Akayuki's blog has a good point on SP ep18: "Take note, it’s NOT Shizuma who thinks Nagisa’s a replacement, it’s Nagisa who thinks she is." So given Nagisa'a lack of self-esteem and Shizuma's lack of communication, they seem to be channelling Marimite's Yumi and Sachiko. Another Marimite vibe.
Speaking of Marimite. I'm at a loss as to how many eps there will be for the 3rd season OVA. At Comic Con one of the creators said 5 but there's just too much going on for that unless the OVA is 5 one hour eps (which it very well could be). No help at the Anime News Network, they only list the 3 compilation DVDs (red, white, yellow) put out this year which are just compilation of clips for eps featuring each of the 3 rose colors with some new narration.
www.strawberrypanic.com has a couple of pics out for ep 19. looks like we'll get to see alot more of Shizuma and Kaori together.
The Animesuki forum reports that there will be 5 DVD relases for the Marimite third season OVA starting 11-29-2006. Not sure how long each DVD is as the site selling them (animate-shop.jp) does not say but each should be an hout at least making the 5ep OVA equivalent to 10eps of the TV series and more than enough for what they advertised in Cobalt magazine: DVD1 Vacation of the Lambs Novel 12 DVD2 Midsummer's Page Novel 13 DVD3 Cool Breeze Novel 14 DVD4 Ready, Go! Novel 15 DVD5 Ciao Sorella Novel 17 (book 16 is short stories and book 18 covers the anime)
This covers alot of ground but unhappily not the next year's cultural festival in novel 19. Well gotta leave something for the next OVA (novel 24 is coming ou).
The later part of the series, though, sees Chikane snap in apparently jealous rage at S?ma and Himeko's "relationship" and she seems to turn against Himeko. Many consider this aspect of the story very difficult to follow, as no explanation of Chikane's motivations or the nature of the Priestess' roles, is revealed until the end. Further, nothing conclusive is revealed about their romance once the Orochi are all defeated, until after the end credits of the last episode, where it is implied — though revealed only by the most symbolic item of the couples' bonding — that they are finally free to be with one another.
Kannazuki no Miko is considered difficult to watch by many shoujo-ai fans; the show features brutally melodramatic twists and turns, and no concrete conclusion is reached until after the end credits of the last episode. Though exceedingly brief, that final snippet is interpreted by many fans as confirmation of a happy ending for the pair, albeit a vague one.
Kannazuki no Miko goes where its predecessors did not, however, and remains on record as the only series with a conclusive happy ending for a shojo ai couple, though the final resolution occurs after the credits of the final episode - a placement that most viewers miss as a result.
My take on what happens is:
Spoiler:
Chikane fully realizes in ep 7 from a flashback of prior life memory that in their previous incarnations as priestesses, Chikane, as lunar priestess, killed the solar priestess, Himeko. The sword god (Ame no whatever) requires the sacrifice of one of the priestesses at the hands of the other to be able to restore the world. Apparently in every cyle, the Orochi succeed in destroying the world and the sword priestesses restore it with their sacrifice.
Frankly, Chikane can't deal with the guilt and pain of having killed Himeko. She is determined that she will die this time but knows that Himeko does not have the strength to kill her without a whole lot of provocation. So Chikane joins the Orochi, rapes Himeko (cuz nothing says hate me enough to kill me like my raping you) and then goes on to destroy the world. I think she's unbalanced when she assaults Hieko (having taking on Orochi powers which can't be good for you mental well being), I don't think that Chikane actually turns evil. She takes on the Orochi role to ensure that she will be the sacrifice since she knows the Orochi will destroy the world anyway.
During ep 8 up to the time she assaults Himeko, she acts like she is wrapping up her life and saying good bye to the world which she is since she is getting ready to die. I don't think that rape is triviallized. The rape is not portrayed as a loving act at all but more like an attack. There is fundamentally no difference between her attack on Himeko and her attack on Souma. She's not planning to kill either but she does want them to hate her enough to kill her. I think Chikane rapes Himeko because she can "finally do what she wants" due to the corruption of the Orochi power and lets the really dark side of her lust out. But there is absolutely no love in that scene that I could see just violence.
