Episode 26: "Sakura and The Wonderful Teacher" or "No Way Out"
Introduction to the Experiment
Episode 25
Episode 26: Sakura and The Wonderful Teacher (Card Captor Sakura) or No Way Out (Cardcaptors)
Sakura is late getting home. After nearly falling her face, a young, beautiful woman catches her. Sakura is awestruck as the woman says, "See you tomorrow". At home, Sakura tells Kero about the woman. In the Japanese version, all Sakura can say is that she was really pretty while in the English version, she says that she looked mysterious. Toya comes in to give Sakura some Jell-O and stares long and hard at Kero. Kero suspects that Toya knows something's up with Kero. The next morning, Sakura is nearly late for school but she makes it in time. That day, the students find out that their regular math teacher is going to be away for a few weeks so they have a substitute. It's the woman that helped Sakura the day before. Her name is Kaho Mizuki or Ms. Mackenzie. Li does not look too happy about this. Li calls Sakura and Tomoyo to him to discuss this and after Meilin barges into the discussion, Li says that something's weird about their new teacher and that they should be on guard. Out of nowhere, Mizuki says that they shouldn't be on their guard because they won't be able to learn math! In the Japanese version, Li is weirded out that she was able to sneak up on him like that. Next, Mizuki reveals that she knows all their names while Ms. Mackenzie even identifies who is good at math or not. Sakura thanks her for the other day. Later on, Naoko says that the Tsukihime shrine has charms that actually grant wishes, especially in love, which catches Sakura and Meilin's attention. The English version simply says they're "good luck amulets" but Sakura and Meilin still care. After school, Sakura and Tomoyo go to the shrine to get said charms. The Japanese version specifies that Sakura wants it for her relationship with Yukito while the English version says that Sakura wants luck for catching Clow Cards. When they step inside, Sakura feels something's off. Before she can identify it, they see Li struggling with Meilin. Meilin wants to get a charm to help her relationship with Li (yes, in both versions). Sakura jumps in to ask if Li senses something. Then they hear a ringing bell before the landscape gets all weird. Soon enough, they're inside what appears to be a maze. Li identifies it as the Maze Card and the only way to make it disappear is to find the exit. So, first they try running one hand along the wall to find the exit but it doesn't work. Sakura tries flying upwards to find the exit but the walls just grow higher. After Meilin kicks the wall in frustration, Sakura decides to slice the walls with the Sword Card which seems to work until the wall fixes itself. After that, the walls and floor get all woobly. After that, the Maze changes into a M.C. Escher painting and Meilin is far from them, completely sideways. Li tries his wind spell but the space-time-dimension-thing is messed up so they have to find some way to get to her. While this had been happening, the Kinomoto family notice that Sakura is not home yet and Toya goes off to search for her. Eventually, they reach a tunnel which will place Meilin out of sight. In order to not lose her, they ask her to count loudly until they come out. They go into the tunnel but soon Meilin goes silent. They rush out of the tunnel to find Meilin gone. After worrying about her fate, they hear that bell ringing againg and see a shadow approaching. It's Meilin, who is fine. After her, out comes Mizuki, who the Japanese version specifies as Meilin's savior. Mizuki is holding a weird bell and apparently she rang it to warn them about the maze. The Japanese version has Mizuki add that she is the daughter of the priest who runs the shrine. Mizuki uses her bell to smash the walls down, which don't repair themselves this time. This confirms Li's suspicions about their new teacher. Anyway, they emerge from the Maze. The Maze starts to warp and Li tells Sakura to seal the Card already. But Mizuki is standing right there. Fortunately, Mizuki says it's fine and turns around. Sakura seals the Card. The Maze Card floats to Mizuki but she hands it to Sakura. Toya comes up and is angry about where Sakura was. In the Japanese version, Sakura tries to explain why she's there but Mizuki steps in and tells Toya not to scold her. It is clear that they know each other and Toya is dumbfounded. In the English version, Sakura lies about losing track of time and Ms. Mackenzie steps in to tell Tori not to scold her. Ms. Mackenzie doesn't seem to know Tori. After that, Meilin and Sakura realize that they never bought their charms but the shop is closed. Not to worry because Mizuki has the very charms they need. So, everyone but Sakura and Toya go home pretty fine. In the Japanese version, Li warns Sakura yet again to beware the teacher while in the English version, Li compliments her on a job well done. In the Japanese version, Mizuki and Toya have some banter that imply that they know each other while the English version has a more neutral conversation. In the Japanese version, Sakura asks if Toya knows Mizuki while in the English version, Sakura merely thanks Ms. Mackenzie.
