Earth Maiden Arjuna 25 Years Anniversary Rewatch Episode 3 Discussion

# Episode 3: [Tears of the Forest](https://files.catbox.moe/v9d9m3.jpg)
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## Links, useful info:

[MAL](https://myanimelist.net/anime/812/Chikyuu_Shoujo_Arjuna) | [Anilist](https://anilist.co/anime/812/Arjuna/) | [Anidb](https://anidb.net/anime/107) | [Kitsu](https://kitsu.app/anime/chikyuu-shoujo-arjuna) | [Livechart](https://www.livechart.me/anime/5910) | [ANN](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=602) | [AP](https://www.anime-planet.com/anime/arjuna)

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## Streams:

[Tubi](https://tubitv.com/series/1960), but that service is only in certain countries. [Otherwise](#piracy)

***
## Questions for the day:

1) How did Juna end up in a forest? What kind of boot camp supposed to be? What is the purpose of that?

2) Why Cindy is so unfriendly to everyone? Probably because how she lost her parents?

3) As we got a glimpse of Juna's childhood, how difficult was for her?

4) How can this underground shrine metaphor can be interpreted?

5) If Tokio didn't come, then Juna would survive and become much stronger?

6) What made Juna to awaken those powers?

7) Do you agree that Juna achieved any significant development and more conviction in this episode?

8) Do you think this forest did served its purpose by cleaning the filthy, strenghtened the self, and achieving harmony with the nature?

***
## Highlights from yesterday:

1) Looks like Chris kinda unlikeable and his god complex:

> One of my absolute biggest pet-peeves in any kind of medium is when characters are abrasive and horrible at communication for no reason whatsoever. And that's basically all we've been getting. It's literally painful for me to watch Juna, this poor girl, be constantly berated and insulted and gaslit by her supposed saviour, because apparently it's more important to be a dick to her with vague instructions and hand-waving than to actually do anything meaningful about what's going on this situation.

> Chris really believes himself as so entitled by acting/playing as an omnipotent god.

> Poor Tokio. I dunno who Chris just did to him but it looks like it hurt.

> That Chris guy doesn’t stop being cryptic. Juna is doing exactly what he asked her to do (or so I thought), but apparently she needs to do something else. He won’t tell her what exactly of course, figuring this out is an exercise for the reader. Geez, he’s making Juna x Tokio romance even more awkward than it already got after Juna turned into a goddess.

> He really likes roleplaying as a god, doesn't he?

> “You were unable to understand the meaning of the words for what they are.” – communication problems are a two person issue. You could have spoken clearer.

> Speaking of SEED, this organization is not exactly filling me with confidence. They recruit some random high school girl, throw her straight into a nuclear meltdown, give her a beating when she gets scared, and constantly get pissed because "we explained you absolutely nothing and you still don't get it?"

> Chris' attitude by behaving as a boss might be a bit irritating to others.

> Chris is a huge dickhead of a person. Ignoring Tokio, blaming Juna for everything, by simply because she misunderstood what he said and sent back to the helicopter. Juna acted because of a panic reaction. And that said panic caused a huge robot guardian, named Asura, to fight for her, while doing a distrcation and taking its time. Then Juna reverted to her human form. Chris actually abandoned her and that girl blamed that fault on her.

***
### Other information:

ED: [Sanctuary (サンクチュアリ)(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PjcMcdVq7w)] by Maaya Sakamoto

***
## Disclaimer notice:

Dear rewatchers, please be nice to the first-time watchers by simply not spoilering anything. But if you want to discuss spoiler-territory things, use spoiler tags instead. Thank you for your understanding.

For example [this is] >!a spoiler!<

Voir le contenu lié

Commentaires

SpiritualPossible2026-01-11 22:03

**First timer**

Okay, yeah, i think this episode was better than the previous one.

Chris continues to behave like an entitled bitch who refused to explain anything, and therefore dumped Juna in the middle of the jungle, where she ate an unknown mushroom and had an bad trip.

