From: sunniechan@comcast.net   
      
   Phoenix wrote:   
   > Act 17 - Minako Transforms in Front of Rei's Eyes   
      
   *sigh* I keep planning to catch up over the weekend, but I usually don't   
   even get the two episodes for those days watched.  I'm working on it,   
   I'm working on it... ^^;   
      
      
   > Usagi, Ami and Makoto are given a sewing assignment. They all decide   
   > to make mufflers and wonder who they should give them to as a gift.   
   > Ami selects her mother, Makoto doesn't know and Usagi is torn but then   
   > suddenly decides that she still has Tuxedo Kaman and so will make hers   
   > for him.   
      
   Makoto and Ami both notice that Usagi seems a little strange in this   
   choice (given her initial hesitation and frantic changes of subject).   
      
   >   
   > Since it happens to be the anniversary of her mother's death, Rei is   
   > kneeling in front of a grave stone titled, "Risa Hino 1963-1995"   
   > (Which means Rei should have been five at the time her mother died).   
   > Although Rei is Shinto, it appears that her mother is Christian.   
   > Inside the church, next to the graveyard, Minako is praying at the   
   > tabernacle (So Minako may be Christian as well). Earlier, in her   
   > apartment, Minako had fainted and we got the first hint that there may   
   > be something seriously wrong with her health.   
      
   My question is, is this just our first hint, or is it hers as well?  She   
   seemed really surprised by this.  While Artemis asks if she's okay   
   before she faints, I really got the feeling it was more of a "are you   
   getting too tired from hiding all the time/too lonely?" rather than the   
   "Is your illness taking you down?"  Moreover, I think it would have been   
   more appropriate to put such a hint in the hospital visit than here,   
   unless it truly is a new issue.  She wanted out, and even her manager   
   said there was no reason for her to stay other than non-medical reasons.   
     Added to that is her comment about only having a half of a year left   
   in the preview for the next episode.  Assuming she's talking about   
   herself, she seems quite surprised.  I have no proof, of course, but I   
   do think this malady has just been discovered, which is why it's not   
   until this episode she starts truly taking an interest in the other   
   senshi--particularly Rei.   
      
      
      
   Like Rick, I thought this was the episode where Rei and Minako tried to   
   one up each other...and I was wrong too. ^^;   
      
      
      
   >   
   > A youma attacks a priest at the church and Rei quietly excuses herself   
   > from Minako to give battle. Minako follows them into a gymnasium where   
   > Mars is knocked to the floor. Just as it looks bad for Mars, Minako   
   > transforms into Sailor Venus and we finally get to see her full   
   > transformation, which is really spectacular. It seems to me that she   
   > got the best henshin of all the senshi. Mars witnesses the whole   
   > thing.   
      
   Personally, I dislike her henshin.  It's rather ugly compared to the   
   others, and takes a bit too long.  A little too spectacular,   
   particularly with the long part with her hair changing.  I like   
   Rei/Mako/Ami's transformations the best.  Short, sweet, and kinda cute.   
      
      
      
   >   
   > The act ends with Mars and Venus staring daggers at each other.   
      
   ...(spoilers for much later episodes)   
      
   S   
   P   
   O   
   I   
   L   
   E   
   R   
   S   
   P   
   A   
   C   
   E   
      
   Staring daggers, or realizing love at first sight? ^_-   
      
   Sunnie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)