Episode 28: "Sakura and the Enchanted Cards" or "Buyer Beware"
Introduction to the Experiment
Episode 27
Episode 28: Sakura and the Enchanted Cards (Card Captor Sakura) or Buyer Beware (Cardcaptors)
Remember episode 3? For the sake of clarity, this will have two separate summaries.
Japanese version: Sakura and the rest of the female students are in cooking class. Sakura is scared of the burning oil and nearly burns the place down by stalling. As they wait for Sakura to drop her croquette in the oil, the girls discuss these "magical" cards that are being sold at the place where Sakura and friends got those plushies. Apparently, there are all sorts of cards and they actually grant wishes! The romance ones perk up Meilin's ears and after she saves Sakura and the class from Sakura's cowardice, she meekly asks where the shop is. After that, Meilin heads to the shop to get the romance card but chickens out at the last minute. At home, Sakura tries to make the croquettes again but she can't do it. The next day, it's time for the vault in gym class. Naoko isn't too thrilled but she's going to try. After Sakura and Meilin do amazing at it, Naoko does amazing too. It turns that Naoko got the jump card. After gym, the girls who have bought cards show off their cards. They look suspiciously like Clow Cards! After school, Sakura and Tomoyo go to buy cards. The shop is packed and there is a revolving stand of cards. As they arrive, Meilin is leaving, with a bag clearly in her hand. Tomoyo asks if Meilin bought a card which causes Meilin to freak out and deny it. Sakura asks for a card that helps one cook but they're sold out. After the shop keeper leaves, Meilin begins to protest too much about how she totally doesn't need the love card she just bought because Li and her are fine, thank you very much! At that moment, the card flies out of her hands and lands at Li's feet. He remarks that it looks like a Clow Card and she starts fretting about Li thinking that she's starting to doubt his feelings and they leave. Sakura (off-camera) tells Kero about the cards. On screen, she says they actually grant wishes. Kero asks if she has one but she doesn't; she'll go tomorrow. After that, her father brings her some flan. The next day, after Li contemplates the lunch options for far too long, Meilin comes with her insane amount of lunch and drags him outside. Also outside is Sakura and Tomoyo (Tomoyo made lunch for Sakura apparently). They are joined by Toya and Yukito. Yukito speaks of his love for croquettes which reaffirms Sakura's desire to get good at making them. Meilin and Li walk by and the two groups notice each other. Li notices how gorgeous Yukito is, Meilin notices how blushful Li is, and Sakura does introductions. Meilin corrects Sakura's assertion that Meilin is Li's cousin and explains she is his fiancee. Li is mortified and drags her away. After school, Sakura goes to buy her card. Once there, she senses the presence of a Clow Card. Soon she realizes that the Card was there and is there no longer. She asks the shop keeper what the Card was. It was the Shot Card. A call to Kero confirms that this is seriously bad news: the Shot Card is an attack card and if one says "shoot" or "aim", it activates. The shop keeper tells them that it was one of Sakura's friends who bought it. So, Sakura and Tomoyo go flying around, trying to find Chiharu and Naoko, who they saw leaving the shop as they were entering. Meanwhile, Li is grumping about Meilin saying what she said in front of Yukito when he senses a Clow Card. Sakura and Tomoyo find the girls but it's no good: neither of them have the Card. Chiharu then says that they did see Meilin in the shop. Sakura and Tomoyo decide to split up. Sakura sees Li and they discuss the situation. Sakura and Li then go flying. Li uses his spell to activate his Lasin Board in this bookbag and it points them toward the roof of the school. Meilin is there, thinking that she'll use the Shot Card to do something with Li's heart. Sakura and Li land and tell her that the Card she has is a real Clow Card and it's dangerous so she better hand it over. But Meilin is first angry that they're together and then doesn't believe them. As Li tries to grab it from her, she says that she'll use the Card to "take an aimed shot at Syaoran's heart". Of course, that turns it on and it starts shooting at Li. So, Li runs around trying not to die. Sakura is able to shield him for a bit but the Shot is getting more accurate. Li decides to jump out of Shield and run around (because it only wants him) so Sakura can get a chance to seal it. At one point, it actually hits Li's hand and Sakura notices the sun. Sakura presents the Mirror Card and Li gets the hint. She gets the Mirror Card to produce a mirror which Li runs toward. At the last second, he ducks and the Shot shoots itself. Weakened, Sakura seals it. Li and Sakura wonder if Meilin is okay but Tomoyo (who is there now and got the whole thing on tape) says she's fine. Sakura and Li help Meilin stand up. That night, Sakura successfully makes croquettes. Sakura thinks it's the fault of the enchanted card (that she bought... somehow) but Kero says it's because she put her mind to it. The next day, Meilin is trying to feed Li, whose hand is in bandages. Sakura and Tomoyo inquired about his hand but Li brushes them off and walks away. Meilin gives Sakura what she claims is a Clow Card but swears that the next time, the Card is theirs. It turns out that Clow Card isn't a Clow Card but the cook card. Tomoyo says that Sakura can already make croquettes but Sakura says that she wants to get better and it came from Meilin, which makes her happy to have it.