Wanna set it for yourself?
Card Captor Sakura Episode 26: Part 1/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 26: Part 2/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 26: Part 3/3
Cardcaptors Episode 26: Part 1/3
Cardcaptors Episode 26: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 26: Part 3/3
Hm, this is in the manga as well. Instead of doing it scene-for-scene, like with last episode, they managed to lengthen it logically and give Meilin some sort of purpose to the capture. It is worth noting that Li is basically Meilin in the manga: he wants the charm to enhance his relationship with Yukito. It's funny that even the Japanese producers made him less gay for this episode so Meilin could have something to do and some reason to be there.
Card Tally
Sakura: Windy, Fly, Shadow, Watery, Rain, Wood, Jump, Illusion, Silence, Thunder, Sword, Flower, Shield, Power, Mist, Float, Erase, Glow, Move, Fight, Loop, Sleep, Song, Little, Mirror, Maze
Current number: 26
Li: Time, Storm
Current number: 2
I really like the English title better than the Japanese one. I just find the "wonderful teacher" to be a bit bland.
Wow! I love the English version of Kaho Mizuki! They managed to make her a much more intriguing character than in the original Japanese. I usually roll my eyes at the English version's attempts of (un)subtle hints as to what the Card of the Week is but, in this case, her going on about puzzles really worked for me. It would make sense for a math teacher to talk about puzzles like that, especially at the level she is teaching at. My favorite change with her was instead of just identifying the four kids (which she could easily do since she probably has a class list and she just saw them), she identifies whether they're good at math by sight alone! If that doesn't show magical powers, I don't know what does! Although it is interesting that both Li and Sakura are good at math, especially since Sakura was supposed to be not so good at math in the manga. Turning the two into positive role models, perhaps? The only change I didn't get was her rant about cats being underfoot. That was so weird and random. Do the English producers have something against cats or what?
Another change that was made was Ms. Mackenzie apparently not knowing Tori. Whether they truly don't know each other is to be seen (they might just be better actors than the Japanese version of these characters) but I can see why they might change it. I've never shied away from spoilers before so I won't now: in the manga, Mizuki dated Toya when she was a student teacher for his class. That makes her the third teacher dating a student in this series, by the way. Clamp must have had some serious teacher/student fantasies. Since this is frowned upon in North America, I can see why they might remove that bit of history. But we'll have to see.
But, in short, I'm loving Ms. Mackenzie. I hope her character stays this interesting!
All of filler scenes are cut in the beginning. Did I miss them? Not really as they are filler scenes such as Sakura wolfing down breakfast, Sakura sighing over Yukito, the teacher mildly teasing Sakura about being late, and so on. The only drawback is that the beginning seems very jumpy because of the rapidfire scene changes. However, I'm wondering if I would have felt this way if I hadn't seen the Japanese version first. Such is the nature of the design of the experiment.
I will talk about an interesting scene cut because it relates to an overall change for Li's character in this episode. When Li gathers Sakura and Tomoyo to him, in the Japanese version, Meilin is not there. He starts talking when Meilin comes over and practically tackles him, saying he promised to eat lunch with her. Li tries to explain that he's talking about something serious but Meilin wants in. Eventually, Li pushes her. The way the shot is framed doesn't make it clear whether Meilin was simply shoved aside or to the ground. I actually went "Whoa!" when I watched that moment. The English version completely removes that moment, starting at the point where Meilin is already listening, standing next to the other girls. Later on, when they're in the Maze, in the Japanese version, Li tells Sakura to try to sense where the Card is. In the English version, he suggests that they "work together". At the end, in the Japanese version, Li warns Sakura about the teacher again but in the English version, he compliments her on the capture. In other words, Li was a lot nicer to the girls in this episode, especially to Sakura, in the English version than in the Japanese version. Of course, to be fair, some of his lines regarding the whole "Meilin is in a space warp" thing are a bit less sympathetic than the original but even his reaction to Meilin going missing is a lot nicer than the Japanese version. In the Japanese version, when they find Meilin missing from her platform, Li goes, "I even told her not to move" while the English version has Li go, "Now how will we find her?" The Japanese version of Li is practically blaming Meilin for her going missing!
