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Rewatched Wonder Egg Priority Episode 3 for a third time, and I feel the need to talk about this moment in particular, because good god, the visual storytelling and symbolism here is so nice for such a minor scene.
Warning, this will be a long thread:
Warning, this will be a long thread:
Two of the most important motifs in this episode are gestures and personal space, something this moment has in spades.
It caught my eye on my first watch-through due to how purposeful each movement felt. Another testament to the amazing storyboards from YĹ«ki Yonemori.
It caught my eye on my first watch-through due to how purposeful each movement felt. Another testament to the amazing storyboards from YĹ«ki Yonemori.
When Rika intrudes on Ai and Neiru's meeting, if the tension wasn't evident from Neiru's major pout, it's driven home when they start to eat and each one chooses a different fruit.
All share a common goal (even reaching for it in the same way), but aren't quite on the same page.
All share a common goal (even reaching for it in the same way), but aren't quite on the same page.
The fruit is all peeled with no skin to hide the glistening interior. Noteworthy when considering the theme of outer versus inner-self that the anime's played with so far. Both overtly with how Ai retreats into her hoodie, and more subtly like we see with Rika later this episode.
Ai choosing the orange is perfect for her thick, seemingly unsociable exterior holding boundless softness and sweetness, a quality which ends up deescalating the conflict.
Neiru’s kiwi denotes her thin, "cool" persona, one she puts on in this case to deal with Rika’s rudeness.
Neiru’s kiwi denotes her thin, "cool" persona, one she puts on in this case to deal with Rika’s rudeness.
Rika’s apple is the most interesting one. I saw a bit of interesting commentary on Rika’s selfishness and likening it to gluttony. The topic of sin gives her choice a lot of layers, especially with how she embraces more negative qualities as a sort of coping mechanism.
I’ll also add that with the skin peeled, it becomes impossible to tell the apple is sour or sweet! Another example of complex features hiding behind a seemingly plain surface.
Hell, it could even be a pear (and now that I look closer melon) for all I know! It’s hard to tell!
Hell, it could even be a pear (and now that I look closer melon) for all I know! It’s hard to tell!
Moving on to my favorite part is Rika’s classic catchphrase! She reaffirms her cuteness every time she introduces herself, but this time around it’s paired with the imagery of her taking an apple and peach at once in a very aggressive manner.
It's clearly a sign of her doubling down on her selfishness, taking food that was meant for Neiru and Ai, but it's also a visualization of her trying to reaffirm it to herself. Fortifying the wall she puts between herself and others.
To add on, by claiming the peach along with her apple, she is also reaffirming herself as "different" from the rest.
An attitude parroted after she swallows this combo where she goes on about separating from her group because they were "too ugly" (a claim subtly disputed later).
An attitude parroted after she swallows this combo where she goes on about separating from her group because they were "too ugly" (a claim subtly disputed later).
This talk with Neiru leads into some amazing layouts where Ai acts as a partition between the two. But where Neiru is more conscious of Ai's feelings and tries to stay reserved (monching at her kiwi), Rika aggressively tries to move into her space, invading Ai's in the process.
This dissonance is also emphasized by scale, with Ai taking up more of Neiru's frame than Rika’s. Though not directly involved, Neiru is clearly thinking of Ai.
She clearly doesn’t like Rika, but doesn’t want to completely dismiss the Ai’s “guest.”
She clearly doesn’t like Rika, but doesn’t want to completely dismiss the Ai’s “guest.”
Despite Neiru’s countless rebukes, Rika keeps on pushing her buttons, culminating in stealing the last kiwi from her, symbolically stepping into her space against her wishes.
Personally, I read this as a genuine attempt to connect with Nieru, but a clumsy one due to all the walls Rika puts around herself to avoid looking within.
I mentioned earlier that it was Ai’s sweetness that ultimately deescalates the conflict, and that becomes clear just as Neiru is about to be pushed over the limit, Ai suddenly chimes in about forming a group with Rika, somewhat mending the situation.
Ok, I’m aware of the obvious observations regarding… this, but as I was watching it for the third time, I noticed something amazing. This is the first time in the scene where Rika’s hands aren’t curled up!
We see Rika genuinely opening up to Ai in very subtle ways.
We see Rika genuinely opening up to Ai in very subtle ways.
That’s all I have to say! There’s honestly so much to unpack in this episode, but I wanted to focus on a part that really interested me in its construction.
Really shows how much thought can go into even the most seemingly inconsequential moments. I had a blast dissecting it!
Really shows how much thought can go into even the most seemingly inconsequential moments. I had a blast dissecting it!
