And here we are, with another review of another episode of the live-action Sailor Moon. Been a while, huh? I hadn't really planned on writing any more of these, because I was starting to feel like my wry observations were losing their wryness, but I received more emails from people asking me to continue than I thought I would, and seeing as how these reviews have somehow become one of the most popular features of the site, I figured what the heck. Might as well give the people what they want. I just hope I can remember the details of what the hell was going on in this show when last I left it -- it's been a long time since I've seen it, or even cared to think about it at all. I should also apologize in advance for potential rustiness.





Well, let's see...the episode starts off with a recap of the little mini-battle between Ami (Sailor Mercury) and the evil Kunzite, which faithful readers will remember happened at the tail end of the last episode. Despite cartwheeling around like a maniac (the primary offensive tactic of the serious Sailor Soldier) Ami is defeated and enveloped in an evil purple cloud. Kunzite gloats, of course. This purple cloud thing is obviously a major coup for him.

Next, after the opening credits, we find Makoto wandering around listlessly, feeling bad for Usagi. (In the last episode, Usagi learned that Mamoru, that hunk of hunks, was actually engaged to his girlfriend Hina. I'd sorta forgotten this myself, since it's been so long since I've seen this show, which forced me to reluctantly admit that the multitude of flashbacks the series is always throwing at the viewer are perhaps occasionally useful after all). Makoto visits Usagi's house, but learns that she is so broken up about everything that she hasn't gotten out of bed yet. Usagi's hyperactive mother nevertheless tries to invite her in for an omlette (what is with the Tsukino family and omlettes?), but Makoto isn't interested; she returns to wandering the streets, thinking about Usagi and Mamoru.

Specifically, she thinks back to her conversation with Mamoru in the last episode, which culminated in her slugging him in the face (while he was in his Tuxedo Mask getup) for leading Usagi on in both guises and being generally callous. In terms of establishing Mamoru as a cool, suave, mysterious, in-control-of-every-situation kind of guy, I have to say that the writer's decision here to allow him to be punched in the face by a girl probably wasn't the smartest move. Most guys will tell you that getting punched in the face by a girl is about the most humiliating thing that can possibly happen to you -- even getting kicked in the crotch by a girl isn't as bad, because at least in that case there's a sense that the girl cheated in going for the sensitive spot because she knew an honest boxing match probably wouldn't go well for her. Anyway, Mamoru goes down, and Makoto storms off. Back in the present, she regrets not having punched him a second time.





The fact that something seems to be up with Ami occurs to Makoto over the next few scenes, as she discovers that her friend skipped school and didn't tell anyone. She visits Ami's house, finds the door unlocked, and then sneaks in to find Ami herself curled up in a ball on her bed, apparently in a daze. Deciding that she must be sick, Makoto sticks around and puts her vaunted culinary skills to the test, making some healthy get-well food. Makoto tells Ami to eat a lot, warns her that the food is hot, and congratulates her on how much food she later manages to eat. Yay! Fortunately, before the audience has a chance to go completely wild with the frenzied excitement that this scene no doubt inevitably produces, Ami sorta recovers and suggests that they go to an amusement park. Makoto reluctantly agrees.

Ami is unusually energetic at the amusement park: the two of them ride roller coasters and run around all over the place, which tires Makoto out in a hurry. Seeing how happy she seems to be, Makoto decides not to confide in Ami about all the Usagi stuff that's been kicking around, I guess because she doesn't want to bring her down while she's "sick". Then, just as Motoki shows up (he was getting his turtle some "fresh air", apparently), Ami faints, this time while on a carousel. Motoki, nice guy that he is, drives them both to the hospital (Motoki, of course, owns a green compact car), where a sober doctor explains that he can't find anything wrong with her. Modern medicine is ill-equipped to deal with youma infections; I suppose it makes sense that detecting the residue of evil purple clouds is likewise difficult.

Anyway, somewhere in here Rei shows up briefly and flashes back to the youma illusion incident of the last episode, while Usagi shows up and -- what else? -- mopes and frets about Mamoru in her bedroom while delicately holding the white scarf she made for him in her lap. I think she flashes back to some romantic crap, too, but I can't remember; my attention always begins to drift during these interludes.





Back at the hospital, Makoto decides against calling Usagi or Rei to let them know about Ami -- she figures Rei has become too distant from the group and that Usagi, stuck in her current funk, probably doesn't need the extra hassle of knowing that one of her best friends is seriously ill. Yeah, who'd wanna know something like that? So instead she just hangs around the hospital with the helpful Motoki, who nervously and awkwardly does his best to hide his infatuation with her. Whatever. Shortly after Motoki leaves, Makoto somehow realizes that something is wrong, and upon rushing back to Ami's hospital room, sees that she's gone (and that the hospital staff in the room are all discombobulated and covered with purple flower petals). She runs out of the hospital, following the trail of flower petals.

Ami, it would appear, has turned to the dark side. This is more like it.

Makoto finally calls Usagi and Rei. Then, after a long search that leaves her at her wit's end, she uses her Jupiter-powers to figure out where Ami went. Turns out Kunzite and Ami are holed up in a (best I could figure) dark, broken-down, leaky museum, adorned with Greek columns and assorted statues. Makoto arrives, transforms into Sailor Jupiter, and tries out a few cartwheels on Kunzite (though I admit she tries to throw a few punches as well; perhaps she was buoyed by her victory over Tuxedo Mask earlier) but to no avail. She tells Ami to escape, but she doesn't listen -- instead, the afflicted girl walks over to Kunzite and gives Makoto an evil little smile, informing the audience that she has indeed gone bad. Usagi and Rei show up just in time to watch Ami transform into an evil version of Sailor Mercury ("Dark Power Makeup"! she yells), complete with evil black accoutrements over her uniform and a big weird lacy bow on her front. Thus begins the "Evil Ami" story arc, which lasts for what seems like half the series. Well, least now the romantic junk will be put on the backburner for a while.





That's about it; the episode ends with Ami challenging the others to a fight. (I think there was some typical Dark Kingdom posturing in there somewhere, too, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary, so I just ignored it in my recap here). It's a pretty quiet episode (no youma's at all), but as the beginning of the Evil Ami saga it's inarguably important, story-wise, and definitely a kick for those folks that like Evil Ami better than boring old Angsty Ami.

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