So, where is the sexist version of Li I'm supposed to be seeing? He's been around for the past 18 episodes and I've yet to see a scene where I thought, "Wow, that was really sexist!" Really rude, yes. Really mean-spirited, yes. Really smug and obnoxious, yes. But not yet sexist.
To be honest, this episode is a lot funnier in the English version than in the Japanese version. While the Japanese version made me grin at best, the English version made me laugh, hard. Some notable line changes include:
Li: But I don't want magic amulets!
Meilin: But our destinies are intertwined and it's very bad luck to fight it, Li! (this exchange makes me think that the English producers have decided to keep Meilin's crush on Li)
and
Li: Stay calm, Meilin! We're coming to get you!
Madison: We're going to do that, how?
Li: Take the stairs, what do you think?
and
Meilin: Help me! I'm sideways! (my personal favorite)
There are dozens of lines like these and they're hilariously funny. Hey, they may be trapped in a Maze but that doesn't mean they have to lose their sense of humor!
There was only one change that I didn't like and that was Sakura dealing with Tori at the end. I thought Sakura was acting really rude to Tori by essentially blowing off the situation by going, "Oops, forgot the time!" No wonder Tori is mad at her! Geez! And I didn't really get why the "one hand against the wall" technique was changed to being Li's idea rather than Madison's.
Now for plot holes!
1. Why doesn't Li want a charm for Yukito? Even the Japanese version seemed to have forgotten about Li's crush on Yukito. Too distracting?
2. How did the shop get closed when there was a huge Maze blocking the way? Wouldn't the employee manning the shop either a. notice the huge Maze or b. get caught in the huge Maze when he closed it? Unless it was Mizuki herself who was manning it but that begs the question: When did she close it?
3. Not really a plot hole but... guessing that the girls wanted love charms does not take psychic powers. They're young girls on the verge of or starting puberty (depending on when you place the start of puberty), of course they want love charms. Never does it take psychic powers to guess they wanted luck amulets either since everyone, young and old, wants more luck.
In conclusion, because of a fantastic interpretation of a new character along with some fat-trimming cuts and amusing line changes, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the English Cardcaptors being the superior.
Episode 27
Episode 25
Episode 26: Sakura and The Wonderful Teacher (Card Captor Sakura) or No Way Out (Cardcaptors)
Sakura is late getting home. After nearly falling her face, a young, beautiful woman catches her. Sakura is awestruck as the woman says, "See you tomorrow". At home, Sakura tells Kero about the woman. In the Japanese version, all Sakura can say is that she was really pretty while in the English version, she says that she looked mysterious. Toya comes in to give Sakura some Jell-O and stares long and hard at Kero. Kero suspects that Toya knows something's up with Kero. The next morning, Sakura is nearly late for school but she makes it in time. That day, the students find out that their regular math teacher is going to be away for a few weeks so they have a substitute. It's the woman that helped Sakura the day before. Her name is Kaho Mizuki or Ms. Mackenzie. Li does not look too happy about this. Li calls Sakura and Tomoyo to him to discuss this and after Meilin barges into the discussion, Li says that something's weird about their new teacher and that they should be on guard. Out of nowhere, Mizuki says that they shouldn't be on their guard because they won't be able to learn math! In the Japanese version, Li is weirded out that she was able to sneak up on him like that. Next, Mizuki reveals that she knows all their names while Ms. Mackenzie even identifies who is good at math or not. Sakura thanks her for the other day. Later on, Naoko says that the Tsukihime shrine has charms that actually grant wishes, especially in love, which catches Sakura and Meilin's attention. The English version simply says they're "good luck amulets" but Sakura and Meilin still care. After school, Sakura and Tomoyo go to the shrine to get said charms. The Japanese version specifies that Sakura wants it for her relationship with Yukito while the English version says that Sakura wants luck for catching Clow Cards. When they step inside, Sakura feels something's off. Before she can identify it, they see Li struggling with Meilin. Meilin wants to get a charm to help her relationship with Li (yes, in both versions). Sakura jumps in to ask if Li senses something. Then they hear a ringing bell before the landscape gets all weird. Soon enough, they're inside what appears to be a maze. Li identifies it as the Maze Card and the only way to make it disappear is to find the exit. So, first they try running one hand along