Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon Act 8 Review

 

Act 8 picks up right where Act 7 left off. Everyone is shocked to see Sailor V, including Queen Beryl watching in her crystal ball.

Artemis confirms that she is Sailor V, stating she is the successor to the throne of the Moon Kingdom, annointed carrier of the Silver Crystal, the princess Serenity. Sailor Moon notes the insigna on V's forehead and proclaims she knew it...side note how DID V do that? It can't be Disguise Power because she's in her Sailor Senshi form.

Sailor Moon, and ONLY Sailor Moon's tiara changes in response to V appearing, though the oddness of this is not noted. Tuxedo Kamen watching from afar is taken aback and proclaims to himself "Princess Serenity?" V hears him and throws out an attack at him and they briefly make eye contact before Mamoru flees, feeling guilty he wasn't able to protect Sailor Moon from Zoisite. 

Sailor V praises Sailor Moon for doing a good job, and Sailor Moon fangirls out over Sailor V as Sailor V explains she was actually using the Sailor V game to secretly train them.

This is a pretty interesting idea and does actually explain Usagi's fast growth as a soldier, though it does feel a little bit like Naoko is actually the one fangirling over her favorite Senshi. I find it really funny that apparently at least one translation translates Usagi's affectionate "V-chan" nickname into "V-babe." 

As the other Sailor Senshi shake V's hands, they get a brief of flash of something and V says they must hurry to remember their "true selves", their past lives. If you've read the end of Codename: Sailor V then you know how this moment must feel to Minako. She's finally met her old companions, but they can't remember anything. Speaking of which, V de-transforms and introduces her civilian identity "Minako Aino." Though if Beryl is still watching in her Crystal Ball she just saw Sailor V's alter ego...

The Senshi go back to their base, where Luna apologizes or not going to meet with the princess but Minako dismisses it, saying Luna was doing her duties. Mercury asks her why she didn't meet up with them for so long causing Minako to go into an expository spiel about how she was working as Sailor V, and began investigating the Dark Kingdom on her own, giving what she knows.

Metaria is introduced as a mass of darkness and evil. Minako unknowingly foreshadows Metaria's origin, calling her a being completely unlike any living entity "born from the void/darkness" which if you know the end of the series...you know how that connects to Metaria's origin. Minako says Metaria was the one who destroyed the Moon Kingdom, the seal on her is weakening, and that they must seal her away forever.

Usagi fangirls over Minako some more

One dream sequence later Usagi wakes up in her bed on some future day, commenting to herself she keeps having the same dream over and over, a dream of some mysterious man she calls without thinking "Endymion", yet before he can turn and she can see his face the dream ends. 

Usagi realizes it's not even six but is fully awake. Downstairs her father is shocked to see her up so early. Usagi, thinking of Minako, explains the change in her responsibility by declaring that Usagi Tsukino is her secret identity but she's really the Champion of Love and Justice Sailor Moon. Despite this, her father doesn't believe her and Usagi wonders to herself which is the real her; Usagi or Sailor Moon?

The best moments in fiction are the moments when things "make sense" both narratively and meta-narratively. In order words, when things both make sense in-universe, and also carry real meaning for the viewers; when literal coherence and emotional coherence come in alignment. The worst have neither; it is irrational and empty. Most moments in fiction have the former but not the latter; they will make sense narratively but don't carry any special meaning, at least to you. Naoko Takeuchi has an odd tendency to create the opposite, like this sequence; moments that emotionally FEEL right, that have meaning and are symbolically true even if they don't make direct sense. 

There's barely any reason for Usagi to try to reveal her identity to her father here, and if she really wanted to convince him, she could just transform. But the moment here is symbolically resonant. It's applicable in several ways. Sailor Moon in this analogy is an idealized heroic figure, and so Usagi of course proclaims she is her, but because there is no need, she is not rising to anything at any moment. Or you could view it as Usagi not having the confidence she pretends, supported by questioning herself as to who is the real identity, she wants to be the heroic figure but doesn't truly believe she can be. Or taking it as a coming of age story supported by it being directed to her paternal figure, Usagi here could be asserting herself as a mature adult, which her father of course denies, viewing her still as his little girl. This moment doesn't make in any literal sense, but it's fascinating in what it's trying to convey.

