Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon Act 30 Review

 

The Sailor Senshi react in shock at the presence of the new Sailor Senshi, with Rei commenting in particular shock that she can't sense anything from them, another reference to how imposing and otherworldly the Outer Senshi seem to the Guardian Senshi. Chibi-Moon comments that the mirror Neptune is holding is a Talisman, recalling to her previous conversation with Michiru

After hearing from Rei that the Guardians have heard in their dreams that they need to collect the talismans to prevent the destruction, Sailors Uranus and Neptune are surprised that the Guardians can also sense it, the seemingly inevitable end-times that looms around them. Mars tries to ask them to give the information they know but Uranus just replies they have no intention of fighting alongside the Guardians and that she never said they were allies. Much like the first arc, Naoko is trying to set up three different sides here with an ambiguous anti-heroic group like she did with Mamoru, who said a very similar line in Act 4, and notably this if the fourth act of the arc. In this case however Mamoru said that because he had very limited knowledge on what was going on, and was himself unsure if he was allies with the senshi. The Outers in contrast have more information, but a specific reason they don't want too. 

Neptune, wanting the two to make a getaway begins before the normal civilians fully recover and come back to awareness, begins playing her violin creating an enchanted music that causes immense pain in the Guardians. Rei and Mamoru in pain wonder if these two are the ones who will bring the world to ruin themselves and Uranus attacks the Senshi with her world shaking technique knowing them all out.

On the one hand, I think it's a really cool sequence showing the power and threat of the Outers, how intimidating and strange their goals are for our heroes. On the other hand, looking back at it, I'm not exactly sure why Uranus did this. I feel like if the Guardians continued to try and stop them even as their heads were hurting from the pain, and Uranus had given some kind of cool anti-hero line like "Stay out of our way, this is for your own good" before attacking, that would have made it make a little more sense. On the other other hand, I get trying to get the Outers as mysterious as possible at this point.

Usagi wakes up from the attack in a different place, everyone else already awake. Luna, having finally seen the new soldiers says she knows who they are from back during the Silver Millennium. Luna explains that the Uranus and Neptune are like Sailor Pluto, soldiers of legend protecting the Silver Millennium from afar. She continues that the fact they have been reincarnated speaks to a coming crisis. The Senshi are confused why the two attacked them with Usagi refuses to believe that Uranus and Neptune are enemies, not allies. However Minako and Makoto shoot that down quickly with Makoto quipping that attacking them is one hell of a way to say "Hello", and Minako as the leader saying they will need to fight them if they attack again. Chibiusa, ever her mother's daughter, tells Mamoru they gave her a helicopter ride the other day, that she doesn't think they wanted to fight

I really like how understandable both sides' positions are here. I intuitively understand Usagi (and Chibiusa's) reluctance to believe Uranus and Neptune are enemies, having made the closest connections with them. On the other hand, they DID attack them, and given the Guardian Senshi' role of protecting the princess, their animosity towards them is also understandable.

That night Mamoru watches the bunnies sleeping, adorably holding the sleeping Usagi's hand as he considers what the others plan is. However in his dreams he sees an apocalyptic vision, a vision of the city devastated and a mysterious figure above it all, standing in the dark, but wreathed in the light. Mamoru asks the figure far away if it is the goddess of destruction before wakening

I presume the apocalyptic and messianic themes are pretty clear and need no explanation. ;)

Usagi and Mamoru awaken at the same time, still holding hands. Due presumably to Mamoru's psychometry which allowed him to see visions from Chibiusa's mind when they came into contact in the second arc, the two had the same dream. Meanwhile Rei in her meditation contemplates Neptune's Mirror, the talisman, and the potential location of the other two talismans. 

We cut to Usagi sitting on a bench waiting for Mamoru on a park bench, when some hands playfully cover her eyes from behind, causing her to say "Mamoru excitedly." However it turns out to have been Haruka, messing with her, telling the bunny that if she keeps sitting alongside Haruka's route home, she might get eaten up which is...pretty DIRECT flirting to say the least. Once again we see Haruka and Mamoru paralleled and contrasted. Usagi thinks Haruka is Mamoru initially, but while Mamoru and Haruka both act "masculine", they are still a study in contrast, with Mamoru acting stoic, composed but emotionally connecting with Usagi, showing her his vulnerability. Conversely Haruka acts directly flirtatious and cocky, yet emotionally aloof refusing to show vulnerability.

