Episode 42: "Sakura and the Blacked Out School Arts Festival" or "A Strange Intermission"
Introduction to the Experiment
Episode 41
Episode 42: Sakura and the Blacked Out School Arts Festival (Card Captor Sakura) or A Strange Intermission (Cardcaptors)
It's time for the school arts festival! Sakura and her class are backstage waiting to go on. Sakura and Li are waiting for Madison to arrive with their costumes, which she does shortly. So, Sakura and Li get dragged by Madison into another room to change. Meanwhile, Tori and Julian are in the audience (Mr. Avalon couldn't make it because of a dig). Julian mentions that Sakura's class will go first and that they're doing "Sleeping Beauty". In the Japanese version, Yukito also brings up Toya's stint as Cinderella last year, which Toya does not want to remember but we get a flashback anyway. Back to the backstage action and Sakura has her costume on. It is very princely-looking and her friends are impressed. Ms. Mackenzie is also impressed with Sakura's costume, noting how it will be easy to move in, "no matter what happens", which sets off alarm bells in Sakura's head. Anyway, Li's costume is very princess-y, all pink and foofy with a blonde/auburn curly wig. The class is amused/impressed with Li's costume but Li is not happy. Madison tries to talk up its merits but Li is still not happy. In the English version, Madison finally says that he has no choice since the curtain will be going up soon. In the Japanese version, Tomoyo points out that she saw Yukito in the audience. Li is, of course, free to not participate in the play but if he doesn't go on, the play will be cancelled and Yukito will most likely be very sad. This convinces Li to suck it up and do his best. With that resolved, the play can begin. Madison is doing the off-stage narration so is in the sound booth with Kero, who has come to see the play. Madison starts by telling the introduction to "Sleeping Beauty": perfect kingdom, king and queen want children, they get daughter, yay and stuff. The first scene is the infamous birth party where the evil witch, played with panache by Meilin, cast her curse on the princess: she will live the perfect life until her sixteenth birthday, when she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and DIE!!! MWA HA HA HA! But, of course, one of the good fairies never gave her gift so the gift is that she will not die but sleep until a prince wakes her with a kiss. Madison narrates that the king asks that all spinning wheels be burned throughout the land. Thus ends that scene, with Kero and Madison remarking that everyone is doing very well. Kero asks when Sakura and Li show up and Madison explains that it's the second act. Cue the second act. The princess is now sixteen years old and out comes Li in his pretty pretty princess outfit. Tori is stunned that Li is the princess. In the Japanese version, Yukito waves on Li, which steels his resolve to act well. In any case, Li is the worst actor in the world despite the fact he only has two lines at this point. Apparently, the queen wanted to let the princess know that it was nearly time for her sixteenth birthday party so she should get ready. So Princess Li goes to the bedroom to find something the princess has never seen before: a spinning wheel. Li approaches it but trips on his skirt, falling on the spinning wheel, crushing it to pieces as he screams in pain before he realizes that he needs to fall asleep, which he does. The queen is distraught but the good fairy's spell worked: the princess wasn't dead, only sleeping. Now it's time to wait for the prince. Backstage, Sakura realizes that it's her time to shine so out she goes. Julian points out that Sakura is the prince so Tori starts snapping pictures. In the Japanese version, Yukito waves her on too, which steels her resolve. In any case, Sakura is a much better actress than Li and vows to save the princess. But that just summons the evil witch who sics her minions on Prince Sakura. But Prince Sakura is much stronger and defeats her minions and the evil witch herself. Now it's time to wake up Sleeping Li-ty with that famous kiss. In the Japanese version, every one gets a reaction shot about this whole thing but the English version just shows the highlight of Sakura going in for the kiss. Before Sakura can give Li his True Love's Kiss, Kero senses a Clow Card and apparently so does Li, who shoves her away. Then everything goes dark, including Li, who gets to briefly shout out what may be happening but the blackness cuts him off. Sakura is majorly freaked out and tries to run to Kero and Madison in the sound booth. Kero, meanwhile, is reflecting that she must figure the secret out on her own. Sakura runs for a while before realizing that she hasn't bumped into anything or anyone. She calls out for everyone but no one answers. Knowing it's a Clow Card, she tries using her staff but that doesn't work either. Distraught, she tries to figure out what the Clow Card is. Eventually, she realizes that it's the Dark Card. The darknesses lightens briefly, much to Sakura and Kero's relief, but then goes dark again. Both realize that figuring out the Dark Card's identity isn't enough. After a couple of moments, Sakura realizes that