Ep 9 opens with Himeko in shock and Chikane hanging with the other Orochi. Some folks say Himeko acts like she wasn't raped but that's not what I saw. Shock is a very real reaction for those who are raped, especially when their trust is betrayed by someone they love. I do think the rape was the thing that finally knocked Chikane off that Everest high pedestal where Himeko had been keeping her. The problem is that Himeko knows that Chikane has not turned evil and wants to know why she doing evil regardless. This firms her determination to go on alone and summon Ame no whatever so she confront Chikane in the final battle. You have to wonder if Chikane didn't plan for this to be the way to get Himeko to go on without her.
When Chikane comes back in ep 10, they get back together for a day as if nothing had happened and this mostly is what makes people think that the rape thing is ignored. It isn't. Himeko definitely flashes back to that moment when she first sees Chikane. So why does Chikane come back? It's certainly counterproductive to her goal of having Himeko hate her. Personally, I think the two of them are cruising down denial. I think it would have trivialized the rape if they had kissed or made love at this time but that's not what happens. Himeko is still in shock but willing to be in this "dream" and Chikane is weak enough to want to spend one last time with Himeko before she dies. Both, however, know what is coming
The last 2 eps are the big battle. Chikane has absorbed all the Orochi's powers into one big mecha. Himeko and Souma mount Ame no whatever who turns out to be a mecha. Thus the Big Mech fight. The important bit of this is the sword fight between Chikane and Himeko. This is a sort of rape yet again as Chikane lets loose with lust filled comments in hopes that Himeko will finally stab her. Chikane dominates but it's clear that she is not trying to kill Himeko skipping every opportunity to strike a real blow. Himeko also knows this and that's why she's says Chikane is lying. She knows that Chikane is not evil and it's only after Chikane destroys the world, that Himeko gets serious about fighting. Even then, it takes Chikane's distraction when she cut's off Himeko's shell pendant that lets Himeko kill her quite unintentionally (since she expected her to parry).
Himeko tries to kill herself but Chikane stops her and explains why she did it (basically so she could be the sacrifice instead of Himeko). At this point, Himkeo realizes that she loves Chikane in the same way that she loves Souma only more so. She says "aishiteru" (love) instead of daisuke (can really likes as well as love). The sacrifice complete they regenerate the world but are separated when Chikane is taken away to the afterlife. However, Chikane promises she will be reborn and Himeko promises to wait for her. Back in the world where Chikane never existed, Himeko dumps Souma. What looks like years later, she finds Chikane in the intersection of a busy street and "they will fall in love again".
Now some folks think that if Chikane had come clean with her feelings and not pushed Himeko towards Souma, everything would have turned out alright. Well putting aside the stigma of homosexuality that still exists in this world, she had no way of knowing that Himeko would reciprocate (though we know in ep 12 that she would). The real problem is their destiny. Even if they had become a couple they would still have been destined to have one kill the other to stop the Orochi and who knows if Ame no whatever would have let them meet again without all the angst. Unhappily, it was going to be tragic no matter what. Still I think they finally broke the cycle of destiny. Maybe having one of the priestesses become Orochi was what was needed all along to finally seal away the evil forever and they were being reincarnated with buried memories to make that happen.
I think this is a good and worthwhile anime but it's not for everyone. If you hate mecha for one, there is prolly too much of that. Chikane and Himeko's relationship with its ups and cavernous downs is front and center and they are the two main characters. It's not subtext. They do get a happy ending. These things put this one in the plus column for gay portrayals IMHO.
sam7777 wrote:Chikane fully realizes in ep 7 from a flashback of prior life memory that in their previous incarnations as priestesses, Chikane, as lunar priestess, killed the solar priestess, Himeko. ... Frankly, Chikane can't deal with the guilt and pain of having killed Himeko. She is determined that she will die this time but knows that Himeko does not have the strength to kill her without a whole lot of provocation. So Chikane joins the Orochi, rapes Himeko (cuz nothing says hate me enough to kill me like my raping you) and then goes on to destroy the world.
