#pgsm props

[real-life-senshi]

Teletia S

Looking up references for the Teletia S and went back to the official PGSM website archive. Now that I understand Japanese much, much better, I am fascinated by what the official description says.

Translation:

The communication items the Senshi holds are cell phone type, but they are special ones.

Except for Minako, the other four Senshi received their respective item from Luna. Whenever a Youma or other enemy appears, even if the phone is turned off, an emergency signal will still be triggered. As long as there is no direct interference from the Dark Kingdom, the Senshi can contact each other anytime, anywhere. The phone also has a function that allows the user to transform into any costume and appearance by taking a photo, and if the image is saved, the user can transform at any time! It seems that all the Senshi have various outfits saved in their respective phones should the need to use them arise Normally, they can enjoy making phone calls and sending messages as if they were normal cell phones.

I wrote AND rewrote EoT chapter 7 before finding this, so I feel a sense of validation for writing the phones to have operated on a "Senshi signal" based on some sort of "Lunarian communication system." lol

Also, I laughed at the part where they said the respective Senshi had saved up different costumes in their phone, though we know only Rei had saved up the practical ones based on Act 31. XD

Not sure what type of costume Makoto might have saved, but I'd bet Minako has the Sailor V costume saved in hers for a pseudo-transformation since that's how Artemis had her transform in Act Zero.

My specific headcanon about the Teletia S are:

They are waterproof.

They are shockproof and practically indestructible.

They don't need electricity to charge. Just by being near their owners, they are magically charged up.

^Basically it's completely made of alien / Lunarian technology

Emergency signal normally overrides silent/vibrate mode, airplane mode and being turned off. Artemis had to make some special adjustments for Minako's so hers doesn't ring in the middle of her work. Coz.... that'd be awkward.

The only downside of these phones is they look so childishly toy-like. The Senshi all kept theirs even as adults, but everyone but Rei also acquired a normal phone just coz... they got too embarrassed using their Teletia S publicly. Rei feels the same but is too frugal and doesn't use a cell phone enough to bother buying one. :P

Here's my theory/headcanon on how the physical Sailor V costume and Teletia S transformation work together.

[real-life-senshi]

These girls are stunning with their colour coordinated kimonos! And I love even how and towards whom they smiled is so telling on what they are thinking.

Usagi looks to both sides to see all their friends when she grins.  

Ami unsurprisingly smiles at her crush Usagi. 

Makoto just grins so widely, a bit awkwardly but showing excitement - it really give credence to my headcanon that this is Makoto’s first time being able to do this with someone!  

Rei seems to be looking at Makoto when she grins, kinda warmly, probably finding joy in knowing this has such a positive to everyone but especially Makoto!

And dear god even all of their glasses have individual coordinated prints on them!  

Usagi: unsurprisingly - bunnies! 

Ami: Cat logos?

Makoto: pears with green and blue colours

Rei: Strawberries, probably chosen more for the supposed red like colours. 

[real-life-senshi]

AHHHHHH I LOVE THIS SO MUCH, to see the Senshi comfortable enough with each other to come together to celebrate as part of Japanese culture’s tradition!

To even complete their Kakizome together and have it posted in the Senshi Base is such a nice touch! And I love the amount of characterization that went into the writing of Kakizome, both in the message and the handwriting!

Usagi’s: “First sunrise”, with her calligraphy strokes round, bubbly and cute.

Ami: “Friends/Friendship”, her calligraphy proper as if writing on template grid paper

Makoto: “Good health/Strong body”, her calligraphy broad, thick and demands attention

Rei: “Evil begone” (literally “Youma Taisan”), her calligraphy beautiful and elegant like a frigging expert!  You know she practices a lot as part of her miko routine and disciplines.

You also have to wonder where and how they got all the stuff together!  Imagine they borrowed everything from Hikawa Shrine? The payment for all their volunteering work in Act 13?  And Makoto probably have prepared all the food, with Rei’s and Ami’s instruction on what’s needed?

Ami, Rei and Usagi all likely have engaged in such activities in the past, no matter through family or shrine duties.  But this could easily be Makoto’s first time to be part of something like this, given her status as an orphan!  Should this head cannon be true, this would make the New Year’s celebration so much more significant for this group of friends. 

New Year’s tradition can be an absolute chore if not done with people you want to spend time with. You can bet none of them feels THIS is a chore!

God I love this so much!

[real-life-senshi]

I love this scene so much for many different reasons, so I’m gonna end up writing an essay:

(1) To have a moment for the girls to regroup and renew their discussion on their mission at hand in the secret base will always be awesome! It gives a moment for us to know what being on the same page looks for the girls, including making sure audience also doesn’t lose sight of that - acknowledging that this is where our main cast’s knowledge level is at, not matter what foreshadowing or actual knowledge long time Sailor Moon fans would already know.  This is such an awesome setup for all the shit show that’s to come when the girls all start holding their own secrets in the coming episodes, and their actions are turning from proactive to retroactive, because they are no longer in a position of searching or initiating now that they’ve found their ‘Princess’, but instead their task is to deal with Youma as they show up. 

