Hello folks, and welcome back to Wrong Every Time. Today we are returning to the tragic tales of Yuki Yuna and her companions, as their sincere love for each other is once again co-opted by the machinations of the Divine Tree, an organism which views its most faithful acolytes as pure fuel to burn. Having further developed its forms of manipulation from the religious fervor of Togo and Nogi’s trials or the plain duplicity of Yuna’s first run, the Divine Tree has learned how to turn their desire to protect each other into one more manipulative weapon, forcing Yuna to suffer and die lest her friends experience the same.
Fortunately, Yuna’s friends are far too attuned to her feelings to let this torture regimen go undetected, and have recently learned the full truth regarding her private suffering. Thus we find ourselves at last in the thunderous payoff segment of the season, as Togo leads the charge against a deity that has misled and betrayed its acolytes at every turn, consuming them to perpetuate a war that cannot be won. Are these “fires of creation” just one more convenient invention of the Divine Tree, or will this be the moment when the walls finally crumble, and all the horrors of the cosmos descend on our humble city? Regardless, this false peace based on perpetual suffering cannot last; if Yuna’s torment is the only way to maintain this world, then let the curtains fall and a new world be born. Onward!
Episode 5
After several episodes dominated by the yellow tones of the fading tree, our first episode with the truth revealed opens on obscured yet hopeful blue skies
This show is generally quite good about employing its color design to emphasize the current atmosphere of their town. The subdued, icy clarity of January comes through clearly in these muted tones
Brutal return to Yuna and Togo; Yuna can barely hold herself upright at this point, yet she nonetheless struggles to make small talk about the weather in order to allay Togo’s concerns
Togo smiles at this, but Yuna’s following “it’ll be spring soon” immediately reminds her of her friend’s alleged expiration date. This too is a reflection of Yuna’s heroism – that she’s the one facing her cruel destiny with a smile
Yuna states that she’s going to get married to the Divine Tree. A general extension of their religion’s patriarchal philosophy – women are revered yet caged and sacrificed, praised for their purity while denied all ability to actually choose their destiny. A seemingly Christianity-tinged echo of Shintoism’s general preoccupation with purity, going back all the way to Izanami being sealed in the cave; we’ve frequently seen Togo and Nogi engaging in these purity rituals
“Incorruptible Heart.” Even our episode title points towards this alleged faculty of “pure women,” which frames doubt in the project itself as a sign of corruption, rather than a legitimate disagreement with the philosophy of the Divine Tree
“We have already received approval from your parents.” This franchise embraces a suitably warped variation on anime’s frequently absent parents – here, their presence is irrelevant because they have already surrendered their children to the Divine Tree
An agent of the Divine Tree reveals that after three hundred years, the tree is nearing the end of its life
“We have found a solution to avoid the destruction of the human race.” “Um, shouldn’t everyone from the hero club hear this?” Yuna’s question emphasizes how these acolytes are manipulating her, forcing her into a situation where her friends can’t push back against the priests demanding more of her. As with the general “if you tell your friends, they’ll suffer too” condition, all of this is designed to weaken the solidarity found within the hero club, to isolate these girls in situations where their sense of responsibility towards each other makes them easier to control. It is easier for the hero club to say no to these agents than to Yuna herself, thus their desires are being initially filtered through Yuna, making it her decision they’re objecting to. Extremely cunning, evil stuff!
