Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card-hen: Episode 16 Review!

“Sakura and Meilin’s Friend" aka "Kero-chan's Doomsday."

Truthfully, I find I didn’t care much for the first half of this episode, and how the new card was sealed. All I could think about was the property damage happening, and the windows crashing in the green house. I know, I once warped Tokyo Tower in New Trials, but that was a one-off, and Sakura and crew made sure to restore it to original form, which I think is a part of social responsibility. The animation and the character design for the most part was quite weak this episode, except the last five minutes, but I don’t really mind if that means the budget is being used for especially significant episodes, such as the “Hug” episode. So, who is Sakura and Meilin's "friend?" Syaoran? The Struggle? Weird episode title.

Sakura: Kero-chan, it think we are going to get sued for private property damage!

Sakura: Kero-chan, can it be the Clear Cards are just a ploy to get me to learn English vocabulary?

I really didn’t get the card names this episode, Swing and Struggle. That being said, Sakura captures the first card of the episode, the Swing, following the earthquake from previous episode. Some trees and windows at Tomoyo’s mansion get smashed, the maze ruined and soil overturned. But all Tomoyo cares about is that Sakura and Kero is okay—and that Kero-chan captured magnificent footage for her. She says, “I can’t wait to see it later; oh ho ho.” This makes Kero-chan with his suction-cam sweat profusely. I do find Sakura’s relationship with the Flight Card cute—the only card with a personality so far. 

Yandere-Tomoyo: Kero-chan, if you missed a single moment of Sakura's action, off with your head!

Queen of Hearts Tomoyo: So, which one you dared to fall asleep during one of my screenings?

Akiho the Narcoleptic Dormouse: I can't believe I fell asleep at a friend's house again!

 

Sonomi, and the four girls gather for afternoon tea, Akiho is mortified she fell asleep while visiting a friend again. So, since Sakura is Alice in Wonderland, Akiho is actually the Narcoleptic Dormouse, which makes sense since Kaito is like the Mad Hatter. As the girls get ready to leave, Sonomi relays that Sakura’s great-grandfather is curious as to how Sakura will spend her summer and that he would like to see her again at the villa (foreshadowing a future manga chapter)! Sakura says she will get in touch with him through her father! 

Akiho: My best friend forever is Sakura-chan.

Kaito: Reality check, Sakura's best friend is Tomoyo, her most important person is Syaoran, her first crush is Yukito-san aka Yue, my homie, and her father's an architect. Question is, who am I?

 Yuna D. Kaito is waiting for Akiho as she walks home from Tomoyo’s place humming a little tune. Creepy Kaito says she sings beautifully, embarrassing Akiho. Akiho talks about how she couldn’t make friends because her family was always moving because they were searching for books. Oh gosh, I hope Kaito hasn’t kidnapped Akiho and brainwashed her or something. I do feel sorry for the girl this episode—she’s a complete puppet of Kaito, it appears. It’s creepy that Kaito asks who Akiho is closest to, and she replies Sakura. Sakura is so popular, there’s not enough of her to go around! And Kaito remarks that he hears Sakura’s father specializes in archeology and that he may have some interesting books. Akiho isn’t as clueless as you think, and she asks Kaito if she ever mentioned Sakura’s father to him before. Kaito seems to catch himself and whips out his pocket watch. A magic circle shaped like a clock appears beneath him, and he changes, “Tina, Rie Triax” or some gibberish, then says, “Time, in accordance with the covenant, turn back time.” And Akiho doesn’t remember what just happens and they chat happily along home, and you can’t help wondering how many times Kaito has brainwashed her in this manner. Akiho might just snap one day if time’s been turned back so many times in this manner. And also, the fact that there is another time-turner in the series, aside from Syaoran (with the help of the Time Card), is also alarming. In fact, I’ve see Syaoran stop time in the series, but never turn back time.

Kaito: Muggles, they're so difficult to deal with.

Kaitou: The British Ministry of Magic is going to freak out when they find out I stole a Time-Turner.

Akiho: Kaito-san, you were a Death Eater, after all! I should have suspected, knowing you speak parseltongue.

Akiho: Who's Tina-chan, Rie-chan and Trixie-chan? Are you two-timing on me behind my back?

Kaito: "Let's do this over."