Exactly.
I actually watched this series out of order. I saw the first two or three, then decided to skip ahead because the repetitious mecha battles were boring me. The latest episode available was - wouldn't you know it - Ep 8, with the rape scene. I almost wrote the show off right there, lamenting another case of the lesbian cliche, but I decided to stick it out and see what happened.
After the series ended, I went back to the earlier episodes, looking for something that would have foreshadowed Chikane's actions, and I found them in Ep 7.
Meanwhile, spoilers are up for Strawberry Panic! Ep. 19.
Last edited by BBOvenGuy on Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Now there's something you don't see every day... unless you're us...
OMG, thank you for the spoiler link :-) I've only been able to download through Ep 17 Strawberry Panic so far. I absolutely can't wait for Ep 20, especially with a title like that. I still haven't decided whether I like Shizuma and Nagisa or Tamao and Nagisa better. I just hope we find out who wins Etiole before the end of the series.
Maybe if the current series does well in Japan, they might do another season or an OVA. It also depends on how much more story there is to tell. According to the Animesuki forum, Strawberry Panic started as a short stories serialized in Dengeki G's Magazine and collected into a short novel . From this there has been a manga, another novel, the anime series and a ps2 game.
Caught ep 19 of Strawberry Panic and it was great. Basically it's one long flashback as Miyuki tells Nagisa about Shizuma and Kaori. It began 3 years before when Kaori became Shizuma and Miyuki's room duty person (because Miyuki volunteered to help the ill Kaori). We get to see their trip to Shizuma's villa and Shizuma/Kaori's sneaking out to kiss, hug etc under a tree (btw that's the same tree where Shizuma met Nagisa in ep 1). Finally some yuri from folks other than Kaname and Momomi. Sadly Kaori's health was always weak and she doesn't have long to live (but thanks to Shizume, she doesn't have to die a virgin). Both Miyuki and Shizuma know about Kaori's health problems but they don't realize how serious it is until a year after they met when Kaori tells Shizuma that it's terminal. Shizuma then decides to run for Etoile with Kaori, I think, to give her one last beautiful memory. I really liked the happy playful Shizuma of those days.
We get to see the good side here of both Miyuki and Shizuma as they help Kaori. Both of them want to give Kaori a good school experience (she hasn't been able to go to school because of her illness). For my part, I don't think that Shizuma would have run for Etoile if not for Kaori's situation. Shizuma changed after Kaori's death and has been mourning her for the past two years by locking up her heart. Miyuki hoped that Nagisa would be the one to help Shizuma forget and apologizes to Nagisa for having unfair expectations. This is prolly why she has been grumpy at times with Nagisa. What makes this episode great are all the little things: looks, flirtations etc that don't come out in any summary.
Next ep is called "Confession" and from the promo looks to be about Tamao and the younger school kids but that can't be right. I'm certain Nagisa and Shizuma will be in there somewhere. However, now I think that the one confessing will not be Shizuma but Nagisa. Prolly wrong.
ETA: Yep I was wrong. Looks like the younger school kids are all trying to help cheer up a depressed Nagisa. Still not sure who is going to confess. Tamao?? Nagisa?? Shizuma?? Miyuki?? Yaya again?? Who??
