Sailor Moon
So, we met Ami and she became Sailor Mars. Based on how "Sailor Moon" had been going, you probably thought that you'd be in store for like 6 episodes of Ami and Usagi working together before we met another Sailor Guardian. You'd be wrong! We get one episode of Ami and Usagi bonding until we meet Rei, Sailor Mars. That must mean we are going to meet the other two at a swift clip, right? Hold your horses.
"Usagi's Disaster: Beware the Clock of Confusion"
Ami and Usagi are browsing in a book store.
Usagi: "Did you find anything interesting?"
Ami: "Yeah, a whole lot of stuff."
Usagi: "What kind of stuff do you read for fun, Ami?"
Ami: "I'll show you, if you show me."
The girls trade books. Flipping through, they look shocked and disgusted.
Usagi: "There's no pictures."
Ami: "It's all pictures."
Usagi and Ami take a window shopping trip to the Harajuku district and start to bond. While there, they see that people are flocking to a new clock store that has amazing deals. Little do the girls know, the clock store is a front for the Dark Kingdom. Jadeite has dispatched the youma, Ramua, to mind the store and shill the energy stealing clocks. The clocks make people believe they are running out of time and amp them up, producing more energy for the Dark Kingdom can steal. Can Sailor Mercury and a hyped up Sailor Moon escape a time maze before she is drained completely?
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| Sailor Granny |
This is another pretty standard episode of "Sailor Moon." Jadeite is continuing to fail miserably at collecting energy for the Great Ruler. Queen Beryl gives him one more last chance even thought she's not pleased that there is a new Sailor Guardian she has to deal with. There is a plot. The gals stumble upon it. Defeat the youma. And everyone lives happily ever after until the next episode.
As always though, the devil is in the details here. It's the nuances that make these episodes enjoyable and there is definitely that here. It's great to see Ami and Usagi bond while they shop. One thing I love about the Guardians and Usagi in general is that she brings out the best in them. She accentuates their good qualities but also helps them in the areas they struggle with. And vice versa. I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating.
There is a lot of comedy in this episode. Everyone being in a hurry and feeling late even though it's like 6 am is great. I love the bit with Miss Haruna having four dates lined up so she can't be bothered teaching her students. She just doesn't have the time.
The monster portion is kind of week. The time maze thing is kind of confusing. Tuxedo Mask's entrance is kind of the lamest Tuxedo Mask entrance ever. I definitely wasn't feeling it. Also, why the hell are people buying clocks? Are these people like so desperate for deals, they will buy anything as long as it's on sale? Do teenagers really love clocks that much? I mean, that cat clock is cute, but really? Were the early '90's that different? Who knows?
Grade: B-
"The Cursed Bus: Enter Mars, the Guardian of Fire"
Rei's grandpa is perving on schoolgirls and offering them jobs.
Rei: "Grandpa. Just stop hitting on everyone, would you?"
Grandpa: "Oh, hi, Rei."
Rei: "You know, people around here are starting to say very unflattering things about you."
Rei: "Mars Power Make-Up!"
Usagi and Ami learn that the number 6 bus is consistently disappearing near the Hikawa Shrine. The girls go to investigate and find the Shrine hopping with school girls buying love amulets. While there, they meet shrine maiden, Rei Hino, and her pervy, grandpa. Rei is attuned to the spirit world and has the power of prophecy but recently it's been off and leads her to try to exorcize evil spirits from Usagi. Usagi and Ami briefly think that Rei is involved in the disappearances but Luna has another idea, leaving her a transformation pen. After a few attempts, Luna gets Usagi on one of the buses. She is transported to a weird portal, followed shortly by Rei, after she confronts the shrine's newest employee, Jadeite. Can Usagi and the newly discovered, Sailor Mars, put an end to Jadeite's newest plan?
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| Sorry I tried to exorcise you |
The episodes where a new Sailor Guardian is introduced are always some of the best ones and this is no different. Yes, this episode does still have some of the telltale stuff, there is the obligatory scene of Beryl berating Jadeite for still not finding the Legendary Silver Crystal. Otherwise, it's kind of a different attack from your usual "Sailor Moon" episode.
I love the horror and mysticism angle that this episode takes. It's not something that we have seen so far and it really works. It's also this intrinsic part of Rei's character which I really love. I don't remember there being a big focus on that in the original English dub I watched as a kid, but I could definitely be wrong about that. I enjoyed Jadeite taking a more involved role in things. Having Jadeite in the Shrine with Rei helps show how capable Rei is. She also has pet crows named Deimos and Phobos which is pretty bad ass.
I enjoyed the bus angle. It was super creepy watching the bus float up into space and then vanish. It also afforded some comedic moments with Usagi terrified of getting on the bus. It was hilarious that turning into a flight attendant was enough to curb her fear and get her to do what she needs to do. There wasn't a lot of Ami in this episode which I get. They really wanted to put the focus on Rei. Ami does get a great moment that shows her being a more engaged Sailor Guardian than Usagi. Low bar.
The low points are probably the youma, Kigan. It feels like an afterthought and it is nothing special design wise. The other low point is of course... Tuxedo Mask. Him showing up driving a bus at the end makes me wish he hit something and went through the windshield. Though one point in Tuxedo Mask showing up is that it does give Mars a chance to really read Usagi about how TM isn't that into her. It's a great foreshadowing of their antagonistic relationship.
Grade: A-
Next up, Rei and Usagi continue to hate each other. First at an amusement park and then at a cruise.
How did you feel about these episodes? Where my Sailor Mars fans at? Let me know in the comments.
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