the wall to find the exit but it doesn't work. Sakura tries flying upwards to find the exit but the walls just grow higher. After Meilin kicks the wall in frustration, Sakura decides to slice the walls with the Sword Card which seems to work until the wall fixes itself. After that, the walls and floor get all woobly. After that, the Maze changes into a M.C. Escher painting and Meilin is far from them, completely sideways. Li tries his wind spell but the space-time-dimension-thing is messed up so they have to find some way to get to her. While this had been happening, the Kinomoto family notice that Sakura is not home yet and Toya goes off to search for her. Eventually, they reach a tunnel which will place Meilin out of sight. In order to not lose her, they ask her to count loudly until they come out. They go into the tunnel but soon Meilin goes silent. They rush out of the tunnel to find Meilin gone. After worrying about her fate, they hear that bell ringing againg and see a shadow approaching. It's Meilin, who is fine. After her, out comes Mizuki, who the Japanese version specifies as Meilin's savior. Mizuki is holding a weird bell and apparently she rang it to warn them about the maze. The Japanese version has Mizuki add that she is the daughter of the priest who runs the shrine. Mizuki uses her bell to smash the walls down, which don't repair themselves this time. This confirms Li's suspicions about their new teacher. Anyway, they emerge from the Maze. The Maze starts to warp and Li tells Sakura to seal the Card already. But Mizuki is standing right there. Fortunately, Mizuki says it's fine and turns around. Sakura seals the Card. The Maze Card floats to Mizuki but she hands it to Sakura. Toya comes up and is angry about where Sakura was. In the Japanese version, Sakura tries to explain why she's there but Mizuki steps in and tells Toya not to scold her. It is clear that they know each other and Toya is dumbfounded. In the English version, Sakura lies about losing track of time and Ms. Mackenzie steps in to tell Tori not to scold her. Ms. Mackenzie doesn't seem to know Tori. After that, Meilin and Sakura realize that they never bought their charms but the shop is closed. Not to worry because Mizuki has the very charms they need. So, everyone but Sakura and Toya go home pretty fine. In the Japanese version, Li warns Sakura yet again to beware the teacher while in the English version, Li compliments her on a job well done. In the Japanese version, Mizuki and Toya have some banter that imply that they know each other while the English version has a more neutral conversation. In the Japanese version, Sakura asks if Toya knows Mizuki while in the English version, Sakura merely thanks Ms. Mackenzie.
Wanna set it for yourself?
Card Captor Sakura Episode 26: Part 1/3
Click to viewCard Captor Sakura Episode 26: Part 2/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 26: Part 3/3
Cardcaptors Episode 26: Part 1/3
Cardcaptors Episode 26: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 26: Part 3/3
Hm, this is in the manga as well. Instead of doing it scene-for-scene, like with last episode, they managed to lengthen it logically and give Meilin some sort of purpose to the capture. It is worth noting that Li is basically Meilin in the manga: he wants the charm to enhance his relationship with Yukito. It's funny that even the Japanese producers made him less gay for this episode so Meilin could have something to do and some reason to be there.
Card Tally
Sakura: Windy, Fly, Shadow, Watery, Rain, Wood, Jump, Illusion, Silence, Thunder, Sword, Flower, Shield, Power, Mist, Float, Erase, Glow, Move, Fight, Loop, Sleep, Song, Little, Mirror, Maze
Current number: 26
Li: Time, Storm
Current number: 2
I really like the English title better than the Japanese one. I just find the "wonderful teacher" to be a bit bland.
Wow! I love the English version of Kaho Mizuki! They managed to make her a much more intriguing character than in the original Japanese. I usually roll my eyes at the English version's attempts of (un)subtle hints as to what the Card of the Week is but, in this case, her going on about puzzles really worked for me. It would make sense for a math teacher to talk about puzzles like that, especially at the level she is teaching at. My favorite change with her was instead of just identifying the four kids (which she could easily do since she probably has a class list and she just saw them), she identifies whether they're good at math by sight alone! If that doesn't show magical powers, I don't know what does! Although it is interesting that both Li and Sakura are good at math, especially since Sakura was supposed to be not so good at math in the manga. Turning the two into positive role models, perhaps? The only change I didn't get was her rant about cats being underfoot. That was so weird and random. Do the English producers have something against cats or what?
