I absolutely love this episode. Wapourif's kiss with Morinas in particular is just heartbreaking. Both the structure and the imagery of the story are wonderfully well directed.
To me it's very much contrasting (and subverting) both Morinas and Wapourif as characters: Morinas, the least religious of all the sibyllae, is shown finding faith and growing into her role as a priestess, whilst Wapourif, one of the most devout characters, is shown struggling with and, to an extent, abandoning his faith with regard to both Morinas and the Simoun. (As you noticed, Morinas and the Simoun are very much used as allegories for one another.)
One subtle thing which I noticed after watching it once or twice: watch the use of light and shadow with respect to both characters. Morinas is shown progressively more illuminated, almost to the point of ethereality when she's sat beside the river; meanwhile, Wapourif is shown more and more in shadow as the episode progresses.
Why yes, I have been overthinking this. ;)
For what it's worth, both Wauf and Wapourif are very definitely male (voice and breasts, respectively, aside). The terminal "f" on the names is a key signifier in Simulacran society. (You can also tell by looking closely at the winged necklaces, although that's more subtle.)
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To me it's very much contrasting (and subverting) both Morinas and Wapourif as characters: Morinas, the least religious of all the sibyllae, is shown finding faith and growing into her role as a priestess, whilst Wapourif, one of the most devout characters, is shown struggling with and, to an extent, abandoning his faith with regard to both Morinas and the Simoun. (As you noticed, Morinas and the Simoun are very much used as allegories for one another.)
One subtle thing which I noticed after watching it once or twice: watch the use of light and shadow with respect to both characters. Morinas is shown progressively more illuminated, almost to the point of ethereality when she's sat beside the river; meanwhile, Wapourif is shown more and more in shadow as the episode progresses.
Why yes, I have been overthinking this. ;)
For what it's worth, both Wauf and Wapourif are very definitely male (voice and breasts, respectively, aside). The terminal "f" on the names is a key signifier in Simulacran society. (You can also tell by looking closely at the winged necklaces, although that's more subtle.)