Just got done my annual rewatch binge a few days ago and I have Feelings And Opinions. Spoiler: CW: Akio being Akio, Black Rose arc spoilers I'd COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN about Akio's role in that arc - That whole thing where he's Utena's ~cool grownup confidante~ , and she keeps going to him to tell him what's going on and ask for advice about the teenage identity crisis of the week. Christ, no wonder he has such an easy time grooming her - he has a direct line into what made her tick, and a whole season's worth of setting himself up as totally chill and trustworthy. AND THEN the viewer is juuuust starting to get a sense of what he's doing to Anthy, but it's a whole season before they really let the other shoe drop on that (let alone get around to Utena finding out and processing it). So there's that glorious slow drag of unease, and fuck me, this series is good.
Spoiler: SPOILERS AHEAD [5/30/16, 7:46:09 PM] Nick: i keep thinking about the blood type conversation [5/30/16, 7:46:51 PM] Nick: like [5/30/16, 7:47:27 PM] Nick: the parents are both B, and Nanami is B. touga is A [5/30/16, 7:48:00 PM] Nick: and nanami freaks out because this means that she doesn't belong?? like, if only one of them were adopted, it would be touga [5/30/16, 7:48:17 PM] Petra: yeah. it kinda shows how disconnected they are from their parents [5/30/16, 7:48:19 PM] Petra: which uh [5/30/16, 7:48:22 PM] Nick: i mean, i get the whole "this means he's not my brother" part [5/30/16, 7:48:35 PM] Petra: okay, so, apparently one of the writers said his movie backstory applies to the show, too [5/30/16, 7:48:39 PM] Petra: which sure explains THAT [5/30/16, 7:48:42 PM] Nick: but that she thinks it automatically makes her an outsider to the family is....incorrect [5/30/16, 7:48:44 PM] Nick: yeahhh [5/30/16, 7:49:15 PM] Nick: i wonder where nanami fits in though [5/30/16, 7:49:22 PM] Nick: like, was it just a package deal? [5/30/16, 7:49:50 PM] Petra: this is a case where her being neglected and placated with material goods is the GOOD outcome [5/30/16, 7:49:53 PM] Petra: and that's horrifying [5/30/16, 7:50:19 PM] Nick: that's what I'm here for [5/30/16, 7:51:08 PM] Nick: utena is so good for making things more horrifying though [5/30/16, 7:51:12 PM] Petra: and she noticed touga getting more attention [5/30/16, 7:51:18 PM] Petra: and internalized that as him being better??? [5/30/16, 7:51:19 PM] Nick: oh no [5/30/16, 7:51:19 PM] Petra: oh my god [5/30/16, 7:51:22 PM] Nick: oh, no [5/30/16, 7:51:28 PM] Nick: noooooo no nanami no [5/30/16, 7:51:32 PM] Petra: that is literally the most horrifying thought chain [5/30/16, 7:51:39 PM] Petra: and this series has been over for like 10 years [5/30/16, 7:51:51 PM] Petra: i watched it over a year ago and there's still new layers of fresh hell [5/30/16, 7:51:52 PM] Petra: what the fuck
Semi-on-topic Anyone here watched Mawaru Penguindrum? It was a 2011 anime by the same director. I love it to pieces and it doesn't seem nearly as well-known as Utena, so I'd like to find other fans.
I'd also highly rec it to any fans of Utena. It's about the threads of fate, the sins of the parents passing to the children, the willingness to do anything to protect the ones you love, and the after-effects of abuse and neglect. It's also really fucking surreal. Here's a music video if anyone wants a taste of what it's like. It's got spoilers in, but in fine Ikuhara fashion, it's symbolic enough I'm not worried about people getting spoiled.
Man I needa finish watching that Spoiler i had to take a break after the episode with the red car and the highway lights and the adult taking their young friend out somewhere nice and...
It gets better from that point for the characters involved! Spoiler I mean, not for Akio, but fuck that guy. But that's the point where Utena starts realizing things are off.
Spoiler Derp derp. WELL IT ALSO GETS BETTER FOR THOSE CHARACTERS. Ringo is, uh. Let's just say I'm surprised she's one of my top-three favorite characters. All the character development after this point is a huge factor in that, though. Wait, are you talking about the incident with the teacher or the actress? I hate that I have to clarify.
It just occurred to me that "well-written, terrifying sexual predators with a purple color scheme" are kinda...a minor obsession I have. Like, Akio, Cronus, and Funny Valentine are all top-10 villains, for me.
i have started utena and am going completely blind aside from the fact that akio is not a very nice man