English version: It's dinnertime at the Avalon house and Sakura is struggling to make dumplings. She waits too long to drop the dumpling and falls down from fright or being splashed by the oil, it's not clear. The next day, Nikki's down because they have to the vault in gym class. After Sakura and Meilin are awesome at it, it's Nikki's turn. Someone cries out that she can do it because she wished on the card. And Nikki does it perfectly. After that class, Nikki shows off her jump card. Sakura and Madison realize that it looks like a Clow Card. Madison asks Sakura if it's the real Jump Card. Sakura then proceeds to flashback about how she captured the real Jump Card. Since she already captured it, Nikki's card can't be it. Madison asks where the girls got their cards and they say it's Twin Bells. Sakura asks to see Chelsea's cards and Sakura and Meilin (who is suddenly there) remark that they are "interesting". After school, Sakura and Madison go to check it out. They run into Meilin, who protests that she's just looking. Sakura asks where the cards came from. The shop keeper says that she actually isn't sure. They just appeared one day from a company she had never heard of; she nearly sent it back. Regardless, they're very popular! Sakura thinks something's weird is going on. Back home, Sakura tells Kero about the cards (off-camera) and they talk about how the girls think the cards are really magic. Kero thinks they just got suckered out of their allowances while Sakura wishes they were really magic; she needs help making dumplings! Her father comes in with some pudding and ends the conversation. The next day, Sakura and Madison go to the shop again. Sakura sense a Clow Card. Eventually, she traces the source to the card rack. Sakura asks the shop keeper what happened to the card that was just there. She thinks someone bought it. Sakura asks which card it is and after some thought, the shop keeper thinks it was the Shot Card. Who bought it? Probably one of Sakura's friends. Off they go to call Kero. Kero confirms their suspicions: the Shot Card is an attack card and if one says the name of the Card, then it shoots the first person it sees. After fruitless searching, Sakura and Madison fly around looking for the girls. Meanwhile, Li is thinking that something strange is going on before something catches his attention. Sakura and Madison find the girls but it's no use: neither of them have the Card. But Chelsea thinks they saw Meilin in the shop but she's not sure if she bought anything. Sakura and Madison decide to split up and meet at the school later. Sakura sees Li and they talk about the situation. Off they fly and Li uses his Lasin Board to find Meilin at the school. At the school, Meilin is thinking that the card she has may not be a Clow Card but it'll fool people, even Li. Sakura and Li come and tell her that she has a real Clow Card. Meilin is excited because that means she can capture Clow Cards too! Li tells her to hand it over because it's dangerous but Meilin's not having it. As the two wrestle for the Card, Meilin declares that "the Shot Card is mine!". Of course, it activates and it starts aiming for Li. Li runs around getting shot at before Sakura erects Shield. But Li busts out of the Shield because it only wants him so Sakura should take the opportunity to seal it. Eventually, it hits Li and Sakura notices the sun. Sakura pulls out the Mirror Card and Li gets the hint. Sakura produces a mirror and Li runs toward it, ducking at the last second so the Shot Card shoots itself. Sakura then seals the Card. Sakura and Li wonder if Meilin is alright but Madison says she is. Madison manage to get the capture on tape. Sakura and Li help Meilin stand and Li thanks Sakura. That night, Sakura successfully makes her dumplings. Afterwards, Sakura marvels at how her friends thought their wishes came true because of supposedly magical cards they bought. Kero adds that wishes do come true but not because of a card, but by putting your mind to it.
Wanna see it?
Card Captor Sakura Episode 28: Part 1/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 28: Part 2/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 28: Part 3/3
Cardcaptors Episode 28: Part 1/3
Cardcaptors Episode 28: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 28: Part 3/3
Wow. Just wow. This episode is just a trainwreck of illogic. I spent about 90% of this episode going, "Wait? WHAT? HUH? WHY? HOW?" The Japanese version is ten times worse because it moves like molasses. You know it's bad when you're watching the Japanese version and going, "Man, I can't wait to watch the English version because I know they'll cut this part!" The biggest problem to me was the use of the Card itself. I like the idea of the Shot Card but the way it's introduced as a love device (?!) just made no sense. The English version tries to fix this but still, why would Meilin buy that card? In other news, I may have made fun of Sakura in the summary but until recently, I pretty much cooked with boiling water the same way. In order to make ravoli, I would stand about three feet back and toss the ravoli in, causing it to splash more than it would otherwise. My older brother used to tease me about it too. To this day, he'll pantomime me doing that even though I no longer do. Oh, and more nostaglia. Ten to thirteen-year-old girls will buy anything if it says it has magical powers, don't they? I bought gems, necklaces, tarot cards, you name it. I totally would have bought those magic cards in the show at that age. Oh, and I totally love croquettes and I want some so badly right now!
