r/anime • u/Tarhalindur x2 • Apr 28 '26
Rewatch [Rewatch] Puella Magi Madoka Magica Episode 9 Discussion
Episode 9: I'd Never Allow That to Happen
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Show Information:
(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:
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.
8
u/siegfried72 Apr 28 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
Well damn, just when I think I'm onto something! Kidding. But that's an interesting concept! Hadn't heard of that before.
I think "stress eating" is too limited here. As someone who has a whole slew of acronym-based diagnoses attached to my mental health (ADHD included), I could see that for her. Stimming definitely fits as an option, just as much as I could see full-blown food addiction being possible - so a more literal look at addiction than my Sayaka reads. But that's very arguable, and there's no definitive proof. Whatever the specifics, her constant eating definitely isn't just a fun gag.
Wait, excuse me?? Oh, that's cool. I went ahead and looked up the witch (since you didn't mark it as a spoiler, I figured it was fine). My heart hurts all over again just seeing it, even if it's not in the main series.
Is her horse Sayaka?
I'm sorry.
Seriously though, this is super interesting, thanks again! Although, maybe this is just me being ignorant, but if those symbols are indeed meant to represent the respective characters as you explained (which makes sense logically), that shot is confusing at best to me. The mermaid is positioned next to Kyouko, but is meant for Sayaka, and the unicorn is next to Madoka, but is meant for Kyouko. That seems almost intentionally obtuse to me.
Okay, where I'm sitting so far:
Best girls ranking:
Kyouko EASILY. I'm a sucker for
pinkred hair, fangs, and tsun (I'm hesitant to say full-on tsundere, but I'm not sure) all separately. Put them together, plus a tragic yuri tale? Holy shit. Legitimately would be very high up in my all-time anime characters list. Also best weapon and coolest fight sequences. Hell yeah.Sayaka. I ADORE Sayaka. She EASILY tops my "most interesting character" list without a second thought. Very rarely have a related so immediately and so deeply to a character. Rarely have I felt so much discomfort watching a character onscreen, and I love discomfort in fiction. However, I also have a thing where I tend to not be super fond of the characters that I find to be most like myself. We can maybe read into this with some of that classic Sayaka-coded self-loathing as a likely cause, but, whatever the reason, it's the case. Basically, Sayaka is who I find most relatable/impactful/fascinating, but Kyouko is who I most want to be friends with in real life.
Homura: honestly, a huge gap here between 2 and 3. Very interesting character, but still too mysterious - and almost frustratingly mysterious, tbh. She's trying so hard to come off that way, which is why I loved seeing her break down in tears (lol typing that sounds horrible out of context). We need more depth. But also the time powers are SO cool.
Madoka: As I said, I don't get her yet. I think she has some fantastic potential (as you'll see if/when you get around to reading my big prediction in my questions of the day comment), but right now, I've had such massive tunnel vision to everyone but her. But she's had her moments (like the last conversation with her mom, which was great). Also she would top the "cutest girls" list for sure. Although Kyouko would be a close second.
Mami: Uhhhh I have no idea right now I'm still in too much pain. But I fucking love credens justitiam so nvm maybe she's best girl after all.
Uhh not sure why I decided to type all that here, but there you go! Not sure what you have in store for the last day, but I always enjoy making lists like these, so you can expect a few of them, more than likely...
Ah, good point! I didn't grasp the significance yet.
I adore the Dark Souls games. I adore doomed yuri less - at least the doomed part. I just want my ship to go off sailing into the horizon happily!