DAISUKE AND HIKARU: AN UNTOLD STORY - ANALYSIS BY GERDHA - PART 4
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HIKARU MAKIBA: AN ONGOING LOVESTORY (Eps 23-25)

EPISODE 23 (part 2)

Daisuke makes a movement, picking up Hikaru's clothes. But, without a word, Hikaru's hand is inadvertently on Daisuke's hand: they touched their hands. They look each other deeply in their eyes; afterwards, Daisuke exits from the cave.

I must confess ¹ , when I first saw ep23 (I was 12 years old), I could not believe my eyes, watching this scene. I never saw anything similar in a cartoon before (I don’t know about France, Canada, Luxembourg and Arabic countries: but up to 1978, in Italy, we get broadcasted only Disney, Hanna&Barbera, MGM and a couple of Bulgarian cartoons: there were no naked women in front of a man, until now). I remember my total surprise: I did not believe it. “What... this does mean he stripped her??? Eekk!!!”. The fact that, during these latest 25 years ², I never met a single Grendizer fan recalling this scene, is very interesting. Even in this forum ³, nobody has ever underlined this in any post since I joined (from a year, eheh ). On the contrary, I have read on 99% of internet sites all over the world that “surely” Daisuke did not love Hikaru (these are the most polite comments: I have found even worse definitions of their relationship in various languages). Well, my dear friends, please let me be very honest: sorry if I could be rude. Do you know how many female webmasters are in the world? Well, I don’t know the answer, but for sure no woman is the webmaster of 99% of Grendizer sites. You can take it for granted.

Please let me explain. I am not a supporter of the sex opposition philosophy in general, there are all my previous posts here which can prove this. Anyway it’s a fact that, in a lot of cases, male and female approach life in a different way.

Actually, about the arguments I read in internet about Hikaru and Daisuke, one of the best examples of this "different male and female approach" is the fact that the male Grendizer audience has never interpret the cave scene of ep23 as the most clear prove that Daisuke and Hikaru were in love for each other. Rather, probably they had also started an “official” relationship at that point of the story. Even without taking into account the situation at the farm, the cavern scene does not offer any different interpretation, unless we think that Shozo Uheara was drunk while he wrote the script, together with all the design team – including Nagai and Katsuta – and ep23 is only a funny joke.

For God’s sake, I would really like to know from Agnes and Suzi and whoever other female here if they would allow a friend (even a good one) to undress them completely – I mean including lingerie - without previous agreement, without any specific urgent need (okay, Hikaru’s dresses were wet, so what? In the worst case she would have taken a flu, which would have been surely annoying, but come on, her life would have not been in danger for that). Mostly, what would be their reaction, waking up in a strange place, discovering themselves naked (repeat, without underwear). Personally, if this happened to me, at least I would scream to this “friend” something not really polite. Surely I would cancel his name from my friends list for good. But I was afraid I could be maybe too much old-fashioned and over-reacting, then I asked recently for the opinion of some friends - male and female - on this topic (like a philosophic question, of course ;-) ). Guess what, my female friends have all confirmed they would react exactly like me, if not worse, in a similar situation. Besides, my males frends told me that in no case they would take off underwear from a girlf, without a life danger situation. Everybody of us agreed on the same reasoning: unless the stripper is our boyfriend, there is no way a situation like the cavern in ep23 would not cause in me and my female friends an “irritated” reaction. An ordinary male (I mean, not a psycho) would not undress completely a woman unless she is his girlfriend in the same situation.

So, I could affirm as a general statement that, without an adequate level of intimacy, no man would be allowed from a “normal” woman to act like Daisuke – undressing a girl of all clothes including lingerie while she is passed out without an immediate life danger - or in case to not get a bad reaction in response.

We are talking about a Japanese (!) cartoon of 1975 (!!!). So, I feel enough confident to be not completely mad and out-of-this-world. I think that what happens in the cavern in ep23 is an indirect confirmation that Daisuke and Hikaru had a lovestory going on. Please consider also the kind of look they are clearly designed as exchanging while she stops him in giving her dry clothes.

We cannot see any proposal or kiss or whatever explicit hint: but the cavern scene, in my opinion, has no different purpose and meaning than letting the viewer understand that something more than a simple good friendship was going on between the two characters (I am not talking about a strict sexual relationship, but about a lovestory anyway). If not, why they put this scene? It’s so strange and out of the usual mood of the anime that – unless we suppose all the design and production teams were getting crazy – it must have a specific deep meaning. Daisuke does not give any excuse, Hikaru does not have any bad reaction (she is surprised but not angry - even supposing her big confusion for the incredible revelation just received, anyway her womanhood could not have been completely darkened).

The ongoing lovestory explains well also Daisuke's feelings: he trusts Hikaru, he thinks she will understand him in the following scene. See the visual aspects: the rain has stopped (great symbol once more), he is looking at himself in a pool. Hikaru’s face appears near his one in the pool itself (I personally consider this as one of the best scenes of the whole anime).

He briefly explains her his story and his necessity to hide and to use a fake identity, without looking at her,

Hikaru is no more angered or scared. She simply says him :

Hikaru: I still can’t believe that you are not the person I have always supposed... I need to be alone for a while.

Daisuke only says her to pay attention. After, he observes her while she is riding away. He is confident anyway that “She would need a bit of time, but then she’ll understand”. Well, apart from any other reflection, I consider this as the confirmation of Daisuke’s high consideration about Hikaru’s mind and soul. It is very far from Grendizer fans' usual thoughts about this incredible female character, sadly. The episode is not finished yet. After the battle with Blacky’s monster and having saved Hikaru’s life, Daisuke and Hikaru meet each other.