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, Shot
Current number: 27
Li: Time, Storm, Return
Current number: 3
Both of the titles are kind of bland but I still prefer the English one. It has more punch to it.
Right, so, cuts. The English version cuts A LOT out of this episode. So much so that it threatened another episode collapse like in episode 3. They simply removed too much that the commercial breaks couldn't cover everything. So, they have to pad it out. I understand that. But showing the entire capture of the Jump Card? The entire thing? That was a bit much. It got so long that I started giggling hysterically as it just wouldn't end.
Then again, what should they have kept? The cooking class is probably the best bet but even that scene gones on a bit too long and, I don't know about other schools in North America, but Home Economics was a middle school class in my district, not an elementary school one (although I do remember one day in elementary school where we made johnny cakes to tie in with our pioneer unit or maybe it was tied with reading Little House on the Praire but I think the teachers may have done most of the work). In fact, at my school, if you did a foreign language and a music class, you didn't have to do home ec at all (and this is why I can't cook or sew). So, they may have felt that having a young character on a young kids' show handling hot oil for giggles might not be wise. The other cut scenes though are so unbelievably boring and drawn-out (the lunch scene was torture to watch, seriously, why show Li looking back and forth between options for a minute or so?!) that the viewers (read: me) would probably die if they had been left in.
So, they're left with the cooking scene or a overly long flashback. They went with the overly long flashback. In retrospect, it probably worked better because the United States version skipped the first seven episodes, which included Jump so it was probably nice to do that so the viewers in the States wouldn't be completely lost (when did she catch Jump?!). Ironically, one complaint I've heard about this version is that they end up cutting important details so they have to insert those details into later episodes, which makes them cut important details in those episodes and the cycle continues. Considering that they actually did do the Jump episode and they just used the flashback to make up time since they cut all of the boring, pointless bits, I'm not seeing the truth to that complaint. Okay, maybe there is some validity with Li changing his lines from one episode to the next but that wasn't a cut so much as a change (and it wasn't even that important, see my write-up for my thoughts on that line). But I digress.
In short, I'm down with the cuts. As I said, the Japanese version of this episode moves so slow. It is torture to watch (never mind the plot holes). I was literally hoping scenes would get cut in the English version. The English version delivered. They messed up with the overly long flashback but they couldn't have 20 minutes of commercials for a 30-minute program so I forgive them. Yes, yes, yes, they cut Li being gay again but that scene is so pointless and so random that it adds nothing. It really feels like "Yukito's actress needed her paycheck" scene. Yes, they also cut the scene where Meilin gives Sakura a card but that scene is so riddled with plot holes that it was a blessing that it was removed because then my brain didn't have to explode.
Besides the beginning and the ending, the middle is pretty much intact, except for line and motivation changes. As I've said repeatedly, this episode is full of plot holes but the English version did its best to resolve some of them. Most of these are done through minor line changes, such as Sakura admitting that it's dangerous for her to go flying around downtown in broad daylight or having the girls agree to meet at the school. It's these little lines like these that can resolve a lot of plot holes and make my brain not explode.
The biggest change is Meilin's reason for wanting the Shot Card. Meilin's original Japanese reason for wanting the Shot Card makes absolutely no sense. I still can't figure how she reasoned her plan out. By having her simply wanting to pretend it's a Clow Card, any Clow Card, to fool Li, I can buy her wanting the Shot Card. I kind of like how Meilin's motivations have more to do with her ego than simply wanting Li to like her. I'll admit I much preferred Meilin's English statement that Li can't boss her around. Yes, I know, it's the feminist Westerner mindset but there you go. Also, because Meilin's scene with the love card was cut, it also cut this kind of awkward sequence where Meilin asserts that their relationship is fine... which kind of comes off like a woman who is going through a terrible divorce and makes Meilin look kind of pathetic. I didn't find the scene very funny because Meilin's lines just rubbed me wrong. I don't know, probably overthinking it.
Related to this, they changed the rules of the Shot Card slightly because the original rules form a plot hole. The Japanese rules state that the Card turns on if you say "shoot" or "aim" and then it's dangerous. If those are the rules, then why just attack Li? Because she says she wants to shoot and aim at Li's heart, you say, but those aren't the rules, see? By changing the rules to specify a target, then the Shot Card gunning (no pun intended) after Li and no one else makes sense.
There are also many little line changes that just makes the English version a bit snappier. Most of them go to Kero, who always delivers these lines with panache. "Sounds like they got suckered out of their allowances" is one of my favorites as well as "[Furry Babies] sure were cute though", which both made me laugh.
