Episode 11: Reunion (a.k.a where Where Sailor Moon looses her backbone... again)

Another great episode. What can I say?The story has really picked up since Sailor Moon go her memories back. The pacing has picked up and things are really moving along in accordance to the manga.

With Mamoru now under Beryl's control, he's out and about, looking for the silver crystal and Sailor Moon. He's been gifted with awesome hypnotic suggestion powers and seeks to find the senshi's command center.

Usagi is, of course, taken in by Mamoru's charms, thinking he's Tuxedo Mask. She has yet to realize the possibility that he may be a fake. Ah, blind love.

Luckily, the others are not so easily fooled and immediately find hims suspicious. Luna tries to tell this to Usagi, but does Usagi listen? NOPE!

Her carelessness places everyone in danger. Makoto confronts brainwashed Mamoru only to fall under his hypnotic suggestion spell herself, leading them all into a merry trap. The senshi fight as Usagi sits on the fence about what to do. They get tossed around like rag dolls and it take Luna being thrown against a wall to finally open Usagi's eyes. Of course, by now, it's too late.

Beryl has the crystal and commands Mamoru to kill Sailor Moon and all her friends. End episode.

This episode is great and also frustrating. It's frustrating because this is another instance where Usagi's weakness causes others to be hurt. She always vows to become stronger and better, but the fact is that she can't. She can't be stronger or better because she's just too emotional.

Her indecisiveness causes delayed actions that lead to detrimental outcomes. She's a princess and wasn't really meant to fight. She's a second fiddle character pushed to the front lines, so is it really a surprise when she fails?

She's stubborn and doesn't listen, nor does she take proper precautions. She's too trusting and thinks with her heart more than her brain. In any other anime, these traits would be endearing, but we're dealing with evil and danger and Usagi makes love look like a weakness instead of a strength.

We saw this same thing happen in previous episodes and although I know it's coming, I can't help but feel annoyed. Maybe it's just me.

On the upside, this episode is beautiful. It's been a while since we saw the transformation sequences so I guess we were due. However, you gotta ask, if they were going to limit the number of times they show the senshi transform, why did they feel the need to use the 3D models? Venus and Mars remain my favorites when it comes to the sequence, but after seeing the beautifully animated episodes and fight scenes, the transformations kind of take away from the overall feel of the episode.

Another high not is finally getting to see Venus's Love Me Chain. In previous episodes, Venus was conveniently omitted in the display of powers. Today, we see her whip that chain around like freaking Indiana Jones.More proof that she is the coolest senshi of them all.

Question of the day:
How is it that one mind controlled Tuxedo Mask can take down all the senshi and all four generals couldn't?

Maybe next episode, we'll see Usagi get her backbone back and kick Tuxedo Mask's butt... maybe. One can dream, right?