(2) Look at the girls’ expressions when the camera pans across their faces as Luna gives them their current directive of action.  While I may just be over projecting and it’s just a matter of the actress’s acting, but I’m choosing to believe that the level of seriousness and attentiveness shown on their face is a reflection of their state of mind.  Makoto and Rei has the most ‘natural’ or ‘appropriate’ level for of seriousness expressed, while Usagi’s seems to lack luster a bit while Ami’s face looks too focused and too serious, imo.  We as audience also knows that Usagi’s starting to get distracted by the Tux/Mamoru romance that’s been blooming, while Ami’s been extremely focused on the mission as a way to stay connected with others. Rei and Makoto are really the only ones who treats the mission with a moderated level of severity and attitude- ready to focus and take action as needed, but also able to withdraw without risking losing sight of the mission when the circumstances allows for that. The facial expression seems to be a reflection on that. 

(3) I LOVE how despite understanding that Venus/their Princess is supposed be their ultimate leader, the girls are still acknowledges that Moon is their leader in the group.  As they all shared a nod of affirmation with each other, Ami, Rei and Makoto all turned to Usagi for that moment of clarification.  Usagi’s the one who meets everyone’s eyes before they all nod and turn back to Luna.

(4) It’s such a small thing, but to see Makoto’s right fist raising to her chest as the camera pans away after they shared their nod.  Despite Makoto isn’t taking the mission so blindingly serious as Ami was at that moment of time, you know Makoto really is taking everything to heart still! And she’s also probably vowing to herself to not miss out on another chance to meet Venus in the future. lol

(5) THE SCENE ENDS WITH THE CAMERA ZOOMING IN ONTO THE WHITE CHAIR.  VENUS’ CHAIR.  IT HASN’T TURNED ITS COLOUR YET AND IT’S EMPTY. What a great way to symbolizes the fact that despite they’ve found their fifth member of the Senshi team, their team isn’t complete/full yet.  As long as the chair remains white, it symbolizes that their team isn’t complete yet. I LOVE THIS DETAIL SO MUCH. 

I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SENSHI BASE, THE SCENES THAT HAPPENS IN IT, AND THE DETAILS IN THE FILMING AND THE STORYTELLING.

[real-life-senshi]

Want a good cry?  Let’s think about why the Kaguya Hime (Princess Kaguya) book is on Risa’s bed?

For those who have watched the rest of the series already, we know from Rei’s memory shown in Act 33 and 34, it is implied that little Rei was present when Risa breathed her last breath.  What if Risa was in the midst of reading the storybook to little Rei when her heart acted up? What if Risa had knew the chances of her surviving her illness was nil so had been the one who chose to put in Rei’s mind that she’s not dying, but that she’s heading to the moon? To ease a child’s fear of separation? A false hope, or sugar coated fairytale to ease a child’s pain of separation from life and death?

That’s why the story means so much to Rei. She’s all grown up now and knows what’s going on.  But this was the story her mom read for her.  This was the last act of love and kindness her dying mother was able to bestow upon her, so she hung on to the story and hangs tight to the storybook as it reminds her of her mother, of what it is imagined to be but realistically could never be. 

While the story was a symbol of a traumatic memory of losing her loving parent, it was also one that brought her hope as a child.  And Rei being the amazing, loving persons she is, shares it with children who are in similar situations as her. 

[real-life-senshi]

Sorry for the delay. I got called away for another work related thing... Anyway. 

WE ARE FINALLY AT A SCENE WITH OUR BELOVED MINAKO!!!!!!

I really appreciate how we started off with a scene that shows the amount of presents and plushies there are in Minako’s room, showing how despite she’s been in the hospital probably only for a day or two (I’m making an estimate of the timeline given how quick paparazzi works with their news release), the press had already gotten wind of what happened and fan mails and gifts have been flooding in. 

More importantly though is that NONE OF IT IS OPENED. They were impersonal to Minako.  What she cares about is the suitcase.

And speaking of suitcase - I love that it lowkey fits the colour scheme of the Sailor V costume instead of the bright colours of Sailor Venus’ orange. The red, light blue so light that it’s almost white and gold is more V’s colour. Another thing that’s also fun to realize is the light blue and red mixture of colour also reminds me of the colour scheme of Nako Nako!  The luggage says “music is enjoyed on a day off” and “feel comfortable”, which is very PGSM Minako-esque as well given her singer status. There’s so much hidden references that we could pull out with assumptions I think the PGSM costume and props crew outdid themselves!

And back to the scene - love the dialogue mentioning how Minako had specifically asked no one to open the suitcase! You know it’s going to be important!

[real-life-senshi]

I forgot this scene exists. I always assume the Minako scene was the last scene of the episode. I'm so sorry! lol

WOW. Usagi made an impressive amount of progress once she sets her mind to it. The muffler really ended up becoming a symbol for Usagi's character growth and feelings about Mamoru, huh?

Yikes! I forgot there's also a Dark Kingodm scene. It could me so off guard when all four of them were just standing expressionless and the background was silent, until Beryl opened her mouth. lol

All I can think of seeing this presentation/introduction is Metalia is air pollution. LMAO

But in all seriousness though, what is with all this posturing? Please say something of importance?

Door to Darkness? Are we playing Kingdom Hearts now? Am I going nuts, or did they never mention having a door to Metalia after this ever again?

THAT'S IT???!!!!

WTF? Beryl, did the door always existed behind you? Or did you move your altar so you can pose in front of the door?

I seriously cannot take a scene that is full of posturing and gives the bare minimum information seriously. To me that just wastes time, it doesn't build tension.

The scene earlier with Minako was emotionally charged. Even Usagi's scene above was heartwarming heartwrenching at the same time - a good temporary resolution and closing act to the current Usamamo romance plot. That kind of scene will always have more success in getting me invested.