Speaking of Furry Babies, although Kero's line made me laugh, the unsubtle reference to the Beanie Babies made me actually stop the video and press my hand to my forehead and groan. Why, English version, why? Why the random not-plug? While we're on the topic of changes I didn't especially like, why does Sakura keep dismissing the magic of the store cards versus her own? Is Sakura gettin defensive or something? The ending has the same message but in the English version, Sakura is essentially, "Dude, my classmates are morons!" while the Japanese Sakura is just as willing to believe in the magic of the store card until Kero gets all "Card Captor Says" on her. Another example of toughening up Sakura for the English audience? Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, Madison dismisses the powers of the store cards as well. Our heroes are not fooled by marketing ploys and neither should you! But please buy the toys of our sponsors!
In other dub weirdness, someone needs to tell Sakura's actress what whispering sounds like. She talks about the Clow Card, not more than a foot from her classmates, in a normal speaking tone. The Japanese voice actress isn't much better but the English actress is especially bad at this. The worst part is when she downright screaming at the shop keeper. Keep in mind that the shop keeper doesn't realize her merchandise is evil (again) so it just looks like Sakura throwing a temper tantrum at her because someone bought the card she wanted! I know you're worried but learn some decorum, would ya?
But, all in all, the English version made the best of a very bad Japanese episode. And it's very bad because of plot holes! So many plot holes! I barely know where to start!
1. Let's talk about these magic cards. When I was watching this, I thought that perhaps this was the Copy Card or the Multiply Card or the Imposter Card or something. But it's Shot Card. Fine. So where did the other cards come from? Why do they look like Clow Cards? This is never explained! The English version makes it even weirder by implying that they just appeared one day! So what are they then? Is it a future villain or Tomoyo messing with Sakura's head or Li's family business (I don't know what they do exactly but hey, why not?) or what? Why are there fake Clow Cards? Tell me!
2. Okay, I'm not buying this whole "Sakura is afraid of oil! Eek!" Please. She cooks all the time. I have a hard time believing she never uses oil in her cooking. And now all of a sudden she's like "Oh! I can't cook!" Except she does, like, all the time.
3. Was Li locked in a cage for most of this episode? There are plenty of moments where he should have been there (in class mostly) but he's completely gone. Furthermore, he spends a lot of time apart from Meilin, who, if you recall, rarely lets him out of her sight. Okay, maybe she split to get her cards but still, was the Japanese voice actress on vacation that week or something?
4. As further proof that Meilin is Manga!Li in drag, why doesn't Li think of getting a love card for his relationship with Yukito? Especially since they brought up the gay aspect again.
5. Why was the Shot Card next to the love cards? Kind of an odd place for it, isn't it?
6. I'll give the English version credit for at least bringing it up the danger but my complaint stands: Why does no one notice Sakura flying around in broad daylight?!
7. So, Li can do this Lasin Board spell from his bag. So why not do that all the time?
8. Speaking of the Lasin Board, if it detects Clow Cards, even when inactive, then why doesn't it show every Clow Card in town? Wouldn't that make searching a lot easier?
9. Why was Meilin on the roof of the school? No, seriously, why?
10. How exactly did Meilin's plan make any sort of logical sense in the Japanese version? Seriously, how would a card called Shot enable Li to love her? I don't care if she wanted to aim for Li's heart, that's fine, but how would the card enable her to win his heart, rather than blow a hole through his chest? Especially since she had a love card as well. It wasn't even as if a picture of Cupid was on the Card!
11. In the Japanese version, why does the Card only attack Li? Why not Sakura? Meilin was mad at her too, if you want to argue that it attacked whoever Meilin was mad at.
12. Why is Shot's aim so unbelievably bad at first? Seriously, a spell that takes a minute or so to be effective is a pretty lousy spell!
13. Why does Li leave the protection of Shield? I don't see how Shot running after Li versus Shot attacking a bubble around Li makes it easier for Sakura to seal. Does Li think he needs the exercise or something?
14. I thought Mirror made copies of people, not an actual mirror. I actually thought she intending to make a double of Li and confuse Shot that way. But whatever works, I guess.
15. How did Tomoyo know to go to the school? The English version explains it but not the Japanese version. Does Tomoyo have capture radar or something?
16. Why is Sakura, who just spent the last minute running around after a Card, and Li, who got shot and is injured, helping Meilin up, who just fell of her own accord? Hey, Meilin, how about you help out your fiance who is injured because of your plot-hole-filled plan?
17. If Meilin gives her the cook card the next day, then why did Sakura think a card was the result that she was able to make croquettes? If she, in fact, bought a card, when did she do that?
18. Why did Meilin treat the cook card like a Clow Card? Obviously, everyone was aware that Sakura got the Shot Card so what gives? (I know, dramatic license). And why did Meilin have a the cook card? Why would she buy that one? Meilin can clearly cook, if her lunches are any indication (with their attention-distracting powers) so why buy that one? Maybe because she realized Sakura wanted it? So when did she buy it? And back to plot hole 17, doesn't Sakura already possess that card?
In conclusion, although the English version made the oversight of having an overly long flashback and having Sakura's yell far too often, there were changes made that made an unbearable episode somewhat entertaining and logical, so I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the English Cardcaptors being the superior.
