I don't really know what to think about today's episode other than it was a bit of a let down.

I expected SO much more in relation to Haruka and Michiru's henshin, and well I was rather disappointed.

Also, it appears that unlike the 90s anime, the Outers don't have henshin wands. :/

I wonder if this is an indication of how we'll see Hotaru's henshin play out. Maybe it will just be an updated 90s version of it. :/

Neptune and Uranus' henshin went by a lot faster than I had anticipated, but I kinda like the fact they don't need transformation rods since those always looked a little silly to me, and kinda took away from their mature image. But I did like their speeches' it looked very elegant. Also, Mercury was pretty badass in this episode! It's nice to see her being shown as a warrior and not just the team's brains.

The pacing of the episode was still really choppy, but I've come to expect that by now. I liked the little family moments and couples moments between Mamoru and Usagi, and the cute expression Chibi Usa and Diana made once Mamoru and Usagi have patched things up. That being said, the new ED nearly out into a diabetic coma. As much as I love Chibs, I'd rather have eternal eternity than the new song. @_@

@east, I kinda doubt we'll see Hotaru transform into Saturn in this season. Saturn appears from Mistress 9's body already in her fuku. I'd expect we'll see her transform in the dream arc after Hotaru reawakens as Saturn and gives sailor crystals to the other Outers.

But Hotaru never had a transformation in the 90s anime, so how can they update it o.o

I quite liked the episode myself. The family moments were really sweet, how Chibiusa was trying to get Usagi and Mamoru back together. And I absolutely LOVED how badass Ami was! Seriously, girl just jumped out the window from like the 13th floor while transforming. That is so cool.

I also hated the ending song though.

I'm going to go a mini Michiru/Neptune rant. 

As much as I'm trying to like the new Michiru/Neptune, I'm seeing that it's becoming more difficult to do so. (I don't think it's so much the character's fault than the people who make SMC). Like what was that ratchet music that came from Neptune's violin? Since when does rock music come spewing out of violins?! 

(Another thing. Is it just me or does Haruka get more face time than Michiru? I mean I understand that Michiru/Haruka are suppose to be distant from the others but can we at least get some more character development on their part? Even if it's just them two together?)

What a half-a••ed transformation scene. I liked the rose petals and that's about the only thing that I liked. I don't understand why they didn't include the liprods at the beginning of the sequence. I mean they have them in their hands while their transforming so why not just include them? Did anyone hear any music while they were transforming? What I heard was some lame muted music that wasn't very inspiring and did anyone else notice those awkward poses? 

Hopefully they re-do these transformation scenes because they were far from lackluster.

For some reason, I can't upload all the screenshots I made. :/

Also, I think the reason that they don't have a henshin wand this time around, is that the source of their power is meant to be drawn from their talismans. The Outers appear to have a power much stronger than regular Planet Power, that I would argue is close to that of the Silver Crystal.  Note how Michiru is able to wield her talisman outside of senshi form, and likewise employ it for attacks. Venus's sword is close, but we haven't really seen that to the case with it, or her whip chain. Likewise, none of the Inners are able to use their wands for attacks. Speaking of the Inners, I did notice that Mercury's henshin didn't demand her using her wand, or that we could see at least. That was definitely interesting.

I honestly only saw their hands glowing with power, I didn't see any pens.  I think this is because they used stock poses of their original transformations...

Luna Love, see my explanation above.



I decided to use Google Drive for the screenshots.

Neptune:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B5ahYRiCyBSgNWdMQjFuWGRqSms&usp=sharing

Uranus:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B5ahYRiCyBSgRWwzUWVWYkpTOVk&usp=sharing

I read it. I believe it's because of the stock images so to fill the odd hand position they made back then to hold a wand, they filled it with glowy power which means it's their power from within that's making them transform and the inners are now doing the same. 

The outers never had wands in the manga either. That was mostly the 90s anime and marketing products.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Edit: Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Michiru use her mirror outside of her henshin in the 90s anime or a movie? Or it was at least hinted at? I know this was done in the manga a few times.

Fair enough.

I still think that their henshins were a major let down.

We waited weeks for them, and that's all we get?

We didn't even get a decent henshin theme for them like we did in the 90s, unless they're waiting for Pluto's henshin to introduce a theme for them, though I doubt that will be the case given that the albums don't give any indication of there being new music for the series other than the opening and ending theme.

As to Hotaru's henshin, I imagine that they'll squeeze it in there in the manner that they did ChibiUsa's henshin. After all, her awakening is depicted more violently in the manga than it was in the 90s anime.

I find this way of sharing my thoughts very fun =) so i'll keep doing it.

Gifs, lots of them sorry!:

I give this episode a 10/10 finally the boring part is over and now more exiting things will start happening~ can't wait for Super Sailor Moon henshin sequence

Roro wrote:

I'm going to go a mini Michiru/Neptune rant. 

