I've been sporadically reading decade old reddit discussion threads for Utena episodes after I watch them and sometimes people have interesting viewpoints I hadn't considered but sometimes it's REAL bad. Case in point, I watched ep 25 today (Sexy Car) and it is at this point in the show (TWENTY FIVE EPISODES IN) that some redditors are finally considering that perhaps the Akio/Anthy relationship isn't consensual. Multiple redditors are commenting that Anthy seems reluctant this episode compared to past episodes, so it's not even a recognition that it was never consensual.
Did it seem like Anthy had agency in ANY of these episodes??? She's been treated as a possession for literally the entire show! Utena has a part time job fighting people about it! This episode is significant because we are seeing what might be some actual feelings and desires from Anthy!
Was also unimpressed by the significant fraction of redditors who thought maybe Anthy was upset about Akio hitting on Utena because she was jealous. In the episode where we see Anthy specifically trying to help/protect Utena and being abused by Akio. Like COME ON.
a lot of older rgu analysis is pure unfettered ass because they didn’t consider statutory rape or incestuous abuse to be real concepts. a lot of stuff people have said about episode 33 (won’t spoil you dw) is nauseating