Usagi goes out and runs into Mamoru, with Mamoru commenting it's like they were destined to meet; which I think is a clever way to allude both to the particular instance of them running into each other, and also their superhero sides inevitably interacting. It IS not saying they are together because destiny, which is probably my most disliked Sailor Moon misconception. Usagi and Mamoru talk about how they have each others pocketwatch and hankerchief flirtatious. Luna sighs and mumbles to herself, it's hopeless Usagi is clearly massively in love with Mamoru despite her suspicions. Artemis shows up and tells Luna she is nothing to worry about there and that for the sake of easing her burden, her whole memory wasn't unlocked.

It's hard to comment on the twists of this manga, so well known are they by now, and so familiar am I in the story. But while I can't comment on how surprising this would have been at the moment, I will say I think this twist is pretty subtly alluded to with how Luna seems so uncertain of their enemy who Minako knew clearly, and adds to the atmosphere of the scene. Having even the series mentor to this point have some of her memories locked, which she was not even aware off, makes it seem like there are secrets on top of other secrets, and deeper events happening even beneath the secret battles the Sailor Senshi have against the Dark Kingdom.

Back with the villains Metaria asks, with perhaps even a degree of fear, in confirmation that the moon princess, the one who vanquished her has come to restore her kingdom, before declaring that despite this, she still doesn't feel the magnificent energy of the Silver Crystal. The statement that the moon princess was the one who vanquished her is...an odd statement given latter events, but I'll have a theory about it FAR later related to Metaria's origin. 

Kunzite looks at the deceased skeletons of the other Heavenly Kings and comments to himself ominously that of the Heavenly Kings he alone remains standing. Queen Beryl reminds him that with the Silver Crystal it would be easy to resurrect the others, and Kunzite loyally kisses his queen's hand, before claring that despite the fact he would get vengenace on the Sailor Senshi and their princess regardless.

Later Usagi and company are traveling together. Usagi excitedly comments on how cool it is the princess lives a normal life they do, with Minako responding that they all do. Rei, annoyed, tells Usagi after she returns to her civilian life, her intelligence seems to disappear, and she should stop saying embarrasing things in front of the princess causing Usagi to start crying. Ami and Makoto find the whole ordeal annoying, while Minako seemingly finds their antics funny. This must just seem like a normal gag for the series, but I think it also ties into the themes of the arc. Twice over, Usagi or someone commenting on Usagi seperates the idea of the heroic champion of justice they turn into with their civilian self, emphasizing the gap between their identities. 

Meanwhile Kunzite floats over Tokyo, commenting on its glittering lights and that it will soon be naught but darkness. Kunzite raises his hand and the city is plunged into darkness. Makoto reacts violently, likely due to her affinity with electricity, and Luna sends in a message from their communicators that all the power from the city has been drained. It shows several people reduced to skeletal forms reduced of so much energy and the Senshi comment in horror that they've taken all the energy in the city. The Senshi, in the meantime, see a giant glowing orb of energy at the top of Tokyo Tower like a giant blaring invitation to battle. This is one of the reasons Kunzite is my favorite of the Heavenly Kings. Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoisite are all kind of normal urban fantasy type villains with plans like tricking the Senshi into coming to another dimension, setting an ambush, taking people hostages, possessing important people. Meanwhile Kunzite just comes in and, as will be seen in the rest of the chapter, acts like a Dragon Ball villain. It's a refreshing change of pace from Naoko's typical villain formula. 

The Guardians don't want Sailor V to go, wanting to protect her but she insists. Sailor Moon worries about Mamoru. It cuts to him briefly as he feels disoriented from the energy drain and sees Kunzite's light in the distance. The Senshi face Kunzite who has the cockiest pose waiting for them without any concern. Sailor Moon declares that not even God would use human energy like this, once again emphasizing Kunzite's arrogance

Sailor Moon, just as she did in Act 6, uses the Moon Healing Escalation to restore the energy of the city, but this time is unstrained by it, likely meant to be a sign of her development as a Senshi. Kunzite blasts Sailor Moon sending her falling down Tokyo Tower, with Sailor V desperately calls out for her.

Before she can hit the ground however, she's caught by Tuxedo Kamen. However this time, Sailor Moon acts differently. After she does her usual "I can't believe it! He came to rescue me again!" she gets a determined confident look on her face telling Tuxedo Kamen that he has to leave, it's dangerous, and that he can trust them to defeat the enemy. And right before she leaps off into battle again she kisses him herself, likely as she doesn't know if she will see him again, but also as a sign of her growing confidence as a Senshi. 

