| @inim @whiteflame55 @filifjonkan @RandomFriday @Antalk @jdvz @JokerVentura @ruckes @kekekeKaj @OrlahEhontas @cipheron @botnetMAL New thread for Sailor Moon S starting on Tuesday 1st July.  |
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| @23feanor Thanks for posting this, looking forward to this season. |
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| Heard a good deal about this season already, mostly good with the introduction of two new Sailor Scouts. Yes, I've heard about how their relationship was censored and turned more... incestuous instead in some versions. Gladly, we don't have to deal with that here and it looks like they're getting introduced early so I'm excited. Be nice to watch a dub again. Episode 1 Sticking with the opening theme. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. We begin on a pretty dynamic shot with the Sailor Scouts frozen and red and a flowing black something called The Silence being faced down by a final standing girl, who is also confronted by something she believes is The Messiah, a set of star-like things in the sky that immediately retreat. The Silence Starts to break everything apart, the world is engulfed in light... and Rei wakes up. Rather than explaining it to the rest of the SS, Usagi describes her crazy dream and avoids discussion of her grades. Never change. Cut to a lab somewhere in darkness (turn up the lights dude, can't be good for your eyesight) where a shrouded doctor works with test tubes with Daimon eggs inside. This is the Professor and he has a lab assistant called Kaolinite. We get a lot of exposition on his plot: to steal away pure hearts (in the form of crystals) of 3 unknown characters to obtain the Holy Grail and control the world. Hey, those crystals look like The Messiah. Love a good evil laugh and this guy has his laugh game on point. Rei literally bumps into Usagi (the former's fault this time - that's new) and seems nice for a change, still thinking about that dream. They dish about romance and future plans. Nice to see them just being girls for a bit. Nice to also see that Mamoru and Usagi have a pretty light and friendly relationship this season. And Luna saying "go study or get the claw" made me giggle. That Daimon egg attaches to a tree outside Rei's shrine and, when she arrives, the space freezes and turns red for a moment. Rei goes outside and the tree becomes animated, calling itself Mikuuji and going after Rei thinking she has a pure heart. We get an interesting fight where Mikuuji traps her by tearing off her own hands and leaving them like shackles planting Rei against the wall. I like this monster design - the bell rope she has for hair with two bells on her head are particularly a nice touch, and the fortune-related puns are *chef's kiss* . This series has always thrived on its monster designs and I'm excited to see more. She also has a black star on her chest, out of which she fires a black light that hits Rei in the chest. Usagi overhears Rei struggling, arrives and transforms into SM. She struggles, getting thrown around (and trying to hold down her skirt while in flight). The other girls arrive as well, but all immediately get captured. TM arrives as well with his usual rose and silly introductory line (missed these) and gives SM an opening to end this, but it fails. All the girls' efforts are failing in the face of this monster, and she's even able to reverse Usagi's transformation and capture TM. Props to the showrunners who put Rei's previous dialogue with Usagi over the scene with her slumped over, making this feel like it could be the end for her (even if it's obviously not). Just as things seem at their worst, a red and blue beam of light come crashing into Mikuuji, and just like that, she and the egg are eliminated. A shadowed figure holds Rei's heart in her hand, saying there's no talisman there (so she's not one of the 3 pure hearts) and returning it to her. Rei awakes, and two figures run off. The ED looks like a retread as well. We're back in it pretty quickly, glad to see it. The series really shouldn't waste a lot of time with setup at this point and it's certainly setting up a big threat and some powerful new allies (wonder who they could be...), so I'm looking forward to it. |
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| Filler eps: Sailor Moon S (5-11, 15, 18-19, 25, 27-29, 38) Copied a list of fillers eps for our info. I've also heard about the new sailor scouts who were portrayed as cousins in one of the earlier dubs, which only made it worse. Episode 1. I can't think of any other long running shows that stick with the same OP, but the Sailor Moon one is iconic and as you said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Rei has a dream, is it the new enemy methinks. Ami looking good in a choker, it doesn't work often, but on some girls like Momo in Dandadan, it rocks. Oh, creepy guy in a lab cooking something up in a test tube. Monsters perhaps, some devilish weapon to take over the world. So he and his assistant, Kaolinite, are searching for 3 pure hearts, which they need to activate or find the holy grail. Ok, new villain motivation all done. You have to admire how simple and straightforward they make it for the viewer. Apropos Full Moon and age gap; the age gap between Mamoru and Usagi just doesn't bother me so much, maybe because 14 (or is she 15 now) y/o and 18 y/o are a lot more similar, both teenagers, Mamoru an older teen and Usagi a middle teen. Whereas Mitsuki wasn't even a teen. And it doesn't seem skeevy, or predatory, which goes a long way. If Mamoru were a pervy type, just trying to get into her knickers, that would be a different matter, but he's not. So the new monsters are Daimons. Yep good monster design, nice to see, and little touch like giving out a fortune and the rope hair. This monster is an upgrade on the ones we've seen before as it deals with the guardians and TM, even reversing SM's transformation. Just as the Daimon is about to check for a talisman in Rei's pure heart, she's hit with two beams of light and destroyed. Two shadowy figures confirm that Rei's heart didn't have a talisman and return it to her. Is that our 2 new scouts saving the day perhaps. Good to be back with this goofy lot, the simple format that doesn't detract from its charm and the pastel blues, pinks and purples of the background art. |
23feanorJul 1, 3:34 AM
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| Agreed on the age gap. It's a much more minor problem here and since Mamoru isn't a creep about it (not to mention they have a tremendous amount of history together across past lives), it feels more like a destined romance coming to fruition rather than a legally dubious fling. Episode 2 So the villain group is called the Death Busters (DB, rad name). Could do without the forced exposition at the start of the episode where the Professor is asking questions of Kaolinite that they both know the answers to, but there are worse ways to clarify things. This time they just send out a Daemon egg and it does its thing on its own. Looks like SM is getting another transformation this episode. One of my quibbles with the Sailor Moon franchise is that it feels the need to basically dump everyone's powersets from previous seasons and replace them with something shiny and new for the current one. It's not the only series to abandon previous abilities or tools, but it is particularly blatant about it. That being said, I like that Usagi cannot transform after the monster's attack on her Silver Crystal last episode. A lasting weight to the fight is a nice touch that we haven't seen much in this series. Mamoru tries to get her spirits up and shows her to an abandoned building where a young girl is taking care of a group of cats. Usagi takes to helping out quickly, and attempts to get the other Scouts to adopt the cats (doesn't look like that's happening). Meanwhile, the egg finds its way into the young girl's room and ends up inside a cat puzzle in her room. She completes the puzzle later and Nekonnel emerges: a purple monster straight out of the musical Cats with a polka dot outfit (and tail?) and bells on her wrists. She's after a pure heart and talisman, so I guess the DB really have no idea where it is and are just spit-balling. The chase ends up bringing them close to where the Scouts are hanging out, and though the cats try to put a stop to her using the black star on her thigh, they prove insufficient. Also proving insufficient: the rest of the Sailor Scouts (I think the cats were slightly more effective tbh), though it's good to see their transformations again, been missing that. It isn't long before Nekonnel has the pure heart in hand, but once again, she's apparently murdered by two beams of light out of nowhere. The shadowy figures arrive and restore the girl's heart (she was turning blue) and then just leave, even as Nekonnel reforms like a pile of puzzle pieces (cool idea). Again, even with TM's help, the Scouts look utterly defeated. It isn't until Usagi and TM hold hands, a pink light forming between them, their clothes changing to those of their former lives together, and a vision of the moon palace behind, that Usagi unlocks a new power-up, turning her Silver Crystal into a heart and taking up the legendary Spiral Heart Moon Rod. Guess love leveled her up and gave her a new transformation and attack to boot. Because SM has always been the game-ender, her Moon Spiral Heart Attack (so extra) does what nothing else could and kills the villain dead. Usagi brings the cats to the Great Animal Kingdom (hey, bringing something back) after none of the girls would take them. Happily ever after. |
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| Episode 2. I like this type of forced exposition dump from our villains in this type of show. It's simple, gets the point across and we move onto the action and meat of the episode. SM as a overall franchise is a simple format at its core (monster of the week, led by a different main villain each arc) with some world building on the fringes which take prominence in the final stretch. I think the earlier Gundam would have been improved if they had stuck to a similar format (but mech of the week ofc) and gradually built on the world building, rather than trying to force all these details without time to flesh them out. DB, yeah cool name. Just noticed that Ikuhara is the director on this series, he did some of the script and ep director for the previous seasons but he's helming this one. He directed Utena and Penguindrum, both very impressive, and distinct styles. So the light of the silver crystal is dimmed and Usagi needs an upgrade. I sense a new merch opportunity, the rod of love huh, I'll refrain from any crass jokes here. Usually in shounen different characters get power/level ups at different times, whereas here they all get them together or in close proximity. I just take this show with a big pinch of salt, new villains with new powers so our guardians need a power up, good chance for some merch as well, and new transformation sequences. As you said, the cats were more effective than the guardians or SM, who can no longer transform. Showing a bit of leg there Nekonnel, and are those sexy stockings with lace frills. Again the 2 shadowed figures intervene, this time turning Nekonnel into puzzle pieces, another nice little touch. We were talking about rearranging music from the ED in Full Moon. Here when Usagi and TM have their moment, with the palace in the background, staring into each others eyes, the music from the OP, the Sailor Moon theme, is played on what sounds like an accordion, swelling with other instruments until SM is granted the spiral rod, at least they didn't call it the love rod, or rod of love (not sure why they called the ep title that). Thought they were going to say the cats are off to the great animal farm in the sky there for a moment. The new scouts don't seem very friendly and tell the guardians they have to sort out there own problems. |
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| Yeah, the new scouts have been essential so far, but also about as abrasive and anti-team Sailor Scouts as it’s possible to be. That’ll change but I’d like to know why they have this attitude. Episode 3 Usagi’s true villain continues to assault her every day: exams. She barely survives this day by being easily distracted. Minako is along for this ride. Hey, as they say: procrastinate because if the world ends tomorrow, you won’t have to do it. It’s pretty silly and I love it. A charming young man (?) appears and steals their attentions from video games. This clearly male and not at all female figure is named Haruka is an amazing player of racing video games and crushes Minako’s Formula One dreams. And her his absolutely gorgeous female friend shows up to outshine the two Sailor Scouts as well. Who could these two mysterious figures be? Minako and Usagi stalk them with the former falling completely for Haruka. DB send out a new egg. I guess it somehow knows where to go based on Kaolinite’s research. It plants itself in a car this time, one being repaired by a dude Haruka knows. Haruka quickly outs the girls following her him and they found out that Michiru (the girl from earlier) is very important to Haruka. Great to see them just confront the two of them straight up about their relationship, but they ask the wrong question. Haruka’s clearly not Michiru’s boyfriend because Haruka… must be her cousin! Yep, very close cousins. Nice to see that the other girls know exactly what Usagi and Minako up to, sight unseen. Haruka clearly has a love for race cars, but is driven to find some unknown purpose. That purpose apparently doesn’t involve watching. A car turn into a monster girl named Steering. Such an extra design with four tires and the steering wheel in hand, a retractable windshield covering her cleavage (nice), plus apparently a set of jacks to throw. She even drives off as a human car hybrid shouting “vroom” and holding the wheel in front of her for some reason! Loving this. Anyway, she’s after the mechanic thinking he has a pure heart for… some reason. These seem so random, but I guess we need to pick someone and I’m glad they’re not just picking girls. Haruka and Michiru catch up first and literally throw a motorcycle at her before SM and SV somehow catch up on a bicycle. The new Scouts, Uranus and Neptune, transform off screen and confront Steering as well with some awesome planetary attacks before SM seals this thing. Guess they’re working together in spite of themselves, though SN and SU are still stand-offish. In the end, Haruka is revealed as a g-g-girl?! Who would have guessed?! This is the silly nonsense I love from this show. More please! |
