[DreamSword]

Act 6

This is an episode that I feel will be greatly affected via hindsight.

On face value, I get it. It's essentially a sped-up version of the same arc that Raye just had via the past two episodes.

This one is about Lita, or Sailor Jupiter. And like in the 90s anime, she's a tomboy who likes sports, gets into fights, and has trouble with men she likes. Unlike Raye, she's generally friendly with Serena right at the jump though.

Where the (atleast for now) big difference between the 90s anime and PGSM is, however, in how exactly both shows portray Lita's' more "boyish" traits.

The 90s anime right from the jump made it very clear that Lita wasn't a freak for her more stereotypically masculine interests. Infact, that she was able to celibrate both masculinity and femininity at once was her strength and what made her unique. But here? The masculine side is kinda treated as a curse.

Like don't get me wrong, I get it, this show is meant to be a bit more downtrodden and dramatic than the versions of the story that came before it, but at the same time, this take seemingly removes a rather forward-thinking and cool element to Lita's' character. Granted, it's only her intro, so there's plenty of time to turn it into an arc as we go, but the starting point does make me uneasy.

But, on face value, separated from the versions of Sailor Moon that came before, this episode does work out pretty well for what it is. The general lesson it has, that you frankly shouldn't just someone as a whole for what they at first appear to be, is an important one to teach. And the basketball bullies getting dunked on(both physically and metaphorically) is rather satisfying to see play out. There's plenty to like here.

Oh, and this version of Raye is asexual. My glorious queen.