Usagi finally contrasts Haruka on being the same as Sailor Uranus on account of them both smelling of the wind.

This is a bit of an odd way for Usagi to make the connection given how many other points of similarity there are as well as the fact that as far as I can tell....wind doesn't really have a scent.

Usagi asks why Haruka and Michiru won't talk to the Guardians, asking aren't they allies. Haruka admits wishing to be able to keep meeting Usagi like this, in ignorance, wanting to preserve the fun flirtatious back-and-forth for longer. Usagi directly asks if Haruka is a man or a woman, and Haruka says probably the most famous quote of Haruka's: "Man, Woman, why should something like that matter?"

It's hard to overstate how unusual this was in 1990s Manga. Yuri in manga had already existed for two decades, but they were, at best, a niche market. This was the most popular Magical Girl Manga, the highest-selling Shojo manga of all time, a global phenomena with a prominent character who was a gender nonconforming lesbian living like a man in a supportive positively portrayed lesbian relationship who directly flirts with the heroine and kisses her, the two being portrayed as heroes in their own right who don't have a tragic ending. It's to the point that Sailor Moon has been said to have created the yuri community and genre in the modern context. 

I love the way this moment indirectly shows Usagi and Haruka's personalities. Haruka is airy to an extreme, she wants to be free, free from expectations and free from her doomed fate, just as she keeps aloof. She asks Usagi if being a man or a woman should really matter, because she just wants to be herself, which makes it especially notable how in the manga she freely switches from masculine to feminine presentation and back. On the other hand as one of her relatable flaws, Usagi doesn't like greys and ambiguity. Constantly she is shown to worry or fret when something is unclear. She wants to know Haruka's gender, as a parallel to how she wants to know if Haruka is really an ally or not. She wants to understand Haruka, to get close to her, just as Haruka wants to remain detached, yet at the same time it's Haruka that advances flirtatiously on Usagi, as though she can't resist playing with the emotionally reacting bunny. Both are compelling here, and understandable in their desires. Even if you don't feel at odds with the gender norms of your culture the way Haruka does, or are the black-and-white thinking type like Usagi, it's almost archetypal how they represent the conflicting desires we have in interacting with each other to want to know and classify others and our desires to be able to act freely, unbound by classification from others. 

Mamoru arrives, yelling "Usagi" as he sees Haruka so close to Usagi. Haruka quickly leaves and Usagi comforts Usagi, asking what "he" did to her. Usagi responds that nothing happened but cries all the same, not understanding why she feels so upset.

This is a really sweet, compelling part to me. Mamoru is supportive of Usagi, not suspecting her for a second and instead holding her. I don't know if it's intentional, but the way Mamoru off-handedly refers to Haruka as "he" also reflects Mamoru's own projections onto Haruka, as far as he knows, another man coming on to his girlfriend and making her cry, which will become relevant later.

We cut to Chibiusa working on an art project of some crudely formed container, looking for Mamoru to help her with it. After a cute bit where Makoto comments on Chibiusa's cutesy form of address for Mamoru, the Guardian Senshi ask Chibiusa what her project is. She tells them it's supposed to be the "Holy Grail." Diana and Chibiusa, though they admit they don't know a lot about it, tell them the Holy Grail was an item Neo-Queen Serenity used when she was younger, which in times of crisis would fill with a mysterious power, giving her power to save all the people, though she keeps it in a private room they weren't supposed to go in. 

Chibiusa and Diana do admit they would sometime sneak into Neo-Queen Serenity's room, lay on her fluffy white bed and look at all the beautiful things the queen had, which is how she knows what it looks like. Thinking about it, Chibiusa gets a little teary-eyed and Makoto asks if she is homesick. Chibiusa replies that she is but she promised she'd become a full-fledged Sailor Senshi. It's a really cute scene.