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| Episode 3. That opening sequence at the arcade with Usagi and Minako on the driving game was top level goof and I loved it, wacky expressions, Usagi's head blowing up like a red balloon when she finds Minako slacking off in the arcade. I've noticed these pastel coloured still frames, such as when Haruka first makes an appearance, have begun popping up. Don't remember that from previous seasons. Reminds me of Cat's Eye, or Simoun, with really polished picture frame stills injected into the show. I think it looks great. Another one when Michiru appears. I really like Haruka's char design, shortish blonde hair, but not too short. Reminds me of Yui from Fushigi Yuugi, who looked very good in her Chinese priestess get up in the anime, and Akane from Cafe Terrace Goddesses who's in my faves, but her blonde hair is cropped slightly longer. Oh god, love some of these little moments, and they're peppered throughout. Like when Minako downs a glass of water in dramatic fashion and says to no one in particular 'my heart is on fire, it burns for his love', before shushing the waitress, lol. And that's just a throwaway little 10 second scene. Love it. This is top level goof. I quite like the flirty girl on girl character types. There was on in El Hazard that I watched recently and they are pretty rare, another in Wasteful Days of Highschool Girls, and Koihime Musou, but can't think of any others. Girls acting a bit like a playboy guy, but they're a girl, so it comes over as different, the gap effect (how we think someone will act based on their looks, gender and perceived personality, and then how they actually act). If a guy acted that way, we'd roll our eyes, thinking 'just another playboy type', but a girl acts that way towards other girls, it's quirky. 'she's more than a gf', so are they married then, or lovers, no, a gf is a lover. I like Haruka teasing Usagi and Minako. Can't wait till they realise he's a she. A tier monster design for Steering, also loved the 'vroom vroom...'. Have we had a male targeted for a pure heart or crystal in the past, maybe in S1, we must've but not often? SN and SU aid SM and SV defeat Steering and return the heart crystal. SU with the dark blue collar and sandy short blonde hair takes Ami/SMe place as my fave sailor guardian. Good ep, and the girls meet Haruka and Michiru, and realise Haruka is a girl. Just noticed there's now a new ED, nice little song. |
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| The little bits of comedy really make this series work. We've talked about this before, but whether it's the crazy monster designs, the character moments like the ones you've mentioned this past episode, or just leaning into the general absurdity of the premise, the series manages some true comedic gold often. And yeah, Haruka has a solid claim to best of the gang. We'll see how she jells with the rest after they actually start working together, but both she and Michiru come off as significantly more mature than the gang (Jupiter came off that way to begin with, but she fits in with the gang pretty well). Particularly interested to see how they work with Mamoru. Also, noticed you've added Cromartie High School after it was discussed on Quest for the Best. I added it a while back and it sounds like a lot of fun. Also see you're watching Clevatess. Was considering that one, but I'm already swamped with shows this season, so that might be a next season catch up. Sadly, two the seasonals for the fall that I was really looking forward to - Witch Hat Atelier and Sentenced to be a Hero - got delayed into next year, but at least that gives me a slower season to backtrack a bit. Episode 4 Usagi makes burnt cookies for Mamoru. How thoughtful and so her. She breaks into his apartment and finds a book on genetic engineering (my man). Dude knows how to be a good boyfriend and pretends the cookies are better than they are before telling her never to apologize for being herself. So nice to see these two as a real couple - so much of the last season was taken up with Mamoru trying to distance himself from her, and the first season was mostly them at odds with one another. Usagi takes an interest in improving herself by asking the other girls to teach her skills she lacks. Self-improvement's good, but she's done this so much as a flight of fancy that she isn't taken seriously and it's unclear how dedicated she is now. Dejected, she stumbles upon Michiru and Haruka (M&H) in the park, with the former on stage playing the violin while the latter juggles a lemon. Apparently, these two have lost their memories and don't know much about the talisman or pure hearts. We don't know who gave them their mission, though someone clearly did. Michiru shows off some impressive skills playing while bouncing the lemon around on her violin. Michiru is unclear on her life's purpose despite clearly having a lot of talent (she also paints amazingly well), and in her Usagi sees someone she really wants to emulate. Unfortunately for her, busking with the violin (those looks of concentration got me) earns more stares than applause and she just ends up eating her feelings. Michiru offers her tickets to a violin recital where she brings Mamoru. All the other girls show up as well. Love all their outfits. They're good friends when it comes down to it, but Usagi does make it more difficult to take her seriously at times. Of course, that's where the newest egg is going: straight into a violin. M&H appear as well, with Haruka sporting a similar suit to Mamoru. Usagi can't really focus until the violin turns into a singing violin monster named Octave (pretty silly design, but probably the weakest so far, she doesn't speak at all either) and knocks out the audience. Not sure why it went after the violist, seems pretty random, but then so did the last episode. We get the team transformation before the girls almost get wrecked. SN and SU intervene (who could they be...) but don't play together with the other girls well. SM does save SU from an attack, so that's something. SM ends the fight, as she's wont to do, the heart is returned, and I guess that's a wrap on the recital aside from an argument about who Mamoru's taking out after the show. And you're right, that is a new ED. I like the song as well. |
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| Just looked and the director for the first two series was Junichi Satou, who was the director for the Aria franchise. Ikuhara was also director, but looks like this season it's only him. They seem to back to some of the best comedy moments, hope it continues. Haruka and Michiru do seem older than the rest, not school girls, at least I don't think Haruka is wearing a male school uniform, but I could be wrong. I'd heard about Cromartie highschool, so onto the list it goes, one day. Clevatess ep 1 was pretty good, 45 mins long, simple fantasy set up, demon lord, different nations, but beyond the borders all is unknown, except that monsters and the demon lords rule...Then demon lord adopts a child out of pity for a dying human mother. It's not a comedy, but it comes across as a serious tone, with some lighter moments. Damn, hadn't heard about Witch Hat Atelier being delayed, it's the only case where I have read some of a manga before the anime came out, although not much. Love the magic system. I picked it up in lockdown, no idea why, must've heard something about it. Episode 4. timecrunch today so gotta be brief. Usagi on a self improvement program after she realises that she may not be ideal wife material for Mamoru, hah, that's an understatement. Classic Usagi. So M&H have lost their memories. Sp they are also after the 3 pure hearts, so they can return the holy grail to it's rightful owner, wonder who that is. This is starting to sound like they've been brain washed into doing the enemies bidding, must be a different enemy than the professor and Kaolinite. They accept this will mean sacrificing 3 people, but feel the end justifies the means. Octavo isn't nearly as inventive as Steering. We get a 'we'll punish you' in unison from all the guardians together. SN and SV's moves look awesome. |
23feanorJul 4, 8:24 AM
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| Interesting about the director. I'm really hoping this season bears more resemblance to the first season than it does R, and so far, it's trending in that direction. Cromartie does seem like a quick watch, so I might just blitz through it one of these weeks. Next watch for me is Carol and Tuesday, though I'm currently watching through Silo, a show on Apple+ that has me hooked. As for Witch Hat, I'll wait it out, though it'll once again be my most anticipated anime for next year. I guess the most anticipated one for this year (would have been at the start of the year were it not for Witch Hat) will have to land on The Summer Hikaru Died, which I am very much looking forward to. Not a bad second place pick, the trailers look really good and I've heard great things about the manga. Episode 5 I didn't catch that SN and SU had their own reasons for acquiring the Holy Grail. That just makes this juicier. I think you're right that they're being manipulated. More study sessions, more Usagi complaining. She gets jealous when she sees him with a young woman, but quickly gets over it when she realizes it's Unazuki Furuhata. I had trouble remembering her, but she was previously in R, she's a waitress and not a rival love interest. She has a very romanticized view of kisses. M&H are also there and have a very historical perspective on kisses. More experience as well in that department no doubt, but given their drive to the Holy Grail, their attentions are elsewhere. It becomes pretty obvious that Unazuki will be the target this episode. And... yep, that's who DB targets. Are they just creeping on people at this point because they somehow know that she is dreaming of her first kiss. Anyway, the egg occupies her elephant vacuum, which springs to life as Oosooji. Another ridiculous looking monster (the hoses are quite the touch with two of them placed in particularly interesting places) and this one wastes no time getting to the heart of the issue. Thankfully, M&H were keeping an eye on her (not unusual for this series, but it's pretty convenient how they all just happen to be in the right place with the right people to encounter the monsters when they attack - sure it's a trope, but I don't mind it in a "monster of the week" series like this). In the scuffle, everyone loses the heart and we get a very silly gag where a dog wanders by, barks, and Oosooji screams "doggonit!" Sure, it's a basic pun, but I laughed. Usagi brings the other girls over to Unazuki's apartment for cupcakes and find her collapsed. So it's time to chase down Oosooji, who is using her vacuum like a tracker and screaming "sometimes sucking pays off!" Gold writing. Unazuki wakes up somehow, barely conscious, and starts trying to mack on the girls (gotta get in our yuri baiting somewhere) before having her mouth sealed by Rei who stays behind to keep her in check while the others go after her heart with Mamoru. They find the crystal at a junkyard where the others are fighting. Oosooji fights with a plug that comes out like a tail, dust packets, and various suck and blow tactics, all very on-point. TM shows up atop a dirty white horse to help out (appropriate) before SM manages to win the fight. SN and SU then face off against SM and TM because apparently the former are willing to let a girl die in case there's a talisman in there. Figured they would come to blows eventually, but this went surprisingly dark quickly. You'd think they'd at least talk this out before fighting over the crystal. They're clearly resolved to complete their mission at any cost. Apparently, Mamoru doesn't remember his first kiss with Usagi, major relationship no-no. Gotta do better. |
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| Carol and Tuesday is good, I liked it anyway, although I know a lot of people don't. To be fair, not every one of Watanbe's shows is a hit for me, I just couldn't get into Space Dandy, although that was a number of years ago. Might have to sit down and give it another go maybe. Ah Apple+, we have refrained from adding that subscription so far (I know there's a few shows I want to check out there, morning show one with Jennifer Anniston and football one), Em recently added Paramount+ to watch all of Yellowstone, but we've cancelled it straight away. Episode 5. I don't remember Mamoru having a motorbike, although I'm getting de-ja-vu like I said this before. I also don't remember Unazuki. Wait, haven't we seen Usagi and Mamoru kiss a number of times before, Unazuki is wrong in assuming they haven't. I remember at least one kiss by a lake, so Usagi is being shy. The flower borders for some frames and rose petals swirling around, that's Ikuhara, Kimi ni Todoke did the same thing. Oosooji, another fun design. I wonder if they have a dedicated little team, or person, who comes up with the monster design, or maybe they're lifted from the manga. Yep, get that yuri in there. Lots of sucking and blowing jokes, innuendo included for free, well it is a hoover monster, how could they not. SN and SU make it sound like they've been given a command, rather than a mission as they say they have to complete the mission whether they like it or not, and it may include casualties. Why don't they quickly check if it has a talisman and then return it if not, oh wait they do a minute later. What's going to happen I wonder, when they find a heart that does contain a talisman? |
