A shadowy man in a shadowy space
Two previously unseen individuals discuss the path Utena has taken to get to this point and what it all means."Tracing a Path" provides examples of:
- Broken Record: Touga seems to be badly affected by his loss, and is shown at a distance listening to a reel-to-reel recording of himself reciting part of the student council motto on repeat.
- Cryptic Conversation: Akio recounts the duels Utena has fought thus far and talks about how she may be one they are looking for who can reach the final duel and free the Power of Dios, but who is Akio talking to? The shots are framed to suggest that he is talking to the prince, but the last shots of the scene reveal Anthy in silhouette. The conversation seems significantly more sinister under the assumption Akio is addressing her.
- Fishbowl Helmet: A-ko and B-ko wear these in the episode opening shadow play. It even comes with Funny Fan Voice so they sound more alien-like.
- Game Changer: The episode ends with a brief look at the major images being added to the symbolic lexicon for the upcoming Black Rose arc—the framed butterfly, the black rose signet, the dead duelist jump scare—it's a tiny window into how the direction of the story is about to change, and get a lot darker.
- Meanwhile Scene: The entire framing device of the episode is one. A new character whose identity is withheld visits the upside-down castle and speaks to the sealed prince, who, being sealed, does not participate in the conversation.
- Non-Answer: Utena asks Anthy where she was, but she doesn't answer. Instead, she looks out the window and comments, "the clouds are moving so quickly." Utena doesn't get an opportunity to process this before Chu-Chu gets up to some sort of off-screen mischief.
- Recap Episode: Reviewing the events of the Student Council Saga; it is part Clip Show, but it also includes plot-advancing material.
- Sinister Silhouettes: Akio is The Faceless this episode - the audience does not get a clear look at him. While he is in the castle, a place that the characters are not entirely sure is real, he is depicted in strictly in silhouette.
- The Treachery of Images: The shadow play ends with a flying saucer rising from Ohtori Academy. The next shot reveals that the view of the academy is an image, and one of the shadow players is reeling in the shadow of a tiny model saucer on a shadow fishing rod.
- Vocal Dissonance: The Japanese voice actors re-recorded the dialogue in the clip show segments, and while most of the performances are similar, Juri projects more disgust and anger than she did in her duel episode.
