Probably my favorite thing about Crystal so far is how it’s making the girls so ready for Usagi and the princess, and how it balances those two.
First there’s the flashback, and how perfect is it that even though Ami has to touch Usagi for it, Rei just has to look?
But interestingly enough, that’s where I see the princess-senshi connection ending for Rei this episode. The rest of what happens isn’t about Mars and Serenity, it’s entirely Rei and Usagi (whereas last episode I do think Mercury’s princess protection instincts played a role).
Usagi’s second encounter with Rei means the world. Usagi knows about Rei’s powers; she had them used against her on their first meeting. But she believes Rei is good. She doesn’t care about Rei’s powers, either to condemn her or demand she uses them. She just barges in and cares about Rei. That touches Rei, she’s able to open up for a second, but the thing is Rei is not entirely convinced her powers are good. She never asked for her abilities; she does her best to use them for good, but part of her believes that she might be the monster people accuse her of being. So she sends Usagi away.
But she does care about this strange girl who for some reason care about her, so when she senses she’s in trouble, she runs after her. Maybe her powers can be good, maybe they’re finally giving her what she needs.
And then she recognizes Usagi is Sailor Moon. In the manga she seems to recognize Usagi’s voice, but Crystal takes it further. Usagi has superpowers. Usagi is already established as good in Rei’s mind. She’s sweet, she stood up for Rei, she tried to help. If this girl, this amazing, earnest, good person can have powers, maybe powers aren’t bad. Maybe Rei isn’t bad. Maybe her powers can help this girl like this girl tried to help Rei.
And that’s what makes Mars awaken. Usagi helps Rei accept that part of herself. Last episode, Ami’s desire to protect Usagi calls to Mercury’s desire to protect Serenity and her powers awaken. It’s different for Rei. She attacks Jaedite physically and then consciously calls for the power she knows she has, but she has more than she knows.
(Her wording when her powers surface I think *does* bring up Mars and Serenity, but that’s a different post.)
SittingOverHereDreaming 