Chibiusa scampers off to Mamoru's place to ask for help with her project. We cut to Mamoru's place and there's an awkwardness in the air, as the two drink coffee together silently. Usagi wonders if Mamoru is thinking that she had something with Haruka but before just as she goes to clear the air, Chibiusa shows up. 

Chibiusa demonstrates both an incredible emotional intelligence and also emotional blindness as quickly asks if the two of them are fighting, questioning if Usagi cheated on Mamoru. Of course it's not that the case that they are fighting per se, nor is it the case that Usagi cheated on Mamoru, something both Usagi and Mamoru know is true rationally, but boy if Chibiusa didn't get close to the heart of the matter quickly. 

Chibiusa brings up the reason she came, she needs help with her homework. This reminds Usagi of her homework assignments but before she can rush off, Chibiusa grabs her sleeve and says she needs Usagi's help too. Usagi is not the dexterous sort so you might wight wonder at this odd protestation, though it shall be revealed shortly. 

Chibiusa, in true child fashion, pushes her homework on her parents, despite them knowing nothing of the subject, and having to figure it out. As they work Mamoru explains the idea behind the Holy Grail, that it purifies you and gives you strength.

It's a bit of a weird description since apparently it's just a thing everyone uses for Holy Communion in this universe, or Mamoru is mistaken on what Chibiusa means. Literally the next panel he's looking it up in the encyclopedia so take it with a grain of salt. 

Mamoru and Usagi work on the Holy Grail together, with Mamoru shaping it and Usagi running out to get them beads and colored stones to put on it. When she returns she sees Mamoru working on the Holy Grail with Chibiusa, focusing despite his lack of knowledge to help their daughter and gets a look of affection. Chibiusa, tired from the effort, falls asleep. Usagi and Mamoru look at their sleeping daughter with parental love, only to realize they've unconsciously gotten very close to each other again.

This scene is fantastic! Just on the surface, it's absolutely adorable as a starting point. But I love what it says about relationships in general and about Usagi and Mamoru in particular. Chibiusa as their daughter represents the future in general, and Usagi and Mamoru's future together in particular. It's in their joint working for that future's betterment that their hearts come into alignment. It's when they stop thinking about themselves and their own insecurities, but instead on their union in general represented in Chibiusa that they as individuals are brought together. I love it because that really is what it's like, and it's magical. 

The art on the second page I adore, it's top tier visual storytelling for the entire manga. Usagi and Mamoru see Chibiusa asleep and both go into the same cartoonish surprised face, showing their joint surprise. It then got into a little more detailed picture of Usagi and Mamoru. Mamoru is showing a more paternal expression of affection and Usagi is making a more maternal expression of affection, as the two are briefly taking on the spirit of their parental roles, only to blush in embarrassment realizing it, and how close they've become reverting to more caricatured pictures. This really shows Naoko's skill as an art, so sweetly showing the emotions running through them as they feel parental love swell through them, and then embarrassedly realize they've already moved past their conflict without even saying anything and returned to their normal. It's so relatable, it's so compelling, it's deep and adorable. It's something magical and almost otherworldly yet I understand instantly. 

Usagi finally confesses her feelings, apologizing to Mamoru that she was hanging around Haruka. But Mamoru knows that's not something to apologize for and responds that he trusts her. The two both admit that they were feeling jealous; Usagi of Michiru and Mamoru of Haruka. I don't know how Naoko makes these two such a beautifully complementary couple, yet also have such a unity in their hearts but it's fantastic. Mamoru comments that there is a sadness in Haruka and Michiru that they are hiding, and Usagi agrees, saying she started crying earlier because she picked up Haruka's secret despair. Usagi and Mamoru reconcile and enter a passionate romantic moment. In an adorable twist, Chibiusa is shown to still be aware as she comments to Diana, implying that helping her future parents relationship was her plan

We cut to the next day as the Senshi at Azabu-Juuban; Usagi, Ami, and Makoto go over their test scores. Ami got perfect test scores and suggests they come with her to the Mugen Academy cram school, their students getting the highest scores nationally. Lest you think Ami has learned absolutely nothing from the Crystal Seminar debacle in Act 2, Ami subtly reveals her real reason for wanting to go: it's being led by an Mugen Academy student, Yui Bidou, who she is suspicious off. As the Senshi are taking tests for which high school they will go to, Ami has a prime opportunity to infiltrate Mugen Academy. 

