March 9th, 2014 
AstroNerdBoy キルラキル ep. 21 SPOILER Review
KILL la KILL episode 21
Synopsis:
After a flashback showing how Ryuuko was turned against Nudist Beach, and while Nui completes her work for the day, Satsuki squares off against Ryuuko, activating Senketsu. The Elite Four see Satsuki about to fight, but before they can go to her aide, Mako stops them with a message from Satsuki. Satsuki does well in the initial stages of the fight. Senketsu tries to reach Ryuuko, but she’s not interested in wearing something ugly. Ryuuko figures out that Satsuki is only giving Senketsu commands, not actually using Senketsu as Ryuuko had done, so she turns the tables on Satsuki, giving her a beating as the Nudist Beach folks look on helpless.
Ryuuko moves in for a finishing blow when Nonon comes in with rocket launchers to stop Ryuuko. Ryuuko destroys the rockets, but before she can move on Nonon, Uzu shows up to battle Ryuuko. He leads her to a trap by Houka, whereby Ryuuko takes a massive blast from Hadaka no Taiyou-maru. Ryuuko is not impressed, but it allowed Ira to get his weapon to extract Ryuuko from Junketsu into play. Satsuki returns, causing Ryuuko to realize that she’d set herself up as bait. Ira’s weapon jams and is unable to extract Ryuuko. Satsuki suddenly senses the danger and has Ira flee just as Nui arrives to destroy the weapon.
Tsumugu attacks, but has no effect as Nui tells them that she merged the Seimeisen within Junketsu with the Seimeisen within Ryuuko, meaning Ryuuko will die if Junketsu is removed. Meanwhile, Ragyou has her loyal employees absorbed into Seimeisen outfits while her personal staff are absorbed into the main Seimeisen ball. With that, the Seimeisen ball transforms and launches, Ragyou standing atop. Back at the fight, Ryuuko uses her scissor-blade to cut Senketsu off of Satsuki. Ryuuko goes for the finished blow again, but this time, she’s stopped by Mako, who makes her usual, over the top maneuver to try to reach Ryuuko. Nui sees this and decides to put an end to Mako. Senketsu launches himself to save Mako, whereby he ends up replacing Mako’s school uniform.
Satsuki launches into Nui, who wonders why Satsuki doesn’t understand that a mere human cannot defeat her. As they ferociously battle, Satsuki tells Nui that Nui is what gives her hope. Satsuki points out that if Ryuuko was wholly fighting for Ragyou and Nui, Nui wouldn’t still have possession of the other half of the giant scissors. The Elite Four go after Nui as she orders Ryuuko to kill Mako and Senketsu. Mako’s family and Senketsu are determined to prevent it as Satsuki arrives, causing a wound in Ryuuko for Senketsu (and Mako alongside) to be absorbed into. There, the two reach Ryuuko. They are expelled as Ryuuko, after pinning Nui to the hull of the ship, rips Junketsu from her body.
Thoughts/Review:
You know, I really could have done without the incestuous, yuri scene at the beginning of this episode. Ugh. Creepy and nasty don’t even begin to cover it.
As expected, Satsuki and Ryuuko do battle. Well, they had to fight one more time as part of the standard, “we were foes at the start, so we have to fight again” story element as well as the “I have to reach the main character, even if I have to beat some sense into them.” While expected, it was still fun.
Satsuki has always been the most interesting character in this whole series. Obviously, a lot of guys like the chick who can kick arse, take names, but is still all woman. For me, it was the element of her strategic mind and her ability to think on the fly, which is most evident in this episode. As such, Satsuki becomes the heroine and maybe always was the heroine, even if we followed Ryuuko around for most of the series.
Because of Satsuki’s strategic thinking, the Elite Four got to be used in a meaningful way, which was something I liked. After all, while Satsuki may be the top dog, she has a pack of big dogs, carefully selected, to assist her.
Mako got to be awesome in this episode with her usual flair. I laughed out loud when she revealed that Satsuki had written her plan details on Mako’s hands just so Mako wouldn’t forget. ^_^
With the precedent set that Mako could reach Ryuuko, even when Ryuuko was in the grips of madness, it is no wonder that Nui wanted her dead.
(And as an aside, I loved the little moment of Ira being concerned for Mako’s safety. ^_^)
Satsuki’s battle with Nui was interesting in that Satsuki wasn’t using a Kamui robe, but simple Nudist Beach gear. Yet she was able to keep up with Nui. I don’t think for a moment that Satsuki can defeat Nui, which is why I believe Ryuuko and Satsuki will now be teaming up to fight Nui. I figure that fight will be next.
After that, I suppose we’ll have the final showdown as sisters battle their insane mother and the Seimeisen, wherever they went off to. Oh yeah, there’s also Rei to worry about.
So, a good episode as things start winding down to the climax. I’m looking forward to seeing how things end.
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There was an especially interesting (to me) moment in this episode when Satsuki was making an opening for Mako and Senketsu – she is drawn with the same gear eyes as Ryuuko. Since she’s been said to have undergone similar treatments to Ryuuko, I wonder if that means anything. Her ability to match Nui with just her natural body is somewhat suggestive of that possibility, though not definitely indicative of it.
I totally missed that. When she initially came in, her eyes were OK, but when she’s ordering Mako to get Senketsu into the wound, her eyes do have the gear look.
Yay you finally blogged the episode.
I was reading your post, in regards to the comment that satsuki is the heroine is quite true, if you look at the early episodes. Ryuko always came in and challenge satsuki and runs away like she a bad guy and swears she will come back to kick her arse.