Sakura and Meilin walk home together, and Meilin remarks on Akiho and Sakura’s similarities. I don’t see it, personally. Then, Meilin goes all Yoda-profound and asks Sakura what the people she knows are like, and Sakura replies, “They’re all good people.” Meilin then says, “When you believe all the people around you are good, you attract only good people. And when you believe all the people around you are bad, you don’t notice when you meet good people.” I wonder if she’s talking about Kai. She adds, “But you know, sometimes, watching good people makes me feel sad.” 

Meilin: So, this thing is supposed to be modeled after me or something?

Sakura: Syaoran taught me martial arts! Or not.

Meilin: Syaoran's useless this season! Leave it to the most important Li!

Then they get attacked by a humanoid card, similar to the Twin Card. It reminds me of the “angels” from Angelic Layer. This card feels more robotic, or mechanical because it makes clinking sounds, as opposed to the Clow Cards which were more ethereal, fairly-like creatures. Anyhow, the card attacks Meilin, who fights back fiercely with her martial arts skills, but it knocks her over. The card attacks Sakura, but Meilin comes to the rescue again—go Meilin! Meilin gives the card a punch, and you see its shoulder flicker. Meilin recalls taking the Twin with Syaoran, and Sakura figures out that the stones on each shoulder is the force’s weak point. Meilin says to copy her moves, and the two girls destroy the Struggle together. Kero-chan wakes up from a nap in Sakura’s bag. 

Bruce Lee's daughter?

Meilin: I'll teach your martial arts. Just follow me.

Good old days when Syaoran was gruff and Meilin the mean girl.

Meilin: Sniffles. My cheek will get bruised and Kai will freak when he sees me.

Back home, the two girls take a shower and Sakura’s blow-drying her hair, while Kero-chan is despairing at being asleep during the most important moment. Turns out he wasn’t worried about Sakura and Meilin, but that Tomoyo might find out he didn’t get the action on video! Kero-chan’s best line of the day: “What if Tomoyo finds out I didn’t get it on video!” Sakura wonders if that’s what Kero-chan should be feeling bad about, while Kero-chan is lost in deep despair on how he should tell Tomoyo. Sakura is worried about Meilin’s cuts, Meilin brushes it off, and Sakura offers to blow-dry Meilin’s long hair Meanwhile, Kero-chan wonders: “Should I apologize in advance, or should I bring it up casually tomorrow, like it’s no big deal.” Oh god, Tomoyo, what did you do to poor Kero-chan to make him so distraught? Yandere-Tomoyo is also a sadist. 

Sakura: Don't feel bad, Kero-chan, for napping while we captured a new card.

Yandere-Tomoyo: Off with your head! Oh ho ho.

Princess Meilin: Servant, cold air only, or else you'll damage my hair cuticles!

Meilin: So, you actually want to do this for Syaoran, don't you?

Sakura apologizes to Meilin for putting her in danger, but that it made her happy that she got to do something together with Meilin. Meilin is relieved, because she had been wondering how to scold Sakura if she continued to apologize and said she was happy to have caught a card with Sakura for the first time. Meilin returns to what she had been saying earlier, that watching good people makes her feel sad sometimes. “There are lots of different types of good people,” she says, but that people around her are always thinking of everyone else’s happiness and hope to make everyone else smile. “That’s a good thing, but if all you think about is other people, you stop caring for yourself.” She’s worried that both Syaoran and Sakura are too busy caring about others and not caring for themselves. She points out that this is especially the case for Syaoran, adding that he is stubborn atop of everything. She tells Sakura to find her own happiness first and make him open his eyes. Sakura wonders if she can do this, and Meilin asks, “You don’t think you can?” Sakura says she feels things are a lot different, not just with the new cards, but that something important is different. Meilin says that Sakura has the most powerful magic words. And Sakura smiles. “I’m sure everything will be all right.” Meilin says in impeccable English, “That’s right!” And Kero-chan is still glooming whether to apologize to Tomoyo or save his skin for the time being. 

Meilin: Take care of yourself first!

Meilin: You have your magic words!

Sakura: "Everything's gonna be alright" feat Sweetbox

Meilin: "That's right!"