she can still see herself in the darkness. At that moment, the darkness thickens and engulfs her feet. Sakura starts to panic as Kero realizes that if Sakura doesn't figure it out soon, she'll be lost forever. Sakura is still panicking but then realizes that she has to "trust herself" or "that she will definitely be all right". With those words, she begins to glow brighter and out comes a glowing woman. Sakura realizes that this is the Light Card. The Light Card confirms her guess and explains that she has been hidden in Sakura's heart since the Seal on the Book of Clow was first broken. Because Sakura didn't give up, she came out. So what takes away the darkness? Light, Sakura answers, so Light works its magic to get rid of the darkness, realizing the true form of the Dark Card. The two Cards are fine with Sakura being their master and want to be sealed together but mention that Yueh will be the final judge. Sakura asks what they mean by Yueh but all they say is that he is close by. In the English version, the Cards say that they will be by her side as well. In the Japanese version, they tell her not to worry because of her magic spell: I will definitely be all right. With the Cards sealed, everything goes back to normal. Sakura is ecstatic that everyone is okay. In the Japanese version, she actually hugs Li out of sheer joy which causes the audience and the cast to go into a uproar. In any case, Madison is confused: Sakura has fallen off the script. Kero explains what just happened and notes that only people with magical power noticed. Kero then mentions how he knows that time for Yueh to appear is coming soon. Meanwhile, Ms. Mackenzie agrees that the time is very soon while Ms. Mizuki just repeats "I will definitely be all right, huh?".
Wanna see it?
Cardcaptors Episode 42: Part 1/3
Cardcaptors Episode 42: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 42: Part 3/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 42: Part 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXJSpupuxnU
Card Captor Sakura Episode 42: Part 2/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHQ8W22-pw
Card Captor Sakura Episode 42: Part 3/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s7vGXdYcT0
I love this episode. I loved this capture in the manga and only because of Li. Screw Sakura capturing Cards and furthering the plot, I just want to see Li run around in a poofy dress and badly act! I wish Li had gotten more lines in the play, ah well.
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, Sweet, Big, Create, Change, Firey, Arrow, Snow, Voice, Lock, Cloud, Light, Dark
Current number: 39
Li: Time, Storm, Return, Dash, Freeze, Dream, Sand
Current number: 7
I love the English title for this episode. I think this may be one of my favorites titles yet. It didn't use a light/dark pun but it still related to the episode and it matched the mysterious mood of the capture. The Japanese title is just too long and stupid. English title wins!
Let's talk about cuts. There are quite a few scenes cut in the English version. Most of these were probably the result of time constraints (the fairies lose a moment here and there) but three scenes in particular stood out as interesting choices.
One was the "hey, didn't you do drag once, Toya?" scene. Considering the English version's love of flashback, it's funny they didn't use this one. Furthermore, the English version did do that scene so it's bit late now to try to forget about it. Also, it's clear that a. Toya's horrified and b. Yukito is clearly trying to annoy him. So, Toya and Yukito are clearly straight (well, at least to a casual observer, anyway) so I didn't see a reason to cut this unless it was for time. It does take up a lot of time, time that could have been devoted to the play we actually wanted to watch (and more Li-in-a-pretty-dress-and-shouting-his-lines scenes). So, if it was for time, I'll let it go but if it wasn't, argh, get a grip, English producers. The episode is already about a boy wearing a dress with a curly wig, we left Heteronormative Station a lot time ago.
Speaking of that boy in a dress, that brings me to the other cut scene: Tomoyo's manipulation of Li was really funny and I was annoyed that this got cut. I actually didn't remember this scene until watching the Japanese version but I could tell that the whole "the curtain's going up!" was originally about Yukito so they weren't fooling me. But I thought the whole "oh, the play will be cancelled and Yukito will just die, oh, I guess I'll go deliver the news" melodrama was pure Tomoyo and pure fun and I loved it. Madison's actress could have pulled this off and the English producers could have easily changed the focus from Li's gay crush to something else manipulative, like, I don't know, Madison is going to tell his mother about the play being cancelled and how it was all his fault or something. I really felt that this missed an opportunity for humor because of their fear of presenting Li as gay when even that could have been edited around. On another note, I did laugh when English Li mentions that he doesn't look good in pink. That's funny because he wears that pink shirt all the time! Was that a joke created by the English producers or something?
