Painful Reunion

"I liked the look in your eyes when you were hurt." Go to summary Interpretation:
           While musing in the Rose Garden at the start of this episode, Juri says once again, "Yes I hate you." Needless to say she is not very pleased when her dear childhood friend appears, watching her fence, just like old times. But there she is, and soon she wants to talk to Juri. After Shiori apologizes, she still seems to think what's keeping them apart is the boy.
        But it isn't the boy that keeps Juri from wanting to rekindle this friendship, even though idealistic Utena urges her to. It's Shiori herself. As Anthy says at the end of the episode, Shiori hasn't changed at all. Although she is apologetic and probably feels guilty, she still harbors jealousy for her friend, and on a level is still the same girl who was cruel enough to steal a boy away. "Cruelly innocent"..... cruelly innocent of why Juri is so curt, cruelly innocent of the torment she causes. I think Juri is more angry at her than if she Shiori purposely set out with the intent to hurt her. Her innocence shows she doesn't truly understand, not only Juri's feelings, but the flaws within herself that would lead her both to steal the boy and later take such triumph in her friend's secret, her friend's pain. She hasn't looked much within herself and explored her own motives for why she did what she did, and Nemuro Hall exploits that, exposing and distorting her darkest nature.
          If Shiori were truly innocent, would she feel guilty over the boy? No, and she claims earlier she did this out of love, but later her motives are revealed in Mikage's seminar. She used the boy as a way to level some power discrepancy she saw between Juri and herself. Anyone who measures friendship in terms of power is not entirely innocent. Ignorant, perhaps, of the pain she inflicts because she doesn't know Juri's feelings. But not innocence.
        Back to the locket, the symbol of Shiori's betrayal. Juri discards it, no longer wanting to be bound to someone so cruel without knowing it. After seeing Shiori again, she sees her friend hasn't changed at all. She hasn't gained any insight, she hasn't grown, she's still has as narrow a mindset as the day she stole the boy. And Juri longs to free herself from that.
        But she can't be. Why?   Perhaps she clings to some hope, somewhere, that beneath all the cruelty Shiori does retain her innocence. She is angry at herself because she realizes this bond makes her weak -- not necessarily because she loves someone, but because it binds her to a person who cannot love her, but instead seems to hate her and enjoys hurting her - at least, she seemed to enjoy teasing her when she drew the sword.
         I have a theory about Shiori herself that may be of interest when looking at my interpretation of this episode. Click here if you are interested in it.

Click here to go back to main Brief Overview:
            Juri's friend, Shiori, returns to the Academy. She explains to Utena and Anthy that she grew up with Juri, and she always admired Juri and felt she was the only person she could trust completely.
            Mikage and Mamiya have a metaphorical discussion concerning a lovely orange rose conveniently floating in their aquarium. Apparently then need an insect's venom to remove the dangerous thorns of the rose, the thorns necessary to complete their goals.
             Nanami questions Miki about his encounter with his sister, and Juri excuses herself from the meeting. Shiori catches her outside. Juri ignores her coolly and moves off, but Shiori stops her, really wanting to talk. Shiori apologizes for stealing the boy away from Juri. Juri curtly dismisses her apology and tells her not to worry if that's what she felt guilty about. She never loved the boy. Shiori wants to know who is in Juri's locket then?
            There is a brilliant double entendre here as Juri steps off of the balcony into a dark hall, we see a shot of Utena, and Juri says: "It's you." Utena asks Juri why she doesn't forgive Shiori (even though Utena has no clue what the situation is.) Juri smiles at her sadly and dubs her "cruelly innocent", just like Shiori. Utena discusses this with Akio and he tells basically the same thing.
            Juri rips off her necklace and throws it into the water, claiming it was only her weakness that bound her to Shiori. Shiori finds it in her room, and goes to Mikage's seminar. There she reveals her jealousy for Juri, and her desire to alter the power in their relationship was what drove her to steal the boy in the first place. Staring at her own picture in Juri's pendant, now she feels she has power over Juri, possessing her secret; but is still horrified the secret is bound to her.
        As a Black Rose Duelist, Shiori steals the sword from Juri, taunting her with the exposure of her secret. Utena and Shiori duel, Shiori occasionally shouting her triumph over Juri. No longer shrinking in her shadow, she now is the stronger of the two with the knowledge she holds. Utena defeats her, and Shiori appears not to remember anything as she casually greets Juri the next day. After Juri wakes up, her necklace is waiting for her. She is angry at herself in the end that she cannot break her attachment.