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| Only reason we have Apple+ right now is that they had a deal going where you could get 3 months essentially for the price of 1. I'll have gotten through all the shows I'm interested in by then (watched Shrinking with my wife [second time through, still love it], finished S2 of Severance, nearly done with a newer but cancelled show called Little Voice that is pretty raw and has some great music, and the aforementioned Silo) so money well spent, time to move on. We do Paramount+, but mainly for the 90s Nickelodeon nostalgia since both of us grew up on Rocko's Modern Life and Rugrats. We did both love Star Trek: Lower Decks (color me surprised - did not expect she'd be into Star Trek at all), so there is some good new content there, just not a lot of it. Episode 6 The Professor's getting frustrated. Kaolinite promises to accompany the egg this time. And who is it going to? Umino! Now there's a person I remember, as well as Naru. Missed these two. They both think the other is being evasive. Cut to Usagi talking to Naru and the line "the cat fell in the peanut butter jar" flashed across my screen. More about this, please. Rei and Usagi enter the two of them into "an affection contest" at a newly founded Lovers Park. They ended up entering the contest on their own independently. Nice to see their relationship still developing. Looks like the egg went into a giant heart at the center of the park. All the girls head to the park (Ami to do "research" - I see you girl) to watch the competition. M&H are in the competition as well. They have a contest to see who can recognize their partner's hand (Haruka succeeds, Umino fails) though Michiru expresses her admiration for how seriously Umino takes this. They do a bunch of other competitions before M&H withdraw, saying that others should cherish their love and use the competition to show it. These two are very secure in their affections. And we get some fun ones, like a dude getting smacked on the head with a hammer (does the back of his head not exist? You can see the background when he opens his mouth). Umino nails it in the end with an impassioned speech about how he'd die for Naru. Very sweet. They end up winning, touch the heart, and it transforms. Die-Heart has a creative design, like the various ways they've incorporated hearts into her costume. Umino tanks the black light attack, shoving Naru out of the way, before losing his heart. Kaolinite somehow powers up Die-Heart, creating a set of hot guys to dance with them before they transform into monsters and incapacitate all five of the Guardians. SN and SU free them, Umino's heart is restored, SM kills Die-Heart, Kaolinite escapes. Guess no one else was bothered by the monster attack since they all just go back to what they were doing. |
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| Read your review of Apothecary Diaries and you're right about the romantic angle in certain eps, the groping in the cave being the main one, but then this show does put sex front and centre. The women of the rear palace are there for sexual pleasure, as are the ladies in the brothel Maomao worked at. And Jinshi getting an erection (he'd been given stimulants in the food by Sho iirc, hoping to make him feel off, as Sho knew his real identity) was a little bit clumsy, but didn't bother me. What did annoy me more was that Maomao didn't hear him out, and got the Ox bezoar and ran off before hearing Jinshi tell her something which he said was important and she promised to listen to. We know Maomao likes to fit puzzles together, she can't help it, but yet she seemed to ignore the mystery around Jinshi for longer than necessary. Although I do remember earlier in the series Maomao deduces that there's more to Jinshi than meets the eye, when he takes her with the emperor to that house where she uncovers the colour blind test. It's then she realises Jinshi is more than he seems (he knows the emperor, and she guesses there's a connection with the former emperor), but the show does drag out the final reveal longer than needed. On the Maomao x Jinshi ship, it's their banter I love, and it's the meeting of two people who seem to rub each other the wrong way, very different, but click, although the attraction is much more on his part. I think Maomao is a bit like Kou from Call of the Night, she's never had an interest in romance or sex. To her sex is a business, and a dangerous one, and she puts on freckles to avoid attention as she was nearly raped once. But I do think she is attracted to Jinshi, more his mind and his more playful nature behind the serious eunuch persona he adopted. He's very beautiful ofc, but she isn't interested in looks. Didn't the emperor or the attendant suggest Jinshi take her as his concubine, would ensure her status and safety going forward. Wonder if that'll happen maybe, although can't imagine she'd be thrilled. But it's just a term, she was up until recently an indentured slave, and she knows Jinshi would look after her and let her pursue her medicinal hobbies, so life wouldn't change much for her. Loulan was great, although I agree that it cheapened her sacrifice a bit by having her survive. As you said in your review, and I didn't have the time to elucidate on, there's so much great world building. How the rear palace grew, what it started as, the writing that Jinshi introduces, trying to educate the girls and spread good practices, giving them skills. The previous emperor was a reoccurring scourge, preying on young girls, with his mother enabling him, but an interesting one that led to some decent payoff for the story later down the road. And now we know, Jinshi thinks he's the emperors brother, but is actually his son. I had to go back and rewatch many times to get all the switching of babies, and one baby dying, and his connection with Ahduo and the former empress (who he thought was his mother) in order. Then I had to check it on the wiki, and reddit, where there were lots of other people trying to figure the details out. It was complex. Episode 6. I think this is the first filler ep, although the site I checked said it was ep 5. Back with Naru and Umino. I also like these two. M&H also enter the competition, and it's the first time one of the guardians, Minako, suggest out loud that they could be a couple. I knew it already, but we're definitely not watching the censored dub (it's the later Funimation dub). This competition reminds me of that filler ep from S1 where Usagi had to enter a competition at some posh mansion, hilarious antics, and the monster thought Rei was SM as she was refined, athletic and elegant, and Usagi got really annoyed as she was terrible at everything, lol. Same with the housewife test with Tanaka in Full Moon, that was a fun ep. That was a heartfelt speech from Umino. Good on him. The guardians were all taken in way too easily by a group of hot guys, clearly created by Kaolinite, asking them to dance. Come on girls, it was clearly a trap. This ep did feel like a filler, with more time spent on the silly love competition than the monster. Not bad though. |
23feanorJul 6, 12:55 AM
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| I appreciate all your thoughts Apothecary Diaries. I think we basically agree on all of this, mainly just a matter of how much certain elements affected my personal enjoyment. It's still top 3 of the year so far (Orb and Apocalypse Hotel are jockeying for the other two spots), but I agree that it was annoying for Maomao to entirely lose interest in what Jinshi had to say because of the ox bezoar (made some sense that she was avoiding it before then because she knew this information could endanger her and she didn't want to be involved). I agree with your thoughts on Maomao's views of romance and sex, definitely have some similarities to Kou, though it's an open question as to whether this is a learned behavior or one that was baked into her from the beginning. Maybe it's both. And yes, if there's one thing I absolutely adore about the series (and there are so many) it's the worldbuilding. There's so much to love about all the subtle ways this series establishes and then ties in all its varied elements. It rarely exposits anything, and you're right that it can make certain elements tough to keep up with (still not sure I got everything, though I really should read into the reddit more at the very least), and that's also part of the beauty of it. It's one of those shows that I'll be delighted to follow wherever it takes me. Episode 7 Said it before and I'll say it again: this series is sometimes at its best when its delivering filler. One of the few series where I never even consider skipping it (though, to be fair, I almost never do in any series). It's bothered me a bit how useless most of the Sailor Scouts have been this season. SJ, SV, SMe and SMa have played more of a role as just normal girls in the show than they have as Sailor Scouts and when they do appear, they almost always just get captured. I know that will change when they get their power-ups, but we've been through 6 episodes already where they're just taken out quickly and we move onto the new hotness (not that I'm complaining about them, since SU and SN are both great and SM continues to be pretty pivotal for these fights). Makoto is the focus of this episode and she falls for Haruka. Usagi seems confounded by this, but it tracks with a girl whose interests have always wandered (and why not to a chivalrous girl on a motorcycle?), not to mention Makoto has usually been among the more mature of the group so she's drawn to a more mature love interest. The other girls are mostly pretty cool with it (Rei's upset but only because M&H are a thing), let her have a little crush. M&H are apparently aware of The Silence from that first episode and are seeking the Messiah to prevent its arrival. Is the Messiah one of those with the talisman? SN and SU do discuss telling the other Sailor Scouts what's going on, but they recognize that they'll have to sacrifice people to achieve their aims, so they don't think the other Scouts will cooperate. Makoto becomes the next egg target, this time inhabiting a scarf she was given by Haruka. It turns into a creepy crying figure in a long blue cloak with tears streaming down its face (it's a pretty strange design and it's just named "Scar"). It lashes out with a bundle of scarves and SMe prevents this from going awry by freezing these extensions, so at least she's doing something. Later, Makoto goes with M&H on a drive since these two know that Makoto is the target of Scarf. Makoto asks a really good question: if these two just started high school, how can Haruka drive legally? She gives some nonsense about getting a license overseas, but these two are clearly posing as young high schoolers. Scar arrives again and... flashes Makoto? Lol, that surprised me. She's actually got a little red dress on underneath her cloak and an elven appearance underneath what proves to be a tear-strewn mask. SN and SU allow Makoto's heart to be taken despite the risk to her, then steal the heart from them. Makoto retains her consciousness and realizes that this was part of their plan, saying "damn them." Once they discover that Makoto doesn't have the talisman, the heart is returned, SN and SU help defeat Scar along with SJ and SM (who is useful in this fight, however briefly). After the fight, SJ tries to attack SN and SU in frustration, but gets easily taken out, even though she does manage to inflict a small wound on SU. Makoto feels bad that Haruka got injured in the crossfire (yes, I've just accepted at this point that no one can recognize anyone in a sailor outfit just because) and even uses Haruka's scarf to bind the wound that she herself inflicted in that fight. It's sweet from her, but implies that when the falling out happens later after SU and SN are unmasked, it's going to be bad. Good way to build up to it at least, and she's even trying out new looks at the end. |
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| I've got Orb and Apocalypse Hotel on my high priority list, was hoping to get around to the latter later this week, but it's the Tour de France for most of July, which cuts into anime watching time and I wanted to finish off Bye Bye Earth S2 first (that one is a weird watch, but it's strangely fascinating, the story is written like music, with musical references everywhere, the fights are structured by composers, who act like generals, OST from Kevin Penkin slaps as well). Episode 7. whiteflame55 said: yes, I've just accepted at this point that no one can recognize anyone in a sailor outfit just because This has gotten strange and a bit out of hand by now. Do you remember the generally accepted wisdom (think one of us read it somewhere) that you couldn't tell a guardians identity because they were wearing masks, well that was only at the beginning and none of them wear masks anymore (think it might've been just SM and SV right at outset of S1). I wondered why the guardians refer to each other by their sailor name when transformed, although I did notice TM call SM 'Usako'. It would make sense they don't want to broadcast their names and real identities when fighting enemies. But when they meet SU and SN, it gets absurd. Can they not see their faces and hair colours, if so how do they not match them up with M&H. Likewise for M&H, how do they not connect the guardians with the 5 girls they've met, two of which have long blonde hair, fairly rare in Japan (dyed ofc). When SU and SN appear to fight Scar and Mako doesn't clock that they are M&H, despite SU and Haruka having the same injury, stretches credulity. Like you though, it's just one of those things you come to accept. Wonder who this messiah will be, and will they be an enemy trying to control M&H, or someone connected to the sailor guardians? The Silence, that must be what Rei saw in her dream, presaging the end of the world, as usual. Almost feels like M&H are picking up Mako as part of some couple kink, watch me have sex with another girl or threesome. Ah, i thought they might be school uniforms, so M&H are older but posing as highschool girls, not sure why though. Credit to the rest of the guardians for being mostly accepting of Mako for falling for a girl, no shaming for her change of sexual orientation. Mako says later she simply finds Haruka's personality attractive, so she falls for the person regardless of gender. Sailor Moon filler are some of the best bits. And same as, I don't skip filler, although you don't get filler in modern anime with the tight time constraints. |
