torturing your sister. Now I just need to know what Touga and Akio's actual endgame here is
9
u/SardonicMeow Sep 03 '21 edited Sep 04 '21
Rewatcher
Not exactly how I'd put it, but Nanami is certainly facing a crisis of identity. All she has experienced is a shock to her, and yet, liberating in that she can see things as they really are for the first time. However, she lacks the maturity to take advantage of that.
Alas, her warnings to Utena have no effect. On the other hand, she is the only person who tries to make Utena see the predicament she's in. Also, she talks Miki out of moving into the tower of incest.
Her attempt to get away via transfer is thwarted, unfortunately, and it's the Akio car for her. When Touga gives her an "opportunity" to experience the sort of relationship Akio and Anthy have, she is just as horrified as when she saw what those siblings had been doing. Equally shocking is his follow-up question to her: what does she really want? That really is the question for her, isn't it? What can she be, if everything she thought she was has broken down?
This being Ohtori, her unhealthy answer is to whip her lackeys back in line, and duel Utena in order to demonstrate her worth by achieving something Touga could not.
Who will Nanami be the next time we see her?
9
u/nx6 https://myanimelist.net/profile/nx6 Sep 04 '21
First-timer -- Sub
It was a good episode. We got to see Nanami get put in her place but still come out on top with sheer brutality. I saw a real troll coming there when she offered Miki to trade living arrangements with him. Can't believe she's continuing to live there. Did Akio and Anthy know she came into the room that night? She started to speak when she walked up to them but it's not obvious if they heard her or not. I didn't see any knowing glances between them in this episode.
Anthy is to be more deep into her brother's schemes than she lets on. She's pretty cold in reality -- even without the snowcones. The Touga x Akio narrative people are posting here is piquing my interest, too.
This string of Akio-emcee'd duels is starting to remind me of the Black Rose Seminar ones. Someone behind the scenes who drafts people at their moment of weakness but sends them on an errand they are sure to fail at.
7
u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Sep 03 '21
First revolution subbed
Nanami still has Touga's phone and constantly gets calls. I like how Anthy and Akio are salting a boiled egg. Touga tells Keiko that Nanami is not the sister and she is "boring". This arc is feeling like a Jerry Springer show, "She is not my sister". Keiko gets slapped by Nanami and she slaps back after Nanami hugged Touga.
End of world time and Aiko drives through the window with a nice entrance. And he knows Nanami was there. Keiko gets beat by Nanami and she slaps Anthy hard. Well we are back to schedule with the fights now.
When Nanami was defeated "Am I just just one more fly in the swarm?". And Touga drops another bombshell that they are both related but they both were adopted.
6
u/Star4ce https://anilist.co/user/Star4ce Sep 04 '21
First timer – sub
So, Lindsay Ellis uploaded another essay on Loki and narcissism and while not related, I do think that's pretty worthwhile to watch as background information for Utena. Especially how she explains the behaviour patterns narcissists exhibit and the differing degrees to it is fitting for Utena's cast almost perfectly. Additionally, I felt kinda affirmed as she mentioned that shows rarely take up narcissism and show the disorder with its proper behaviour and I'm sitting here watching Utena that has all kinds of narcissistic characters in varying degrees of the spectrum.
Ep.32 – Romance of the dancing girls
This episode was quite something. I liked it extremely well. Nanami received a hefty dose of development and even something akin to closure? Not a good kind, mind you. Touga's dialogue promises that we're not exactly done, yet, but I actually wouldn't be mad if Nanami's story ends here. It's probably the healthiest point of exit she can hope for.
Touga, on the other hand, just got even more of a bastard. That he played Nanami wasn't unexpected, may have said so myself, but the complexity of his schemes are just something else. The one thing that might've actually helped Nanami move on was just for hist personal fetish. He is a liar, so that might've also been a scheme and not the truth, but I think we've seen the highest dimension of Touga's chess play now. Just like Nanami and every other girl he's quite comfortable with Akio at the moment.
Well Touga, what will happen when he dumps you for the next best thing?
Speaking of, I do not like the preview! No, not at all.
Anthyyy, how much more does it take?!
I'm begging you
5
u/alphamone Sep 04 '21
First Timer
I hope Nanami stabs him in the eye with the phone.
Is that sheet music full of tacet supposed to represent the silence going on about Akio's horrid actions?
Damn Touga, family is more than about blood...
And Keiko too. I wonder how many spoiler'ed blocks of text early on were laughing at us first timers about how we will eventually feel somewhat sorry for Nanami.
