Puella Magi Madoka Magica (Rebellion)

I watched Rebellion much, much later than the main series. Very recently, in fact, probably just a week or two ago. In the time since, I became fascinated with the idea of Homura and the fact her power fantasy is over love of all things.

The movie is such a fever dream for most of it that it feels like a plot in reverse. It views that way, too, with Homura gaining memories of the past and actively uncovering herself right under everyone else's nose. And Sayaka toys with her too, if not just to give herself the satisfaction for having done so.

So much happens so quickly that it can only ever truly click at the very climax of the movie, and by the time it settles in, Homura already bit into her soul gem and bound herself to the universe after having been saved. And by that point, all you can ask is either 'is she a villain?' or 'how did we get here?'

And then Kyubey finally gets what he deserves under the heels of everyone else getting a second life, but even that cannot last.

The corruption of the world brings about the corruption of the previous series' theme of love. Mami felt empowered by love, Sayaka sacrificed herself for spurned love, Kyoko sacrificed herself to make it all better for Sayaka, and Madoka rewrote the world to save them all. Homura felt empty and like she had to guard the world. But, without Madoka, it was only a matter of time... I think no one was surprised by the plot of Rebellion, yet the truth was so confusing and ended in such a wild departure from what had happened before.

I think Homura's love is a delusional desparation, something to prove that she loved Madoka and could still do what was best for her. She let herself be saved, and, because she had asked the amnesiac Madoka what she wanted. That version of her, happy and human was afraid, and she projected her own Madoka onto this new, cradled Madoka. Human Madoka then, in her eyes, was never happy with the wish and was trapped in the goddess form. So, ever the martyr, she stole that from her.

Homura, deep down, knows she isn't making Madoka happy. She wants to be the enemy of Madoka so that Madoka can be happy. I'm curious to know how this ends up in Walpurgisnacht Rising. From trailers, she seems utterly out of it and not having fun. And then there are new magical girls... So much more would be solved if this wasn't one of those situations where this was a movie was a setup to another movie, but at the same time I can't blame them. (This is from the same person who loved Across the Spiderverse so much that I wrote my first fanfic on MIGUEL O'HARA haha)