She Is Dead

Juri as Warrior Angel

That Juri is a warrior is a key part of her characterization. She is arguably the best swordsman at Ohtori and she doesn't shed a single drop of sweat during her entire first duel. The other most important thing about Juri off course is her fraught relationship with the idea of miracles. It is something that bears down on her perpetually. She claims to not want any part of the power of Dios but she can't let go of her position as duelist either. 

I find the duel songs the best resource to analyze the duelists. The angel motif is present from the get go there and the angel being called by name is none other than Michael. Sword of Heaven. This is in keeping with her skill as a duelist but the most interesting dimension it adds is to her characteristics in regards to believing in miracles. Effectively this internal struggle of Juri translates into a struggle of Faith in the Divine.

☆*: .｡. Little aside .｡.:*☆ I call Juri a Valkyrie in the title even though Norse Valkyries don't really have anything much to do with the rest of what I'm about to say. I do believe that the title of Valkyrie is just as fitting for her as is Angel. Valkyries are most well known for carrying the souls of heroes to Valhalla so here's a couple instances of Juri acting as a Valkyrie. ^-^ I love her so much

☆*: .｡. ☆ .｡.:*☆

Juri playing the role of an angel actually places her in a triad with the two other characters who share her storyline

Shiori living in the shadow of Light Black Rose duelist. Bottom Feeder. I do hesitate because of this to call her a Luciferin figure but it honestly tracks. All her importance within the narrative comes from her opposition to and her efforts to antagonize Juri (who we have established as representing the Holy half of their dynamic).

Ruka, seeing the face of God. Of all the boys in Ohtori, Ruka is probably the most  Dios adjacent figure he even dies from self sacrifice. Within their storyline he is a powerful but absent figure and when he returns his status is felt full force. Juri even defers to him as a subordinate and calls him Captain upon his return. Shiori of course he despises.

Staircase to Heaven: Queerness as Hamartia

This above Celestial Hierarchy that plays out between them was actually established back in the the very first flashback. Ruka is an obvious stand in for the boy that Shiori "stole" at that time. Even then Juri was the noble warrior. Even then Shiori was the conniving serpent. It was also from that time on that Juri's faith had been shaken.

For Juri to advance in the duels is for her to fulfill her celestial role and go closer to God. But she cannot advance because of her love for Shiori. Juri implicitly understands that the power of Dios cannot grant her this desire. The Castle in the Sky (which could be seen as the Kingdom of Heaven in this case) does not hold an eternity where she is allowed to be with Shiori.

Alongside the angelic motif this is the other concept that is featured heavily with Juri's symbols. The idea of duality, androgyny, within Juri is in explicit connection with her queer identity. She is in part the wielder of Celestial Light. She is in her other part in love with Shiori. Shiori down in the dredges. Shiori who is a girl.

But the stage that Juri is acting on has no place for that second aspect. That the arena does not favour Juri is made clear in her very first duel where despite being clearly superior in skill the Sword of Dios falls on her rose. She cannot go Heavenward until she forsakes that love altogether. Her queerness alienates her from her own myth.

It all comes to a head in the Apocalypse Saga after Ruka appears. His motivation from the moment of his arrival is to get Juri to duel again and thus restore her in her role. His end goal was to restore her faith. In order to push her to that brink he targets Shiori, first tempting her and then declaring her wicked to make an example of her. (I find it very interesting the way he publicly denounces her in order to humiliate Shiori i.e. being cast out by him is the worst possible punishment in and of itself. It really affirms the allegory for me)

Though Juri gives in I don't think anyone can argue that she had any notion of winning. If I were to pinpoint a specific moment when she becomes truly fallen however it would be the locket snapping. She knows that there is nothing for her in the duels. I think that really sinks in for her is when her locket is broken during her Apocalypse Saga duel. That love of hers is all she ever wants. An arena that will not even spare that locket will never grant her her true desire. She casts off her rose almost instantly. With that she concedes her place within the Celestial Hierarchy and ends her last duel in the series. 

By the rules of the arena it is defeat but maybe the joy that cannot be had through the powers of a stage can be found in the freedom that exists outside of it.