As for the extended super megamix of the kiss build-up, this may have been a time issue. It goes on quite a bit but it may have been because of Meilin. Again, the English producers can't make up their minds about whether Meilin likes Li that way or not and this moment makes it quite clear that she wants to kiss Li. However, Toya's reaction and Li's peek could have been kept. Toya's reaction made sense to me (am I seriously the only one who thinks it's weird that the school is totally okay with two 10 years old going for the kiss in a play?) and Li's was funny and cute. The extreme close-up of Sakura's kissy face? Yeah, that could have been left on the cutting room floor.
There are fat-trimming cuts but I still felt that these moments were charming or helped with the story's flow. Except for the mob scene at the end. I don't really believe that would happen. Well, maybe Meilin's reaction made sense but no one else's did, especially since the cheap animation only lets them mill about rather than get Meilin to stop attacking Sakura.
As I said before, this story is funny because of Li. So, if Li falls flat, the story falls flat. Unfortunately, for some reason, English Li doesn't do the girly voice that he did last episode. Instead, he just talks somewhat more stiffly than usual. It takes great skill to act "badly" without actually acting badly. The problem with the English Li's performance can be demonstrated when he falls on the spinning wheel. Is Jordan Killik playing Li who is pretending to be the princess when he says his finger is bleeding and therefore sounds bad or is it Jordan Killik playing Li who is falling out of the princess character because his finger is actually bleeding and sounds stiff because he has problems doing Li's character? I can't tell and I should be able to tell. The Japanese Li does a wonderful job at playing Li and at playing Li playing the princess badly (although the best part is Li actually saying "flop" when he "falls asleep").
The rest of the cast does a wonderful job in both versions but I just felt that Japanese cast got the better script, play-wise, although I was pretty annoyed that the subtitles kept calling the spinning wheels "spinners". What? Are they going to modify their hubcaps in this kingdom or what? I did like that English Sakura still sounded a bit amateurish since she's supposed to be ten years old. I felt the Japanese Sakura was a bit too smooth but that's just me. Meilin was perfect in both versions and I was pleased despite my initial disappointment that Yamazaki/Zachary would not be playing the witch like he does in the manga.
Oh, by the way, it's official: only one song is allowed in Reddington School District. The background music was the same as the recorder song and the song during Tori's play. Wow, lazy.
Let's talk about the last part of the episode. So you've probably noticed that the message from the Dream Sakura came true in both versions, much to my relief. However, the English version doesn't make it "her spell". I will be frank, I thought this was silly in the manga, that simply saying, "I will be all right" was her secret spell. So I'm not too torn up that they changed it to the Cards being by her side, which frankly, I preferred since they're supposed to help her during the Judgement.
And I will be honest and say that I preferred Ms. Mackenzie's mysterious "yes, it will be soon" comment rather than Ms. Mizuki's repeating the spell, simply because it's a response to Kero's comment (although I did joke to myself: Kero: Uh, how did you hear me? Ms. Mackenzie: I have super hearing) and is more mysterious.
But, to be fair, either way really works. "I will be all right" or, in the English version, "I have to trust myself" is her secret spell, whether I like it or not and Ms. Mackenzie's comment makes just as much story-telling sense as Ms. Mizuki's comment. But the Cards can still support her.
Alright, plot holes!
1. Why did these kids not have a dress rehearsal? Why did Tomoyo not have the costumes ready until the day of the play?
2. Why was neither Sakura nor Li consulted about what they would be wearing? Sakura would agree to anything but surely Tomoyo must have realized that Li would not like the fluffy dress? Does she like torturing him?
3. Why doesn't Li's wig match his hair? Surely Tomoyo should have realized that the wig had to match! I thought she wouldn't compromise on the costumes! I guess she only meant Sakura's. Sucks to be you, Li! In fact, the wig constantly changes color from auburn to blond and back again.