As much as I'm trying to like the new Michiru/Neptune, I'm seeing that it's becoming more difficult to do so. (I don't think it's so much the character's fault than the people who make SMC). Like what was that ratchet music that came from Neptune's violin? Since when does rock music come spewing out of violins?! 

(Another thing. Is it just me or does Haruka gets from the others but can we at least get some more character development on their part? Even if it's just them two together?)

What a half-a••ed transformation scene. I liked the rose petals and that's about the only thing that I liked. I don't understand why they didn't include the liprods at the beginning of the sequence. I mean they have them in their hands while their transforming so why not just include them? Did anyone hear any music while they were transforming? What I heard was some lame muted music that wasn't very inspiring and did anyone else notice those awkward poses? 

Hopefully they re-do these transformation scenes because they were far from lackluster.

I think it's interesting that they don't have to have the wands in order to transform. Yeah, the transformations are pretty...lackluster. I also hated the guitar rift sound behind the violin, yikes what was that?! The end them is so incongruous with the season. It's so....cutesy, boring, generic.

Personally the guitar gift is a modern thing and pretty difficult on a violin. As long as she can still perform beautiful soft music like before, the rock bit is awesome.

Its been heavily hinted at in all versions of anime that they can manipulate sound wave a for messages, images, powers and etc. I'm excited to see if they expand this. Frequencies in space and sound and light are really cool to me and I always loved this in Sailor Moon.

I am a bit disappointed with the henshins too. They're either stock poses or awkward. I think they should have gotten a choreographer lol but money is an issue...

I'm really glad for the few varying hair styles we get. I want to see that more!

Am I the only one who finds it extremely awkward that Usagi sleeps over at Mamoru's house like it's nothing?

Does she tell her parents that she's sleeping over at Minako's home or something like that, or do they know what's going on between Mamoru and Usagi?

o.O

I have to admit that it bothers me a bit. 

Also, anyone notice the allusion to the design of the Purity Chalice from the 90s anime when Usagi was molding it in her hand?

I didn't notice that but I'll go back because I missed a few scenes here and there. I never have alone time

I think Usagi parents aren't as strict as her 90s anime dad or she just tells her mom or they have too much trust in her or in detail she's growing up and etc. 

I'm more concerned with the fact they let Chibiusa stay over there when they've been brainwashed to believe she's a young cousin.

"Oh, Usagi's older boyfriend wants to have a sleep over with her much younger cousin, suuure sure sweetie. Have fun, tell him to stop by more often!"

Lol... that part always weirded me out. Hopefully they rebrainwashed them or something lol... 

I can actually see Usagi using Chibiusas ability to her advantage lol...

As for Usagi, she is technically legal to start having romantic endevours with Mamoru and will soon be old enough to marry him anyway even though they wait to get married instead of hitching the minute she becomes legal.

Japan's laws are a bit different from what I recall but I've never actually been there, this I just from reading about it.

Not sure how I feel about the new ending theme.

THIS!

THIS!

THIS!

THIS IS WHAT WE WERE ALL EXPECTING!



Not this:



They were lackluster, because they lacked new camera angles that the other senshi got.

Even ChibiUsa got a new henshin sequence, new angels and all. :/

I just noticed this, but I’m really happy that both the planets of Neptune and Uranus are shown with their rings in Haruka and Michiru’s speech/transformation sequence.

Now if only they’d show an accurate image of Pluto when Setsuna transforms (you know, with the heart-shaped Tombaugh Regio). Oh man, I would be so happy if Toei did that. :’)

That would be awesome! Now that we've gotten close enough to see rings and details on planets, I hope we eventually see asteroid Senshi transformations and see Ceres's white spot

I absolutely loved this episode. Glad my OTP is loving each other again. Always love my Usamamo kisses. Idk why, but I don't find it weird when they sleep over, I see cute family moment. I also love the way Mamo looks at the two of them. I loved the ending song, it was too kawaii.

I loved when Ami jumped out a window to transform.

overall it was a wonderful episode.

I loved how much Ami got to shine in the second half much like Minako last episode.

When she threw that stick into Kaolinite's camera, I was like "Ooooooohh!!! Stuff's going down!"

And that window jump into the pool while transforming! Also Viluy was more awesome, IMO, than in her episode from the original anime. Soon my lovlies Cyprine/Ptilol will get to shine more than their pocket dimension crap.

Andi's thoughts (99% nerd rage, 1% plot-related):

+GO DO YOUR ENGLISH HOMEWORK, GIRL!

+Oooh an Encyclopedia of World History. *grabby hands*

+That scene with the art project was pretty cute.

