Was always fascinated by this duel and the couple episodes leading to it. As for the song, the lyrics depict a scene of Greek mythology: the sack of Troy and the slaying of the old king Priam by Pyrrhus Neoptolemus (rendered "Piras" in the subtitles). In context, the lyrics represent a hopeless fight - Wakaba doesn't stand a chance against Utena, even if the latter initially hesitates.
Thank you for this. This has always been one of my favorite Duel songs, and I'm especially appreciative of you for also including the translated lyrics. This entire episode brought me to tears. It really makes you consider things from the _other_ side. When the Main Character™ gets their storyline, often the friendships they'd previously forged get left by the wayside in favor of those ''new'', more "exciting" friends. We never consider how those left behind might feel. In this case, Utena never really seems to consider Wakaba's feelings _at all._ Wakaba (no matter how irrationally) felt that Anthy was the barrier between what she and Saionji _'could have'._ She saw Saionji "reject" her in favor of Anthy. She saw Utena willing to go so far as to FIGHT her, [Wakaba] in order to PROTECT Anthy... _another_ "rejection" of her. This is *HEARTBREAKING* just thinking about. And when you think about it, Wakaba never really gets a resolution. She loses her best friend. (And memories of that friend) she "loses" her love interest Saionji. (Although it could be argued that she never really _had_ him.) I REALLY feel sorry for her, and you can FEEL the heartbreak and yearning in this song. It ALWAYS gives me chills.
Great analysis and I totally agree with a lot of it. You see Utena say that she doesn't really understand what's wrong with Wakaba but you also never see her ask. Even after the dual, you still see how sad and unresolved the conflict is. At the end, though, she does end up with the Onion prince who IIRC said he would be there for her
Oh, the pity! Although the aged man put all his strength into his skillful sword, how pathetic his skill is in his age. He misses his target, sword swishing through the air, staggers and falls, oh, that old man. Troy's castle tower and the burning summit was rent asunder, with a thunderclap Piras was deafened temporarily. Witness! The white-haired old man holds his sword up in the sky, Piras standeth petrified. Piras soon regains his hostility and brings his blood-stained, dripping blade, down upon the aged king.