While brats still acting obnoxiously, I think it helps that other characters seem to condone their behavior, like for example, how Teresa continued to watch over Juna and was against the idea of abandoning her. And if we return to the idea that this show is an “post-EVA” anime, then Cindy and Chris's “mysterious” behavior really starts to remind me of Fuyutsuki and Gendo, which raises the question of whether they are actually good guys or not.

But, you know, I think the real star here is Tokio, who not only called Chris out, not only went and tried to explain everything to Juna's mother, but also **managed to locate the place where Juna had been dropped off and rushed to her aid**. That's some true dedication. I guess he is the best boy right now.

And if I had to speculate, I think his romance with Juna will play an important role in the story simply because he seems to be the complete opposite of these kids, and that's probably why they said he has a “completely different spiritual energy” than Juna. These kids are *~~hippies~~* all about spirituality and the environment, as well as looking down on humans. Tokio, meanwhile, seems more... materialistic, for better or worse.

In the episode about how Juna must awaken while being in nature, we are shown Tokio's room, filled with various technical devices and trash, he finds Juna thanks to the internet, and, setting off to rescue her, takes a radio and hamburgers with him as food. Again, this seems to be the polar opposite of how these children act. And yet, it's like the second time he unintentionally helps Juna awaken her powers.

Of course, later we will find out whether this was done intentionally or whether I am just reading too much into it.

No_Rex2026-01-11 22:10

**Episode 3 (first timer)**

* “What do you want from me?” – we start with the same we had plenty of last episode: bad communication.
* Jokes (?) about *anime parents* trope.
* “She probably doesn’t want me to know where she is, but that’s ok with me.” – what a convenient misunderstanding.
* “I must have fallen from there” – looks high.
* Pictures loading line by line – early internet things.
* Don’t go eating random bugs and mushrooms – in any case, finding water is a *much* more urgent problem than food.

[](#spooked)

* Magic ghost ants.
* “The mountain is the true shrine” - *I am 14 and this is deep* territory.
* Turning the stars is a nice visualization of passing time.
* Tokio W.

When the series has some quiet character moments, it is really good. Tokio’s scene with Juna’s mother, Juna at the forest lake, Tokio hugging Juna at the end. Unfortunately, this does not extend to any of the SEED characters, who continue to be terrible: Stupid decisions, terrible communication, shallow philosophy presented as deep. Chris is easily the worst offender, but the girl is not great either.

> How did Juna end up in a forest? What kind of boot camp supposed to be? What is the purpose of that?

Communicating (ironically) with nature.

> Why Cindy is so unfriendly to everyone? Probably because how she lost her parents?

She is the *brat character.*

> As we got a glimpse of Juna's childhood, how difficult was for her?

Who knows. That little girl looked happy to me.

> How can this underground shrine metaphor can be interpreted?

Nature = spiritually good

> Do you think this forest did served its purpose by cleaning the filthy, strenghtened the self, and achieving harmony with the nature?

Nothing of that lession required Juna alone, in a dark forest, falling of a big cliff. She breaks her neck there and the "time avatar" business is over.

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-11 22:11

**First-Timer Maiden Subbed**

- [Damn, Juna really got left in the middle of nowhere?](https://i.imgur.com/1H6XBD0.png) [](#whatamireading)

- [Bruh…](https://i.imgur.com/S0bNj9d.png)

- [I feel bad for Juna’s mom here.](https://i.imgur.com/8QFfUsB.png) She’s even *more* in the dark about what’s going on with her than Tokio is…

- [What awkward timing…](https://i.imgur.com/iYFhTiJ.png)

- [Yikes.](https://i.imgur.com/QnfeSbW.png) [](#bocchitheshock)

- [Oh damn she ran off a cliff…](https://i.imgur.com/JXyzXss.png) [](#ohfuck)

- [Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuch.](https://i.imgur.com/8va0W79.png)

- [She better hope those are safe to eat…](https://i.imgur.com/7B0pKd9.png)

- [Aaaaand it doesn’t look like they were.](https://i.imgur.com/jDzYnbM.png)

- [Okay this is giving me the heebie-jeebies.](https://i.imgur.com/xCG7xqD.png) [](#scaredmio)

