keyofnik: This episode also has an interesting bit of side negative commentary about female friendships, which is an odd message smack in the middle of a show like Sailor Moon. But I think the sources are what’s key here. For Rei, I think it’s a primarily a result of having huge expectations of females (and a corresponding zero expectations of males). From Mako, I can’t shake the feeling that she’s speaking from direct experience. We know that until Usagi, Mako was (nearly) friendless. Her size, demeanour, and inability to ignore bullying made her a constant target and/or source of fear. This comment though is making me think however that Mako had tried, and failed, to have friendships with girls in the past. What fractured them? Perhaps Mako refusing to cave to a social pecking order that required her to let bullying slide. Or maybe Mako’s physical maturity attracting too much attention from boys. Not having ever been a Japanese schoolgirl it’s tough to say. Maybe Mako’s not even speaking from a wealth of experience, just one friend, and that IS her entire experience. But these are pointed comments, made from the two people most likely to be speaking from personal experience, so I’m inclined to think they’re specifically character commentary rather than social. Also I do love that although she barely knows them, Mako just doesn’t want to see Rei and Usagi go the same way. This is especially sweet when you remember when you realize that her very first comment when seeing them together was what good friends they were.