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| Sounds like you'll have your plate full with great series. I've heard some pretty mixed reviews of Bye Bye Earth S2, will be interested to read your thoughts on it when you finish. Episode 8 Yeah, the complete unrecognizability of these girls once they transform is just baffling, especially in an episode like the last one where they literally appear as soon as M&H vanish off screen. Even if they didn't recognize them at all, you'd think at least someone would note the strange coincidence. This episode is focused on Ami, who is struggling with the fact that she's valued more for her grades than anything else. We actually get a bit of interaction between Ami and Mamoru where she recognizes that, despite her clear aptitude for coursework and capability, she doesn't have the drive to pursue her aim of becoming a doctor like her mother. Mamoru disagrees that she doesn't shine as someone with a real drive to accomplish something. I like this as an area to explore Ami because this is also how she's come across to the audience: someone who is driven, but to do well in academics rather than to move toward something. She does have the drive, she just doesn't recognize it in herself as much. She goes for a swim later (cute to see her in a different element than usual) and is joined by Michiru in a frilly swimsuit. They briefly race and it seems Ami made it a tie when she could have won. Haruka's quite right here that Ami likely was just avoiding confrontation and trying to be friendly, which isn't too dissimilar from how she engages with the other girls. Speaking of them, when she arrives at a study session, she gets mobbed and Usagi of all people stands up for her, saying that they should study by themselves. This is very off her usual script, so Rei's right to ask: "should we call a doctor?" Also, love the lighting as the other girls shy away from the off-brand version of their friend. Unfortunately, much as Usagi is trying to help, this only deepens the hole Ami currently resides in, since the emphasis is placed on her studying. Usagi does recognize that she's hurt and follows her out. Ami gets goaded into a swimming rematch. Michiru's sporting a slimmer purple swimsuit this time. They both go all-in and we get some pretty nice shots of them going for it. They end up tying, and both feel more fulfilled by the experience of pushing themselves. M&H leave just as the egg arrives and connects to the... pool? We get an aquatic villain Doburen this time with fin-like ears, a swim cap, snorkel, scales, an oxygen tank and inflatables. Just noticed that the flippers she's wearing on her feet have high heels. So extra. She pins Ami to the glass and steals her heart. SM arrives just in time to prevent her from taking it, saying the monster "doesn't have a membership to this club" and saying that Ami has so much to live for with her desires for the future and as a friend before getting trapped in an inner tube. With TM's help (though let's face it, as is becoming the norm in this season, the cats are doing all the heavy lifting popping the villain's inner tube (LOL - also, she can't breathe underwater or swim?! Crazy for a water-based villain). SM turns the villain back into water (guess SU and SN just waited outside the whole time, off brand for them), restores Ami's heart (no talisman here, either). Ami learns the value of working hard for what she wants regardless of how others perceive her and teases a potential competition for Mamoru's affections (the blush on his face as Usagi hides behind his cape is priceless). Pretty good episode. |
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| Episode 8. Ami's studious girl type a common trope in Japanese anime, but one that is relatable. I remember a few girls at school who were very focused on studying, forgoing social events, clubs and such. Ami is both very clever and studious, the girls I knew weren't as clever as Ami, and tried even harder to make up for it, to the point they got rather miffed at more naturally intelligent types who didn't need to study as much. Must be hard if all you ever do is study and the only thing people know about you is that you study. The problem with only having one male lead character, he becomes the go to when one of the girls needs a non female to chat to. Ami had that guy in S1, who went off to study, and there was that guy who worked in Rei's shrine, but they both fell by the wayside, leaving only Mamoru to pick up the slack and tell them they're cute. I really like the inclusion of these coloured still frames we keep getting. Usagi heard the vice principal talking to Ami at the beginning of the ep, saying how the 'crowd of slackers was dragging her down', which is why she wants the other girls to leave Ami alone and suggests self study. She thinks they're all a burden on Ami. Nice to her to take the vice principals words to heart and think of her friend. 'my friend came here for a relaxing swim, but you don't have a membership for this club', better one liner from SM. Non of her one liners pop as much as the ones from S1, which were writing genius. Must have different script writer. It is very silly that Doburen can't swim without her inflatable. I did really enjoy seeing Ami saying she wasn't going to worry about what people thought about her so much, and teasing Usagi that she might just go after Mamoru. Interesting that some of the best character moments for the girls are spread throughout the filler eps. |
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| It's great that the series is using the opportunities presented by its filler episodes to dive into the characters a bit. Episode 9 Still in the middle of our first filler run and it looks like Motocross racing has taken center stage. Haruka's proven herself excellent at it, so that tracks. Haruka nearly gets assaulted by a bunch of the bikers she defeats chiefly for the fact that she's a woman who did better than them (bit too basic for my liking, but not implausible), though at least one of them, Yamada, seems opposed to it. Of course, M&H are keeping an eye on him because they think he has a pure heart. DB plot a fake-out tactic to get around the Sailor Scouts. The other girls leave Usagi behind with M&H, so it looks like the gang is down to 3 for this episode. She gets a ride from Haruka (guess she is used to riding on a motorcycle with Mamoru) and they almost get killed by a truck aiming to isekai murder Haruka for the crime of being a good female racer... yeah, taking it a bit too far even for the basic tropes, guys, all the worse since she had a passenger. They're even still wearing their helmets which are like neon signs giving her away. Usagi even starts to fall for Haruka a little bit, guess she's just got a magnetic personality. One of the guys says "where's my inhaler?" after she scares them back onto the truck, such a weird moment. Yamada gets targeted as anticipated by the egg. SN is thankfully watching him, so we get to seethe monster in all her... glory? That design is something else. Tiren is basically all chrome metal with a tire extending through her from her crotch to just below her bust and one of her breasts covered in a headlight. Reminds me of the end of the dream sequence from Dumb and Dumber. Guess it does fit for a motorcycle. The green lipstick is a nice touch. SN takes Tiren on alone and seemingly wins before Tiren doubles up, each turns into a tire with a head (seriously, wtf?), and they wrap her up. SU's arrival just makes SN a hostage, and it's not until SM arrives that they're able to turn the tide. SU and SM aren't exactly a good team, though, and especially after they get handcuffed together, they really struggle. Team work makes the dream work, girls. They briefly argue about the heart crystals and SU does mention The Silence and her concerns, though she seems fed up with SM despite the other girl clearly not knowing about any of this. SM helps SU with an injury (she's actually pretty capable) and earns just a bit of trust from SU. Hell, she literally scratches SM's back (lol). SM also gets a very strong hint that SU is Haruka. Anyway, they sync up their timing, get their cuffs removed, SM body slams Kaolinite ("Sailor Body Attack"? Lol) and individually defeat the two Tirens before saving SN. Still filler and still feels like there's actual development here, this time between characters. Impressive. |
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| Finished Castlevania Nocturne S2 last night, that was awesome, last 2 eps were balls to the wall kick ass action with electric guitar OST. Been really impressed with Castlevania, Vox Machina and Arcane over last couple of years. They are all shows based on games, and fantasy, but they're very good. Episode 9. You're right, they are laying on the guys can't stand losing to a girl card very thick here, threatening her in the open, in broad daylight with wrenches in hand. 'where's my inhaler', what sort of comment is that, lol. Sporty types don't normally have inhalers, maybe it's allergies. Good planning from Kaolinite nets her SN, actually makes sense for the villains to try and take out the guardians first, although given they don't have any leads, they could go around looking for this pure heart forever. SU and SM come to the rescue. Name of the game this ep was teamwork and after a bit of time spent together SM and SU get their act together and defeat Tiren and Kaolinite. That's the first time I can recall SM physically using a body slam move. Wonder if this is the start of SN and SU working more closely with the rest of the guardians, and revealing the details on the Silence. |
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| Glad to see you finished it! I think the new season ended strong. Like you, I've been impressed with the whole suit of animated shows based on games, though I have yet to give DMC a chance. Heard some... mixed reviews about that one. Episode 10 Looks like a Rei episode. Nice to return to the fact that she had that dream, which apparently she hasn't talked to anyone else about despite it recurring. And hey, it's Yuichiro, another character I remember that I wish had more presence in the story. Still rooting for you, buddy. He's concerned about Rei, who is back to ignoring him, but at least she has a serious reason this time. She is friendly when she recognizes he's there at least and Usagi cheers Yuichiro on, thinking Rei's lovesick for him. He even says "I'm king of the world!" (went and checked and, yep, this dub premiered on Toonami in 2000, 3 years after Titanic came out - lines like this date the series a bit, but I enjoy them too much). Seems the Professor is pursuing the usual villain ends: end of the world, coming of darkness, total destruction, all the hits. Remains to be seen when his patience with Kaolinite will run out. This time, the egg implants itself in a train. She doesn't have Yuichiro as a target, instead she's just waiting for someone with a pure heart to board the train. That's different. Yuichiro gets jealous when she sees Haruka and Rei interacting later, thinking the former is a man (lot of people have made that mistake already). Rei wears a hair tie that Yuichiro gave her as a good luck charm, though he doesn't see that. Feel for you my dude. He later runs into M&H and overhears them discussing their plans and misgivings. He comes away thinking that Haruka is two-timing Rei (not entirely sure where he gets that - it's a stretch to say the least). Side-note: love Minako in that outfit. The green dress with the yellow pattern across it looks great on her. The outfits are still pretty great throughout this season. Yuichiro confronts Haruka, who has no idea who he is. He tries to fight her, but she easily dodges his attacks, sending him sprawling in the mud. I love you, man, but this is taking things way too far way too fast. Rei stops him and he gives up thinking Haruka has won her heart, but no one clarifies anything. Yeah... it's an idiot plot. I don't mind these in individual episodes, especially filler, but it's a little egregious here. Yuichiro decides to leave the temple and Rei doesn't even try to stop him calling him a coward. Considering how much history they have together, this feels pretty out of character. Soon enough, she's pushed into chasing after him (good on you, Usagi) and we get a montage of scenes from their history together over a pretty great OST - seriously, where did this come from? Just before he boards the train, transforms into Toden, another great design complete with four train wheelsets, a conductor outfit, a whistle and two crossing gates on her shoulders. Rei catches up and transforms into SMa to fight back, chastising her foe before getting whipped around. The other girls, who I guess weren't far behind, intervene as well. Usagi with another great line: "Japan's trains are known for their safety! How dare you ruin their track record!" The pun is priceless. Toden uses electrical rails as barriers, absorbs electrical attacks and tries to run them over, but SMa puts a stop to her (first time her attacks have been effective all season) and SM ends the fight. Even SN and SU watched on in the distance but did nothing - that's becoming a thing for them. Rei wraps Yuichiro's injured arm with the tie he gave her earlier, learns that Haruka is a girl, and they have a small romantic moment of walking together. Ended sweet. |
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| Are you watching the older Cloverway dub then? That's the one from the early 2000's with M&H referred to as cousins. The later Viz Media dub that I'm watching on the high seas is from 2014, which also has the line 'I'm king of the world'. Can't wait to watch Panty and Stocking dub later, one of the best dubbed shows imho, as long as Jamie Marchie carries on in her role. Clevatess is shaping up well, I didn't know whether it was going to be more comedy but ep 2 went gritty and had a surprising emotional moment that landed. Episode 2. Yuichiro does jump the gun a bit, but then the way Rei, and all the other guardians we've seen her with, act around Haruka is very flirty, as if she was a guy. It is the cardinal sin of romance writing. One char sees some stuff happening to or with his love interest, assumes something and then legs it, never actually confirming with the love interest themselves what is going on. Thus Rei says coward as he leaves, as he never confronted her directly about her relationship with Haruka and how she feels about him. You're right, where did this insert song come from, with the red soaked city in the sunset. Another good monster design, Toben. Liked Rei's one liner 'in the name of Mars, I'll chastise you'. Yeah also another good one from Usagi. The writers must've read my comments and upped their game for us. SN & SU watching on again, but SU was the one who was checking to see if a talisman is present in the hearts, then letting them go when it wasn't. Are they not checking anymore? All ends well and Rei and Yuchiro make up. I'd just mentioned how we don't see any other male chars like Yuichiro and then up he pops next ep! |
