Warning do not read unless seen episode.
This episode is a turning point in the whole story but also, it's the last one for the villainess Esmeralde.
But I'll start for the turning point, we see things take a turn for the worse when we see Wiseman finds Chibi Usa and of course what is happening is your classic Devil's deal motif. Wiseman we see is manipulating Chibi Usa by digging into her darkest secret and we discover that secret is Chibi Usa is the partial cause of the demise for her family and Neo Crystal Tokyo in general.
I wasn't too surprised by this knowing her she really wasn't that innocent, though in a way this sort of pertains to the Greek Myth of Pandora's Box much like Pandora's innocent curiosity over the box, it's the same with Chibi Usa's in her curiosity with the silver crystal. And like in the myth it led to dire circumstances as we see the crystal just suddenly vanishes in front of her eyes.
Despite knowing what she's done she doesn't admit to it, instead she's created this wall of denial which of course led to her self-induced amnesia. But we know both things never psychologically work, or not for very long. She no longer has self-induced amnesia because as she is now in the future or should of say her present; now that she's in the same area as the truth she can no longer hide. Also, denial never works because it just makes you more afraid and worst of all can do great harm as it can give and make you develop negative feelings on yourself; because despite how much you want to consciously forget your subconscious never forgets the truth.
But also we see Wiseman is offering her both an escape from this but also a chance to fulfill her deepest desires. Just like in "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" as Darth Sidius makes Anikin the offer to take the quick and easy path to being a true Jedi. Chibi Usa she unfortunately once again gives into her desperation and weakness and takes the offer.
That sets up what's to come later but of course we come down to the final conflict with Esmeralde. Esmeralde no doubt has deep feelings for Dimande, but the problem is she is also equally attracted to vanity and power, but this love is empty as both vanity and power never love anyone back. Dimande isn't aware of her feelings as he is held back by his own obsessions but he is a story for another episode review. Just like with Chibi Usa she takes the quick and easy path as she wants power but also a way to get rid of Usagi/Queen Serenity so that Dimande will see her from her attained status and love her. But of course, we also know this is a fatal mistake on her part as love and power are never the same thing. Also, for love to be true, one must love the other for who they are as a person, not their status as it doesn't make a person. If Esmeralde only let her vanity and lust for power go, then she would have focused on becoming the best person she wanted to be and maybe even explored her feelings by interacting and building a relationship with Dimande. This unfortunately became a lost future, because she didn't give up her sinful desires and became the worst possible version of herself she can be.
The Dragon battle is solid, like the design of the dragon and seeing the Senchi use their magic abilities. Though I have a couple of little quibbles in the episode, like one moment which was out of character where Sailor Moon stupidly runs toward the downed dragon even though it's not dead; that moment did nothing.
Another I kind of wish there could have been a little more to the fight like seeing some futuristic technology utilized against the Dragon, like maybe they have some exosuits in the palace like the kind from the animated show "Exo Squad" and see the Senchi use them against the dragon. Ok, that would of made it a whole different show, but a cool thought but the fact that we don't see enough of the futuristic tech utilized was a lost opportunity.
The ending is tragic from the loss of Chibi Usa but if you want you can also say the loss of Esmeralde, though I can't say I feel sorry for her; granted it didn't have to happen but she made the wrong decision and she paid the price. It wasn't just Tuxedo Kamen and the Sailor Senchi that defeated her, it was herself. As we see her own vanity didn't protect her, just like any mirror the crown which represents her own vanity shattered, which in turn destroyed her illusions of power and in turn destroyed her.
Rating: 4 stars.
This episode is a turning point in the whole story but also, it's the last one for the villainess Esmeralde.
But I'll start for the turning point, we see things take a turn for the worse when we see Wiseman finds Chibi Usa and of course what is happening is your classic Devil's deal motif. Wiseman we see is manipulating Chibi Usa by digging into her darkest secret and we discover that secret is Chibi Usa is the partial cause of the demise for her family and Neo Crystal Tokyo in general.
I wasn't too surprised by this knowing her she really wasn't that innocent, though in a way this sort of pertains to the Greek Myth of Pandora's Box much like Pandora's innocent curiosity over the box, it's the same with Chibi Usa's in her curiosity with the silver crystal. And like in the myth it led to dire circumstances as we see the crystal just suddenly vanishes in front of her eyes.
Despite knowing what she's done she doesn't admit to it, instead she's created this wall of denial which of course led to her self-induced amnesia. But we know both things never psychologically work, or not for very long. She no longer has self-induced amnesia because as she is now in the future or should of say her present; now that she's in the same area as the truth she can no longer hide. Also, denial never works because it just makes you more afraid and worst of all can do great harm as it can give and make you develop negative feelings on yourself; because despite how much you want to consciously forget your subconscious never forgets the truth.
But also we see Wiseman is offering her both an escape from this but also a chance to fulfill her deepest desires. Just like in "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith" as Darth Sidius makes Anikin the offer to take the quick and easy path to being a true Jedi. Chibi Usa she unfortunately once again gives into her desperation and weakness and takes the offer.
That sets up what's to come later but of course we come down to the final conflict with Esmeralde. Esmeralde no doubt has deep feelings for Dimande, but the problem is she is also equally attracted to vanity and power, but this love is empty as both vanity and power never love anyone back. Dimande isn't aware of her feelings as he is held back by his own obsessions but he is a story for another episode review. Just like with Chibi Usa she takes the quick and easy path as she wants power but also a way to get rid of Usagi/Queen Serenity so that Dimande will see her from her attained status and love her. But of course, we also know this is a fatal mistake on her part as love and power are never the same thing. Also, for love to be true, one must love the other for who they are as a person, not their status as it doesn't make a person. If Esmeralde only let her vanity and lust for power go, then she would have focused on becoming the best person she wanted to be and maybe even explored her feelings by interacting and building a relationship with Dimande. This unfortunately became a lost future, because she didn't give up her sinful desires and became the worst possible version of herself she can be.
The Dragon battle is solid, like the design of the dragon and seeing the Senchi use their magic abilities. Though I have a couple of little quibbles in the episode, like one moment which was out of character where Sailor Moon stupidly runs toward the downed dragon even though it's not dead; that moment did nothing.
Another I kind of wish there could have been a little more to the fight like seeing some futuristic technology utilized against the Dragon, like maybe they have some exosuits in the palace like the kind from the animated show "Exo Squad" and see the Senchi use them against the dragon. Ok, that would of made it a whole different show, but a cool thought but the fact that we don't see enough of the futuristic tech utilized was a lost opportunity.
The ending is tragic from the loss of Chibi Usa but if you want you can also say the loss of Esmeralde, though I can't say I feel sorry for her; granted it didn't have to happen but she made the wrong decision and she paid the price. It wasn't just Tuxedo Kamen and the Sailor Senchi that defeated her, it was herself. As we see her own vanity didn't protect her, just like any mirror the crown which represents her own vanity shattered, which in turn destroyed her illusions of power and in turn destroyed her.
Rating: 4 stars.
