#bath 21

In episode 3 there’s this zoom/close seemingly random focus shot on Daiji setting these flowers down in the mothers hospital room. —now idk what type of flowers they are-

(scratch that I know what two of them are -- I looked it up LOL)

-or if there's any extra underlying meaning in the specificity of the flower/color..... but the flower shot is FASCINATING actually.

Here, ignoring specific flower and color meaning, they’re in general supposed to represent family health — support , etc, As they’re essentially given to the mom to comfort and encourage her recovery.

So why and what is so important about this one-second shot? Especially when it's never brought up again?

Well, jokes on you fam.

This shot *IS* brought up again. The thing is, these writers put these things in this show on purpose. A random close-up shot? Hmm well maybe pay attention and look closer cause it *could* be subtly hinting at things to come. That's why I've gotten so lost in the Revice sauce -- so to say; their intentionality is insane. What you would think is just random or bad writing is actually the opposite. Hindsight is 20/20.

After this episode 3 scene -- which is very important; there isn't another (at least not that I remember so へ‿(ツ)‿ㄏ) close-up shot of flowers. Not until....episode 8.

So, these flower shots exist as a foreshadowing metaphor and as a symbol for the Igarashi Family's Bonds -- aka, as I said above, they represent the family health -- support, etc. They're given to the mom in a show of care for her health and emotional well-being. Now contrast this to when she's to receive the next set of flowers?

Episode 8 --- Aka the episode Daiji tries to kill Ikki, and the final unveiling of his inner-demon Kagerou - to his family, at least.

Here, the flowers Papa-san gives to Mama-san end up trampled in the grass. The episode even CHOSE to end on the picture of the ruined bouquet. Which…..

Wow. Amiright?

Really symbolic of the family’s health and well-being here -- seeing as how Daiji also trampled on the family's bonds and 'loving connection' with each other.

BUT -- that's not all.

It is also worthy to note that the flowers in ep 3 are in a vase. Which means they’ve already been uprooted to be put on aesthetic display.

Of course, uprooting flowers is something that considerably shortens the flower’s lifespan. So while AT FIRST you see the flowers in episode 3 as a symbol of the family’s health, love, and support of each other —- in all actuality the hidden symbolism here is in the fact that an uprooted flower — although pretty to look at, can only last a short amount of time before it inevitably withers.

Which perfectly represents / portrays what happened to the Igarashi family.

…..While appearing the typical, close and warm, almost perfect family….in all actuality there is A LOT of trauma and hurt hidden under the surface of their ‘perfect family’ facade. This perception can only last a short amount of time before it withers and dies — which it does in episode 8.

Which is why it’s really poignant that a shot of the trampled flowers is what ends the episode. ESPECIALLY considering this being alongside the “Igarashi family bonds are unbreakable” sign they had hanging up.

Really it all goes back to what my friend Nacho said (in one of my prev analysis posts <33) about how their family problems will persist until they get to the root of the issue:

"Everybody is getting better, facing their traumas, trying to improve, all that good stuff. But everybody (and understandably so) is also tiptoeing around the core issue. That the family has hurt each other permanently. It’s partly an Igarashi thing, partly an Asian/Japanese thing, to not talk about past pains in an effort to move on, but not digging out the root means the weed grows back."

Instead of ignoring it and trying to ‘leave it in the past’ when it’s never been addressed. If they don’t pull it out by it’s roots — the weeds will keep coming back.

But the flower symbolism and meaning doesn’t just stop there. (These writers are fking INSANE) If you go back to episodes 3/4 these are essentially the episodes that are what’ll *make* or *break* Daiji,,,,,,

We get this flower shot during the scene between Daiji and his mother. And then JUST after it, Daiji sits....Mama-san asks him what's up, and Daiji asks how he’s supposed to convince Ikki to join Fenix.

(It’s so sad too because I think the real reason Daiji was there is because he was having a really hard time with these turn of events and so he was seeking out comfort.)

But….the mom’s advice doesn’t help AT ALL. She either doesn’t catch onto Daiji’s emotional turmoil/cry for help— or she does but thinks writing it off in a light-hearted manner would be better…..

Idk which is worse.

Anyways — the mom ends up telling Daiji: “Just do what only you can do.” …..👽👽🤪🤪

Which-

Wow what a way to SPECTACULARLY miss the mark. Man…..Not only did she miss the mark, her bullet ricocheted off a nearby car, shot back, and made the situation critically worse than it was before. 😔😔😶😶😶

.......See, all (or at least mOST) of Daiji’s problems can be traced back to how Ikki’s smothering /over parenting made it so Daiji was incapable of doing things on his own. His whole identity crisis is *because* he doesn’t know who he is or what he can do.

So, literally the mother telling Daiji this is the equivalent to

“0 x any # will still = 0”

Like if Daiji had $0 in his wallet, his mom basically offered to give him 1/4 that amount, but 1/4 of 0….is still fking 0.

(....I think....if not uh you gET what I mean,,,Im just terrible at math)

Daiji putting his worth in his ability to do things/succeed was the whole problem to begin with! Rn Daiji thinks that he can’t *do* anything. So his mother telling him, ‘hey just do what ya can’ is….incredibly disheartening. If Daiji had low self worth before….hoo BOI

this conversation fking shot it straight to hell

(Here is Daiji's reaction after being told this:)

Now, add on Daiji failing to do anything — again — during Sakura’s kidnapping?

........Bada boom bada BING, baby. It’s time to go sicko mode.

HENCE!!!!

The flower symbolism being SO good. Like those flowers were brought to Mama-San to provide comfort and support to her and yet…

these are the very things she’s failed to give Daiji.

Fking AND it’s BECAUSE of that failure that *she* — in return, failed to receive episode eight’s flowers

(Now should we pin all the blame on Mama-San? No. A lot of things contributed to the Kagerou split. But in a way — the failure here is representative of how the family has failed Daiji as a whole.)

And going even deeper here -- lol I looked up some of the flowers (yo if I get sh*t wrong lmaooo I take corrections <33)

The white in the bouquet are a flower favorite of mine (and the only flower I could actually recognize LOL) -- Baby's Breath.

Now, idk if it means anything different in Japan, but here's what I got from some online searching:

"The Baby’s breath flower is a symbol of everlasting love and emotions that never die. This flower reminds us to always cherish the ones we love and to show them affection. This flower can also be a reminder of a past love that is still in your heart and that still feels like the one, but you passed on it because of something else."

Really Ironic then the duality in symbolism when you consider how the bouquet is turned on its head (uhhh actually idk if the one in episode 8 is the same flower arrangement / flowers lollllll you get the point tho)

"The Baby’s breath flower is also a symbol of innocence and purity. This small flower is symbol of everything that is nice, kind and genuinely honest and loving."

:x

"This flower symbolizes self-discipline and it is linked to the ability of people to devote their lives to something more important and higher than themselves. This symbolic meaning is often tied to prayer and ability of a human being to be in touch with the higher forces and not always tempted by the devil."

lmao very INTERESTING. (Taken from flowermeanings. org )

Anyways this all is the perfect segment into Episode 4 and why that episode is a fking MASTERPIECE of poetic cinema.