 Meilin leaves, Kinomoto Fujitaka also sees her off, catching a private cab for her. Sakura asks if it’s okay not to see Syaoran before she leaves, but Meilin goes, “Eh, if anything happens, he’ll come to Hong Kong.” And she said she almost accomplished everything she came to Japan for. She then whispers in Sakura’s ears if she can call her “Sakura” and Sakura replied “Of course.” Meilin had been calling Sakura "Kinomoto-san" up till this point. And Meilin declares she achieved 100% of what she came to Japan for. Umm… What about checking on Syaoran? So, Syaoran departs for Hong Kong on bus, and Meilin by cab. Taxis in Japan are super expensive.

 

Sakura: Meilin, you're leaving already? But we haven't seen Syaoran in two episodes!

Meilin: So, who's your BFF, Akiho or me?

Sakura: Actually, it's still Tomoyo.

Meilin: The goal of my visit was to be in an episode, without Syaoran usurping the spotlight.

Sakura: Free at last! In another land, I'm a princess too.

Just when we think the episode is going to wrap up with no Syaoran, Meilin gives Syaoran a call before leaving. Syaoran tells her that he told her he would take her to the airport. And Meilin replies she can go by herself and that both of them are worrywarts. Meilin brags that she will be calling Sakura by her first name from now on. Syaoran asks how that came about, Meilin replies they fought together, and Syaoran gets all worried that something happened again. Meilin goes, “Why don’t you ask Sakura yourself!” I love how Meilin’s the only one who can still consistently make Syaoran lose his cool. Meilin tells him, “I don’t know what you know or why you came to Japan, but if anything happens to you, I know who will be the saddest.” (Eriol.) She adds, “I’m Sakura’s friend, too. If you make her cry, you’ll regret it.” Syaoran goes, “Ah,” his form of yes. This is a theme I do try to touch upon in New Trials, so I'm glad the characters of Clear Card are also evolving along from the original series as well, transitioning from simplistic notions of friendship and love, to more nuanced relationships.

Meilin: I know who will be saddest if anything happens to you, Syaoran.

Syaoran: "Yeah."

Meilin: Hiiragizawa Eriol. (And Kai.)

This episode started pretty weak but ended very strong, with the phone conversation between Meilin and Sakura, and Meilin and Syaoran. I’ll really miss the breath of fresh air that Meilin has been, and her ability to say whatever’s on her mind, and also glean some insight into the otherwise secretive Syaoran. Syaoran's outfit of the day (more like past two weeks) is so nice too, with tan pants, off-white sweater with green collars, that it's a pity we don't see more of him wearing it. And did he redo his bedroom curtain's pink from green in elementary school days? I mistook it for burgundy in the evening light the other episode. Oh Syaoran.

Syaoran: "..."

I will leave you all with the words of Mizuki Kai to Syaoran in New Trials of CardCaptor Sakura Chapter 73: “It’s okay to be selfish sometimes, Syaoran. You always sacrifice yourself and make others around you look bad. And I don’t think that’s what Sakura wants.”

Cardcaptor Sakura Clear Card-hen: Episode 15 Review!

“Sakura’s Nostalgic Viewing Party” aka "Hair Stylist Sakura meets Thespian Syaoran"

I had to dance a little jig, Meilin’s visit didn’t end with last episode, and she’s staying till at least next week! Some might call this a “filler episode” as well, and it probably is more so than any other episode to date, since most of it was flashbacks to the Nadeshiko Festival play, but it wasn’t just a mere recounting, but rather, further never-seen behind-the-scenes of the rehearsal and actual play, and also enabling a smooth transition fitting in Cardcaptor Sakura Movie 2: The Sealed Wand, to fit into canon with the Clear Card Arc. I really appreciate the anime staff taking the time to do this, because I get so frustrated when sequels ignore the facts of its prequels, but I guess it’s the perks of having the same director, Morio Asaka, and scriptwriter, Nanase Ohkawa, and studio, Madhouse, who have shown the same respect to the source material that fans would demand. I haven’t rewatched Movie 2 in ages—I’ve actually rewatched Movie 1 more often, though Movie 2 is very special in my heart. I probably never really rewatched Movie 2 again in its entirety in years, because for me, it marked “The End” of Card Captor Sakura, the last time I thought I was going to ever see Sakura and crew animated, a befitting ending of my favorite series ever, through a fantastic feature film. Boy did I not know what I was going to get, with Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, with the manga, anime, OVA, movie, sequels, and now, Clear Card Arc. After the emotional train-wreck that Episode 14 was, I welcomed the lighter tone and slower pace of this one. The animation last week was feature film quality, so compared to then, the in-between artwork was a little off, but I don't mind since I'm sure the budget was used make the last episode extra beautiful and cinematic!   

