start of the trauma arc

[mikogalatea]

I just got to episode 25 in my Utena rewatch, and it's made me glad I decided to watch it on its own, because it's fucking me up right now. ;.;

Just two points among many:

1. I'm having feelings about Anthy, just as I'm pretty sure this is the episode where Anthy herself caught real feelings for Utena.

2. I want to throw a fucking brick at Akio. There are two major reasons why and other reasons besides those.

There's several episodes from the Black Rose arc I have a lot of feelings on, too.

Comments

[sarajayechan]

This episode is so damn important for Anthy in general. The hand-hold two episodes ago foreshadowed it excellently, we get that immortal line, and I agree about Akio. Except make that two bricks, and line his bedroom floor with Legos after taking away his shoes, socks, and slippers.

[CW: rape, incest]

[mikogalatea]

It really is.

The nighttime handholding scene was so good, and such a key turning point both for the Anthy/Utena relationship and for Utena caring about Anthy as a person. Her acknowledging that Anthy can't just quit being the Rose Bride is good growth from her, after she'd been wanting to make Anthy into a normal girl back in the first arc.

And the bedroom scene in this ep! Utena telling Anthy to come to her first if she has a problem! Anthy nearly coming forward with the truth there! Anthy thinking back on this conversation during the duel, and how that connects to her drawing Utena's soul sword for the first time! I really believe this is the point where she actually fell in love with Utena, and I'm just going nuts about it right now. ;.;

Anthy says there are times when Utena seems familiar to her, too, and it makes me happy that I might've been right about my speculation from last post. ♥

On a much less happy note, I'm with you on making it two bricks. *flings first brick at Akio* This is for Touga! *flings second brick even harder* And this one's for Anthy! Have the pointiest, most foot-hurty Lego bricks possible on the floor of your stupid planetarium for good measure! And a million scratches on the paintwork of your stupid car! Bastard!

Seriously, it does fuck me up that there's actually two rape scenes here, and in rather quick succession to boot; I think this ep needs more credit than it gets for bringing The Horrors. I went "fuck you, Akio!" at the screen over Touga, and ended up crying outright over Anthy. The way her glasses had clearly been thrown off instead of neatly folded... ;.;

Re: [CW: rape, incest]

[sarajayechan]

It's one of my favorite scenes in the whole series, it shows how much Utena has grown even if she's still so far from truly Getting It re: Anthy and her victimhood. And I finally get it the second time around, why the Sword of Dios disappeared: it was all connected to Utena and Anthy's feelings starting to change!

Scratches nothing, I hope that car falls into a river and rusts!

God, you're RIGHT. I dunno what's worse, Touga playing like he's into it because like Puri said, numbing himself to the reality means it can't traumatize him or Akio's clear ANGER over the Sword thing and his tone as he yanks Anthy over to him. Can we call it a tie?

Re: [CW: rape, incest]

[mikogalatea]

Anthy's and Touga's situations are both awful in their own ways. :(

With Touga, this time round I can't get past Akio going "what's the problem?" as if to imply Touga might be having some reservations despite ostensibly enjoying this so-called game, or Touga calling Akio an evil man after being taunted about his treatment of his friends while we're seeing that godforsaken silhouette. It also strikes me that both times he's raped on-screen are when he's thrown someone he ought to care about under the proverbial bus... I'm bound to have more thoughts on that when I've watched eps 31-32 again.

Back to Anthy, another painful aspect of her scene is how the light glinting off her glasses obfuscates her expression, yet it's still clear that she knows Akio is going to put her through absolute hell over the sword issue. The way she hesitates... ;.;

The ways in which they both get through being raped hurts me. Touga acts like he enjoys it; Anthy dissociates and is just... resigned.

Ending the episode that way really reinforces what a dangerous bastard Akio is, in a way that makes you so scared for Utena. I'm dreading getting back to ep 33. And when Wakaba was envying Utena for getting to live under the same roof as Akio and thinking of the ~romantic~ possibilities? I was just like "no, Wakaba, you have no idea!"

Re: [CW: rape, incest]

[sarajayechan]

...holy shit, you're right. Akio is basically egging on Touga's existing bad behavior and choices, then "rewarding" him with unwanted sex. I never thought of it that way.

I missed that part with her glasses, even though I notice her glasses play into a LOT of her "we're only scratching the surface" moments.

Yep. Both have to cope with this shit in their own ways and are too scared to beg for help.

OH GOD, WAKABA. Akio taking her in the car in episode 30 and NOT raping her was even more calculated because the bastard knew if he did anything he'd lose Utena's favor and trust. Plus he probably wanted to butter up Wakaba, who he knows is crazy about Utena, and get her "blessing" to court her friend.

Re: [CW: rape, incest]

[mikogalatea]

Touga followed Akio's orders and Anthy went against them in this episode, yet there isn't much difference in what they both got for it. Damned if you don't, damned if you do...

Both have to cope with this shit in their own ways and are too scared to beg for help.

Oh God, Utena told Anthy to come to her if she had a problem, and yet how could she ever come forward to her about this?! ;.;

Re: [CW: rape, incest]

[sarajayechan]

Big time. Goddammit, Akio. For as disgusting as Ruka is at least he dies in two episodes and no one ever talks about him again.

God, YES. And considering how Utena reacts when she finds out later on...