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| I think we're both watching the same dub, just got the date wrong. Guess they could have taken cues from the earlier dub, but I haven't checked. Glad to hear Clevatess is going well! Panty and Stocking just aired the first episode of its new season (looks like you're watching too) and while it's got some noticeable changes to the animation (Gainax just did things different and it was great), it's if anything less subtle, more bombastic, and cruder than ever. Perfect trash watch. The terms "vaginormous" and "pusstacular" are now a part of my lexicon. Episode 11 Onto Minako as we finish making the rounds on our Sailor Scouts. Wouldn't be too surprised if next episode focuses on Mamoru, Usagi or both. Minako's getting jealous of couples around her. "When you stare at love, the love also stares back at you." Way to romanticize the abyss from Nietzsche. We see Asai who... may have been in a previous season? Honestly too generic for me to remember. He's on the volleyball team and Minako played as well when she moved here, but I guess Sailor Scout duties have drawn her away. She does seem into him, at least a little. He also confesses that he at least was into her, probably still has feelings. So something's here. Damn, when she takes the bow out of her hair, you really get a feel for how much volume it has. Girl has some thick locks. The Professor's into rhythmic gymnastics. Never would have guessed. I'll have to see his floor routine. Minako is really embracing all the Sailor V swag, easy to forget sometimes that she's a celebrity of sorts. She's also super distracted and disinterested in both studying and the Sailor Scouts, even suggesting that she might quit. Haruka finds her and they have a heart-to-heart and Haruka tells her she embraces the path she's chosen and is happy with it, good advice to not regret the road untraveled. So, needless to say, the target is Asai this episode, this time implanting into a volleyball. Minako heads over to see Asai training and getting a kiss from a girl, so she's missed her chance (at least for now) to start a relationship with Asai. Before she can leave, the monster Haikyun (and this came out welll before Haikyuu) transforms and this one's pretty silly with two volleyballs as a bra, a red dot in the middle of her face and a bandana, much of her body covered in sports tape and guards. She even assumes a volleyball posture to take Asai's heart crystal. SV proves incapable of fighting back for long, SM just happens to be in the area and intervenes against "unsportsmanlike conduct" (lol), and the other girls arrive just in time to play some fancy volleyball to save the heart crystal because of course that's the only way they can keep it safe. In the end, SV proves her volleyball skills with a signature move, which reveals her identity to Asai as well (the monster shouts "Go Team Japan" instead of "Lovely" this time, nice touch). In the end, Minako embraces SV as a protector and gets a bouquet of flowers from Artemis. |
whiteflame55Jul 11, 6:16 AM
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| The new Panty and Stocking was great, just disappointed Amazon recast for the dub. Episode 11. Didn't Minako have some guy abroad (England?) that she liked, it was back in S1 iirc, but may be wrong. The fact SV was a celebrity, with games, manga and shows has been completely forgotten by the show. I don't remember Asai. He's refreshingly upfront about his feelings for Minako, but he wants a gf who plays sport. Minako is questioning her choices and life as a guardian, as she has missed out on the life of an ordinary girl, although she's a mini celebrity so that's cool. Weaker of the char based filler eps. |
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| Yeah, the change in cast is very disappointing. They're doing an admirable job with the dub regardless, but that cast was just incredible. Small fun fact: Disney+ registers all the seasons of Sailor Moon (apart from Crystal) as part of the same series and just continues the episode count. Last episode was #100 since we started the series. Episode 12 Seems we're moving on from the filler for a bit. I thought both Ami and Makoto had good episodes during this run, more mixed on Rei (mainly just nice to see Yuichiro again) and Minako. Honestly, my favorite of this run of episodes was the one involving Umino and Naru. Love seeing those two again and having their relationship develop a bit. It'd be nice to see that some of these have consequences going forward - haven't seen much of Makoto's crush on Haruka paying dividends since her episode. Yep, this is an episode focused on Usagi and Mamoru, as expected. Kaolinite is granted access to the greatest Daimon The Professor has produced since she seems confident. Might actually be based in reality this time. It's Usagi's birthday. The girls barely register it, with Minako even saying she's "one step closer to death." Damn, fatalistic much? At that age, birthdays seem to matter a great deal, so I feel Usagi's pain. She finds her way to Mamoru, thinking he's going shopping for her birthday present and having her heart set on a pair of glass slippers, very Cinderella of her. He doesn't know it's her birthday, though (yellow card), thinks it's the anniversary of the day they met (red card) and even asks if it's Hanukkah, lol. A whole crowd watches him get slapped. He does eventually learn the truth from Rei and goes to find those slippers. Of course, these are the very objects into which Kaolinite implants the egg. Turns out, the girls threw her a surprise party and are even taking a break from studying. Good on them. Not so good on Usagi who apparently never told Mamoru when her birthday was and clearly didn't even know his birthday. I'm bad with dates personally (to my wife's frustration), but yeah, can't be expected to remember what you never learn. Mamoru delivers the slipper, Usagi puts it on, and it transforms into a glassy Daimon with skimpy centurion armor named Cenicienta. Not sure what that's about. I guess she's after Usagi, though I have no idea why Kaolinite believes she's got the purest heart. It's hilarious listening to this monster get indignant that Usagi might strike her and shatter her glass body when she's attacking a young girl. Usagi loses her transformation broach and then gets fused with a glass window. Cenicienta has some biceps, look at those pythons. Usagi loses her heart crystal, which apparently does have a bright light. SN and SU briefly discuss that, if she does have the talisman, taking it from her will mean her death. Got that impression already, but their connection to Usagi does alter their perception a bit. TM saves Usagi and returns her heart, and Kaolinite picks up her transformation broach, and she makes the connection between Usagi and SM. It becomes a chase through a parking garage that TM and Usagi lose. The other girls get called in while TM struggles to give Usagi a chance to escape. Nice to see him get in a real fight (dude brought a cane to swordfight and won!) and Kaolinite prevents her from escaping, threatening to destroy the broach. TM gets encased in glass, and circumstances seem desperate... |
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| Maybe it's because we've watched SM over a few years, but doesn't feel like 100 eps to me. Episode 12. Not sure I'd classify Usagi as the most pure, lol. 'one step closer to death', harsh, especially for a 15 y/o girl. Glass slippers sound terribly impractical and uncomfortable. Monster looks like a glass gladiator. Kaolinite picks up Usagi's brooch and makes the connection between SM and Usagi, wonder if she'll make that known to SN & SU. TM fights to protect Usagi but gets trapped in ice. First time we've been left on a cliffhanger, doesn't happen often. |
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| Agreed, the series still feels pretty fresh to me. Episode 13 Just when things are at their worst, the Sailor Scouts arrive and the villains disappear with TM. SU and SN take off as well, and M&H show up shortly thereafter. What are the odds!? Usagi takes off with them and without the Sailor Scouts because I guess she's just in that big of a rush, though does she even know where she's headed? M&H discuss sacrifice with her, believing sacrifice is necessary for bigger purposes, and as they talk, Usagi realizes that they are SU and SN! Inconceivable! Usagi also rejects sacrifice, apparently ever the deontologist arguing against using people as means for an end. M&H have no chill, they've fully accepted Usagi's death as a given with only limited reservations. Nonetheless, SU and SN make it just in time as Usagi arrives at TM's side and has her heart stolen, find that it has no talisman (she's just real pure) and save her. That was a lot of build up for no payoff. The other Sailor Scouts arrive and manage to cosplay SM in the shadows to keep Usagi's identity secret - Minako pulls it off pretty well, even has a speech lined up for it. I love the gag sounds over this scene, very Hannah Barbara. Usagi gets ragged on pretty hard. SU and SN face off against Kaolinite while the Sailor Scouts face down Cenicienta. It's funny to watch Minako come up with "moon" moves, even funnier to have Cenicienta lose an arm and then feverishly read her warranty, relieved that she'll be repaired in a year. Don't think that applies to your monster form, but hey, give it a shot. The real SM transforms, gives the real deal speech, and takes out Cenicienta, apparently without SU, SN or Kaolinite seeing any of it since she transformed in front of everyone. TM is saved and SV is told never to wear that disguise again. Sad. The other Sailor Scouts join SN and SU in the fight "in the name of all [their] viewers" (just shattering that fourth wall). Kaolinite uses a special solution to create a weapon in the vein of Cenicienta, making the fight one-sided in her favor. They end up having to produce a Sailor Planet attack with TM's help, which hits right on target. Unfortunately, it's not enough, as Kaolinite tanks it like a boss. Can't say the same about SN's attack, which hits home and somehow reflects Kaolinite's own attack back on her, turning her to crystal and dropping her down the construction site. Looks like she did die, and The Professor gets someone on the phone, a new villain named Eudial in a lab coat with glasses and red hair (I know I'm going to like this one). So yep, SN helped the Sailor Scouts directly in a fight. Mamoru and Usagi have a romantic talk while the other girls argue and stuff themselves (Ami just wants to study and Rei just wants to sleep). |
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| Episode 13. Very inconceivable, we get a talk about sacrifice and it's this that triggers Usagi to connect M&H to SN and SU! Not the fact they look the same, or appear at the same times. Fake SM is hilarious. As is Cenicenta checking her warranty, such an absurdity for a monster in the middle of a fight. 'in the name of all our viewers', think that's the first time the show has broken the 4th wall, admitting that the guardians have viewers and thus are on a tv show. Minako mentions that she used the transformation pen, given to her by Luna, to appear as SM. Thought they'd forgotten all about that pen. SU helps the guardians out after their planet attack (don't remember that one) fails to take out Kaolinite. She says it's because SM reminds her of bunhead, well why in the world do you suppose that might be? So Kaolinite is vanquished and SN & SU are one step closer to working with the guardians. Liked the nonsense gimmicks in this ep. |
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| I liked the last episode, but Kaolinite ended up being a dud compared with the high standard this series has set for antagonist lieutenants. I don't think anything has really matched how great the four were in S1 - I still remember Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoycite, and Kunzite, the Dark Kingdom in general was just great - but the Black Moon Clan still chewed the scenery (still miss Esmeraud) and I liked the Hell Tree aliens. I've still got high hopes for The Professor and his other minions, as it's at least clear his monster game and evil laugh are on point. Episode 14 Hey, ChibiUsa's back. She had her moments last season and served as the crux for a lot of what was happening, though I thought her story was finished. Not sure how she's going to feature into this season. Eudial's doing what looks like some early social media stalking to find a girl who plays the drums and prepare a Daimon ahead of time to deliver to her in the form of a taiko. Even drives a car with black stars on it. Rei's getting into bike accidents on her way to meet with the same girl Eudial's after, Maya. Lol. The other girls stalk her and find out that she's seeking this girl, which leads to some more amazing slapstick as they hide behind a waitress and some light scalding with coffee. This is some peak Sailor Moon comedy right here. Turns out, this was all about an upcoming festival and Rei is working on a committee aiming to liven it up with her taiko playing. Also, the girls do the whole straw wrapper worm thing where they add water to a crinkled wrapper, used to do that all the time. At the festival, the other girls get put to work. Nice to see them all in yakutas. Minako takes some appropriate vengeance on some little kids that call her old, and M&H's appearance brings a welcome bit of romance to the scene. Maya is super dedicated to her taiko playing and even practices for hours ahead of time on a tire and it's cool to see Usagi and Rei really bonding over a desire to do their best in response. Eudial shows up and makes an announcement to get Maya's attention before literally shooting the heart right out of her with a rifle filled with pink liquid. Guess she doesn't need a Daimon to do it, though that means she gives up her identity immediately (not like the car wasn't a dead giveaway). SM and SMa transform and fight for Japanese performing arts! Eudial is apparently part of a group called Witches 5 and strips off her lab coat revealing a spicy little number underneath before unleashing the Daimon Soiya, apparently a taiko player herself with a pretty neat design (I like the mask, reminiscent of what the swordsmiths wear in Demon Slayer). She also comes equipped with fireworks on her back. SN and SU show up to fight as well, finding that the crystal lacks a talisman and returning it (things'll get interesting when they find one) but refusing to help SM and SMa (guess we need an excuse for CU to show up and save the day). Those two get captured and then almost attacked with clubs (lol at SM insisting SMa should be her first target), before CU shows up as Sailor Chibi Moon with a new Pink Sugar Heart Attack and moves reminiscent of her mother. The attack initially fails and then just beats Soiya in the butt with a heart beam for a while. Yep, Usagi's daughter alright. SM wins the day with one final attack. Maya plays the taiko, CU says she was sent to this time to train (what is that supposed to mean...). |