- [This is… good, yes?](https://i.imgur.com/mfEqmWB.png)

- [Uh-oh.](https://i.imgur.com/QTtpkRI.png) [](#emiliaohdear)

- [It’s an active enemy right now and you haven’t exactly given her any other ideas of what she can do.](https://i.imgur.com/rqhXzEh.png) [](#facepalm2)

wloff2026-01-11 22:30

**First-timer, subs**

I'm kinda starting to wonder if this SEED organization, and especially Chris and Cindy, are actually supposed to be people we're even meant to sympathize with. I *assume* so, but geez. They're either incredibly incompetent, or just flat out *evil*. Even if their goals are noble, their means are absolutely not.

[](#angrypout)

They're still yet to explain anything at all to either Juna or the audience and their method of training seems to be abuse, torture, and harassment.

"One person's life weighs heavier than the Earth"? What's that supposed to mean, you I'm-12-and-this-is-deep level wannabe philosopher? Tokio isn't saying to sacrifice the Earth for Juna, he's telling you not to throw Juna to die in the forest for no reason!

[](#dontgetit)

Yeah, okay, maybe she does need to awaken to her nature senses or whatever, but would it really kill you to *explain it* and *tell her what she's supposed to do*?

Juna truly is remarkably clueless in the wild, though. Why is she running in panic all the time? I think most people's natural reaction would be to find shelter and stay put. But maybe that's the message: she's too afraid, yet again, and needs to trust the forest.

The real hero of the episode is Tokio. This dude really is a good dude. And he's the one who's shamelessly using modern inventions, eating junk food, and being the epitome of modern, polluting society.

How am I supposed to interpret this message?

[](#bigthink)

Ah, the feels when he had to wait like a full minute for one picture to load! The good old days of the internet, truly.

[](#seasonallaugh)

It was actually a quite good episode. Good animation, great music as always. Juna's adventures in the forest were intense and honestly a bit scary, and Tokio are proving to be great characters and great people.

It's just the whole SEED and Chris situation that's doing my head in a little bit. The show is pushing such a clear environmentalist agenda, yet SEED and the brats who are supposedly on the planet's side are acting like incompetent villains, while Tokio, the person who relies constantly on modern technology, eats junk food, and thinks fighting against pollution is a lost cause, is the person who constantly gets shit done and acts like a selfless, good person.

Is it mixed signaling and clumsy writing, or is it done on purpose? Is there going to be an "there's a way to live a modern life but not harm the planet" message? I'm actually really intrigued to find out.

I'm kinda hoping it turns out that these are some corrupt lunatics who actually want to kill all humans in order to save the planet or some such, and Juna and Tokio end up rebelling against them. Or something along those lines. We'll see!

[](#peace)

No_Rex2026-01-12 00:36

> It's just the whole SEED and Chris situation that's doing my head in a little bit. The show is pushing such a clear environmentalist agenda, yet SEED and the brats who are supposedly on the planet's side are acting like incompetent villains, while Tokio, the person who relies constantly on modern technology, eats junk food, and thinks fighting against pollution is a lost cause, is the person who constantly gets shit done and acts like a selfless, good person.
>
>
>
> Is it mixed signaling and clumsy writing, or is it done on purpose? Is there going to be an "there's a way to live a modern life but not harm the planet" message? I'm actually really intrigued to find out.

[](#rengethink "I had much of the same thoughts")

il8872026-01-11 22:57

**First-timer, subs**

Here goes training arc! The episode ends on a somewhat optimistic note — Juna has no issues slaying those Raaja monsters and even spends some pleasant time together with her boyfriend, almost like a regular couple on hiking trip.

I wonder what Chris wanted her to do instead of killing the monster? Letting it just go on rampage and harm people is off-limits, so maybe Avatar of Time actually has an ability to speak to Raaja?..

"Here, here Raaja. Good boy. That human is good, don’t hurt him. Look, just give us a few mins and we’ll clean up this nasty dump that makes you angry" — or so it didn’t happen. How exactly would Juna clean up the dump? Could she make all the trash disappear into thin air with her powers?