Akiho: Ladida, today, I'm going to be the heroine of the day. Hair perfect.

Akiho: Kaito-san, when do I get to graduate to a big-girl plate?

Tray breakfast: Kaito either thinks of Akiho is toddler, or he's the laziest butler in the world and doesn't want to do extra dishes.

Kaito: I'm a great magician with the title of "D." As if I have time to be babysitting some kid.

We start the morning with Shinomoto Akiho, who sleeps with her “Alice in Clock Land” book by her nightstand. Akiho over breakfast with Yuna D. Kaito shares her dream about Alice and her friends turning into animals. Kaito wonders what kind of animal Akiho would turn into, and correctly guesses a bunny (usagi). So, Alice is indeed Sakura, which would make Akiho a spectator or observer at the moment. I wonder if she also saw “The Hug.” 

Princess Meilin: Servant, don't pull my hair!

Meilin: I was going for Daenerys Targaryen, but this will have to do with Sakura's clumsy fingers.

And to my utter delight, we’re back in Sakura’s house, and Meilin’s still around! Girl, how many days are you staying in Japan, and more importantly, mooching off of the Kinomoto house? I’m sure Syaoran’s gotten enough food for you at his place now. Oh wait, but he doesn’t have any furnishing except in his room. I actually thought Meilin was Tomoyo for a second, because she is wearing her hair down again, and Sakura’s trying out a half-up braided do for Meilin, referencing a fashion magazine. Last week, Tomoyo was wearing a Chinese-styled outfit, this week Meilin's wearing a Tomoyo-inspired one. Kero-chan is busy gaming. Sakura is nervous on how she did with Meilin’s hair, and Meilin, always stingy with compliments, says it “passes” but actually looks really pleased. Meilin again comments to Sakura, “I bet if you grow your hair out, you can braid it yourself!” Meilin, are you giving Sakura some hints that Syaoran actually likes long hair? Meilin asks Sakura if she always had the same hair, and Sakura shares that her father Fujitaka always cuts her hair for her. I think she forgot that Yukito has cut her hair before. Yukito cuts Touya’s hair, and Touya cuts Fujitaka’s hair, forming a virtuous circle. Nobody lets Sakura cut their hair though. (Run, Syaoran, run!”) 

Meilin: Sakura, haven't you thought about growing out your hair? Guys are crazy about long hair, you know, like mine.

Meilin is shocked that Sakura doesn’t get her hair cut at a salon. Meilin declares she always gets her hair cut at a salon, being the chic city girl trendsetter she is, but that Syaoran’s mother always cut Syaoran’s hair when he was little. Apparently, it is dangerous for a magic user to expose their neck to a blade they are strong enough. Oh my gosh, am I reading too much into the lines as a fanfiction writer, but Meilin’s insinuating that Syaoran’s mother was scared of assassination attempts on Syaoran’s life when he was little. I’m going to cry a little bit. I actually thought Meilin was going to say something about cutting the hair impairing magic powers or strength, like Samson and Delilah. It’s so like Syaoran that he hated going to the salon, so Wei cut his hair for him. But Meilin wonders who’s going to cut Syaoran’s hair now. I’m not sure you guys have noticed how high-maintenance Syaoran’s hairstyle actually is, because he has the long bangs, but his bottom half is buzz-cut, which would require probably weekly shaving/clipping. I would love to have a cute scene in the future of Sakura cutting Syaoran’s hair, but being the fashionista he is, I’m sure he wouldn’t trust her with it. I think he’d rather go to Yukito, Fujitaka, or even Touya, in that that order, than risk Sakura giving his a bald-spot with her clumsy razor-wielding skills. Well, he probably will do a better job cutting his own hair, as is. 

Meilin: Gurl, what do you mean you've never been to a hair salon? No wonder you had the same hairstyle all your life!

Meilin: Have you heard of "Shingeki no Kyojin"? Think about where the Titan's weak point is. Blade to the back of the neck. Sakura: Hoe, so I'm an Ogre (Sakuzilla), and Syaoran's a Titan?

