From: sunniechan@comcast.net   
      
   Phoenix wrote:   
   > Act 9 - I'll Protect the Legendary Silver Crystal   
   >   
   > Of all the acts so far, this one falls the most into what I would call   
   > the filler category. It does not advance the story, nor develop   
   > relationships, nor add any backstory details nor is it particularly   
   > entertaining like the amusement park episode.   
      
   Agreed.  Wasn't particularly fond of this episode, although Ikuko-mama   
   was amusing (particularly her comment about morning service being   
   over...go Mama!)   
      
      
      
   >   
   > Jadeite is put into a crystallized sleep by Queen Beryl. Unlike the   
   > anime, here she appears to still be fond of him and you get the   
   > impression that this is for his benefit.   
      
   Found this quite interesting.  I really rather like Beryl in this, she   
   still has human emotions left, and seems quite fond of her pawns.   
      
   > Ami seems to be acting just a little odd. Maybe it is just her way of   
   > attempting to take more initiative. Or maybe this is a foreshadowing   
   > of what is to come.   
      
   You caught this too!  First off, she continues not to wear her   
   glasses--except when she's pretending to be Rei.  I guess she felt more   
   comfortable with her 'mask' on.  But the rest of it seems quite odd.  I   
   can't help but wonder if she doesn't feel like she's being pushed to the   
   background with all of these prominent personalities around her, and   
   wants to find a way to fit back in.  When volunteering for Rei, perhaps   
   she wanted to find the opportunity to get on the girl's good side like   
   Makoto did (and prove to herself she still has a "point" in the group   
   even when she's not researching).  As for the end moments with Usagi, I   
   think she just wanted to feel particularly appreciated.  Usagi's been   
   spending so much time with Rei and Makoto.  Is there perhaps some   
   underlying jealousy here, along with likely poor self-concept?   
      
   > Rei is finally addressed by her full name (although, as Sunnie-chan   
   > pointed out, her family name was mentioned in the last act).   
      
   You and I take notice of the same things over and over, don't we?  I had   
   that written down too. ^_^   
      
   >   
   > Mako and Ami finally get a scene together, but it's clear (at least to   
   > me) that there is no subtext here like there was in the anime.   
      
   I miss my Mako-Ami subtext!  That reminds me, I should share the desktop   
   wallpaper a friend of mine did for me.  It's stunning, and entirely   
   Mako-Ami. ^_^   
      
   Makoto continues to be the most perceptive when it comes to Usagi's   
   feelings.  She immediately knows that Usagi likes TK (technically, Luna   
   suspected as much too, but without as much conviction).  She also makes   
   a very attractive police officer. ^_^   
      
   It's frightening that I've already forgotten what the preview was the   
   for the next episode.  Clearly, it's not a favorite. ^^;   
      
   Sunnie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)