Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon Act 12 Review

The act picks up immediatly after the events of Act 11. Usagi is in shock again now that it's been confirmed her enemy truly is Tuxedo Kamen. Though unlike a lot of times when this kind of thing happens in fiction, Mercury immediatly and sensibly says that he's probably just being controlled, and that they just need to beat Beryl to be able to free him. It's pretty nice to see given in a lot of these mind control stories, no one acknowledges that fact.

Beryl proclaims he's died and been resurrected as the Dark Kingdom's greatest warrior, given power by Metaria.

This is one of the most iconic subplots in the history of Sailor Moon as mentioned and numerous Magical Girl stories will have something like this where the protagonist's boyfriend will be possessed or mind erased and temporarily become their enemy.

Prince Endymion just raises one hand and casually starts overwhelming the Senshi making a massive explosion. Mercury and Jupiter teleport Motoki away and reassure him, which is extra cute when you remember they are the two Guardian Senshi that have a crush on him. Mercury is worried about the collateral damage so she uh...

does this?

She somehow makes a higher-dimensional space to avoid collateral damage. It looks really cool and I appreciate Mercury using high level physics idea for a heroic cause. But how? Mercury so far, her powers have been water magic. It gets even more confusing later when you find out that there is a Senshi of spacetime specifically so how does she do this? Is it her computer? Is this just a general thing Sailor Senshi can do?

Beryl is unconcerned and teleports behind Sailor Moon, grabbing Sailor Moon with her hair demanding information about the Silver Crystal. Hair is actually associated with witches often, so that's a cool little touch. 

Beryl gives her backstory, during the time of the Silver Millennium. She was a sorceress who saw a strange meteor shower fortelling Metaria and then a swirl of gas covering the Sun, likely the same event Queen Serenity referred to as their father, the Sun, going dark. From that event was born the dark goddess Metaria who granted Beryl her power. 

Listening to Beryl, Venus recalls back during the Silver Millennium how Beryl led the people of the Earth against the people of the Moon...somehow despite their roughly middles age era technology... and that she was the one who ruined everything, who killed the prince. 

Both Venus and Beryl remember Venus in the past timeline killing Beryl, though Beryl seems unconcerned it will happen this time, possibly due to having Endymion on her side. Venus tries to tell Beryl that Metaria is just using her, but as we already saw and Beryl confirms again she's not actually working for Metaria, she was just using her for power, and now that she has the Silver Crystal she will rule the Earth with Endymion at her side.

Venus tries to attack Beryl but she easily resists Venus' attack. Venus then, ine one of the most bad-*ss part of the entire manga goes "now you've gone and pissed me off", summons the holy sword and runs Beryl through with it.

Once again, Naoko's favorite is seen. However the moment's reall cool, and it actually ties in strongly with the themes and plot development.

As this happens, Sailor Moon is mustering up her will again which causes the Silver Crystal to start glowing in Endymion's hand which he regards with confusion. This will be important plot-wise soon after. More noticably, on a thematic level, it's notable that Sailor Venus killed Beryl via the blade both in the past and now. It gives the sense that destiny is playing out all the same. This will be extremely important soon after.

After stabbing Beryl, the Holy Sword glows and Beryl begins dying. As she dies she admits the real reason for her actions. She actually was in love with Prince Endymion and when she saw him with Serenity, she wanted him for herself.

This is such a good moment thematically. Beryl stirred the people of the Earth to fight the people of the Moon by stoking jealousy of their long lives, a reflection, a projection of her own jealousy of a moon girl having what she didn't. As mentioned, in their romance Usagi represents the Moon, and Mamoru the Earth. Beryl's drive to become ruler of the Earth thus reflects her drive to control Mamoru, to have him be hers alone. Love between Earth and Moon was foretold to end in star crossed tragedy, hence the reason Lunarians were not allowed to go down to the Earth by God's Law, and this explains why. Plus Heroes and Villains are often mirrors and if Usagi is defined as the girl who love ennobled, turned into a hero, Beryl is the girl who love turned into villainy. This moments connects plot-wise and thematically many of the points so far.

Far away, Metaria senses Beryl's death and wonders if this means that the people of the Moon Kingdom have gotten stronger. Once again this is a statement that doesn't really make sense taken literally given Venus killed Beryl in the past, unless you think it means Beryl has gotten stronger or Metaria doesn't know they have the holy sword or something like that. But it does make a lot of sense symbolically. A massive deal will be made shortly about destiny and whether or not we are doomed to make the same mistake over and over in general, and more specifically if Usagi is fated to always be the tragic princess to lose her love and her life. Metaria wondering if they have gotten stronger is actually the first piece of evidence that they are escaping said fate, and it speaks to Metaria's fear of that happening.

On the sword a prophecy is written saying to create the seal, the true power of the moon needs to be released. Venus faints, I guess because of the Holy Sword's toxicity? and Endymion, seeing an opportunity grabs her and teleports away with Sailor Moon following close behind

Sailor Moon while teleporting there sees some kind of bright light, wondering if Endymion is shining with the Silver Crystal, which is an interesting statement literally and thematically. It seems to be referencing how Sailor Moon is following him and both literally and metaphorically means a piece of her, her potency and what makes her strong, is residing within him at the moment.