There is talk (animesuki forum) that:
Spoiler:
Nagisa and Tamao enter the Etoile contest together but I don't think so. In the manga, Shizuma/Nagisa and Amana/Hikari (+ a host of others) are in the Etoile contest. Thought the manga and anime have diverged in tone, some details and the portrayal of some of the main characters; they both appear to have the same main plot with the Etoile contest. Also, I think the Etoile pair have to be an upper and lower classman and that they can't both be in the same grade. I think that Shizuma's healing will consist of her being Etoile with a live partner. While Nagisa may hook up with Tamao (or Chiyo for that matter) after Shizuma graduates, I fear that Tamao will join Yaya and Miyuki in the discarded roommates club. I wonder if every roommate pair consists of one girl with a crush on the other who has a thing for a third party? Well no cuz that's not the case with Kaname and Momomi but thn Kaname is obsessed with Amane/Hikari. Hmmm...
ETA2: I have another thought on Kannazuki no Miko. Chikane's faux turning "bad" has another reason besides trying to get Himeko to kill her as the sacrifice. If Chikane is Himeko's Orochi opponent, this guarantees that the Orochi will not kill Himeko. As to ep 8, Chikane has to convince not only Himeko and Souma that she has turned "bad" but also Orochi. Thus she has to do something that she considers really evil hence the rape then later destroying the world etc. She really can't pretend at this point or Orochi will catch on and kill her preventing the sacrifice of a priestess by the other to restore the world. What Chikane does really is all about Himeko and how she loves her. This is what Himeko realizes at the end in ep 12 and is why she forgives her. Their destinly really is a b^tch but i think that end Ame no whatever rewards them by finally letting them be together.
Strawberry Panic episode 20 is out and it's not what I expected even after having read the summaries. There is a confession though it's hardly a surprise to anyone who has seen any of the show. We learn more about Tamao and why she was so scarily enthused when Nagisa became her roommate in ep 1. Still the focus is not on her but ironically enough on Nagisa and Shizuma who never meet in this ep. The whole ep is basically Nagisa sad about Shizuma while Tamao and her lower classmates try to cheer her up with a spash of Shizuma sad about Kaori/Nagisa and Hikari & Yaya being awkward around each other.
This is almost like the aftermath to ep 12 where they first confronted Shizuma's memories, split up for a while, mooned about each other and got back together for the play. Though this is more serious than the last time, I expect them to get back together for the Etoile contest despite spoilers:
Spoiler:
that Nagisa is going to enter with Tamao. Even if true I can really only see Nagisa doing this to force Shizuma's hand.
For my part, I think that this episode basically puts Tamao out of the running since she realizes just how much Nagisa cares about Shizuma. IMHO she accepts that she will only be Nagisa's roommate and friend. Their situation contrasts with that of Hikari and Yaya where Yaya's declaration of her feelings has caused a rift between them that may make even their being roommates unviable. Though, if I was Hikari, I'd take Yaya over Amane any day. I hope Yaya gets someone else and Hikarai gets over her awkwardness so they can stay friends.
With the Etoile contest coming up and no prospects for a second season as yet, they need to resolve the Spica candidate issue. Amane needs to get off her high horse literally and get on with it. I think her Spica rivals, Maname and Momomi, will do something (to Hikari) to push her into the contest ironically enough. We'll see. Six episodes to go.
Last edited by sam7777 on Fri Aug 18, 2006 9:37 am, edited 1 time in total.
I don't see why Shizuma would have any interest in running for Etoile again, since it's already been established that she's graduating. In fact, aren't they having a new selection because she's graduating? If Kaori died two years ago right after becoming an Etoile, that means the Etoile selection isn't an annual thing.
It's so confusing.
Now there's something you don't see every day... unless you're us...
I don't see why Shizuma would have any interest in running for Etoile again, since it's already been established that she's graduating. In fact, aren't they having a new selection because she's graduating?
Well actually, I don't see why she'd be interested either. It's only wild speculation on my part based on the manga. It's also one way to resolve the Nagisa and Shizuma thing by letting her heal by having an Etoile partner. Who knows.