4. As must as I loved the manipulation of Li by Tomoyo, I couldn't help but wonder: Doesn't Li have an understudy? I mean, suppose Li had fallen ill, which happens all the time, what would they do then?
5. Doesn't Tomoyo feel a little guilty about only taping Sakura's part of the play? Wouldn't it be nice to tape the whole thing so Sakura could actually see the whole thing instead of just her parts? She had to stay backstage the whole time! Furthermore, I'm sure her classmates would like a video of their parts as well.
6. Silly plot hole but I don't care: If the Light Card was in her heart this whole time, then how did her heart continue to function? Wouldn't having a magical Card in her chest make it hard to pump blood and stuff?
And for a special bonus, plot holes about the fairy tale itself:
1. If the third fairy was able to use her gift to change the spell from "death" to "sleep", then why not just remove the curse entirely? I guess the witch is too powerful?
2. If they destroy all the spinning wheels, then how do they get thread for cloth? That's what spinning wheels are for! Man, that must be some huge import deficit!
3. Why do they never warn the princess about the curse? Just show her a picture of a spinning wheel and say, "Princess, avoid this object at all costs! Especially on your sixteenth birthday!" Then she wouldn't be a stupid ditz and be all, "What's this? I want to touch it!" (Although I think the Disney version has her compelled to touch it) when she finds one.
4. So what happens to the kingdom while everyone is asleep? Okay, I think some versions actually do have the entire kingdom fall asleep but not all. Most of the ones I've heard just have the castle fall asleep. Regardless, why does no one invade the kingdom (because the castle is not the entirety of the kingdom)? Unless the thorns cover the whole kingdom, which, dude, extreme.
Although both versions do a great job with the story, because of the English probably unnecessary cuts and some weak acting from the most comedic part of the story, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the Japanese Card Captor Sakura being the superior!
Episode 43
Episode 41
Episode 42: Sakura and the Blacked Out School Arts Festival (Card Captor Sakura) or A Strange Intermission (Cardcaptors)
It's time for the school arts festival! Sakura and her class are backstage waiting to go on. Sakura and Li are waiting for Madison to arrive with their costumes, which she does shortly. So, Sakura and Li get dragged by Madison into another room to change. Meanwhile, Tori and Julian are in the audience (Mr. Avalon couldn't make it because of a dig). Julian mentions that Sakura's class will go first and that they're doing "Sleeping Beauty". In the Japanese version, Yukito also brings up Toya's stint as Cinderella last year, which Toya does not want to remember but we get a flashback anyway. Back to the backstage action and Sakura has her costume on. It is very princely-looking and her friends are impressed. Ms. Mackenzie is also impressed with Sakura's costume, noting how it will be easy to move in, "no matter what happens", which sets off alarm bells in Sakura's head. Anyway, Li's costume is very princess-y, all pink and foofy with a blonde/auburn curly wig. The class is amused/impressed with Li's costume but Li is not happy. Madison tries to talk up its merits but Li is still not happy. In the English version, Madison finally says that he has no choice since the curtain will be going up soon. In the Japanese version, Tomoyo points out that she saw Yukito in the audience. Li is, of course, free to not participate in the play but if he doesn't go on, the play will be cancelled and Yukito will most likely be very sad. This convinces Li to suck it up and do his best. With that resolved, the play can begin. Madison is doing the off-stage narration so is in the sound booth with Kero, who has come to see the play. Madison starts by telling the introduction to "Sleeping Beauty": perfect kingdom, king and queen want children, they get daughter, yay and stuff. The first scene is the infamous birth party where the evil witch, played with panache by Meilin, cast her curse on the princess: she will live the perfect life until her sixteenth birthday, when she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and DIE!!! MWA HA HA HA! But, of course, one of the good fairies never gave her gift so the gift is that she will not die but sleep until a prince wakes her with a kiss. Madison narrates that the king asks that all spinning wheels be burned throughout the land. Thus ends that scene, with Kero and Madison remarking that everyone is doing very well. Kero asks when Sakura and Li show up and Madison explains that it's the second act. Cue the second act. The princess is now sixteen years old and out comes Li in his pretty pretty princess outfit. Tori