Puella Magi Madoka Magica Episode 9 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

I'd Never Allow That to Happen

Sayaka becomes a witch and Kyoko enters her maze holding Sayaka's soulless body. Homura saves Kyoko and meets Madoka, who is worried upon seeing Sayaka's body. Homura explains everything to Kyoko and Madoka, and Kyubey later reveals to Madoka the emotionless extraterrestrial society behind Puella Magi and witches, which harvests energy from young girls' wavering emotions. Kyoko asks whether Sayaka's Soul Gem can be recovered and Kyubey dodges the question. The next day Kyoko makes Madoka skip school to rescue Sayaka by having her best friend talk to the witch, but Madoka's words have no effect; Kyoko dies by suicide while killing the witch, and Homura takes the fainted Madoka out. The episode ends with Kyubey revealing to Homura that the rescue was impossible and that he did not stop Kyoko so Madoka would become a Puella Magi, and Homura refuses to allow it.

• Sayaka becomes a witch

  Sayaka becomes a witch while Kyoko enters her maze holding the soulless body, and Homura saves Kyoko.

• Kyubey's revelations to Madoka

  Kyubey explains to Madoka that his society is emotionless and that Puella Magi and witches produce energy from young girls' emotions, which leaves Madoka saddened and angry.

• Failed rescue attempt

  Kyoko makes Madoka skip school to talk to the witch Sayaka, but the attempt fails and Kyoko dies by suicide while killing the witch.

• Kyubey and Homura's final talk

  Kyubey admits the rescue was impossible and let Kyoko try so Madoka would become a Puella Magi, and Homura vows to stop it.

Recent Timeline

• Kyosuke's early discharge and Sayaka's revival (Episode 6)

  Kyosuke was discharged early from the hospital after his rehabilitation progressed ahead of schedule, which Sayaka learned from a staff member. Madoka then apologized to Sayaka and threw away her Soul Gem. Sayaka collapsed and stopped responding, and Kyubey explained that her body had become an empty shell. Homura retrieved the Soul Gem and Sayaka revived.

• Pain lesson, church rift, and the Elsa Maria fight (Episode 7)

  Kyubey demonstrated the pain a Soul Gem would inflict by simulating a spear stab through it, warning that ignoring pain can slow reactions to injury. At the abandoned church Sayaka rejected Kyoko's apple, accused it of being stolen, and left, ending their attempt to reconcile.

  Sayaka then charged the witch Elsa Maria, was injured by its vines and snake-like creatures, and refused Kyoko's rescue. She cut through the vines and bisected the witch, finishing the fight bloodied and laughing, having numbed herself to pain.

• Homura's attack on Sayaka and the shot at Kyubey (Episode 8)

  Homura tried to persuade Sayaka to use a Grief Seed, and when Sayaka refused and accused her of lying, Homura prepared to kill her. Kyoko interfered, and Homura escaped with a flashbang grenade.

  As Madoka neared a contract, Homura appeared and shot Kyubey, halting it. Another Kyubey body then appeared and consumed the dead one.

• Kyubey's identity revealed and Sayaka's Grief Seed (Episode 8)

  Homura revealed to Kyubey that its true identity was that of an Incubator, and Kyubey realized Homura came from another timeline.

  Sayaka, despairing that wishes demand a great price and that the world is not worth saving, let her Soul Gem fully darken. It exploded into a Grief Seed, creating a Barrier, and Sayaka apparently became a witch.

• Kyoko's death in Sayaka's witch maze (Episode 9)

  Madoka and Kyoko entered the maze of Sayaka's witch to reach her through conversation, but Madoka's pleas had no effect. Kyoko killed herself, which also destroyed the witch. Homura, who had come to protect Madoka, carried the fainted Madoka out of the maze.

Character Graph

Hitomi

Friend of Madoka who has received love letters and offers thoughtful advice about dreams.

• Love letters

  Has already received a second love letter this month.

• Dream advice

  Suggests Madoka may have met Homura before without remembering her.

• Madoka (Friend, Affinity)

  Close friend who advises her about the dream.

• Sayaka (Friend, Affinity)

  Friend who is in the same group with Madoka.

Mami

magical girl

Experienced figure who rescues the girls from familiars, reassures them, and heals the injured creature.

Magical girl who was killed. She had only distant relatives, and because she died on the other side and left no body, she remains a missing person in the ordinary world.

