First Impressions / Sailor Moon Crystal

「侵略 –SAILOR VENUS–」 (Shinryaku –SAILOR VENUS–)
“Invasion –SAILOR VENUS”

Sailor Moon Crystal was not as predictable this week…
In fact, it was kind of surprised me with its focus on Chibi Usa and Tuxedo Mask. While I like its development of secondary characters, I’m also puzzled by some of it. I never had the impression that Tuxedo Mask could do much of anything, let alone shoot energy beams from his palms. I always imagined him to be Sailor Moon’s saviour and perhaps someone that could fly and jump really high; not someone with supernatural powers. That was kind of random… but then seeing the reappearance of his Knights was a nice touch. Then we have Chibi Usa whose actions weren’t completely uncalled for, but I did find her attempt to steal the Legendary Silver Crystal kind of mute. I don’t want to believe that she’s a dense young child, but if she knows that having two Silver Crystals at once with people chasing her and the inability to USE it, is inevitable, why not ask for help sooner? She’s clearly looking for Sailor Moon for help, and she knew that Usagi was Sailor Moon, so why not just tell her everything? What does Chibi Usa gain by keeping it all a secret? I’ll never know, but I guess you can say that she’s just a child and she doesn’t know any better. If I were Usagi (or Venus), I would’ve pounded her for information sooner knowing that the Dark Moon was after her.

As it turns out, Sailor Venus doesn’t get captured this week because Sailor Moon finally manages to make it in the nick of time. Not to say that I think Sailor Moon is incompetent, but sometimes I wish the creators would put more effort into the story rather than simply cutting things out to try and fit it all into a 20-minute episode. There’s a lot that they can do with the original material that unfortunately gets missed in translation. Nevertheless, the episodes are starting to become less episodic and now we’re finally getting to the climax where Sailor Moon learns about her future. The focus on Chibi Usa is a good way to lead into the story about the future of the Moon Kingdom and Earth. I’m beginning to see parallels between this arc and the first one. Sailor Moon Crystal starts off with an episodic approach, then it gets more serious and there’s more continuity as we learn some background story about the characters. Finally we get to the end where the final boss appears and Sailor Moon has to battle it out to save the world. That’s pretty much the same sense that I get from the past two arcs and that’s not a bad thing… just very textbook.

Next episode we’ll finally get to see Sailor Pluto… and hopefully they improve the character design of her face. She’s not given the most flattering angle in the OP. I honestly don’t remember too much of what happens from here on out but it shouldn’t be a spoiler who Chibi Usa really is (I mean her name says it all…). I also remember the Prince being in love with Queen Serenity but one of the brothers is also in love with her which causes some conflicts. In case my memory is off, or in case that was all anime-original, I won’t say anymore. There’s plenty to be excited for as we hear more about the future through Chibi Usa’s POV. I can’t believe we’re almost nearing the end. One more season to go!

Bottom Line – @RCCherrie: Tuxedo Mask can attack with his palms! That’s got to be the most interesting development this ep #SailorMoonCrystal

 

Preview

12 Comments

  1. https://randomc.net/image/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal%20-%2018%20-%20Large%2032.jpg

    I never had the impression that Tuxedo Mask could do much of anything, let alone shoot energy beams from his palms. I always imagined him to be Sailor Moon’s saviour and perhaps someone that could fly and jump really high; not someone with supernatural powers.

    Bottom Line – @RCCherrie: Tuxedo Mask can attack with his palms! That’s got to be the most interesting development this ep #SailorMoonCrystal

    Yeah, when did he learn to do that!?

    ichigo
    Reply

  4. Remember that the first series was a recollection of idiotic cliches, characters dumbed down and the monster-of-the-week with an infinity ammount of refill chapters each seasons, so expect to find some surprises here, like Tuxedo Kamen doing a Kamehameha.

    As for Chibi-Usa, she is just stupid, plain and simple. She messed things in the future, she’s hiding that fact, and worst of all, she think that she can fix things on her own when she’s just useless. One thing that the first series did right is that Usagi didn’t lose time and spanked the Pink Pest anytime she could.

    SeedStriker
    Reply

  9. https://randomc.net/image/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal%20-%2018%20-%20Large%2026.jpg
    I’m happy that Sailor Venus was not taken as a prisoner, but I’m not happy at how the Sailor Scouts new fighting moves are causing less than minimal to none damage to the Scepter Sisters.
    https://randomc.net/image/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal%20-%2018%20-%20Large%2020.jpg
    And here I thought the Kings of 4 were gone for good.
    https://randomc.net/image/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal%20-%2018%20-%20Large%2021.jpg
    Wow this is a really good screenshot of Usagi/princess Serenity.
    https://randomc.net/image/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal/Sailor%20Moon%20Crystal%20-%2018%20-%20Large%2001.jpg
    Yes it’s good to see Artemis getting more screen-time. (=^･ｪ･^=)

    random viewer
    Reply

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