Sailor Moon SuperS Episode 21 - Shadow of Great Evil! The Trio is Cornered

I don't always have something super clever to say. Shocking, coming from a guy whose favorite words are "goddamnit", "Japan", and "f**k", in no particular order.

But I'm still reeling from the fact that Chibi-usa is in love with a f***ing unicorn.

Spoilers for last week by the way. I'm just going to dive right into this week's episode in the hopes that it will be over quickly.

According to today's episode preview, Mamoru falls in love with Fish Eye.

Welp. That's. Uh. Okay sure. Fine. Let's go with that.

Roll the goddamn intro already.

I'm not sure what I was expecting today, but I can safely say that it wasn't this.

I mean, I guess it should make sense? Just that. I dunno. Mamoru, seriously? He's so freaking useless all the time.

But we leap right into the title slide with no cold open, so I guess that means some shit is gonna go down. Especially with a title like "The Trio is Cornered".

We begin in Tokyo. It is night and the Dark Carnival is still floating around and nobody has acknowledged this the entire season. And we are in THE DARKEST BAR IMAGINABLE. Tiger's Eye is all "man wtf our job sucks DRINK DRINK DRINK" and Hawkie there is just all "psh yeah our boss is a bitch".

Also, we finally get get confirmation that Frieza-face up there is, in fact, a woman. Supposedly. I mean, she's still a revolting bug creature but still.

Fish Eye, meanwhile, is avoiding drinking like his namesake.

I can't help but really like this shot.

Fish continues to just stare into his drink while the other two rag on how their boss has asked them to complete an impossible task. Because dude could literally be hiding in a dream ANYWHERE. And again: How the f**k did they manage to capture dude in the first place?

His impression is so good it scares the cat.

Anyways while the other two continue to still be loud and obnoxious, Fish Eye is still like "....". I've seen silent protagonists more talkative than this guy. Is he depressed because of what happened last episode? Or is this just some random thing? I have a hard time believing that the writing team has suddenly remembered to include things like character progression in this show when status quo has been king for so long.

Fish Eye finally speaks up and they're like "okay seriously the heck is wrong with you?"

Ah yes, of course.

The others are like "pffft come on nothing could happen to us right?" and he's like "okay yeah but uh seriously I am pretty sure our boss is going to kill us or something at some point right?"

"Well yeah I mean I guess she could but that would never happen!"

The the fire bat bird comes in and it's a dude and they're like "the shit?"

Fish Eye suddenly isn't so depressed anymore!

The others can't help but wonder if there's just something different about their friend.

GEE WHAT GAVE IT AWAY?

Then Hawk is all 'lol you suck at men like we do at chicks' and bro is like "BRUH. I AM JUST NOT PUTTING MY ALL INTO THIS, I CAN TOTALLY GET DUDES JUST WAIT." Sounds an awful lot like Tiger's Eye, suspiciously enough. Starting to wonder if there is any real difference between any of these characters.

Now he's all put up to go put the hots on Mammy-chan, and he's like "damn that dude is tight". So we transfer from the photo over to where Mamoru is standing with Usagi screaming like the child she always is, and embarrassing everybody involved.

They're looking at fish, for some reason.

And for some reason, everybody came along.

Can't you just see how much fun he's having?

Eventually Ami starts telling Chibi-usa fish facts and Makoto's bag rumbles. Oh no. Whatever could that be.

Why is Makoto carrying Diana?

Anyways, it doesn't take long for them to realize there is a cat among them.

Remind me why she came with you?

Some of the girls discover this and try not to crap themselves in public.

WHY DID ANY OF US THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA?!

We finally get some actual dialogue and find out Mamoru has been raising fish for some time.

... wait, doesn't Diana live with him? I'm kind of confused about where she lives now that I think about it. She just always kind of seems to be around for one reason or another? Also didn't she once make everyone freak out that the apartment was on fire and so they destroyed it trying to put out a non-existent fire?

I guess what I'm getting at here is that, perhaps, him keeping fish may not be the safest of ideas.

WHY. JUST. WHY. WHY WOULD YOU EVEN.

Mamoru. Bro. Look. Listen. I get it. You're lampshading that you're about to get hit on by Fish Eye. Okay, you could not telegraph this any harder if you tried. But bro. Seriously. We need to talk. Your life is basically hell, and I have a hard time imagining how you could take care of NORMAL fish. And yet for some reason, between fighting crime, saving your girlfriend, attending college, working a full-time job to pay for your own apartment, and basically driving everyone you know around everywhere because YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WITH A F***ING CAR, I think the fish may be JUST A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH FOR YOU BRO.

