rionaleonhart | It's Not True.

I really love the love-triangle image in the seventh episode of Utena ('Unfulfilled Juri'): the girl holding her hands over Juri's eyes and kissing the boy over her head (I'd look for a screencap, but I'm afraid of being spoiled (EDIT:

thebaconfat is awesome)). It is such a lovely symbolic depiction.

And now, because I vaguely recall reading some Quistis/Juri fanfiction by

kadrin back when I had no idea who Juri was, I have the mental image of a Quistis-Rinoa-Squall replication of that pose.

It's intriguing.

'Curried High Trip': ahahaha, a bodyswap episode! I'm not sure what I was expecting from Utena, but I certainly didn't realise it would be so silly. Saionji's artwork is glorious to behold.

'The Castle Said to Hold Eternity': TINY SAIONJI IS THE ADORABLEST. That is all.

'Nanami's Precious One': ...augh, Nanami, you are such a nutcase. Augh. (I hope Touga's new kitten hangs around and doesn't get Nanamied. Even though Touga is obviously a massive git, seeing his affection for kittens did soften my heart quite a lot. Different animals, obviously, but I'm Otacon; he's Sniper Wolf. He likes cats! He must be a good person! (And he does have quite a lot of affection for his unsettlingly adoring sister, which I also like.))

I actually had tears in my eyes at the end of the eleventh episode ('Graceful and Ruthless: The One Who Picks the Flower'). UTENAAAAAAAAAA. The 'you just projected your own wishes for Anthy onto her and she went along with it because you were engaged' thing is pretty awesome, but oh, Utena.

Also, I've sort of been semi-hoping for Utena to lose Anthy, just because I thought it would be interesting, but now that it's actually happened I feel sort of guilty. I'm so sorry, Utena!

I'm enjoying seeing all the duelists' different fighting styles. I think Touga's is probably my favourite, because mind games are such fun.

I'm up to the fourteenth episode now: the start of the Black Rose saga, and it's all becoming a bit unsettling (but still awesome!). Utena herself is still my favourite character, and I'm starting to wonder whether I should prepare a room in the 'favourite fictional characters ever' section of my heart. She reminds me a little of Yuna of Final Fantasy X (who is already happily established in the 'favourite fictional characters ever' section), but spunkier and more outspoken and with crossdressing and swordfighting. I'm not sure I can imagine a more perfect combination.

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The black rose saga is one of the better arcs, in my opinion. Lots of stuff about human psychology in it! Also it reminds me of a videogame I played recently. Repression and denial, check and check.

You know, the thing about Utena is that it's often ridiculous, but I think so fondly on it because it's full of ideas. And it's all very feminist, too, which I do appreciate.

Ooh, I love repression and denial! I'm looking forward to seeing more of this arc.

I am quite fond of the ridiculousness, I have to admit. And also the ideas, and the characters, and the screwed-up relationships, and the music, and basically I am a bit in love with everything.

Nanami breaks my heart. Just, for the record. But there is no way I can go into detail until you've watched everything, ha ha ha~

Then again, just about every character makes my heart ache in some way or another. THIS IS A POSITIVE THING.

I just watched the cowbell episode, which is possibly the most ridiculous, on-crack episode of anything I have ever watched, and Nanami's dream sequence in that still managed to break my heart, so I must applaud her powers of heartbreaking.

She _Tries_ _So_ _Hard_ at Everything She Does!

I call it "Operation Nanami's an incredibly hard working girl who needs a compass in her pencilbox"

Oh my gosh yes (http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/3378-1/Series_ep07_085.jpg). The imagery in Utena is so, so gorgeous, and used so well. I'm not sure I've ever seen a series that was so spare in its animation and so effective at the same time. There are scenes that just give you volumes of information and backstory and character development in just a few quick stills.

Curried High Trip makes me SO HAPPY just for this (http://www.ohtori.nu/galerie/d/3660-1/Series_ep08_030.jpg)! And for the fact that it is a bodyswap episode, and a bodyswap episode that actually tells you important stuff about the characters that leads into upcoming plot things! Just! So awesome!

Tiny Saionji! Insane tiny Nanami! Augh aughaugh.

Yes! Utena losing Anthy and what it tells you not just about Anthy but about Utena herself and her beliefs and her relationship with Anthy akfjakjfkladjksgk.

If you're anything like me, you may also need to prepare a room for Wakaba.

Oh, thank you so much for the image! (By which I meant the 'love triangle' image, but I also very much appreciate the 'UTENA BEING AWESOME IN ANTHY'S BODY YES CAPITAL LETTERS ARE REQUIRED' image. BECAUSE AWESOME. I do love bodyswap episodes.)

I'm now around episode nineteen, and I think the 'losing Anthy to Touga' scene is my absolute favourite so far. Oh, oh, Utena.

Wakaba is adorable. I really loved her when she was determined to drag Utena out of her post-Anthy-loss depression.

Ooh, the Black Rose arc is where the series takes a turn for the dark and insanely cool. Definitely my favorite arc of the series. I hope you keep posting your reactions, it's always fun to see someone else watching something you love for the first time.

i don't know if anyone else has mentioned this, but after you finish the series, go watch the movie. The movie is also awesome, but in an entirely different way, because it's like a really intriguing remix of the series. (Also, there will be at least one transformation that will leave your jaw hanging.)

I am loving the unsettling darkness of the Black Rose storyline madly. And it's nice to meet this Akio fellow I've heard so much about, although thus far he hasn't done much beyond sprawling on a sofa, being charming and possibly incestuous.

I shall try to hunt down the movie when I've finished watching; thank you for the advice!

It's Not True.

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