NANA — Episode 33
Once again, Osaki Nana rather than Komatsu Nana takes the opening and closing narrative…
(Spoilers for episode 33 and preceding episodes included.)
NANA is currently my favorite show that I’m watching at this time. It’s quite likely that it will end up in my Top 10 if not Top 5 favorite anime once the show completes. I’ll just have to ride it out to see if it manages that. For now, it’s necessary to focus on just episode 33.
The past several episodes have been rather cruel in introducing the subject of Hachi’s pregnancy, but then moving away from her entirely and instead focusing on others, especially Reira and Shin. It’s been difficult not getting to see what has been going through Hachi’s head as it’s been happening, and instead, we’ve had to view the situation through the eyes of Nobu, Nana, and Takumi.
This episode bucks that tendency and returns the viewer back into Hachi’s mind. Clearly, she’s been thinking quite a lot. She wants to keep the baby. I found this a little uplifting, given my personal views on abortion are a bit mixed and I wasn’t sure how I’d react if she chose to abort. The new issue is what she will do. In the end, it looks like she’s going to give up all her hopes and dreams to have this baby, and if that means accepting money from Takumi to do so, so be it. It was at this point I became frustrated. Junko’s reaction, her screeching at Hachi as if she were some child was unnecessary. Junko always assumes that Hachi hasn’t thought things through at all. Perhaps it’s true that Hachi often makes bad choices, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t understand the consequences–and clearly Junko has no idea just how bad Hachi’s self-esteem is, and how she sees herself as just an awful woman (she reminds me slightly of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon’s Mizuno Ami, although they both handle their lack of confidence diffferently). By just berating her, she prevented Hachi from even attempting to come up with a different solution. Kyuusuke was right–Hachi did need to talk to Nobu. But Junko made sure she crushed every last ounce of Hachi’s confidence by saying there was no way Nobu would believe her anyway. I’ve always liked Junko, but at that moment, I can’t help but wonder how emotionally abusive their friendship has been.
Hachi already made her decision about Nobu, and it’s a sad yet honorable one. She knew he’d have to give up his dream to support her, and there was no way she’d allow that to happen. No matter how little she realizes it, Hachi is a good person. Foolish, but often those who are the most naive are the ones who have the biggest, kindest hearts. Those two things just tend to go hand-in-hand.
What kills me most is Takumi. I really don’t know what to make of him. They keep painting him in a positive light, but then he’ll have a bout of selfishness. In some ways, I wonder if he does care about her, but in others, I know he simply wants to keep possession of his favorite toy. She rejected him, she was the first to truly do that it seems, and he doesn’t like it. The thought that she rejected him for Nobu was even worse.
I just realized where his idea of getting married came from! It just came to me! I had been wondering all day why he’d bring that up (part of the reason I was thinking he was being shown in a positive light), but it’s finally hit me. He saw the sticker of Hachi and Nobu with the caption “Hachi – Nobu’s wife” on her cell phone. He could see how strong their love was, and that she looked forward to the idea of marriage. That’s why he did it. He knew it would help his mission to take back his toy! I can’t believe I missed that for so long. So it’s true, he really is a bastard.
Enough about Takumi and Hachi. Only time will tell what’s going to happen there. What has begun to intrigue me more and more is Nana’s reaction to all of this. Her opening narrative saying it isn’t Ren she wants to go to when she’s lonely. Her admission that she’s unable to truly wish for Hachi’s happiness if it results in her being seperated. Her constant choice of wording – 普通の友達 – ‘normal friend’. What does she mean by this? Is it merely her desire to have a female friend? Or is it because her feelings for Hachi aren’t ‘normal’ as they’re too possessive? Or is it that her feelings are moving beyond friendship, to something ‘abnormal’ between two women? There really are several possibilities here, and no, it’s not just due to my frequent preference for same-sex relationships between women in anime. Those words potentially carry each of those meanings, and I’m tense wondering just which one is right–or if perhaps they all three are.
All in all, it was a painful episode. Watching Hachi being berated by Junko, watching her give up on love, seeing Nana crying to Yasu, and finally hearing those final words from Nana…so much emotion was there, and so much potential is left. It’ll never surpass Revolutionary Girl Utena as my favorite anime (it just lacks the cerebral feel of that show), but it’s entirely likely that NANA will hit #2 on my Top Ten Favorite Anime list.
