Sailor Moon Crystal is a new adaptation of the beloved graphic novel series Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon by Naoko Takeuchi. The first animated adaptation of the property aired in its home country of Japan from 1992 to 1997 spanning a total of five seasons. As Sailor Moon, it was partially broadcasted in the United States from 1995 to 2000. The new series is being broadcast all over the world online through sites like Hulu, Crunchyroll, Nico Nico, and Neon Alley. New episodes are being released every 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month. The Lunafix will faithfully recap the episodes on Sunday as long as I don’t sleep through my post deadlines.
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| Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Kodansha, Toei Animation, Viz, Hulu |
Act 4 is the last of the repeat plots. Thank goodness! To be fair, this one feels a little more fresh than the others. Two years ago, when I picked up volume 1 of the comic reprint, I could have sworn I didn’t know the story at all. It turns out the masquerade ball is the plot of episode 22 of the first animated series. It’s titled “Romance Under the Moon: Usagi’s First Kiss” and it’s on Hulu, if you want to compare the episodes.
In a lot of ways, it feels like a filler story. The Kingdom of D stops by Tokyo to unveil their most coveted treasure. Luna and the sailor guardians use the power of deduction to conclude this treasure could be the Legendary Silver Crystal. (It’s not.) Shenanigans ensue as the sailor guardians, the Dark Kingdom, and Tuxedo Mask all flock to the party to get their hands on the treasure.
For whatever reason, the decision was made that Luna should be present in the classroom scenes at the beginning of each episode. The set up for these stories is mostly the same. Rumors of an event going in the city, like the Kingdom of D exhibition, come up in class. Classroom geek and know-it-all, Umino Gurio, gives us all the details. Usagi is usually too sleepy or distracted to notice the major plot point when it comes in, so it’s up to Luna to notice anything suspicious. I don’t know how this classroom can stay focused when there’s clearly a cat under Usagi’s desk.
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| Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Kodansha, Toei Animation, Viz, Hulu |
After the school gossip scene follows the strategy meeting, this week it’s in the arcade. Luna tells the team that she suspects the Moon Princess is in hiding with a magical seal because she might have the Legendary Silver Crystal. She thinks the magical seal could be broken when all the sailor guardians are awoken. They still don’t have any leads on her whereabouts, but they are certain they have to keep fighting the Dark Kingdom because they pose a danger to the princess.
Having a serious conversation with Usagi sure is hard. While they talk business, she keeps herself busy on the Sailor V game. They really need to stop having their meetings at the arcade. Luna gets especially frustrated this time because she’s vetting Usagi to be the leader of the group. This is also a very questionable judgement, since really Luna only thinks it’s right because Usagi was the first one to become a sailor guardian. Why can’t Ami be the leader? Even Rei,who you just met, would be better than the bun head that can’t be trusted to wake up on time.
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| Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Kodansha, Toei Animation, Viz, Hulu |
At home, Usagi finds her dad in a tuxedo getting ready for the Kingdom of D event. She gets jealous and transforms into a princess after he leaves. Later, she shows up at the embassy with Rei and Ami in tow. They get stopped at the door because they’re with Luna. They don’t seem to worry, though. They ditch Luna and keep going.
Once inside, the girls split up. Let’s be real, Usagi is really just there to party. The night starts off pretty well for her, strangely enough. She runs into Tuxedo Mask and they share a secret dance in the grand ballroom. That is, until Luna sneaks in through the balcony and scares him off.
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| Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Kodansha, Toei Animation, Viz, Hulu |
Meanwhile, Rei and Ami spot Princess D of the Kingdom of D heading into a room with one her handlers. Since she’s the one responsible for unveiling the treasure, the girls follow the princess into the room and witness as the handler transforms into none other than Nephrite, one of the Dark Kingdom’s Kings of Heaven. Nephrite proceeds to cast a spell on Princess D. She immediately becomes manic and runs off with the treasure. The spell is also giving her some magic abilities like super speed, so Ami and Rei decide to transform into Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury as a precaution.
Back in the ballroom, Usagi is around to witness Princess D casting a spell on the partygoers. She makes a narrow escape by heading to the balcony where she catches the princess trying to make a jump for it. This turns out to be a bad move. The princess hulks out and throws Usagi over the edge. Usagi stops in the middle of the freefall aided by Tuxedo Mask. His hand slips and they start to fall together. Using some quick thinking, Usagi uses the disguise pen to fashion herself an umbrella. The pair lands safely, but before Usagi can talk to Tuxedo Mask, he runs away again. Bummer.
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| Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Kodansha, Toei Animation, Viz, Hulu |
With the Princess D problem still unresolved, Luna forces Usagi to get a grip. Usagi transforms only to suddenly remember her tiara broke during her last encounter with Jadeite. Seeing how important the tiara is, she gets a new one powered by her love for Tuxedo Mask. That’s really it. That’s exactly how it happens.
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| Naoko Takeuchi, PNP, Kodansha, Toei Animation, Viz, Hulu |
Usagi uses the new tiara to defeat the possessed Princess D. This seriously upsets the Four Kings of Heaven, who make an appearance as a group to threaten the sailor guardians. They don’t stay for long or do much, though. The princess goes on to unveil her treasure, a mini-statuette of one of her ancestors. After a long day of fighting evil, Sailor Moon falls asleep on the balcony where Tuxedo Mask swoops in to give her a kiss. Luna walks in on him and makes him talk. He tells Luna that he is also after the Legendary Silver Crystal and that he’s not sure how much of a friend he is to the guardians, which by the way, is the worst thing he could have told Luna. This episode made it pretty clear, she has it out for him.
Other Impressions:
- It’s interesting that they took out the part where Usagi gets drunk at this party. There’s a running joke in the comic about her confusing cocktails for juice.
- Jadeite was supposed to die at the end of the last act, so I’m not sure what he’s doing in Act 4 of this faithful-to-the-comic adaptation.
- Also, I don’t remember Usagi breaking her tiara in the last episode. I know they pretty much skimmed over it in the comic too, but a little reminder would have been nice.
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