The Sailor Senshi track Sailor Moon and Endymion's location, finding that they've gone to the North Pole, specifically at "D Point." Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter all quickly head off to help Moon while Artemis goes over and comforts Luna again over Luna's injury in a rather cute scene.

When the Sailor Senshi reach the North Pole, Rei comments ominously that an evil spirit is distorting the space there, feeling Metaria's presence. It ominously tells them to not get closer but of course the Senshi proceed to protect their friend and princess. Deep underground, Usagi awakens in cold and darkness, seeing Dark Endymion, with the unconcious Venus and holy sword behind him. In a part I really like, Sailor Moon pleads with Tuxedo Kamen to remember her, that she is the princess Serenity, with the image of herself as Princess Serenity drawn in the same position as Sailor Moon, briefly shaking Endymion and the Silver Crystal in confusion.

It's a visual indication of both Usagi's feelings and the themes. Usagi is not sure who she is, whether she is the Princess Serenity, who love is fated to end in tragedy or Sailor Moon, the invincible hero of love and justice. Usagi is not a fighter by nature and she pleads with Endymion to remember her as Serenity.

The attempt doesn't work, and Endymion begins choking Sailor Moon, asking where the Silver Crystal's power is and if there is another Silver Crystal with real power. The Silver Crystal is Usagi, and in his blinded dark state, Endymion can't see Usagi's secret power that Mamoru saw in Usagi. Sailor Moon reaches out for the Silver Crystal in Mamoru's hand which erupts with energy, knocking the two away from each other.

The Senshi regain the battle in progress and Metaria reveals herself, calling Serenity "descendent of the Moon Kingdom."

I like how it's drawn as though Metaria was the dark spirit, the dark presence that hangs over the brainwashed Endymion. That kind of IS what she is, but it's also a really evocative poetic image. 

Endymion attacks the Senshi, and Artemis appears doing....something. I'm gonna be honest, it's pretty random and unexplained

Seriously, what's going on here?

Luna tells Sailor Moon that Endymion is as strong as he is because he has the Silver Crystal within him and to seal away Metaria, they need to get the power out from Endymion and reunite it with the other part of the Silver Crystal. Once again, I love how this is symbolic and literal together. To seal away Metaria, Usagi needs to be whole, not divided into many identities, but her love and worry for Endymion and her insecurities are keeping her divided. To overcome our demons, one must come together within themselves.

Metaria demonstrates phenomenally selective hearing, hearing "Silver Crystal" and demanding to know where it is. Luna defiantly tells Metaria the Silver Crystal's power is the power to defeat her, but Metaria declares they know nothing. Mars tries to banish Metaria, but Metaria absorbs the attack. Because of Metaria's ability to absorb the energy of any attack, the Senshi seem to have no way to defeat her.

Venus demonstrates some of her trademark moral pragmaticism and tries to kill Endymion to get the piece of the Silver Crystal back, saying Endymion's been reborn a new person and he's the same as Metaria. However once again, Endymion just swats away her attack.

Sailor Moon tries to use her "Moon Healing Escalation" which actually seems to have some effect on him. But he recovers almost instantly. Sailor Moon begins to think it's hopeless, knowing that they have to beat Metaria but to do that means getting the piece of the Crystal in Endymion, even if that means...

Usagi yells in despair, her heart's strife causing Endymion and the Silver Crystal to shake, as the Silver Crystal is her power.

It's not very complex, but I love how well Naoko builds Usagi's despair, and how the events that are happening, the physical events, the emotional events, the symbolism; they all synchronize and become one. Usagi's heart is with Mamoru, and as her heart falls into despair, Mamoru shakes in tandam. It's one of my favorite things about Sailor Moon, the way Naoko ties the literal and the emotional together so beautifully. It is one of my favorite things about life, seeing the symbolic and the emotional reflected in the literal, and Sailor Moon more than any other work I've seen gives me that feeling. 

Sailor Moon pleads internally with Queen Serenity to tell her what to do. Her past life mother's words ring in her mind. telling her that she's the only one who can do this. Usagi thinks she can't do it, and she hears the Queen ask her to have faith in her role as Princess Serenity and the Soldier of Justice Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon thinks in despair she doesn't have a path to choose, she can't see him like this anymore and picks up the Holy Sword, a scene that symbolically chills me to this day. The pained despairing acceptance of that which she is most unthinkable to her; a peaceful normal girl forcibly having to choose the way of war and violence. Sailor Moon charges forward, asking herself if truly this is the destiny they've been reborn for. In love, in sorrow, in everything she is Usagi kisses Endymion before stabbing him with the Holy Sword....and then turning the blade and stabbing herself with the blade.

