SPOILERS
Just putting it there in case, but really... it's almost time for the next episode, so if you're reading this, you've already seen the episode. I know that I'm late in talking about it, but I decided to talk about it week by week from now on.
The first two episodes of the new anime were very similar to the older anime, and Rei's introduction is where we start seeing some changes. Rei's character is a little different in the manga than she was in the 90's anime. In the anime, she was way more hot-headed than she is in the manga, though she is very short with Usagi still. She also doesn't care about boys in the anime, and ALL the girls (besides Ami) are super boy crazy in the 90's anime. She also doesn't use the power 'Fire Soul', much like Mercury doesn't use 'Shabon Spray'. They're following their manga powers, where Rei banishes evil spirits with talismans.
The episode's start is very much like the anime, talking about people disappearing on the 'Demon Bus' that disappears at 6:00 every day. Of course, the Dark Kingdom is behind this, spiriting people away so their energy can be used to revive their ruler. Everyone at school is all worried, except Usagi. She's sleeping. Of course. Usagi's still Usagi in this new anime, but she's not quite as dumbed down as she was in the 90's anime. She's a little more confident in her powers, though she does still cry.
They're also keeping the idea of the Sailor V game 'training' Usagi that's in the manga. We saw her and Ami get their pens from the machine when she did well on the game, and that happens this episode, too. Ami and Luna are doing what they set out to do at this meeting - which is talk about evil bad guys and the Legendary Silver Crystal. Usagi is of course playing video games. She clears the second level and gets the prize of communication watches. I wish my PS3 popped out prizes whenever I did something awesome in a game.
Ami and Usagi wind up on the demon bus, and this is the first time we see Rei. Her hair is a lot more purple, like in the manga, and she looks gorgeous. Usagi agrees, and has big hearts in her eyes. She even stalks Rei off the bus because she thinks she's so pretty. I'm kind of glad that they're not shying away from the bi aspect of Usagi. This is when we learn the tried and true things about Rei - that she has psychic powers that she doesn't understand, and that people think she's weird and avoid her. Usagi doesn't care, though. She wants to be friends with everyone.
More people start disappearing on the demon bus, and Nephrite says that Jadeite is being too lenient. This is also something that was in the manga, but not the anime - interactions between the Four Generals (Or Four Kings, as they're called in this version). Earlier, it also showed Zoisite, and they asked what the Legendary Silver Crystal was, but Beryl just said it held huge power and then dismissed them. It also shows something that wasn't in the first anime OR the manga - Jadeite feeling 'attracted' to Rei after he kidnaps her on the demon bus, but not knowing why. There was a drawing that Naoko did where each of the Senshi were paired off with one of the Generals, and Rei and Jadeite were a pairing. It was an idea that never made it into the manga, but it's been a huge source of fanfiction.
Usagi once again changes into a flight attendant (something that's in all three sources), and Luna still doesn't get why. I don't even think Usagi gets why. But, Mamoru/Tuxedo Mask sees her transform from Usagi to the useless Flight Attendant. That definitely wasn't part of the first anime, since it took MUCH longer for Mamoru and Usagi to know about each others' identities. Things move a lot faster in the manga. Mamoru is also his normal age. In the manga and the Crystal anime, he's a high school student, but in the 90's anime, he was a college student. Which totally made him dating Usagi WAY creepier. And he also has NO part in the fight coming up, unlike the 90's anime.
In the Dark Kingdom, Usagi is lost (of course). She starts crying (of course). She can use her watch at least to talk to Luna and Ami, though. They tell her to transform so they can find her energy signature, and we then get our first dual transformation, where they cut between Usagi and Ami. I like how organic they're trying to make the transformations and powers, instead of it being COMPLETELY cut-away like it was in the 90's anime. So, Sailor Moon and Mercury face off with Jadeite, but they really aren't a match for him, and he starts freezing them. Rei sees through Usagi's disguise when she begins to stir from unconsciousness, which Usagi gives the lamest denial for EVER. Luna is highly embarrassed.
Rei really reacts to the fact that someone else besides her has 'superpowers'. She tries to stop Jadeite from freezing the other girls by grabbing his arm, and he pretty much calls her a filthy Mudblood, but she says that she has powers too, and melts the ice that was starting to form on her hand where she touched Jadeite. The Mars symbol appears and Luna chucks her the transformation pen.
Wow. Rei's transformation is the best one yet. It's similar to her 90's anime one in terms of animation poses, but it's SO much cooler with the sparkler and fire effects. And I love how they get a moment where their tiaras appear too, like in Sailor Moon's transformation. It kind of links them all together. Sailor Moon binds Jadeite with her tiara, and then Rei exorcises him. THAT didn't happen in the 90's anime. It happens in the manga, though. Yep, the Generals don't last nearly as long in the manga. But that's because the first anime totally dragged out everything (I mean... come on, 15 episodes between when Rei and Makoto joined the group???)
Everything turns out for the best, and Rei's really happy to have friends. That's Usagi's power - bringing people together and making their best attributes shine. We then see a small clip before the 'To Be Continued' bumper of the press taking pictures of a dude holding a case. It's the D-land treasure. I really hate that name, because I don't think Diamond Land. I think D-Bag Land, a country that is full of douchebags.
In the first anime, the Masquerade Ball episode didn't come until much later. Can't wait for Saturday!
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