Sakura worries about Syaoran again, after the other day inside the Fantasy aka Attack of the Animals, and Meilin points out that he already sent a message. Sakura is too polite too call, worried he’s still sleeping or something. Meilin shrewdly points out that written words don’t convey if he’s really okay. I’m glad that both girls have acknowledged that what Syaoran says and shows on the outside differs from what he’s really thinking and feeling. This sort of layered nuance to characters is what makes Card Captor Sakura such a strong mahou shoujo series, in its own league compared to kiddie magical girl shows, and which is why I think it resonates with such a wide audience, male and female, along with adults and younger viewers. Meilin is such a breath of fresh air, because compared to other characters who are so polite and respectful, she says what she thinks and is blunt. She suggests Sakura just calls Syaoran, and then goes ahead and calls him herself! She asks if he’s eaten breakfast, and we only hear her side of the conversation. But from her response, “you won’t get better if you don’t eat,” it’s obvious he hasn’t eaten. My poor Syaoran, not only is he living in an unfurnished house, but he’s not even taking proper care of his meals. I think his fancy bentos at school are all just for show so his friends don’t worry, and he just starves himself at home. Then, he seems to ask Meilin about Sakura, and Meilin tells him to just tell Sakura himself, and Meilin hands over her smartphone with a red case to Sakura. I actually have almost the exact red cover case that Meilin has at the moment. 

Matchmaker Meilin: "You can't tell if someone's okay through a text message, huh."

Meilin: Gurl, why don't you just call the boy?

Meilin: Fine, I'll call him!

Sakura: No, what if he's face-timing with Eriol?

Sakura: To ask or not to ask about "The Hug" last time.

I don’t know why but everything Syaoran seems to tell Sakura (besides in Episode 14) seems to be a lie, and he says he’s awake and making breakfast for himself. Sakura tells him to eat well and not push himself too hard. Not that he’ll listen to her. But he says he isn’t. Then asks if Meilin isn’t causing trouble, that she likes taking care of other people, but that people get the wrong idea because of how she talks. (Yes, we do know that!) I love when the cousins speak of each other so endearingly. Syaoran apologizes that he can’t make it to Tomoyo’s place because he’s busy (doing what I wonder). And Meilin lets the two hang up, rather than take the call back. Gosh, Meilin gaming with Kero-chan is so cute. It makes me wonder where she picked up gaming. Hmm… Kai, I’m looking at you.

I wonder who Syaoran is spending his Sunday with, other than me. I mean, his cousin who flew all the way from Hong Kong to visit him. Isn't that disrespectful?

Syaoran, Meilin's been staying at my place for three weeks now and is treating me as a servant!

Sakura: And I think Meilin's trying got train Kero-chan to become her chauffeur!

Sakura, Meilin, and Akiho head over to Tomoyo’s house for a screening party, Meilin and Akiho chat in English, and Sakura gets befuddled. Meilin says to Sakura how come she doesn’t even know basic middle school English. Sakura remarks both their pronunciation is so good Meilin remarks that Sakura should get Syaoran or Akiho to teach her. Mind you, Yukana’s pronunciation was slightly better than Akiho’s seiyuu, Suzuki Minori’s. Akiho promises to teach Sakura. 

Akiho: I had the weirdest dream about you and Syaoran last night.

Akiho: You were embracing each other in a land where the Earth and Moon can be seen. It was so romantic!

Meilin: Twiddledee and Twiddledum. OMG Akiho's a closet pervert.

At the Daidouji estate, Tomoyo has a hanging red rose garden too. Maybe inspired from Eriol. Sonomi glomps Sakura at the front door. Sonomi had all her schedule rescheduled to see Sakura that day. Super polite Meilin returns as she greets Tomoyo’s mother. And Meilin even picks up Kero-chan’s telepathic signals from the bag to put aside some afternoon tea snacks for him. Meilin’s always been kickass and awesome, but can we just mention how fabulous she’s been in Clear Card Arc so far? Can she just transfer back to Tomoeda? Sonomi skipping off and singing “afternoon tea” in English is the cutest thing ever this episode. And also, after the crazy outfits last week, namely Sakura’s harem pants, I absolutely love everyone’s outfits this episode, from Sakura’s Bohemian-style orange blouse with the white and yellow flowery lace trimmings on the bottom, paired with her puffy chick-yellow shorts and white thigh-high socks with red garter belts, to Tomoyo wearing her hair tied up in a Chunhyang-esque style, with a pale lavender pinafore. But Meilin’s wins best outfits of the week, with her half-down braided style kudos to Sakura and her sky-blue dress with a pleated skirt and sailor-style collar, knee socks, and tan ankle boots.  

