Tenchi Muyo! Tenchi Universe Episode 13: Time and Space Adventures Part 3

Two Tenchi reviews in one night, what’s the occasion? Well, in addition to wanting to wrap up this story arc, I also just realized that I’m only now making it to the half way point of the series and I need to start speeding things up so I can A. return my friend’s Tenchi DVDs and B. get started on the next anime review project I have planned. Anyway, last time, our heroes’ multi-versal world tour brought them to a world where Sasami was a magical girl who turned Ryoko and Ayeka into lesbians, and if that weren’t unbelievable enough, Mihoshi was an educator. I highly doubt that anything can top that in terms of insanity, but I’m bracing myself just in case.

Our next reality brings us to the suburbs where Tenchi is being wished a good day at work by his wife, Mihoshi. Well, that didn’t take long. Also, their daughter is Sasami, meaning that Mihoshi is now a parent, which may be the one thing she is less qualified for than being a teacher. In addition, Tenchi and Mihoshi live with Tenchi’s sister, Ayeka. Ok, I don’t really have anything to say about that development in particular, but given some things I’ve heard about what happens later in the series, let’s put a pin in this for a possible later episode. Anywho, since Ayeka is tired of doing all the housework, she decides she’s going to show Mihoshi how to be responsible and self-reliant. Yeah, good luck with that Ayeka, Kiyone’s probably been trying that for years. Despite her general ineptitude, Mihoshi does genuinely put in the effort, but her efforts are not enough for the over-baring Ayeka. After going grocery shopping at a store that’s more crowded than a gamestop on black Friday, Mihoshi decides to vent her frustrations to the one person who’s always there for her (whether she wants to be or not), Kiyone. Kiyone, (who’s Mihoshi’s old college friend in this reality) tries to be a good friend, but after hearing Mihoshi complain about her sister-in-law every day since they graduated, she’s simply lost her patience.

After Mihoshi gets home, her neighbor, Ryoko, comes over to borrow some soy sauce, though in reality, she’s there to borrow a cup of Tenchi. Mihoshi tries to hold her back, but she’s no Ayeka and doesn’t stand a chance against Ryoko. Speaking of Ayeka, it’s time for another round between our favorite blood enemies, especially once Ryoko demonstrates her complete lack of shame by feeling up a very married Tecnhi. Fortunately, before things can get any more awkward, reality shifts again.

This time, we find ourselves in 1920’s America where Tenchi and Ryoko appear to be in the middle of a Bonnie and Clyde style crime spree, though it’s clear that Tenchi is being coerced into this. Through an old school news reel, we learn that Ryoko is a wanted gangster who has kidnapped Tenchi and forced him into helping her commit crimes. Billionare heiress and Tenchi’s fiancée in this reality, Ayeka, is naturally pissed to the point of trying to hunt down Ryoko with a rifle.

We’re soon treated to a fun little montage of Tenchi and Ryoko robbing banks and becoming infamous criminals. As they drive off together, it becomes clear that, despite having been kidnapped, Tenchi’s actually starting to enjoy himself. Later that night, Tenchi and Ryoko park their car by the golden gate bridge and Ryoko admires the beautiful starry night. However, she can’t enjoy it for long as Washu shows up and says that she’s almost fixed reality, Tenchi and Ryoko’s memories returning upon seeing Washu. Tenchi’s ready to return home, but there’s one catch. Since this world is Ryoko’s idealized version of reality, they cannot go back unless Ryoko willingly decides to reject it. Ryoko refuses to leave, saying that this world is everything she ever wanted. Ryoko is great in this scene. She says that she knew that Tenchi was enjoying himself and is heartbroken by the idea that he doesn’t want to stay with her. For the first time Ryoko’s affection for Tenchi comes off as genuine, heartfelt and motivated by emotions other than lust. Heartbroken, Ryoko flies off. What follows is actually a rather beautiful scene where Ryoko walks around by herself, slowly realizing that this world is just a dream and it’s not fair to force Tenchi to stay here. Finally, Ryoko returns to Tenchi and Washu and agrees to go home, promising that one day, she’ll take Tenchi on a real adventure.

Back at the Masaki house, the girls take a relaxing bath as they reflect on their recent adventure, but Ryoko is noticeably absent. Ryoko is actually outside watching the sky. Tenchi arrives and tosses her an apple and the two sit together quietly enjoying one another’s company, ending the episode.

This episode was not nearly as surreal as the last episode, but it makes up for that by giving some great character development for Ryoko. For the first time, we see Ryoko drop the horny schoolgirl act and let her actual feelings shine through and it results in a brief, but still powerful moment. The final moment of the episode between Ryoko and Tenchi is actually really sweet. Overall, a great episode and a good ending for this story arc.