One character takes a turn toward the dark side in our latest Sailor Moon Classic review!
With the abduction of Tuxedo Mask, Usagi has grown depressed and is causing her friends concern.
Minako reaches out to her new friend, suggesting a trip to the salon to help lift her spirits.
What starts out as a fun, uplifting outing quickly turns deadly.
Granted Nephrite died, but for all Usagi knows, Mamoru is dead.
Also, we see how Usagi has drifted further away from her civilian life.
Minako is the other star of this episode, and I dare say its the first real Minako episode.
It counts for something.
Venus doesnt really have much of a personality, and theres a reason for that.
See, in all fairness, Usagi is the copycat.
The retroactive result is that Minako comes off more or less as a watered down Usagi.
Unfortunate, but thats what happened.
Now, there were certainly plenty of opportunities to start developing Minakos character in another direction.
Shes just so thin and poorly developed.
All that said, this episode takes place before all that degradation.
Im perfectly happy that Minako likes the D, but how progressive would that have been?
Lets also talk about the sheer awesomeness of the youma in this episode.
Shes like a demon Pippi Longstocking.
And its interesting that Kunzite has chosen to continue corrupting humans rather than utilize existing youma.
And, of course, this episode couldnt pass without us discussing Dark Tuxedo Mask and his black roses.
The rivalry between Endymion and Kunzite is just fantastic.
Its honestly one of the best aspects of this last stretch of episodes.
And trying to kill her?
Because hes allied with the Dark Kingdom?!
you could see the compounded trauma of all this stuff in Usagis eyes, and its dramatically brilliant.
The turned lover is a classic trope for a reason.
And this encounter raises more questions than answers for both Usagi and the audience.
How far would Tuxedo Mask have gone before Beryl pulled him back?
Is Mamoru anywhere in there?
Can he be restored, and what will it take?
And, uh… who else thinks Beryl is totally banging Endymion in her downtime?
Rating:
4 out of 5
