Episode 13: Final Battle, Reincarnation a.k.a Phyc, it's not final and Usagi if the worst friend ever!

I have to... keep an open mind when I talk about this episode. It's real easy to let Usagi's personality corrupt my opinion of the the show. But I can't fight the fact that she is the absolute worst friend and hero for any female to want to emulate. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Lets take a look at episode 13. Once again we witness the death of our heroine and Endymion. They fall dead and the only thing the senshi can do is stand there with the heavy feeling of regret and failure.

The silver crystal completes itself, becoming whole and starts to grow around the fallen bodies of Endymion and Sailor Moon. Queen Metalia makes a bee-line for the crystal and starts to assimilate it into her smoke-like body. Luna and Artimis appear via... worm hole? (I dunno) and Luna tries to attack Metalia.

Now... Luna a cat. A small cat with power. I don't know what she THOUGHT she could do, but it comes as no surprise that she gets knocked around like a red-headed stepchild.

The senshi are overwhelmed by the power and Metalia shoots off. Artimis tells them that the crystal will protect Sailor Moon and the senshi go to the surface to bring Metalia down. Luna asks Artimis to take her to the Queens Prayer Chamber on the Moon and he complies.

The senshi fight, using their planetary attack, but it's ineffective and they are beaten back. As Metalia spreads her influence around teh world cause darkness and mayhem. The senshi look to be down for the count, but the power of memories and the blind faith that Usagi is alive, they rise up Venus summons the Holy Sword.

At this point, they know that they lack the power to seal Metalia. However, they have decided to sacrifice their lives... THEIR LIVES, to create an opening for Sailor Moon and the Silver Crystal.

The plan works and Sailor Moon awakes. She suprised that she's alive and realizes that when she stabbed herself she actually hit Mamoru's watch instead of her body. Now this is weird because in a previous episode we saw that a single tap from the Holy Sword was able to shatter a diamond. You'd think it would be able to break through a cheap fob watch when someone puts all their strength behind it. Hurray for continuity.

Now Sailor Moon, who can't even seem to kill herself properly, feels bad because she's the only one left alive. Metalia torments her with the cries of darkness from human kind and Usagi uses the Silver Crystal to escape with Endymion. Once they are out she realizes that Endymion is also not dead. They both assume that it's a miracle of the Silver Crystal.

Metalia attacks and Endymion encourages Sailor Moon to fight back. While she hold off Metalia's attacks, Endymion four stones fall out of his breast pocket. How they got there is anyone's guess. But, they are the stone forms of Kunzite and the others. Apparently, they absorbed the blow form the Holy sword as well, meaning that Sailor Moon didn't actually strike him down.

The stones, on the verge of shattering, hold out long enough for Knzite to reveal Metalia's weak spot. Convenient. The stones then shatter and the generals are gone... So, the stones break, and the diamond breaks with the Holy Sword. Why did the watch survive! What is that things made of!?

Sailor Moon starts to whine about how she can't defeat Metalia alone and wonders where everyone is. Mind you, our dead senshi are only about a yard behind them. Endymion delivers the "you're not alone" speech and Sailor Moon remembers that Endymion always gave her power and courage. Sorry Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus. You do nothing for the princess.

With her new found resolve, the Silver crystal changes shape and Sailor Moon's wand transforms into a staff. With this, she manages to push back Meallia.

Then... the episode ends.

Yep, you heard me. The show is NOT OVER!

Here's my two cents. My main issue falls with Sailor Moon herself. She seems to ignore the fact that her friends could be dead. She only has eyes for Mamoru when she escapes, even though it was her friend's voices that woke her up. She only calls for her friends when she starts to loose. She only acknowledges Endymion as support.

If I were a senshi, would feel like chopped liver. The senshi did more work and got shit! And what's with the convenient information about Metalia's weak point. Really?

Then there is the "death" that wasn't really a death. If neither of them received a blow from the Holy Sword, why did they pass out for so long? Why didn't the watch break? I didn't know the Holy Sword was so picky about what it can and can't cut. And why did no one say anything when there was a clear lack of blood? I hear humans bleed pretty badly when they are slashed and or gutted.

This episode had me screaming my displeasure for the plot and direction. It was heavy on exposition and all the dialogue felt like a rehash of episodes 1-12.

On the upside, the art is amazingly beautiful and I did enjoy watching people getting jumped by dark creatures. I loved the resolve of the senshi and hate that Sailor Moon doesn't realize how much these girl do for her.

Maybe next episode we can put this all to rest.