Bishojo Senshi Sailor Moon Act 33 Review

 

Sailor Moon calls for everyone to gather their hearts as one, being the one who understands their hearts desires are the same, and the Holy Grail and her begin to glow. Not only is everyone cured of the brainwashing of Cyprine, the three talismans all begin to glow in unison together, giving her power, until Sailor Moon transforms into Super Sailor Moon

Super Sailor Moon, Sailor Moon's stronger form, is formed from the unity of the Senshi's hearts. As she transforms, the brooches on the Senshi change into hearts, to reflect the shared unity in their hearts. And notably...this includes the Outer Senshi.

Chibiusa has a flashback of King Endymion who tells her that Sailor Moon is invincible and Neo-Queen Serenity says that one day she might see an even stronger version of Sailor Moon, Super Sailor Moon. It's cute and all to see them talking all parental to Chibiusa, and how lovingly King Endymion refers to Usagi, showing his confidence in her...but this is a really unnecessary exposition. Yes Super Sailor Moon is a different, stronger form of Sailor Moon. That's obvious. They say in writing tips show don't tell, but Naoko sometimes decides to show AND tell. I would have liked if this bit had explained...anything about the form, like what it is, where it comes from, how it works, because not only is very little known about the Senshi forms, those few rules are intuited out without explanation. That part's fine and all, but I would like more explanation on the things that can't be intuited out.

The villains react in shock at Super Sailor Moon's transformation with Professor Tomoe being shocked anything can even be surviving that torrent of energy, let alone producing it, and Pharaoh 90 proclaiming that it is a gigantic magnificent pillar of light, "like Heaven itself giving off its power" and that it "gives life energy to everything" once again referencing the messianic spiritual themes of Sailor Moon's presentation, particularly in this arc. He proclaims that the power is tens of thousands of times greater than the Taioron Crystal even at its peak. Hotaru in response is possessed by something and proclaims to Pharaoh 90 it is the power of the Silver Crystal.

As a side note, I think it's really cool that Sailor Moon is allowed to be much stronger than the villains here. It's pretty rare in stories with combat that mid-way through an arc, the protagonist is not just stronger than the villain, but MUCH stronger as usually it saps away tension but due to the otherworldly nature of Sailor Moon villains and the lack of clarity on how and when Usagi can use the power allows there to still be tension even with her incredibly powerful transformation.

Super Sailor Moon uses her new attack "Rainbow Moon Heartache" and destroys Cyprine. I have to say, it seems like in every version of Sailor Moon the first time Sailor Moon uses her Super Form it's on an enemy that really doesn't require it. Narratively speaking, Super Sailor Moon as a form isn't used at least initially as a solution to a problem, it's used as a plot point that is meant to change the relationships of the characters and is overkill to the events surrounding it. The Third Arc of Sailor Moon in every version can be broadly divided as the Talismans Arc before Usagi unlocks her Super Form, and the Messiah Arc afterwards with two notably different focuses. 

Kaorinite is angry at Cyprine's defeat, and proclaims that she will kill Sailor Moon in vengeance which is an interesting idea given she was shocked along with everyone else at Super Sailor Moon's power. It suggests she either thinks it was temporary, or that she has a scheme. Kaorinite then mentions in doing so she will become the master's partner, however the thing possessing Hotaru laughs at this notion before Hotaru's consciousness is returned, her head aching. 

Usagi comments to herself that she powered up, that the Holy Grail appeared but she specifies that the power was from the others. Their power went into the Holy Grail and flowed into her, the Grail being a conduit and not the source of the power. This detail will get more relevant later but it actually ties into the Christian themes embedded in the Third Arc. It's a major sin in the Abrahamic faiths to declare any material object as being divine, as God is transcendent and so such is idolatry, exalting the creation over the creator. Yet Christians drink from a Communion Chalice wine, which is said to be the blood of the Lord, and is venerated. The idea then is what is called "Transubstantiation" the conversion of the substances of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. As such what is being venerated isn't "wine" perse, the ways Greeks would Dionysius, but the spiritual substance of the Blood of Christ undergirding it, or at least to the best of my knowledge. Transubstantiation is a word actually used in some translations of the Mugen Arc, and it's clear that this is what Sailor Moon was trying to reference as a concept, not that the Holy Grail was the source of Super Sailor Moon's power, but it was their friendship symbolized by the Grail that transformed her into a greater state, which is part of the central overarching theme of the entire series; the transforming ennobling power of love. Likewise it is part of the central imagery of this arc; the conflict between the spiritual and the physical, and the ability of the spiritual to ennoble the physical. 