13 Comments
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hakojo said,
January 14, 2007 at 8:54 pm
-just finished and still sobbing- This episode completely tore me up. And I just got the 8th FMA DVD today so now I’m going to go and get all squealy over Wrath….
Anyway, even though she was harsh, I think I can see where Junko is coming from. She’s sort of an abrasive person, and when she gets this worried she really doesn’t know how to express herself comfortingly. Also, when she and Hachi were in school together, she was always supporting Hachi through her various ‘loves’, and she’s sort of gotten used to acting like Hachi’s mom. I know my mom would tell me exactly the same thing if I told her I was pregnant, athough that’s probably not a good example.
I also wish that Takumi would stop being so damn confusing and manipulative. Ugh. I don’t like him just because I can’t figure him out. I mean, deep down I know he just wants Hachi for himself, but sometimes he comes across as being caring and I don’t know how to react. It’s also really frightening how much he looks like Hao O.o
On a completely unrelated and fangirlish note, I wanna hear a Paku version of Kuroi Namida. It just seems like something she’d do a wonderful job with. Not that Anna’s not fabulous, but I can fantasize, can’t I? :p
ceriselumiere said,
January 14, 2007 at 9:23 pm
I still feel that Junko was, in fact, too harsh, to the point of being worse than Takumi during that scene. She’s never really tried to understand Hachi, always just assumed she was sort of brainless, when in reality Hachi does a lot of thinking, and a lot of self-loathing. Having her self-loathing reaffirmed by Junko is just going to crush her spirit even more. It just really bothered me. I’m a little sensitive to relationships that have abusive tendencies though.
hakojo said,
January 14, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Ah. Well, I’m sort of used to having friends that just say ’shut up and stop crying’ to everything. I didn’t really think Junko was that harsh at all; I actually thought someone need to step up and lay everything out. But again, I’m completely insensitive to the misery of others.
I just don’t want to see Hachi and Takumi get married >.> Hachi/Nobu was too darn cute!
ceriselumiere said,
January 14, 2007 at 10:54 pm
The thing was, Hachi had already started laying things out. She’d already made her decision. Moreover, I have nothing against laying it all out, but one must take into consideration how much the other person is already suffering. Why make it a point to inflict more pain? It’s hardly “spoiling” her to discuss the situation as adults. If people would treat Hachi like an adult rather than a pet, she’d probably do a lot better. But instead, they spoil her in a different way by making her believe they have no confidence in her, and thus causing her to lose faith in herself. It’s not their fault she has no confidence, but Junko’s hardly done anything to encourage her.
Meh, I just don’t have friends at all, so I don’t have to worry about this stuff. I wouldn’t want a friend like Junko anyway. Kyousuke yes, Junko no. I really can’t bring myself to like that character much anymore, not after the way she defended Shouji for cheating on Hachi, and now further demoralizing someone that’s supposed to be her friend. Such a shame, she has an awesome character design…
I seriously doubt they’ll get married. But I don’t think Hachi/Nobu is going to happen either, not with some of the closing monologues Hachi did around the time they got together…
hakojo said,
January 15, 2007 at 3:47 pm
See, I’m with you on disliking Junko because of how she reacted when Shouji cheated, so it’s not like I’m sticking up for her or anything. It’s just how I reacted to what she said.
It’s just so depressing, ugh! I finally actually like Hachi, and now it seems like she’ll never be happy!!! YOU CAN DO IT, HACHIKO! WE BELIEVE IN YOU! -goes off to cry-
…I’m getting far too into this x)
ceriselumiere said,
January 15, 2007 at 4:38 pm
I had forgiven Junko to an extent for the Shouji thing, but…she’s just always so mean to Hachi. When she’s there for her, it’s always in a frigid way…hard to explain. It’s disheartening, because she was one of my favorite characters for so long, and now…ugh. ^^;
I don’t think it’s possible to get too far into this show. There’s no escape from it anyway. It’s too good for its own good.
hakojo said,
January 15, 2007 at 7:49 pm
Since Death Note got licensed, NANA’s the only thing I have to look forward to anymore.