Episode 29
Episode 27
Episode 28: Sakura and the Enchanted Cards (Card Captor Sakura) or Buyer Beware (Cardcaptors)
Remember episode 3? For the sake of clarity, this will have two separate summaries.
Japanese version: Sakura and the rest of the female students are in cooking class. Sakura is scared of the burning oil and nearly burns the place down by stalling. As they wait for Sakura to drop her croquette in the oil, the girls discuss these "magical" cards that are being sold at the place where Sakura and friends got those plushies. Apparently, there are all sorts of cards and they actually grant wishes! The romance ones perk up Meilin's ears and after she saves Sakura and the class from Sakura's cowardice, she meekly asks where the shop is. After that, Meilin heads to the shop to get the romance card but chickens out at the last minute. At home, Sakura tries to make the croquettes again but she can't do it. The next day, it's time for the vault in gym class. Naoko isn't too thrilled but she's going to try. After Sakura and Meilin do amazing at it, Naoko does amazing too. It turns that Naoko got the jump card. After gym, the girls who have bought cards show off their cards. They look suspiciously like Clow Cards! After school, Sakura and Tomoyo go to buy cards. The shop is packed and there is a revolving stand of cards. As they arrive, Meilin is leaving, with a bag clearly in her hand. Tomoyo asks if Meilin bought a card which causes Meilin to freak out and deny it. Sakura asks for a card that helps one cook but they're sold out. After the shop keeper leaves, Meilin begins to protest too much about how she totally doesn't need the love card she just bought because Li and her are fine, thank you very much! At that moment, the card flies out of her hands and lands at Li's feet. He remarks that it looks like a Clow Card and she starts fretting about Li thinking that she's starting to doubt his feelings and they leave. Sakura (off-camera) tells Kero about the cards. On screen, she says they actually grant wishes. Kero asks if she has one but she doesn't; she'll go tomorrow. After that, her father brings her some flan. The next day, after Li contemplates the lunch options for far too long, Meilin comes with her insane amount of lunch and drags him outside. Also outside is Sakura and Tomoyo (Tomoyo made lunch for Sakura apparently). They are joined by Toya and Yukito. Yukito speaks of his love for croquettes which reaffirms Sakura's desire to get good at making them. Meilin and Li walk by and the two groups notice each other. Li notices how gorgeous Yukito is, Meilin notices how blushful Li is, and Sakura does introductions. Meilin corrects Sakura's assertion that Meilin is Li's cousin and explains she is his fiancee. Li is mortified and drags her away. After school, Sakura goes to buy her card. Once there, she senses the presence of a Clow Card. Soon she realizes that the Card was there and is there no longer. She asks the shop keeper what the Card was. It was the Shot Card. A call to Kero confirms that this is seriously bad news: the Shot Card is an attack card and if one says "shoot" or "aim", it activates. The shop keeper tells them that it was one of Sakura's friends who bought it. So, Sakura and Tomoyo go flying around, trying to find Chiharu and Naoko, who they saw leaving the shop as they were entering. Meanwhile, Li is grumping about Meilin saying what she said in front of Yukito when he senses a Clow Card. Sakura and Tomoyo find the girls but it's no good: neither of them have the Card. Chiharu then says that they did see Meilin in the shop. Sakura and Tomoyo decide to split up. Sakura sees Li and they discuss the situation. Sakura and Li then go flying. Li uses his spell to activate his Lasin Board in this bookbag and it points them toward the roof of the school. Meilin is there, thinking that she'll use the Shot Card to do something with Li's heart. Sakura and Li land and tell her that the Card she has is a real Clow Card and it's dangerous so she better hand it over. But Meilin is first angry that they're together and then doesn't believe them. As Li tries to grab it from her, she says that she'll use the Card to "take an aimed shot at Syaoran's heart". Of course, that turns it on and it starts shooting at Li. So, Li runs around trying not to die. Sakura is able to shield him for a bit but the Shot is getting more accurate. Li decides to jump out of Shield and run around (because it only wants him) so Sakura can get a chance to seal it. At one point, it actually hits Li's hand and Sakura notices the sun. Sakura presents the Mirror Card and Li gets the hint. She gets the Mirror Card to produce a mirror which Li runs toward. At the last second, he ducks and the Shot shoots itself. Weakened, Sakura seals it. Li and Sakura wonder if Meilin is okay but Tomoyo (who is there now and got the whole thing on tape) says she's fine. Sakura and Li help Meilin stand up. That night, Sakura successfully makes croquettes. Sakura thinks it's the fault of the enchanted card (that she bought... somehow) but Kero says it's because she put her mind to it. The next day, Meilin is trying to feed Li, whose hand is in bandages. Sakura and Tomoyo inquired about his hand but Li brushes them off and walks away. Meilin gives Sakura what she claims is a Clow Card but swears that the next time, the Card is theirs. It turns out that Clow Card isn't a Clow Card but the cook card. Tomoyo says that Sakura can already make croquettes but Sakura says that she wants to get better and it came from Meilin, which makes her happy to have it.
