The Bad

1- Rushed Climax- So this has been happening for a couple episodes now. We get a lot of story and when it comes to the action of the episode it’s ultimately very rushed. The fight against Tellu was just racing through the beats. Moon wand, transform, Tuxedo Mask, scream, dead scream, face- credits. I forgive it again because I know once we’re done with the witches 5 this basically becomes all senshi action- but still! I would have liked them to cut out Usagi chasing Haruka and even the group transformation if it meant a little more time for this fight and the Pluto return.

2- Missed Opportunity- For the readers of the manga, you know that the Infinity Arc does not actually have a scene where Setsuna says “Pluto Planet Power Make-up.” Though this episode was once again a perfect adaption of the manga I was hoping they would take this moment to give us a Pluto Transformation. Unfortunately, I think a Pluto and Saturn transformation will have to wait until the Dream Arc. Also, there was just no time to stick it in there!

3-That Chase- I appreciate the perfect adaption of the manga but I think there should be a bit more picking and choosing what needs and doesn’t need to be included. The scene where Haruka and Michiru just happen to NOT notice that they walked by ALL the six senshi resulting in Usagi chasing them home… come on. That was a solid minute of action we could have had.

The Good

1- Art Again- I cannot say enough how much I love the artwork of this show! Every week it does not fail to amaze me. There is the scene where the bullies are laughing at Hotaru and instead of just showing their faces filled with glee (as I suspect the previous seasons of Crystal would have done) they show their legs with dark shading upwards to deliver this artistic visual that these are mean people. It’s a small example of just the nice creative touches and unique stamp that this season is putting on the story. Perfect.

2- Senshi have Personalties- This was again something lacking in the previous seasons. The senshi were just one giant person in a sense and as limited as episodes are, this season has allowed the senshi to shine as individuals where they can. I’ve said it before but I don’t totally blame the creators of the first two seasons for this. These seasons have been really faithful to the manga and the lack of individuality in the senshi I have to attribute to the source rather than the creative forces that made those episodes.

Overall another worthy episode. I’m kind of over the “witch of the week” situation and luckily, though next time there is still another witch, fans of the manga know it’s JUICY.

(Spoiler Ahead for Act 32!)

The last witch will hex the seven senshi to fight each other as you can see in the preview. I am HOPING that we get to see some attack animations for characters we have yet to see. The manga does not show attacks being called out in the fight which means the creative team behind Crystal has soooo much freedom to really put something unique together.

I want to see Dead Scream/Cronus Typhoon, Submarine Reflection/Deep Submerge, and World Shaking! Episode two of this season gave us so many throw backs to previous beloved attack sequences that I’m hoping the same respect is given to the outer senshi in Act 32.

Until next week!