like a star, like a firefly

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... ;.;