Revolutionary Girl Utena: Episode 2

We begin with more fangirling of Utena by the high school girls.  Utena is not bothered by the reactions she receives. In fact, she seems to enjoy the attention she gets from her unorthodox behaviour and physical capabilities.  Wakaba is working through her unhappiness from the previous episode by taking comfort in stories (stating that she now likes a book about a girl who finds love again after initial dismissal). 

Utena, meanwhile, has been placed in a new dorm (well, it's really rather old) and her only other housemate is Anthy.  At first Utena brushes it off as a coincidence but Anthy promptly states that the arrangement is due to the fact that she won the duel.

After some questioning which results in few answers, we are introduced to the marketable animal for the series: Cho-Cho, a purple-yellow monkey that can fit in your hand.  We don't learn much about Anthy except that she is submissive to the tenth degree, performing wifely tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and attending to whoever she's engaged to.  She remarks that her only friend is Cho-Cho. 

This line highlights the tightrope this show is walking: on one side is a light-hearted playful, craziness and on the other is a serious-bordering on disturbing acknowledgment of dark themes (abuse being the first example).  We also get the impression that Anthy has secrets.

More about the Student Council is revealed, namely that, although they are each seeking the End of the World for personal reasons, they are all governed by rules. These rules have been established by a higher player.  A sense that each is seeking something beyond themselves in this apocalypse, rather than to remake the world in their preferred image, is given.

When Saionji challenges Utena for Anthy we get another scene of him abusing the Rose Bride but also a hint of vulnerability suggesting that it's his need for control that leads him to pursue her.  We also get a hint that part of that control involved sexual dominance of Anthy.  Despite the violence this man shows to Anthy, Utena determines that she will purposely lose the duel to him to get out of this 'Rose Bride'  situation. She decides to do so because of threats that 'those who do not obey the rules of the Student Council disappear from the campus'.  Utena's apparent cluelessness in the callous way she mentions purposefully losing to Anthy makes her less sympathetic.

Despite her decision to step out of the competition, when faced with Saionji on the battle field Utena (and a mysterious force summoned by her ring from the castle above) beat him.  How much of her winning is conscious choice and how much is subconscious is difficult to say but it seems that, in the arena, Utena more clearly sees the true nature of others.  The episode concludes with Utena stating that the reason she won the battle was for Cho-Cho, rather than Anthy, since Saionji would be mean to him.  This is an ambiguous ending in my mind since it shows Utena's compassion yet also her naivety about the deeper emotional forces at play.

This second installment weaves Utena more deeply into the plot, providing more time to each side character while revealing weaknesses in the main lead.   We also get our first glimpse of Anthy as both a tool and manipulator. She is used by others yet also capable of wielding great power over them.

Images courtesy of  http://ohtori.nu/