From: paradoxtxs@yahoo.com   
      
   Chris Kern wrote:   
   > Episode 44 - Usagi's awakening! A message from long, long ago   
   >   
      
   Y’know, it really would have been a lot cooler if the pathway to the   
   Dark Kingdom had been in Nephrite’s old cathedral.   
      
   When Kunzite throws a spell to banish the Senshi into some distant time   
   period, they end up at the end of the Silver Millennium, possibly due to   
   the intervention of the Crystal itself.   
      
   It’s kinda too bad they didn’t hit on this idea earlier, it would have   
   made for a neat filler arc, watching the Senshi lost in time for a few   
   episodes until finally they end up at the Silver Millennium, but oh   
   well… at least we get some more backstory.   
      
   According to the ADV translation, Queen Serenity introduces herself as   
   the incarnation of the Moon Goddess Selene.  This gave me a moment’s   
   pause, but I see it as more along the lines of the ancient Pharaohs   
   claiming to be descended from the Sun God Ra, rather than an actual   
   claim of divinity.  Usagi is a lot of things, a goddess is not one of them.   
      
   She also said that the purpose of the Silver Millennium was two-fold,   
   watching over the great will that was entrusted to them: the Silver   
   Crystal, and keeping watch over the evolution of the Earth.  The people   
   of the moon apparently live substantially longer than people on Earth.   
   Perhaps it’s this role as watcher over the Earth that leaves Queen   
   Serenity unprepared for what is coming.  She is very hesitant to   
   interfere in Earth’s growth, even when minor trouble crops up, as that   
   might be seen as imperialism.  This time, however, the threat is far   
   more dire than she realizes.   
      
   Serenity had fallen in love with Endymion, the Prince of Earth, as   
   already seen.  This time, he’d come bearing a warning of trouble brewing   
   on Earth, Beryl, who he described as a witch, had embraced an evil   
   power, Metallia, and was using it to brainwash the people of Earth.   
   Earth was girding itself for war with the Moon, ostensibly in jealousy   
   over the Lunar lifespan.   
      
   Endymion is apparently not welcome on the grounds of palace, as he’s   
   chased off by the guards.  No real information on why this is.  He dons   
   the famous mask to sneak into the ball and ask for Serenity’s help in   
   dealing with the crisis.   
      
   If Luna and Artemis are the first two to notice the attack, there’s   
   something very wrong with the Lunar defense plans.  Regardless, the moon   
   is caught unawares as the armies of Earth invade, led by the four   
   Generals, Beryl and the dark spirit, Metallia.  Metallia defeats the   
   Senshi with a single stroke, and Beryl searches out the Princess.  When   
   Endymion moves to defend her, Beryl offers to make him King of both   
   worlds, if he’ll marry her.  When he refuses, she kills them both with   
   Metallia’s power.   
      
   At this point, Queen Serenity finally gets involved.  Heartbroken at her   
   daughter’s death, she takes up the Crystal, even knowing that using its   
   power like this will kill her.  She seals away Metallia, Beryl, and the   
   Generals, and sends the spirits of her daughter, Endymion and the Senshi   
   on to Earth to be reborn in a time of peace, with Luna and Artemis there   
   to awaken them if Metallia rises again.  I can’t help but wonder just   
   what she was waiting so long for.   
      
   Kunzite’s dead.  Well, he was mean to small animals, so it’s okay.   
   Really, it just didn’t have the power of the ends of the last two   
   Generals.  But oh well, he needed to be out of the way, anyway.   
      
   Brace yourselves, boys and girls, we all know what's coming tomorrow...   
      
   SK   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)