REVIEW: Sailor Moon Crystal 30
A great showcase episode for Chibiusa (and somewhat so for Minako), this episode was a frustrating combination of a weak story and great emotional delivery. While Sailors Uranus and Neptune make their fighting debut, the story is otherwise stagnant. I blame this largely on the Witches 5, who at this point I realize exist solely to pick easy fights that build the relationship between the Inner and Outer Senshi.
The Witches 5 never put up a good fight, no matter how high their level is – in fact, their power level system almost seems arbitrary. They also frequently break my suspension of disbelief: I am supposed to believe that villain Mimete is an instructor at Mugen Academy…who dresses as a student…and is also suddenly the one of the biggest pop stars in Japan. Even if Takeuchi just made them as an early plot device to get the Senshi together, she could have at least made them somewhat realistic…and slightly challenging.
I enjoyed Minako’s mini-spotlight, especially the references to her old Sailor V days. She shares Usagi’s transformation abilities, and turns into a male Academy student to sneak into Mimete’s concert. Minako’s powers, leadership skills, and past aren’t shown as often as they should be. She’s a fun character who has grown on me over the years. I’m pleased that Crystal has at least tried a little to show her to be something beyond a pop idol fangirl - although that is an important facet of her character as well. Her Venus Wink Chain Sword attack is beautifully presented during her fight scene against Mimete.
Chibiusa has redeemed herself for me this season. She shares one of her mother’s greatest abilities: to empathize and make friends with nearly everyone. Her growing bond with Hotaru is one of the major reasons that Haruka and Michiru are beginning to be just the slightest bit more open. In fact, they only join the big fight when Chibiusa is threatened.
After Chibiusa spends some time with Hotaru, she is offered a helicopter ride home by the total strangers. (Which one of her mothers neglected to teach her about stranger danger?) On the trip home, Michiru confides in Chibiusa about her talisman, a big secret that Chibiusa keeps while the rest of the gang are plagued by worsening apocalyptic nightmares about finding the talismans. In this scene, Haruka debuts her female casual look, which (unfortunately) mimics her early 1990s, cowgirl-chic outfit from the manga.
Usagi and Mamoru’s quiet but bubbling relationship problems (Haruka and Michiru) are about to boil over and should be tackled in next week’s episode. But episode 30 shows Usagi’s sexual confusion and jealousy, along with Mamoru’s sadness and jealousy, in an effective, toned-down manner.
Even with its pacing troubles, Crystal is doing a great job at making me care about most of the characters. While it is nice to catch a glimpse of Uranus and Neptune fighting on the good side, I think that things will get very complicated and vague again soon. As Chibiusa and Hotaru grow closer together, we will begin to see some interesting changes – welcome changes from the slow, low-stakes fights and mysterious visions we've currently been shown.
