I do think this is one of those times where a couple more lines would have helped a lot, even as obvious as they already are. It’s stated more clearly that Usagi’s falling asleep because she actually is really stressed out and exhausted—Crystal’s doing a good job of showing that, but I would like sometimes for it to be stated more clearly, even as I’m usually not one for telling over showing.
Plus, I do miss Makoto looking fondly down at her and then MAKOTO CARRYING HER TO BED THAT IS SOME SHOUJO MANGA SHIT RIGHT THERE, YESSS.
Okay damn Crystal this is the best episode you’ve had since like Act 5 so I have thoughts beyond angry screaming. (In fact, my overall impression is good. I really like this episode).
First off, the bad:
The events of the previous episode were ignored. WHICH IS KIND OF A GOOD THING, but in terms of consistency and continuity, no gold star for you, Crystal
The Senshi were once again all struck down except for Moon. But I finally realized that I think this is more of an animation-based problem than a writing one. Crystal animators have problems with movement, which is probably a budget issue more than anything, and so they then to only have people move when it’s ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY (the scene in the beginning when Usagi’s walking down the street made this really obvious to me). The animators use the senshigetting struck down as an excuse to make them stay still, which didn’t make sense here since they weren’t badly hurt.
I mean, Venus and Mercury are literally just sitting there. It doesn’t make sense that no one’s gotten up. So this bothers me, but less than in other episodes.
WE HAD FOUR FULL TRANSFORMATIONS AND THREE STOCK SPEECHES. REALLY CRYSTAL? They could have used the time for more character work instead (more time in Ami’s apartment!! More of the girls interacting casually!!). I understand Usagi’s transformation being there, with the different music it made an impact. But the girls’ speeches felt out of place, and there was no reason not to do a split screen of all three or AT LEAST edit them together (really, I wish we were getting more abbreviated transformations, but oh well).
BUT THE GOOD. OH GOD THE GOOD.
THE SENSHI HAVE PERSONALITIES. I made a post about that already but OH MY GOD. This is the first time since their introduction episodes that they came through for me. REI FELT LIKE REI.
REI
REI PUTTING HER HANDS ON HER HIPS BECAUSE OF USAGI’S SHIT
USAGI PLEASE
BUT ALSO MINAKO
AND THEN EVERYONE
LOOK AT THEM.
Not going to use screencaps for this one, but IT FOLLOWED THE MANGA ON MAKO CONFRONTING ENDO AND MOTOKI. It’s such a great moment for Mako because she’s just like FUCK YOU FOR MESSING WITH MY FRIEND’S HEAD. And that’s a huge important part of Kino Makoto.
And Ami was cute and in love with Usagi. ~Look at her sleeping~ Thank you for that pure adoration
I have mixed feelings about this, but wow they did an awesome job with Usagi and Luna’s relationship. I was about crying over it. The problem for me is that Usagi and Luna’s relationship feels stronger than literally every other relationship in the show, and that really shouldn’t be the case. But since they did start doing better in this episode, I don’t feel as badly about it as i might have.
THE FIGHT SCENE. Crystal has had some pretty epic fights, but this one felt like more than big attacks. I think it really helped that there was an objective besides we-gotta-kill-this-dude-the-writiers-won’t-let-us-kill. The girls were CLEVER and BEHAVED LIKE INDIVIDUALS (hello Hino “I’m just going to kick the fuck out of this dude” Rei) And the reveal of Beryl made the senshi’s falls make sense.
AND SPEAKING OF BERYL. When do I not love Crystal Beryl? She is always perfection. Her lines about Serenity and herself are perfectly written and delivered.
SO I REALLY LOVE THIS EPISODE. It wasn’t perfect, but holy shit it was so much better than what we’ve been getting. Part of that I think is due to it mostly sticking to the manga, but there’s also some strong new writing (Minako’s line about being suspicious is an instance I noticed).
One thing I’m curious about: The one thing that got left out from the manga is the discussion about their memories. I’m wondering if they’d planned on having that in (possibly even animated it) with a mention of Senshi/Shitennou, but got backlash over Act 10 and so left it out (and possibly that’s why we got the transformations and speeches). I’m curious about the behind the scenes stuff anyway, though, because this episode felt like it had a ot more care put into it.
so I have a lot of problems with the recent SMC episode
and it primarily has to do with senshi x shitennou and the only canon evidence we got is one artwork and a few scenes in the sailor v manga (I can’t deny that Venus and Kunzite had some sort of attraction but tbh I am one of the people that highly doubts that Venus would neglect her duty for that)
but other than that, there was no evidence besides jadeite saying Rei was pretty, and Nephrite/Jupiter and Zoisite/Mercury come out of NOWHERE
the often cited quote is that Takeuchi originally planned to do this and since she’s the creator, her word should be considered canon
but it is also canon that she chose NOT to do this
she could have easily done it, but she stopped paying attention to the shitennou completely after the moon kingdom arc and I think brought them back one time for mamo-related purposes only
we should consider ‘why should they end up together?’
