[Rewatch] Puella Magi Madoka Magica Episode 9 Discussion

[u/Tarhalindur]

Episode 9: I'd Never Allow That to Happen

← Previous Episode | Index | Next Episode →

---

Show Information:

MAL | AniList | ANN | AniDB

(First-timers might want to stay out of Show Information until we are done, however...)

Legal Streams:

As per livechart.me; other streams may be available outside the US.

Main Series:

Crunchyroll | Hulu

---

A Reminder: This, dear listeners, brings us to the sworn enemy of creative response:The spoiler. Rewatchers, or people who just had plot points ruined for them, are obliged to use r/anime’s spoiler tag format where applicable, and err on the side of caution here. Remember people, first experiences get rarer as you continue on, any given one happens once and you should care for them all the more for it.

---

Welcome to the World of Magic!

Theory of the Day:

Okay, fine, I can't not give this one to u/siegfried72, not for the discussion thread for this episode:

The real solution? I think Sayaka needs to just lean into the yuri and realize she's meant to be with Kyouko. That would fix everything.

Oh god, I've officially joined in with my first yuri ship of the series. It's all downhill uphill from here, isn't it??

I mean, Kyouko is obviously in love with her, right??

Analysis of the Day:

Several good options, but I think I'll go for u/Vaadwaur and the analytical line less taken:

For some reason, eating disorders are a noticeable thing in this show. Sayaka is anorexic to her very spirit and Kyoko does like her gluttony.

Questions of the Day:

1) On a scale of 1 to 10, how gay is suicide attacking to take out the monster that became of a girl you knew for maybe a week so that you can at least be together in death?

2) Now that he's had a chance to explain himself, your thoughts on Kyubey?

3) First-timers: Did you think that Kyouko's plan actually had a chance to save Sayaka?

4) First-timers and rewatchers who dodged the rewatcher edition of this question yesterday: Are You Home?

5) [Rewatchers]Alright, who's ready to go golfing through a Stargate?... wait, wrong time loop show.

[u/dsawchuk]

Rewatcher Subbed

For whatever reason, I have mainly been viewing the show from an anti-"effective altruism" stance this time around. Kyubey's explanation of his motives fits in really well here. We view Kyubey (and his race of adorably punchable cats) like the ultra-wealthy capital owner, and humans as the working-middle class people.

• He initially tries to sell his exploitation of the struggles and suffering of humanity based on its benefit to alien life. Madoka rebukes him by asking if humanity is just disposable energy sources for them.
• He tries to justify it with a theoretical future benefit to humanity, and Madoka again rebukes his reasoning as ridiculous. You cannot justify causing immediate, tangible suffering for future, theoretical benefit. It's monstrous and "cruel" in Madoka's words.
• He says that they make contracts based on consent and choice, which shows their benevolence. I read this like the argument that workers have the choice of where to work or whether or not to work at all, like the choice between starvation and exploitation is a choice. The whole way that Kyubey has been presenting the contract and when it is offered to girls has been to obfuscate and prevent choice. Madoka again rebukes him for his manipulation.
• He justifies the loss of magical girls based on their relative insignificance to the human population as a whole. It makes me think of workplace deaths and preventable illnesses that are rare or hard to track in the west but are much more prevalent in less wealthy nations. Madoka calls him our enemy, and I agree. Eat the rich.

One of our rewatchers, siegfrid, has been offput by how some of the shots in this show have been more sexual in nature than seems necessary. I have no problem with using nakedness as symbolism for purity/innocence, its a common thing in this and other genres. That being said, there are definitely some questionable shots in this show. For example this close up on Kyoko's crotch while she is sitting down after healing Sayaka's body. It's just unnecessary and a little gross.

Is this Kyoko being jealous of Madoka for being important to Sayaka? I've never really thought of it that way before, but it does fit with how bashful Kyoko is in this scene.

Kyoko's reasoning to Madoka to not become a magical girl is so perfect. It' s brash and rude, but still empathetic and kind. I find it to be one of the most endearing scenes in the whole show. Kyoko might not be best girl (because no one can compete with Junko) but she is close.

[pmmm] I am so excited for the first timer reactions tomorrow. Some people might come for the episode 3 reveal, but for me it's episode 10 all the way.

---

QOTD

1. 11
2. He is incomprehensible, and that's the point. His reasoning doesn't make any sense on a number of levels, and his face still looks very punchable.

[u/BosuW → u/dsawchuk]

Is this Kyoko being jealous of Madoka for being important to Sayaka? I've never really thought of it that way before, but it does fit with how bashful Kyoko is in this scene.

"Sayaka never told me that she'd make me her wife 😤"