What did everyone think of this week's newest episode?

I personally loved the more serious and self-reflective beginning of this episode. I felt that Minako at the arcade kind of abruptly set a more positive/neutral tone for the rest of the episode which was kind of buffered by Artemis who basically told her that it wasn't appropriate for the moment. 

I loved the interaction between Haruka/Usagi and Chibi-usa/Hotaru in this episode. 
I kind of felt that the second half of the episode was a little fast-paced and that it could have been slowed down just a tad bit but it works. 
Mercury got a new attack. Yay!

The introductions by Neptune and Uranus at the end almost made me cry. 

The nostalgia is too real.

The episode was decent, but I was actually hoping for a more formal introduction of Neptune and Uranus (ie. I can't wait to see their henshin sequence. ). The intro speeches were a bit of a tease, but they suffice for the moment. I'm really curious as to what their speeches and backgrounds will look like. After all, they seem to be a bit more disciplined and elegant than the Inner senshi (This is why I would have LOVED for the older animation style to have been retained, just for the sake of the Outers). 

RE: ChibiUsa and Hotaru

Something about the past couple of episodes has made me question their relationship to one another.
This episode's allusion to the return of a handkerchief reminded me of Usagi, and Mamoru's exchange at the end of season 1 of Crystal. 

I noticed a slight drop in quality with the animation in the command center scenes, at least Usagi was a bit off.

1. Usagi, don't worry i still don't get why you were kissed by haruka so we get why you feel like 'wtf'
2. That girly outfil haruka had looked so good on her!
3. So now everyone is having the talisman dream
4. wait...in the manga was a bit different this scene o.o
5. oh Mamo-chan *__* your shocked face~
6. And now Usagi is starting to act weird...oh wait it's different from the manga...gosh why? D:
7. No girl, he's not interested in her, he was just looking at the poster like a normal person.
8. Same as the manga =D
9. Haruka: 'look bun head, i'm giving you the tickets so you understand through a violin's music what are we going through, and that's the only reason'"
10. This scene just killed me...
11. So now everyone found out they had the same dream, not weird at all.
12. Minako's funny expressions are soooo cute!!
13. can you give more lines to diana please? >.>
14. HEARTBROKEN AGAIN T_T
15. Kaolinete stood there for an entire week? seriously is the same pose as last episode xD
16. The pictures from the park Woho! =D
17. >_> again another thing that changed from the manga! I want that glimpse of Mistress 9!
18. OH! that creepy expression of profesor Tomoe! YAAAS
19. Aww pinky promise ='D so cute!!
20. Stranger danger what? they have an helicopter!
21. The innocence of chibiusa in this episode is so adorable!
22. Mamo-chan please tell me you are not borrowing tuxedo kame's outfit...
23. KEEP IT COOL BRO! T_T
24. YAS TO MINAKO USING HER COMPACT!
25. more fighting and intros....nothing new here
26. And Uranus and Neptune using their attacks ='D

Good episode! =D

What i'm waiting for is next episode tbh, as a Mamoxusa fan...the whole Holy grail thing and Mamo and Usagi finally being lovely again...I HOPE TOEI DOES A GOOD JOB!!!!! T_T
--->

I like the serious tone in this episode as much as the last one. The conversation between Hotaru and Chibiusa and between Usagi/Chibiusa/Michiru/Haruka was really well done. The Michiru concert vs. Mimete concert was funny too (especially since Minako snuck out to see it)! Also, Minako's own disguise power is so cool, we never got that in the 90's version.

The only two things I didn't like in this episode:
The serious conversation about the talisman dream into the funnier Mimete concert is kind of jarring. It's probably the same way in the manga, that's how I felt.

The sounds preceding Uranus and Neptune's attacks. I just do not like these sound effects for some of them, they just don't work well to me and sound out of place.

That being said, I am looking forward to the formal introductions (less so with the transformations because frankly, I'm not a fan of them).

east02west wrote:

Something about the past couple of episodes has made me question their relationship to one another.
This episode's allusion to the return of a handkerchief reminded me of Usagi, and Mamoru's exchange at the end of season 1 of Crystal.

They have always been friends and nothing more than that, I don't see any other type of relationship between them.

I don't know.

There seems to be an implicit subtext.

I've mentioned it elswhere, but ChibiUsa is 902 years old, she's not quite the same age as Hotaru, even if she looks like that way. We've already seen ChibiUsa being capable of such mature feelings (I'm still confused by Usagi's persistent jealousy of ChibiUsa hanging out with Mamoru...). The manga drops hints here and there that can be taken any which number of ways. 