• Rescue

  Intervenes to reassure Madoka and Sayaka that they are safe.

• Dismissed gratitude

  Deflects the rescued being's thanks toward the girls, saying she only happened to pass by.

• Sayaka (Mentor, Affinity)

  Mami treats Sayaka as a future student and refuses to lose in front of her.

  Mentored Sayaka and warned her against rushing her wish

• Madoka (Mentor, Affinity)

  Mami leads Madoka on the witch hunt and laughs with her over outfit designs.

  Encourages Madoka and proposes celebrating their new partnership

• Homura (Other, Hostility)

  Homura throws back the grief seed Mami tossed to her, refusing it and leaving it to Mami.

  Clashes with Homura over involving ordinary people and reads her opposition as resentment

Kyosuke Kamijo (Kamijo)

Formerly hospitalized boy who shares a rare CD with Sayaka and sobs while the music plays

Patient who recovered miraculously and was discharged early because his rehabilitation went faster than planned.

• Recovery

  Is discharged early because his rehabilitation goes faster than planned.

• Reconciliation

  Apologizes to Sayaka for having been rude to her earlier.

• Sayaka (Friend, Other, Affinity)

  Invites Sayaka to listen to the rare CD with him

  Apologized to her for earlier rudeness and was then escorted by her to receive his violin.

Junko

Advises Madoka that being right does not guarantee happiness and that deliberate mistakes can break an impasse.

• Madoka (Other, Neutral)

  Gave Madoka advice about a friend and encouraged her to learn to make mistakes.

Kyoko Sakura

magical girl

Magical girl who came to Mami's former territory after hearing of Mami's death. Learned a new magical girl had already contracted in the area and threatened to crush the newcomer to keep the territory.

A magical girl who once fought witches for a wish and warned Sayaka against the same path. She fails to bring back the witch Sayaka has become and kills herself inside the barrier, disappearing with the witch.

• Plan

  Stops Sayaka's fight with Anja and proposes letting Familiars attack civilians until they become Witches.

• Duel

  Attacks Sayaka and then starts a duel to the death after finishing a taiyaki.

• Sayaka (Other, Mentor, Mixed)

  Rival who ends Sayaka's fight with Anja and then fights her to the death.

  Kyoko shares her past and warns Sayaka against repeating her mistakes, then is frustrated when Sayaka rejects her apples.

• Homura (Pact, Mixed)

  Has an agreement with Homura and suggested defeating Walpurgisnacht together.

Sayaka

magical girl

Friend of Madoka who teases her playfully and joins her in the emergency-exit search.

Her soul gem is dimming and she is losing hope after finishing off Elsa Maria, refusing to use the Grief Seed, and seeing Hitomi with Kyosuke; her gem finally turns into a Grief Seed and she apparently becomes a Witch.

• Playful teasing

  Jokingly declares that Madoka will marry her instead of a suitor.

• Debut

  Makes her contract with Kyubey on the hospital roof and debuts as a Magical Girl.

• Combat

  Refuses to tolerate Kyoko's plan to let Familiars feed on humans and heals the wounds meant to sideline her for three months.

• Fatalistic despair

  Says all that is left in her life is fighting witches, and her train of thought grows increasingly fatalistic until she begins to transform into darkness.

• Madoka (Friend, Colleague, Mixed)

  Close friend who teases her about being more popular with boys.

  Runs away from Madoka, telling her not to follow, even though Madoka wants to make her happy.

• Hitomi (Friend, Mixed)

  Friend who is in the same group with Madoka.

  Hitomi reveals a long-held crush on Kamijo and gives Sayaka one day to confess before she does.

• Mami (Mentor, Affinity)

  Sayaka hunted witches under Mami's guidance until Mami died.

• Homura (Other, Hostility)

  Clashes with Homura, who refuses to return the item and leaves Sayaka sobbing

  Accuses Homura of putting up false pretenses and always lying to them.

• Kyosuke Kamijo (Other, Affinity)

  Visits Kyosuke and tries to heal him, while he resents her for playing music he can no longer perform.

  Cheerfully escorts the recently healed Kamijo to the roof to receive his violin.

• Kyoko Sakura (Other, Mentor, Mixed)

  Rival Magical Girl who ends her fight with Anja and then challenges her to a duel to the death.

  Kyoko confides her past and urges Sayaka to live for herself; Sayaka rejects her offer of apples as stolen food.

• Kyubey (Pact, Neutral)

  Made a contract with Kyubey to become a Magical Girl.

