The season’s final episode, “Act 38: Infinite 12 – Journey,” opens with a lengthy recap of last week, where Super Sailor Moon hurls herself into Pharaoh 90 and Sailor Saturn is reborn. Surely those three and a half minutes would have been better spent on climactic new content?
Anyway, on to new happenings. As Saturn continues her assault on Pharaoh 90, Sailor Moon and her Silver Crystal react to Chibi Moon’s call. Saturn and Moon join their power against their common foe, and Pharaoh 90 begins to break apart. The Senshi are awestruck as Sailor Moon reappears after vanishing into the depths of Pharaoh 90 last episode, a bit worse for wear but seemingly unharmed.
As the tide of battle shifts, the Inners and Outers get their own Super upgrades! (Their outfits don’t actually look that different: the ribbons on the back are longer and one of their sleeves becomes partially gossamer and transparent, like Moon and Chibi Moon.) Then, Pharaoh 90 enters his bargaining phase, asking Saturn and Moon if he can return to his native star system. Saturn won’t entertain the suggestion, launching herself forward and preparing to deliver the final blow.
As the others fear for her safety, Saturn calmly reminds them, “Hope and rebirth always begin with the end.” Saturn tells everyone Sailor Moon can allow the planet to be reborn, then asks Pluto to close the rift in spacetime that allowed Pharaoh 90 to come to Earth. Knowing that Saturn will likely die as a result, Pluto tearfully obeys.
The time door closes, trapping Saturn and Pharaoh 90 inside. Sailor Moon weeps over the loss of Hotaru and transforms into Princess… no, sorry, Neo-Queen Serenity, restoring the destroyed buildings of Tokyo. Mamoru realizes the Messiah figure of his disturbing visions has been Serenity all along. (It’s a good thing he’s pretty, because the boy is not the brightest crayon in the box.)
With Pharaoh 90 vanquished, the sky returns to blue and a beam of violet flashes for an instant, giving way to the sound of a crying infant. As Neptune, Uranus and Pluto approach, the tot blinks open purple eyes and the symbol of Saturn glows at the center of her forehead. They realize it is Hotaru, reincarnated, and the three resolve to act as the girl’s adoptive parents.
The Outers, mysterious and aloof as ever, decide that they must leave, but first express their gratitude to their new comrades. Pluto promises Chibi Moon they will see one another again, “because we are friends.” Neptune gives Chibiusa her mirror as a token of their affection, and they ask her to look after the princess. The wind picks up, and rose petals fly through the air as the Outers disappear. It’s a lovely, affecting scene that nicely articulates the bonds between the group.
With everything seemingly back to normal, the episode draws to a close with Chibiusa narrating a letter to her parents. She’s become a full-fledged Sailor Guardian, she informs them with pride, and plans to return home to the future soon. Springtime has come to Juban, and sakura petals drift on the breeze. The girls are chatting and showing off their new high school uniforms in the park; exams are now over, and everyone has passed.
Usagi’s jubilation takes the form of her goofily dancing around with a set of maracas, in a nice throwback to the sillier moments of the 90s anime. “To think,” Chibiusa ponders, “Usagi can’t even write kanji but became a high-school student.” Ami and Rei are also confused about how she managed to pass, leaving Usagi hurt. But Minako cheers her up, cheerfully insisting they can take make-up exams together.
Mamoru arrives in the park, wearing a truly hilarious vest and choker combo that would look smashing with his infamous purple trousers. He and Usagi prepare to see Chibiusa off for her journey back to the 30th century. As they walk, a crowd gathers to watch an eclipse. The sky darkens, and Chibiusa is distracted by the sound of a bell, presumably that of Pegasus. But that’ll have to wait for Season 4!
This episode had consistently stellar, beautiful animation, and was a high point of the reboot’s strongest season yet. Now that it’s all over, it’s clear Season 3 of Crystal has accomplished a great deal: drastically improving the animation quality, redeeming Chibiusa and giving Hotaru / Sailor Saturn the fascinating backstory she has has long deserved. However, the abbreviated format of Crystal still sacrifices character depth all too often (though it does improve over the first two seasons). Many fans will find the reboot's handling of Haruka and Michiru’s relationship unsatisfying; this was a major missed opportunity. Even the “cousins” of the censored English dub of Sailor Moon S seemed closer. Overall, Crystal Season 3 is a hugely enjoyable, gorgeous new take on the ‘Infinity’ storyline with lots to offer, but it doesn’t quite manage to take the place of Sailor Moon S as the definitive version.
What did you think of the finale of Sailor Moon Crystal Season 3? Will you be watching next season? What’s your favorite version of the ‘Infinity’ story, Sailor Moon S or Crystal Season 3? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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All episodes of Sailor Moon Crystal can be viewed on Hulu, Crunchyroll and Viz.com.