Some speculated the same in relation to Mars and Venus.

i loved how creepy the vision looked and I'm glad everyone finally started talking about it with each other instead of dragging it all out.  Hotaru and Chibi-usa's friendship was really cute and I loved that Chibi-usa helped to heal her friend this time and that they're growing closer to each other.  Chibi-usa's communicator is also super cute and I'm glad she actually has one this time.  It makes her feel more like part of the team than just being there for the gags.  I loved Mimete and it seemed liker her voice sounded a lot like her old voice from the 90s anime but I love that she's more capable and threatening in Crystal as opposed to being more of a comic relief character.   Minako's fan girling of her was super cute and I loved that we got to see her use the Sailor V compact and turn herself into a male student.  Though this brings up the question of why didn't she use it in episode 27 when they were first sneaking into the school to help Usagi out?  Venus Wink Chain Sword was really cool again and I loved getting to see Mercury Aqua Mirage and how they made it look like Mercury Aqua Rhapsody.  It brought back a lot of great memories of Ami's First Love.  I loved seeing World Shaking and Deep Submerge and Uranus and Neptune are amazing as always.   I can't wait for next week's episode.  Mercury's showdown with Viluy is one of my favorite fight scenes from the manga.  Even though the animation quality dropped this episode, it still doesn't feel as noticeable as the first season and the expressions are still shining through.  It just seems like Toei is doing a better job of balancing the budget for the most important scenes this time.

east02west wrote:

I've mentioned it elswhere, but ChibiUsa is 902 years old, she's not quite the same age as Hotaru, even if she looks like that way. We've already seen ChibiUsa being capable of such mature feelings

That's because Chibi-usa is mentally still a child. She is inherently different from a normal child, yes, but her brain has not matured. Another very good example of this sort of character is from Interview With a Vampire. Some writers have guessed that immortal children, despite their experience, will always have the curiosity and wonder of a child. This seems to be where Chibi-usa fits in.

Overall, I enjoyed the episode. This season has been incredibly refreshing. The girls actually acknowledged the dream they all shared! That was an awesome change! And it was nice to see Minako be able to transform into a guy like she did in the manga. They didn't allow Usagi to transform into a guy in the first season.

Sailor CJ wrote:

east02west wrote:

I've mentioned it elswhere, but ChibiUsa is 902 years old, she's not quite the same age as Hotaru, even if she looks like that way. We've already seen ChibiUsa being capable of such mature feelings

That's because Chibi-usa is mentally still a child. She is inherently different from a normal child, yes, but her brain has not matured.

People seem to forget that ChibiUsa has the maturity of a girl under 10, she is innocent, pure like a kid should be, her true age doesn't matter at this point of the story because all I can see is a regular little girl trying to make friends and discovering what friendship is an means and what is caring for someone which she clearly showed in this episode, I found it so adorable =).

I loved this episode and I really love the cute friendship between Chibiusa an Hotaru. I think regardless if they become more than platonic in the future when they are older, they will have a strong bond.

Haine I'm with you on this

This looks like it will be good. I want them to be good again.
Loved the UraNep attacks. I thought this was a pretty good episode overall.
I wish we got more with witches 5, but its sticking close to the manga.

Andi's thoughts in no particular order...or maybe they are in order... I forget!

Awww... Hotaru and ChibiUsa are adorable!

Omg! Haruka reminds me of Indira Levak when she's in that more feminine outfit. *insert Minako-esque idol fangirling moment here XD*

Haine wrote:

15. Kaolinete stood there for an entire week? seriously is the same pose as last episode xD

LOL. There's only one explanation for this:

Okay, Mimete looks ready to murder somebody. You go do your villainous stuff in vain, girl!

LOL at all of Minako's fangirling. I need those faces as GIFs.

Lovely violin music!

Omg. I love genderbent Minako's design. I wonder why didn't she want to go to the concert as a female student? XD Hahaha

DAT WITCHCRAFT.

Okay, I get that it is following the manga more closely, but all of these fight scenes between the senshi and the Witches have seemed really really rushed so far.

Uhh... okay, Haruka and Michiru? That ended abruptly. xD;

Echoes the sentiment that Chibi Usa and Hotaru are super cute! Watching this episode makes you want to give both of them a hug. ^^ But the transition from "we're brooding about a shared, dark prophetic dream" to "OMFG, it's Mimi Hanyu!!" fangirling gave me a bit of a mood whiplash. I feel like the transition was handled better in the manga...which almost feels like an oxymoronic thing to say. XD;;

Now I'll sit and wait patiently for the next episode because we'll finally gonna see Neptune and Uranus transform!

