Lovers lost from the beginning
"I won! I've always had a place in Juri's heart. I'm the winner!"
Juri's crush Shiori returns to the Academy after a lengthy absence hoping to rebuild their relationship, but Mikage is able to exploits her insecurities to turn her into the third Black Rose Duelist.
"Thorns of Death" provides examples of:
- Disturbed Doves: Shiori's duel object is dozens of birdsnote on perches. When Shiori loses, one of the birds takes off from its perch. Then the rest of the flock takes flight, their shadows passing over Anthy and Shiori as the duel concludes.
- Eerily Out-of-Place Object: Shiori, already creeped out by signs that someone broke into her room, is startled by a clattering noise. She notices an overturned vase (containing orange roses, naturally) and underneath it she finds Juri's locket. Shiori doesn't know it, Juri's locket should still be at the bottom of the pond.
- Given Name Reveal: Shiori is officially introduced this episode. While she figured prominently in episode 7, she was flashback-only and unnamed until now.
- Hidden Disdain Reveal: Despite going through the episode talking about her respect and affection for Juri and making such an obvious effort to reach out to her, the first thing Shiori says in her confession is, "I've hated Juri ever since we were children."
- Her Own Worst Enemy: Shiori ruined her relationship with Juri because she thought it was too good to be true. In her own mind she's a nobody, and she assumed that Juri only acted kind to her out of pity. She stole the nameless boy in hopes of making Juri feel small like she feels small. But it didn't make her feel any better about herself — it made her feel worse.
- I Kiss Your Hand: Mamiya pricks his finger on the rose he is preparing. Mikage kisses his injury, suggesting that Mamiya deliberately hurt himself to provoke a reaction from him. Mamiya pointedly doesn't deny it.
- Ignored Expert: The student council holds a sort of mini-hearing, interviewing Miki about having his soul sword taken in episode 15. Miki correctly deduces that there is a third party interfering in the dueling game which represents a threat to them, but Nanami is dismissive and victim-blamey about it, intimating that Miki should have fought Kozue off.
- Innocently Insensitive: Juri calls Utena "cruelly innocent" when she inserts herself in Juri and Shiori's business. Utena takes umbrage at this, but when she discusses the situation with Akio, he agrees.Akio: You're like Ganymede, the youth of Aquarius: innocent and pure. But that innocence can hurt people. You should be careful.
- Internal Reveal: Shiori finds out what is inside Juri's locket but the audience doesn't get to see her reaction; the action jumps from her finding the locket to the aftermath where she goes to the Mikage Seminar, assumedly to try to work through her feelings. Based on her confession monologue, she knows what is in the locket before she opens it on-screen.
- It's All Junk: Juri throws her locket in a pond after resolving to put her feelings for Shiori behind her.
- Luminescent Blush: Miki turns red up to his ears when Nanami asks him what it felt like to have his soul sword pulled.
- My God, What Have I Done?: At her absolute lowest, Shiori's distraught at herself when she realizes making Juri suffer just isn't enough to make her happy and knows it's wrong but she's too weak to resist the temptation.
- Ominously Open Door: Shiori returns to her dorm room to find the door standing wide open, but there's no sign of anyone inside.
- Portent of Doom:
- The episode opens on Juri in the rose garden mooning over Shiori. She starts at the sight of a single petal falling from an orange rose; a hint that her love troubles are about to become real and present.
- A birdnote strikes the window next to Juri and Shiori while they are talking, suggestive of the futility of her attempt to reconnect.
- Sadist: Shiori seems positively delighted at the thought of Juri making herself miserable and wonders what else she can do to make Juri squirm.Shiori: I love that pretty look in your eyes when I hurt you.Juri: Shiori. Don't push me.Shiori: You always seem so strong. But now you seem so weak...
- Shower of Angst: Juri takes one while struggling with just how far she is from being over Shiori.
- Silent Treatment: Juri gives Shiori the cold shoulder when she first reaches out to her, but quickly relents when Shiori begs for a chance to talk.
- Silly Simian: Chu-Chu engages in some classic monkey-see-monkey-do while Utena and Anthy observe Juri at fencing club practice, waving around a tiny pretend sword.
- Uncool Undies: In the shadow play, C-ko fears discovery of her embarrassing secret: she wears woolen underwear (and three pairs, no less!) Despite assurances that wearing woolen underwear isn't that weird (well, 3 pairs at once is pretty weird) she's still certain that no one will be interested in her anymore. It parallels Juri's discomfort with her feelings for Shiori, and he fear of rejection if she admits to her attraction.
- Villainous Breakdown: Shiori is barely able to savor the thought of how she can torment Juri even more with the knowledge of being the object of her desire when Shiori starts screaming how even that isn't enough to make her happy.Shiori: It's not enough! IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH! Why do you always look at me like that?! Why?! WHY DON'T YOU SAY HOW YOU REALLY FEEL?!