Anyways I really enjoyed this episode, especially the fight since it been bump up a level to show how powerful ryuko is. I do agree the yuri scene was a bit disturbing…
Anyways the only gurren lagaan story element included into this scene is the false memories/pseudo/alternate memory/world where the main cast or in kill la kill case… The protagonist is sent into a false world of happiness and is being manipulated by the villain and soon awakens with a renew resolve to defeat the antagonist.
I assume nui will be defeated or taken out of action and if this follows the flow of the gurren lagaan story elements then we can expect ryuko vs ragyou in an episode or two time and then an overblown finale
Yeah, it takes me a while. I wish I could blog it quicker than I do. ^_^;;;
*lol* Well, exactly, only worded in a way much more entertaining than I did. ^_^
Well, I look forward to it. Shame I didn’t score Gurren Lagaan back in the day.
Well you did mix much kill la kill is gurren lagaan but totally better, however gurren lagaan did make your blood boil with excitement at bromance, drills and mecha’s.
If you watch gurren now it just be picking out elements of the story that was taken into kill la kill also I didn’t notice it until now, but ryuko shares the same colour scheme as shimon the protagonist of gurren lagaan
Well, it is on my massive list. ^_^;
I just imagined Ryuuko, Senketsu and Mako being blasted away by Satsuki’s attack yelling “Team Matoi Blasts off again!”.
*lol*
Yeah the beginning was Really awkward and creepy… though the kiss Ryuuko forced on Nui was hot… then again I wanted to scream “Wrong Girl Ryuuko! Wrong Girl!”
Well the one difference in their fight compared to standard was that Satsuki really didn’t achieve much. Ryuuko just beat on her without mercy, though one thing I noticed was that despite all that there was little blood from Satsuki, especially compared to what Ragyo did to her. It just felt like Ryuuko was holding back. Personally I… enjoyed the beating a bit, what goes around, comes around, it’s the karma Satsuki got for all the stuff she put Ryuuko through.
About heroines, I think people might be confused a bit here. I see Ryuuko as a moral classical greek-mythology-like hero. One with plenty of problems, weaknesses, one who has to grow out of them and become something better, something more. As fascinating and cool as Satsuki is, she doesn’t grow. She is already at her peak and doesn’t have to change. Ryuuko is simply more interesting to observe, to watch her grow and overcome the obstacles. Satsuki had more than 10 years to grow into what she is now. Ryuuko on the other hand got the whole thing dropped on her half a year ago, she was simply not ready to deal with her father’s legacy.
I really liked how Satsuki used her Elite Four. Really we have a sweet ironic flip here. In episode 15 Ryuuko called Satsuki out on the fact that she is alone while Ryuuko has Senketsu. Now the situation is reversed, Ryuuko is alone while it turned out that Satsuki always saw her Elite Four as much more than just pawns, they are her True Companions.
Satsuki writing on Mako’s hands gave birth to LOTS of fanart… unlike the kiss between Ryuuko and Nui which really makes me confused about how the artists think XD
About Nui, I found it curious that she only seems to go for the kill against certain people. She didn’t so much as scratch Tsumugu even though she had plenty of chances but instantly tried to kill Mako. That girl has some weird approach…
Yes Satsuki’s fight with Nui was awesome but I feel troubled a bit… she managed to block Nui’s scissor blade and Nui has got to be much stronger than Satsuki… are we getting some foreshadowing here? Satsuki not being completely normal? I sure hope not, I want Satsuki to remain the Badass Normal she is.
Well only a bit more of the series left, the preview showed some stuff from the next episode but I won’t be spoiling it. You don’t watch the previews right?
Well, that’s true, but her plan was to have Ira extract Ryuuko. In that regard, her plan was a good one and executed well. Its just that she had to resort to plan B. ^_~
This is all true. I was being a bit facetious since Satsuki takes on the lead role in this episode, even down to wearing Senketsu. But I agree with your analysis of Ryuuko and Satsuki.
She chose them well. I noted that back during the flashbacks that Satsuki was looking for certain qualities, and that paid off. ^_^
I hadn’t looked so I couldn’t say. Of course, I’m sure there will be lots of ero-doujinshi coming out at the summer Comiket about the kiss and more. ^_^;;;
I think that’s because she never saw Tsumugu as a threat. Mako, on the other hand, had proven she could reach even an insane Ryuuko, thus Mako was a bigger threat to the plan and must be eliminated.
I like to think that this is Satsuki at her normal badarse self, no enhancements. I hope that’s the case.
I don’t usually, no. I’m looking forward to the new episode though. ^_^
Hmph! Are you shocked by that cute little opening scene? You bunch of sissies! XDDD
No, seriously now. Until after that kiss, I was like: “WTF?! Who, just WHO was Ragyou touching?!” Ryuuko or Nui?! And where she was touching really?1 That last part…so misleading! LOL I mean, even after Ragyou masturbating her own daughter, it was unexpected.
Yes, Mako was awesome like always. The most funny part for me was when she got inside Ryuuko (“WAH!” lol).
Satsuki made quite a strategy in no time, and the Elite Four showed what they are made of!
Still regarding Satsuki, she might be on par with Nui. After all, so far, Nui kind of listened when Satsuki was serious.
Overall, a really nice episode. Until the next!
P.S. Houka and Iori slapping hands was cool! For better or worse, there might be doujins about these 2 friends LOOOL
*lol* Shocked, no. Didn’t need to see, yes. ^_~
Yeah, that surprised me too.
I’m hoping that is the case with Satsuki being on par with Nui.
*lol*