Last Moments

by Adrienne

(Review after)

Last updated on the 13th of December, 1998.


      I feel like I already said a lot of what I wanted in the counterpart review. The only thing I left out were the various insights that I did not want to give away. Below are the scenes and quotes that I particularly liked.

Favorite quotes/scenes:

1.      In bitter isolation I watched as my people began to degenerate, people who had been previously so strong in mind and body.

     I felt that that was a powerful image That must have brought such a wretched despair to Demando, because I can imagine him so proud and yet so powerless to help his people. A nice, dark moment.

2.      I made myself believe in desperation that if she [Sailormoon] but kissed me she would realize the true extent of my feelings . . .

     That was a heart-calling for me. It showed a realistic side of human nature, that sometimes one must have an utter faith and belief that goes against logic and yet makes so much sense to the despairing mind. I am glad that Adrienne saw that. It helped me see that scene in different way that made more sense than what the anime alone might portray.

3.      I thought to myself that she [Esmerodo] had been as I, in a hopeless love.

     The way he recognized it - I just that it was a very nice insight. I think there is something sad about being made to recognize the hopelessness of a situation. When there is nothing on can do about it. (Read next quote.)

4.      Before her [Esmerodo's] demise I viewed her need for me as a weakness and I admit I was and am still guilty for using her emotions against her. I am saddened by this yet I know I could love no other save for my brother & the Queen who occupied my mind constantly.

     Again, I liked it because of his recognition of the situation, that yet he could not help who he loved (By the way, I thought that of his brother's death in the anime was especially poignant - just something I thought I would say on the side! ^_^ ). He saw how he used her and knew it but did it anyway. To an extent, another true show of human nature.

5.      I wonder why it is that no matter what I do and no matter how hard I try she loves me not. Neo Queen Serenity who is so full of love that even she cannot bring forth that emotion for me...

     That was a very sad truth to bring light. It brings about deep sort of despair. And the thing is we see it in the anime, it is not hidden or anything, but Adrienne is the one who brings it in that specific light. If Sailormoon gave love to no one, that would be one thing, but to be despised, scorned by the one you love, to be denied what she so willingly gives to everyone else. A bitter and sad moment.

6.      . . . she [Serenity] knew all along in the future that we would all die.

     That was the killer, killer sentence for me. It's kind of hard for me to explain why. It made one feel sorry for Serenity because it brings us back to that scene after they have been sentenced, and Demando looks back to see Serenity being comforted by Endymion. And yet it is so reasonably plausible, too. The idea that Serenity - and it makes sense - knew that she was, in a way, ending them to their deaths. Keeping in mind that Usagi is Serenity, it's kind of sad to think that in the future, Usagi, of all people who should never do or want to do such a thing, and yet, she knows that she is supposed to. Perhaps sheer whim is acting on me, but that was the killer sentence for me.


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Email me at dfang@pomona.edu.

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