Another change that was made was Ms. Mackenzie apparently not knowing Tori. Whether they truly don't know each other is to be seen (they might just be better actors than the Japanese version of these characters) but I can see why they might change it. I've never shied away from spoilers before so I won't now: in the manga, Mizuki dated Toya when she was a student teacher for his class. That makes her the third teacher dating a student in this series, by the way. Clamp must have had some serious teacher/student fantasies. Since this is frowned upon in North America, I can see why they might remove that bit of history. But we'll have to see.
But, in short, I'm loving Ms. Mackenzie. I hope her character stays this interesting!
All of filler scenes are cut in the beginning. Did I miss them? Not really as they are filler scenes such as Sakura wolfing down breakfast, Sakura sighing over Yukito, the teacher mildly teasing Sakura about being late, and so on. The only drawback is that the beginning seems very jumpy because of the rapidfire scene changes. However, I'm wondering if I would have felt this way if I hadn't seen the Japanese version first. Such is the nature of the design of the experiment.
I will talk about an interesting scene cut because it relates to an overall change for Li's character in this episode. When Li gathers Sakura and Tomoyo to him, in the Japanese version, Meilin is not there. He starts talking when Meilin comes over and practically tackles him, saying he promised to eat lunch with her. Li tries to explain that he's talking about something serious but Meilin wants in. Eventually, Li pushes her. The way the shot is framed doesn't make it clear whether Meilin was simply shoved aside or to the ground. I actually went "Whoa!" when I watched that moment. The English version completely removes that moment, starting at the point where Meilin is already listening, standing next to the other girls. Later on, when they're in the Maze, in the Japanese version, Li tells Sakura to try to sense where the Card is. In the English version, he suggests that they "work together". At the end, in the Japanese version, Li warns Sakura about the teacher again but in the English version, he compliments her on the capture. In other words, Li was a lot nicer to the girls in this episode, especially to Sakura, in the English version than in the Japanese version. Of course, to be fair, some of his lines regarding the whole "Meilin is in a space warp" thing are a bit less sympathetic than the original but even his reaction to Meilin going missing is a lot nicer than the Japanese version. In the Japanese version, when they find Meilin missing from her platform, Li goes, "I even told her not to move" while the English version has Li go, "Now how will we find her?" The Japanese version of Li is practically blaming Meilin for her going missing!
So, where is the sexist version of Li I'm supposed to be seeing? He's been around for the past 18 episodes and I've yet to see a scene where I thought, "Wow, that was really sexist!" Really rude, yes. Really mean-spirited, yes. Really smug and obnoxious, yes. But not yet sexist.
To be honest, this episode is a lot funnier in the English version than in the Japanese version. While the Japanese version made me grin at best, the English version made me laugh, hard. Some notable line changes include:
Li: But I don't want magic amulets!
Meilin: But our destinies are intertwined and it's very bad luck to fight it, Li! (this exchange makes me think that the English producers have decided to keep Meilin's crush on Li)
and
Li: Stay calm, Meilin! We're coming to get you!
Madison: We're going to do that, how?
Li: Take the stairs, what do you think?
and
Meilin: Help me! I'm sideways! (my personal favorite)
There are dozens of lines like these and they're hilariously funny. Hey, they may be trapped in a Maze but that doesn't mean they have to lose their sense of humor!
There was only one change that I didn't like and that was Sakura dealing with Tori at the end. I thought Sakura was acting really rude to Tori by essentially blowing off the situation by going, "Oops, forgot the time!" No wonder Tori is mad at her! Geez! And I didn't really get why the "one hand against the wall" technique was changed to being Li's idea rather than Madison's.
Now for plot holes!
1. Why doesn't Li want a charm for Yukito? Even the Japanese version seemed to have forgotten about Li's crush on Yukito. Too distracting?
2. How did the shop get closed when there was a huge Maze blocking the way? Wouldn't the employee manning the shop either a. notice the huge Maze or b. get caught in the huge Maze when he closed it? Unless it was Mizuki herself who was manning it but that begs the question: When did she close it?
3. Not really a plot hole but... guessing that the girls wanted love charms does not take psychic powers. They're young girls on the verge of or starting puberty (depending on when you place the start of puberty), of course they want love charms. Never does it take psychic powers to guess they wanted luck amulets either since everyone, young and old, wants more luck.
In conclusion, because of a fantastic interpretation of a new character along with some fat-trimming cuts and amusing line changes, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the English Cardcaptors being the superior.
Episode 27