“Fushigi Yugi: You will have an emotion” has never been a truer tagline.

Part 5 of the Fushigi Yugi watchalong with Caitlin, Vrai, and me. Emotions run high as the team grapples with the loss of a beloved character and the many, many problems with the story’s handling of gender and sexuality. Meanwhile, I struggle to balance my emotional reaction with my analytical one, and fail pretty spectacularly. But hey! it also features one of my favorite goofs, so it ain’t all gloom ‘n’ doom, eh?

Highlights include: Tamahome and Miaka slowly fusing into a single being, hilaribad (and sometimes just bad) gender essentialism, and Nuriko discourse. Lots and lots of Nuriko discourse. Content warning for phobia, erasure, and just generally terrible handling of trans issues.

Click here to view the show notes and download the SoundCloud file, or find it on iTunes and Stitcher by searching for “Chatty AF.”

Did you know? Have you heard? The Josei Next Door has a tip jar!