is stunned that Li is the princess. In the Japanese version, Yukito waves on Li, which steels his resolve to act well. In any case, Li is the worst actor in the world despite the fact he only has two lines at this point. Apparently, the queen wanted to let the princess know that it was nearly time for her sixteenth birthday party so she should get ready. So Princess Li goes to the bedroom to find something the princess has never seen before: a spinning wheel. Li approaches it but trips on his skirt, falling on the spinning wheel, crushing it to pieces as he screams in pain before he realizes that he needs to fall asleep, which he does. The queen is distraught but the good fairy's spell worked: the princess wasn't dead, only sleeping. Now it's time to wait for the prince. Backstage, Sakura realizes that it's her time to shine so out she goes. Julian points out that Sakura is the prince so Tori starts snapping pictures. In the Japanese version, Yukito waves her on too, which steels her resolve. In any case, Sakura is a much better actress than Li and vows to save the princess. But that just summons the evil witch who sics her minions on Prince Sakura. But Prince Sakura is much stronger and defeats her minions and the evil witch herself. Now it's time to wake up Sleeping Li-ty with that famous kiss. In the Japanese version, every one gets a reaction shot about this whole thing but the English version just shows the highlight of Sakura going in for the kiss. Before Sakura can give Li his True Love's Kiss, Kero senses a Clow Card and apparently so does Li, who shoves her away. Then everything goes dark, including Li, who gets to briefly shout out what may be happening but the blackness cuts him off. Sakura is majorly freaked out and tries to run to Kero and Madison in the sound booth. Kero, meanwhile, is reflecting that she must figure the secret out on her own. Sakura runs for a while before realizing that she hasn't bumped into anything or anyone. She calls out for everyone but no one answers. Knowing it's a Clow Card, she tries using her staff but that doesn't work either. Distraught, she tries to figure out what the Clow Card is. Eventually, she realizes that it's the Dark Card. The darknesses lightens briefly, much to Sakura and Kero's relief, but then goes dark again. Both realize that figuring out the Dark Card's identity isn't enough. After a couple of moments, Sakura realizes that she can still see herself in the darkness. At that moment, the darkness thickens and engulfs her feet. Sakura starts to panic as Kero realizes that if Sakura doesn't figure it out soon, she'll be lost forever. Sakura is still panicking but then realizes that she has to "trust herself" or "that she will definitely be all right". With those words, she begins to glow brighter and out comes a glowing woman. Sakura realizes that this is the Light Card. The Light Card confirms her guess and explains that she has been hidden in Sakura's heart since the Seal on the Book of Clow was first broken. Because Sakura didn't give up, she came out. So what takes away the darkness? Light, Sakura answers, so Light works its magic to get rid of the darkness, realizing the true form of the Dark Card. The two Cards are fine with Sakura being their master and want to be sealed together but mention that Yueh will be the final judge. Sakura asks what they mean by Yueh but all they say is that he is close by. In the English version, the Cards say that they will be by her side as well. In the Japanese version, they tell her not to worry because of her magic spell: I will definitely be all right. With the Cards sealed, everything goes back to normal. Sakura is ecstatic that everyone is okay. In the Japanese version, she actually hugs Li out of sheer joy which causes the audience and the cast to go into a uproar. In any case, Madison is confused: Sakura has fallen off the script. Kero explains what just happened and notes that only people with magical power noticed. Kero then mentions how he knows that time for Yueh to appear is coming soon. Meanwhile, Ms. Mackenzie agrees that the time is very soon while Ms. Mizuki just repeats "I will definitely be all right, huh?".
Wanna see it?
Cardcaptors Episode 42: Part 1/3
Click to viewCardcaptors Episode 42: Part 2/3
Cardcaptors Episode 42: Part 3/3
Card Captor Sakura Episode 42: Part 1/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXJSpupuxnU
Card Captor Sakura Episode 42: Part 2/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzHQ8W22-pw
Card Captor Sakura Episode 42: Part 3/3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s7vGXdYcT0
I love this episode. I loved this capture in the manga and only because of Li. Screw Sakura capturing Cards and furthering the plot, I just want to see Li run around in a poofy dress and badly act! I wish Li had gotten more lines in the play, ah well.
