This week’s installment of Sailor Moon Crystal, “Act 33, Infinity 7: Transformation - Super Sailor Moon” recaps the Sailor Senshi’s battle with Cyprine and Ptilol, and their brainwashed brawl with one another. This battle got off to a very promising start in the last episode, but seems to have been largely forgotten here. Having summoned the Holy Grail (with the help of Sailor Chibi Moon and Tuxedo Mask), Sailor Moon breaks the spell and the other Sailor Guardians lend her their power, allowing her to become Super Sailor Moon and one-shot Cyprine and Ptilol. It’s anticlimactic and disappointing after last week’s cliffhanger.
But hey, at least the new Super Sailor Moon transformation sequence doesn’t disappoint! Everyone else gets new heart-shaped brooches as a consolation prize. Elsewhere, Sentient Cotton Candy of Pure Evil, Pharaoh 90, salivates over the prospect of adding Sailor Moon’s power to his own. Meanwhile, Hotaru appears to be having some mood issues.
With the battle over, everyone flies (because apparently they can do that now) back to what’s left of Haruka’s apartment, where Sailor Uranus casually reveals she pays a million yen a month in rent (that’s a little more than $9,000 at current exchange rates). After the faintest glimmer of a couple’s spat between Uranus and Neptune, the latter explains the Outer Senshi’s roles during the time of the Silver Millennium. The death of Princess Serenity compelled them to summon “the last of the guardians who should never have been awakened,” Sailor Saturn. In one smooth maneuver of her Silence Glaive, Saturn brought about the final, climactic destruction of the Moon Kingdom and the Silver Millennium.
Michiru reveals that Hotaru is the incarnation of Sailor Saturn, and that the time of her second awakening is fast approaching. Haruka insists they must kill Hotaru in order to protect the future, but Usagi and Chibiusa want to find another way. The Outers stalk off in a huff again, while Chibiusa runs away to save Hotaru, resolved to support her friend no matter what.
At Hotaru’s house, the Outers observe from the bushes. (Seriously, how much time do these girls spend hiding behind plants?) Chibiusa sees Hotaru lying on the floor, seemingly unconscious. Suddenly, Hotaru’s eyes snap open and glow red as she emits a blast of energy that shatters the windows, sending Chibiusa reeling.
As Super Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask approach, Hotaru transforms into Mistress 9, attacks Chibiusa with a creepy hand made out of hair (!!!) and steals her transformation amulet, rendering her unconscious. Mistress 9 perfects her villain cackle as Usagi panics, realizing Chibiusa has stopped breathing.
This was an uneven episode. The appearance of Super Sailor Moon, Sailor Saturn and Mistress 9 were definite highlights. On the other hand, the end of the fight with Cyprine and Ptilol completely underwhelmed and the episode devoted too much time to the conversation in Haruka’s apartment, which rehashed a lot of old news. Also, wonderful though it is to see new episodes appear stateside the same day they debut in Japan, the English subtitles seemed particularly clunky and awkward this week.
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New episodes of Sailor Moon Crystal premiere every Monday on Hulu, Crunchyroll and Viz.com.
