From: phoenix@mediaone.net   
      
   Episode 173 - A Goodbye and an Encounter! The Destiny of Flowing Stars   
      
   Now starts the final and darkest arc of the Sailor Moon series, the   
   galactic domination of Sailor Galaxia. We are no longer speaking of   
   the conquest of just Tokyo, Japan or even the Earth. No, this time the   
   entire universe is at stake.   
      
   The opening credits have changed slightly and where we saw only   
   silhouettes before, we now clearly see the three Sailor Starlights and   
   Sailor Galaxia.   
      
   In the opening scene, we see three men (who turn out to be the stage   
   group "Three Lights") who are looking for someone only referred to as   
   "her".   
      
   The girls are in their favorite haunt, the corner booth at the Fruits   
   Parlor Crown cafe. Chibiusa is already gone and we find out that   
   Mamoru is also leaving for America to study abroad for a year. We also   
   find out that all the girls are fans of the Three Lights including,   
   gasp, Ami-chan. ^_^   
      
   I can see why so many fans claim the Stars season as their favorite.   
   The depth of emotion, the character designs, the stories, it is all   
   just fantastic.   
      
   The parting scene at the airport between Usagi and Mamoru was so   
   poignant with Usagi attempting to maintain a brave and cheerful front.   
   Mamoru gives her a ring, much to her delight, and we are treated to a   
   final tiptoe kiss. However, as the plane departs and is gone from   
   Usagi's sight, something strikes it and we all know that something   
   very bad has happened to Mamoru. Poor Usagi, throughout this entire   
   season, she does not know that Mamoru never reached America and will   
   be tortured by the appearance that he is completely ignoring her.   
      
   But for now, back at the cafe, Usagi happily shows off her ring and   
   it's interesting that Rei is the one most outraged that Usagi does not   
   grasp the significance of "that" (That it must be an engagement ring).   
   Minako rushes into the cafe shouting that something special is going   
   on outside. Both Minako and Rei simultaneously yell "that" at Usagi   
   meaning two completely different things which is why Usagi looked so   
   confused. There is also a rare Mako-Ami moment here where they are not   
   only sitting on the same side of the table, but also so close to each   
   other that they are almost touching.   
      
   In this arc, the soul element target is a person's "Star Seed".   
   Although Galaxia must have gathered thousands by now, she is satisfied   
   to randomly (and unsuccessfully) attempt to collect one at a time per   
   episode.   
      
   The first minion is Sailor Iron Mouse. The first MOTD (referred to as   
   a phage) is Sailor Buri, the monstrous form of our first human victim.   
   It is here that Usagi transforms into Eternal Sailor Moon in her first   
   unassisted henshin in two seasons to confront the villain.   
      
   Sailor Moon is faced with a crisis. For the first time in a very long   
   time, the MOTD is at heart a true human being and she can not simply   
   destroy it. Cue our new possible allies, the Sailor Starlights (who,   
   although they are clearly women, look strangely familiar ^_^). They   
   intend to destroy the monster, but Sailor Moon rejects their solution.   
   Thus is born Sailor Moon's latest attack, the Starlight Honeymoon   
   Therapy Kiss in which she heals the monster, returning the Star Seed   
   to its original pristine condition and returning the phage back to   
   human form.   
      
   It appears that _everyone_, heroes, allies, minions, bosses and even   
   the monsters of the day are some form of sailor senshi.   
      
   --   
   Phoenix   
   www.phoenixanime.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)