So where is Madoka in all this?
From the moment of Mami’s death and compounded by the Soul Gem revelation, she’s been too afraid to act on anything. And at each moment she’s had even a small inkling of contracting, Homura’s been there to stop it.
At the beginning of the series, Madoka was the poster child for magical girls everywhere. Innocent, light hearted and willing to help others. If she had become a magical girl, the series would have been typical, I believe that. But now, at this point in the game, she’s the real world foil to the fantasy of Kyubee’s cycle. All the shit that’s been going on, all the death and destruction, what normal young girl wouldn’t fall apart and shy away from it.
In the last episode it was shown that, given the chance, she could have been an outstanding magical girl. The MG we wanted her to be. She has the self sacrifice in her. But without that outlet, she is nothing but a side character to this larger world of distorted lies and misguided wishes. If the world of the magical girl is synonymous with maturation and the eventual adult hood, the world of witches, then I can see why Madoka would wish to stay young.
In a way I see this as a deconstruct of the typical magical girl.
Thus I must mention Homura and her unending struggle against what seems inevitable.
Originally, Homura was just a normal girl. Fresh from the hospital and new to Madoka’s school, she was none the wiser to the world she was about to become the heart of. An unlucky turn brings her into a witch’s barrier and in come Mami and Madoka to save the day. A fateful day when her, I dare say, love began.
But it all falls when the two die and leave Homura at the end of the world with only our fun loving Kuybee for company.
Okay, so second time is a charm.
Clumsy, ineffective and not so good at all, Homura begins her new life as a magical girl. Joining forces with the new Mami and Madoka she trains and becomes a needed part of the team. Until Madoka becomes a witch.
Third time is a bitch.
Mami loses it at the revelations Sayaka’s witch transformation brings and kills Kyoko and tries for Homura before dying at Madoka’s hands. To make matters worse, Madoka is again on the verge of becoming a witch and asks to be killed before that happens…
Homura’s cry is still burned into my mind.
