Sailor Moon Crystal ep 21 [ Nostalgic Creepiness ]

Holy crap I cannot contain the sheer feels this episode had. We’re now back in ‘things I actually remember territory’ and I have to say this episode did a few things for me: Put me back in the Sailor Moon Crystal feels and made me for the first time, probably ever, actually appreciate Chibi-Usa as a character. It’s no wonder for years I had a problem with her because if you miss the end of this arc you kind of miss the entire reason she is who she is and why she behaves the way she does.

First off, as the last episode might have slightly implied, Chibi-Usa is actually over 900 years old. One day she simply stopped aging and what did this lead to? Well, she’s a 900 year old girl who cannot grow. Especially considering her mentality remains that of a child, the pressure of realizing you’ll never grow or become more than you are as it is has to be crushing. Add on to that? People freaking picked on her. In a peaceful utopia of the future where people live forever kids are picking on the Princess of the world whose mom gave them eternity. Like what the hell? What the legitimate crap is wrong with these kids? “Lol you’re nothing like your mom who incidentally gave us immortality so we probably shouldn’t be little shits to you but yeah you’re an asshole!”

Meanwhile we learn a lot of other things: For instance the Sailor Senshi got an entire montage just to wake up, try to transform, and fail. Welp, that was screentime well spent! Granted we’d be wondering where they were if they didn’t show up, but still it felt like such a waste to have them start a scene on the ground and then end the scene on the same ground. And of course the really big thing, what the hell happened to Usagi once she was kidnapped?

Well guys, it’s lucky I’m covering this show cause I covered Cross Ange and I come prepared: He’s a creepo. A real dick. A time defying rapist guy who wants to objectify and possess Sailor Moon like an object. Well, we know where Sunrise got inspired for Embryo. Jesus, given how old this manga is it’s really simple to see where the  creepo rapist trope came from for a lot of younger shoujo artists. Oh Demande, you asshat.

Usagi and the Senshi can’t do much, but we’ll see where it goes. For now, it seems Pluto and Tuxedo Mask are the ones who will have to do something, but this is Sailor Moon and we all know something more is coming. That something having very much to do with the end of the episode and Chibi-Usa’s dilemma.  You see, Chibi-Usa has spent many years worrying she’ll never be anywhere close to her mom. Her father loves her mother, in her mind, more than her- really it’s just a manifestation of her self doubt, ‘If he loves this amazing woman and I’m nowhere near her he can’t possibly love me as much.’

Then we learn why Pluto is so relevant to Chibi-Usa, basically whenever she was sad and alone she would go to see Pluto. This was her place, this was the one person who needed her. Chibi-Usa sees instead Pluto being happy towards her father, whether she realizes it or not Pluto is in love with Endymion, and feels now she has no place. The time key she has falls out of her pocket and she wanders in the pockets of time.

So what then ? Well. . .earlier we had heard the Black Moon had only one run in with Neo Queen Serenity, and the man behind it disappeared….this same man almost seems to have the eyes that Wiseman has, and who else finds Chibi-Usa but the Wiseman? He tells her simply, come with me, I’m the one person who truly needs you. Chibi-Usa falls into a trance and goes with him, the Black Moon symbol appearing on her forehead.

Ah fuck guys. This is so intense and I’m excited. Weeks like this I wish this show was every week. Okay, I kind of feel that week all the time. But guys, come on! Dark Moon! THE BLACK LADY COMETH! WE’RE ON BOARD THE HYPE TRAIN! I can’t help but feel super invigorated about the series now. Join me in two weeks for the awesome things that are to come, and hot damn, I’m excited.

Oki