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| None of the villains have ever rivalled the first lot and the rainbow crystals arc, the one who fell in love with Naru, the gay one etc. But they were filler eps, so shows the writing talent they had for that first season. Episode 14. You're right, that scene in the restaurant was pure comedy and really had me laughing. Rei's face as she kept peeking behind the waitress, lol. Don't remember the paper straw worm myself. We used to do the cigarette smoke waterfall (you raise the plastic sleeve for a pack of ciggies a bit on the bottom of the pack, then insert a rolled up tiny bit of paper in a small hole you burn on the side of the empty space you created by raising the plastic sleeve, then light the outside end of the bit of paper and the smoke pours into the empty space like a mini waterfall). Witches 5. New villains ahoy. Almost looked like copying the ghostbusters the way the car left the Witches 5 base. Not exactly subtle with a speakerphone calling for Maya. And there's CU, who with a slightly stalled attack spanks Soya's bottom into submission. I always enjoy watching each ep of SM. It's not brilliant, but it makes me chuckle and love the pastel colours, the blues in todays ep were lovely evoking the shad and shadows of twilight. |
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| I hadn't heard of that cigarettte smoke waterfall, sounds cool. Looked up some videos to see it in action. Episode 15 When I heard CU say she's "Small Lady," that tripped a lot of memories of the previous season. Still a weird name to go by (and for her mother to call her no less), though I guess CU makes about as little sense. She brought a letter from future Usagi, and that look on Usagi's face when she walks past her to give it to Minako is priceless. This scene is full of comedic gold from Usagi, both present and future. I wish I could hear more of her argument with Rei, sounds hilarious. CU heads off to "train" (not knowing what that entails) and runs into a boy that looks a little older than her and has fun with her before pulling his pants down and saying he's an elephant (I guess referring to his penis as a trunk?). That gets him knocked on the head by his mother. He mentions something about being punished in the name of the moon, too. He a SM fan? CU ropes in Mamoru. Usagi and M&H before finding her way to Tamasaburo, a young tea master who CU is immediately taken with. So is the Professor, apparently. Back on the road again for Eudial (now that you mention it, the comparison to Ghostbusters seems apt for that car), this time rising up out of an airport runway. Usagi and CU aren't cut out for tea ceremonies, very much unlike M&H. The expressions on Usagi's face when her poor feet are prodded are impressive. Usagi gets put through the ringer and stepped on as well. No training to speak of yet, guess she is Usagi's daughter (girl avoids training as much as Usagi avoids studying). Eudial drives into a fence on Tamasaburo's property (to a surprisingly exciting OST - seriously, where are these little insert songs coming from!?) and Usagi gets her butt pecked by a bird. CU transforms just after his heart crystal is removed, but Eudial doesn't even let her get out her full speech (apparently she couldn't hear most of it - they do tend to talk from far away) before releasing her Daimon. Another neat design for Chagaama with the monster sitting on a flying cushion and having a very tall little hat. SN and SU intervene before CU can get wrecked, Eudial takes off to "grab some coffee and get a massage" (LOL) leaving Chagaama to clean up in her absence. SN and SU take off because they're done, CU's attack falls short (I laughed watching her slowly slide forward while Chagaama just sips her tea - lot of good slapstick humor this episode). SM finally arrives and struggles against some apparently acidic green tea until TM arrives and... I guess Chagaama is going to show them "true hospitality" by stripping down? Not sure what she was planning. TM's gasp (not sure what he thinks they were "close" to) followed by calling for SM to finish her off had me laughing. Tamasaburo sees CU as quite cool, and starts dressing as a Sailor Scout, sending everyone running for the hills. Damn, another great filler episode. The writers can be really on point with the humor in these. |
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| Episode 15. Small Lady, I'd also forgotten that moniker. I'd also forgotten, that at some unspecified point in the future, the guardians jet off to the far future, where Usagi and Mamoru have a child. Cu's training as a princess, is to return to the 20th C and make friends, suitably vague and convenient for the plot. What is up with this kid, terrible jokes and thrusting his hips around like Elvis. And yep, the elephant is a euphemism for his penis, seen it in other shows, and they often use a little elephant sticker when censoring male genitals. The pillar and stones are supposed to look like an elephants trunk and ears. It's more than a bit weird how CU knows Mamoru is her dad, but still tries to flirt with him. Just had a thought, can't remember when we last saw Usagi's house, or her family. It is funny when a char interrupts the intro monologue of another whilst they're preparing to attack, and they're like 'you didn't even let me finish my attack name/intro/monologue....[feigned outrage]'. I like Eudial's char design, reminds me of the lady from the Rocket Trio in Pokemon, but with red hair. A boy in a sailor scout uniform is a bit far. Yeah, good filler ep. |
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| Guessing that kid from the last episode is going to show up every now and then to annoy CU. Maybe he's a one-off, but I have a sneaking suspicion he's here to stay. Episode 16 Makoto training arc. She looks good in a gi. Apparently, off-screen, they had another fight with an electrically-themed monster and Makoto felt inadequate. The monk she's training with is the target this time around. We now also know what the talismans look like: they can look like a jeweled mirror, sword or an orb. The Holy Grail looks pretty ostentatious as well. This time, Eudial brings a daruma with her (named Daruma... very original) and makes for the mountains, popping out of a river this time. Mamoru's working close to the temple, so Usagi and the other girls take the excuse to take a train up there. CU ends up getting left behind - I'm unclear, does she have some remote control over Usagi's bag or was that dropping on her head just karma? Nice to see Makoto get some support from her trainer, who bonds with her over not feeling like they're enough. She's caught in the mindset that she needs to work this out on her own. She has some serious moves. Silly pillow fight, on brand for these girls. Usagi's pretty obsessed with food, and it seems all the girls were prepared to go swimming too. Ulterior motives abound. They draw some eyes, but as per usual, M&H steal their attention. They seem drawn to wherever the villains will strike next. The attack commences and the monk's heart crystal gets pushed out of his body. SJ transforms and SM arrives just in time to do the same (another thing I've just stopped questioning - she has to be there to end the fight, so I'll accept it). The Daruma Daimon has quite the extra outfit and giant ears, wielding a giant paintbrush that hsoots needles and shooting discs stacked as her torso. The other girls arrive, but SJ resolves to defeat Daruma alone. SN and SU steal the crystal, return it to the monk, and SJ continues the fight with the other 5 girls alone. They struggle, but by combining their powers, they prove successful. SJ learns the power of teamwork (could've sworn she was already taught this, but you can never learn it too well I guess) before... actually defeating the Daimon herself... wow, color me surprised. Not sure how she did it, but her attack takes out the villain without SM's help. Don't remember the last time that happened. |
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| Episode 16. Mako needs to get stronger after being beaten off screen by a monster in a contest of strength, the area she thought was hers to shine as a member of the guardians. A small breakfast breaks the other guardians and they head off to the hotel for something more substantial, lol (turns out to be spaghetti bolognese with chicken drumsticks as a side, man Usagi is a glutton) . And ofc they all brought their swimming costumes. 'who's hotter than us???....oh it's M&H, that's fair...'. It's one of those things you come to accept with the fights, Usagi is always close by and usually first on scene. I also can't remember the last time someone other than SM delivered the coup de grace, maybe when each of the guardians was introduced and we learnt about their attacks? We've also got an idea of what the talismans look like now (mirror, sword and orb), aren't they the same as the 3 magical Japanese imperial treasures, no looking it up the 3rd treasure of the imperial family is a jewel, but close to an orb I suppose. |
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| Episode 17 Haruka's going fast. That still shot of her in the dress floating through the air is striking. I enjoy that every time we go back to The Professor, he's doing something different and thematically appropriate. This time, dude's getting in his cardio. "Don't run and cackle" words to live by. Also, pretty silly shot of an elephant hurriedly backing out of its enclosure as Eudial jets out from another hidden room. Lot of these about. We meet a new athlete at a college campus they visit named Elza Gray, seems like quite the celebrity in the track and field circuit. She's prone to copping a feel on the girls, though it's apparently not sexual. She has a long-standing competition with Haruka, though apparently Haruka isn't competing anymore (again, strongly implying that Haruka is a great deal older than the other girls, sounds like she's graduated college). This episode doesn't waste time with Eudial confronting Elza within the first 10 minutes and the Sailor Scouts showing up to obstruct her. Thus, the Daimon Hurdle is released and... damn, might actually have a claim to the strangest design so far. That giant sneaker covering her chest is a statement and a line marker sticking to her butt. Haruka just so happens to be here as Elza's heart crystal is removed, and we learn that she's the reason Haruka met Michiru. They apparently saw the same visions of the future that Rei witnessed at the start of the season (why only them?), and we see a bit of how they formed their relationship on a cruise, both viewed as beautiful and talented but stand-offish. We see a young boy transform into an absolute monstrosity before Haruka's eyes (usually there's some force of evil behind this - who did this?) before she's granted her powers. M&H are significantly at odds early on, particularly with the whole "ends justifying the means" discussion, though when Michiru saves Haruka's life, the latter's mind shifts and they start working together. Now, at whole 17 episodes after these two were introduced, we see their transformations for the first time. I like how distinctive these two are. You have to wonder who informed Michiru about the whole Sailor Guardian thing and what they were getting into - wasn't that one of the main reasons that Luna and Artemis showed up for the other Sailor Scouts? I guess it's possible that their dreams were just that informative. By their efforts combined with the other Sailor Scouts, they easily defeat Hurdle, SM once again acting as the closer. The heart crystal is returned (no talisman again - lot of that going around) and M&H reaffirm their commitment to each other and their mission. Wonder if those two will come into conflict... |
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| Episode 17. In the intro Usagi says in her voiceover that 'M&H are such a lovely couple....', they openly acknowledge the relationship between these two with such ease, refreshing given how most yuri is fetishized these days, or with dripping layers of melodrama and scandal/shame. Shoujo shows tend to be good at that, with the exception of Banana Fish. These still shots really do love lovely, pretty sure it's Ikuhara's hand at work here, don't remember getting these sorts of coloured stills in previous seasons. Very nice addition at the end where the still ends up being a pic of Haruka in Michiru's sketch book. Good point about the professor and his ep themed activities every time we see him. It's a small detail, but nicely integrated into each scene he's in. As is Eudial's car appearing from different locations each ep. I like Eudial's char design. Hot tanned girl with pink hair, like it. Love a sexy tanned girl. That is a wacky monster design with the trainer forming her bust. I like this theme of free as the wind and carefree that is being woven about Haruka. That was a thoroughly absorbing backstory for how M&H met. These two feel much more real than the other guardians, maybe because they're older, but the talk of sacrifice for a cause, and giving up their normal lives resonates in a way none of the other guardians have conveyed as succintly. I also wonder how Michiru was recruited. She says the choice to become a guardian was forced on her and she had to sacrifice her dream to be a violinist. She was in middle school, so same age as the other guardians now, when she first met Haruka, who was already driving at that point, so Haruka must be a bit older than her. Haruka reminds me a bit of Utena Tenjoh from the show Utena. Very good ep. |