In the manga, Etoile selection is an annual contest and Shizuma is clearly running again though it is her last year as well (she is listed as a year 6 student running with year 4 Nagisa). She ran the year before with another girl and won because of sympathy over Kaori's death. In the anime, we know Shizuma met Kaori 3 years ago, that they ran for Etoile a year later in Winter and that Shizuma has kept her heart locked up for 2 years so the contest may not be annual in the anime. Or no one may have run against Shizuma the year prior out of sympathy. It's unclear in the anime. There are differences between the anime and manga but both have the same source and main plot, the Etoile contest, so I don't think that they will diverge completely.
Wow, the manga really puts a different spin on where this may be heading. With the unexpected "confession" of Ep 20, I'm not entirely sure who will be running with Nagisa for Etiole.
BTW, I finally got to see Ouran High School Host Club.....It seemed more trans than yuri.....?
Screencaps are out for ep 21. It seems to be all about Shizuma dealing with her her feelings for Kaori. This would appear to be the companion piece to ep 20 which was Nagisa dealing with her feelings for Shizuma. Honestly with all this sturm and drang between Nagisa and Shizuma, I really don't see the season ending without them together.
Giftofamber wrote:Wow, the manga really puts a different spin on where this may be heading. With the unexpected "confession" of Ep 20, I'm not entirely sure who will be running with Nagisa for Etiole.
Apparently, it won't be Shizuma.
Spoiler:
It seems that Tamao was nominated to run for the Etoile position with Nagisa. Miyuki gave Shizuma a severe dressing down and thus Shizuma returned both of the Etoile necklaces and pretty much was attempting to give up her position. There's a bit of a surprise that I won't spoil for you but I swear, Nagisa doesn't deserve Shizuma. Everyone was there to support Nagisa when SHE didn't really need supporting, that whiny crybaby. Only Miyuki understood Shizuma's feelings. I am really anti-Nagisa at the moment for her immaturity and her lack of compassion for Shizuma. *bleh*
BTW, I finally got to see Ouran High School Host Club.....It seemed more trans than yuri.....?
I never said Ouran had any yuri. I think it's hilarious for many reasons but yuri isn't one of them. The supremely funny twins just make me laugh and the ever adorable Maaya Sakamoto as Haruhi makes the series worth it for me.
Last edited by Kieli on Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Giftofamber wrote:Any word yet on whether SP will be running a second season?
I've not heard anything as yet but I've also not been to their official Japanese site in a few days.
Revision of spoiler:
Spoiler:
Shizuma finds a letter from Kaori in a jewelry box containing the other Etoile necklace in Kaori's room that essentially allows Shizuma to lay her memory to rest and move on. The evil lesbian duo are up to their old tricks and Hikari is just being....I dunno, freaking weird. She's now more comfortable with the ELD than with her own best friend? Nuts. Totally barmy. Anyway, I too expected Miyuki to actually tell Shizuma how she feels but, she just freezes up. Poor kid. Being best friends with Shizuma would probably give me fits too.
Last edited by Kieli on Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
Some folks are saying that there will need to be a second season to cover the stuff in the second novel.
I still think it will be Nagisa and Shizuma in the end. More Strawberry panic spoilers from Shoujo Ai's forum:
Spoiler:
Things will supposedly get interesting in ep 23 when Shizuma finds out Nagisa and Tamao are nominated(but not confirmed), something she never expected, at least that Nagisa was chosen as she just transferred in this year.(From spoilers elsewhere it seems this propelled Shizuma to join the battle with Nagisa. ^_^ Of course, it dosen't mean they will win and become Etoile)
Strawberry Panic 21 is important for two things: Shizuma dealing with Kaori and the official start of the Etoile contest. Shizuma seems to be pushing Amane to run. I don't think that Nagisa has a lack of compassion for Shizuma. Nagisa figured out in ep 18 that she couldn't help Shizuma with Kaori and I believe gave her space after. Nagisa was completely depressed over the situation in eps 19 and 20 and she does go looking for Shizuma in ep21. My guess is that Nagisa wanted to deal with her own emotions before confronting Shizuma and in eps 19-21 does seem worried about her. Miyuki who knew Kaori and has known Shizuma forever is a better person to help her deal with this issue IMHO. Though its tough as Shizuma lashes out at her. Promos for ep22 show that Nagisa and Shizuma will get close enought to speak but the focus is back to Amane/Hikari as makes sense now that the Etoile contest has oficially started.
