#pgsm act 11

[real-life-senshi]

Act 11 and 12 viewing party has started!  Miyuu’s wearing matching outfits with her cat Roku! And she just hilariously starting readjusting her decor using the live stream view. XD

[real-life-senshi]

PGSM Reinako things I want to yell about, in no particular order (2/∞)

Minako meeting Usagi vs Minako meeting Rei for the first time

It has always fascinated me how drastically different Minako’s behavior was when she met Usagi and Rei.  

In Act 11, Minako was aloof and quick to judge, even slipping in hints of their duty and mission to test Usagi out. She was unfairly expecting a lot from Usagi, as if she never wanted to get to know the girl, just wanted to see this was someone worth protecting. When Usagi didn’t meet her expectations, she was so disappointed she flipped and end up staying back from a confrontation with the enemy. And in all this time, she also appeared as if she didn’t want to be in the girl’s presence, wanting to avoid being known.

On the other hand, the moment she meets Rei in Act 17, she chose to stay in the girl’s presence, volunteering to stay AFTER Rei already did, to take care of the sick dog together. She also opens up with no expectation at all, and in fact was drawn to Rei’s side, including exposing her identity as Sailor Venus to Rei. (Like I get that she wanted to save Mars, but could she not have transformed in hiding, instead of transforming right in front of Mars????)

In Act 12, Minako initially couldn’t stand Usagi at all, and actively ran away from her. Failing that, she falls back into her idol persona, treating Usagi as a typical fangirl.  Even her voice and tone changes to sound like a sweet girl.

With Rei, Minako never slipped into idol persona, and in fact initiated seeking Rei out in Act 18. She was candid in her behavior and words, including being solemn and pensive, or being mischievous and competitive.

For someone as secretive and guarded as Minako, she was extremely quick to show her true self to Rei. If that doesn’t mean something, I don’t know what does!  And it’s hilarious that Artemis even called Minako out on her crap:

In Sayonara ~Sweet Days, Minako sings the following lyrics:

Though I don’t have any particular reasons,  Somehow, I was able to be myself around you.

I seriously think she was singing that to Rei.

[real-life-senshi]

I’m trying to not choke on my own saliva here while my brain tries to figure out if I’m excited or mad that this is the unused scene they chose to show. I’M FUCKING TORN.

One on hand - THIS UNUSED SCENE SHOWS ME NOTHING.  This is the age old Zoisite being a dramatic queen that he is, talking to himself while he plays his piano. Besides the fact that he mentions the title “Princess’ Requiem” that tells me this is indeed for Act 11, this could have been shown as unused scene for any other episode and I’d still believe it!  He even said “the end” in 3 ways just for the sake of it. “Requiem”, “Finis” and “The end” all mean the fucking same thing!!!! AND THAT’S THE ONLY DIALOGUE WE GET HERE.  GIMME SOMETHING I CAN ACTUALLY ANALYZE!!!!!! I want to know the untold stories, not just a scene with no content!!!!!

BUT, on the other hand, dear lord Endou Yoshito is fucking talents, and it’s so awesome the crew of PGSM chose to include this scene to celebrate Endou’s talent as much as possible. He plays everything himself, even the BGM of the piano playing that Zoisite plays!  For that reason, I actually love them including this scene. 

Like I said, I’M TORN.

[real-life-senshi]

Okay, I actually do wish they had kept this scene in Act 11, though they probably could have just cropped it shorter instead of playing the typical PGSM suspenseful music for the whole duration, filming so many different angles of Mamoru’s face.  

Sidenote, seems like Mamoru’s also a Mac user, though the Apple logo is covered by a gray cube instead?

Also, that slow sip of coffee (I assume it’s coffee, because Mamoru’s an university student and also has a side hustle as a phantom thief), and unfocused gazing before he read the line about the Senshi and V... Y’know what I’m thinking?

The internet is fucking slow. 

[real-life-senshi]

So very interesting, and actually quite sad that Beryl’s ultimate motivation and ultimate tool are both a twisted version of the idea of love. She’s driven to this point because of her love for Endymion, and because of what she couldn’t have, she uses the Shitennou and brainwashes them with the idea of “love” to make them loyal to her. Just from the overall dynamic of the Shitennou in PGSM, even if there’s no actual evidence for this, I imagine the Shitennou are all of different ages and experience level when they were appointed as the Endymion’s protector, as opposed to the Senshi where their age and experience level are probably more similar and balanced across the board. Kunzite > Zoisite > Nephrite > Jadeite - both in age and power, with the power gap more widened between Zoisite and Nephrite. With this in mind, it could also then be explained why Jadeite and Neph were woken up and introduced so quickly, and has demonstrated the strongest loyalty to Beryl, while Kunzite and Zoisite are more flippant and goes rogue against Beryl’s wishes. They had more immunity from Beryl (and Metalia)’s power, and thus also took longer to brainwash them to the point that Beryl felt comfortable in having them woken and summoned to her side.

[real-life-senshi]

This dialogue is so interesting to me because this is the first time we hear “confirmation” that Minako aka Sailor V is “the Princess”.  And where’s it’s even MORE interesting, is to consider that:

audience who knew the Sailor Moon series lore would know Sailor Moon is in fact the princess, not V/Venus and they were just playing decoy

new Sailor Moon fans who started with PGSM, probably also would make the logical assumption that Sailor MOON is in fact the Moon Princess.

