Episode 16: Abduction (a.k.a. Exactly what you think)

I was really looking forward to this episode and was so glad when my expectations were met. The faster pacing of this arc is keeping me engaged even though I already know  what's going to happen. So let's get started.

This episode focuses on Sailor Mercury. Picking itself up at the end of episode 15, Sailor Moon see's Chibi-Usa trying to flee from the scene.

Angry, Sailor Moon confronts Chibi-Usa, asking her if the villains of the Dark Moon are her accomplices. Luna jumps to stop Sailor Moon, making or hero look like the bad guy.

Usagi rushes home alone and shuts herself up in her room, devastated, angry, and confused over Sailor Moon's abduction. She claims herself to be an awful person for loosing her cool. But to be fair, I believe that Usagi is justified in her anger. Her best friend was just taken before her very eyes and no one had to power to do anything about it.

Luna shows up at Mamoru's later that night and takes him to Chibi-Usa who is spending the evening at the park because she's too scared to go home and face Usagi's wrath. Mamoru takes her home and sets her up to rest. He does his best to cheer Chibi-Usa up and ends up tip-toeing around any important questions when she become too tight lipped. She reveals that she wants Sailor Moon to help her mother. This information is relayed back to Minako, Makoto, and Ami, via Luna, who are trying to gather more information at the secret base.

Mamoru takes Chibi-Usa home the next morning and Usagi becomes even more annoyed that they had spent the night together. Mamoru tries to cheer her up and calm her, but Usagi isn't having it. Even when he tries to kiss her, she is a bit reluctant. So far, in this episode, I have to say, I'm on Usagi's side.

Usually, I get annoyed with her bouts of melancholy and self pity, but her reaction to the situation is normal and justified. You can see in her eyes how upset she is and how annoyed she is because she can't do anything about it. Plus, eveyone seems to be taking Chibi-usa's side. Chibi-usa, who is a stranger and possible a danger to them all. Who is a girl supposed to feet about that?

You can see her frustration with Chibi-usa possibly having the answers to help them, but having everyone around her defend this troublesome stranger. I love it! This episode created some character for Usagi beyond her one dimensional personality. we can only hope she stays this way.

Back to the story, Ami is also trying to wrap her head around the situation before them. She too if frustrated at the lack of information they have.

We get a look at Ami tuning in with her element when a pipe breaks at school. While reporting it, she meets Berthier (Birdy in English) who later publicly challenges Ami to a chess match where the lives of Mars and Chibi-Usa are on the line.

It's also in this episode we look at Ami's past and background. We see how her father, a painter, divorces her mother and leaves her behind despite the good times they shared. Berthier uses these feelings in a physiological warfare during the chess match, creating a fear of being left alone and thus throwing Ami off her game.

An outburst from Usagi in the crowd brings her back to her senses and Ami wins the game. But Berthier isn't ready to give up, revealing that the whole thing was a trap. While the others fight the crowd, who turned out to be puppets, Ami gives chase to fight Berthier one-on-one. Using her talents, her mini computer, and a few matrix movies, Mercury is able to hold her own, but Berthier still proves to bee too much for her to handle and she too is captured in a bubble type prison.

Sailor Moon and Venus show up in time to stop Berthier from ironically drowning the senshi of water and vanquish her, but just like before, they cannot free Mercury from the prison. Rubeus shows up and take his second senshi back to the Dark Moon UFO-like base. To be continued...

This episode moved fast, and I liked it. We got to see Ami from another point of view. We observed her process information and internally struggle with her shortcomings. We saw her try to relax and think things through. We learned of her family and watch her cope with her feelings of abandonment; feelings she never bothered expressing or showing concern over.

The story is moving right along and it almost feels like a roller coaster of events and emotions. I like
the more mature handling of Usagi and Mamoru's relationship. We can see Usagi's turmoil and Ami's resolution. The senshi are remaining vigilant and fearless, living up to their positions as Sailor Moon's protector.

Best of all, Chibi-Usa is not always the main focus like she was in the original animation, allowing up to look more at the story and event. They are also keeping the flashback and back stories to a tasteful amount of time, using visuals to tell the story instead of just dialogue. I am loving this.

Can't wait till episode 17, where we'll be looking at my second favorite senshi, Sailor Jupiter.