The Outer Senshi are all shocked that their Talismans resonated together like that, that they shone forth with energy they didn't know they had. They comment to each other, that they were only supposed to resonate like that to awaken... before trailing off though it will become clear soon what they mean. Super Sailor Moon speaks to them directly about how she wished for them to unite, for their hearts to be as one. The Outer Senshi marvel that their brooches have become hearts as well, and Sailor Moon says it's because they are all Sailor Senshi, all allies

The Outer Senshi in their actions, in their words, probably even in their thoughts they want to keep distant from Sailor Moon, they act and express like they need to be the ones to do this mission, that Usagi's idealism has no place in this war. Yet they cannot deny, that their hearts truly are with her ideals. 

Neptune says that despite their resistance, the Talismans are signaling to tell the Sailor Senshi the truth, and they won't be able to keep fighting without doing so. They return to Uranus' place, devastated by Cyprine's attack, with Sailor Uranus commenting how this place costs 1,000,000 yen a month, and that she guesses she has to skip out in the middle of the night. I love how blasé she is about it, like this is something she regularly does. Jupiter is aghast and asks how she can possibly afford that, but Uranus says in an odd statement that she and Michiru have "patrons" so they never have to worry about money, causing Michiru to be aghast and embarrassed. I think patrons here is supposed to mean something like a celebrity's fanbase, which makes given sense they are both celebrities in their fields.

Michiru explains that their Talismans only resonated like that once before.. back during the fall of the Moon Kingdom. Already this is super hyped as there's so little information given about the Moon Kingdom and callbacks to it are treasured greatly in the SM fanbase. Neptune explains that the three of them were forbidden to ever leave their isolated zones and had to watch from far away.

Good Eyesight.

More seriously, one of the recurring themes throughout the entire Sailor Moon manga is the pain of isolation. The Outer Senshi wanted badly to live and fight alongside the rest of their Kingdom but could not abandon their divine duties. Their backstory is somehow both very short yet so telling as to their mindset. Though they all express it in different ways, the Outer Senshi are all Senshi who suffered from complete and total isolation for their entire lives.

Michiru describes how, from afar, they had to hear the death cries of their homeland, and Sailor Moon pleads with her to stop, that she can't bear to hear more. Michiru in compliance goes to the important part, that their talismans all resonanted and glowed together and from the planet of Taboo, astrologically the planet of restrictions, karma, and limitations, she was summoned forth. The Soldier of Silence, the Goddess of Destruction, Sailor Saturn....and the one who reincarnated as Hotaru Tomoe.

Sailor Saturn is one of my favorite Sailor Moon characters, like possibly top three, and even though there are a couple I like more, there's none I think are cooler. Sailor Saturn is the coolest most awesome character in Sailor Moon. She has such an amazing aura of importance and gravitas, she's got a sympathetic backstory, and powers that are metal as heck for a Magical Girl series. 

The Outer Senshi reveal that Sailor Saturn lowered her glaive, and ended all life. This explains something from the first arc. It was stated that after the battle with Queen Metaria the evolution of life had restart from zero, even though the fight was on the moon. That's because the real reset was Saturn who was beginning the cycle of life and death again. There's a major question on why we haven't met aliens yet given that reasonable development from a civilization should allow colonization  of the universe in the timeframe the universe has existed, called the Fermi Paradox. Sailor Saturn is the Sailor Moon Universe's answer to the Fermi Paradox. The cycle of life ends is restarted by her Silence Glaive. As another side note, people think Saturn and Pluto's powers are wrongfully swapped, which is probably not true. Saturn is the Roman name for Kronos, King of the Titans. This is NOT the same as Chronos, the primordial entity representing time, though nowadays they are often conflated. Kronos, and especially Saturn were Harvest Deities who used a scythe representing the Harvesting Scythe similar to how Sailor Saturn uses a glaive, and there's a lot of symbolic connection between the harvest and the cycle of life and death. Similarly while Pluto does have "time" powers, she's also referred to as the Guardian of the Underworld, and as will be seen this arc, has the ability to protect peoples souls, a reference to Pluto being the God of the Underworld. Broadly Sailor Pluto guards the mysterious dark spacetime interval representing the world beyond, connecting her with  the god Pluto. At least that's how I think of it. 

Thus the Outer Senshi say, this is why the three talismans are kept apart, this is why they must guard the keys, for together they will awaken Sailor Saturn, and she brings the destruction of the world

Naoko's more ethereal art really compliments the exposition about Sailor Saturn, a character that's also very otherworldly in her presentation and her concept; the Messiah of Silence, Soldier of Ruin.

The Outer Senshi say they never should have been brought together, they were supposed to always remain isolated and alone in their territories, which is a particularly sad statement for Uranus and Neptune given their relationship. They state they were reincarnated together on Earth to fight the external invaders, enemies from outside the Solar System. The Talismans called out to each other, Michiru confirms for the Guardian Senshi that indeed the Soldier of Silence is Hotaru, making Chibiusa especially shocked. Hotaru who has always seemed so sweet and sad, is is the bringer of death. 

