Sailor Moon Episode 24 - Naru's Cry! Nephrite Dies for Love

Today's friday. At least, the day this is posted is friday. Friday is a good day, universally liked for the start of the weekend, and the end of the work week. Normally it is associated with partying and all sorts of frivolity.

For me? I'll be meeting up with my father to prepare for a bit of a drive. Why do I mention this? Well... I may or may not have an internet connection where I am going. As such, I may be indisposed for a time. But no worries. It probably won't be for very long.

Also, it may be the first sign of my mind going, but... I think I'm starting to hum along with the intro song. Oh god, what am I becoming?

Thank you, oh episode previews, for showing me everything I should expect, and leaving no surprises whatsoever. In this episode, Nephrite can't get away from Naru, and some monsters blow him to hell. There was something about a girl loving  a man against her better judgment.

Oh, and I guess Nephrite finally kicks the bucket. Well it's about damned time!

Right, so we begin in a park. Where Naru is sulking. Usagi is attempting to console the poor girl, who is clearly a few fries short of a Happy Meal. Also, this marks the third consecutive episode where we begin to continue dealing with the same thing. Almost like... an actual plot? No, say it ain't so! Wait, I"ll do you one even better. It's almost like this is a miniature story arc! Astounding.

I find this interesting because it seems to have veered away from the monster-a-day formula, despite... well, still having unique monsters in every episode. But is the show attempting to mature? I could probably write a goddamn thesis on this, and about how other shows that may not have been as popular starting off still managed to have a cohesive freaking story early on. But, eh, who cares about that? Let's just get on with this.

So Nephrite is spending his days sitting in his throne, looking at the crystal, and thinking of underage girls. For once, however, it appears to serve him well.

Cohesive storyline and villains with a brain? Be still my
beating heart.

With this revelation, he plans to do... something. Meanwhile, Zoisite is still stalking him. And meanwhile meanwhile, Nephrite goes to see Naru in her bedroom while she sleeps.

The Black Crystal is still responding to Naru for some reason, possibly due to this whole pure human love thing? Oh, and then it lets him see her totally naked. Oh sure, he's 'just looking to see if the crystal is hidden within her'. Yeah, right. You're still looking at a naked 14-year-old girl. I'm not entirely sure that was ever okay.

So after the impromptu strip search, he learns she's not carrying the crystal inside of her. Then she wakes up, and realizes he is there, so he takes the time to formally introduce himself, saying that he does not wish to lie any more.

Then he talks about her having showed him the value of love, and how is has showed him how horrible the people he's been working with are. Oh, and how he would like to be able to join Sailor Moon in order to fight for justice. Because a face-turn-heel is totally buyable at this point, right?

Of course, as the audience, we're well aware this is pretty much a total lie. But Naru? Shit, that girl is all starry-eyed and just got fed the one thing a lonely 14-year-old girl wants to hear - that she's changed the man she's been pining for with the power of love, and he's totes gonna be a better man now.

Yeah, not buying it.

He immediately goes on to start trying to grill Naru about Sailor Moon's identity, but she knows pretty much jack. His plan is still set into motion though, because once again, just like the last two episodes, she's become a tool for Nephrite.

Now, in yet another amazingly interesting change of pace, Zoisite is watching over all of this, joined by three monsters of the day.

I name them Plant Girl, Dirtbag, and Leaf Lady. Put on some
damned pants, Leaf Lady!

So Zoisite's plan is to hold back and let Nephrite do his thing, then jumping Nephrite when the time is right. Practical, given the villain.

Well, Naru decides to call up the only person in the world she can talk to: Usagi. Clearly, she's going to feed her that whole story, and sells it with a convincing sob. It's actually kind of a shame because... this is a really great plan for once. I mean, yes, it's horrible in its own way, but... this is one I can actually buy. It's believable, and down to earth. Plus, all of this before the midway mark? Did you guys change directors or something, because this show might finally start to be turning around.

Maybe. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop.

So Nephrite is all listening in on the conversation, hears the name, and starts trying to put things together. Then, as Usagi is trying to get to Naru's, tragedy strikes. In the form of a horribly animated scene, that is.

Imagine this frame panning back and forth, and changing
colors. There's your special effects for this episode.

Perhaps I spoke too soon about it shaping up. But still, questionable as this might be... I'll let it slide. In another shocking turn of events, Usagi transforms, before the halfway point! Holy crap, this must be an actual season finale or something, because they're throwing caution to the wind. Either that or they're getting ready to pad with the other transformation sequences.