And hey, it’s nice to feel like a girl sometimes and get all sobby over drama shows^^
ceriselumiere said,
January 15, 2007 at 8:07 pm
I think the potential for you to enjoy shoujo is there. It’s just you’ve been introduced to a couple of overly dramatic ones (at least Fruits Basket, which I enjoy, but only as a fluffy guilty pleasure sort of thing). A lot of shoujo is incredibly good, deep, and interesting. Many of them have strong similarities to some of the more shounen stuff too, like Magic Knight Rayearth. Lots of “powering up” etc, not to mention swordfighting, which is always good.
I took advantage of Right Stuf’s Viz sale and have the first 3 Death Note manga headed my way. Want to check those out before the anime.
…I also got a lot of other stuff in that sale…. Angel Sanctuary 1-3, Drifting Classroom 1-3, Full Moon o Sagashite 1-3, preoder NANA 5 & 6, preoder Ouran High School Host Club 8 & 9, Read or Die 2-4, Read or Dream 1-4 (2-4 are preorders, I think), and W Juliet 1-3. Figured if I didn’t go to Ohayocon, I could certainly buy a bunch of manga like I had been there. ^_-
Need to write up some stuff on Kimagure Orange Road and the Australian Open, methinks. Even if I should be reading The Unredeemed Captive for history instead.
hakojo said,
January 15, 2007 at 10:23 pm
Heehee….I’m flat broke now, since I just used the 30$ Best Buy gift card my aunt got me on the 8th DVD of FMA and the second GitS: SAC OST. I think I’ve got, like, $16 in quarters up in my room somewhere, but no more spending sprees for me for a while. -sigh- And -cough- Marmalade Boy is my fluffy guilty pleasure manga….
But hey, in two months I’ll be old enough to get a job!
And I have one exposure left on the second roll of film with convention pictures on it. I’ll get another shot of Alphonse or something so my mom can take it to be developed when she goes shopping on Thursday. Just so you can pretend like you were at Ohayocon even more, I took a picture of the dealer room for ya ^_-
ceriselumiere said,
January 15, 2007 at 10:37 pm
Ooo, pictures of the dealer room.
You read MB? O_o;; Honey, are you *sure* you don’t like shoujo? Cause it doesn’t *get* anymore shoujo than Marmalade Boy. Heck, if you like that, you might even like Hana Yori Dango (Boys over Flowers).
Wait, I think I knew you’d read some of MB…it does sound vaguely familiar, but it still a little surprising given your usual shounen fare. Then again, it’s probably surprising that I adore stuff like Saber Marionette J…
hakojo said,
January 16, 2007 at 12:03 pm
I really don’t know what I was thinking when I bought it. All I know is that I went back the next day to get four more volumes. Once I finished those I was like “Wait, what the hell am I doing?” and my friendly neighboorhood manga shop closed before I had an opportunity to get the rest of it.
They’ve got Hana Yori Dango at the library….hmmm….
ceriselumiere said,
January 16, 2007 at 3:31 pm
My thought is, if you like the meldrama of MB, you’ll love HYD. A lot of people I know who “don’t usually like shoujo” absolutely love it (at least the anime). Personally, I thought the anime was okay, but the seiyuu were terrible. Maybe it’s better in manga form (I know I’ve liked the live action Taiwanese drama version better than the anime…) The lead character’s pretty cool, she decides to face down the 4 most powerful boys (and in most cases, most obnoxious too) in her school, and ends up getting tormented by the entire student body for doing so, yada yada. Might as well check it out. I’m not giving it a major recommendation, but it seems it’s popular with the non-shoujo crowd for some reason. O_o;
I’m annoyed. I had a note on my door saying my Right Stuf package had been delivered to the leasing office, but when I got to the leasing office (a rather chilly walk today), nothing was there. Grrr.
ceriselumiere said,
January 16, 2007 at 3:33 pm
…and no sooner did I post that then the leasing office called to say it’d just been dropped off (it was supposed to have been dropped off at noon or so, according to the note.) Time to bundle up again!