Episode 15: Infiltration (a.k.a I think I was surprised)

This episode was full to say the least. My head was spinning at how many plot devices were introduced before the eyecatch. I'll save my overall opinion for the end, but lets just say that I  have few complaints.

This is the first of what is going to be a long string of Chibi-Usa episodes. There's no getting around it. She's pretty crucial to the Sailor Moon world and upcoming story line. It still doesn't make me like her more. So can Sailor Moon Crystal make me lesson my hatred for this brat? Can they use her in such a way that I don't feel like committing murder every time she's on screen? I doubt it, but I'll keep an open mind.

We pick up where we left off in the last episode. The writers and animators actually did a good job in hyping up the scene with Chibi-Usa looking like a pint-sized gang banger. All she had to do was turn the gun to the side and we would have had pure gold on our hands.

The gun is just a toy, but that doesn't stop Chibi-Usa from firing it and causing Usagi to pass out. Chibi-Usa, of course, runs off with trusty Luna P.

Before we go on, let me talk about the opening. The song is the same but the took the liberty of replacing the villains scene with our new villains, a nice shot of Sailor Pluto, and another of Chibi-Usa. While I am glad to see that they are keeping up with the events, I gotta say I'm a little sad. I was looking forward to a whole new opening sequence and maybe a new song, like in the old days. But I guess anime companies don't really do that too much nowadays. Maybe we'll get something new after this arc.

Moving on. In a distant galaxy, we see our new villains who, surprise surprise, are after the Silver Crystal. But while the Dark Kingdom wanted the crystal for its power, these guys just want to destroy it and restore their former glory.

(Another note. In the North American version, both the show and the comic, these guys were known as the Negamoon Clan. I will not be using that name.)

Prince Demande is head honcho and is asked by his redheaded follower, Rubeus, to allow him to handle the operation. Enter the Spectre Sisters. Koan mentions that someone near the crystal has the same fire power as herself.

We go back to Usagi and Mamoru. Usagi wants to find her pink haired assailant, stating that she may be a new enemy. But to Usagi's dismay, Mamoru is not 100% on board with the idea.

They find Chibi-Usa, sitting alone and pitiful on the swings. Mamoru tries to comfort her and gets a glimpse of an unknown crystal-like construction. Chibi-Usa on the other hand, eats up Mamoru's comforting gestures, making Usagi unnecessarily jealous.

The two take Chibi-Usa to Usagi's house where Chibi-Usa decides to observe Usagi and hypnotizes Usagi's family. Luna is able to stop Mamoru and Usagi from also being effected. Later, Luna sees that Chibi-Usa has a crystal that looks just like the Silver Crystal. She deems that the girl doesn't have any real hostile intent and that they should just observe for now.

The following day, the senshi are gathered while Usagi complains and they speculate on who Chibi-Usa could be. Luna appears and gifts the senshi with all new transformation items and communicators. The girls express their happiness as Chibi-Usa stalks them from across the street.

In this episode we get to meet some characters that made little to no appearance in the original show. There's Asanuma, Makoto's new buddy and Mamoru's underclassman. He's also an avid fan of Mamoru himself. Next up is Kotono Sarashina, the supernatural research club president at Rei's school and whom Rei will be assisting for the upcoming school fair where Rei will be a fortuneteller.

We get a particularly funny scene where Rei lets her trademark cool and composed demeanor slip as she spies a book on UFOs. She wonders if she's being influenced by Usagi and the others.

The day of the festival, Usagi tells Chibi-Usa not to follow her which is exactly what the little troublemaker does the moment Luna turns her back. At the festival, things aren't going so well. The rival club's fortuneteller is predicting the deaths of students and freaking everyone out. Rei  decides the best thing to do is to inform one of the sisters (her school is a private religious school btw) only to find that they have been possessed.

Upon finding a burning corpse the senshi assemble and show off their new transformations, which look about the same as the old ones. The enemy shows themselves and Koan (Katty in English) introduces herself and states that they want the Silver Crystal. Chibi-usa, who is watching from the shadows, clutches her own crystal protectively.

 The girls fight and notice the increase in power as taking out the minions is an easy task. Mars, who is super pissed off, throws out her Burning Mandela which is visually amazing. A collection of fireballs with what I think is a Tao symbol behind her. Unfortunately, it's not enough to stop Koan and Mars is captured in a fire bubble-like prison.

Sailor Mercury's Shine Aqua Illusion, is ineffective in breaking the prison and Sailor Moon's attack at Koan is reflected, bring in Tuxedo Mask to save her from... herself (sigh). Anyway, their powers combined bring out the Moon Rod (insert inappropriate joke here) which allows Sailor Moon to vanquish Koan.

Now usually, this is where the episode would with the senshi wearing intense looks and gazing at the sky, but no. It take a somewhat different turn.

Even though Koan has been defeated, her barrier still stands. Rubeus appears and under Prince Demande's order, abducts Sailor Mars. To be continued!

The episode ends on a cliff hanger and I'm not mad about it. This episode threw a lot of information at you and had a lot of different things going on all at the same time. But it was organized well. Score one for the writers!

The episode focused on Rei and we got a look at her school life. Chibi-Usa doesn't say much and is actually not as bratty as she was in the original animation, making her appear more serious and suspicious to those who don't know her true purpose. I like where this is headed and I like the kidnapping twist.

I will say that I am a tad disappointed that even though Mars acquired more power, she was still captured. I also have to wonder about her school. She's a Shinto priestess, attending what I assume to be a Catholic schools because the "sisters" are wearing western style habits. And yet, they allow the students to explore fortunetelling and paranormal activities. Is her school really a Catholic school? And it looks super expensive. But Rei lives in a Temple without her parents. Where does she get the money for school.

But that's a head cannon for another day. I have to say I'm looking forward to episode 16 where we focus on Sailor Mercury and maybe Chibi-Usa getting the third degree.