SM CRYSTAL EPISODE 12 SPOILERS - this is a compilation of a some thoughts Simon and I have started to share: So, regarding Beryls demise... I see the necklace thing as a really solid way of showcasing that Earthians dont have the same sort of power that the Moon people/others from space do - so in order for Beryl to have any magic at all, she has to sell herself to Metalia and is essentially now a lich - the power fueling her is in a talisman of sorts, and without it, shes no more. Its a very European sort of story, which fits with the Western style of the old Earth kingdom. And it makes Metalia and Beryls abilities very distinct from the sorts of powers all the others have. This also mirrors whats happening with Endymion. He too is now basically a lich - and the part of the crystal inside of him is acting as his talisman. Just as Beryl ceases to exist without her necklace/the power within it, so too will Endymion die if the crystal and the power its holding/amplifying is removed from him. Usagi knows this, not only in her heart, but she also just saw it happen with Beryl. So she knows theres no choice... Rather than letting Endymion live, cause more suffering, and take over the world with Metalia, Usagi knows she has to end this. And theres only one way to do so. By Moon deliberately not stabbing Beryl, (by -no one- stabbing Beryl, really) the final scene is all the more emotionally charged. Its a pure act of violence, and weve only seen it once before - when Princess Serenity kills herself. Its poetic to have the instances only as such, without anyone else using the sword for such an act in between. I love what happened in the manga, but Crystals version is factually stronger. Its okay to be uncomfortable that its different - but despite how we all fundamentally fear change, I do think that this telling is very well done. Especially as someone who has had to write a lot lately, and work with others in their writing, I really see these edits/changes as very tight. They sculpt the themes more appropriately. And in regards to violence... Theres definitely less blood than in the manga - but I think they upped the violence -against- the senshi, and instead toned down violence that the senshi -cause-. Its so consistent, that I cant help but think its deliberate... Maybe in part to showcase the girls differently, maybe also in part to make actual acts of violence all the more meaningful, and maybe also in part to ramp things up slowly as the show goes along. This also fits with the official translation weve been given for senshi - its guardian, not soldier or warrior or anything militaristic like that. These girls are guardians, and will show up to a place of suffering to protect and ease and make things better - they do not show up to -fight-. When they have to fight, they absolutely do, but they do it while on the defensive and in the least destructive ways possible. This fits Usagis character all the more (and thats a characterization that I feel only gets stronger as the series goes on, but certainly ought to be highlighted right away), and it will highlight the dichotomy between the Inners and the Outers all the more, when the time comes. After all, the Inners are -horrified- when they see the corpses of the Shittenou in that crater. Other than the battle on the Moon Kingdom, theyve never had to take part in or see such brutality. This is all still new to them. They wouldnt be aggressive in battle, it doesnt make sense. Anyway, theres my thesis on this episodes changes.
Posted on: Sat, 20 Dec 2014 17:18:46 +0000
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