Akiho: Adults exist in the series!

Meilin: Hold up, they don't like you like I love you. "Lemonade" a Visual Album by Beyonce.

Yandere-Tomoyo: Today, you are going to watch all my movies of you, Sakura. Ohhoho.

Tomoyo debuts her movie screening room, where she mostly views her video clips of Sakura. You know, I’ve always wondered if I ever overdid it with some of my interpretations of characters in New Trials of Card Captor Sakura, but I realized, nope, I did not. If anything, the Clear Card versions are even more outrageous! Anyhow, the girls sip on lemonade and view the Tomoeda Nadeshiko Festival play that Sakura’s class put on when they were in sixth grade in the super large-screen VIP-style movie theater, complete with luxurious red leather chairs. Tomoyo controls the screen with her smartphone remote control. Sakura is totally dismayed when she learns what Tomoyo’s screening. Meilin’s commentaries to Akiho during the play screening are so precious, from her remarks that Tomoyo made all the costumes, that Syaoran and she were back from Hong Kong over summer break, even complimenting her own acting, Meilin-style. I love Meilin’s remarks on how Syaoran had protested playing the prince, how his acting has improved so much, and listen to this, how he played a princess before (Sleeping Beauty in fifth grade) and how awful he was! I swear this entire scene, replacing Akiho with Miho, could just straight be out of New Trials or something. I loved it! Akiho wants to see the Sleeping Beauty recording. I want Syaoran in the room when she does.

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?"

"What’s in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."

Syaoran: I learned all my lines and choreography in one day. Am I actually an acting genius?

Sakura: I don't think so. Don't you remember "Sleeping Beauty" last year?

Sakura-hime 1: When this movie ends, Clamp's going to put us in this epic, gory tragedy called "Tsubasa Rservoir Chronicle."

We see new scenes from the masquerade ball from the “Beautiful Romance” play, I guess from audience perspective, but the footage cuts out in the middle because of an earthquake back then. No worries, Tomoyo has edited together some clips from the rehearsal! Sakura is blushing the whole time watching. Meilin remarks Syaoran had to learn all the lines and dance steps in one day (since Yamazaki hurt his arm). I loved seeing flashbacks to the rehearsal in the classroom, and our cute little Sakura in pigtails and her elementary school summer uniform again! Syaoran is seen practicing the dance steps with Chiharu, poison-tongued Meilin remarks watching, “Sucks doesn’t he?” Tomoyo interjects he improved quickly.

Pigitail Sakura = Best Sakura.

Yamazaki: Little do these common folk know that I am faking an injury so Syaoran can be prince.

Syaoran: One-two-three, thank goodness my mother forced me to take ballroom dancing as a child.

Note how Tomoyo is multi-tasking getting Meilin to hold the fabric while she's sewing--see all the costumes scattered around her, plus, she has a camcorder pointed at S+S. And, we are watching from another angle, so there is another camera also recording from behind them!

It’s cute that Chiharu was Syaoran’s dance coach back then—she had a double sense of duty since it was Yamazaki-kun who was inconveniencing Syaoran (though I’m sure he was in on it,) and then I also remembered she’s in cheerleading, so that’s why she’s so rhythmic and good at teaching the steps! It’s also very realistic how Sakura was wearing her lace-up red ballet slippers even during rehearsal! Good to practice the shoes you will perform in! Sakura steps on Syaoran’s toes and apologizes saying he was moving too fast and to try again slower. The two gaze into each other’s eyes, are lost in their own wonderland, get the steps right, and earn a classroom-wide applause much to their embarrassment.

Naoko: I hope Sakura doesn't step on Syaoran's toes.

Syaoran: Ouch, Sakura stepped on my toes.

Syaoran: Are you sure you're the cheerleading club captain?

Tomoyo: I've got to send this clip to Syaoran's sisters!