Sailor Pluto says her body is wracked with such pain because she's feeling the prelude to the awakening, but this wasn't the time the destruction was supposed to happen. Saturn's soul was reincarnated was reincarnated but the wheels of fate have been thrown off course. Mamoru asks why, asks if Saturn's soul was the one who called the Talismans and Pluto admits she doesn't know. Uranus says that whatever happens, they cannot allow Saturn to awaken. Venus asks Uranus what she's planning on doing....probably already knowing what their plan is. Uranus replies to the shock and horror of the Guardian Senshi that to seal Saturn for good....they're going to kill Hotaru.

Thus, we reach the central conflict of the arc. It's a classic morality question: the good of the many and the needs of the few. She gives a pretty good reason on both sides; we've been thoroughly introduced too and sympathized to Hotaru, shown her tragic life and her adorable friendship with Chibiusa. Yet the stakes are as large as possible, compared to the greatest tragedy in the series history, the fall of the Moon Kingdom.  I neither think Naoko is trying to paint this as a perfectly even logical question to be analyzed, nor is she trying to propagandize the viewers into believing one or the other. She just wants them to understand the feelings of both sets of characters; the idealistic Guardian Senshi and the utilitarian Outer Senshi. Is it ever right to sacrifice one life to save every life? The arc is about the question, but not trying to answer it, instead to help the viewer come to understand the mindset behind both positions represented primarily by Usagi and Haruka. 

Haruka comments that the talismans haven't resonated that way since the fall of the Silver Millennium, that the time of the awakening is near, causing a shocked horrified Usagi to respond basically "so you're just gonna kill her? There has to be another way!" Haruka responds coldly however that if there was another way, they would have done it. You can tell the hearts of the Outer Senshi aren't in this, their hearts are with Usagi. They watched Hotaru sadly earlier, thinking they have to do this, but not wanting to do so. When Hotaru wonders if they are the goddesses of death, she wasn't so far off. Haruka attempts to soften the blow, telling them that Hotaru isn't going to last long anyway. That after her accident, she should have died (which is what Setsuna meant by the wheels of fate going astray), but that Professor Tomoe kept her alive by making her a fusion of human and machine. Haruka presents Hotaru loving this way as tragic and horrific, living as Tomoe's doll, that her capabilities have grown exhausted. Jupiter pleads and asks surely there is some way to save Hotaru, and the Outers reply that in fact the only way to do so is if she awakens as Sailor Saturn, her power will regenerate her body. But they cannot let that happen.

The Outers are giving the Guardians every condition that might warrants death for someone; they won't persist long anyway, and while they live they are tortured and in pain. The one thing however they can't say is that Hotaru is guilty of some crime, other than being born the herald of death, and it is in her innocence the Guardian Senshi cannot accept her death, no matter what.

Sailor Mars yells at them with more anger than any of the Guardians have shown yet what gives the Outers the right to kill Hotaru just to seal away Saturn. This is, on the other hand, one of the arguments used by being who favor the rights of the few. Perhaps some should be killed, perhaps not, but under what authority does anyone in particular have the right to make that claim. The Outers simply say in response that if Saturn awakens there will be nothing they can do to stop her and she will destroy everything, therefore it is their mission to stop everything. The Outer Senshi are led by their duty and what makes the most logical sense, and the Guardian Senshi can't relieve them of their duty, their cries can't make the Outers responsibility go away. If an action will save the Solar System, no matter how unpleasant, the Outers can't deny it being their duty. 

Super Sailor Moon refuses to believe it, proclaiming and protesting loudly that they can't kill Hotaru. There has to be some other way they can rescue her, Saturn may never awaken, that because there's a future, somehow the world will be saved. She weeps, and for the first time in the series history, a non-villain is not moved by her tears. Sailor Neptune tells her sadly, they knew she would say that, which is why they didn't tell her. The unspoken sentiment is that her heart was not ready for this burden.

The Outer Senshi leave as Neptune tells her that she can hate them if she wants, consider them her enemies, but they have to perform to their duty and save the world. Notably throughout the entire thing, Usagi remains Super Sailor Moon, meaning their hearts are still as one. This hurts the Outer Senshi as much as it hurts the Guardians. They leave to perform the deed. 

Sailor Chibi-Moon runs off to save Hotaru. She is a bearer of the Silver Crystal, and the Silver Crystal's power is determined by one's emotional state. As she runs she thinks of sweet Hotaru, she thinks about her, the way she deep eyes that always looked so lonely. She thinks that no matter what looks like, referencing Hotaru's scary appearance earlier, no matter what her destiny is, even to destroy the world, Hotaru is still her friend! And somehow, she reaches her even before the Outer Senshi do.

