From: phoenix@mediaone.net   
      
   Act 31 - Jupiter Awakens Her Senshi Powers!   
      
   Now _this_ is the way a power up episode should go! I really enjoyed   
   this little side trip as I have a bit of fondness for romantic   
   stories.   
      
   Luna T. is putting Makoto through some special training as she is the   
   last senshi to awaken her true powers. First up is making her eat all   
   sorts of food that she dislikes which includes a huge bowl of raw   
   potatoes.   
      
   Starting with his injured arm in a sling, a sequence of events occurs   
   leading up to Motoki asking Makoto (in an incredibly awkward manner)   
   on a date to see what looks like a really horrible movie. Makoto is   
   hesitant, but Luna insists that she do it as part of her training.   
      
   It seemed odd to me that Makoto gave Motoki only the curry and not the   
   rice to go with it. But then, Motoki already had the rice ready to go   
   before she even arrived.   
      
   The other girls were excited about Makoto's date and insisted that she   
   try out some cute clothes. Now here is an interesting thing... Each of   
   the girls had clothing images already stored on their cel phones, so   
   Sunnie-chan's theory about them 'shop-lifting' clothes was totally   
   spot on. Usagi had some fairly cute clothes, Rei had only uniforms and   
   'useful' outfits. Ami had some cute stuff and some decidedly... odd   
   stuff. It was so funny as the girls looked over to her after Makoto   
   tried on that, um, pull-string outfit. I guess that Mako had no   
   clothing images of her own to try so she goes back to her original   
   outfit. As Mako was storming out of the room, frustrated with the   
   whole exercise, Luna T. was jumping up and down, brandishing her own   
   cell phone. I suspect she had some outfits she wanted Mako to try on   
   as well (Cat ears? That would be cute ^_^).   
      
   They go to the movie and Makoto considers the possibility that Motoki   
   might like her. BTW, in the oshiokiyo for this episode, they showed a   
   deleted scene where Luna T. snuck into the theater to keep an eye on   
   the date.   
      
   After being so lame for most of this episode (really, for most of this   
   series), Motoki suddenly grows a spine and sincerely compliments   
   Makoto on her femininity and explains why he thinks so. Mako is truly   
   touched, even shocked that someone would see her that way. Feeling   
   awkward, she starts to leave. However, Luna T. suddenly shows up and   
   instructs Motoki to man up and date Mako properly.   
      
   Later, on the riverside, Motoki finally confesses to Makoto. She sadly   
   turns him down, explaining that she is not feminine like he thinks and   
   that it wouldn't work out. Motoki accepts her refusal and walks off,   
   but not before telling her again that she _is_ feminine. Ah, this was   
   so sweet. If Motoki changed his ways, and acted more like this, I   
   would really cheer for this relationship (since it appears that   
   Mako-Ami is not going to work out ^_^)   
      
   Motoki runs into Usagi, Ami and Rei. He has finally removed the   
   muffler. He tells them that he was rejected.   
      
   Mako is sitting on the riverbank, lost in her thoughts. Youma suddenly   
   appear and Mako gives battle after calling the girls (including Venus)   
   for reinforcements. These youma are special in that they were   
   apparently generated by Queen Metalia herself and not the generals.   
      
   Jupiter takes out the minor youma, but the leader is unaffected by her   
   attacks. As Jupiter is backed up against a tree, she reflects on her   
   life and how she was always alone, perhaps _meant_ to be alone. She   
   draws on this solitude to focus her strength listening to the wind,   
   gaining power from the trees (remember her element). She powers up to   
   an awesome Supreme Thunder, taking out the youma.   
      
   I found it really, really sad that Makoto's power came from her need   
   or requirement to face life alone.   
      
   While Mako has been discovering her power, Zoisite has been attempting   
   (unsuccessfully) to restore Nephrite's memory. As a result of an angry   
   confrontation, Zoisite transports Mamoru to the piano room just as   
   Kunzite and Jadeite both show up. The act ends with all four generals   
   and Mamoru together in the Dark Kingdom.   
      
   --   
   Phoenix   
   www.phoenixanime.com   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)