SPOILERS
Oh man, I've been waiting for this episode. Not only is it completely different from the 90's anime and introduces Sailor Jupiter, but I just plain love the story in this act of the manga. There are some variations, but it's an extremely solid episode. The anime quality is maybe also the best since the first episode. So, let's get started!
The episode starts with Usagi being sleepy and spacy (of course). Luna chastises her for not paying more attention to her duties, and Usagi pretty much calls her fat. She's not paying attention, and almost gets hit by a car, but a 'mysterious' girl with a rose decal umbrella pushes her out of the way. In the manga, it was a near fight with some bullies, but the car works just as well. Usagi shows her bi side again and comments on how nice Makoto smells.
THEME SONG. I actually like this one more than Midnight Densetsu, to be honest. Sailor Moon Blasphemy, I know. But this theme song fits the air of this iteration of Sailor Moon more than the old theme song would have.
Next, we're in the Dark Kingdom with Beryl cursing the Senshi, and Nephrite saying that he can get energy by manipulating the human 'weakness' of love. I think Nephrite looks hotter here than the original anime because his hair isn't quite as... giant 80's bouffant. Nephrite's plan involves using a bridal shop to prey on peoples' love. Good plan, since people get kind of stupid when it comes to weddings. I'm so not a wedding person.
Naru got to try on her cousin's wedding dress at this place (and I guess they like to do glamour shots during fittings...?). The girls are all going crazy about dreaming about weddings, and then they notice the amazon girl that saved Usagi's life. There's lots of whispering about her getting kicked out of school for fighting, and that she's got super strength. Even the teachers give her shit because she's too tall to fit in the new school's uniform. Usagi's the only one that's not talking shit about Makoto, and the only one who approaches her. Not only because Usagi's power is love and unwavering friendship, but because she's a giant-ass glutton and can't resist Makoto's cute lunch. Makoto gets a brief glimpse of the Moon Kingdom when she looks at Usagi.
I love the animation of Usagi's buns going behind the bench that Makoto is sitting on like bunny ears. They don't rely as much on SD animation in this series (and it's a good thing because it's a more serious anime in tone), but I like when they do those cute kind of things that border SD, but are still animated realistically. It makes Usagi seem fun and silly, but without being as stupid as she was in the original anime. This anime shows her just being goofy rather than the over-the-top moron aspect of her like before.
Usagi offers to help Makoto out with learning about the neighborhood, and when Makoto asks about an arcade, Usagi gets super-excited. Strange that she doesn't have the same excitement for affordable supermarkets. At the arcade, Makoto is really good at the Sailor V game, and she meets Ami. Ami comments on how Usagi can make friends with anyone (it's a much stronger power than anyone gives credit for, and it's actually at the core of the themes of the manga). In the anime, it wasn't focused on as much, but all the Senshi were lonely, misfit girls until Usagi came along, and Usagi's power of friendship brought them all together and created a bond that is stronger than anything.
We get to the 'omg I love that guy because he looks like my Sempai' aspect of Makoto's persona, but it's really toned down compared to what happened in the 90's anime, which is nice. I LOVE that they aren't all completely incompetent and boy crazy. Motoki mentions the rumor about the bridal shop, and the girls go to check it out. Makoto falls in love with one of the wedding dresses, and they comment about how cute and girly she is, which is true. She has the balance of super power and femininity. They overhear some girls talk about the 'ghost bride', so they go ask Rei about it.
Rei gets a feeling from Makoto, as does Luna. Rei also makes the comment that she doesn't trust men, which I'm SOOOOOO glad they kept in from the manga. They really aren't going to go all boy crazy like the first anime.
There's a really cool shot, one of the best animated of the series thus far, of Motoki closing shop, and the ghost bride standing across the street in flickering lights. She hypnotizes Motoki, and he goes seeking out Makoto to steal her energy.
This is where things really get interesting for those who never read the manga, because things change wildly in Usagi and Mamoru's relationship here. He knows that Usagi is Sailor Moon, so he actually goes to her house to bring her to where Motoki is stealing Makoto's energy. Usagi trusts him, but Luna's like "awww, hell no. He just totally kidnapped her from her room in the middle of the night!" She contacts Rei and Ami, and they all converge on the spot where Mako-chan is being attacked.
Nephrite makes himself appear, and shoots out energy to trap the girls. Makoto still won't go unconscious in the ghost bride's arms, but Nephrite's words about how stupid she was to believe that Motoki or anyone else would love her ring in her ears. But Usagi shouts not to believe that. Usagi's power is love, and she shouts that out loud and clear, that it's not stupid to fall in love, and for Makoto to believe in her.
Even without turning into Sailor Jupiter just yet, she fights off the ghost bride and is willing to take on her and Nephrite just as a normal girl. Luna chucks her the transformation pen, and she immediately knows what to do. Her transformation is badass, rivaling Rei's. I like that the spinning animation from her feet to her head is the same as the old anime, but that they added crackles of thunder going around her body. Very nice touch! Jupiter then KICKS SO MUCH ASS. She not only destroys the ghost bride with Flower Hurricane, a power that we didn't see in the first anime, but then she rains hell and lightning down on Nephrite with Jupiter Thunderbolt. As she's calling her powers, Nephrite looks in her eyes and gets an air of familiarity. So, I guess they really are going there with the Generals and the Senshi as couples idea. That wasn't in the manga or any of the other media, so it's kind of uncharted waters. It's kind of cool, but then that means that Zoisite and Kunzite won't be a couple. BOOOOOOOOOOOO.
After the fight, Mako-chan explains about her Sempai dumping her (and he IS a total jerk about it in the flashback), but that it wasn't only about him that she transferred schools. She had this feeling that she had to. The ground suddenly glows, and the Moon Stick shows up under Luna's paws.
Cue preview for next episode! Tuxedo Mask starts causing a stir in the media and such trying to find the Silver Crystal. God, I can't wait for Venus to come in a couple of episodes. I want to see her transformation soooooo bad.
I think this may have been my fave episode thus far, with Rei as the close runner-up.
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