well…really….why should they
the shitennou have a complete lack of characterization and there is no evidence that they would even match with the senshi at all other than
‘here’s 4 girls, here’s 4 guys, let’s pair them up! and why? BECAUSE DESTINY’
this is miracle romance x5 and a huge part of the fandom is tired seeing even more miracle romance
it’s like shipping a blank piece of paper with a well developed can of confetti that comes in all colours, shapes and sizes and then say ‘THEY’RE PERFECT LOOK AT THEM’
and let’s not forget that Mars vowed chastity in her past life
let’s not forget that Minako is MARRIED TO HER JOB
(and lbr here the reason senshi x shitennou is actually considered a valid ship is bc het couple)
now from a narrative POV
the senshi in crystal are underdeveloped, and yet we spend THE ENTIRE SECOND HALF of the episode on their LEGENDARY LOVE WITH THE SHITENNOU that ends with the Senshi letting the shitennou hurt them?
we could’ve easily taken those minutes and idk, added something that developed the characters as individual personalities
actually what I’m saying is that this is massive non-canon shipping fanservice that I conclude has SOMETHING to do with one of the producers being into SxS
/ I have no problems with the flashback scene that is purely for the shitennou and shows them as Endymions knights I actually liked that one/
and now for the manga comparism or rather, where they added unnecessary, shitty het romance as fanservice and completely butchered the senshi in the process
this happens in the manga
to make it easier I will just present the following manga pages
INSTANT SAILOR PLANET ATTACK
NO HESITATION
NO SHITTY MIRACLE ROMANCE
THEY KILLED THE SHITENNOU IN 2 PAGES
now let’s compare it to the FUCKING LONG POINTLESS FLASHBACK THAT WE GET
this is where we start off before we venture into bad fanfiction territory
(I won’t post all the pics mostly bc then this post would be too long)
firstoff, the senshi get to fight the shitennou,
Mars vs Jadeite, Jupiter vs Nephrite, Mercry vs Zoisite and Venus vs Kunzite
ok so far
but then
THEY ARE TRYING TO KILL YOUR PRINCESS AND THE VENUS I KNOW WOULD CRESCENT BEAM HIM INTO OBLIVION REGARDLESS OF HER OWN FEELINGS BECAUSE VENUS IS ONLY DEVOTED TO HER PRINCESS AND THIS IS CANON AND OFTEN MENTIONED IN THE MANGA
(Same, jupiter)
Well Crystal!Venus, they are trying to kill your senshi and your princess idk what your definition of enemy is but I think they could be considered as one
and then
-INSERT TERRIBLE LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT SCREENSHOT HERE-
YOU WERE ON EARTH FOR ONE DAY
(Jupiter is me ok)
AND THEN THIS IS THE BIGGEST BULLSHIT OF THE ENTIRE EPISODE
THE SENSHI JUST COMPLETELY STOP FIGHTING BC THEIR FORMER SELVES WERE APPARENTLY IN LOVE WITH THEM AND IT DOESN’T MATTER THAT THEY ARE EVIL THE SENSHI CAN’T HURT THEM
THIS IS THE MOST OOC THING I HAVE EVER SEEN THEM DOING
THE SENSHI ARE DEVOTED TO THEIR PRINCESS THEY WOULD DO EVERYTHING TO KEEP HER SAFE
MINAKO KILLED ONE OF HER LOVE INTERESTS IN SAILOR V BECAUSE IT WAS HER DUTY
THE SENSHI ARE ABLE TO KILL THEIR ENEMIES WITHOUT HESITATION WHEN THEY THREATHEN THEIR PRINCESS
THEIR LOYALTY TO THEIR PRINCESS IS THEIR PRIMARY CHARACTERISTICA
AND THEN THIS ONE SCENE TAKES A MASSIVE DUMP ON EVERYTHING
just to remind you
THIS IS WHAT THE ORIGINAL SENSHI WOULD THINK OF THIS
well at least then they unleash a sailor planet attack but the shitennou do not die so I fear we have not seen the last of senshi x SHITNO
but do you know what we could’ve gotten if they didn’t add the shitty MIRAKURU ROMANCU x 5?
On a less negative note, the Shitennou flashback reminded me so much of Narnia. I mean you can draw really easy parallels. Jadeite the knight of patience and harmony –> Edmund the Just Nephrite the knight of intelligence and comfort –> Susan the Gentle Zoicite the knight of purification and healing –> Lucy the Valiant Kunzite the knight of purity and affection –> Peter the Magnificent
And their titles make about as much sense with their personalities as the Narnia ones do! Clearly they were bestowed by Aslan.
SittingOverHereDreaming 