I have been waiting for this episode for THREE WEEKS AND this week I can tell you only this: the episode is perfect. This entire episode is just perfect. Sailor Jupiter is my favorite Sailor Scout and my beloved. As a kid I was taller (boy did that change) and I lacked a feminine identity despite wanting to be seen as beautiful by people. Right off the bat, Makoto saves Usagi from a car. She is.  . .so. . .cool. . .

[mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_090915

Makoto is extremely tall and most people in school think she’s intimidating and spread rumors that she got kicked out of her old school for fighting. The old anime just kind of let that lie and never bothered to hint something else might be the case, but right off the bat it seems more will be in store for Jupiter. This excited the hell out of me because all I’d ever heard was, my old boyfriend, that she’d beat people up – I suspected more but I knew there wasn’t enough content. You know, for all the filler they put in they could have clarified that.

[mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_091013

The conflict of the episode today is about a haunted bridal shop, which Nephrite has determined is a good target because it focuses on the human concern of love. Without missing a beat, Usagi loves the idea of being a bride. This episode reaffirms why Usagi Tsukino is an amazing character. She is whiney and not very smart, but she LOVES people. She shows everyone kindness. I tear up at the thought because she is the kind of friend I want, no, the kind of friend all of us wants. Immediately she takes a shine to Makoto and shows her affection and concern.

[mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_091644

Motoki becomes a focus this episode when Nephrite brainwashes him and has him target Makoto, who is fond of him because he reminds her of her old senpai. The worst part about this is we learn that her senpai led her on and broke her heart, and to see Motoki do this again even under the influence of a dark force made her extremely upset and me for her. It’s okay Jupiter, you can do it! Her characterization is perfect and loving. I feel immediate relief and happiness from this representation and I just. . .I’m so SATISFIED. So simply put, Crystal manages to take the best of the old and the best of the true material and make it an appealing and wonderful tribute for all types of Sailor Moon fans.

[mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_093224

Tuxedo Mask proves once again he is a source of question as he leads Sailor Moon to the trouble with Makoto, and that saves her. Yet it’s ultimately her newfound purpose in the friendship with Usagi and the belief love really can be that prompts her to kick ass even outside of a Sailor Fuku. Her transformation, despite being in cg, is nothing short of satisfying and fulfilling. I may not like Mercury’s or Moons, but I keep episode 3 and 5 on the computer just to watch the transformations at any given time!

[mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_093316 [mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_093547

If you’re a big fan of Sailor Jupiter this episode won’t disappoint! She is still a spunky and energetic fighter with a lot of enthusiasm, who remains feminine to the end. That being said the anime is continuing the plot point of having the Sailor Senshis respective generals recognize them and feel a connection. Nephrite is shaken by Jupiter’s resolve and feels a connection to her, and opts to remember who she is.

[mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_093807

Nephrite has a completely different feel than he did in the original anime. He seems less sinister but still powerful in his own right. I admit I will be partially thrown by the lack of a Naru plot line LOl. Watch the original as many times as I have and you’ll feel awkward missing something. Still, I’m so happy the show cuts to the actual material instead of giving us a million zaney attempts to capture energy from the same general with no purpose.

[mcag] Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal - 05 [720p x264 AAC] [16E582FA].mkv_20140906_093330

Once again Usagi and Mamoru have a deep and interesting relationship where you can feel the connection immediately. Add in that next weeks episode will be focused on his alignment and you have a wringer for a really good plotline. I am really psyched to hear them come together and just..be…together! Argh! This anime has flaws but it’s. . . perfect, in a way. I feel like it’s perfect. Everything makes me happy, giddy, and every mistake I can overlook. I eagerly await every episode and other than transformation flibs and weird animation issues, I am satisfied right now. Excuse me, I’m going to go cry some more.

Oki

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Eva

    This was such a great episode TT v TT I love Makoto so much. She’s so precious <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

  2. Úy Công Tử

    While I do agree this is a good episode, I still think Jupiter’s transformation is not good. Ofc hers is better than SM and Mercury, worse than Mars. When you look at the animation, it’s like it’s running on slow mode, the electrics that spin around her is too slowwwww, almost like frame-lagging when you play online games, reading a one-frame manga. And at the certain scene, when she’s facing directly to us with her eyes closed, the shape of her face, her chin is almost a triangular, really poor graphic there. Also the last scene, the finishing pose, she’s like super-dwarf, when she’s supposed to be tall.

    While most of the anime have great graphic, there are still some obvious flaw in the drawing like that. It’s really annoying.

    The thing I miss most is the tuxedo mask entrance background music, I always enjoy listening to it every time he appears. And the outer Sailors entrance/transformation background music. Freaking badass violin play.

    1. Eva

      Totally agree, that’s why I watch it once- and then from that point on I just skip all the transformation sequences because it’s so unpleasant to watch with all the obvious flaws. I wish they’d go back to the traditional ; ______ ; but it certainly doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.

    2. Oki

      My appreciation for it comes not from the lightning, but mostly from the superior posing of her body during it. I was impressed they managed to keep her form good looking and solid in the awkward positioning the original had. The lightning being slow motion was a cost thing and while not perfect, her face had some great angles. The one was triangular but then my favorite, which was the side glance with emphasis on her earrings, was very cute. It’s my icon.

      THAT BEING SAID, traditional animation = FAR SUPERIOR. My acceptance of the CGI is not me saying I think it’s better or don’t feel it’s a problem. I even said, I do think it’s the primary issue of the show. I’m pissed about it beyond recompense but I think small savings like the screenshot of her cutely looking towards us or her proper body type (even if lacking in height) make up for it. I do see your point about her awkward finishing pose, but the 2-d finishing pose made it okay in my book. And despite crystals style, they kept that she was bustier and had a fuller figure in the transformation, thus my admiration for it.

      I’ll say it here though: THE KEY PROBLEM WITH THIS SHOW IS THE ANIMATION OF THE TRANSFORMATIONS !!! IF THEY FIX THAT AND CHANGE THE TRANSFORMATIONS WITH A DVD RELEASE THEN IT WILL BE AMAZING!

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