Tuxedo Kamen has one of my favorite comments in regards to their relationship. Rubbing his face in surprise he thinks in his mind about Sailor Moon that this time she's so strong and that every time they meet she shows him a different side of her. The obvious astronomical symbolism is that the Moon has many phases and is constantly showing new "faces." But this also ties into the central theme of the arc, and really beautifully into a later moment. The central theme of this arc is on identity, who we really are, and what draws Mamoru to Usagi, is the fact that she seems to alwas have another side to her, another face to appear. This is so interestingly connected to their characters in-universe and out of universe to what they represent and to the history of magical girls. Tuxedo Kamen asks himself what kind of girl Usagi is really, which if you know what's going to happen soon, you know the foreshadowing.

Back at the battle, the attacks of the Senshi do nothing against Kunzite, bouncing off his barrier. Kunzite is hilariously just sitting, as though in a chair, midair while they do so, in the most casual possible position as a display of his power. It's the cockiest look you can imagine. Kunzite tells them to all attack him at once, that it will do nothing, that he'll wipe the pitiful city of Tokyo off the map.

Sailor Moon seems to use the Moon Stick to send the other Senshi away in an attempt to get the princess to safety. As they are flung away, Sailor V starts freaking out, demanding that they need to protect Sailor Moon. If you don't know, this moment just seems like Minako really cares for the Senshi. But if you do know, Minako's desperation makes an additional degree of sense.

Kunzite fires his energy blast at Sailor Moon, but at the last moment Tuxedo Kamen jumps in the way of the blast. The blast hits, and Tuxedo Kamen is gravely wounded.

Thus ends Act 8. I remember when Sailor Moon Crystal covered this act, a lot of people were shocked at how short this act feels and I can see why, it's an act that seems to blaze by quickly. If I had anything notable to critque this act for, it would be how much is set-up and exposition which is what gives it that quick feeling. With that said, I think the exposition and set-up part are handled pretty fairly and entertaingly and it's not a large negative. And on the other hand...the positives...

I love this act. This act starts the second half of the first arc, which is just fantastic. The first half of the first arc is good too, but it doesn't have the iconic-ness, and only rarely has the sheer sense of scope that Sailor Moon is known for. This is symbolized in the villain Kunzite, whose just this OP arrogant powerhouse. He just sits in midair being like "yeah Senshi throw your strongest attacks at me! It'll do nothing! I'll blow up your city!"

And besides that Usagi's development is amazing! Despite starting the series as a normal girl, you can really see the development of her confidence and her abilities as a Soldier; defying Kunzite before restoring energy to the city, taking an attack from Kunzite, kissing Mamoru before going off to battle sending the other Senshi away willingly putting herself in danger for their princess. Speaking off, I love how well Naoko ties the development of the arc's themes with the development of Usagi and Mamoru's relationship. Mamoru's description of Usagi as she goes off to battle is in my mind, the definitive explanation for why Mamoru loves Usagi; and it's also her central paradox and draw as a character; it's that this seemingly normal girl can become so much out of nowhere for those she cares, it's that Usagi always seems to show a new side to her.

People say the manga is too fast-paced, and I can maybe agree to a lesser extent. I'd like it to be longer. However one of the upsides to be so quickly is that when talking about a better act like this, the list of positives seems so long and so concentrated it really reflects how much you can get out of it. In addition to all the above you have cool concepts just thrown in everywhere, concepts I could write another page on each; like Luna's memories being sealed as well, Sailor V having secretly trained Usagi via the Sailor V game, Usagi's ironic wonder that Sailor V lives like a normal girl she does as well, or Usagi trying to reveal her identity to her father and just having it be flatly denied. Each of these to try and fully unpack I'd have to think about it a long time and write a whole blog worth, but they're just added in to tie into the themes and flavor the act. This is one of the best qualities of Sailor Moon imo, one of the reasons it is my favorite series ever; Sailor Moon has the amount of cool ideas and themes and just things to think about in one act as a lot of series do in their entire run. Especially in the second halves of the first and the fifth arcs, everywhere you look is something else to think about endlessly, the experience is so dense with thematic complexity. 

And I think this is Naoko's greatest unsung virtue as a writer, she can do that without it ever feeling jumbled or at odds with itself, the whole somehow comes together and works together. She neither tends towards the extreme of having a lot of cool ideas but which seem arbitrary and clashing nor to the extreme where the work is limited to a specific tone, set of themes and world-building elements.