Haine wrote:

15. Kaolinete stood there for an entire week? seriously is the same pose as last episode xD

To be fair, I seems that all the major commanders commanding the subgroups seem to stay in the same place all week, every week in both animes. Beryl always sat around waving her hands over a crystal ball, first anime Tomoe leaning over a table filled with chemicals, first anime galaxia sat in her chair, etc.

Haine wrote:

Sailor CJ wrote:

That's because Chibi-usa is mentally still a child. She is inherently different from a normal child, yes, but her brain has not matured.

People seem to forget that ChibiUsa has the maturity of a girl under 10, she is innocent, pure like a kid should be, her true age doesn't matter at this point of the story because all I can see is a regular little girl trying to make friends and discovering what friendship is an means and what is caring for someone which she clearly showed in this episode, I found it so adorable =).

I don't really feel one way or the other overall on this topic, however, I have to disagree here. I don't see how her being a child stops her from having possible feelings for Hotaru when she's still a child in the Dream Arc (there's only a year in time between Infinity and Dream) yet no one ever questions her feelings towards Helios. If she is able to have feelings for Helios at such a young age then it's reasonable for her to develop feelings for Hotaru as well.

Sailor Mars wrote:

Haine wrote:

Sailor CJ wrote:

That's because Chibi-usa is mentally still a child. She is inherently different from a normal child, yes, but her brain has not matured.

People seem to forget that ChibiUsa has the maturity of a girl under 10, she is innocent, pure like a kid should be, her true age doesn't matter at this point of the story because all I can see is a regular little girl trying to make friends and discovering what friendship is an means and what is caring for someone which she clearly showed in this episode, I found it so adorable =).

I don't really feel one way or the other overall on this topic, however, I have to disagree here. I don't see how her being a child stops her from having possible feelings for Hotaru when she's still a child in the Dream Arc (there's only a year in time between Infinity and Dream) yet no one ever questions her feelings towards Helios. If she is able to have feelings for Helios at such a young age then it's reasonable for her to develop feelings for Hotaru as well.

My thoughts exactly!

Notice how we never quite get a definitive "ChibiUsa ends up with Helios" other than an allusion that it will be the case in the future.

I've argued elsewhere that he's actually Mamoru's 'Eternal' counterpart to Usagi's Queen Serenity, however, I don't want to get off topic. 

However, the more I've seen Sailor Moon adapted in light of Crystal, the more I've wondered if there were hidden subtexts within the story that went unnoticed in the 90s.

Was it just me, or did the animators reduce Hotaru's age in this episdoe?

She looks much younger than the Hotaru we've seen in previous episodes.

She looked the same to me.

OKAY SORRY BUT IDK WHATS UGLIER... like i'm not able to watch the recent episodes (28, 29, 30)?? i guess????

Is anyone able to let me download them somewhere omg pls  

Like, i can't stream them anywhere since i'm not living in the US and ah i just want to watch them so bad lol

If you're familiar with torrents, there are plenty of them like here: http://www.nyaa.se/?page=search&cats=0_0&filter=0&term=sailor+moon+crystal

I personally use the ZenMate Chrome add-on to get around the CrunchyRoll region block and stream there.

Haine wrote:

10. This scene just killed me...

14. HEARTBROKEN AGAIN T_T
23. KEEP IT COOL BRO! T_T

#Deadontheinside2k16 *hugs mamo-chan*

This episode was great though! Loved the brooding tone of the beginning! It really helped set the stage for this arc and how the senshi are starting realizing more and more the nature of their duties and how that plays out into their personal lives. It keeps the melodrama tasteful and gives the viewer something to chew off of and analyze. I do agree that the part with Minako was a bit jarring, but at least we got to see another side of her character, so that's nice.

Sailor Mercury wrote:

If you're familiar with torrents, there are plenty of them like here: http://www.nyaa.se/?page=search&cats=0_0&filter=0&term=sailor+moon+crystal

I personally use the ZenMate Chrome add-on to get around the CrunchyRoll region block and stream there.

ay omg i forgot torrents ugh... thank you so much, Bubbs <3

You could also try using a proxy to watch Crunchyroll.  It worked for a friend of mine who lives in the UK who used a proxy to watch Digimon Tri on their site.