As cute a couple as Nagisa/Tamao are (and they are indeed cute), the reason that I don't think it will happen is that it is anti-climatic. There is no conflict/obstacle between them preventing them from being girlfriends. All it would require is something like this: Nagisa: "Let's get it on" Tamao: "Oh yeah"
The only thing preventing this is that Nagisa fancies Shizuma but that's not really an obstacle IMHO but more of a choice. Otherwise, Tamao can sleep with her (same bed anyhoo), touch her, dress her, dry her hair and do just about anything else (that's more than Yaya gets with Hikari). Nagisa shares a room with Tamao and likes her as a cuddly friend but prolly not more. Romances require that there be some obstacles between the couple prior to their getting together and Nagisa/Shizuma have this in spades.
Summary of spoiler for ep 22: (animesuki)
Spoiler:
Ep 22 has the last of the Kaname and Momomi's plot to stop Amane from entering in the Eyiole contest (a tennis contest btw Kaname and Amane no less to decide who should be the Etoile contestant). Yaya and Hikari make up (again). Miyuki tries to get Shizuma's advice on the Etoile candidated for Miatre but she's not interested.
Big spoiler for ep23: (shoujo ai) Do not read if you want to be surprised
Spoiler:
"After finding out from Miyuki that Nagisa and Tamao were nominated for the Etoile battle, this forced Shizuma to contemplate her feelings for Nagisa. Thinking back, She felt that she brought little but pain to Nagisa time and time again by her actions and Shizuma also feels hurt by what she sees as Nagisa's change of attitude towards her thus concluding that Nagisa proberly does not love her anymore. On the other hand, Nagisa wanting to tell Shizuma about her feelings went looking for her in the greenhouse. Nagisa then started to tell Shizuma about her/Tamao's nomination in the Etoile battle and was just about to say that she wanted to reject Miyuki's nomination when Shizuma interrupted and painfully congratulated her and Tamao and wished them the best in the upcoming battle. Deeply hurt, Nagisa started to break down, returned the key to Shizuma and ran away crying, leaving a confused Shizuma behind."
Strawberry Panic! has lost steam for me in the past couple of episodes, I'm afraid. I'm not exactly sure why - it just seems like it's going around in circles, with too many plot threads to tie up in not enough episodes.
You're right about Nagisa/Tamao being too easy a pairing, but two things bother me about Nagisa/Shizuma. First, it's been clearly established that Shizuma is graduating. Second, where does Miyuki fit into the picture? Especially after Episode 21?
What concerns me is that the show could very well end in one big tease that doesn't resolve anything conclusively.
Now there's something you don't see every day... unless you're us...
Strawberry Panic! is no masterpiece but it's not as bad as all that. For me it's just a fun yuri to enjoy until the Marimite OVA comes out. I don't really care who ends up with who so I'm just enjoying the ride. It's the only anime I'm currenty catching on line as I couldn't get into Simoun (too sloowww and complicated). I love shoujo ai/yuri anime because lesbians get a fairer break there than in american media.
First time poster but long time lurker of this forum. I am just getting started into Strawberry Panic, Love this Anime! And I wonder could anybody tell me where you can read/download the manga version of Strawberry Panic?
First time poster but long time lurker of this forum. I am just getting started into Strawberry Panic, Love this Anime! And I wonder could anybody tell me where you can read/download the manga version of Strawberry Panic?
What I TRIED to post last night is that Dynasty Scans is doing the translations and they're up to Chapter 8. You might want to try their website too.
