Episode 17: Secret (a.k.a. How the senshi can't keep one.)

Episode 17, what can I truly say about this episode other. The last two episodes have been following a very distinct and predictable patter where you see a little more into the lives of our support characters and watch them overcome some kind of personal challenge before getting kidnapped.

I expected this episode to be no different. So was I right? Let's see.

Following on the heels of Mercury's abduction, we see that Usagi has once again fallen into a slump. Chibi-Usa attempts to cheer Usagi up in her usual tsundare manner.

She follows Usagi on her meet up with Mamaru, seeing an arcade for the first time. Elsewhere, Minako gets a notice of someone playing the Sailor V game and doing really well. She and Makoto rush over to the arcade  to see it's non other than Chibi-Usa. But it's not just the Sailor V game, but pretty much any game. However, all this does in manage to continue to raise suspicion about her. We also see that she and Usagi are pretty much on the same mental level, but we knew that already.

Mamoru makes more promises to reassure the pink haired brat and the girls head down to their HQ. Finding Ami and Rei have proved to be more difficult than anticipated and Minako admits that it has been difficult to read their enemy's moves. She does, finally, put two and two together that while Chibi-usa may not be their enemy, she certainly has a connection to the Dark Moon gang.

At this point in the show, one would think we'd keep our focus on Makoto, as we did in the previous episode with Ami, however, I quickly realized that there is a lot going on in this episode as we are nearing the halfway mark of the episode and we're only seen Makoto for a minute with little dialogue.

We suffer through some more Chibi-usa melancholy as she gets emotional over watching Usagi's happily-in-love parents. She of course end up with Mamoru and he gets another flash of Chibi-Usa's memories.

Like a good boyfriend, he calls Usagi to discuss his newest theories and speculations about the girl. Luna is there are well. Now this is where it gets stupid. I've already expressed how the senshi are TERRIBLE at keeping their secret identities and overall secret mission to keep the world safe, well, a SECRET! In the previous arc, the enemy was able to discern their identities fairly easily on several occasions. This episode is no different.

Enter Asanuma (you know, that guy we saw briefly in episode 15? Blond hair? One dimensional personality? Yeah, him.) he of course hears their ENTIRE conversation and even witnesses Luna talking. Confused, he tries to sort it out in his mind only to run into Makoto.

Now Makoto has a cold and it giving off electrical charges. They end up at Makoto's apartment. We see her parents dies in a plane accident and she has a house full of plants. We also learn that Asanuma is a jerk to allow a very sick person to still play hostess and make him tea when he should insist she go to bed and rest.


That aside, Asanuma pressed Maktoto to explain what he overheard, Maktoto is fully prepared to lie, but apparently Asanuma's innocent and earnest look wreaks havoc on her consciousness. (I say it's the fever, but that's just my opinion.) She reveals the truth, stopping short of flat out saying "I'm Sailor Jupiter and I fight demons and spacemen."

Asanuma says he wants to be strong, which is laughable for a guy like him. After a brief forehead kiss, Asanume leaves with teh promise to keep their secret and Makoto passes out on the floor.

And that is all the Makoto focus we're going to get for this episode. We are pass the halfway mark and it's time for teh Dark Moon to attack. Petz has the sick idea of infecting the peropl of the city with a virus and in their weakened state have her droids kill  and replace them.

I like how the UFO is parked right outside Makoto's apartment and Petz is able witness Makoto's rebellion. Usagi and Minako show up as well. Droids attack and the girls fight them off, but there are just so darn many! Jpiter breaks free and stupidly decides to take Petz on alone.

I say it's stupid because 1) she's sick, 2) we're seen how the Spectre Sisters are way stronger than your average monster, and 3) she actually believed she would win this fight. Of course, she looses and is caught in Petz's energy bubble. Sailor Moon's Princess Halation takes out Petz, but we all know that Jupter is as good as captured. When will they learn?

This episode was supposed to a Jupiter episode and it fell short in that. the focus was more on Chibi-Usa and Makoto's 5 minutes of fame felt like an after thought. It was like this in manga too. As though Naoko doesn't really know what to do with Jupiter's character.

They did do a good job on projecting Makoto as a weaker version of herself, which can be hard for someone like her. However, I am annoyed how Makoto and Asanuma's relationship is nevre really explained and it appears that Asanuma is falling for Makoto. Although, I think for Makoto, it's more of a motherly relationship on her end. (How did you two meet again?)

The plot itself did not advance, although we do see that Prince Demonde probably has some kind of sick crush or fetish for Chibi-Usa's mother/The Queen, so.... yeah.

Other questions that remain unanswered include:
- If Makoto's parents are dead, whi is paying for that nice apartment?
- Mamoru keeps brining Chibi-Usa home and letting her sleep over. Do his neighbors find that odd at all?
- When will Luna notice that people tend to notice talking cats and start to lower her voice when talking to Usagi?
- Will the senshi ever use the buddy system when fighting powerful baddies?
-