La Duelist: Nanami Kiryuu | Utena Analysis

[@SirEriol]

Revolutionary Girl Utena, harbringer of interesting tropes: The Nanami Plot.- A character arc that can only progress if the audience believes that said character is stuck in an endless loop of "never learning their lesson". The Nanami Episode.- Every single filler episode that halfway through the series you realize it's vital to the narrative pacing of the story, it's themes and therefore was furthering the plot the whole time. The Nanami.- The most over the top, dumb and ridiculous character in the entire cast is actually the most sensible and perceptive of the bunch, even if they don't realize it themselves.

[@exchangediary968]

I so agree, the fact that Nanami rejects Touga when she finally gets the chance to have him because she saw the difference between her big brother complex crush and the abusive toxic incest relationship

[@goldcherries]

I remember I was surprised when Touga made a move on Nanami, and she freaked out. It really clarified that she was never actually interested in her brother sexually though originally she felt a strong possessiveness over him.

[@cromwellian1]

Nanami is my fav tbh she’s so dynamic

[@seacrystal6189]

I find it surprising how you didn't mention her association to animals, especially farm animals. Even before she realised the horror of Touga's true intentions, she still subconsciously felt trapped and tamed (like an animal). The cow episode is the most obvious example. She has a dream in which she is a cow who is fed, cooked and eaten by Touga, meaning he will be the one to raise her and 'consume' her once he feels like she's ready. Once you see the visual parallels of the cow scene and the scene where Anthy gets impaled by swords, the implications of this episode become terrifying. There's lots of parallels between Nanami and Anthy and that's exactly why they hate each other so much. Sometimes we hate people because they remind us of ourselves

[@quuuve]

nanami is such a triumph of character writing because at first she's so unlikable, annoying and often used as comic relief... but all of that plays into revealing her true self later on. the fact the we see her so 2-dimensionally and dislike her initially are exactly what makes her actually likable later on. wtf??

[@iceluvndiva21]

If there’s one thing I’ll say about Nanami? She’s the only one who honestly doesn’t care about the dueling game. I find her interactions with Anthy interesting as Anthy serves as a dark mirror for Nanami in Revolution arc. It got her to wake up completely. She does tell mitsuru he needs to act his age and to not grow up too fast or he’ll never really mature. So while I still don’t like her? I can say I don’t hate her. Though I noticed something about her in season 3. When togua lies about them not being blood related, nanami has to essentially protect herself. With togua as her brother? No one dared to get near her because togua was this paragon of what being a male student was. If you hurt his sister, you pay the price. But now? She thinks she doesn't have that. She didn't just lose her self worth, she lost the only thing that kept her safe. Even from her own brother who never made any real attepts at her until that lie was said. Nanami isn't the only one who sees herself as "above the rules of the world". Saionji and his insistence of forcing anthy to go with him someplace private in Curry High Trip and yet again when he tried to take anthy to the arena despite not being engaged to him, no duel, and thus trying to access the castle because he said he can. It honestly reminds me of bellerophon when he tries to take Pegasus to live on Mount Olympus only to be brought down by zuse

[@dwainsimmons3447]

Her voice actress in the dub was so amazing

[@starlitsky4156]

Disconcerting 😂

[@Bubblegob]

On first viewing she is aggravating 'til halfway through, on second viewing everything feels different 'cause you also know who Himemiya truly is and how much of a foil Nanami is to her, how Himemiya pushes her buttons with intent etc.

[@bursty2464]

Nanami doesn't give a fuck. She wants to eat cheese without Salmonella.

[@MrsSurrealista]

I need more of these! They are great!

[@clawtooth35]

The Badminton scene with Nanami, Juri, and Miki is my favourite in the entire show because it shows the immense growth the Student Council Duelists have gone through in the series.

[@moonscout3702]

Love this, Nanami is my FAVORITE character.

[@clicky4665]

I was reading the description and I read “lesbian” instead of “lies beneath”

[@SirEriol]

It's Utena. "Lesbian" is what lies beneath.

[@maddieatkinson1527]

i mean nanami being a lesbian would make A LOT of sense

[@jezicagoblin]

IVE WAITED SO LONGGGGGGGGGGGGG

[@pq8418]

Could you do Shiori?

[@iceluvndiva21]

Don't forget the other black roses!

[@clicky4665]

I barely have coverage but I can watch this video, that makes me happy (｡; ᵕ •｡) I love all your Utena's analysis, thank you for them

[@sandradermark8463]

For when the Touga episode?

[@Beanaleann]

Patiently waiting on the rest of these

[@Ephrones]

Now I’m wishful for the final(s?)