Should you watch this, Wiki this, or wait for the recap? Watch this.
A studious, innocent girl gets drawn into a devious plot to steal human energy through cram school classes. But when Sailor Moon comes to the rescue, she discovers that there’s more to this innocent girl than meets the eye!
“Ami –Sailor Mercury–” is the second episode of the first season of Sailor Moon Crystal. It’s Japanese anime and I watched it with English subtitles (I don’t speak Japanese, though I would like to at some point). In any case, this episode is where Sailor Mercury debuts. But I’m sure the title gave it away already.
For a second episode, it certainly doesn’t skimp on action on plot. You know how the second episode of any series is usually one of the most boring eps to watch? It’s right after the hype and buzz of the first ep, but there’s not enough back story to build anything on. It’s all about world building, but that’s all you can do in the second ep. Even there was conflict between the characters, you don’t care enough about them yet for it to have suitable impact.
Sailor Moon Crystal handles this quite well though, giving us decent action and plot to go along with the second episode. Kudos! Here’s to hoping that the now compressed story (no more filler episodes, yay!) leads to a stronger and more memorable series.
Highlights
Ami is distinctively dowdy
I know I said I wouldn’t compare this series to the original one 20 years ago, but I like how Ami has a much baggier outfit than Usagi’s fitting uniform. Actually, in true anime style, everyone’s uniform is perfectly fitting. Ami’s uniform is drawn with many wrinkles and folds, indicating that she’s not much of a dressy student. It creates an immediate visual distinction between her and Usagi now.
Gets into the action and plot quickly
Instead of meandering around the everyday life of Ami and Usagi, it gets into the action quickly and the villain already has her grubby claws around Ami before the Act break. Not that character development isn’t good, but to appeal to a greater group of fans, you’d need an equal share of action as well. This is where this new series shine, especially since it’s only the second episode.
Ami is presented as capable and admirable in her own right
Ami could be a popular and well-adjusted student – if only she was exposed to such a culture. Her victory in the Sailor V game shows that she actually does have that capacity, making her a likeable character on all fronts.
Letdowns
Tuxedo Mask/Mamoru feels like an after thought
He only appears for what, 2 minutes of screen time? Couldn’t he have been a more integral part of the plot? As it stands… he’s just there for Sailor Moon to swoon over. It undermines the portrayal of strong, independent female characters – as the theme song reminds us every episode.
Sailor Moon seems incapable of handling herself
Sailor Moon hardly seems capable of defeating a single monster on her own. It may be her second battle, but it would have been more impactful if she could inflict some sort of damage on the villain before being reduced to a simpering wreck. Come on!
“Ami –Sailor Mercury–” is a fantastic second episode, though it’s not without its flaws. Plus, it has Sailor Mercury – possibly the most popular Sailor in the series. Why wouldn’t you watch it?
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