Ami, genius that she is, gets a perfect mark on the Mugen Academy entrance exam, and is put in for qualification for free scholarship to Mugen. With that she is introduced to Yui, who introduces herself as the Genius Girl of Mugen, obviously and immediately paralleling her to Ami.

As they speak, Yui subtly alludes the Academy's true nature with statements. Later, the other Senshi are shocked and tell Ami that she can't go, that it's too risky and likely a trap for the Senshi. Ami responds that despite knowing it's clearly a trap for the Senshi, she's going to do it anyway so she can explore the sections Usagi missed when she disguised her as a Mugen student earlier. Minako is particularly worried for Ami, though Ami promises her that she'll be in touch. I bring it up in particular because in pretty much all versions of Sailor Moon Ami and Minako are the two guardians who interact least, and it's cute seeing Minako's concern for Ami. 

Ami goes to the Academy, noting outside that rainclouds almost seem to be emanating from the building. She tours the facility, entering the science room where Yui shows an experiment she made, a replica of a galaxy known as the "Tau Nebula."

It's a very impressive display of Yui's scientific capabilities! it also is a cool way to introduce the land the new enemies originate from, the Tau Nebula. 

Ami comments that she feels like she's being sucked into the darkness while Yui continues her lecture about Mugen Academy and than politely excusing herself. Ami wonders if it's some kind of hologram and wonders that she's never heard of the Tau Nebula......as though Ami knows every single galaxy humanity has discovered. You know given it's Miss "I read a book while waiting for you to show up", I could believe it.

Meanwhile Ami is being spied on by Kaorinite in her divining pool, commenting that she sense the energy of the stars in her divining pool, speculating that Ami is one of the Sailor Sensih. Yui comes in, revealing herself to be the witch Viluy, level 202, and asking Kaorinite to leave capturing the Sailor Senshi's hoste to her. Kaorinite agrees, commenting that a Sailor Senshi's hoste would give much energy to the master indeed. Meanwhile Ami notices she's being spied on by a security camera, and throws a pen through it, running off into the restricted area. Haruka and Michiru in the hallways see her, and are shocked.

Given her usual temperament it's pretty cool seeing Ami being all action-y like this. 

Ami enters into the restricted region, finding the failed daimons locked up in cages. However before she can celebrate her discovery, Viluy shows up and has brainwashed students grab Ami. Haruka and Michiru try to save Ami, but Viluy simply has the students grab them as well. It's a very fast sequence, even for this manga.

Viluy reveals her plan, that she is using nanobots to remove the Hostes from people. She made nanobots to steal souls! She then offers the souls to Pharaoh 90 and has daimon infest the empty hosts. However Ami, Haruka, and Michiru reveal they were only pretending to be held by the normal students, easily breaking out of their grasp. Ami sends a message on her communicator to the others and jumps out the window to the pool. In a really cool display, she transforms in midair so she lands in the pool as Sailor Mercury. Haruka and Michiru escape at the same time, commenting their Mugen Academy covers are blown, annoyed that the Guardian Senshi caused them to lose their cover. 

Viluy chases after Sailor Mercury, the two confronting each other. Sailor Mercury tries to use Mercury Aqua Mirage on Viluy but Viluy withstands the attack and counterattacks with by sending nanobots at Sailor Mercury to paralyze her, destroy her body and steal her soul. Sailor Mercury exclaims she can't move, and Viluy taunts that she will be able to procure a beautiful hoste for the master.

The other Guardians show up. Viluy tries to send some daimon at them, though Sailor Moon calls down power from Neo-Queen Serenity again to destroy them. Because she can however, Haruka and Michiru return, transforming into Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. Uranus summons the second talisman, the Space Sword and uses an attack technique called "Space Sword Blaster" to destroy Viluy.

I do find it surprising that Sailor Uranus would use the Space Sword here. She should be stronger than Viluy at this point, based on things we see later and she's giving away that she has one of the Talismans to the guardians. The only way I think it would make sense, and this is a sort of sweet hidden thing if you believe it, is she's worried the nanobots will seriously hurt or kill Mercury and so wants to kill Viluy as fast as possible regardless of the consequences, and given Haruka's impulsive headstrong nature I could easily see that.

