Sailor Moon R
It's been over 15 episodes but the other Sailor Guardians are finally getting some new transformation sequences! I mean, they aren't completely new, but new phrases and they get cleaned up a little. We take what we can get here. Let's get into it.
"A Guardian's Friendship: Goodbye, Ami"
Ami Mizuno: "Mercury Star Power, Make Up!"
The Sailor Guardians are facing the potential loss of one of her own. Ami has been chosen to study in Germany and she is going to do it. At first, the girls are upset but they quickly support their friend and decide to throw her a going away party. Ami just wants to leave and her friends are flummoxed. At the same time, Chibiusa is still searching for the Legendary Silver Crystal and the Black Moon Kingdom are still attacking crystal points.
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| Leaving on a jet plane... |
The plots of a lot of "Sailor Moon" episodes can be pretty ridiculous (see next episode) but there are times when the show touches on actual things that young people go through. In this case, friends growing up and going their separate ways to pursue their adult dreams and desires. It's not a huge surprise that Ami Mizuno is the first of the group that faces the decision to potentially leave. Ami is ridiculously intelligent. She wants to be a doctor and sometimes the best way to do that is to leave.
I have to say, I'm pretty impressed with the way the girls handle all this. They are very mature. Usagi initially freaks out, because of course she does. Ami has to stay. Ami is the brains. How can she leave the girls. But she quickly comes to her senses and is the supportive, lovely friend that we all know that she is. I love seeing these moments of maturity from Usagi. They don't happen a lot. But when they do, they are genuine and lovely. It's a great scene between the girls and I think it definitely is a good message not just for teenage girls, but also for any teenagers that will be experiencing these same things.
I'm a big fan of the youma that Berthier employs to help infuse the crystal point with dark energy. The youma is called Nipas but it reminds me of a monster from "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers." Does anyone remember Madame Woe? She was a monster from like the first season I think. Nipsa gives me big Madame Woe vibes and I'm not mad about it.
The Black Moon Kingdom learns a lesson about fucking with a girl and her cat in this episode. Artemis goes to investigate the ice cream shop and ends up frozen. Luna finds Minako staring at it intently. You can tell that she knows something is up with Artemis and she is crazed. She isn't waiting around for the other girls, she is going to go there and save her cat.
The girls get new Star Power Transformation Sticks in this episode along with new communicators. The girls start debuting their new transformation sequences starting with this episode. They aren't a lot different than the original ones, but they look crisp and clean. Sailor Mercury shows off her new attack: Shine Aqua Illusion.
There are a couple small quibbles. I feel like the show is somewhat struggling what to do with Chibiusa. She's still searching for the Legendary Silver Crystal and her internal kind of sinister monologues don't really work for me. Mamoru continues to be a douchebag. I mean, those sunglasses? Gross. At least, there's no Tuxedo Mask. Also, Ami's reasoning for staying is kind of haphazard, but it's not like we didn't all know she wasn't really going to leave.
Grade: A-
"Women Must Be Strong and Beautiful: Rei's Special New Technique"
Rei Hino: "Mars Star Power, Make Up!"
The Hikawa Shrine has gotten a bad reputation mainly due to Rei's grandfather's lecherous actions towards the young women who visit there. You'd think that this would teach him a lesson. It doesn't. Instead he decides to start a class a the shrine that are self-defense and beauty workouts with the help of Yuichiro. They actually gets sign ups but things take a turn for the even worse when it turns out the Shrine is a crystal point and Koan and youma, Dumbull get involved.
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| Gross. |
One of the things that I love about anime is that there are so many episodes that are just completely unhinged and this is one of them. I mean, check out the plot to this episode. We all know that Rei's grandpa is the resident perv character that a lot of anime, particularly older anime, have. We've seen him in multiple episodes being disgusting towards the young girls, many of them his granddaughter's age or even her friends. It apparently has gotten so bad that it has affected the attendance at the Hikawa Shrine and there is a magazine article about his behavior. And isn't just a small blurb. It is a double paged spread. Let that sink in for a minute. What is going on here? I'm surprised Gramps here hasn't been featured on the "Sailor Moon" version of "To Catch a Predator." Does Gramps see this article, douse himself in water and repent? Absolutely not. Instead, he doubles down on his lecherous behavior.
Things seem to be hopping at the shrine that weekend. It looks like Rei has gone into full damage control mode, enlisting her perky, teenage girl friends to work at the Shrine and business is booming. Grandpa and Yuichiro are nowhere to be found. But, that seems to be good for business. No pervert, people show up. Gramps is undeterred. He's in spandex and is starting a self defense/aerobics class. All because he wants to see teenage girls with fabric stuffed up the crack of their ass. Rei and Usagi discover this and Rei has the correct response: disgust. While Usagi thinks it's cute? And that Rei is jealous? Why would Rei be jealous? That is literally insane.
It turns out that the shrine is a crystal point and Koan shows up with the youma, Dumbull. The class is actually full because of Yuichiro. Look, I would want to see Yuichiro in spandex. So, I get it. This is where the episode gets even more unhinged. Dumbull is literally just spinning women around by the ankles and chucking them, hard, out of the ring. How are any of these girls still alive after this? It's insane. And no one bats an eye over it. I am floored the whole time I'm watching this.
I don't think I need to stress this, but Rei's grandpa is really the worst. Maybe the worst character in all of "Sailor Moon." His behavior isn't funny. It's not charming. It's gross and shameful. Not only that, but he chooses these two clearly evil women over his granddaughter and Yuichiro. I've been kind of lax on Yuichiro here, but come one. He's a himbo. And he gets really beat up emotionally here. It's so mean. So, yeah. Fuck you, Grandpa Hino. You're the worst.
The climax of the episode is a little rushed. And I'm sorry, Sailor Moon. I am sure Gramps appreciates your little speech, but no one else does. We get to see Rei's new transformation and attack: Burning Mandala. It was awesome seeing Sailor Mars and Koan go fire to fire. I'm still hating this Mamoru being a dick to Usagi "for her own good" storyline, but I'm always here for some heartfelt moments between Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars like we get at the end of the episode.
Grade: B+
Next up, the Black Moon clan get serious about finding Chibiusa & Mako & Minako are at odds.
What do you all think? Do you all hate Grandpa Hino too? Am I being too harsh? Let me know in the comments.
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