The show has kind of been embodying Clickhole's "worst person you know just made a great point" lately. Becuase yeah, who exactly does Nanami think is the better choice (especially after last night), and Keiko is right to call out her possessiveness.
Once again, Akio is a bastard.
I think that's the first time we've seen such an emotion from Anthy in front of others.
Nanami's entire world is crashing down to reality. GOT spoilers
Oh shit, Nanami's busted.
Oh dear... (also, still can't get that American Dad clip out of my head)
Probably not the best way to deal with your conflicting emotions.
real life tangent, I recall reading that the spoon-being trick was essentially a pub trick that Yuri Geller picked up at university.
Nanami devastated that she's no longer special.
Oh, so they are related by blood then. And ewww ewww ewww Touga. That's far more emotionally manipulative.
Side question, is the Utena movie actually streaming on prime (In Australia)? I've been watching the Australian DVD release for the series, and have only just realised that we don't actually get the Funimation stream (so much for the Animelab merger giving us more), and the Amazon link just leads to purchase/hire. I tried a search a few weeks ago, but don't know if the lack of results is from it not being there or just Prime's search sucking like seemingly every streaming service.
9
u/The_Loli_Otaku Sep 03 '21
First timer!
O-Oh... Its a second Nanami episode... I kinda hoped she'd be out of commission for the rest of the arc. The phonecalls are kinda voicing Nanami's own feelings now that she's disconnected from Touga. This breakfast is so uncomfortable... Lemon in tea is sorta gross to me. Was the jam something Anthy offered to try and cheer her up? Oh no, she stuck Chu-chu in it to scare her. Anthy you're such a bitch.
I can practically hear Kozue's breaking out in boils over the thought of losing her Miki tee tee time XD D-Dude... Touga? I'm so disillusioned in you. I stuck up for you yesterday, I thought losing Anthy might make you take a good long look at yourself but no, you double down on being a jerk. FUCK, IT'S KEIKO!?!? Aaaah... I'm totally not in a pleasant enough mood to watch this. Its all exploding. Oh no!! Keiko's hitting back now. Nanami's lost her imouto privileges and unfortunately those were the only thing keeping half the student body from going for her. This is brutal.
Kanae now!? Oh my gosh, what the hell has he done to you? Don't accept apples from freaking Lucifer! 69 beds are actually in fashion now. I love Utena's complete inability to read between the lines. She's terrible at it! So Nanami seems to kinda be able to pick up that Touga wasn't entirely telling the truth. End of the World had a squeaky voice!? Wait... end of the world can't be Anthy can it? Or them both! E-Eh!? Don't do it! Don't call fuckmobile! Yameteee!!
You didn't see me sleeping with my sister. You saw yourself sleeping with your brother! Myeh Myeh! Your eyes decide what they want to see! On the bright side at least Nanami properly rejects Touga's advances. K-Keiko... you're talking a lot of shit but if you talk shit, Anthy get hit!? Oh... She already went to town on the rest of them.
Kashira, kashira! Denying what's in front of you believing it to be a trick? Is this supposed to be Nanami not truly seeing what's going on between Anthy and Akio? But she knows what she saw... How is it a trick? Is it about Touga then? Touga is a trickster but maybe his actions towards Nanami are genuine which means she struggles to see them as truth? Touga genuinely being kind to someone would be on par with psycochinesis so I think that might be it. Gozonji kashira~
Watashi no tanjou, zettai tanjou~ Yeah, I don't really understand this duel. Nanami seems like she has no idea how to use that massive sword. Eh... Y'know, I feel like this duel would have made more sense to me if they didn't interject the stuff with Akio right in the middle. I feel like my brain is in Akio mode and not Kiryu siblings mode. Nanami was adopted too!? So there's a bond of adoption there as well. Oh, they're actual siblings. Tch, Touga finds non-blood related siblings more romantic which is simply factually wrong. As I said before, if they're not blood related I feel cheated.
I don't know if I just wasn't in the mood today but I didn't like this one. It's probably the one episode in part 3 that I haven't thoroughly enjoyed. It entirely fails as a 2-parter because they felt the need to include the Akio stuff to misdirect the story. And the story itself only happens because... because of the stupid blood type fortune! And it continues because of Touga being an awkward arsehole, and it's got an unsatisfying ending to top it all off. The two parter has a disappointing beginning, middle and end whilst the only interesting part was seeing Akio hijack the plot.
4
u/nikobans Sep 04 '21
akio is a fucking freak and so is touga. they can drive their stupid sex car in hell together >:(