#14.1.20

[slizz-and-grem]

I've had one, yes.

But what about second breakfast?

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Isekai Quartet season 2 episode 1 sure is the return of this show, exactly as I remember it, but also Shield Bro and his waifus are here, so hey that’s neato I guess. I imagine we’ll get some comedy from him and Subaru specifically bonding over how hard their respective isekais fucked them over.

[slizz-and-grem]

This game of hide and seek isn't going so well

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Seems like I’ll be able to watch the Crystal Blu-Rays with English subtitles after all! Thanks entirely to @soloconmisombra (who I can’t @ for some reason?) I learned that VLC has an option to delay or hasten subtitles, so I can finally overcome that 14 second gap. They also gave me a quick rundown on finding sub tracks online and using those which is also really appreciated. I thanked them a ton in DMs but again, so many thanks to them, I’m extremely happy to be able to watch Crystal’s Blu-Rays while knowing what the characters are saying.

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

It took a bit of fiddling around, but at long last, I managed to get English subtitles for that Blu-Ray release of Sailor Moon Crystal, and it immediately shows, because episode 6 looked way fucking better than prior episodes have been. Just, the ability of characters to stay on model, especially in the facial region, it’s so massively improved, thank god, really, thank god. That being said because this is the Spanish BD release there’s actually some Spanish hardsubbed text over equivalent Japanese text at one point in the episode, namely an in-universe TV broadcast, but that doesn’t really bother me. God knows I can’t read Japanese at all so that text being in Spanish is more helpful than anything, since I at least speak a bit of that.

As for the actual episode, we’re getting into territory where it’s extremely obvious how heavily the 90s anime departed from the manga. Here, Tuxedo Mask makes a public declaration on TV that he’s looking for the Silver Crystal, because he’s desperate to find it and notes that, he actually doesn’t have any powers like the Sailor Soldiers do, which might explain the absence of roses and stuff. I imagine he’ll gain some as the de facto Sailor Earth and that’s actually super sick, given his like only tricks in the 90s anime were roses and an extending wand, the possibility of him actually developing like proper moves is really cool. Also he reveals to Usagi this episode that he knows she’s Sailor Moon, and likewise reveals himself to be Tuxedo Mask, and on one hand I’m kinda glad they didn’t waste loads of time keeping up this supposed “mystery”, but on the other this is like the first time I’ve felt a bit bothered by Crystal’s pacing, given that Usagi and Mamoru learning the other’s identity is like, such a key moment, one that’s extremely meaningful for their romantic relationship as well, so placing it so early feels a bit I guess, rushed? But then this might not mean they’re gonna immediately start dating and loving each other very very much so maybe it’ll end up a bit more interesting in the long run. We’ll see.

Also, like right before or after Mamoru’s all “I have no powers”, Usagi says something to the effect of “I'm the leader of the team but I'm weak, I know I have to protect everyone but I can't" which is another line that felt a bit unearned this early in the story. They sort of rationalise it, it’s basically doubt now that she’s just become the leader thanks to the Moon Stick (it’s still called that, neato) but the people around her can use like fire and lightning and shit, but idk, it still feels like, we’ve not really seen a lot of Usagi being particularly insecure, or feeling like she can’t protect people. Another area in which I wanna give the 90s anime that slight edge over Crystal. But again it’s not like, a massive deal, so.

Also Usagi actually like hallucinates Sailor V in the Sailor V game telling her to do her best, right, and if that’s Minako’s voice, I am really into it already, she sounds amazing. With that, all the recasts this arc are done and I just wanna say, delightful showing all around, there are 2 that I’m not quite as sure about but they’re both growing on me, and the rest just all sound great, phenomenal job on that one Crystal, can’t wait to hear what the upcoming Sailor Soldiers have in store for us. The episode actually ends on a Minako tease but the preview suggests, and also the title of the next episode tells us, that it’s not quite her time yet, but hey.

Also, we’ve got our first attack from Zoisite this episode, who disguises as a woman to use the powers of TV to hypnotise the masses and search for the Silver Crystal, which is a really Jadeite strategy to use, I think I prefer the 90s way more forward and direct Zoisite. But it’s the Four Kings who cares. Also he’s able to recognise Ami, Rei and Mako before they transform which makes me wonder if they’re sort of just, quietly dropping the “people don’t recognise the Sailor Soldiers” plot point? And then the general populace being unable to recognise the Sailor Soldiers in civilian form is like a Clark Kent/Superman type deal, I guess. Fine with me. Also, like all of those characters seem to uh, fly, here, not much, but they’re definitely like off of the ground and staying there, without gaining or losing height, for noticeable periods of time so, that’s a thing. I’ll take it, makes it easier to believe they’re supposed to be capable of defending planets and princesses and stuff.

Think that’s it. Solid episode, very unlike anything I recall from the 90s anime, and it’s exciting to step into new territory like that.

[softghostheart]

Atm I'm just ignoring the fact that I have my first appointment with my therapist Friday but everytime I remember it I get nervous and scared like it's scary and also I don't know if I'll be able to have it the way I want to cause I wanna talk but I never did before so not sure if I actually will...

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card episode 6 was nice. It was another really cute really slice of life type episode, with such pleasant moments as Sakura meeting Akiho while shopping, and the two talking about plushes together. Akiho has a little bunny plush with like a crown on its ear called Momo, and since I’m already predicting Akiho to be that figure in Sakura’s dreams I have to wonder if Momo is also a Kero-chan-ish thing? And then maybe the person she lives with is the Yue? Hopefully it’s something else though, it’d suck really bad if they repeated that plot point. Maybe the one she lives with is someone else entirely, that’d be more interesting I assume. But yeah. Akiho also decides to join the chorus club after singing with Tomoyo again, alongside a piano accompaniment from Syaoran, because yeah he plays that now, like I said, they’re turning him into Eriol. Odd. The Clear Card in this episode is barely even important, Sakura hears like a buzzing sound 2 or 3 time throughout the episode, and early on talks about taking pictures with Kero-chan and his smartphone, so it’s obvious that the Clear Card’ll be related to photography. More specifically, it ends up being Record, there’s not really a battle with it at all, and uh, yeah. So nice enough episode.

Also, Meilin’s in this episode! She video calls with Sakura to talk about some stuff I guess, and she’s as adorable as ever, says she’ll be coming to Japan during the summer so hopefully we get to see that. Also because it’s a video call she’s able to see Kero-chan’s true form, and she has basically no reaction to it. Which is a little disappointing but, whatever. And yeah that’s it, end of post.

[joshhhhhhhhhhhhhhh]

Koisuru Asteroid episode 2 was a bit more enjoyable than episode 1.