I agree on a couple things with CJ. I definitely liked Petite Etrangere more than this one, I don't know how I feel about it as compared with La Reconquista but I know even though the first half of Un Nouveau Voyage I truly enjoyed, the second half didn't give me anything new, which is disappointing. There were no truly emotional moment/climax even though they tried (Satomi put up a good performance in the climax even if I didn't really feel it as the powerful moment it's supposed to be? Man I kinda wish they'd done the anime climax because just... nothing beats that. I think overall I liked the way the manga and the anime handled this arc better.

I am also disappointed by the lack of characterization in Uranus and Neptune. I hoped there would be something since they changed Haruka into a pop idol (wtf lol - although I look forward to them maintaining this continuity until the Starlights appear to make the rivalry between her and Seiya worse) but that barely played any part beyond the first few minutes. I'm also not sure I like the whole implied Haruka/Usagi thing and everyone teasing her about it - I never liked that part of the manga either. Mamoru could have been funny if they would let him stop being The Cool Guy™ for like five seconds but of course they don't, so he kind of looks like an angry... macho... guy during that lunch scene which was just so off to me.

I never realized how the Outers' sudden understanding feels so rushed when they try to fit all of it into a two-hour performance. But that didn't help either.

I also agree that Venus not looking like the perfect Sailor Moon clone would have worked better, especially since they did that whole blatant mess of Chibiusa as Venus. I disagree that Venus was just a clone, though, because she acted WAY too flirty to be Moon. I actually liked how Shiori still acted like Minako despite the fact that she's supposed to be Usagi. That was a nice character touch. Also I loved Usagi cheering with her umbrellas behind SO MUCH.

Another thing I agree on is the powerful image evoked by the Kaolinite/Rei/Neptune song! I can't really describe it either, but it just feels like solid character work because here are these three people who could know what's coming in their own specific ways, and putting them together in one song singing about the same thing is just a really, really great decision. It shows that they're paying attention to character details, which is my favorite thing.

I was also WTF-ing at the Witches 5 tea drinking scene. Like, how hard was it to use actual prop?? Why was this decision made xD

I am very disappointed we never saw Saturn's Glaive fell. They did it in Mugen Gakuen (I think) and it was a powerful moment. Oh I also think that musical handled this arc way better.

The opening was solid, though. I always love seeing how much these girls love each other and showing off each other's great qualities. And I almost pretty much sobbed like a baby during the last line of Un Nouveau Voyage when the Inners and Moon sang that very fitting line about them saying goodbye. I like at least that they also made the story of the musical fitting for their departure. Literally the title is about them embarking on a new journey, and that's sweet at least that they gave them that.

I loved it. Infinity arc is my least favorite arc ever and Un nouveau musical is the only adaptation that actually make me love it. I don't think it will change my overall feeling of it, but I still appreciated the musical for what it was. I loved the humor, I love false moon, false Venus, Usagi cheering in the back. I was not sure about Neptune and Uranus, but their performance while being capture got to me. Now I really love them. Like I said somewhere, I prefer Nao's singing, but I really love Shuu's acting.

Saturn was really great, she actually was a big part of why I loved the musical and her duet with Chibiusa is probably one of my favorite song from the new myu. Kaolinite has a great voice and this musical is the first adaptation where I also appreciate the Witches 5. Mimete was so in-character it was awesome. I would have liked to see more of Pluto, but we can't have everything.

Eyes of the Storm was a nice song, I really love this pair. They work well together and I think they have a great chemistry.

My only negative comment I guess is that Mamoru needs to connect with the other actresses. It was cute the audience talk in La Reconquista, but after three, it's starting to get on my nerves. Yes, theater is about the audience, but not as much and usually in those sort of stories, directors tend to prefer the actors do as if there was no audience. Unfortunately, during the scenes Satomi would have needed contact with her, she wasn't present in the character. And that I think is unfair for Yuuga's performance partners.

