NAIDA AND RUBINA: WHAT'S BEHIND THE MASK - 33
By Gerdha & Joe7
(first article: here; previous article: here)

ANALYSIS ABOUT RUBINA

MEETING ON EARTH: RUBINA'S FEELINGS

It is essential identifying correctly the feelings in Duke Fleed and Rubina's hearts in ep72, to understand what happens in this episode and also the personality of the characters. Normally, it is believed that Rubina is in love with Duke Fleed and that she acts in ep72 because of these feelings.

Yet, looking at the visual details and listening to the VO (Original Version Japanese) dialogues, there is something wrong with this theory. When Rubina and Duke meet again on Earth for the first time in eight years, she surely has never heard of him until recently: she probably could not get much detail when she learnt in Ruby the news that he was still alive. She should love him, she is seeing him for the first time in 8 years: well what happens? Rubina does not ask him anything about him, not even a polite "how are you?". Nothing. Not a word about Duke Fleed as a person.

Note also that Rubina never says to Duke Fleed "I love you", not even when she dies ... and neither does Duke.

Someone could object that, in this series, neither Daisuke nor Hikaru say this phrase: but, in such a dramatic context like that of Duke and Rubina, there is little time to speak, so the most important things should be said immediately, shouldn't they? Well, should to say at least "I love you" be the most important detail of their relationship? Unlike Ep25, where Naida declares her feelings about Duke Fleed, in ep72 Rubina does not say a word about this topic.

Moreover, when she meets Duke, Rubina is not in an altered state haunted by memories. She is rational, careful to choose the right moment to show him the photo of Planet Fleed.

It is clear that Rubina leaves Rubi after an irrational impulse; but, apart this, she behaves like an experienced and acute person. Her relations with Zuril, King Vega, Duke Fleed, show that she is not irrational. She understands very well her "fallen princess" position and acts consequentially.

Hers is not an irrational behaviour. In case Rubina asked Duke Fleed to marry her, for example, then she would have been really an irrational girl. But this is not the case: she does not propose any marriage, she is silent on her legal status of "fallen princess"... she also does not immediately tell Duke about Planet Fleed.

She waits the moment in which Duke speaks about his planet: only then she tells him the news. Irrational behavior? It seems rather studied: Rubina seems to test Duke Fleed to understand how to relate better with him.

Please observe her behavior: she runs towards Duke ecstatically, but Duke is not doing the same.

(instead, when Duke and Naida met, he also ran like her),

Not only this: Duke stops Rubina with a gesture: then, she completely changes her look and behavior.

Please note that Rubina, however, is not worried for Duke in any way. She does not show any sign of real interest on him, or about his physical or mental state. She is not sad about his reaction, she is only disappointed because he stopped her. She is also surprised that Duke makes observations about Planet Fleed (!!!).

She acts seductively with him.

Substantially, Rubina never shows any interest in Duke Fleed as a person. She does not even show interest to see her "beloved"'s face, always covered by a helmet.

Someone could object: "But, if Rubina does not care about Duke Fleed, what about all that "last flower" talk? She does not want to be forgotten by him, after all ".

The answer is simple: she wants to be remembered indeed. What connection would there be between wanting to be remembered and feeling "love"? Rather, it seems that Rubina wants a confirmation that Duke must remember her in spite of everything.

That red flower, in fact, recalls the embarrassing situation created between them during the Fleed boat trip, where she realized that he was not in love with her, so this cannot be the main reason for her request. It's not really the best as a love memory ...

There must be another reason. That is, Rubina wants to remind Duke that she was the one who gave him the victory over Vega. One day, he will be able to come back to Fleed, just because she told him about Skarmoon position. Of course Duke promises her to call the red flower "Rubina" while she dies. How could he say no to her in that situation??

(to be continued here)

HERE ALL THE ENGLISH LINKS ABOUT GRENDIZER

Edited by joe 7 - 5/5/2020, 13:48