The day of revolution is approaching. But what is this vague, awful feeling I have?

Utena faces the final Duelist…before realizing that the real battle is still to come.

The episode opens by recapping the conversation Saionji and Touga had about Utena, when Touga reiterated that he wants to defeat her in order to “save” her.

Then we switch to Utena and Akio riding in the woods.

Utena: It’s been a long time. Since I could relax in the woods like this. It’s almost like I’m dreaming. It was a lot of fun.

Akio: Lovely…the way you look. Like a princess you’d find in the woods.

Utena: Akio-san…you sound sincere when you say that.

Akio: It’s true.

And by this point, it looks an awful lot like Utena’s caught in a love triangle with Akio and Touga…but where does that leave Anthy?

Then, as she’s walking home, we finally check in with Juri and Mickey.

Juri: Why is it? She looks like a girl to me now.

Mickey: Well of course, Tenjou-senpai is a girl!

Juri: I know. And yet…

Mickey: To be honest, she seems that way to me, too. […] But isn’t that a good thing?

Juri: You really believe that? 

It’s not just that she’s acting more traditionally feminine now that she has man — it’s that some part of her enjoys playing the passive role of a princess who’s fought over (as opposed to doing the fighting herself). It’s what Dios warned her of: Not so much physically becoming a woman as giving into patriarchy and letting herself abandon her principles.

Juri: Something’s changing. No, not something. Everything is. The entire school is changing.

Mickey: The entire school…you mean, as if…

Juri: …it was a revolution?

Mickey: Yes.

Juri: Yes. The day of revolution is approaching. But what is this vague, awful feeling I have?

Because she’s being tempted to accept the patriarchal status quo — but she doesn’t yet realize what that means for Anthy.

Then we switch to these two again, because Utena’s seemingly given up on changing anything, and Touga’s imitating Akio now (but way less sexy).

Saionji: You have weird tastes. It’s not good.

Touga: You don’t like it because I’m driving?

Saionji: I don’t like not being in control! Or letting anyone get too deep into my heart!

Touga: You never could hold in your hostility, could you?

Saionji: You think I care? What are you planning to do? Are you just going to duel Utena Tenjou? Just do what End of the World wants?

It’s clear by now that Touga doesn’t really want to revolutionize the world, not fundamentally. He just wants to take Akio’s place at the top.

Akio: She’s lovely now.

Touga: You mean Utena?

Akio: Oh, yes. Innocent and sweet, an unmatched princess! I treasure her…

and this was seemingly how the cactus scene ended last episode

Saionji: It’s time to rise from our coffins! From the coffins End of the World has prepared for us!

Touga: I’ll have my answer soon. Tonight!

Note that Saionji seems to be the one pushing for change now — but that’s at least partly because he’s clearly the bottom in their relationship, and he’s still bought into the comphet mindset on some level.

Then we return to Utena.

Utena: I wonder if Himemiya’s with Akio-san again. Tell me, Chu-Chu, are you always left alone when she visits her brother like this?

And while Utena’s alone in her bedroom at night, Touga shows up and lures her out with promise of information on End of the World.

Utena: I’ve never come to the Dueling arena at night before.

Touga: Scared?

Utena: No, it’s not that. It just doesn’t feel the way it usually does.

Touga: How does it feel? […] Romantic?

Utena: No way!

Touga: I’m happy to be riding up to heaven alone with you like this.

Utena: H-hey! Don’t get so close! […] This is exciting. Like when I snuck out into the park at night when I was little. This is where I dueled you.

Then they see the stars behind the floating castle, and pause to take in the scenery.

Touga: You’re beautiful. I’m so happy I was able to meet a person as lovely as you.

Utena: Oh, there you go again. Could you forget that and just get to the point?

Touga: Are you in love with the Chairman?

Utena: Can it be…? Is that possible? But, Akio-san’s engaged…

Utena: Why’d you ask me that?! Aren’t you going to tell me about End of the World?!

Touga: End of the World…? I can’t say who he is now. You’ll know who he is soon enough. But before that, there’s something I want to ask you.

Utena: What?

Touga: Can’t I be your prince? You’re the only princess for me.

Utena: Again with that?

Touga: I’m serious! I love you. From the bottom of my heart. You’re everything to me. Your nobility and beauty have won you many admirers. Even if I cannot be worthy of you, let me be here with you for this moment at least. Just that would be enough. If I can just engrave this feeling into me of being with you tonight, it would be enough. Will you at least let me have that?

Utena: All right.

Touga: Thank you.

Again, I’m more in favor of this relationship than the one with Akio, but that bar is literally in hell. Touga wants to spare her the pain of discovering what’s really going on (of “knowledge”, the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden), but he could only do so at the cost of her agency.

Then she seemingly spends the rest of the night mulling over his proposition.

Touga: “Can’t I be your prince?”

Utena: Come to think of it, that’s what I thought when I first met him. I wondered if the President was my prince.

But what’s holding her back is what she perceives as her duty to Anthy, because pretty much ever since she met her, she’s had an urge to protect her, and she understands that being with Touga is antithetical to that end (even if she hasn’t thought through the implications of being with Akio yet).

Then we switch over to these guys. The roses change color, beginning with white (probably to reflect Touga’s ostensibly noble intentions).