JUST A LITTLE.

Then Usagi asks if he'd need a bigger tank or something and Mina gets all close and makes Usagi blush (what?) and says they're showing off and... everyone laughs?

Uh. I'm not sure what the joke was, but we'll just move on now.

But then. Suddenly. OUT OF THE DARKNESS. A WILD FISH EYE LINGERS.

Cue the Psycho violins.

At some point Mamoru gets away from all the girls and starts looking at some glowing fish. And then Fish Eye is like "man fish suck".

Seriously subtle much you ain't.

And now all the lights are out and the fish tanks are glowing and this couldn't look any more ominous if you tried. But Fish Eye is all like "I bet you like fish because you feel like something's missing in your life. Well. It's probably missing me. Because I'm a fish person or something that was never adequately explained. LOVE ME!"

LOVE MEEEEEEE!

He goes on to say that it's "lonely to have a relationship only through the glass". Which is one of those really weird, kind of disgusting Japanese traditions that I'm not sure I've ever adequately explored here? Basically it's a thing where you're 'with' someone but you don't ever really see them and you kiss the glass and they kiss the glass in the same place? It's really f***ing weird is what I'm saying and he's basically saying that shit is super lonely and it'd be nice to actually be with a person.

Japan is a f***ed up place sometimes okay?

Also, whatever you do, don't try to f***ing Google that shit. I did, and trust me, it doesn't turn up anything good so you're just going to have to take my goddamned word for it.

Anyways since Fish Eye is a f***ing idiot he cuts his hand on the glass that he was holding up and you have to wonder first of all WHY THERE WERE RANDOM PANES OF GLASS JUST LYING AROUND. PRETTY SURE AQUARIUMS DO NOT WORK THIS WAY.

Seriously, look at those things! Not only are they completely
useless, but they're literally a lawsuit waiting to happen!

So now we get the OH NO YOU CUT YOURSELF HERE LET ME RIP OFF SOME FABRIC INSTEAD OF FINDING A BANDAGE LIKE A NORMAL PERSON and that's when Fish Eye knew it was True Love.

Seriously, it lingers like this for about ten seconds, and not just once,

But when he goes to touch his hand, Mamoru... glows? Like, literally freaking glows.

This... is not something that has ever happened in this show before. What is going on here?

Fish Eye pulls back, and looks reasonably started at this.

TRUUUUUUE LOOOOOOOOOOOVE.

Enter the Usagi.

Maybe you would know if you weren't such a horrible person
who keeps wandering off like an idiot all the time.

Fish Eye takes this time to trash talk the competition.

Yes yes we know the blonde is super not pretty we get it.

You can't help but love his reaction here.

Usagi gets all pissy and Fish Eye is like "totes your rival now" and all those otehr girls show up wondering what the screaming is about and then Diana is like "huh it's that fish-smelling person" and then Fish Eye runs off because HOLY SHIT THAT'S A TINY CAT." And everyone is like "what the f**k just happened".

Now Fish Eye is left to wonder what the hell the whole hand glowy thing was about and hey what if he's the one with Pegasus man that would suck wouldn't it he's just such a dreamy kind of guy etc etc insert gay innuendo here. SEE WHAT I DID THERE?

Meanwhile, we see that Baba Yaga is, in fact, capable of leaving her chair. Huh.

Who knew it was possible? What do you even do anyways?

She continues to lament at the fact that Pegasus is always showing up but never getting caught. And then some laughter drifts down from above. What is that anyways? Oh, some little girls have woken up.

Oh. Uh. O-kay. You're clearly those chicks from the intro who
haven't shown up at all until now. Please be interesting.

They like playing with glowing magical ball things, and then Baba Yaga takes it because we can't be having any of that.

Oh my god are they actually trying to set up foreshadowing?
That's how you know the show is ending soon-ish.

She says something about how her 'pawns still have use', and I guess the trapeze girls decide to just hang around in that case.

I am truly a comedic genius today.

And then goes on to say something about "Queen Nehelenia". Uh, was this... a person you mentioned before? If it was, I must have forgotten because you've barely mentioned her this entire time, but glad you're starting to finally set up the real big bad behind the big bad which is always the freaking case in this show for some reason.

