Discussion: Episodes 21-25

That was a very fun episode, although I still find all these girls fawning over each other to be extremely cliche for a show set at an all-girls school

I will definitely be basing Femchi’s hair on Tenchi’s new hairdo gendo1

And Hana seems to have gone full fangirl mode. That book she has is strange though. What are the odds she already wrote, and illustrated the cover of, a FemchixHana fanfic by the time Tenchi and Momo walked halfway across the school grounds? Kiyofacepalm1

evilpii wrote:

Hachiko, naturally, just keeps her costume from the play, which is a European-style military formal uniform. This easily could be poking at shojo series like Utena.

I would think more Rose of Versailles, than Utena. But I guess they’re all “classical European uniforms” in the end.

Beni, however, breaks the mold a bit by wearing a male gakuran school uniform. I doubt anyone can question what trope she is. jotaro1

Although most Westerners immediately associate that look with Jojo, I would imagine most Japanese viewers probably just see it as more of a generic Bancho/high school delinquent look, which does kinda fit her personality.

Ukan steps out representing… well… let’s just say someone had better “Call [Her] Princess”, or maybe queen. I’m looking at you, Ayeka.

I know it’s probably not based on Dead or Alive, but that’s the first thing I thought of when I saw her dress. There are two characters in DOA with costumes that look practically identical to Ukan’s dress. I guess it’s a specific type of dress, although off the top of my head I don’t recall actually seeing one outside of DOA before.

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Also, any fan of Rumiko Takahashi should instantly recognize Hana’s hand gesture here. I don’t know if it actually originated from Takahashi, but she uses it frequently in her manga.

I would think more Rose of Versailles, than Utena. But I guess they’re all “classical European uniforms” in the end.

I could buy that. Tenchismile

Ukan steps out representing… well… let’s just say someone had better “Call [Her] Princess”, or maybe queen. I’m looking at you, Ayeka.

I know it’s probably not based on Dead or Alive, but that’s the first thing I thought of when I saw her dress. There are two characters in DOA with costumes that look practically identical to Ukan’s dress. I guess it’s a specific type of dress, although off the top of my head I don’t recall actually seeing one outside of DOA before.

I think I’ll let my fanboy show a bit, and reference one of my favorite fighting games. When I saw Ukan, I was more inclined to think of Battle Arena Toshinden, which does have a two-episode OVA set between the first two games. In particular, I was thinking of Sofia and her dark counterpart Zola.

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100312081015/battlearenatoshinden/images/3/3f/Sofia_bat3.jpg" />http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100313040135/battlearenatoshinden/images/1/1c/17.zola.jpg" />

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/136/4/3/Ronnie_James_Dio___In_Memory_by_JeremySaffer.jpg" />

There just might be something there, Jules ^^

What I wana know now, (if this series is OVA continuity based,) is that: would Rea and Noby come and chastise Tenchi for cross dressing, or would they join in?! Could almost see such a heartwarming (or brain melting,) scene of all three together, in some fem-slash sing along, or worse: a cross dress fem slash Pretty Sammy sing along!

OMG Nobuyuki in drag!

“This is the traditional attire for…beauty pageants!”

Mind need a mind wipe, after that one

U got it

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g463/wwwwhhhhoooo/Tenchiforum%20Banners/tumblr_ndwryxKwIO1skcniqo4_400_zpsys1my3sg.gif" />

That of course crossed my mind, but the Rock handsign is more of an Western thing, I’d be surprised if that’s what it was actually intended to be. The Takahashi handsign, while technically identical, isn’t really “thrown” in the same context as it would be at, say, a rock concert. Hana doesn’t appear to be telling anyone to Rock On, she’s just kinda… doing it. Sort of like the Jojo/Bancho distinction, I wonder if the average Japanese viewer would even associate it with music? Aside from Rock music, the only times I’ve ever seen it significantly used in any other context was in Takahashi manga, where it doesn’t actually mean anything beyond being a recurring visual gag characters would randomly do under certain circumstances, usually when surprised.