Back to present, Akiho is impressed at how hard they practiced so heart, Tomoyo remarks it’s heartwarming, and Meilin added, “Especially because the two are such serious people!” I love how Meilin points out that Syaoran is such a serious kid. Best comment from Meilin: “Daidouji-san, how many cameras did you have set up, anyway?”

Syaoran: My poor toes.

Tomoyo: When we're in junior high, I'm going to produce a play based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," starring Sakura and Syaoran, "Star-Crossed."

Syaoran: Sakura, I just had a very ominous feeling about our future.

Clueless Akiho: I want to see the end of the play!

Akiho says she would have liked to have seen the play to the end, Tomoyo astutely remarks, “Li-kun is in Japan now, and she would love to see Sakura and Syaoran acting again so she can film them, plus Naoko is in the theater club, so we can make it happen!” I absolutely love how Sakura, who usually gets pushed around by Tomoyo, interjects that Tomoyo had a solo at the festival and Akiho echoes she’d like to see that! Tomoyo immediately mellows out and says, “I did, but it wasn’t that interesting.” Oh modest Tomoyo!

Tomoyo: The stars are aligned. Li-kun is back from Hong Kong, Naoko is in the Theater Club, and that means, we are surely going to have a new school play starring S+S.

Sakura: You guys know that Tomoyo had an awesome solo in the Nadeshiko Festival, right?

Akiho: I want to listen. (So I can size up my rival's true skills).

Real star of the show: Tomoyo!

Yandere-Tomoyo: "Not interested."

I knew Tomoyo was the Big Boss, for an earthquake happens, interrupting the screening. Sakura puts Akiho to sleep with the Snooze. We have a Public Safety Announcement moment, where Tomoyo tells Meilin and sleeping Akiho to stay underneath a table to say safe during the earthquake. Then she wuips out her camcorder and runs off excited. Sonomi and the bodyguards gather in one place, Sakura puts all of them to sleep. And Sakura puts Tomoyo in her place for a second time, and tells her to stay put because it’s dangerous. Yandere-Tomoyo puts a suction action camera on Kero-chan’s head and remarks, “Of course, so you can do your job without worrying about me.” Any moment now, Tomoyo’s going to go over to the dark side.  

Meilin: Wait, wasn't the new girl the new enemy? Kero-chan: Oh boy, you're behind news.

Tomoyo's PSA of the day: Stay underneath the table during an earthquake!

Meilin: Tomoyo, but you're the person in most danger all the time!

Yandere-Tomoyo: "..."

Tomoyo: I'm counting on you, Kero-chan. Put your life on the line to capture the thrilling, action-packed moments of Sakura sealing the card! If you don't...

This is the first time we actually ended an episode with a proper cliff-hanger, aka had a multi-episode arc. I don't mind that today is a Syaoran-free episode, since I was kind of expecting it since last episode was a Syaoran-centric one. And we got a phone conversation and plenty of flashbacks of sixth-grader Syaoran as well, plus Meilin's commentaries, so I didn't even have time to miss him. But I will definitely miss him if he doesn't make a prominent appearance next episode, which he is bound to do anyway whenever Meilin wracks havoc. Suspicious Syaoran was home today, though it’s the weekend. Even if Syaoran stole the Sakura Cards’ powers, and also is setting the dark forces—I mean the new Clear Cards—on Sakura, it is likely in her best interest, to protect her from the new threat that the British magical society, or the evil Kaito-san and whatever accomplices he has, pose to her. I don’t think there is ever any question of Syaoran’s good intentions in Clear Card Arc, just on some of his methods. We’re probably going to get a Season 2, anyway, so I’m not too worried about wrapping things up in next couple weeks, though I will be sad if we have to wait another year, or two, for the new season to give time for the manga to advance. This episode doesn’t clear up why Eriol, aka Clow Reed’s, mansion is up again and Akiho’s living in it. But I’ve sort of ignored that fact as well while I’ve been writing New Trials, so it’s not really a problem to me to just gloss over this detail and leave it to supernatural explanations.

Sakura: What do you mean, cut?

Tomoyo: See, I told you we spent too much time on my uninteresting solo. We ran out of time for the week before you got into any actual action!

I think we might get some Meilin action time next week! And is Sakura doing a martial arts pose at the end with Meilin in the preview? Who taught Sakura martial arts?