So it turns out that Nephrite was behind this, and now he knows her true name. So what's she do? Ask him not to tell anyone. Yeah. After that he makes with trying to kill her in some rather amusing sequences where she flies around.

But as usual, our favorite well-dressed rose-tossing champ shows up.

Ah, but things get interesting as he retreats, hearing Naru cry for help! He knows her identity now though, but Tuxedo Mask says "no big deal" and walks off.

So Luna watches as Naru is being absconded with Zoisite's minions, and Nephrite is all "bah, who cares?"

Answer: You do, dumbass. Episode mid point!

Is this really from the same show?

Well, somewhere in town (presumably), Naru is tied up and the three sisters are standing around in some really weird angles.

Yes, she's really standing that way. Her power must be
to defy gravity or something. Because wow.

Then Nephrite shows up and the next fight begins.

Aquaman, what are yo- oh wait, that's Leaf Lady. Seriously,
pants! You can't just cover your chest and leave your
rear hanging exposed like that!

Well.

FALCOOOOO!!!

PAUUUUUUUUNCH!

He makes pretty quick work of these girls though, and summons a sword, which is actually kind of a cool thing. Because swords are dangerous and shit, and Nephrite is clearly a man on the edge now, with nothing left to lose, all punching women and shit to some pretty catchy ragtime-style piano music. Seriously, ragtime.

He doesn't kill anyone though, and tells them to go back to their boss to say he's not going to let go of the Black Crystal, then walks out with the girl in hand.

On the way home, Naru tries to thank him, which he promptly rejects. He's not even sure why he did what he did, and admits to being a lying, scheming asshole. Then goes on to say he's probably not going to change that anytime soon.

Why, even this might be a lie. Who knows?

What a real keeper. Oh, but that's okay because Naru loooooooves him. And never wants him to leave her side. Ah, but he's injured, and it is all her fault.

You aren't just a little concerned that his blood is GREEN?!

Worried that someone might attack again,Naru tells him to star stripping, and she proceeeds to tear her pajamas apart. In the attempt to bandage him up. With that, they get to talking, and she already starts calling him out on bullshit, telling him that sometimes, we lie 'out of kindness' sometimes. But frankly, I'm more enthralled by the prospect of a chocolate parfait. Mmm, that sounds really tasty right now...

So she wants to go have a parfait with him, and he's all 'okay, yeah sure let's do that sometime'.

And then shit like this happens which totally destroys
the touching scene you were just enjoying.

Then Nephrite starts laughing, and is totally about to get his ass blown up I bet.

Called it!

So the trio is back, and now Nephrite has giant thorns sticking out of his chest. In return for the Black Crystal, they'll spare the girl. But Naru doesn't want to run away, and gets electrocuted trying to rip the thorns from his chest.

We are now treated to another touching scene, where Nephrite tries to be the better man, convincing the girl that everything's good now, and she can totally leave him. But what girl is going to do that? Much to everyone's surprise, she starts pulling the thorns out, despite, y'know, not being possible for a mere human.

Well, the girls are having none of this shit and just decide to blow everything up, with a little Black Crystal bouncing over in their general direction.

Piccolo, is that you? Wait, nope, still Nephrite.

Now Zoisite appears on the scene to take the crystal, and Nephrite is pretty much dying a this point. His goal achieved, Zoisite gets the heck out of dodge, and the Sailor Scouts show up to dole out some swift justice. It better be swift they got like, 90 seconds left.

In another change of pace, Mercury creates a bubble screen, then Moon throws a fire-powered tiara, and that's it for these bimbos.

So for his dying words, Nephrite decides to inform Sailor Moon that her identity will remain secret, and then apologizes to Naru about not getting that parfait together. I have to give them props for the haunting melody of the main theme playing - it's the first time I've heard it in this show, and in fact, I think it's the first time they've done anything so subdued before in this show. Touching scene a-go-go.

Nephrite finally kicks the bucket, and vanishes into a cloud of Bishounen sparkles.

At least he wasn't a vampire...

Naru then proceeds to lose her shit, while that haunting melody continues to play.

An amazingly mature line, for this show.

Wait... and that's the end of the episode? Hold on. Seriously? You... you actually end it on a low note for a change?!

This is not the Sailor Moon I've been watching the last 23 episodes. What the hell? This is almost decent here. I refuse to get my hopes up though. We all know what happened last time I thought this show might be getting good. It got horrifyingly terrible.

Well. We'll just have to see.

Tune in Monday for the next episode. Don't worry, it'll be there, I promise. After that? We'll see what happens.