Episode 36: And Thus Opens the Doorway of Night

Utena defeats Touga in what is supposed to be the final duel, then discovers Akio and Himemiya's dirty little secret.

This is a summary of episode 36 of the anime series Revolutionary Girl Utena.  You are welcome to link to it, but not to repost it elsewhere.  For more information, and other episode summaries, see the index.

Utena goes horseback riding with Akio, and isn't hesitant to accept his kisses.  They stay out in the woods until late in the day.  Miki and Jury watch Utena walking home and Jury comments that something is different - now she looks like a girl.  The entire school feels like it's changing.  Almost as if there were a revolution going on.  But Jury has misgivings about it.  Akio tells Touga again how he much prefers the new, feminine Utena; then Saionji and Touga go riding (in a sidecar motorcycle, Touga driving) and make cryptic comments about wanting to be in control and rise out of the coffins End of the World prepared for them.

Utena is alone in bed, wondering aloud if Himemiya is off visiting Akio again, and always leaves Chu-Chu alone at such times, when Touga appears and demands that Utena sneak off with him to the duelling arena.  He says it's a matter concerning End of the World.  In the arena, the magical castle appears, and the sky is filled with an auroral display.  Touga refuses to tell Utena who End of the World is, saying she'll find out soon enough.  He declares his love for her, saying that though he knows she probably won't accept him, if he could just hold her for a little while here, that would be enough, and she agrees.  The next morning, he meets with Saionji and says that now he knows:  he really does love Utena, and so he must defeat her, because if she wins the power to bring the world revolution, she will fall into End of the World's hands.

So Touga, with Saionji beside him, goes and challenges Utena.  He tells her that if she wins, then he promises the student council will never try to take the Rose Bride again; but if she loses, she must become his woman.  She is disappointed that he'd say such a thing, but acquiesces to the duel.

At critical moments in the duel, Touga stops to swear to Utena that he will protect her, and Utena stops to promise the same thing to Himemiya.  The Power of Dios never seems to materialize, but there's a moment where Himemiya does some kind of blessing ritual on Utena's sword, which seems to have the same effect.  Then Utena chops all the cars in half (several dozen cars, similar to Akio's, were trying to run her and Himemiya over), and wins the duel.  Touga tells her that although she has won, and now possess the power to bring the world revolution, she must still be careful.  "Don't let down your guard around End of the World...  or the Rose Bride!"

That night, like Nanami before her, Utena gets up, notices that Himemiya isn't there, wanders out into the planetarium, and gets an eyefull.  Unlike Nanami, Utena doesn't immediately freak out completely; but it's clear that the wheels are turning.

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