“A union between a god and a saintly maiden.” The camera pans up to focus on the shrine directly above Yuna, emphasizing this dark god’s looming presence
Apparently this ceremony is known as a Shinkon
The camera frames Yuna as increasingly isolated while considering this proposition, capturing her in a tiny box between table and window frame, thus echoing her feeling of entrapment
A cut that serves a dual purpose, as we then flip to examining the barren tree outside while reflecting on the dying Divine Tree
“The girl chosen for the Shinkon must die.” No surprise there
“Why did he choose me?” “Because both your body and soul are closest to god.” And you’re isolated, and you’re increasingly becoming a threat to his sovereignty
Even now, Yuna blames herself for being unable to relay her pain in a way that wouldn’t hurt her friends’ feelings
“You are the only person who has the power to save your friend and the human race.” The camera holds close to this priestess’s mask, emphasizing her overwhelming presence
“We will have the Divine Tree manage everyone. In a kind world.” So even if she consents, it seems like individual human consciousness will die out – we’ll all just be extensions of the Divine Tree
“Would everyone still be human?” “We would be able to exist under the Divine Tree’s care.” So, no
“Please make a merciful decision.” And one more touch of manipulation at the end, defining the choice to embrace this false eternity as a “merciful” one
“My life is already…” Considering their intentions, it now seems likely enough that Yuna was intentionally cursed with this pain, specifically so that she would value her life little enough that she might willingly consent to this marriage ceremony. A feature of religion throughout history – binding women to unhappy unions via the threat of what would happen to them if they remained independent
“If this life will perish with the curse, I want to use this life for everyone.” A montage across the hero club members emphasizes their disconnect in this moment, all in their own worlds, unaware this is when Yuna needs them the most
Of course, when she finally reveals the truth, the whole hero club is against it. This was the purpose of them isolating her – to make her work through these feelings without her friends’ support, and internalize a sense of responsibility regarding this preposterous demand. Another common trick of religions across history, intentionally isolating their victims from any support beyond the church itself. Door-to-door evangelism is less about converting others than convincing existing followers that the church is their only friend
I do wonder if this plays differently to a Japanese audience; I imagine all this seems specifically reflective of Japan’s issues with religious cults, whereas my American eyes are just like “yep, that’s religion for you.” Most humans need to believe in something larger than themselves, but “the inherent dignity of mankind” seems like a better choice than a doctrinarian imaginary friend
“It might be a good thing to take them down.” That’s what I like to hear, Fuu
Togo reveals they know the truth about Yuna’s body. The Divine Tree can’t hide behind its manipulations anymore
“If Yuna dies, do you know how much pain that would cause everyone here!?” Togo laying down the law. Yuna is not the only one invested in her own life, and like Gin and all the other sacrifices before her, her true great work is the charity and compassion she exhibits in her day-to-day life
“Yuna! Don’t use the clauses like that!” With all her friends against her, she leans on their own private doctrine, the five clauses of the hero club
Seeing her friends argue against the necessity of this choice unsurprisingly just makes Yuna more upset, as she’s already suffered through the same doubts and deliberations they’re undergoing
After Yuna flees, the rest of the team are called to the Divine Tree’s shrine
“My highest respects to the heroes.” “Please stop.” Togo is absolutely done with this pantomime of respect and authority. All their fawning words about the heroes just ring like the condescending lies they are
“As long as the flames outside exist, Yuna will remain cursed.” “Then can we do something about the flames outside?” It seems clear the Divine Tree’s minions don’t really see it as particularly tragic to be sacrificed to their god – that’s just the normal way of things
“So you’ve always survived by sacrificing the lives of children. How can a world like that exist?” If the Divine Tree’s emissary was hoping to convince these girls of the righteousness of their cause, they’ve seriously miscalculated
Nogi of all people is the one who goes for the throat, recalling the humanity that once existed within her teacher before saying “you’re no longer that Aki-sensei.” If we sacrifice the human element, there is nothing left worth saving
“If that’s the case, then you all should sacrifice yourselves!” Love it, Fuu. Finally, complete rebellion against this society’s abhorrent values
Suddenly their phones sound a warning, and the great fire begins to consume the real world
“Once a Shinkon is created, humans will become the people of God. No longer being humans, they will not be attacked anymore.” So all the Divine Tree wishes for now is one final, total harvest
And Done
Yeaaah, fuck ‘em up team! It is delightful to see the party so righteously furious at the Divine Tree and its simpering acolytes, after three goddamn seasons of personal sacrifices being manipulated and redirected towards its endless appetite for cruelty. It warms my heart to see such fervent prior defenders of this social order now defiantly arrayed against it, from Togo’s utter abandonment of any politeness towards their jailors to Nogi’s pinpoint condemnation of the once-humans who’ve let themselves become instruments of the Tree. It is frustratingly easy to let our goodwill towards each other be corrupted and redirected towards faith in an unworthy “higher” power, but in truth there is no power more worthy of celebration than our ability to reach out and be kind to each other. Whether their world ends in flames or rises reborn, the time of sacrificing innocence to the whims of the heavens has ended. No gods or masters, only magical girls!
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