SO then, this leaves basically everyone wondering, what’s the bigger plan here? Obviously Venus is playing decoy, which gets quickly confirmed in Act 12.  Where it’s interesting TO ME to think about though is why is this line significant, and what’s the function of saying it in this format when it’s clearly not for the benefit of the audience? 

The big question that is left unanswered from this closing dialogue is “Does Minako know she’s not ACTUALLY the princess?” 

Just IMAGINE, how much HARSHER and troubling, twisty and dark would it be had Artemis actually just tricked Minako into thinking she’s the princess to play decoy without Minako knowing?  OR better, just as Luna’s memory was altered, Artemis’ was also altered so that Artemis ALSO truly believe Minako is the Princess so they aren’t both acting but actually acting as decoys without knowing?

Obviously those are moot point once we get to Act 12, but the possibility that Act 11 still leaves open for interpretation is one that is quite smart despite many of the plots points were known facts already given the long standing history of the series.

I’m glad PGSM script writers went with the directions they did, and knowing what happens next in the series, I’m EXTREMELY glad that PGSM writers never actually pitched Minako and Artemis against each other.  They are always a team and I love that about them.  Even this conversation here, the fact that Artemis used past tense in asking “why didn’t you go” instead of “you need to go now”, shows that Artemis KNOWS the confrontation has ended already.  Artemis didn’t only NOT force Minako into action despite he still has words for his charge to figure out what’s going on, but Artemis kept tabs on the situation. I like to think Artemis had went on his own to monitor and keep Minako appraised of the situation, and only returned after everyone was safe, so he could now have this conversation with Minako. 

Minako’s attention only focusing on Usagi and Usagi’s notebook is honestly quite heart-wrenching, it’s like a dislike but also yearning for something she can’t have despite her desire.

It’s also symbolic to me that the keyboard piano and her idol signature is left on the bed beside the Sailor V mask.  It’s a quick visual summary of all the roles Minako holds beyond just being a schoolgirl - idol/musician, Sailor V, and Artemis confirming she’s the Princess.  If this was intentionally done, I gotta say it’s quick clever and I really appreciate it!

[real-life-senshi]

I am on 4 separate minds as I process through this scene. So hear me out:

1. More Snippets of Cute Senshi Fun Times

I love that we got the close up shots of the photos of Usagi and co., and especially be given different one that is on the cover of the notebook instead of the back of the cover page that’s adjoined to Minako’s having fun together. They all look so adorable, and I love how Usagi made sure to include a paired up image of herself with each of her friends on the cover!  You gotta wonder though if she brings this book to school, what would Naru and co. thinks about this?  This is were I do think while it’s symbolic, it’s slightly unrealistic that Usagi made this notebook with only photos with her Senshi friends, and none with Naru and her other friends from school, whom she had been close with for an even longer period of time. It has to mean something even if their friendship isn’t something that’s as extraordinary, right?

2. LOL the silly costume goof up

The images in street wear were definitely their costume in Act 12. Here’s the comparison. XD

3. More Minako Angst

Imagining that the 3 separate instances the camera pans to the close up of the group stickers is exactly where Minako focused her eyes on, it’s a really powerful but subtle way for the show to make more mature audience to consider the loneliness Minako may be feeling.  Not only was she feeling disappointed/defeated by Usagi’s apparent lack of regard to their mission and past life from the interaction, but Minako has solid proof of how much fun her 4 fellow Senshis are having in their daily life together.  Let’s say even if Minako’s isn’t feeling jealous, but for the very least she’s probably feeling quite alone in her task when it’s slapped right in her face that she not in a position to interact with people who’s supposed to be her comrade in any normal circumstances.

To see that when Artemis tried to urge Minako to attend the Planetary Festival but only for Minako to step back and drop onto her hospital bed with full on dead weight, it was such a clear moment on how her first in-person meeting with Usagi without their transformation (and Senshi persona) had taken the air and strength out of her. :’(

4. What about Makoto???

As much as it makes sense that Minako is a bit more hyper focus on Usagi’s presence because she’s the Princess and is basically the reason why Minako’s in the position she’s in with playing decoy and having all those extra dead weight and pressure, I’m finding it very troublesome that Minako’s attention never once adverted to consider Makoto and her role as Sailor Jupiter. Not. Even. One. Thought.  Minako must at least have recognized her, right?  How can she hold Usagi accountable for so much with her grievance and not consider that Makoto was in this debacle as much as Usagi?  Makoto deserves her attention and responsibility too. Ugh. 

[real-life-senshi]

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA The disparity between Minako’s internal monologue and the reality where Usagi wholesomely exists is way too much.

Here Minako is trying to come to a sensible conclusion on how such a messed up happenstance may actually be justified given who are the people involved in this whole scenario - her and two other fellow Senshi.  Usagi and Makoto aren’t just some random girls, how in the world could they just stumble upon her in such a big city?   So she thinks it’s Senshi related, and thinks maybe Usagi is competent.

Alas reality comes crashing down on her the moment Usagi opens her mouth and stutters her request for an autograph, resulting in me basically on the coach rolling around in laughter. 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

But also in all seriousness, Ayaka at this stage is pretty bad with voice overs. She really needs visual to portray emotions. Opposite to her voice acting, she gives quite memorable and really good facial expressions, exhibit A being the last screen shot of this post. lol