

In the first episode of _Revolutionary Girl Utena_ , a teacher says "You won't
make a fool of me again this semester", which indicates that Utena is not new
to the school. I'm rewatching the show, and my memories of the show assumed
she was a transfer student. This made me wonder why she didn't get involved in
the mechanizations of the student council sooner. She received the signet ring
when she was young, and had been going to that school already.

Was there something special about that semester that triggered Utena's
interest in the Rose Bride and the duels? Is there any information on what
happened with regards to the council prior to the start of the show? Was this
the first time Saionji won the duel, and the other council members aren't so
abusive towards the Rose Bride, so they didn't attract Utena's attention?


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2012-12-21T22:45:12.143
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2015-08-15T10:37:45.300
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revolutionary-girl-utena
Why didn't Utena get involved in the council's duels sooner?


As Gorchestopher H has said

> here is also an element of coming-of-age. She becomes involved because her
> time has come

this is correct as being one of the reason however,

> Utena becomes involved because of the way the Rose Bride was being treated

This is half-true. Yes Utena protects Anthy but this is because of Utena's
role as the "prince" that protects the "princess" Anthy. However remember that
it was not Utena that stopped Saionji in the beginning but Touga. Utena
however confronts Saionji after his posts up Wakaba's love confession letter
to him on the notice board for everyone to see and ridicule. Utena realizes
it's Wakaba's letter when she sees her reaction.

Seeing this Utena challenges Saionji but because earlier in the day the
Student Council was told by "End of the World" that a new Duelist would be
arriving, he assumes she's the new Duelist and moves their duel to the arena.
It is in their second duel Utena protect Anthy from being engaged to Saionji
and being abused again.

As for why Utena didn't get involved in a previous semester, we can pinpoint
everything to Utena getting involved originated in her seeing Anthy. Why Utena
only noticed her in this semester seems to relate to Anthy's omnipresence. In
the Apocalypse Saga when Micky is talking to his father, his father passes the
phone to the woman who will be Mickey's step mother which we hear Anthy
speaking and see her Rose Bride Dress, yet Micky does not pick up on this.
Also Mikage is tricked into thinking Mamiya is alive and by his side but not
only is his appearance completely different but he is dead and it was in fact
Anthy. So it's quite possible that along with being omnipresent Anthy can also
make it so people do not notice her.


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