There's been a lot of commentary on this scene that I think does the scene a disservice, and very often dismiss Usagi's motivation as too little to feel suicidal. "lol she killed herself because she didn't get the man she wanted." I find this a rather troubling interpretation. Suicide is always a tragedy. There is never a "good" reason to commit suicide, however all people have a different psychological makeup, and there's no reason which should be shamed for causing said feelings. Usagi is a 14 year old girl at the time of Act 12. She is a sensitive person who cries easily. For weeks now she's had horrid nightmares of watching the man she loves dying horrifically, having his flesh melt off. She would, for a long time, not leave her room and spent all day weeping. She feels helpless and doomed, as she loses her identity to a past life that ended in her own suicide. She tried everything to reach her love, and it didn't work, contributing to the sense she is doomed before she is forced to violently kill him by stabbing him with a sword. It is not a "good" reason to kill oneself, but there is no "good" reason, and as far as I can tell it's quite believable. If anything, I think Usagi was pushed way beyond where anyone should have expected of her.

To comment on the scene symbolically, while I can't fully talk about the symbolism until the end of Act 13, I also think the scene makes sense symbolically and is not as some people will critisize just here for "drama." I get this is a fast-paced manga, moreso then most people might be comfortable with. I get it's easy to just fly by and just glance at some of the words. But slow down for a second and I think you will find that some of the seeming throwaway lines contribute more then was thought. This scene is very obviously meant to parallel her death in the past life. Not only does she attempt suicide, but with the same weapon, and for a related reason as she thinks it's their tragic fate to be reborn and follow the same path. That line isn't there for no reason. The theme of the first arc, reiterated over and over is the idea of identity and how it ties into destiny. Are we fated to be the same as we always were, or can we progress into becoming someone better. This comes up at so many points in the arc, I have pointed them out over these act reviews. The point of the scene is meant to be the part of the journey when the Hero(ine) descends into the underworld, reaches her lowest point. For this arc, that means falling into despair, believeing we can't be more than we were. That's why Usagi presents herself first as Serenity to Tuxedo Kamen, not as Usagi or Sailor Moon. This idea of feeling trapped by a cycle and escaping it is a common motif in Naoko's works. It will show up later with the Outer Senshi in the Dream Arc, and it shows up in Sailor V when Minako awakens declaring "It can't happen again!" seeing something which reminds her of the fall of the Moon Kingdom.

It's completely fine to not like the scene, to have different tastes. I can understand wanting something happier or just not liking the inclusion of plot elements like "suicide" in abstract. But I really have to object to the very surface level criticisms that Usagi only kills herself for "Drama" or "Because she didn't get the man she wanted." I feel like such ignores much of the setup Naoko does for this scene and for the entire first arc.

Speaking about Act 12 in general. I think it's really good. I don't quite like it as much as a few earlier acts like Act 9, nor certainly as much as the act after it. I think Naoko's fast-pace combined with her want to include so many ideas leads to the fight with Endymion and especially Beryl to not reach the potential they could, especially after how much they're built up. And I think there's a few ideas that just aren't explained at all because Naoko decided to only devote 1-2 panels. Not pages, PANELS. 

However there's a lot I like about this act, and a couple of things I love about it. The weight of destiny has slowly been building since Act 9 where Serenity asks herself if this is their fate, to be reborn again only to lose each other again. In this act it builds to it's crescendo. It parallels the events of the Present Day to those of the Silver Millennium, Beryl dying by Venus using the holy sword. The Prince tragically cut down, taken from the princess who kills herself in despair. Ironically the brief foreshadowing that things may be different, that the Senshi may be getting stronger comes from the most unlikely source, Metaria herself as she wonders if the people of the Moon Kingdom have grown stronger. It is clear to break the cycle of tragedy requires that very thing; for those of the Moon, and Usagi in particular to become greater than they were. I want to talk more about it, but the theme will culminate in Act 13, where I will return to it.

I love how Naoko externalizes the emotional reality, the symbolism made literal. Usagi's heart controls the Silver Crystal. It's power, her love, resides within him. As her heart clouds in despair, so it shakes Mamoru. To defeat Metaria, to overcome the darkness that destroyed her past life and the idyllic kingdom, she needs to reunite that power with the Silver Crystal, she needs to become one within herself. But her identities are disunified, she feels like a tragic princess and not the champion of justice.

Beyond that, while I think they often don't have a lot of explanation, I think this act abounds in cool concepts. Some of which like Beryl using her hair to bind Sailor Moon or Metaria's spirit hovering over Endymion and warping the space over the Arctic are cool and work just as little references to evoke an idea. Some of them like Mercury creating a hyperspace to stop collateral damage or Artemis stopping Endymion's attack seem kind of arbitrary and required more explanation. And some, like Beryl's backstory tying into the central themes and mirroring Usagi or the image of Princess Serenity depicted by Sailor Moon's prone form are perfect and even briefly they tie exactly as they need too into the story. Which group Sailor Moon's suicide belongs too I'd understand any of those three categories, though I would strongly disagree that it's a purely empty narrative act devoid of meaning or setup, either in or out of universe.