+ OMG! VILYUBLYU! Though I must say, I really miss her bratty body language and the intensity of her eyes. XD Even though she was not given much time in the original anime either, a lot could be said--er implied about her personality through her poses and those Russian blue eyes XD.

+ <<

+Okay, wtf is up with her eyes in general? They look all derpy like the ones found in those creepy Americanized how to draw anime books.


+Who the frick keeps a black hole in a fume hood? XD

Does the fan pulling up the "fumes" somehow nullify the pull of the black hole?

+Wait, so now Kaolinite needs a spy cam to see what's going on? XD I guess she gave up on the witchcraft after @Haine called her out for standing in the same place for one week.

+Viluy, how many times are you going to press F10? Doesn't that like, hide and show the toolbar and/or jump you up to the toolbar? XD HOW ARE YOU GETTING ANYTHING DONE, GIRL?

+Zlegp zlegp zlegp zlegp zlegp zlegp zlegp zlegp zlegp zlegp... Absolutely genius programming right there. Viluy should receive the A.M. Turing Award for that.

+Is there some sort of subliminal anagram that can be made out of these characters (つりいきせ) on the keyboard?

+KAOLINITE.
=
All I'm gonna say about this~

+Aww man...I wanted to see Windows 95, not 10.

+Wasn't Michiru and Haruka's entrance more epic in the manga? (Or am I thinking of a redraw that I saw?) And wasn't Viluy wearing her weird hat thing + her school uniform?

+Wait... Didn't Ami leave her transformation pen in the camera?

+Omg. Thank you, Ami, for transforming in the swimming pool!

+Viluy's face looks so derpy. Her cheeks and eyes keep doing weird things.

+Oooh, she's agile.

+Omg. Mosaic Buster is way more badass though. Idk about you guys, but I'd so want the coefficient of friction floating around me as I am ripped apart atom by atom. XD; Oh and those elements. Can't forget about the pretty element symbols.

+
YESSSSSSSSS... SO MUCH YESSSSSS... DUDE. I WISH MY UNIVERSITY HAD A MINERALOGY CLUB. XDDD Welp, that last minute of absolutely nothing made my day.

+OMG I WAS NOT EXPECTING THAT ENDING THEME. IT WAS SO ADORABLE! (Though I was kinda hoping to hear the other one since it has been stuck in my head all week. TO YOUTUBE!)

east02west wrote:

Am I the only one who finds it extremely awkward that Usagi sleeps over at Mamoru's house like it's nothing?

Nope, I was a bit thrown off by it as well. XD It would seem more normal to me if she was in college and not still living with her parents, but then again they're already a family...in the future. XD

OuterHarmonie23 wrote:

Also Viluy was more awesome, IMO, than in her episode from the original anime. Soon my lovlies Cyprine/Ptilol will get to shine more than their pocket dimension crap.

Agreed. Her fighting style was definitely a lot more awesome here than in the original anime.

OuterHarmonie23 wrote:

Soon my lovlies Cyprine/Ptilol will get to shine more than their pocket dimension crap.

~~
XD I'm super pumped for them too! *v* Is it shallow that I like them because they are named after end members in the two mineral groups that I am 100% biased toward? xP Hopefully there will be some good reference shots for my Cyprine cosplay.

Andalusite wrote:

+Who the frick keeps a black hole in a fume hood? XD

YES! Oh my god, when I saw that I was like "oh man, they really did put that miniature galaxy in a laminar flow cabinet. XD;;;

I mean, I know it's made of "magic" but I couldn't help but ask why you would need to put it in a cabinet? Does the laminar air flow somehow contain the evil magic of the mini galaxy or is it to prevent overly curious science students from sticking their fingers into the mini blackhole in the middle?

I really really enjoyed this episode, I was cheering when Ami jumped from the window and transformed, so nice to see that kind of action. I'm noticing that they pay a really good job to details used in the manga, like mercury's earrings, the choker on Neptune, both talismans, etc.


Speaking of, that attack was really pretty most of the episode had me like I MUST GIF THIS FOR PEOPLE. *Cough* Kyra* Cough*

mangaka-chan wrote:

Andalusite wrote:

+Who the frick keeps a black hole in a fume hood? XD

YES! Oh my god, when I saw that I was like "oh man, they really did put that miniature galaxy in a laminar flow cabinet. XD;;;

XD Wasn't it just a fish tank aquarium thing in the manga?

EDIT: OMFG IT WAS. LOL

Quote :

I mean, I know it's made of "magic" but I couldn't help but ask why you would need to put it in a cabinet? Does the laminar air flow somehow contain the evil magic of the mini galaxy or is it to prevent overly curious science students from sticking their fingers into the mini blackhole in the middle?  

