~~
!! SPOILER-FILLED !!
~~
With Sailor Moon R, the franchise has split itself into a sibling of younger age who, although shares characteristics with the elder we're familiar with, fails to fix her problem traits or dress it up with fresher blooms. Watching in an already worn out state (keyword: uni) wore me down further like wear and tear from its stagnant gait when hopes naturally lie on self-improvement in sequels. Instead, hackneyed performances beam glaringly in the eye as I look upon this tree branch so distant to its purpose of birth that the sheer sameness it has with its prequel became a disconnect to the forest of the Sailor Moon series, apart from the disconnect per se that comes from the feeling of this installment not necessarily linking with the expansion of the foundation of its universe. There does not seem to be an overarching narrative because of that; it's like they're slapping on a sibling show rather than evolving its own self. The only new things gathered are the advancement of Usagi and Mamoru's relationship, truly the biggest deal out of all, some additional abilities from the Sailor Soldiers which are still not used to their full potential, and knowledge of the future world which I sorely hope will be utilized in the following sequels for much-needed character development and worldbuilding intrigue. Within 43 long episodes, the positive impacts from what the anime is doing to itself can scarcely be felt, and the episodic runs of recyclable progressions weren't handled with enough entertainment brainwash pizzazz for the deficiencies of its framework to hide under the modern lens.
It could be argued that the cast, specifically the Sailor Soldiers apart from Usagi, have had their time for glory early on as they gain new special moves during the Makai Tree and the Ayakashi Sisters arcs, signifying a pivotal point, as well as during the final confrontation with the Sisters. However, how do these new colors of strength even manifest after that? Contrary to the tight dependence of Crystal Tokyo on the events of the present, the influence of these specific episodes doesn't really lead anywhere.
One major issue I had is how the other Senshi were more of a collection of background supports instead of outstanding characters of their own. Their personalities pretty much only stick out during banter and casual scenes. During the many conflicts, each person does not really play a "role" in battle, making the fighting elements much less interesting because of how they're melded into this one unit who have to fail to do their job and find out that nothing works against the enemy in order for the scenes to progress--for a while on Season 1 they did, such as Mercury acting as the brain, Venus being more of a precise fighter, Mars with identifying the enemies and contributing to firepower, and Jupiter being a powerhouse. Meanwhile, in R, all of that was lost, and they all simply used their forces in random succession to throw at enemies instead of being strategic about it, ultimately making it the job of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask to wrap it all up.
Why couldn't Ami figure out the opponents' weaknesses? Why couldn't Minako use her extensive experience to navigate the situation on the spot? Why do Rei and Mako not deal as much damage to the stronger enemies anymore? Mamoru's rose has done so much more than literal thunder, fire, beams, and a surge of water combined. And I love Usagi a large deal. Elevating her position does me better than the opposite. But in seeing the bigger picture, the gulf is astounding. When the gap is not as wide as it normally is, their shine is a mere glimmer. I sound like a Battle Shounen meathead by focusing on this aspect, but I I believe these are elements that constitute a significant portion of the salient qualities that make combat series naturally entertaining--plus, this season is laden with a ton of combat. And about the Talk no Jutsu strewn all over, it does not really cause this season any further ruin. Although Usagi's final face-off with Prince Dimande and his death by Wiseman were a hot mess, like many other things, the fact that the Prince's mind was changed through (brief) dialogue about love and trust from Usagi's lips shows how the author did not forget to associate this integral moment to the division of ideals of the societal factions in the Neo era--there is justifiable meaning to the chosen conflict resolution method. With this, the clash between love and life and darkness and nothingness as children of humanity is progressed.
It is so lovely how, after the ordeal between the present and the future, Usagi's love for the world evolves because of her knowing Chibiusa, her own daughter. I've heard that her mere existence is divisive, but I found this little running ball of conflict to pose such an important reminder to Usagi about her own growth as a person. As a future all-powerful queen, as a future wife to a king, as a future creator of new life: as a mother, teenage Usagi needs to have a lot to go through all things considered. Throughout the season her patience and maturity are challenged. She is destined for perilous trials, and her breaking down from it, much like how she lost her will to fight back in Season 1 upon learning that she is Princess Serenity, is an honest portrayal of a realistic human, something which still gives me pleasant sentiments. While Neo-Queen Serenity exudes grace and self-togetherness, we are still stuck with a Serenity that cannot be as reliable yet. Presenting the journey of a protagonist as they did--placing destiny upon her chest and consequently subjecting her to the grueling path towards the eventual ascension of strength she rightfully deserves to be a figure of while falling here and there on the way--is a magic I find special in the Sailor Moon series, and a magic I could not help but cry out to be harmonized by its many other spells.
Sailor Moon R, for the most part, fundamentally does not feel as different as its prequel, which, in essence, turns itself into something significantly worse. Although it presented another facet of love, introduced Chibiusa into the picture, made villains who are a tad bit better, and made the main story conflict peer over timelines and dimensions on the sky's ceiling and walls with a piercing look, effecting as a true battle against hopelessness, the framework from which found not much improvement made Sailor Moon R appear to stand on an unsteady, crumbling structure. Only right now can I phrase the experience of watching older anime which have evident issues made clearer due to time: it is like arriving at a spot laden with nostalgia (though one you've never been to prior, i.e., armed with anemoia) and finding out overtime that that place is more of a relic than an antique treasure, and the mere wistful existence of the past in and of itself cannot always carry everything, cannot always make rosy the differences in conditions.