Last edited by Kieli on Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
And I just finished watching KnM. I love it but 12 episodes just a bit too short. I had never cried so much while watching anime but the last episode really made me cried like a baby.
crouchy: KnM. Yes the angst was with that one but a happy ending at least.
Strawberry Panic! Episode 23 is out now, and there's a MAJOR twist that I didn't see coming.
Yeah that last scene at the end took me completely by surprise. Nagisa and Shizuma both have major melt downs but the one I feel sorry for is Tamao. I feel that Miyuki is using her to solve Nagisa and Shizuma's problems.
Well stuff is being settled. The last couple of eps have seen the Etoile contestants selected, Yaya and Hikari's reconciliation as friends and the end of the Amane/Kaname rivalry. However, I think Momomi is still at it:
Spoiler:
I think she cut Amane's stirrup/bridle
All the ep titles are out and though I have been awful at guessing so far, here's my new take: (spoiler tags thought I'm usually dead wrong)
Spoiler:
24. The Ring Of Fate - I think this will be the first part of the Etoile contest 25. Waltz - I now think this will announce the Etoile winners. We saw in ep 21 that Sizuma and Kaori waltzed after being named Etoile. 26 Beginning - this must be the beginning of the new Etoile pair or the relationship of Nagisa and whoever she ends up with
Take this for what it's worth - the Strawberry Panic! OST CD features a naked embrace between Nagisa and Shizuma on the booklet cover. And I'm beginning to think those two will end up together after all, since everything in the story is telling them they have to split up. Heck if I know how they're going to do it, though. I don't suppose there's a college nearby where Shizuma can go and still be close to Nagisa...
How about Tamao and Chikaru for Etoile, in a cross-school partnership?
Now there's something you don't see every day... unless you're us...
Honestly none of this surprised me except for the now rabid Anti-Shizuma bile that I've seen flowing on various boards (even 2chan and 4chan) after the episode aired.
Spoiler:
I think Chikaru should be Etoile. Miyuki is being a right manipulative bitch (then again I always thought she was despite her unresolved feelings for Shizuma that she never had the stones to own up to) and I feel sorry for Tamao getting caught in the middle. She wants to please her sempai and being with Nagisa has been her dream from the start. But she has to know that Nagisa probably doesn't reciprocate her romantic feelings and that would be hard on her.
I am actually growing weary of this growing resentment and bashing of Shizuma. Anyone who's ever lost someone they deeply care about or love knows that it's not easy to just "get over", despite the length of time of Kaori's death. She's had no one to help her through it but herself and Nagisa has done nothing, zero, zilch to deserve any sympathy for. She ran off and hid when Shizuma needed her to help her at least try to move on from Kaori's death. Miyuki has only done the whole "silence is golden" bit and just keeps reminding Shizuma of her duties ad nauseaum while not having the cajones to express her own feelings. Shizuma seems to be doing what she feels is best for Nagisa: by letting her go, she feels that she's giving Nagisa the freedom from having to worry about her. But that's all Nagisa seems to be capable of. Standing on the sidelines, looking all concerned while everyone else frets over HER feelings, and no one else remotely gives a damn about what SHIZUMA is going through. Sure, Nagisa cares but in the end does absolutely nothing. Totally worthless. And yet, people are saying that Shizuma doesn't deserve her? I think it's more like the other way around. Shizuma needs someone with some spine who will be her rock when she needs someone to count on. Nagisa hasn't and will never be that person. Nagisa and Tamao are perfectly suited for each other because Tamao will do everything for her, including think for her. Nagisa doesn't have to do anything except be her clueless self.
Though Nagisa seems to be the star of this show, she really doesn't deserve to be. IMHO, Chikaru FTW. She doesn't get enough screen time nor the credit she deserves for being a wise, compassionate leader of her school.