Seriously, just once, it'd be nice to know who the REAL villain is from the start, y'know?

Anyways now Fish Eye is stalking Mamoru and calling him pet names and he's like "look I have a life I'm busy" and he's liek "WHO CARES KISS ME YOU FOOL". He pulls away though and he's like "BUT I AM SO F***ING ADORABLE KISS ME" and Mamoru's all "bruh no seriously you got some issues and this is so not cool right now".

Why is it always the Fish Eye episodes that give me the feels?

For some reason, I can't ever help but feel kind of bad for Fish Eye. He just... really doesn't understand how any of this works. Maybe it's because it's a guy going through some of the problems that a lot of girls go through. I honestly can't be mad at this stuff now matter how hard I might try. Especially when Mamoru tells him that he's really only interested in Usagi and that, well, sorry but you should really try and find someone else? Also you literally only met like once for five minutes so that's some super stalker shit right there that should really have you worrying for your safety.

Fish Eye demands to know what's so special about Usagi. And in dude's defense, it's kind of hard to tell someone that you can't help but love someone who not only died for you twice, but who also is the reason you got resurrected like three f***ing times now. Most people just wouldn't understand that sort of thing.

He reiterates that he really has places to be and Fish Eye tries for another kiss and is like "BUT I SUPER LOVE YOU" and he says nothing and then he's all "FINE AT LEAST TELL ME WHAT'S SO GREAT ABOUT THAT GIRL".

That isn't going to become immediately relevant at all I'm sure.

Fish Eye realizes what this might mean, but unfortunately a commercial break interrupts before he can fully process these thoughts.

Now, Fish Eye goes back to a cage somewhere and Tiger's Eye is like "oh sup Baba Yaga looking for you, didja kill that dude?" and he's like "nope". And then he starts asking the hard questions in life.

And in an instant any and all sympathy I had for this character
vanished.

Fish Eye starts trying to get philosophical, by asking how you could prefer something that might not happen over something that's right before your eyes. Which, again, isn't really what he was saying. Also, he's literally been to the future. So that changes a person's perspective on stuff.

And then Tiger's Eye is like "the f**k?" and Fish Eye puts him up on a board.

... whoa wait what?!

Holy...!

Oh but his heart mirror just vanishes. Because... he has no dreams!

Wow that's... pretty deep actually.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you are almost
literally the stuff of nightmares.

Tiger's Eye says that if they had such stupid things it'd be impossible to keep living. Which seems like a pretty dumb statement when you consider everyone they've ever met has zero problems living. And then Fish Eye walks off and leaves bro on a board, and goes to see the boss.

At some point Tiger's Eye gets off the board because all of them are meeting with the boss who informs them that Queen Nehelenia will be here in a moment to talk to them. Directly.

Uh-oh. Looks like corporate is paying a visit.

So what's this person like? Well. She's the head of the clan. And "the most beautiful person in the world".

Cool. That... tells us nothing about what she's like. But thanks anyways Baba Yaga.
The boss then summons a dark ritual and we get to see someone without even really seeing them.

Well you're probably gonna have to wait another ten episodes
to get a full appearance since we still have another 18 left.

She lays it out straight. If they screw up again? Well. Her magic doesn't last forever and will wear off "before the new moon". So they'd better step up their game? Then the dark vision vanishes, the lights come back on, and the Trio are like "oh. Uh. Crap." And then they get told to get to work, and Hawk Eye is like "uhh, what magic?"

At which point their boss starts laughing her ass off. They haven't figured out what they really are so she's gonna show them. A giant mirror appears before them, and they have themselves a little look.

Man they're not even literal manifestations of themselves,
just shitty shadow drawings.

Congratulations you are literally just shadow puppets.

"YOU ARE NOT HUMANS" says their boss. And Fish Eye wonders if this is why they don't have beautiful dreams. Because they're not human? I mean, I don't think that has much of anything to do with it, but more the fact that you are literally just magical animated shadow figures. But whatever. They're gonna diiiiiie unless they do something. And hey, wouldn't you know it, even if they screw up, there's still a chance they could save themselves. All they need is the Golden Crystal. The horn that Pegasus has.

Wait. That's a Golden Crystal?

But. Hold on. Isn't the Millenium Silver Crystal....?

.... waaaaaaait a second.