QotD:

1. Probably to make her learn to "connect" with the Earth like she did at the end of the episode.

2. I feel like there’s more to it. She hates the idea that someone has to replace Chris in his role of Earth protector.

5. The SEED guys would probably not let her die and come pick her up.

6. By calming down and pondering!

7. Yes. She’s become more aware of the harm people do to nature, but still prioritizes people’s lives over everything else (to Chris’s disapproval).

8. Dunno about this spiritual stuff, let’s hear what Chris has to say (?) in the next episode.

AgentOfACROSS2026-01-12 01:01

**First Timer**

Man. These S.E.E.D. guys kind of suck.

I figured they’d have some kind of training program for Juna but they’re just stranding her out in the wilderness and letting her figure things out.

At least they gave her a jacket I suppose.

Okay I’m glad they’re explaining why Cindy is here. I was curious about that.

Poor Juna. They could have at least given her some pants before dropping her off.

I totally did not consider Juna’s parents before now. It’s very heartbreaking to see her mom’s reaction to all of this.

When I read the premise of this show I was expecting something a bit more traditional and I guess comic book-y but I’m digging this slow contemplative pace it has at times.

I wonder where in the world they dropped Juna off anyway. Is she even still in Japan? This lake she found isn’t giving me any clues.

At least Tokio is trying to figure it out.

Jeez, how long has she been out there?

I’m no mycologist but I think you really shouldn't eat random mushrooms without making sure they’re not poison first.

What the hell are these ghost ants?!

There’s a lot of really beautiful imagery in this show.

I still don’t get why Chris is upset with Juna fighting the Raaja after he explicitly told her “Juna, go fight the Raaja” and gave her a bow and arrow back at the start of this show.

Tokio and Juna’s reunion is very sweet. I like them as a couple.

TheDanubianCommunard2026-01-12 21:11

### First-time watcher and your host (subs),

Juna the filthy was dropped down in a forest by alone. She have to train, improve, purify and strengthen by alone. There is a water body, she can really purify and clean herself there.

In this episaode Tokio also got more screentime. He asked who the hell is Chris and Cindy, and he got some ansers for it. But he was lucky that he did return to town. He visited Juna's father, who talked about her hardships in her childhood. First the bow, then the difficulties, another reason of being the Chosen One.

Juna was hungry and thirsty and almost collapsed, and she might did not survived if Tokio did not came for her help. And she understood how she become one with nature as insects overrun her body, then Cindy and Chris talks about underground shrine, an observer chosen by the gods. Then it realized this "shrine" is the forest itself. She she sleeps and dreaming, she sees the world, the sky, the surroundings around her. The pure, green nature and the cycle ofl ife was enough energy to awaken, gain power, and understands that is the very precious thing she sworn to defend. And that is how naturally become the Avatar of Time and beat that Raaja. Yes that dumpster ground, which is a filth upon this world, and that is how this Raaja born.

Juna is not so filthy anymore.

> 1) How did Juna end up in a forest? What kind of boot camp supposed to be? What is the purpose of that?

Chris convinced SEED that forest should be the right training camp. Because there is lot of nature here.

> 2) Why Cindy is so unfriendly to everyone? Probably because how she lost her parents?

I think it was her past. And probably dealing with every kind of weirdo and Chris.

> 3) As we got a glimpse of Juna's childhood, how difficult was for her?

It was a miracle she existed and got birthed. She was kind of a loner who had hardships.

> 4) How can this underground shrine metaphor can be interpreted?

I think the forest and the nearby mountains, hills are the shrine-temple. Juna is the guardian.

> 5) If Tokio didn't come, then Juna would survive and become much stronger?

She might almost died there.

> 6) What made Juna to awaken those powers?

Dreamed, and connected herself to the nature, as she become one with.

> 7) Do you agree that Juna achieved any significant development and more conviction in this episode?

Actually did.

> 8) Do you think this forest did served its purpose by cleaning the filthy, strenghtened the self, and achieving harmony with the nature?

Yeah.