English version: It's dinnertime at the Avalon house and Sakura is struggling to make dumplings. She waits too long to drop the dumpling and falls down from fright or being splashed by the oil, it's not clear. The next day, Nikki's down because they have to the vault in gym class. After Sakura and Meilin are awesome at it, it's Nikki's turn. Someone cries out that she can do it because she wished on the card. And Nikki does it perfectly. After that class, Nikki shows off her jump card. Sakura and Madison realize that it looks like a Clow Card. Madison asks Sakura if it's the real Jump Card. Sakura then proceeds to flashback about how she captured the real Jump Card. Since she already captured it, Nikki's card can't be it. Madison asks where the girls got their cards and they say it's Twin Bells. Sakura asks to see Chelsea's cards and Sakura and Meilin (who is suddenly there) remark that they are "interesting". After school, Sakura and Madison go to check it out. They run into Meilin, who protests that she's just looking. Sakura asks where the cards came from. The shop keeper says that she actually isn't sure. They just appeared one day from a company she had never heard of; she nearly sent it back. Regardless, they're very popular! Sakura thinks something's weird is going on. Back home, Sakura tells Kero about the cards (off-camera) and they talk about how the girls think the cards are really magic. Kero thinks they just got suckered out of their allowances while Sakura wishes they were really magic; she needs help making dumplings! Her father comes in with some pudding and ends the conversation. The next day, Sakura and Madison go to the shop again. Sakura sense a Clow Card. Eventually, she traces the source to the card rack. Sakura asks the shop keeper what happened to the card that was just there. She thinks someone bought it. Sakura asks which card it is and after some thought, the shop keeper thinks it was the Shot Card. Who bought it? Probably one of Sakura's friends. Off they go to call Kero. Kero confirms their suspicions: the Shot Card is an attack card and if one says the name of the Card, then it shoots the first person it sees. After fruitless searching, Sakura and Madison fly around looking for the girls. Meanwhile, Li is thinking that something strange is going on before something catches his attention. Sakura and Madison find the girls but it's no use: neither of them have the Card. But Chelsea thinks they saw Meilin in the shop but she's not sure if she bought anything. Sakura and Madison decide to split up and meet at the school later. Sakura sees Li and they talk about the situation. Off they fly and Li uses his Lasin Board to find Meilin at the school. At the school, Meilin is thinking that the card she has may not be a Clow Card but it'll fool people, even Li. Sakura and Li come and tell her that she has a real Clow Card. Meilin is excited because that means she can capture Clow Cards too! Li tells her to hand it over because it's dangerous but Meilin's not having it. As the two wrestle for the Card, Meilin declares that "the Shot Card is mine!". Of course, it activates and it starts aiming for Li. Li runs around getting shot at before Sakura erects Shield. But Li busts out of the Shield because it only wants him so Sakura should take the opportunity to seal it. Eventually, it hits Li and Sakura notices the sun. Sakura pulls out the Mirror Card and Li gets the hint. Sakura produces a mirror and Li runs toward it, ducking at the last second so the Shot Card shoots itself. Sakura then seals the Card. Sakura and Li wonder if Meilin is alright but Madison says she is. Madison manage to get the capture on tape. Sakura and Li help Meilin stand and Li thanks Sakura. That night, Sakura successfully makes her dumplings. Afterwards, Sakura marvels at how her friends thought their wishes came true because of supposedly magical cards they bought. Kero adds that wishes do come true but not because of a card, but by putting your mind to it.
Wanna see it?
Card Captor Sakura Episode 28: Part 1/3
Click to viewCard Captor Sakura Episode 28: Part 2/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 28: Part 3/3
Cardcaptors Episode 28: Part 1/3
Cardcaptors Episode 28: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 28: Part 3/3
Wow. Just wow. This episode is just a trainwreck of illogic. I spent about 90% of this episode going, "Wait? WHAT? HUH? WHY? HOW?" The Japanese version is ten times worse because it moves like molasses. You know it's bad when you're watching the Japanese version and going, "Man, I can't wait to watch the English version because I know they'll cut this part!" The biggest problem to me was the use of the Card itself. I like the idea of the Shot Card but the way it's introduced as a love device (?!) just made no sense. The English version tries to fix this but still, why would Meilin buy that card? In other news, I may have made fun of Sakura in the summary but until recently, I pretty much cooked with boiling water the same way. In order to make ravoli, I would stand about three feet back and toss the ravoli in, causing it to splash more than it would otherwise. My older brother used to tease me about it too. To this day, he'll pantomime me doing that even though I no longer do. Oh, and more nostaglia. Ten to thirteen-year-old girls will buy anything if it says it has magical powers, don't they? I bought gems, necklaces, tarot cards, you name it. I totally would have bought those magic cards in the show at that age. Oh, and I totally love croquettes and I want some so badly right now!
