As I mentioned in my last rant, I am now watching Sailor Moon. It’s been a long time coming, actually. This is a series that’s known and loved by millions of anime fans across the globe. I watched a bit of it when the dubbed version aired on Cartoon Network, but as all Sailor Moon fans know, watching the original series and the toned down American version can be two very different experiences! I don’t remember too much of the version that aired on Cartoon Network, other than the fact that most of the names were different and Sailor Moon’s voice was worse than nails on a chalkboard. That means I was able to settle down and start watching the original Japanese version (with subtitles of course) as a relative newcomer. At the rate of about one episode a night on average, I’m now closing in one the end of season two. Maybe it’s a bit late to be talking about “first impressions” but I feel like doing so anyways. ^_^ So here it goes!
The first episode took me by relative surprise. The surprise being, I liked it! The writing was well done, and the main character was likable enough. The rest of the episodes, for the most part, have kept me entertained as well. I do have several complaints, however. First off, the main character, Usagi/Sailor Moon. She’s a nice girl, who is passionate about doing the right thing and punishing those who take advantage of others. She’s a bit silly, and very entertaining to watch. That’s all good and fine. My problem is this. Other than her “niceness”, she is an absolutely horrible role model! She is always late to school, her grades are terrible, she’s clumsy, she never seems to stop whining or crying, and she’s a coward to boot. On top of that, she has few, if any, skills worth mentioning. So far, I have yet to see the girl show proficiency in any area whatsoever, be it cooking, singing, playing sports, videogames, nothing. Rei/Sailor Mars is possibly even worse, as she’s argumentative, manipulating, and a liar. Ami/Sailor Mercury seems to be the only positive role model among the reoccurring characters, and even she could use a bit more personality.
Another gripe I have has to do with character/plot development. For most of the series so far, things appeared depressingly stale. There was no real development in the characters, other than Ami learning how to put a book down and have a good time once in a while (and even that they didn’t delve into nearly enough). Plot points that prove interesting in one episode and that I wish would be followed up on in following episodes are often ignored. A likable character might die, and in the next episode no mention is made of it. Usagi received her first kiss under the moonlight, and again that plot point was completely ignored in the following episode. It’s frustrating, and I wish the writers would start digging deeper into the personalities of the characters, not to mention the consequences of their actions. On top of that, the series is in desperate need of more drama, romance, and a bit more angst would be welcome as well.
Fortunately, the series does seem to be improving. I just finished a remarkable and unexpected story arc, with exactly the kind of drama I was looking for (not to mention a good deal more violence than I thought I’d see in this series). It was a most welcome change, and I hope to see more story arcs like this in the future. However, I would like to see those arcs focus more on the Sailor Warriors themselves, rather than on side characters (as seems to be most often the case).
To wrap up this rather long rant, I’d like to make it clear that I am enjoying the series, despite it’s faults. It’s funny, I do enjoy the characters, and there are defiantly quite a few hidden plot points waiting to be revealed. The series is showing a lot of potential, and I’m looking forward to seeing some growth with the characters, as well as more interesting story arcs. I don’t know yet if I’ll watch the whole series, but I plan on sticking with it for at least another couple seasons. Hopefully, it will live up to my expectations.
P.S. Oh, and a big shout out to Sasae, who has been kind enough to listen to my running commentary while I watch (via AIM). Having you around to rant and joke with while I watch has made watching this series a very enjoyable experience so far! Thanks again, and I hope we can continue our sessions for some time to come. 