Homura

transfer student · magical girl

Transfer student who introduces herself to the class and feels unwell after questions. She knows the way to the infirmary and warns Madoka against changing herself. She later attacks an injured creature and demands that Madoka hand it over.

Explains the situation to Kyoko and Madoka and goes into the maze to protect Madoka; later keeps watch over Madoka after Kyoko's suicide and opposes Kyubey's plan.

• Transfer introduction

  Introduces herself to the class after being announced as a transfer student.

• Protective motive

  Admits she is doing things just for Madoka's sake.

• Other timeline

  Is identified by Kyubey as a person from another timeline.

• Protective role

  Protects Madoka in the witch maze and takes her out after Kyoko's death.

• Madoka (Other, Guardian, Affinity)

  Newly met classmate who warns her not to change and says the matter does not concern her.

  Protects Madoka closely, going into the maze after her and carrying her out.

• Mami (Other, Hostility)

  Homura competes with Mami over grief seeds, yet returns the seed Mami tossed.

  Confronts Mami over involving ordinary people in danger; Mami answers that the girls are already involved

• Sayaka (Other, Hostility)

  Refuses Sayaka's demand for the item, saying it belongs to magical girls

  Prepares to kill Sayaka, and is accused by her of lying.

• Kyoko Sakura (Pact, Mixed)

  Holds an agreement with Kyoko and reminds her of it; offers to leave the city to her.

• Kyubey (Other, Hostility)

  Shoots Kyubey to stop Madoka from forming a contract, and says Kyubey's real identity is that of an Incubator.

Kyubey

extraterrestrial

Creature that accompanies Madoka and can grant a wish in exchange for something; it speaks with Madoka by telepathy and comments on Homura's intentions.

Reveals to Madoka the workings of its society and that Kyoko's rescue attempt was knowingly impossible, but was not stopped so Madoka would become a Puella Magi.

• Contracts

  Completes Sayaka's contract on the hospital roof and nearly makes a contract with Madoka.

• Incubator identity

  Homura says Kyubey's real identity is that of an Incubator.

• Final remark

  Notes that girls who will become Witches should be called Magical Girls.

• Hidden motive

  Did not stop Kyoko's rescue attempt in order to push Madoka toward becoming a Puella Magi.

• Madoka (Other, Pact, Mixed)

  Kyubey stays with Madoka and speaks to her by telepathy.

  Explains everything to Madoka in detail, and is manipulative toward her.

• Sayaka (Pact, Neutral)

  Made a contract with Sayaka on the hospital roof.

• Homura (Other, Mixed)

  Is shot by Homura to stop the contract, and is identified by Homura as an Incubator.

  Talks with Homura in her house about the rescue being impossible and the need for Madoka to become a Puella Magi.

Madoka

Mitakihara student

Middle-school girl with a family at home and friends in class. She serves as the class health representative and has had a dream that felt like a warning.

Learns the truth about Puella Magi and witches from Kyubey, becomes saddened and angry, agrees to Kyoko's plan and enters the witch maze with her, and is later rescued by Homura.

• Class duty

  Serves as the class health representative and is asked to escort Homura to the infirmary.

• Worry

  Arranges a meeting with Homura to ask for protection of Sayaka and later accompanies Sayaka on her patrols.

• Doubt about Homura

  Asks Homura whether they have met before after Homura breaks down in tears in front of her.

• Emotional state

  Saddened and angered by Kyubey's revelations.

• Sayaka (Friend, Other, Affinity)

  Close friend who teases her and claims she would marry her.

  Her close friend, whom she wants to make happy and follows in search of after Sayaka runs away.

• Hitomi (Friend, Affinity)

  Close friend who advises her about the dream encounter with Homura.

• Homura (Other, Mixed)

  Newly met transfer student who warns her not to become someone different.

  Was warned by Homura to stay uninvolved and ignored the warnings.

• Kyubey (Other, Pact, Neutral)

  Kyubey accompanies Madoka and they communicate by telepathy.

  Hears from Kyubey about her apparent power and nearly agrees to make a contract.

• Mami (Mentor, Affinity)

  Assures Mami she is no longer alone and agrees to fight beside her

• Kyoko Sakura (Colleague, Mixed)

  Kyoko makes Madoka skip school and brings her into the maze to talk to Sayaka, with Madoka agreeing to the plan; when it fails Kyoko kills herself there to destroy the witch.