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, Shot
Current number: 27
Li: Time, Storm, Return
Current number: 3
Both of the titles are kind of bland but I still prefer the English one. It has more punch to it.
Right, so, cuts. The English version cuts A LOT out of this episode. So much so that it threatened another episode collapse like in episode 3. They simply removed too much that the commercial breaks couldn't cover everything. So, they have to pad it out. I understand that. But showing the entire capture of the Jump Card? The entire thing? That was a bit much. It got so long that I started giggling hysterically as it just wouldn't end.
Then again, what should they have kept? The cooking class is probably the best bet but even that scene gones on a bit too long and, I don't know about other schools in North America, but Home Economics was a middle school class in my district, not an elementary school one (although I do remember one day in elementary school where we made johnny cakes to tie in with our pioneer unit or maybe it was tied with reading Little House on the Praire but I think the teachers may have done most of the work). In fact, at my school, if you did a foreign language and a music class, you didn't have to do home ec at all (and this is why I can't cook or sew). So, they may have felt that having a young character on a young kids' show handling hot oil for giggles might not be wise. The other cut scenes though are so unbelievably boring and drawn-out (the lunch scene was torture to watch, seriously, why show Li looking back and forth between options for a minute or so?!) that the viewers (read: me) would probably die if they had been left in.
So, they're left with the cooking scene or a overly long flashback. They went with the overly long flashback. In retrospect, it probably worked better because the United States version skipped the first seven episodes, which included Jump so it was probably nice to do that so the viewers in the States wouldn't be completely lost (when did she catch Jump?!). Ironically, one complaint I've heard about this version is that they end up cutting important details so they have to insert those details into later episodes, which makes them cut important details in those episodes and the cycle continues. Considering that they actually did do the Jump episode and they just used the flashback to make up time since they cut all of the boring, pointless bits, I'm not seeing the truth to that complaint. Okay, maybe there is some validity with Li changing his lines from one episode to the next but that wasn't a cut so much as a change (and it wasn't even that important, see my write-up for my thoughts on that line). But I digress.
In short, I'm down with the cuts. As I said, the Japanese version of this episode moves so slow. It is torture to watch (never mind the plot holes). I was literally hoping scenes would get cut in the English version. The English version delivered. They messed up with the overly long flashback but they couldn't have 20 minutes of commercials for a 30-minute program so I forgive them. Yes, yes, yes, they cut Li being gay again but that scene is so pointless and so random that it adds nothing. It really feels like "Yukito's actress needed her paycheck" scene. Yes, they also cut the scene where Meilin gives Sakura a card but that scene is so riddled with plot holes that it was a blessing that it was removed because then my brain didn't have to explode.
Besides the beginning and the ending, the middle is pretty much intact, except for line and motivation changes. As I've said repeatedly, this episode is full of plot holes but the English version did its best to resolve some of them. Most of these are done through minor line changes, such as Sakura admitting that it's dangerous for her to go flying around downtown in broad daylight or having the girls agree to meet at the school. It's these little lines like these that can resolve a lot of plot holes and make my brain not explode.
The biggest change is Meilin's reason for wanting the Shot Card. Meilin's original Japanese reason for wanting the Shot Card makes absolutely no sense. I still can't figure how she reasoned her plan out. By having her simply wanting to pretend it's a Clow Card, any Clow Card, to fool Li, I can buy her wanting the Shot Card. I kind of like how Meilin's motivations have more to do with her ego than simply wanting Li to like her. I'll admit I much preferred Meilin's English statement that Li can't boss her around. Yes, I know, it's the feminist Westerner mindset but there you go. Also, because Meilin's scene with the love card was cut, it also cut this kind of awkward sequence where Meilin asserts that their relationship is fine... which kind of comes off like a woman who is going through a terrible divorce and makes Meilin look kind of pathetic. I didn't find the scene very funny because Meilin's lines just rubbed me wrong. I don't know, probably overthinking it.
Related to this, they changed the rules of the Shot Card slightly because the original rules form a plot hole. The Japanese rules state that the Card turns on if you say "shoot" or "aim" and then it's dangerous. If those are the rules, then why just attack Li? Because she says she wants to shoot and aim at Li's heart, you say, but those aren't the rules, see? By changing the rules to specify a target, then the Shot Card gunning (no pun intended) after Li and no one else makes sense.
There are also many little line changes that just makes the English version a bit snappier. Most of them go to Kero, who always delivers these lines with panache. "Sounds like they got suckered out of their allowances" is one of my favorites as well as "[Furry Babies] sure were cute though", which both made me laugh.