I AM, however, sorry for Momomi because she seems to have been doing her best to please Kaname in helping her manipulate events so that the both of them could become Etoile. Now it's seems that Kaname never really cared for her at all but was just nursing her deep seated crush and, alternately, resentment for Amane (why I'll never know...Amane has all of the personality of a wooden post and the wherewithal of a lump of coal). To be used in that manner is just bad and Kaname's thoughtlessness is going to be trouble all the way around. Momomi will lash out against the wrong person and thus look like the villian when Kaname should be the one to pay for her actions more than anyone else as she did the attempted rape twice.
Take this for what it's worth - the Strawberry Panic! OST CD features a naked embrace between Nagisa and Shizuma on the booklet cover. And I'm beginning to think those two will end up together after all, since everything in the story is telling them they have to split up. Heck if I know how they're going to do it, though. I don't suppose there's a college nearby where Shizuma can go and still be close to Nagisa...
I think it will be Nagisa and Shizuma together as well though I was completely wrong about their becoming Etoile together. They are concentrating too much on them to just let them split up. Also Nagisa has been pretty clear that she only loves Tamao as a friend and everything that she's done lately including enter the Etoile contest has been because of Shizuma (whether it's because she's sad about her or mad at her). And Shizuma is not gone yet. The Japanese school year begins in spring (March, I think) which is when Nagisa transferred in at the beginning of the show. It's now fall (prolly Sept or Oct) so they have 6-7months to go. As to how Shizuma can still be close to Nagisa after she graduates, rumor has it:
Spoiler:
she invites Nagisa to live with her at her summer home which is near the school and Nagisa commutes from there.
I doubt it's true but who knows.
Spoilers are out for the last 3 eps: (animesuki forum) episode 24:
Spoiler:
"Confession" First is Nagisa, who makes a meek start in the Etoile selection. However Shizuma persuades her from the sidelines and so she enters with Tamao. The two of them have various tasks lying in wait for them in the Etoile selection, to prepare for which Miyuki gives them specialized training. However, the special training doesn't seem to help at all. Shizuma requested from Miyuki about coaching the two, because she's the acting Etoile, but what Shizuma does about the answer she gets...
episode 25:
Spoiler:
"The Waltz" Shizuma assists with the special training of Nagisa and Tamao. Because of Shizuma's and Miyuki's training, Nagisa and Tamao are beyond recognition, setting records and such, feeling very good about the upcoming selection battle. On the other hand, the Spica pair of Hikari and Amane form cracks in the relationship between them. They were thought to be a strong pair, but Amane's thoughts are already going in a far-away direction. Hikari feels that she must reclaim Amane's heart. But, her heart has been broken in pieces.
episode 26:
Spoiler:
"Start" On the Astraea hill, the day of the Etoile selection is finally here. The candidates for the selection spend their full power in the exhausting games that are used to select the Etoile, the star that shines on the summit of the three schools. And the pair that finished all the tasks is...
These are translated from the episode summaries ala TV guide. As usual, I was wrong about the upcoming eps but it looks like the Etoile plot will be resolved this season.
Seven Seas Entertainment announced a new line of Japanese "light novels" for young adult readers. Six novel series are scheduled to begin in April 2007.... Strawberry Panic is ongoing with two volumes currently out in Japan and more to come. ...We'll be looking into picking up further novels in those series based upon fan response."
I've read their Boogie Pop novel and manga. Their work looks good. Their translation doesn't veer off widely and they keep honorifics. here's hoping that if these releases so well, they bring over the Marimite novels (a girl can dream).
under a tree (btw that's the same tree where Shizuma met Nagisa in ep 1). Finally some yuri from folks other than Kaname and Momomi. Sadly Kaori's health was always weak and she doesn't have long to live (but thanks to Shizume, she doesn't have to die a virgin). Both Miyuki and Shizuma know about Kaori's health problems but they don't realize how serious it is until a year after they met when Kaori tells Shizuma that it's terminal. Shizuma then decides to run for Etoile with Kaori, I think, to give her one last beautiful memory. I really liked the happy playful Shizuma of those days.
Although in retrospect, I think I probably should have.