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| Episode 18 Another bit of filler this episode. Usagi absconds with an apple pie mid-bake without asking. Turns out, this was CU's creation. Rei, despite being party to it (they eat the whole thing after copping to it - at least let her take some with her), chastises Usagi by flicking her in the forehead. The pie was for Masanori, a boy from CU's art class. He seems a bit older than her, and more importantly, interested in another girl as he stands outside with a bouquet of roses for her... oh, it's Michiru. That tracks, seems like Michiru is teaching a sculpting class. So yes, the crushes on older love interests seem like a common trend. The Professor dials the wrong number and orders delivery (lol), Eudial calls him anyway and goes after Masanori with some Daimon-implanted chisels. Usagi tries (and predictably fails) to help CU before Eudial drives into the classroom. Girl's never subtle. Thankfully M&H are on-site and with Usagi, they're pretty well prepared for this. The monster of the week is Chokokka, a half skin toned, half painted and spikey figure in a painters smock with a hammer and chisel in hand that even has Eudial cringing. Nice to see CU jumping in to bite Eudial before she leaves to let Chokokka fight (and no doubt fail). They end up facing off in a playground where Chokokka proves capable of sculpting stone fighters from the sand. Interesting ability. SM and CU arrive to fight together (surprisingly in sync), but struggle when faced with a... clotheshanger-generated gravity well? I think that's what that was. SN and SU struggle against the sculptures, but eventually destroy them in water. Turns out, Chokokka like so many fire Pokemon is made of clay and therefore weak to water, and like all monsters in this show, also weak to SM's finishing move. In the end, Masanori and CU get closer, he gives her a sculpture of herself, and the other girls stalk them before receiving punishment for the stolen pie. |
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| Theo's 1st bday today so on a time crunch, off to a farm today, always fun when you're a parent of small children, sigh. And Aria has finished preschool for the summer holidays, so now I have 6 weeks of looking after her, and 3 y/o's are not easy to keep entertained all day, even bigger sigh. The latest Rick & Morty, season 8, has been releasing here in the UK. There aren't many shows that do parodies and rip the piss so well out of tropes and the current political and social fabric of society. This season has been good. Ep 7 was a parody on the transformers movie franchise, and how stale it's become, but also acknowledging with a nod and a wink, how hard it is to write good movies time and time in a big franchise and keep fans happy. Even had cameos from James Gunn and Zack Snyder. Episode 18. Naughty Usagi stealing a pie, didn't she learn anything from the nursery rhymes about stealing pies left in the oven, or from a windowsill. CU has a crush on the older Masanori, and he in turn has a crush on Michiru. Eudial pulling the Kool-aid guy routine and crashing through the wall. Ladies got no chill. I like the little lipstick touch on SN and SU's transformations, applied with a swish and a kiss. Monster looks like a kid drew it in art class. Moral of the ep, don't take unattended pies! Weak filler ep. |
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| Ooh, happy birthday Theo. And yeah, sounds like you've got your hands full with a 3 year old running around all day. I've been keeping up with Rick & Morty. The season started very strong with a run of a few episodes, been a little choppier since then, but I did like the Transformers parody episode and the most recent one (turns out Jerrys are just traveling the multiverse by back channels created through a number of misadventures and it's pretty great recipe for things to go wrong, not to mention I just love Jerry and want to see more of him). Episode 19 Yeah, weak filler sunk the last season a bit IMO. So far, the filler's been stronger this season, so hopefully we aren't falling into that trap. Nice to see that Mamoru is pretty educationally diverse, really jives with Ami on a level I didn't expect. A mustachioed gentleman shows up at Mamoru's doorstep. Turns out, this is a rich man Mamoru has become friendly with and he invites them all to a hoity toity party where everyone will be speaking high level English (seems his goal is to support young talent and have lavish parties to get them talking to each other). Usagi is a bit manic about it, both excited and frustrated that her English won't rise to their level. Seems there will be some dancing and a waltz will be involved. Of course, this gentleman is the target of Eudial this episode as well, who packs up a gramophone and hits the road, exiting through... a river this time, blasting music and splashing an unlucky young couple. The girls turn up in a variety of dresses, always nice to see their clothing styles on display. Personal favorite this time is Ami, the overcoat is a nice touch. Usagi hides in a corner and practices her English before getting sloshed on some random alcohol she picks up. Lightweight. The other boys are surprisingly enamored with her drunken state. M&H are here to performing as well because of course (Haruka and Usagi dance together and they actually look good together so literally everyone wants to join in with Haruka - hey, I thought Usagi looked good too), and Eudial shows up in a striking Chinese dress. She apparently unleashes some sort of sleeping gas to take out the other attendees while the girls are all out on the veranda (I like the lipstick element to SU and SN's transformations as well), leading to a pitched battle without bystanders. The Daimon Chikuon gets unleashed (with some delays) and looks rather normal this time with hair in ringlets, a red butterfly mask and a heavy dress. The Scouts reference a lot of fairy tales in their speeches, and SV gets talked over because they don't script this stuff out. No talisman here, either (who would have guessed!?). Chikuon rapidly enters her second form with a very 60s hairstyle, which is more gramophone-focused and unleashes music note based attacks. Pretty silly that Usagi dodges saying "Do Re Me Fa So." Anyway, they win the fight. A bit better of a filler episode, at least it's leaning into the silly more. |
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| Episode 19. Honestly, I didn't have Mamoru pegged as the overly scholarly and bookish type who can speak multiple languages, at least not on Ami's level of smarts. In fact, Mamoru is actually quite bland the more I think on him, just Usagi's ideal dream guy with some past life history as Endymion. This guy, Edwards, and his set up, is like something from a trashy murder mystery; a guy invites a lot of well to do students to his mansion outside the city and then suddenly one of them dies in mysterious circumstances.... That was a better filler ep. Sounds like the various guardians might have their identities revealed next ep, it's taken a while. And we still haven't seen a talisman yet. |
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| I'm with you on Mamoru. I don't think he was characterized as brainy before despite being in college, kinda weird to throw that in last episode. Episode 20 Eudial's running a simulation to summon the Holy Grail (I'm with The Professor - "they have those?"). Apparently, the person who harnesses it (not too many of them around) dramatically changes the result - world of total darkness, or... well, something positive, unclear what. Oh, and dude broke his phone... again. Expense that shit to the Sailor Guardians. Usagi'll never be a brain, and I love that about her. Apparently Minako's feeling jealous that no one's come after her heart crystal - she has stood out in that regard, not something she should want, though. With volleyball behind her, she doesn't have the drive towards something that the other girls do. She is quite the player, beaning Usagi multiple times. She may be trying to make herself a target now (which Usagi's got big problems with - lol to Usagi shaking her so thoroughly that she absolutely demolishes a claw game). But first, she's gotta ask M&H what makes someone pure-hearted, which gets their hackles up since they still don't know she's SV, but just ends with her wanting to give blood to prove herself pure (which makes it questionable that she is pure, since yes, this is a selfish purpose), which she does way too often. Seems she's getting what she wants as Eudial targets her with a... door knob monster? That shot of the professor sawing off the knob because he couldn't fit the whole door, lol. Single funniest scene in the episode, though, is when she grabs her heart, showing it off to everyone else to show that it's pure, before GTFO and just leaving everyone behind. Some willpower there. The monster is released: Doorknobter, who wields a steel jail cell door, a Swiss army knife of keys, and a knob in the middle of her forehead! She can apparently lock everyone inside with her skills, but is reluctant to fight. M&H make their way in as well. Now everyone will have to see each other's transformations, so SM kicks us off. She struggles by herself, but M&H soon intervene and reveal themselves too, More comedy as Doorknobter tells them to take out Eudial instead of her because she didn't want to fight in the first place before Eudial pulls out her Firebuster and counters SM's finishing move, pushing it onto the unwilling monster. In the end, everyone's secret identities are revealed to everyone. The most surprising twist of the episode is how useful those claw game dolls end up being. Those things are perfect projectiles. |
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| Episode 20. So the holy grail can be used for good or evil depending on the user. Guardians better there first then! Liked this ep. Yday and today I've had Aria watching along sat on my lap with rapt attention. She loves all the guardians, but doesn't get why they have to beat the poor monster. Makes it hard to write when you have a wriggling toddler. Loved how Minako was so desperate to be targeted, then when Eudial hit her with her star rifle, she was smug and ran off, happy that the Daimons think she has a pure heart. Usagi, M&H get trapped and end up revealing their guardian identities, so now the cats out of the bag, how will it impact their future interactions when not transformed? Doorknobter was great, and reluctant 'get her first, I'm only fighting reluctantly', lol. |
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| Episode 21 Seems we are getting some drama out of everyone knowing everyone else's secret identities this episode. And... yeah, I don't love when titles like this just spoil the episode. "The Death of Uranus and Neptune: The Talisman Appears" gives up basically everything that's going to happen, though I hope they're not exiting the plot. Maybe their deaths won't be permanent? Eudial finally pinpoints the talisman with a new program, though she's deal with a lot this episode - a thumbtack in her slipper and lab snails in her locker all apparently resulting from the other 4 members of the Witches 5 who don't think very highly of Eudial. And yep, her targets are M&H. Surprised they weren't targeted earlier. For some reason, Eudial gives them a heads up this time, this time to draw them out (and leave multiple messages because the recording time is too short, lol). Unclear why she never reveals M&H's identities to The Professor - plot convenience? The melodrama starts with each of the girls staring blankly into the middle distance, like you do. It's a trope, but one that conveys the weight of their thoughts pretty effectively. The actual drama comes from M&H convening with Usagi at a well-animated aquarium where they steal her broach. Seems like there was room to have at least some discussion before this, but I guess M&H don't see any point in having it, instead just transforming, expositing about their mission before the wall opens up to reveal an active helicopter waiting for them (so... what part of the aquarium opens up to a helipad? And who's driving the helicopter? Was it just sitting there idling while they were inside this whole time? It does yield some very impressive still shots, but the drama feels a bit manufactured). After they leave, Usagi meets with Setsuna Meioh, an old friend of theirs (we remember her as Sailor Pluto from last season, though Usagi does not - I guess this is when she came into the picture in this timeline, whereas we only met her in the future timeline and Usagi must have been made to forget about that). Usagi entreats her to help stop SN and SU. SN and SU arrive at a marine cathedral that's under construction (looks dope), apparently where they were told to go by Eudial. I guess they followed her instructions to ensure that they would get the talisman, though they've never had any trouble tracking her and her targets down before, so I don't know why they'd allow themselves to be led by the nose this time. And yep, it's a trap. They're apparently on a giant foosball table and completely at the mercy of her game pieces, though SN and SU quickly destroy most of them. SN gets taken out and sealed away while Eudial puts on a show playing a massive pipe organ. She claims the talisman is in SN, but of course, it's also in SU. Something about God punishing anyone who isn't Eudial on the walkway. Just as Eudial is about to take SU's talisman (unclear why she needs to remove hers first, doesn't explain), SN frees herself and runs to her... only to be skewered by numerous shots from traps placed along the side of the walkway (are they shooting flowers at her like TM?). She doesn't take physical damage, but is clearly injured, and when she reaches Eudial, her heart is removed and transforms into a talisman. Good question as to why they'd be tasked with seeking the talismans if they were inside of them the whole time. Usagi arrives just in time (SU seems to recognize her as the Messiah!?) and manages to shove Eudial off the platform. With Usagi desperate to return SN's heart, we see that SU is fully committed to their mission, saying that she shouldn't return it to the love of her life and even pointing the gun at herself. Usagi promises to save them both and make this all work, but in the end, SU does turn the gun on herself, stripping both Guardians of their hearts and leaving Usagi with the task of finding the last talisman. Heavy episode. |