Confirming Daisuke’s great opinion about her, Hikaru hasn’t needed a lot of time to understand. Everything is clear for Hikaru now: all her doubts about the man she is in love with, for having gone away. Daisuke is happy: his fears have gone away too. He has found a really incredible woman to trust and to love. Can you think how relieved could he feel? There is no more need to lie to her. It is possible starting a new phase of their relationship. He reminds her that his real name is Duke Fleed, not Daisuke. Hikaru has no hesitation: Duke Fleed will be anyway Daisuke Umon for her: this is the name she knew him. He will be forever Daisuke, for what herself is concerned. Exactly the words he hoped to hear from her.
Well, is it a sunset or a daylight which is shining at the end of the episode behind Yatsuga-take?

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JOE7'S DEEPENING ON GERDHA'S ANALYSIS

About Daisuke and Hikaru's dialogue after the rain, it remembers the saying: "A discussion is like rain: after, the serene comes back and the ties are stronger than before". The dialogue between them is very intense:

Hikaru: Why you have been hiding this to me?

Hikaru turns and walks away. Daisuke does not answer. He does not know what to say. At one point, he turns around and says:

Daisuke: Hikaru!

She turns: there is total silence, with only a romantic background music. They look themselves silently, saying nothing. Daisuke could not give a better answer: with that look, he said everything.

Hikaru understands what Daisuke is trying to say her. After Hikaru goe away, the scene takes place with a close-up that becomes a very close-up on Daisuke's eyes, which are glowing: it is a sign that he is sure about the fact that Hikaru will understand him. This scene ends with the same scene in which it started (try to compare), with a symmetry.

Let's move on to the next scene: Hikaru has became Blacky's prisoner. He tells Duke Fleed to bring Grendizer below the dam, so the robot will be swept away by the water and it will be destroyed when the monster will destroy the dam.

Daisuke's reaction is furious: he clenches his fists until they shake, sweating. He thinks about the fact that Blacky wants to destroy Grendizer, the most precious weapon for Earth's salvation. At the other side, there is Hikaru's life. Daisuke doesn't hesitate: he brings Grendizer below the dam.

It should be noted that for the first time there is a mention about Grendizer's difficulties under water: a deficiency to which, coincidentally, Hikaru will remedy driving the Marine Spacer.
There is another thing to note: when Hikaru went to find Rigel's precious mare, her father, worried about Hikaru, shouted: "Hikaru, don't go! You are more valuable than Shiraba! (the white mare)". It is a hidden message: to Daisuke, Hikaru is more important than Grendizer. It can be seen also looking his state of tension: we have never seen before Daisuke tighten so much his fists.

When Hikaru is released, Daisuke, onboard of Grendizer, tells her to run away. What are her reactions? First, she is shocked, looking the giant robot in front her; then she is surprised. She understands that Daisuke is in that giant robot!

Subsequently, she seems uncertain, almost disgusted. She refuses the situation.

At the end, she runs, confused and frightened. She cannot accept the situation. It is a truly exceptional psychological construction.

After, the Vega monster destroys the dam: Grendizer remains motionless, waiting for the tide water. We can see that the promises made by a prince were binding, and that Blacky knew that. Should be noted here that it is the first time that Grendizer fights in water: it is visibly in difficulty. it will have to leave the water to beat the monster. It is beginning to develop the future "weakness of Grendizer".

Meanwhile , Hikaru turns and looks at the first dam collapsing. Frightened, she says: "Daisuke!". For the first time, she cares for him and, after saying his name, she comes back. From this moment onward, Hikaru makes her decision: she will not run away anymore.

Meanwhile, Grendizer is dragged away by the current: it slams against a rocky outcrop. Daisuke clashes with the console, fainting. Meanwhile, Hikaru is running towards him. She does not show the fear she showed before.

From here onwards, the scene described in the original Japanese title of the story: "Hikaru screaming at the rapids" begins. The girl, running toward him, is shouting:

Hikaru: Daisuke! The largest dam is in danger! Daisuke!
(No answer: Daisuke is still unconscious)
Hikaru: Daisuke! Stand up, please! The dam will be destroyed!
(Running in slow motion, while Daisuke begins to open his eyes, Hikaru repeats)
Hikaru: Daisuke!
(Duke Fleed sees, in a confused way, Hikaru's figure approaching him: since then, Grendizer starts to get up. Clearly, Hikaru has a strong influence on Daisuke)

(Hikaru, then, approached her hands to her mouth and repeats)
Hikaru: Daisuke! Please, take them out! The largest dam is in danger!
(Daisuke, finally, recovers completely and once again his thinking is especially related to Hikaru)
Daisuke: No! If the great dam will be destroyed, then Hikaru will die and with her all the others!

Note: before Hikaru, after "all the others"

The monster's destruction takes place out of the water, as you can see. It is a hidden sign of Grendizer's weakness.
At the end, Daisuke has again his terrestrial clothes: she meets Hikaru.

Hikaru: Now I understand why you wanted to hide your identity. Daisuke, you are the guardian of Earth!

Daisuke: I am very glad you understand me, Hikaru. You can call me Duke Fleed.
Hikaru: I prefer Daisuke. I'd rather call you that.
Daisuke: Thanks.
(Appears a romantic background music)

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¹ "I must confess": here, Gerdha is speaking about herself.

² "these latest 25 years": this analysis was made in 2003.

³ "this forum": obviously, the French forum.

⁴ "Well, is it a sunset or a daylight which is shining at the end of the episode behind Yatsuga-take?": Here, Gerdha refers to a discussion on French forum about Grendizer's location. In French version (VF) it was not absolutely clear about the anime locations. She was working about on "Nagaifans", another site.

(Continues here)

HERE ARE ALL THE GRENDIZER LINKS

Edited by joe 7 - 26/10/2019, 19:07