We’re all trapped in our coffins.

We open on the regular prologue again…at least until the prince shows up, when we switch to the memories as presented last episode, indicating that Utena’s remembering (or at least trying to remember) what actually happened. Because she forgot some little things (like, he didn’t arrive on a horse, for one), and while she remembered her promise to become a prince like him, she’s forgotten why, and thinks she’s trying to get back to her prince instead of rescuing Anthy — perhaps because she refuses see the pain Anthy’s in.

Anyhow, after the prologue, we switch to Akio and Touga talking in the car.

Akio: The next match will soon determine who will bring revolution to this world.

Touga: Yes. As you say.

Akio: Will it be Utena Tenjou? Or will it be you?

And, seemingly the next day, Utena chats with Anthy in the greenhouse.

Anthy: Is something wrong?

Utena: Himemiya, I…

Anthy: Yes?

Utena: Never mind, it’s nothing.

Anthy: You don’t look at all well.

Utena: Sorry. I feel a little strange. There’s something I just can’t seem to remember. Like a dream you have just as you’re waking up.

Anthy: Oh, this is about a dream?

Utena: A dream?

Anthy: Isn’t it?

Utena: No…or maybe it is…I don’t really understand it…but I feel like I promised someone something very important. Hey, Himemiya? Let me see your face.

Utena: Is it possible you and I…?

but just when they’re about to connect, akio walks in

Utena: Akio-san! Can we help you?

Akio: Well, I’ve heard you’ve been a little down lately. I thought we could go for a little walk to cheer you up. […] Do you mind?

Utena: Oh, no! Not at all!

Akio: I see. Oh, may I steal Utena-sama from you, Anthy?

Anthy: Sure, Big Brother.

Akio: Well, then, Utena-san, shall we be off?

Utena: Are you sure, Himemiya?

Anthy: Yes.

Anthy sees them off with her usual smile…

…but her mask drops when they aren’t around.

Akio: Thank you for treating my little sister so nicely, Utena-san.

Utena: It’s nothing. After all, we’re friends.

Akio: “Friends,” huh…? If only those feelings could last forever…I was just thinking it’d be nice if you and Anthy could always be friends.

Utena: Of course we will.

Then he seems to go off on a tangent about the significance of poppies…

Akio: [Is] something wrong?

Utena: No…I thought you only knew about the stars. You know a lot about plants, too.

Akio: Oh, I don’t know that much.

Utena: So, what do poppies say in hanakotoba?

He doesn’t actually say in the episode, but they mean “fun-loving” in hanakotoba, which seems to imply that he thinks of Utena’s friendship (or perhaps “friendship”) with Anthy is unserious. The meaning in western floriography can be very different, however.

Then we switch to him and Touga plotting (with Akio seemingly trying to seduce him or something).

Touga: You’re having a fine time with Utena Tenjou, aren’t you?

Akio: Oh? Are you worried about her?

Touga: Well…let’s say I am.

Akio: Concerned in what way?

Touga: As an opponent in a very important duel. I was planning to shake her up a bit.

Akio: You were? Well, this all works out, then. Can you do me a favor? […] I want you to bring her a present. It doesn’t matter what. I’ll let you decide what to give.

Touga: Are you sure you want me choosing the gift?

Akio: It doesn’t matter to me. You’re the natural playboy. You must be very good at choosing presents.

Touga: You don’t know her very well, do you? She’s no pushover for gifts. I once gave her a dress. She wasn’t the sort of girl who’s plied with presents. Have you forgotten?

Akio: She’s a girl who treasures a ring given to her by a man whose name she doesn’t even know.

Touga: You don’t say…so, that’s what binds her…

Akio: Oh, well…do what you want. Show me how you’ll handle this. But don’t forget to give her a present. And say it’s from me.

Touga: All part of the game?

Akio: As you say.

And while the poppy here could be a symbol of his “game”, it’s also quite possible that he knows a meaning of the poppy in western floriography, too: Pleasure.

So Touga goes on his little errand the next day, picking out some earrings for her. She’s wary of Touga, but happily accepts when he says it’s from Akio.

Utena: Akio-san got these for me?

Touga: Yes.

Wakaba: Way to go, Utena!

Utena: But…I’m not sure this is right. Besides, they don’t suit me.

I mean, fair enough to question a gift of jewelry from not only an adult, but what seems to be her GUARDIAN at this point, but I feel like she’s in too deep to start worrying about it at this point…

And then Touga tries to pull her aside to “consult” her about something, which Wakaba is understandably suspicious of (even though, as previously established, she should really be worrying about Akio way more!)

Wakaba: He’s just gonna do something mean to you again!

Utena: But…

Wakaba: Ooh…! You’re too trusting! Okay? Don’t be alone with him in the dark!

Utena: What do you mean?

honestly, girl, you can’t be THAT innocent this late in the game

But it turns out to be totally innocent THIS time.

Touga: I really do want to talk with you.

Utena: Hey! Don’t be so reckless!

Touga: Tenjou-kun, I’m guessing that you, the great athlete, has never ridden a horse before.

Utena: Of course I haven’t! Most people haven’t ridden a horse!

Touga: Really? But aren’t horses part of the “prince” mystique you admire so much?