Despite this, I loved this musical a lot, I can't wait for the next one if we're given one. I hope so. I thought those girls were perfect for the roles they were given (despite the lack of voice yes) and I'm reluctant to see them go, but hope we'll have some new girls to greet soon.

For example, in La Reconquista, she would sing while looking sometimes at the crowd, sometimes at Satomi. During the ball throwing, fortunately, she, most of the time but not always, kept her entire attention on Satomi. Which, even in theater standards was important for this particular scene. This is something happening between Usagi and Mamoru. This isn't some theme song or else, where winking at the audience can be great, it's a personal moment between two characters and during it, she did pay attention to Satomi.

In Petite Étrangère, she started to distance herself from the rest of the cast. I don't think it's because she's better, older, etc. She is, but it's not the point here (and well, the acting part can be up to debate from time to time). From time to time she would look Chibiusa or Satomi in the eyes, she somewhat was able to keep most of her attention on the actress as Pluto was dying, but she was then starting to be on her own bubble, one she shared with the audience (she also seems to have a problem with her wig a lot, because yes it is a wig. She had long hair during La Reconquista and it's, I think, the same wig she kept all three musicals.

Now, for Un Nouveau Voyage... how to explain how much she actually tuned off chemistry literally everywhere. When Chibiusa is dead and Mamoru explains he will link her to his life force, she doesn't look at Satomi AT ALL, except for one time when it seems Satomi finally attracts her attention. Even during the sang dialogues, she doesn't sing to Satomi (which she should) but at the audience itself (both theme songs not counting, because that's a song where you totally can ignore everything that isn't the audience). Even when giving her lines, she barely looks at Satomi and said Satomi is on her own, looking at Mamoru on cue to the feelings there should be where Yuuga prefers to look at the audience like you would deliver a punchline during a comedic show.

It's not to say she isn't a great actress (she is), it's not to say that she doesn't know how to do her job (she is very professional, serious and in control of herself), it's not to say that she isn't a good Mamoru (hell she was better than half the unfortunate Mamorus who didn't last long in the old musicals), but she doesn't share the emotions with the others on stage and it is most (not all) of the reason why Usagi and Mamoru seem to have a very weak chemistry.

She is also too much in control of her emotions and Mamoru yelling Usagi's name at the end almost made me uncomfortable because it was the first time her emotions were louder than usual. It was a great scene though.

Speaking of Idol Haruka, I read on the UNV pamphlet that Haruka was a genius at racing car, so at least they didn't completely change/erase that. She did explain that it was only a cover to gain more students. I'm trying to imagine whether Haruka would be willing to be an idol. Somehow I don't think she would, but it didn't really bother me that much either so okay.

At one point she would actually seem to talk to the audience directly (most notably during the lunch scene) that it's really disrupting the feel of the entire scene.

I think the idol thing was brought up so it would be easier on a stage (demonstrating racing and fangirls of it is hard in everything that isn't cinema really) but I'm really glad that even musical canon kept her racing skills, it's awesome.

She does omg. I think the scene that most disappointed me apart from a slight bit during the end fight where she goes from Mamoru to just playing it cool for the audience to Mamoru again, it's the one with Chibiusa stuck on the table. This was where Mamoru's eyes, heart, emotions, etc should have been on future daughter and wife.

I’d personally change that because this was the introduction arc for two of them and they’re a big part of what makes Infinity, well, Infinity. xD But with Mistress Nine’s awakening happening at the end of the first half and the final battle being so long, there’s not much you could have added without changing the pace or replacing some scenes. The more I think about it, the third arc / season is a difficult one to fit in one musical without cutting things. There’s a lot going on with new characters (who play major roles) and character bonds if you want to introduce them from the start. In Nouveau they put a lot of focus on Hotaru and her and Chibiusa’s friendship, so that left less time for other things.

I think one part where musical adaptions don’t always shine is introducing main character bonds from the start. It’s a lot of stuff and development to fit in a two hour long musical, especially if you need to do it for multiple characters while still aiming to tell a full arc’s story. I feel it works better for original characters and characters who do not have such major roles.