Before I congratulate myself for yet another correct prediction, I think it's probably more pertinent to follow-up on the last point we discussed in our Vice Pit episode on this show. I haven't ever pretended to be a devotee of Magical Girl but, extrapolating from my experience with tricky shows like VAMPIRE BUND, I'm sure that excessive sexualizing (say that three times fast) happens enough in the genre that the subject's a real "elephant in the room" for any deconstruction. As such, I can't help but wonder if the design of the first witch that the assembled team battles in this episode might actually be some sly comment on the threat of such… ribald material in this type of story.
Think about it - - the girls are getting attacked by clotheslines festooned with schoolgirls' outfits. The things are slashing at them like tentacles, and they're snaking up to a giant plaid skirt up in the sky that has no body to speak off, but a half-dozen, very sinister arms poking out of it. I imagine the nightmares of a subway groper with a collection of upskirt pics on his phone couldn't be too different from this.
== TEASER ==
No, I don't think there's anything more to it. However, this was clearly made by people who know this genre frontwards and back, so I'm sure they couldn't resist an opportunity to put in such an abstract and grotesque parody for those savy enough to catch it.
Again, knowing as little about Magical Girl as I do, I'd also be curious about how often time-travel's used in the genre - - because that brings me to my next point of self-congratulation. Yep, I was right. Homura older than she appears (although this explanation's far more interesting than my initial hypothesis about her being immortal). I never get to re-watch older episodes for anything I cover in W&L, but I'd really, really like to go back and see how much more resonance the various teases in the first episode's Apocalyptic visions carry if you know the full meaning of what's been going on.
And I'm out of space, once more. There's way too much to discuss in this show! I love it!
Watch this episode, "I Won't Rely On Anyone, Anymore" here and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.
Tom Pinchuk's a writer and personality with a large number of comics, videos and features like this to his credit. Visit his website - - tompinchuk.com - - and follow his Twitter: @tompinchuk
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