While I have ridden horses before, I just happened to be lucky enough to know someone who gave riding lessons at a reasonable price when I was little, but I fully acknowledge that just getting on a horse’s back might be a scary prospect for most people, even when you’re not GALLOPPING like this! I never rode faster than a canter, and even THAT felt a little out of control!

and then he takes a JUMP, and she goes flying

Akio: That could have ended badly.

But Akio somehow grabs her, and Touga knows he screwed up, as Akio gets to be the one to actually swoop in to rescue Utena from Touga’s idiocy.

Then we skip to later, when a random girl confesses her love to Touga.

But this girl seems to use the poppy for its proper meaning in hanakotoba, wanting to convey her playfulness even though the confession itself is rather stressful for her. So he accepts her love letter, kisses her, and seemingly adds her to his growing harem.

Touga: (internally) Touga Kiryuu, the playboy student council president…”playboy” is so old-fashioned.

Since, of course, his playboy reputation only puts off Utena, and she’s the only girl he really wants to impress nowadays.

Then he just goes to spar with Saionji, who also happens to be the only person he can generally open up to.

Saionji: Something wrong?

Touga: Nothing.

Saionji: Liar. Your confidence is evaporating from your sword.

Touga: Oh? You’re impressive, Saionji. You can tell even that about me?

Saionji: I can. You’re arrogant and pompous, and full of treacherous confidence.

Touga: Oh, come now. You’re not being fair.

Saionji: That’s the sort of man you are. You pretend to be chivalrous, but you’ve never really loved anyone. People are nothing but tools to you. That was your strength. However, will your sword defeat her now?

Notably, Saionji uses the word “ai” for love here…as does the title. His assessment of Touga is right on the money — it’s because he’s never truly loved anyone that he doesn’t know what to do with his feelings for Utena now. The shadow play only drives this point home, playing with the metaphor of a fisherman who’s so used to fish swarming him and begging to be eaten, that he doesn’t know what to do when he meets resistance.

Anyhow, that evening, Utena’s mulling over the day’s events.

and while he’s a terrible person in general, i have to admit akio’s horsemanship is far superior to touga’s

He actually slows down and lets Utena get to know the horse so she’s not as scared.

Utena: (internally) It’s too much…a prince on an actual white horse?

Akio: They’re very timid creatures, actually. You have to communicate with them well and build their trust in you.

Utena: Just like people, huh?

Akio: He says he likes you now, too.

and anthy finds her drifting off while contemplating the earrings

Meanwhile, Akio and Touga settle the score of their little game.

Akio: I’ve won the game.

Touga: No, it’s a draw. She wasn’t happy about the present. Just as I expected.

The roses, in this case, seem to represent their respective duels with Utena: Touga the red, for her battle of self-determination, and Akio the purple, for revolution.

Akio: She’s torn, now. Perhaps you chose the gift poorly.

Touga: My choice of present wasn’t mistaken. Besides, they suited her very well.

Akio: I wish I could see them on her. I think she’d make a charming princess. A princess, not a prince. Don’t you agree?

Akio is determined to overrule Utena’s autonomy, making her a helpless princess — a spectator rather than an actor. Touga isn’t quite so sure, though, as dueling her has helped him realize who he wants to be (at least a little).

And this symbolism, at least, is clear: The cactus represents LUST.

Akio: The next match will be an interesting one. Will we have a princess who will revolutionize the world? Although I still hope that you will win.

And the next day, Touga convenes with Saionji again, but this time in the student council room (Touga’s domain).

And this is when you realize that the student council hasn’t shown up for a while now…

Saionji: You’re saying that girl was Utena Tenjou? The girl we found in the coffin?

Touga: She’s still all alone in her coffin. And if I’m to save her, I must defeat her!

Saionji: You’re saying you genuinely love her?

Touga: Well, I wonder…even I’m not sure.

Saionji: We’ve all received so many letters from him. From End of the World, and we’ve dueled as we’ve been instructed to.

Touga: Yes. But now I’ve received the final letter.

Saionji: We don’t need to play these games anymore. You don’t need any letters now. You’re his little lapdog. You can get your orders directly from him. Are you really content with that? Why do you serve him the way you do?

Touga: Because, a long time ago, he saved her.

Saionji: So, that’s it…

Touga: I want to be like him. I want power like he has!

and bare-chested men seems to indicate sex…? good for saionji, i guess

Saionji: You’re so sure?

Touga: What?

Saionji: Maybe the Chairman did save her that time, but she’s still trapped in that coffin. No, it’s not just her. We’re all trapped in our coffins.

Dios rescued her from the coffin by giving her a purpose — or perhaps, a person. Akio wants to lead her right back into the coffin, but still, when she saw Anthy in the coffin back in episode 9, she went straight to her and got her out by being present with her.

but back with them, utena continues to be oblivious

Utena: Look! What do you think, Chu-Chu? […] Say…

And this seems to represent her beginning to see Anthy’s pain on some level, beneath her mask.

Anthy: Something wrong?

Utena: It’s nothing…(internally) What was that? I feel like I was about to remember something important. But what…?

While the only person whose love was explicitly discussed this episode was Touga’s, the opening and ending scenes are about Utena and Anthy’s relationship. Much like in real life (especially in contemporary Japan), true love between women was simply not acknowledged as valuable. And this is why when I first watched the show, I was able to convince myself that their bond wasn’t romantic in nature.

Until next time…