After forever passes, Mamoru is in the park and suddenly Fish Eye is there to bother him. Is he waiting for his girl? Why yes it is. Is it fun to be with her? Why yes it is. Okay cool. Time to... uh, not be subtle about this at all.

Oh boy.

Ohhhhh boy.

OHHHHHH BOOOOOY.

Mamoru does the obvious thing, and asks her what the f**k are you going on about you crazy lady.

Actions speak louder than words so you should probably
hang around and try to save him when the time comes.

But being the stand-up kind of guy he is, Mamoru asks if that's really a great deal for anyone involved.

It is a valid question, which is surprising for this show.

SAVAGE?

Fish Eye's world is shattered. Wind blows, leaves fly around, and then color returns to the world and he's like "goddamned dreams pissing me off SCREW IT I'M THE VILLAIN" and puts him up on a board and has himself a little peek.

Meanwhile, mommy is trying to ditch her future kid because she's looking to score with some Netflix and Chill tonight.

Of course that'll work.

Let's not address the fact that all those other characters served absolutely zero purpose in this episode. Pretty sure they all showed up just so they could collect their appearance royalties. They might show up again to fight Fish Eye, but I have my doubts.

Anyways they hear Mamoru scream and OH SHIT LETS TRANSFORM AND STUFF. Which will eat up the next minute with stock footage. Reducing even further the chances that any of those other girls will even get to do anything.

Fish Eye is about to look at Mamoru's dreams but then the heroes show up to really give him a piece of their mind.

Harsh.

Time to punish so on and so forth. Feels like they were really taking their time. Fish Eye is like "seriously right up to the end huh?" and the girls are like "wait what?" and then he summons a monster.

Tobi-wha?

Oh. Oh no.

Fish Eye says he'll leave this to him.

Oh nooooo.

I am very concerned about this one. Because this monster is just a dude with a mask.

Uh, what.

Dude wears an ugly mask, has a beautiful face, and talks like f***ing Grover the Monster.

And uses his mask to do weird shit.

... I don't. What? Is he supposed to be a ringmaster? Is that the theme here? Oh wait no, he turns his mask into a trampoline.

And immediately strips out of his clothes to go jump around.

How useless are these monsters?!?!

Meanwhile Fish Eye is about to get him some of that sweet sweet dream time. Mamoru screams, and  Fish Eye is traumatized by the fact that Pegasus isn't around. He's so mad, he almost stabs Mamoru with a knife. That's some serious trauma.

Not sure I have a good caption for this so I'll just leave it.

But now that Mamoru is passed out he takes the time to give the dude a kiss, and lays him down gently on the ground. Then the girls summon Pegasus so they can beat the monster.

No, seriously, that's what they do. It's f***ing bizarre. Just out of nowhere, monster doesn't even do anything. No wonder the monster seemed so weird, he literally had 30 seconds of screentime total.

And look at how disturbingly happy he is about this!

So that's the end of it. It starts raining, the girls fall into a tree, ask if Mamoru is okay, and then we see Fish Eye out in the city, sitting on a bench somewhere. Sitting in the rain. But then Usagi happens across him, thinking he's a girl, and asks what's up.

Even I have to admit, this is a pretty touching gesture.

Then the camera flies up into the sky, and the episode ends.

... wait it just straight up ends there? That's... not like the Sailor Moon I've come to know. Are they going to carry this over into the next episode? Because if they did, I would love that to no end.

Watching this show is frustrating as hell. Because when they pull some major character-driven story changes like this, that's when it starts to really shine. But it's mired in so much crap that you can't help but smash your head into a wall because of how dumb it can be. Sailor Moon is strongest when it explores the nature of its villains, and I really wish it tried to do that a little more. With Fish Eye (and the others) beginning to face their mortality, it would be kind of great if, for once, some of the hapless minions get a chance at some true redemption before it's too late. Kind of like with the Phantom Sisters.

Only time will tell if this is what actually happens, but... I'm not gonna lie. I'm pretty damn invested in this show by now.

I just wish Usagi were always as awesome as she was in the last thirty seconds. Because that's the Sailor Moon I always wanted to see.

Seriously, they could do an entire episode where Fish Eye and Usagi sit and talk about stuff. And I'd like it. But since they're still following the monster-a-day formula, I somehow doubt that would happen. But it'd be super nice if they did.

We'll find out next week, I suppose. But I have to keep in mind this is around the time when the show gets good, right before it gets really bad again, and then it gets maybe kind of okay around the end.

*sigh*