Sailor Moon Crystal begins to make the transition into the Black Moon arc.

Here’s Michael’s review… And… it doesnt work.

Metalia is destroyed, but Usagis brooch is shattered in the process.

And its not even that theyre poorly stitched together.

They flow into one another easily enough.

But this episode on the whole is far weaker than it could have been with some more mindful organization.

The final battle with Metalia on its own is kind of uneventful and boring.

And its all the dessert youll be getting.

One of the best moments of this episode?

Reis premonition of the Black Moon and her quiet prayer that the peace theyve earned can last.

The last segment of the episode is really just the first few minutes of the Black Moon Arc.

It works well enough as a cliffhanger, and to the animators credit Chibi-Usas hair has never looked better.

Naoko, honey… what up, girl?

Once again, this is a problem that is pretty squarely laid at Takeuchis feet.

Her breaks in the narrative seem almost arbitrary and really hurt the flow of the story.

That central story could either have been accompanied by what preceded or followed it, but not both.

There are, of course, some logical concerns, questions raised that are never quite answered.

For instance, the Moon Kingdom has been restored, and not just as some kind of elaborate vision.

And she doesnt, which… fine, whatever… but its still up there.

It wasnt like some kind of magic was sustaining it.

It was a one-and-done rebuild.

So its still there, where NASA can just spot it through a telescope.

I wouldnt call that a very strategic move.

The appearance of the new brooch at this point is sloppy storytelling.

If the Dark Kingdom has been destroyed, why would Queen Serenity feel Usagi even needed a new brooch?

The threat has been neutralized, and the Sailor Moon persona didnt even exist in the past.

This is not at all helped by the fact that Ive always hated this brooch.

Its my least favorite by a wide margin.

It just looks like a cookie.

Its a death cookie.

Furthermore, the oddly variable size of the Silver Crystal is kind of glaring.

We didnt see it change size or shape.

Sloppy work, animators.

And how the hell does Luna just magically know what the transformation phrase is?

This isnt an artifact from the past.

This is a brand new item that was just created in front of her.

I dont know… nice.

Theyre healing powers, not fixing powers.

And, of course, it wouldnt beSailor Moon Crystalwithout some kind of animation fail.

And then, to cap it all off…

Fly, majestic seagull of triumph and hope!

Soar on the wind!

Especially when some minor pacing adjustments could fix ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS.

And where exactly is the harm in that?

Would it really be such heinous blasphemy?

I will never understand the people who would answer yes.

Rating:

2.5 out of 5