A lot happened in this ep and a lot of info has been given, both for the weird story itself and for the reality behind the over-the-top metaphores.
For the actual story, we learned that Haruko apparently planned a space terrorist attack in order for Naota to "swing the bat". But also that she uses people's heads to teleport stuff, like the guitars or the robots apparently (which means they're not a creation of the actual individual, it's all Haruko's doing). But it doesn't work for everyone, as seen with the father. I rewatched some scenes of the first ep before watching this one in order to understand things better and I realized that Haruko actually said interesting stuff I forgot. When she first met Naota and hit him with her bike, she then freaked out due to thinking she killed him and she added that she killed him just when she finally met him, which means she was looking for him and went for him on purpose, though while hitting him was part of her plan, knocking him out apparently wasn't, which is why she hit him with her guitar once he woke up. The first hit with the bike didn't lead for the horn to appear.
When she was talking to Naota in his room, she also said she was an alien (which is why Naota called her like that last episode). At first I thought she was messing with him, but now it looks like it really is the case.
She seems to have quite an obsession with making Naota "swing the bat" though. It looks like it's been her entire life goal in the first three episodes and she finally achieved it in this ep, which led for quite a reaction from her. She's a bit (or maybe not just a bit) insane, isn't she ?
Now I wonder where she's taking him. I also wonder why exactly does she have this obsession. I guess she'll coach him more but I don't get what makes her want to do that. I'll definitely have to rewatch this show once I'm done, good thing it's only 6 episodes long.
Now in terms of metaphor, there is also a lot to say. This time the show isn't at all hiding it, it is a metaphor for puberty and sexuality. The heads are a metaphor for the... Well, let's call it the way it's called, genital parts.
"Swinging the bat" definitely refers to having a sexual relationship.
But consequently, it leads for Haruko to come off as very, very disturbing.
She's a sex addict, no need to hide it, she totally is a sex addict, a pro. But she's also someone who apparently seeks for people to open up to this side of themselves. Because this part of her clearly makes her happy, as seen in the last scene when she bursts in hysterical laughters after Naota's narrator comment about how "swinging the bat" must make her feel like. She wants for others to feel that way too but I definitely don't believe it's just a pure will to make people happy, she's completely messed up and doesn't strike me as the selfless type (even though she showed a more gentle side towards Naota in this episode). But consequently it makes her come off as much more than just a sex addict, but an actual r*pist and a pedophile. I really hope I misunderstood that part, especially considering how she also clearly has a sexual relationship with Naota's dad and it's not at all hidden.
But since this episode was also about Naota being jealous of his father for having this kind of relationship with Haruko when she told him he was the one she wanted to do things with makes me worried. I don't believe the show's purposely making Haruko be a pedo and a r*pist but she still comes off as such which is super creepy.
It's pretty clear to me that Haruko is basically a sexual coach but everything is wrong here, everything. I REALLY hope I'm viewing things the wrong way.
And don't get me started with Naota murdering his father without knowing that this is a mannequin and that the real one is willingly being held captive by Haruko... I don't want to think about it.
Other than that, the conversation between Haruko and Naota in the street gave me pretty big Madoka and Monogatari vibes. I wonder if Shaft got its inspiration from this show. |