Saionji: Well? Do you have your answer now?

Touga: Yes. Last night showed me very clearly.

Saionji: Oh? You mind telling me?

Touga: It’s clear that I really do care for her.

Notably, he doesn’t use the word “love” (or even “like”) here — the word he uses is more often translated as “to treasure”, implying that he might be thinking of her more as an object.

Then the roses begin changing color, first to green when Saionji responds (emphasizing his “friendship” with Touga), then to red.

Saionji: So, now what?

Touga: I will fight her again! And I must win!

Then the roses are sniped one by one, as they change from blue to orange…

Touga: It’s the only way I can save her! If she wins the next duel…

Saionji: …she gains the power to bring the world revolution. But, if she does that…

Touga: She’ll fall in End of the World’s hands!

She’s ALREADY in End of the World’s hands! You just thought she didn’t need to know her situation, because you wanted to rescue her yourself!

And finally, the last rose is shot off when it turns back to white, seemingly representing his intention to neutralize Utena as a Duelist…

Then we get back to Utena and Anthy.

Anthy: Utena-sama? Where were you last night?

Utena: Oh, uh…nowhere special.

And she’s clearly feeling guilty about it, because even if she doesn’t think of Anthy as her “Bride”, she was still flirting with the idea of giving up on her.

then the boys join the party

and they’re both invading their personal space

Touga: I want you to duel me again.

Utena: What are you thinking…?!

Touga: Don’t you wish to protect the Rose Bride?

Utena: Yes. I won’t let anyone take Himemiya.

Touga: I promise. If you win this duel, the student council will never try to take the Rose Bride again. However, if I win, you must become my woman!

i mean, what do you expect from this guy?

Utena: I misjudged you! I never thought you’d say something like that…

Touga: No objections?

Utena: No.

She’s not exactly going to get a better deal out of him…

And the shadow play is about confusing the symbols for the real thing — in this case, confusing the “Prince of the White Horse” for the “White Horse of the Prince”. Because Utena’s confused the trappings of a prince for the actions of a prince. Both Touga and Akio are attractive men who play the role of the archetypal prince well, but they both want to remove Utena’s agency, as opposed to Dios, who simply encouraged her to be her best self.

Then it’s off to the duel!

Touga: This battle decides who will bring the world revolution!

Utena: I don’t care about that! Anyway, if I win, you promise to never come after Himemiya again, all right?!

Utena doesn’t care about revolution because she’s still convinced that the world is (or at least can be) fair…

Notably, this is the only duel where both pairs are homosexual…

Then the duel theme kicks in!

The final judgment of our nature.
A frightening and strange fate.
A prophecy of destruction.
A philosophical revolution.
The paradise of Paradise Lost. An accidental epic.
A cosmic cataclysm. A thousand years of dread.
The Nirvana principle.
Human birth. Human wisdom.
Human knowledge. Human pleasure.
Human consciousness. Human experience.
Human apocalypse. Human liberation.
Dante! Rabelais! Swift! De Sade!

First, the Nirvana Principle. It’s related to a Freudian theory sometimes known as the “Death Drive” or “destructive drive”, as opposed to the “life drive” which involves the desire to live and procreate. Here, it’s clearly pertaining to “apocalypse”. Then, the last line mainly lists the names of famous satirists, except for De Sade, from whom we get the word “sadism”, whose life and work were riddled with sex scandals. I suppose one could say that De Sade was transgressive like the satirists. The song is basically about the juxtaposition of life and destruction.

Utena: Even after we came here last night…!

Touga: Personal feelings are forbidden in combat, Tenjou-kun!

I mean, what are you even fighting for if not personal feelings?

Touga: Tenjou…I will protect you!

Utena: How many time have we dueled here?

Touga: This is the third.

Utena: Strange. It feels like it’s been dozens of times.

Because, in some sense, all the duels are fundamentally the same, regardless of the challenger.

She’s briefly trapped in the middle of the arena, with attacks from all sides, when Anthy calls out to her.

Utena: Hey, Himemiya. Trust me. I swear I’ll protect you.

Anthy: Really?

Utena: You don’t believe me?

This seems to be a flashback to when they were riding the gondola…and Anthy’s kinda right to doubt Utena’s ability to protect her, because she’s still refused to acknowledge the pain Anthy lives with, let alone alleviate it.

But Utena uses Anthy’s power to protect them both, and ultimately, to win.

Utena: Let’s go. Akio-san is waiting.

Touga: Wait! You’re now the one who will bring the world revolution. But don’t let you guard down around End of the World, or the Rose Bride! That’s the last advice I can offer you!

Utena: You just don’t give up…Farewell, senpai.

And thus, Utena wins the right to revolutionize the world…but she’s still content with it as it is.

Anthy: You must be tired after today. Please get some rest.

Utena: Isn’t it great, Himemiya? Now…no one will be after you anymore.

because she thinks everything is perfect now…and she says Akio’s name in her sleep.

So Anthy takes matters into her own hands.

Utena: Oh, great. I fell asleep on top of the covers. Himemiya?

And since she seemed to be getting ready for bed, Utena goes looking for her…

Because Anthy wants her to know exactly where she stands now: With her abuser.

until next time