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Ok but find it so interesting that Gandalf is always associated with fire imagery/powers because…

Usually In Lotr, the villains are associated with fire imagery.

Think: Sauron’s fiery eye, the balrog, the flames of Mount Doom, Saruman’s fiery forges and explosives, Smaug the fire breathing dragon, the Witch-King’s flaming sword, Denethor burning Faramir, etc

The heroes are usually associated with water/sea imagery, or tree/flower imagery. The elves longing for the sea, the ents flooding Isengard, the White Tree of Gondor, etc.

But that’s something I think is really interesting about Gandalf– he’s not like the other heroes. He’s associated with fire imagery/powers, the way the villains are.

Gandalf describes himself as the “I am the servant of the secret fire, wielder of the flame of Anor.”  In the books it’s revealed that he bears Narya, the Ring of Fire.

Gandalf’s powers generally involve manipulating fire and light.

He’s invulnerable to flames, and can meet fire with fire.

 He ignites things on fire:

He blinds people with light:

He redirects lightning:

And most obviously, he’s famous for his magic fireworks.

Tangentially related: Gandalf and Pippin are also the ones who light the beacons in the films…and Gandalf says “hope is kindled.” Because fire imagery!

So it’s like….

I think it’s relevant that Gandalf was offered a place in Sauron’s army. Saruman earnestly tried to recruit Gandalf to their side.

So Gandalf could’ve easily joined the villains. He had exactly the kind of powers they respected and wanted. He was exactly the kind of person they would want to recruit. He could’ve very easily become just like Saruman. He just refused. 

And I think that’s so cool because Gandalf is ultimately….a hero who happens to have villain-powers?A hero associated with the villain’s imagery and abilities? He’s like…..someone who SHOULD have been a villain, but chose not to be. 

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time fire that is given to us”

This is such a cool analysis and interpretation of Kyoko's character! I never thought about the Little Match Girl when it came to potential inspirations for Ophelia (too hung up over the Hamlet reference) but it makes alot of sense and is generally quite cool!

Dya ever wonder why Ophelia is a candle? Too fuckin bad, I’m about to tell you: it’s cause I think Kyoko is partially inspired by the little match girl.

Now I hear you dear reader, “what the fuck is the little match girl” and firstly I must say you are privileged to not have had your heart gutted from you watching the short film, however I am happy to summarize.

An impoverished little girl is huddled in an alley in the dead of winter with nothing but a box of matches she has failed to sell. She doesn’t go home, though wether she is orphaned or her father will beat her for failing to sell her matches varies based off the iteration. Never the less, cold and starving, she lights one of her matches and sees a beautiful feast and is warmed by the flame. Though swiftly the wind blows it out. So this continues, as one by one, she lights a match, sees a comforting vision, and the match is snuffed away. She then dies in the alley way.

Does that not sound like the story of Kyoko Sakura? An impoverished girl goes out to help her father, though what she does fails at pleasing him and thus can’t return to him lest she be harmed. So instead she indulges in fantasy after fantasy: living as a hero, living for her and her alone, and saving Sayaka Miki. One by one the flames are snuffed until she is left with nothing but the hope of a pleasant dream as she dies.

Also in terms of her powers, it’s notable that she had the abilities to create illusions, much like what the girl saw in the flames.

Doing a little more examination of Ophelia’s design, it’s noteworthy that she rides on a horse, as horse meat in Japanese is “Sakura.” Her riding on it could imply that she sees either her past life or her family as just a vessel that got her where she is, or perhaps that she thought she was destined to fail; just a lamb to the slaughter.

God for being my least favorite of the holy quintet, Kyoko is so fucking cool. Maybe meguca is just good actually and none of its characters are ba- oh right Kyubey, fuck Kyubey.