Shortly After Madoka Magica Released (to Great Success), Everyone Started Trying To Make The Next Big

Shortly after Madoka Magica released (to great success), everyone started trying to make the next big "magical girl misery" anime. I think the reason those ones didn't really take off is because they missed the point of Madoka: the love of others and self-sacrifice is center stage, and we only really feel bad for the characters of Madoka Magica because we see them happy.

Madoka Magica isn't just a misery fest; Mami's death matters because we understand Mami's dreams and struggles, Sayaka becoming Oktavia is impactful because we see her downfall that isn't her fault (or anyone's for that matter). Madoka (and to a secondary extent, Homura) never give up hope or trying.

Madoka isn't constantly victimised and abused (unlike some over-the-top edgy magical girl animes I know) she's in tragic circumstances and still tries her best; still WANTS the best for the world around her.

Making something sad isn't about how much we see a character suffer and struggle; it's about making the struggles and suffering they go through impactful through their story. Wants, relationships, traits, and flaws... That's what makes a character's pain painful for an audience.

Homura's so well written and is the core part of why Maodka Magica is so beloved and genius!!! Anyone stuck in a timeloop watching their friends die would go crazy and detach themselves from said friends to try and feel less bad!!!

Homura has """accepted""" (deluded herself into believing her negative thoughts) the fact that she's """evil""" (despite her actions being very well intentioned and justified in pretty much all cases).

"homura is an evil abuser who wants to control madoka and hates their friends" tired trope, canonically untrue, congrats on falling for the facade put up by a middle schooler.

"homura sees herself as inherently evil and abusive due to her upbringing, past actions, and status as a witch, which is still ongoing even at the end of rebellion" fresh, new, actually closer to canon, doesn't demonize a child for being mentally ill.

This is so lovely and exemplifies the feelings of loneliness Mami must feel.

Abandoned by Kyoko (who later forms an "eternal bond" with Sayaka), and abandoned by Madoka ("stolen away" by Homura).

Mami is the only character who truly doesn't have anyone. Of course, she somewhat has Bebe, but Bebe can't truly fill Mami's emotional needs.

you're fine alone

When it comes to Homura's obsession with Madoka it's obviously romantic, but I feel like there's some jealousy there too.

At the end of Rebellion, Homura is the class president and Madoka is the transfer student; the inverse of their original "roles".

Homura idolises and worships Madoka (even pre-Madokami); everything Homura does is motivated by Madoka. All because Madoka was the first one to connect with Homura when she needed it. The only way I can really describe how I interpret it is like the way a child wants to be a superhero after watching a movie.

Seeing Madoka as a magical girl fighting witches, defending Homura, and most of all being kind to Homura; Homura wants to defend herself and Madoka too. She wants to be the "Madoka" to a "Pre-Wish Homura" Madoka.

The apple scene between Kyoko and Sayaka feels both like "a proper introduction between enemies who no longer wish to fight" and "a final invitation to connect with someone and pull yourself back from the edge".

Sayaka tossing aside Kyoko's gifted apple feels like her making a conscious choice to fully go crazy and a denial of Kyoko's attempt to reach out to her.

Additionally, Kyoko giving away to Sayaka something that holds significance for her (food, which she considers incredibly precious) without any expectation of something in return aside from "connection" is an interesting moment for a character previously depicted as "selfish" and constantly against Sayaka.

Kyoko sharing her story TO Sayaka is a moment of vulnerability, later matched by her sharing her story WITH Sayaka by sacrificing herself when she likely could've defeated Oktavia without dying in a effort to ensure Sayaka wouldn't be alone anymore.

The "faux justice" part of Sayaka is my favourite part of her character, and I definitely failed to convey it in the og post lol.

I think ever since her talk with Mami about being careful about who and what you wish for, Sayaka definitely started to delude herself about her intentions.

She became a literal white knight for Kyousuke, and felt so much entitlement to him it drove her crazy especially when she pushed aside her feelings and still refused to see her own misdoings. When deciding on her wish, she only considered wishing for others (adding to that selfless justice persona).

Her Witchifications are absolutely more than just boy-crazy. I like using Kyousuke as a symbolic object for Sayaka's mental state and characterization, but I failed in my original post to convey the idea I had.

It's mentioned that in every timeline Sayaka contracts and becomes a magical girl, she becomes Oktavia.

I think this says a lot about Sayaka's mental state. Even if Hitomi doesn't confess to Kyousuke, even if Sayaka and Kyousuke were to date, Sayaka would still become Oktavia.

Maybe it's a case of regretting what she wished for, or falling out of love with Kyousuke, or that her relationship with Kyousuke didn't work out how she had wanted it to. Regardless, something always goes wrong when she makes her wish; and I find that very fascinating.