Speaking of Furry Babies, although Kero's line made me laugh, the unsubtle reference to the Beanie Babies made me actually stop the video and press my hand to my forehead and groan. Why, English version, why? Why the random not-plug? While we're on the topic of changes I didn't especially like, why does Sakura keep dismissing the magic of the store cards versus her own? Is Sakura gettin defensive or something? The ending has the same message but in the English version, Sakura is essentially, "Dude, my classmates are morons!" while the Japanese Sakura is just as willing to believe in the magic of the store card until Kero gets all "Card Captor Says" on her. Another example of toughening up Sakura for the English audience? Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, Madison dismisses the powers of the store cards as well. Our heroes are not fooled by marketing ploys and neither should you! But please buy the toys of our sponsors!
In other dub weirdness, someone needs to tell Sakura's actress what whispering sounds like. She talks about the Clow Card, not more than a foot from her classmates, in a normal speaking tone. The Japanese voice actress isn't much better but the English actress is especially bad at this. The worst part is when she downright screaming at the shop keeper. Keep in mind that the shop keeper doesn't realize her merchandise is evil (again) so it just looks like Sakura throwing a temper tantrum at her because someone bought the card she wanted! I know you're worried but learn some decorum, would ya?
But, all in all, the English version made the best of a very bad Japanese episode. And it's very bad because of plot holes! So many plot holes! I barely know where to start!
1. Let's talk about these magic cards. When I was watching this, I thought that perhaps this was the Copy Card or the Multiply Card or the Imposter Card or something. But it's Shot Card. Fine. So where did the other cards come from? Why do they look like Clow Cards? This is never explained! The English version makes it even weirder by implying that they just appeared one day! So what are they then? Is it a future villain or Tomoyo messing with Sakura's head or Li's family business (I don't know what they do exactly but hey, why not?) or what? Why are there fake Clow Cards? Tell me!
2. Okay, I'm not buying this whole "Sakura is afraid of oil! Eek!" Please. She cooks all the time. I have a hard time believing she never uses oil in her cooking. And now all of a sudden she's like "Oh! I can't cook!" Except she does, like, all the time.
3. Was Li locked in a cage for most of this episode? There are plenty of moments where he should have been there (in class mostly) but he's completely gone. Furthermore, he spends a lot of time apart from Meilin, who, if you recall, rarely lets him out of her sight. Okay, maybe she split to get her cards but still, was the Japanese voice actress on vacation that week or something?
4. As further proof that Meilin is Manga!Li in drag, why doesn't Li think of getting a love card for his relationship with Yukito? Especially since they brought up the gay aspect again.
5. Why was the Shot Card next to the love cards? Kind of an odd place for it, isn't it?
6. I'll give the English version credit for at least bringing it up the danger but my complaint stands: Why does no one notice Sakura flying around in broad daylight?!
7. So, Li can do this Lasin Board spell from his bag. So why not do that all the time?
8. Speaking of the Lasin Board, if it detects Clow Cards, even when inactive, then why doesn't it show every Clow Card in town? Wouldn't that make searching a lot easier?
9. Why was Meilin on the roof of the school? No, seriously, why?
10. How exactly did Meilin's plan make any sort of logical sense in the Japanese version? Seriously, how would a card called Shot enable Li to love her? I don't care if she wanted to aim for Li's heart, that's fine, but how would the card enable her to win his heart, rather than blow a hole through his chest? Especially since she had a love card as well. It wasn't even as if a picture of Cupid was on the Card!
11. In the Japanese version, why does the Card only attack Li? Why not Sakura? Meilin was mad at her too, if you want to argue that it attacked whoever Meilin was mad at.
12. Why is Shot's aim so unbelievably bad at first? Seriously, a spell that takes a minute or so to be effective is a pretty lousy spell!
13. Why does Li leave the protection of Shield? I don't see how Shot running after Li versus Shot attacking a bubble around Li makes it easier for Sakura to seal. Does Li think he needs the exercise or something?
14. I thought Mirror made copies of people, not an actual mirror. I actually thought she intending to make a double of Li and confuse Shot that way. But whatever works, I guess.
15. How did Tomoyo know to go to the school? The English version explains it but not the Japanese version. Does Tomoyo have capture radar or something?
16. Why is Sakura, who just spent the last minute running around after a Card, and Li, who got shot and is injured, helping Meilin up, who just fell of her own accord? Hey, Meilin, how about you help out your fiance who is injured because of your plot-hole-filled plan?
17. If Meilin gives her the cook card the next day, then why did Sakura think a card was the result that she was able to make croquettes? If she, in fact, bought a card, when did she do that?
18. Why did Meilin treat the cook card like a Clow Card? Obviously, everyone was aware that Sakura got the Shot Card so what gives? (I know, dramatic license). And why did Meilin have a the cook card? Why would she buy that one? Meilin can clearly cook, if her lunches are any indication (with their attention-distracting powers) so why buy that one? Maybe because she realized Sakura wanted it? So when did she buy it? And back to plot hole 17, doesn't Sakura already possess that card?
In conclusion, although the English version made the oversight of having an overly long flashback and having Sakura's yell far too often, there were changes made that made an unbearable episode somewhat entertaining and logical, so I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the English Cardcaptors being the superior.
Episode 29