Uranus and Neptune escape as the Guardian Senshi wonder at them having a second talisman. The act concludes with a little final scene of just two pages. At the nearby KO University science deparment Motoki and Reika are chatting about mundane stuff when a new student introduces herself as helping in their science department. This student is "Setsuna Meiou", or in other words

Sailor Pluto is back! .....so what happened to she will sleep peacefully forever in the Palace, Neo-Queen Serenity?

Act 30 is a really interesting act to talk about because I think it's a great act, but I also am more able than normal to see why someone might like it a lot less than me, and it's really for the same reason. A large amount of this act isn't really about Sailor Senshi stuff, the Ami vs Viluy storyline only really takes up a third of the act. Most of the act is about the relationship between Usagi and Mamoru and the conclusion to the character arcs of their feelings towards Haruka and Michiru. Broadly speaking I imagine if you're particularly invested in Usagi and Mamoru's relationship you will like this act more relative to other acts, and if you read Sailor Moon for especially the parts where they are battling villains, this act might feel a bit more boring or slow.

I absolutely adore what Naoko does with Usagi and Mamoru's relationship this chapter. I think it's a really good message to give in that it's showing how a positive supportive relationship develops past the couples' insecurities, I feel like it speaks a lot to their characters, it ties really nicely into the overall plot with Usagi's desire to be reconciled with the Outer Senshi even as they try to remain distant, and is just really cute. Act 30 is in a way a turning point for the arc, in that it resolves the characters arcs of Usagi and Mamoru for the first four acts of the arc, and sets up two plot elements of the arc, the Holy Grail and Setsuna Meiou, both of which will be instrumental in the arc's development. It also gives a bit more information on the enemies and where they come from.

I also really like the development between Usagi and Haruka. You can really easily see why Haruka and Michiru became such an immediately influential force bringing about modern yuri, and it tests some of Usagi's biggest character traits; her desire to know the true selves of people, her belief that they can get along as friends and allies, her need to see things in unambiguous terms; all elements of her idealism and childishness that will be put up against Haruka's world of ambiguities, moral greys, maturity and cynicism. It's easy to say one of them is right and one of them is wrong, particular if your tendency is, like Usagi, towards the unambiguous black and white, but there's fair reason to feel and think in either way. One of, if not the biggest themes, this arc is the divide between a youthful idealism and a mature cynicism, and as Naoko often does with her themes that I absolutely love about her writing, she provides a story that is a bit more nuanced a thought on that theme. 

The Ami vs Viluy part is alright. It has a lot of spectacle with the soul-stealing nanobots and the holographic projections of galaxies and Ami jumping out a window and transforming in midair. It's cool to see Ami be a bit more action-y than usual and I think Minako's concern for her was sweet. That said parts of it do feel a little bit quick. I'd say it's because so much of the act is dominated by the Usagi x Mamoru plotline, but honestly Ami and Viluy had more page length than either Rei/Eudial or Minako/Mimete and while Viluy comes with more personality than the former villains I think Naoko may have tried to do a little bit too much this act, particularly near the end. Viluy's plot here is more complicated than Eudial's or Mimete's, and Naoko tried to have that, and Ami's infiltration plotline, and the Outer Senshi having a bigger plotline in not that much more space. 

Bringing back Pluto as Setsuna could be a bit controversial, as I can understand why people don't like characters being brought back and risk cheapening their tragic death scenes. I understand that concern but I really like Sailor Pluto and I guess I feel that resurrection by the Silver Crystal has been well established since the first arc. Personally I'm glad she returns, though I understand if differing opinions on that one.

Act 30 in general has a lot of things to talk about. It's an act that I love but also can very well see why someone might not. Broadly speaking I think adored the MamoUsa stuff, I adored the development with Haruka and am glad for it's contribution to yuri, I don't mind Setsuna being brought back, and while the rest feels a bit rushed, I feel like that's more due to Naoko being a bit ambigious this chapter than poor space allotting from the other elements, plus I still like it pretty well.