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| Episode 21. Been a while since we had a serious heavy ep. Last heavy ep we had was probably s1 for me, when the guardians died going up against the queen. S2 with the future storyline didn't ever reach the same emotional level. I agreed wholeheartedly about the ep title, it removes any suspense and leaves you thinking 'when is it going to happen, will they be revived...'. SN & SU In Mortal Peril would be much better. Eudial needs to log a complaint with HR, that's workplace bullying right there. Can't say the other witches have been much help. Visuals and direction is this ep has visibly taken a step up in quality, lingering shots with moody music, intertwining hands of M&H. But still a little dose of comedy with Eudial having to call back to extend her voice message. A helicopter conveniently waiting, tad over the top, but suitably dramatic. And looks like there was no pilot. M&H resolve to put their mission for the talismans above their feelings for one another. Love Eudial playing the organ as she orchestrates events and leads M&H into her trap. It's even better when we see Eudial stop the cassette player at the end, so she wasn't even playing, but pretending to play for effect, chefs kiss. Like you, lots of questions. Why were SN & SU sent to locate the talismans when they were inside them all along? Did whoever send them not know, or send them anyway? We get some pretty traumatic shots of both SN & SU getting shot up with arrows (no blood because PG-13) but they got stuck like pin cushions. So is Usagi/SM the Messiah? SU turns the gun on herself and gives up her heart for the talisman. Wonder who will have the last one, Pluto maybe? A decent shift in tone for this ep, another very good ep this season. Both very goods eps have focused on M&H this season. |
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| Damn, I didn't spot that cassette player. That's a great note to end that scene on, too. And I agree, I think the shift in tone works pretty well this season. S1 was the last time I felt it worked this well, and that was late in the season, so props to the showrunners for making it work this early. Shows how well they set up M&H for that "final" decision. As for who has the other talisman, Pluto would be an interesting choice considering how she seems to traverse time. The series hasn't exactly given us any other choices, so she seems the obvious pick. Episode 22 So, open question: how long can someone survive without their heart crystal? Never really had to test that before. Haruka gets a vision of the legendary Messiah, who she knows is female, that imposes itself over Usagi before collapsing with a "noooo!" from Usagi. A little dramatic since she's still alive. Eudial makes off with the talismans wielding a Ghostbusters-esqu flamethrower that looks like it's partially made out of a blender and a vacuum cleaner. This thing is the real deal, creating flames that none of the Sailor Guardians can extinguish. CU and TM come in just in time to save them. The chase commences and Eudial pulls out a bunch of gadgets that make things difficult for the Guardians. SM catches up with her solo, but her powers are too feeble. It isn't until Pluto arrives (with a pretty sick transformation sequence of her own) along with the other girls that Eudial is pushed into a corner. And thankfully, yes, she holds the last talisman (literally, it's just on her staff, guess she's just built different). She also apparently has the power to return the talismans to herself. Convenient. This also results in each of the talisman holders getting their symbols imposed on their foreheads and being teleported together. Even better, their heart crystals exit the talismans and return to them, so now all three talismans are united and no one has to die! Huzzah! Maybe someone should have told M&H that they didn't have to resolve themselves to take lives (or lose their own) to complete their mission? Just a thought. The three talismans react and form the Triforce Holy Grail, but before they can do anything with it, Eudial attacks. Everyone gets burned, and it's only through SM's persistence that she arrives at the Grail first, literally racing her to get it. Her broach reacts when she grabs it, and... yep, she seems to be the prophesized Messiah, complete with new and very extra dress and white barrettes (which CU also gets... interesting). She's now powerful enough to easily repel Eudial's attacks just by raising a hand, forcing her to retreat. Despite being pretty damn successful in this instance (she lost, but she uncovered the Holy Grail), Eudial's performance review comes back and she's fired. They cut her breaks with snails, resulting in Eudial running off the road and crashing into the water. Guess they didn't want that car back. M&H say SM is likely not The Messiah since she collapses, exhausted after the fight. Could it be that CU is... nah, no way. We see a young girl with black hair crying in a dark room. The Professor is aware of what's transpired, and seems gleeful that they can't utilize it effectively, but also doesn't know who among his staff can use it. Hmmm... |
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| Episode 22. Forgot to mention, the Marine Cathedral the events take place in clearly takes inspiration from the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Eudial appears to have gotten a weapons upgrade with her fire buster and sticky glue machine. This is all a pretext for SM to get her own upgrade ofc, but part of the well worn routine of villains and heroes perpetual weapons race to outdo each other. So Pluto did in fact have the final talisman. Makes me wonder who on earth sent M&H to find them in the first place. Especially given that SP can summon the other 2 talismans, maybe they had to be brought first before she could do this? All the drama and jeopardy of the last ep with M&H being injured is undone in a stroke when SP separates the talismans from their hearts, very convenient. Why didn't SP do this sooner I wonder, sure there'll be some reason given. The grail appears and SM and Eudial race it out to claim it, the holder deciding whether it's put to good or evil use. SM wins, because ofc, and gets an new powers, I spy new merch opportunities! SM may not be the messiah, CU is a good bet. Eudial is fired by the other witches, and maybe killed after they cut her brakes using poisonous snails. Farewell Eudial, liked her and her station wagon appearing from udnerground locations, then jetting off when the fighting got tough. |
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| Episode 23 The Professor doesn't seem put out by the loss of Eudial, especially since he's reviving his Messiah of Silence. This appears to be the dark haired girl who was crying last episode. She's literally dolled up. She doesn't appear fully conscious. His aim has changed: now the goal is to steal pure hearts and turn them into energy. This is continuing in the vein of so many previous enemies, with the Black Moon Clan aiming to empower the Malefic Black Crystal and Ail and Anne literally just absorbing energy from humans to empower the Makaiju. If it ain't broke... The aim is to have Daimons swallow pure hearts and convert them into energy back at the lab. Mimete is our new lieutenant antagonist. We only see the other three Witches cast in shadow. She's simping for a person she has photos of, so that will likely be a weakness of hers. Seems she was also behind those snails we've been seeing. She unfortunately doesn't have Eudial's car, but she still exits the lab through random locations it seems. Back with the girls, Pluto has to leave, her planet needs her since apparently M&H work alone... unless she's involved and then they make an exception. They're searching for their own Messiah, and I guess the other Sailor Guardians will just have to search separately because that's efficient. Turns out, several of the girls are into the same person Mimete is: Yosaku Eda, who is also apparently Mimete's target, is shooting a movie and they're all going to see him. Pretty silly watching Usagi try to justify it based on her "woman's intuition" (it is pointing her in the right direction this time, to her credit). Mimete is a pretty a toxic fan, admitting she's there to kill him but bringing him desserts she baked (brief panty shot when she's knocked down), but she gets bullied by some fans of his and you can't help but feel for her a bit. Yosaku does seem like a nice guy. That stylized shot as she agonizes over the tragedy of having to kill him despite falling for him is something else, especially since she tells him to "forget about her" (as though he's already fallen for her somehow). When she sees him kissing his girlfriend (part of a scene or real?) that flips her switch and she's ready to take him out, shifting outfits to a striking black and yellow dress with red stars that shows a lot of midriff (all except the bellybutton for some reason). In the park, CU runs into a young, sickly girl with black hair who looks awfully familiar. Yep, clearly the Messiahs meeting. Her name is Hotaru, be interesting if these two develop a friendship. The Daimon of the week is U Estern. It's a take on "Western" since she's wearing a poncho and a... sombrero where the crown is a cactus? She even says "yippee kiyay." and rides a white horse (I sincerely thought this was a horse at first, but it's a horse-shaped pogo stick, lol). She also busts out a water gun that sprays colored liquid. Doesn't seem particularly dangerous. The girls confront her as though they're walking down a desert road framed buildings straight out of a spaghetti western (weren't they just in the park?) and SM tells her "Wyatt Earp might forgive you" - it's a fun line, though from my knowledge of the man, he wasn't the forgiving type. The fight commences and U Estern proves more than a match, shooting down SM's attack, knocking someone out with a horseshoe, wielding a lasso, and trying to... bite Yosaku's face off before sucking out his pure heart. SN, SU and SP (her attack looks like theirs) intervene to shut down U Estern, giving SM an opportunity to use the Holy Grail to power up and win the day. It's a little frustrating that such a pivotal transformation is probably going to end up just becoming the norm from now on (relegating all the other girls to second fiddle in the process), but hey, Dragon Ball Z did it so why not? Her Rainbow Moon Heartache attack is accompanied by a new OST and a rainbow, ending U Estern and returning the heart. Hotaru heals CU's scraped knee from the fight (no follow-up questions CU?), we briefly see The Professor in full lighting with a strange symbol printed on one lens of his glasses, and SN/SU/SP refuse help in their efforts (again, don't really get it at this point - not like they're having to sacrifice anyone anymore). |
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| Episode 23. So the show is pivoting, now the DB gang are going after energy in order to revive a Messiah of Silence. The holy grail will chose it's messiah and that choice will decide whether the world will fall into disaster or not. The narrative pivots in SM as a show always feel jerky, like the author suddenly decided on a new direction, not as if it was carefully planned all along. Mimete's brand of crazy is amusing. Like her cloaked outfit with the glasses. U Estern was good on her pogo stick with western related paraphernalia. As happened before, the monsters have levelled up and SM has to use the holy grail to defeat them. CU meets Hotaru, who seems quite sweet natured, even healing CU. We see at the end she is the embodiment of the messiah of silence and the professor is her erstwhile father. |
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| Episode 24 I know you mentioned this earlier, but it's surprising how little we've gotten to see of Usagi's family this season. I can't remember the last time we heard her brother's voice actor, but he at least got a line during the goofing in the tub scene at the beginning of this episode. I miss those family dynamics, which were a pretty big part of last season. Mamoru is confronted by SPUN (yes, that's how I'm going to refer to them from now on) who transform in front of him for some reason. Very melodramatic. We're told that their powers are indeed stronger than the other Sailor Guardians as the sort of outer rim of the solar system. Interesting concept. They say the other Guardians are too weak to handle the DBs, but... I mean, SM in particular has demonstrated powers far greater than yours with the Holy Grail. This explanation makes no sense. All the girls mistake CU's new friend for a boy she's interested in, but this is Hotaru and she doesn't correct any of them for maximum cringe. Pretty funny scene with Rei where Usagi makes her believe Michael Jackson has arrived, didn't know Rei was so into him. They arrive at Hotaru's place and are greeted by The Professor and... Kaolinite? He calls her Kaori, and she seems a bit... robotic. Meanwhile, Mimete's just using her "targets" as people she wants to meet and get an autograph from, in this case a manga artist. Doesn't seem like she wants them dead, so I guess we're going to continue to experience her manic personality. Usagi meets Hotaru who seems a bit hostile towards Kaori. We learn that Hotaru's mother died (was that Kaolinite? Might explain her hostility towards Kaori who looks like her) and Hotaru sees Usagi's broach, touching it and seeming to absorb power from it and enter a dream-like state similar to what we saw when she was talking with The Professor earlier. U Henshu (might be another reference, but I don't know to what), the new Daimon, makes her appearance in black and yellow stripes (I think she's meant to be a manga editor given her attacks and proclamations) just as Usagi/CU and Hotaru arrive. SM transforms, gets subdued, and SPUN arrives (Pluto has a badass Dead Scream attack that we haven't seen before) before the other Guardians and TM. By their powers combined, they are Captain Planet win the fight. I enjoy just how much the Daimons are arguing with their handlers during these episodes, that's pretty consistently fun. |
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