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Quick Summary of Tower of God Episode 13
In Tower of God episode 13, “Tower of God,” we get a different view of Bam’s journey, from the perspective of Rachel, his betrayer. What about Bam drove her decision to push him off the platform? What about her made Headon say to her that the “ugliness seeping out from inside you makes me cringe?” Or take notice of her “bottomless stupidity?” Here’s a hint: It’s what Endorsi glimpsed indistinctly when she said “I hope whatever you’re seeking at the top of the tower is worth more than him.” It’s what made Rachel betray Bam even though he was the only one who had ever made her feel special. And it’s something that’s among the ugliest of human traits. Can she live with her decision? Will Bam’s friends let her?
Note: This post may include spoilers, so be cautious.
Best in Show Moment for Tower of God Ep 13
Rachel screwed up. Too bad she didn’t know then what she knows now. Though maybe it would not have mattered. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
Setup: Rachel’s Foundation of Sand
Let’s just get this out of the way: I don’t hate Rachel. I’ll give you my unvarnished opinion of her at the end, but it’s not hate I feel for her.
This episode reinterpreted some of Rachel’s and Bam’s key moments from her perspective. We got to see how she ended up in the Tower, and it happened just as Bam remembered it. However, Bam didn’t see Headon tell Rachel point blank that the Tower hadn’t summoned her. It had summoned Bam. Even worse, Headon saw right through her lie of wanting to see the stars. She didn’t want to see the stars. She wanted to be a star, as in the center of attention.
Because she begged him, he offered to give her the same test that Bam passed through sheer courage and a little (okay, a lot!) of help from Yuri. While Bam met the challenge head on, she cried about how unfair it was. When Headon encased her in Shinsu just before Bam arrived, then forced her to witness Bam’s triumph, and the die was cast.
Or at least, Headon poured the die and it began to cool and harden.
Rachel craved what Bam had. Yet, she wasn’t willing to put in the work to make it happen. She begged Headon to let her ascend the Tower after refusing to take the first test. The same test that Bam passed! Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
You know I liked something when I begin to draw parallels to literature — in this case, to Judas Iscariot and how jealousy drove him to betray Jesus. Well, Rachel started to follow in those well-worn steps. How that ended up for her is my Best in Show moment.
Delivery: Rachel Takes the Path of Judas
Headon had told her the condition of climbing the tower was to pass another test. The test was to kill Bam by her own hand.
She hesitantly accepted. I’ll give her this: She had moments of doubt. After ending up in the wheelchair, as he tried to lift her mood, a voice in her mind screamed for her to tell him to run. But all she could do is sound so pathetic that he hugged her.
Even as they were in the final test, she had doubts. She knew Bam was “the only one who treats me like I’m special” (12:35). Another thought provided a counterbalance: Bam had become the star of their group. The star that she had wanted to be. The jealousy that had been there from the start, the jealousy that fed and grown on Bam’s successes, overthrew her last reservations. She pushed Bam off the platform.
Rachel went into a jealous rage. One thing she had never done: She had never asked how she might herself become stronger. Capture from the Crunchyroll stream.
The show did a fantastic job showing how flawed Rachel was in the beginning. It beautifully dramatized her descent into jealousy. That alone would be worth a Best in Show moment! However, Tower of God went one step further.
After the test, Rachel was alone in her room. She began to laugh in delight that she’d achieved her goal. Then her laugh broke. She buried her face in her hands.
Even Judas knew he’d screwed up in retrospect.
My true opinion of Rachel? I don’t hate her. She doesn’t rate that intense an emotion. When I think of everything she gave up, especially the adoration of someone as pure and honest as Bam, I feel nothing but pity. Fate already delivered her punishment. Rachel is Rachel. She has to live with herself. I can think of few things worse.
What did you think of Bam’s fate? What was your Best in Show moment? Let me know in the comments!
Other Posts about This Series
Other Anime Sites
- Reddit: Kami no Tou: Tower of God – Episode 13 discussion – FINAL
- Lost in Anime: Kami no Tou: Tower of God – 13 (End) and Series Review
- Rabujoi: Tower of God – 13 (Fin) – Just Climb, Baby
This Site (Crow’s World of Anime!)
- Review: Tower of God Episode 1: BALL
- Review: Tower of God Episode 2: 3/400 (Three Four-Hundredths)
- Review: Tower of God Episode 3: The Correct Door
- Review: Tower of God Episode 4: The Green April
- Review: Tower of God Episode 5: The Crown’s Fate
- Review: Tower of God Episode 6: Position Selection
- Review: Tower of God Episode 7: Lunch and Tag
- Review: Tower of God Episode 8: Khun’s Strategy
- Review: Tower of God Episode 9: The One-Horned Ogre
- Review: Tower of God Episode 10: Beyond the Sadness
- Review: Tower of God Episode 11: Underwater Hunt (Part 1)
- Review: Tower of God Episode 12: Underwater Hunt (Part 2)
- Review: Tower of God Episode 13: Tower of God
Great post! Loved the comparisions to Judas and the thoughts that went into the post. I hadn’t considered these points until now.
In terms of Bam’s fate I am not really sure what is going to happen to him. But finding the reasons why he was betrayed is going to be a difficult journey at the least.
“Great post!”
Thanks!
“But finding the reasons why he was betrayed is going to be a difficult journey at the least.”
It really will be! That’s exactly the kind of thing I want to see in fiction. I really hope we get a second season!
I loved seeing it all from Rachel’s point of view. It did an incredible job of showing her internal struggle. I was really impressed with this season overall and hope we’ll get more.
“I was really impressed with this season overall and hope we’ll get more.”
Me, too. There was more subtlety to the characters than I’d expected, and I found the plot to be engaging. In particular, I liked the techniques used to build anticipation.
For sure. There was less exposition which was nice. It was as if they trusted us to put the pieces together. They’ve definitely created an interesting world which deserves more attention.