Sailor Moon Crystal Season III Ep 12 [Silence]

Sailor Moon Crystal finally features what appeared might be its last episode of the fighting season, but it is not actually so! As all the Inner Senshi move to attack Pharaoh 90 with not only Super Sailor Moon but Super Sailor Chibi Moon they find their power not only fails but actually empowers him. I was surprised to see that they didn’t end it because of how harsh their cliffhanger was. This is actually becoming a problem for me: it’s just annoying how intense and often their cliffhangers are becoming in Crystal. Every episode might as well be like this. I wouldn’t be surprised if next season we have Usagi’s mom burn the eggs and the episode ends there zoomed in on her face as the dramatic battle music plays ‘dun dun dunna’ and it cuts away.

I wasn’t excited at first for this episode because I was sure they had to bring in Saturn but I wasn’t sure what they were going to do. There was no way in my mind the new power up could be easily defeated, so I knew they were going to bring in some new plot twist. Nope! Pharaoh 90’s Death Busters have been literally eating power this entire time, so why was I surprised to find that they legitimately ate the power of the Senshi? It was nice to see the powers, though!

What was really powerful was seeing Sailor Moon actively sacrifice herself in hopes of saving the world. Usagi has always been willing to fight for everyone, but seeing them unable to fight at all and using the Grail to go in and save everyone? The worst part is that it horrifyingly does not work and the following scene is heartbroken. All the senshi are devastated while her family holds inexplicable sorrow. Chibi Usa for the first time cries out “Mama!” and Mamoru shows once again how truly he loves her by expressing how mortified he is she went without him. (Guys it’s fine Chibi Usa isn’t blinking out of existence yet!)

Sailor Saturn cripples Pharaoh 90 by taking her body back, however, and makes her awe inspiring appearance. Saturn explains she was never meant to be alive and that it was Doctor Tomoe’s interference that stopped Hotaru from dying at all. She once again explains she was never meant to even exist but I think it’s pretty clear what it really means is that for Hotaru to exist the hope of the Moon Kingdom, Usagi, must be close to perishing or dead. Saturn is meant to literally destroy everything. Yet take this into account: the moon is still there. The Silver Crystal returns everything to life that was destroyed and so its safe to assume Saturn’s real role is to be the really annoyed RA for the dorm cleaning up after some serious party. “Are you guys serious? I’m seriously just kicking you out.” Then you know, Usagi’s hopes give life again to the world and rinse and repeat. Take that Dragon Ball Z, they don’t even need a dragon, they have cats!

Still, the entire Earth being destroyed feels pretty terrifying even in spite of my fridge logic. Saturn carries a very sad and depressing energy and everyone is begging her not to swing the silence glaive, but I know it isn’t the end. Side note: I am incredibly saddened that they pulled out a very weak Saturn transformation where she is already in the outfit but forms her tiara. I guess we’ll have to wait in hopes of a future scene, but it looks like no real transformation for us. What a bummer after all these years. Next episode we see the real ending as well as the season ending, which means tons and tons of final season looks! Be prepared for a full run down, and see you next time!

Oki