Then again, maybe I’m overestimating the cultural impact of Takahashi’s manga, and vastly underestimating the popularity of Western Rock culture in Japan. I fully admit that’s not an area I’m well-versed in blush1

“Be afraid. Be very afraid.” gendo1

Did I call that? Or did I call that? tuxedodouche

Hana’s personality has basically done a 180* from how we saw her before, now that her googly-eyed fangirl switch has been flipped, and I’m not sure I like that

I agree with Wisper. I did not peg Hana for the “rabid fangirl”, but I will say that it makes for some funny situations, particularly when Ryoko and Ayeka overhear. tenchiahhhhhh If glares could kill, Tenchi would be dead… again. blush1 I do love Sasami’s over all innocence in the matter, contrasting Ryoko and Ayeka’s initial scorn and later, shall we say, interest in the material. wth2

Also, is that Yuki and Rui on the back cover of the doujin? qt1

… I might need the memory worm to erase seeing Tenchi as a cheerleader… … Hana also has her own self-insertion character… wth2

I was wondering if we could classify her doujins as that… http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae247/aflory2000/smile/rimshot.gif" />

Indeed, there were two statues standing with the banner at the school’s entrance, both holding a club like Beni’s. mmhmm1 Moreover, during Ukan’s little speech to Tenchi, she references a legend that is the basis for the competition. The image shows an ogre terrorizing people, and then decapitated by a young man accompanied by a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant. I wonder what she could be referencing. butts1 What might we encounter in the next few days? kiyonesmile1

Too bad Tenchi’s getting dragged along as a prize. tenchiahhhhhh However, I have a theory. I bet, despite the legend of Momotaro, the Student Council loses. Thus, Tenchi would be forced to work for the Science Club for a day, giving those characters more screentime and depth. We’ll have to see how it goes. Tenchismile

Oh, you’re right, that is the equipment Washu mailed him! With how Tenchi was questioning it’s necessity while talking with Ukan, he seemed to be acting like it was something the school provided him.

That does make me wonder when’s the next time we’ll see Washu in full. Her backside cameo last week was all we’ve seen of her for awhile, and we haven’t seen any surveillance crabs either for that matter. You’d think they would continue sneaking them into the background, but I haven’t noticed any recently.

And Mihoshi has been MIA too. Is she ever going to make a proper appearance at the school? Fuedal Japan episodes aside, we haven’t seen her since her cameo at the Science Club’s dig site. Hopefully she didn’t die in the cave in… 😮

That’s actually a funny point. Tenchi’s a student teacher, so will we ever see him teach?

I believe Episode 23 is indeed foreshadowing major events, but perhaps more dire ones than immediately apparent. This episode created a stark change in how I view Ukan, though I’m not entirely sure why. I think the weather at the announcement–too perfectly suited for the mood–hints that Miss Kurihara is in control of more than just the day-to-day affairs of the school.

Warning: fan-based theorization ahead!

I think Ukan may in fact be not only the primary antagonist of the series, but also the person Washu has been alluding to this entire time: the common factor between the overlapping dimensions. It would make sense, therefore, for Tenchi to be close to her (teacher’s assistant) for the purposes of his mission.

http://i1103.photobucket.com/albums/g463/wwwwhhhhoooo/Tenchiforum%20Banners/vizzini-princess-bride_zps1b8feab4.jpg" />

What’s more, this mysterious warping of reality (space and time), or perhaps realities, would also serve to explain how or why Hachiko, Hana, Touri, Momo, Beni and even Tenchi end up at the school: not only does it serve as the epicenter of the apparent ‘dimensional crisis’ premise and the catalyst for the plot to follow, but perhaps also for whatever plans Ukan has been harboring.

Not only is Ai still entertaining with its high-school high jinks (Tenchi is a prize? Well, of course he is!) but now I’m very intrigued with the overarching plot.

I noticed Momo did mention the “pi po pa”.

I noticed Momo did mention the “pi po pa”.

That is, she is referencing the TV series version of the Pretty Sammy opening, Magical Project S. Nice catch, Nobuyuki. Tenchismile