Eternity Main

Act 3: Rei Sailor Mars

This chapter does everything the last chapter does but better. Rei is another fantastic character, very different from both Ami and Usagi. This girl is a queen!! If I hadn't already known who the moon princess is I would have agreed with Luna about Rei being the Moon Princess. She's a smidge flatter than Ami but don't worry she gets fleshed out quickly.

I enjoy the Usagi/Mamoru in this chapter. It was cute and sets up the next chapter well without overshadowing Rei. Finally there's the fight scene. By far the best in the manga so far and it also has the first villain death. And he gets burned to death by Mars... yeah it's not too graphic but it is on screen. A nice hint that this manga is not staying as silly and light-hearted as it started.

Act 7: Mamoru Tuxedo Mask

Another chapter that starts off very info dumpy...otoh we finally get Mamoru's full backstory, which is nice. I wouldn't say about time cause I wasn't getting borded of the mystery but it's still good timing. My favorite thing about this chapter though is just how melancholy and almost star-crossed the relationship between Usagi and Mamoru feels here. It's both beautiful in its own right and it also sets up a massive plot point that runs for the rest of this arc. And does it fantastically, imho!

We also get a good part with Beryl... She might be my fave Sailor Moon villain and this chap is a good example of that. She's kinda working for the big bad but you can tell she's got her own thing going on to. Finally the battle this chap is very well done. I'd say in the manga Zoicite is probably the strongest villain so far. As such we get to see the girls on the defensive with seeming no way out (although this isn't the last time). At least until someone (no not Mamoru) shows up. Say hello to Sailor V.

Act 9: Serenity Princess

Well, after that gut punch of a cliffhanger; this was a gut punch of a chapter. So this chapter neatly finishes off the last arc (find the princess, all the Sailor Guardians, and the crystal) and starts us on the next (save Mamoru, defeat the Dark Kingdom) and it does this fantastically.

This story also gives us some information on Serenity and Endymion's star crossed relationship (who doesn't love a good forbidden love trope?) and the last days of the Silver Millennium. I adore the Silver Millennium and one of my favorite things about the manga is just how much info we get about it compared to say the anime (still not enough but hey I'm greedy).

We also get to see how the relationship between Serenity and her Guardians worked. It's not spelled out the same way as it was for Serenity and Endymion but the gentle and respectful way Minako approaches her when she's crying or the way she knows how to do Usagi's hair while the other girls try to comfort her speak to a loving and respectful relationship.

As for Usagi herself I need a way to hug a fictional character now, poor girl. I also find the idea that now that Usagi knows she's the princess she's having a bit of an identify crisis fascinating. I wonder why the other girls don't seem to be having the same problem?

Act 13: Final Battle Reincarnation

If you've seen my Usagi/Mamoru mini shrine you can probably guess how I feel about the opening to this chapter. And you'd be right, I love it. It's so rare that a story gives you the perfect quote to describe your OTP. *swoons*

I do like how (despite being understandably upset) the girls refuse to give up to despair. Yes they are prepared to lay down their lives but they also do so believing Usagi will be resurrected and destroy Metalia. What can I say I always enjoy a good Hail Mary.

I just realized I've completely forgotten to talk about the sword. Oops Honestly I like this plot point. A good vague prophesy is always fun, IMHO. Although this one isn't too vague, just as well because we really don't have time for that.

I've always been both a bit confused by and enjoyed how the watch saved Usagi and the Shitennou's stones saved Mamoru. Like we see the blades go through them so? But hey it's good symbology, and in the Shitennou's case a way to atone for their past choices, and I will never complain about good symbology messing with logic, especially in a story as soft fantasy as Sailor Moon.