World Memo

• Soul gem as power source

  A magical girl's power is drawn from her soul gem, and Kyubey can grant a wish in exchange for becoming a magical girl.

• Magical girl duty without recognition

  Magical girls accept their powers to fulfill their own wishes and must keep fighting witches even if their efforts are forgotten.

• Magical girls beyond salvation

  Magical girls have given up everything for their wishes and are beyond any hope of salvation.

• Wishes require a major price

  A wish or miracle cannot be obtained without giving something major in return, and hope and despair must always be kept in balance.

• Witch-bound girls named Magical Girls

  A Magical Girl's soul sits in her Soul Gem; when the gem turns fully dark it becomes a Grief Seed and she apparently becomes a Witch. Girls on their way to becoming women are called 'girls', so girls who will become Witches should be called 'Magical Girls'.

• Incubator as Kyubey's true identity

  Kyubey's real identity is that of an 'Incubator', as Homura names it.

  Kyubey belongs to an extraterrestrial society without emotions that worries about the total energy in the universe falling due to entropy. Puella Magi and witches counter this by producing energy from the wavering emotions of young girls. Because Kyubey and its peers are emotionless, they cannot produce such energy themselves and do not understand human morals.

Clue Board

• Voice calling Madoka (Episode 1)

  Madoka hears a voice calling her by name and pleading for help, which she says reached her directly inside her head; Kyubey is later revealed to be the source and to have called her specifically. Kyubey chose her for her unprecedented potential.

• Homura's motive for attacking Kyubey (Episode 2)

  Homura explains she intended to stop Kyubey from meeting Madoka. She failed and repeats her earlier warning, but why she wants to keep them apart remains unknown.

• Homura's opposition to the contracts (Episode 3)

  Homura objects to guiding the girls toward becoming magical girls and singles out Madoka as someone she cannot allow to make a contract, but the reason is not given.

• Hitomi's group suicide gathering (Episode 4)

  Hitomi, marked by a Witch's kiss, invites Madoka to a better place; the gathering is a group suicide presented as a sacred ritual toward a world without living bodies. A recalled warning that mishandling certain substances could kill Madoka's whole family shows her the danger, and she stops it at the last moment.

• Magical Girls beyond salvation (Episode 5)

  Homura says Magical Girls have given up everything for their wishes and are beyond any hope of salvation. The meaning of this fate is revealed in episode 9.

• Walpurgisnacht in two weeks (Episode 6)

  Homura predicts that Walpurgisnacht will arrive in two weeks and promises to leave the city once it is defeated. Kyoko suggests that they might defeat it together.

• Homura's role in Mami's death (Episode 6)

  Sayaka accuses Homura of letting Mami die in order to obtain a Grief Seed. Madoka denies the accusation, and it is not settled in this episode.

• Homura's knowledge and warning (Episode 7)

  Homura already knows the way to the infirmary and warns Madoka that becoming someone different would cost her everything, hinting at a hidden reason behind her words that is not explained.

  Homura says that heeding her earlier warning would not have changed Mami's fate, yet she is glad Madoka's own fate was changed. She admits to having witnessed more deaths than she can count, a past she has not explained.

  Homura refuses to make promises she cannot keep and tells Madoka to give up on Sayaka, warning that Magical Girls have no hope of salvation.

  Homura says she had tried to tell others about the Soul Gem's true nature before, but no one believed her.

• Madoka's sense of prior meeting (Episode 8)

  Madoka has a strange moment of realization and asks Homura if they have met before, a question Homura does not answer before Madoka leaves.

• Homura from another timeline (Episode 8)

  Kyubey realizes that Homura is a person from another timeline, and Homura says Kyubey's real identity is that of an Incubator.

• Sayaka's Soul Gem recovery (Episode 9)

  Kyoko asks Kyubey whether Sayaka's Soul Gem can be recovered; he dodges, saying no one has tried and that such an achievement would not surprise him given Puella Magi exist. It is later revealed that rescuing Sayaka was in fact impossible.

• Madoka's unprecedented potential (Episode 9)

  Kyubey claims Madoka has unprecedented potential and could become much stronger than Mami depending on her wish, a claim left unverified.

  Kyubey did not stop Kyoko's rescue attempt so that Madoka would become a Puella Magi, since Homura alone cannot win against Walpurgisnacht.

Music Releases

• コネクト (OP)
• and I'm home (BD ver.) (ED)