XD Oh man... That visual of a student poking their finger into the blackhole. I'm dead. XDDDD

Andalusite wrote:

XD Oh man... That visual of a student poking their finger into the blackhole. I'm dead. XDDDD

I guess that would be one way of offering a student's vessel to Pharaoh 90. XD;;

I just want to take a moment to remind everyone that we have a specific thread if you want to talk about things you disliked about the episode (or about Crystal in general) in more depth and a thread if you wish to discuss your love of Crystal too. Episode discussion threads are meant for everyone and are considered neutral ground for all thoughts and opinions.

Thank you.
Sailor Mars.

I was a little weirded out how Neptune used her violen/rock-guiter as an attack.

This episode had some cute Mamoru/Usagi moments. Liked that they were the ones to help Chibiusa complete her art project. And we finally hear about the Holy Grail: the plot device that filled the entire first half of the original anime season S.

I am glad at least that Uranus and Neptune do help the others, despite saying they are not allies. They didn't have to help Ami when she was caught, or they could've just attacks with Ami still at risk but they cut the power, knocked out students and gave Ami a chance to escape and transform.

What I liked about Mosaic Buster is that the nanobots are actually so small, that the viewer can't even see them. So when Mercury is being attacked by them, we can imagine they are actually trying to rip her apart on a microscopic level that we just can't see (unlike in the original where we could see the nanobots or as I call them, nano-knats).

Whelp, another reasonably changed death from the manga. Viluy gets blasted into oblivion by Space Sword Blaster rather than being cut vertically in half.

And we finally get to meet Setsuna, through a minor character, Reika. I'm glad we still get some appearances from the minor characters, so we don't forget about them.

Haine wrote:

I find this way of sharing my thoughts very fun =) so i'll keep doing it.
27. What the...did Ami just jumped from the 13th floor? O_O From this day i will NEVER EVER doubt how awesome is Ami, for the love of God the girl JUMPED from the 13th floor!
28.
29. Ravenclaw in second place!

Highlighting this just because =D

Andalusite wrote:

Andi's thoughts (99% nerd rage, 1% plot-related)

THIS WAY IS MORE FUN! =D

Andalusite wrote:

+Wait, so now Kaolinite needs a spy cam to see what's going on? XD I guess she gave up on the witchcraft after @Haine called her out for standing in the same place for one week.

She heard about my complain so she did that xD

east02west wrote:

Am I the only one who finds it extremely awkward that Usagi sleeps over at Mamoru's house like it's nothing?

For some reason for me no xD I find it 'normal'- ok this is my fangirl side talking but honestly i don't - (they are still kids but they kind of have a 'mature' relationship at least in the manga) also, kids these days do worse things.

Neo Queen Serenity wrote:

I really really enjoyed this episode, I was cheering when Ami jumped from the window and transformed, so nice to see that kind of action.

Ami has my eternal respect.

Also in my original post I made gifs for the complete henshin and speech for haruka and michiru

Ami is more than just the brain. Now I'm thinking of an AU with Sailor M: The Masked Crime Fighter

My thoughts on this episode:

-I like the new OP singer much better. But the ending song…. It is absolutely ridiculous. It would have sounded better without the male vocals. I know it’s supposed to be a Tux and Chibiusa duet, but to me it sounds more like a Chibiusa song with a bunch of awkward male back up singers. The animation is really adorable nonetheless. 
-Alright. I was NOT expecting that kind of music to come out of Michiru’s violin. That was weird.
-UsaMamo was really strong in this episode. There was an appropriate combination of jealously, drama and romance.  
-Regarding Usagi sleeping at Mamo’s house: Maybe this is reflecting a more modern way of parenting??? When I was fifteen, it was totally normal to be allowed sleep at a boyfriend’s house (keep in mind that different countries/regions/communities may have different cultural norms). But if that’s not the case here, perhaps Usagi was just being a little rebellious (: Also, Mamoru is only a few years older than her in the manga/SMC and age of consent in Japan is thirteen. 
-Chibiusa was such a sweetheart in this episode when she was concerned over UsaMamo making up :’) You can tell she really loves them. 
-I loved the simplistic color scheme of this holy grail in comparison to the 90’s version.
-I LITERALLY SCREAMED WHEN AMI TRANSFORMED. SHE’S SO COOL. PGSM ANYONE??? 
-Uranus and Neptune’s transformations were actually pretty good but I still miss the violin song. I’m hoping that all of the transformations will improve in the blu-ray.  
-Haruka and Michiru are just consistently awesome in SMC. They are so much more reasonable and level-headed now. In this episode, they provide just enough sass to establish their dominance without going as far as bullying or abusing the inners like they did in the 90s anime. Space Sword Blaster was also pretty epic. And yes, Haruka has a bigger role than Michiru, especially in this arc.

-And finally, Setsuna is back!!!