As the physical implications of mental health become more well-known, it paints a picture grimmer than what most would want to accept. Prolonged stress, depression, and disillusionment aren’t things that one can “suck up because the older generation did it.” They’re diseases that have as much consequence as any other ailments. In Gushing Over Magical Girls episode 7, we’re shown how depressing this is.
The longer you idolize something, the more you misconstrue it. The human brain excels at making connections that just aren’t there. We do this all the time, and for good reason. Recognizing patterns and filling in the blanks made us the dominant predators on this flat chunk of rock flying through space. But when that ability is coupled with admiration and idolization, it completely distorts the logical part of our thoughts. When we idolize someone, we put that person on a pedestal and believe they can do no wrong, and are infallible. That train of thought makes us forget that in reality, they’re prone to the same faults, thoughts, and flaws as we are.
As Gushing Over Magical Girls episode 7 starts, we’re shown Utena in her toddler days, glued to the TV. She’s bright-eyed and smiling over the magical girl fending off evil on the screen. By her own admission, that was where her admiration for magical girls started. An admiration that’s only grown as we progress to the present day. But where Utena was once just a spectator, she now has a front-row seat to the world she so desperately wanted to be part of. She’s so intertwined with it that she’s starting to see the cracks in her perceived perfect world where she once saw Magia Azure (Sayo Minakami) as the perfect woman — one that all girls would want to emulate. Now, she realizes that something isn’t quite right with her. Her state of mind is so unlike her that even the rest of Tres Magia takes notice.
We’re shown how Sayo became a magical girl. As she remembers her more illustrious days to strengthen her resolve, she gives into more carnal desires, as we’re not privy to the full extent of Sayo’s mindset. Concluding the cause of her maladies is a bit complex. There are, however, two main paths one can follow. The first is depression.
Tres Magia are the cream of the crop. They’re the perfect magical girls. Or at least, they were until Magia Baiser showed up. Since then, they have been dealt one defeat after another. People like to erroneously sum it up as “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” or “try until you succeed.” But in reality, the mental fortitude needed for both things is something most people do not have. For a solid portion of the population, a few failures at something they thought they were really good at is enough to make them question themselves. And as that leads one to spiral into self-doubt and eventually self-hate, depression quickly follows. While the loss of libido during depression is something well-documented, the opposite of hypersexuality is also true, but much less talked about. Sayo’s need to satisfy her erotic thoughts may stem from this.
Another possible scenario for Sayo’s rut is her unwillingness to accept her masochism. This may be because she’s ashamed of it or thinks it’s inappropriate for someone in her position. She may believe that there’s something wrong with her for liking it. While people are quick to point out that trauma or abuse causes masochism, there is no common underlying cause. However, an important caveat in regards to Gushing Over Magical Girls episode 7 is that a decent number of people who are masochists engage in that practice as a way to relinquish power. These are respectable, capable, intelligent people. Who for some reason or another, always have to be morally upright. Engaging in this practice allows them to free themselves of the heavy responsibility that often comes with their lifestyle. In Magia Azure’s case, this scenario holds a lot of weight.
As Sayo tries to regain her psychological footing, she runs into Utena outside a Magical Girl exhibition. Initially, she just stands up for Utena as someone cuts in line in front of her, but eventually ends up browsing the exhibit. But as she’s presented with the idealized version of what she’s supposed to be, it makes her more conflicted to satisfy her need for personal validation. She opts for a one-on-one fight against Magia Baiser. Mistakenly believing if she were to subjugate her, her less-than-glamorous feelings would finally subside. As the battle commences, Azure sets up a barrier to keep the rest of Tres Magia unaware of her confrontation and attacks Magia Baiser with all her might. Unfortunately for her, Magia Baiser is always the smarter of the two. She’s soon trapped on a transfigured panda that’s taken the form of a cavalletto squarciapalle. However, it’s important to point out that the way Magia Azure was positioned would not lead to any severe physical damage since her weight was held up by her arm/leg as they were restrained. However, the psychologically degrading part of this device is still there and the psychological torture did what it was meant to do.
Despite all her bluster and bravado, Azure breaks due to the abuse she’s receiving. One can complain about the dips in animation on this show. But the pain and resignation on Azure’s face was so well executed that when people talk about uncomfortable moments in anime, it is going to be up there with a certain girl/dog chimera. As Azure crawls on the ground in defeat, Magia Baiser boasts over her. At that moment, Azure reaches for Magia Baiser, almost as if to continue the fight, but instead submits.
We all know there’s flight and there’s fight. But there’s also freeze. And there’s also FAWN. What do you do when you can’t fight back, you can’t run, but you can’t stay still? You fawn. Azure chooses to do just that to the point that she attempts to lick Magia Baiser’s feet as she asks for more ill-treatment. Instead of getting what she wants, she gains Magia Baiser’s ire.
Here, we see something interesting about Magia Baiser, or rather Utena. As I’ve mentioned before, nothing she does causes any grievous physical harm. All her attacks can easily be lethal. Yet, besides being a sex pest, she really hasn’t caused lasting physical damage. Emotional damage, sore butts, abrasions, and bruising—sure. But actually, taking anyone out? Not even close. Even as she delights in assaulting Tres Magia, she knows there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed. Utena sees herself as an antagonist to fuel growth, not impede it. She wishes to be the obstacle for her beloved magical girls to overcome. Seeing one of them falter to the dark side and give the middle finger to all her fans, is inexcusable.
Utena has an idolized view of magical girls—a seriously erroneous one. Her magical girls are the salt of the earth. She sees them as perfect, even though we’ve seen Kaoruko be abrasive and brash, and Haruka would lose a critical thinking match against a pineapple. Because of this, Magia Baiser admonishes Azure and leaves in disgust. She’s lamenting the recent turn of events. Venalita appears, and she asks if it’s upset over her not defeating Magia Azure. Venalita basically tells her, “Nah, do you.” This also points to the fact that Venalita may not be as evil as it’s made out to be.
Screenshots via HiDive
© Akihiro Ononaka/ Takeshobo/ Gushing Over Magical Girls Production Committee