"In the Name of the Moon" Rewatch: "Scent of a Monster: Chanela Will Steal Your Love" & "Protect the Melody of Love: Usagi Plays Cupid"

Sailor Moon

So, it was like five months before my last Sailor Moon post and this time it was six. At this rate, I'll make it through the series before I die. Maybe. Let's dive back in.

"Scent of a Monster: Chanela Will Steal Your Love"

Umino: "Well that's nothing. When I was a toddler, an alligator practically swallowed me whole."

Usagi: "An alligator, really?"

Umino: "Yes. It was a curious accident caused when my mother forgot to close the latch when she set it down."

Naru: "Close the latch to what?"

Usagi: Umino, are you sure you aren't just talking about an alligator handbag?"

Umino: "Maybe that was it."

Usagi & Naru: "UMINO!"

Usagi decides it's time time to officially make Luna the Tsukino family pet. The downside is that Shingo is terrified of cats, so Usagi leaves it up to Luna to ingratiate herself with Usagi's younger brother. At the same time, Jadeite is implementing his new plan to steal people's energy for Queen Beryl using a designer pet called a Chanela. When Shingo gets a Chanela, it's up to Sailor Moon to put an end to this pet menace for good.

Are you trying to hypnotize me?

Again, we have a pretty standard episode of "Sailor Moon." Plan to steal energy from people that is doomed to fail? Check. Monster of the week? Check. Usagi reluctantly stopping things? Check. It can become a bit monotonous, especially in the early goings of the series prior to the other Senshi joining, but there is still things to enjoy in this episode.

I'm glad the show finally addressed Usagi having this strange cat in the house after 5 episodes and it was a fun twist having Shingo be so scared of cats. Like genuinely terrified. Usagi being so laissez faire about the whole thing is very her and putting Luna in charge of remaining with the Tsukino's is hilarious. The Chanela craze feels like something that could be happening today. Designer, genetically modified guinea pig things? As long as they're hypoallergenic, I doubt anyone would care if they were draining people's energy. And really, don't normal pets do that anyway?

This is another episode where Tuxedo Mask doesn't make a last minute Sailor Moon save, which I'm always about. All we get is some insulting that I guess is disguised as flirting by the as yet unnamed Mamoru outside the pet store. 

If there is a knock against this episode, is that nothing really happens to push it out of just comfortableness. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but it's becoming clearer that Usagi's teammates need to start showing up stat.

Grade: B

"Protect the Melody of Love: Usagi Plays Cupid"

Usagi: "I know. It's got the song you wrote for Akiko on it."

Yusuke: [blushes] "Uh... how'd you know that?"

Usagi: "You may not know it by looking at me, but I really am quite grown up."

[Luna sighs heavily]

Usagi: "And I was able to figure it out on my own.

Yusuke: "Just a crush. It's ridiculous at my age."

Usagi: "Age doesn't have anything to do with it. Even old guys like you have a right to fall in love."

Yusuke: [blushes harder] "Thank you. I think."

Usagi and Naru are the only teenagers who think jazz is cool and jazz singers are hot. Apparently, the Dark Kingdom is clued into this because Jadeite's newest energy draining plan involves a cassette tape and the newest song from Yusuke Amade. Sadly, his Youma, Kyurene, cocks it up and Yusuke sees the creature, literally running into Usagi. It then becomes up to Sailor Moon to stop Kyurene and help Yusuke win the affection of radio producer, Akiko.

USAGI SMASH!

This is one of my favorite early episodes of "Sailor Moon." I should let you know that right off the bat. In general, I feel like the Usagi solo episodes are a little weak overall, because I feel like her strengths are really on display when the other Sailor Scouts are involved. Her full range of charms are out in force and if you aren't in love with Usagi before this, this is the episode that should really do it.

There's just so much good and freaking cuteness in this episode. Yusuke and Usagi's relationship is adorable. It is never creepy. Yusuke is just constantly bemused with Usagi which is basically the best reaction to her ever. The whole sequence with Usagi in the jazz club is just classic. She's super excited to do these adult things, using her transformation pen to become a hot musician, but she can barely stay awake and scandalizes the waiter when she only orders water.

The climax of the episode is great and really thrilling, which isn't always an adjective you can use when it comes to "Sailor Moon" youma battles. Kyruene is kind of inept, even more so than most youma, but she has wings and a pretty cool design. Sailor Moon and Luna make a pretty great team, destroying the tape and then Sailor Moon tossing the microphone into Kyruene's ultrasonic waves. Another episode without Tuxedo Mask rushing to the rescue. I'll always take that.

No matter how much I love this episode, I will never believe that teenage girls, even in the '90's, were into jazz.

Grade: A

Next up, Usagi wants to be a pop idol and we meet the first Sailor Scout.

What did you all think? Did you want a chanela? Do you love the jazz episode as much as I do. I'd love to hear from you in the comments. What else do you have to do while self-quarantining?