"In the Name of the Moon" Rewatch: "The Crybaby: Usagi's Beautiful Transformation" & "Punishment Awaits: The House of Fortune Is the Monster Mansion"

Sailor Moon

First off, happy International Women's Day! I feel like kicking of my "Sailor Moon" rewatch/recap today is very apropos. I've always felt that "Sailor Moon" was very empowering and really showcased all sides of "strong women." Usagi is clutzy and cries, but she is very empathetic and courageous, there's fiery Rei, brainy Ami, strong and sensitve Mako, fierce and lovely, Minako. They complement each other and compensate for each other's weaknesses. They learn from each other and grow.

"Sailor Moon" premiered on Japanese television 27 years ago, yesterday, March 7, 1992, adapted from the successful manga by Naoko Takeuchi It wouldn't debut in the United States until 1995 and it would be a bastardized version at that. Character names were changed. Genders were changed to make it less queer and more palatable to impressionable English speaking audiences. Despite that, I loved it. As a 12-year-old gay boy, I was entranced by the transformations, the attacks, the stories. I remember spending summers at my grandparents watching on the USA Network. I wouldn't watch the original, unedited episodes until my early '20's and it made my appreciation for "Sailor Moon" grow even more. 

The past few years, Viz Media has been releasing re-mastered editions on blu-ray featuring the original Japanese voice acting and a new English dub featuring the original cast. It's time for a re-watch! This will be similar to my "Batman: The Animated Series" re-watch and I'm really excited to get started. If you've never watched "Sailor Moon" and want to follow along, I encourage it! The whole series is on Hulu for you to enjoy.

"The Crybaby: Usagi's Beautiful Transformation"

Usagi: "Moon Prism Power Make Up!"

14-year-old Usagi Tsukino is a normal middle schooler. She's a bit of a clutz and a crybaby or emotional. She oversleeps and gets bad grades, but there is an inherent goodness to Usagi evidenced by her helping a cat being tormented while on her way to school. She removes the band aid on it's forehead, revealing a crescent moon shaped mark. Later that night, the cat, Luna, arrives in Usagi's bedroom and she can talk. She tells Usagi that she is guardian of justice and gives her a brooch. Holding up her hand, Usagi shouts, "Moon Prism Power Make Up" and transforms into the pretty guardian of love and justice, Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon's first mission is to stop evil Queen Beryl and her minion, Jadeite from sucking the energy out of humans to feed the "great ruler." Their first target? The jewelry store owned by Usagi's best friend Naru's mom. Can inexperienced Sailor Moon save the day?

Do the "Sailor Moon"

The first episode of "Sailor Moon" is a pretty standard origin story. It's a pretty faithful adaptation of the debut issue of the manga. The format that it follows is pretty standard for most episodes of "Sailor Moon." Queen Beryl and one of her minions, in this case, Jadeite, unleash a youma or monster to drain the energy out of unsuspecting humans to feed the "great ruler."

The thing that I think separates "Sailor Moon" from other shows that have a similar vibe is Usagi. Usagi doesn't seem remarkable. She's clumsy, overly emotional. She's not athletic. She's not a good student. She is endearing though. I could see someone watching this and thinking that if Usagi could be a hero, then anyone could be. Heck, I thought it could be. It also sets up a compelling arc for her. Will she grow? Will she step up to the plate.

The episode introduces other characters that will feature throughout the series. Usagi's best friend, Naru, school nerd, Umino, Usagi's teacher, Miss Haruna. And of course, talking cat, Luna. Mamoru Chiba who doesn't get an actual name for a while, and his alter ego, Tuxedo Mask. These first couple monsters are kind of non descript. Creepy looking. Long fingers. They aren't special.

People, myself included, take issue with Tuxedo Mask popping in and saving the day, but I think in these first few episodes, it makes sense. He's really there to back up Sailor Moon and she at least takes out the monster. And her crying does help, so take that Tuxedo Mask!

All in all, a highly entertaining debut episode.

Grade: B+

"Punishment Awaits: The House of Fortune Is the Monster Mansion"

Umino: "All that is left in my life now is despair."

A new house of fortune has opened in the Juban District and it is very popular. Usagi's classmate, the dorky Umino, has crush on her and visits the house of fortune's fortune teller to get advice. Little does he know, the fortune teller is Jadeite's newest youma, Balm. Balm begins brainwashing Umino and his other classmates. They begin acting out and Balm feeds on that energy. Umino flips up Miss Haruna's skirt and tries to make out with Usagi. When Usagi learns that Umino visited the house of fortune before all this, Sailor Moon goes to investigate.

Nice panties.

The "Sailor Moon" manga moved pretty briskly. It introduced the other Sailor Scouts in quick succession. The anime doesn't do that. So, they had to create other episodes to flesh out a longer season of television. This is the first of those episodes. It also never aired in the United States, for whatever reason. 

Maybe that scene with Umino flipping up Ms. Haruna's skirt. I mean, she did have a smiley face on the butt. Scandalous. Now that I think about it, that probably was it. I'm not sure if Miss Haruna's reaction of bursting into tears of humiliation was the right way to go if she really wanted to teach these boys a lesson. She worries they will lose all respect for her, but like, maybe now? I am happy that the brainwashed boys also throw bricks through a male teacher's window, and he also freaks out, so I guess teachers of both genders at Juban Middle School aren't sure what to do in these situations. 

The scene where Umnio tries to kiss Usagi against her will is troubling also. Usagi starts crying which immediately turns Umino off. That tracks, but still not a great message. Like, you want Usagi to tell Umino off, but crying does seem like it fits. And take that Tuxedo Mask. You said last episode Usagi couldn't just cry and things would work out, well, sh'e's proving you wrong.

This interaction does push Usagi to investigate the House of Fortune. I do love that she forgets what to say to transform. It's a nice detail and really feels realistic, if something like this could happen in real life. Again, Balm is pretty generic and the battle is short. Sailor Moon freaks out, Tuxedo Mask shows up, she tosses her tiara the end.

There is also a brief sub plot about Usagi and her crush on Motoki from the arcade. From what I recall, that never really develops into anything and Motoki never returns any of Usagi's schoolgirl crush driven affections. It feels like just a way to get Usagi to play the Sailor V game and remind viewers that there is another woman running around in a Sailor costume fighting crime.

This episode is ok. It's fun. It's a trifle. It's entertaining and at two episodes in, does it really need to be more than that?

Grade: B-

Next up, a radio program entrances the girls and Usagi tries to lose weight.

I'm excited to really dive into "Sailor Moon" and look at it a little deeper, especially later in this season and future seasons where it gets more queer and Usagi begins to grow along with the other scouts. I'm interested to hear what you think? If you're a longtime fan, does it hold up? If you're new, what do you think? Let me know in the comments.