Small though it is in the grand span of things, I love this little part. The Guardian Senshi were able to equal the Outer Senshi earlier, in a battle which Chibi-Moon had to be protected from for being much weaker, yet this is the first time in the arc the Outer Senshi are beaten at something. And it's by the smallest and most idealistic of Sailor Moon's team motivated solely by her friendship with Hotaru. This whole arc, the Outers have seemed unstoppable ideals, impossible to live up too, representations of inevitability and the harshness of reality as surely as they seemed to be death itself outside Hotaru's window. And the most central of them is Sailor Uranus, the speedster who is constantly too fast to catch up too, even for Sailor Moon. Yet Chibi-Moon didn't just catch up to her, but surpassed her in speed. It calls back to Act 29 where Chibiusa refused to leave Hotaru to suffer there alone, and foreshadows the climax of the arc where the bond between the Lunar Senshi and the Saturnian Senshi will allow for something the Outers didn't think possible.

However before that can happen, tragedy strikes. Hotaru is possessed again and projects psychic hands from her body which rips the Silver Crystal from her

Chibiusa goes prone as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen appear, the two finding in horror that her body has gone limp and cold as the thing possessing Hotaru fires psychic blasts knocking away the Senshi, Sailor Moon shielding the others. The Outers proclaim in shock that the talismans haven't responded...this isn't Sailor Saturn...while she proclaims in delight that she has awoken to Pharaoh 90.

Act 33 always seems to fly by when I'm reading it, even though it has a lot of exposition in it. It's a great act and the start of the second half of the third arc, where the arc really begins to ramp up in intensity. 

What this act does really well is that it sets up the emotional stakes and symbolism for the rest of the arc, while providing resolution for the first half of the arc. The Talismans sub-arc is primarily characterized by the mystery of the Outer Senshi, the sense of separation Sailor Moon felt from the Outer Senshi and the mystery of both Hotaru and the enemies. This act resolves that finally, explaining who the enemies, who and what Hotaru is, and showing why the Outer Senshi were so estranged from the Guardians, and does so in a way that ties the three together, setting up the second half of the arc. 

In the three subplots coming together they also directly connecting to the themes of the arc; the contrast between the utilitarian mature cynicism and the idealistic youthful optimism, the lifelessness of the former and the liveliness of the latter, and connecting to the themes of the series; the pain of isolation and the ennobeling power of love. All of that is expressed in a really beautifully unified way this arc. The Outer Senshi cut themselves off from the Guardians and Sailor Moon, representing them cutting themselves off from their own idealistic hearts, that unified with Usagi's, due to thinking they need to bear the painful isolating weight of their responsibilities. Even though they were reincarnated on Earth, they are still spiritually in their isolated territories, cosmically far from any contact, watching the Silver Millennium die and hearing it's cries. They represent the sort of mature viewpoint, developed from the discipling pain of following one's duty, and having the heart hardened by pain. But to harden one's heart is not to feel, or not to ALLOW the spirit of redemptive love to flow through it, to not allow oneself to grow and to move past the pains and failures of the past.  It casts a new light on Sailor Pluto's extreme unwillingness to abandon the spacetime door in the second arc. Though they pity Hotaru for her body that is dead, her heart is still alive. Meanwhile the Outers hearts are dead, though their bodies live.

In contrast the Guardians, along with the Lunar Senshi represent the childish idealism. It is on its surface less logical, and its argument less strong. In the same way they were initially outclassed by the Outer Senshi to a degree that seemed insurmountable. Uranus easily evaded them, Uranus easily beat Jupiter in hand to hand, Uranus knocked out their whole team, Usagi felt like she couldn't possibly measure up to Michiru in ladylike charms. The Outer Senshi seemed an impossible to measure up to, experienced elder Senshi, and their mission to kill Hotaru seems inevitable, the Inners have the ennobeling power of love with them, as they have not isolated themselves from others. In contrast Usagi never ever stopped trying to reach the Outers, to unite their hearts together. Because the Guardians love Usagi, they trained and improved to the point of matching the Outers together last chapter. And Chibi-Moon, weakest of their number, from her love for her friend Hotaru was able to surpass the Outers for arguably the first time in the arc (assuming you don't count Super Sailor Moon who is as strong as she is because she is the unity of the hearts of ALL the Sailor Senshi including the Outers.) As is the nature of youths, that they have not fully developed, gives them more room to grow and develop. 

In a way, it does seem like the Outer Senshi were right. In Chibiusa trying to get involved, her soul was stolen, but at the same time, this wasn't Sailor Saturn, this is a new entity they didn't even know about hiding in Hotaru. This arc's themes will culminate in Hotaru, whose responsibility is the most grim and utilitarian of all, to bring about the end of the age, to end all life, whose body is deathless yet believes in the most innocent and idealistic of all the Senshi.

Overall this act is so rich and tight and efficient, it flies by yet can be analyzed for hours on end. It's so deeply rich, I adore it. It's one of the top tier acts of the third arc for sure.