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, Sweet, Big, Create, Change, Firey, Arrow, Snow, Voice, Lock, Cloud, Light, Dark
Current number: 39
Li: Time, Storm, Return, Dash, Freeze, Dream, Sand
Current number: 7
I love the English title for this episode. I think this may be one of my favorites titles yet. It didn't use a light/dark pun but it still related to the episode and it matched the mysterious mood of the capture. The Japanese title is just too long and stupid. English title wins!
Let's talk about cuts. There are quite a few scenes cut in the English version. Most of these were probably the result of time constraints (the fairies lose a moment here and there) but three scenes in particular stood out as interesting choices.
One was the "hey, didn't you do drag once, Toya?" scene. Considering the English version's love of flashback, it's funny they didn't use this one. Furthermore, the English version did do that scene so it's bit late now to try to forget about it. Also, it's clear that a. Toya's horrified and b. Yukito is clearly trying to annoy him. So, Toya and Yukito are clearly straight (well, at least to a casual observer, anyway) so I didn't see a reason to cut this unless it was for time. It does take up a lot of time, time that could have been devoted to the play we actually wanted to watch (and more Li-in-a-pretty-dress-and-shouting-his-lines scenes). So, if it was for time, I'll let it go but if it wasn't, argh, get a grip, English producers. The episode is already about a boy wearing a dress with a curly wig, we left Heteronormative Station a lot time ago.
Speaking of that boy in a dress, that brings me to the other cut scene: Tomoyo's manipulation of Li was really funny and I was annoyed that this got cut. I actually didn't remember this scene until watching the Japanese version but I could tell that the whole "the curtain's going up!" was originally about Yukito so they weren't fooling me. But I thought the whole "oh, the play will be cancelled and Yukito will just die, oh, I guess I'll go deliver the news" melodrama was pure Tomoyo and pure fun and I loved it. Madison's actress could have pulled this off and the English producers could have easily changed the focus from Li's gay crush to something else manipulative, like, I don't know, Madison is going to tell his mother about the play being cancelled and how it was all his fault or something. I really felt that this missed an opportunity for humor because of their fear of presenting Li as gay when even that could have been edited around. On another note, I did laugh when English Li mentions that he doesn't look good in pink. That's funny because he wears that pink shirt all the time! Was that a joke created by the English producers or something?
As for the extended super megamix of the kiss build-up, this may have been a time issue. It goes on quite a bit but it may have been because of Meilin. Again, the English producers can't make up their minds about whether Meilin likes Li that way or not and this moment makes it quite clear that she wants to kiss Li. However, Toya's reaction and Li's peek could have been kept. Toya's reaction made sense to me (am I seriously the only one who thinks it's weird that the school is totally okay with two 10 years old going for the kiss in a play?) and Li's was funny and cute. The extreme close-up of Sakura's kissy face? Yeah, that could have been left on the cutting room floor.
There are fat-trimming cuts but I still felt that these moments were charming or helped with the story's flow. Except for the mob scene at the end. I don't really believe that would happen. Well, maybe Meilin's reaction made sense but no one else's did, especially since the cheap animation only lets them mill about rather than get Meilin to stop attacking Sakura.
As I said before, this story is funny because of Li. So, if Li falls flat, the story falls flat. Unfortunately, for some reason, English Li doesn't do the girly voice that he did last episode. Instead, he just talks somewhat more stiffly than usual. It takes great skill to act "badly" without actually acting badly. The problem with the English Li's performance can be demonstrated when he falls on the spinning wheel. Is Jordan Killik playing Li who is pretending to be the princess when he says his finger is bleeding and therefore sounds bad or is it Jordan Killik playing Li who is falling out of the princess character because his finger is actually bleeding and sounds stiff because he has problems doing Li's character? I can't tell and I should be able to tell. The Japanese Li does a wonderful job at playing Li and at playing Li playing the princess badly (although the best part is Li actually saying "flop" when he "falls asleep").
The rest of the cast does a wonderful job in both versions but I just felt that Japanese cast got the better script, play-wise, although I was pretty annoyed that the subtitles kept calling the spinning wheels "spinners". What? Are they going to modify their hubcaps in this kingdom or what? I did like that English Sakura still sounded a bit amateurish since she's supposed to be ten years old. I felt the Japanese Sakura was a bit too smooth but that's just me. Meilin was perfect in both versions and I was pleased despite my initial disappointment that Yamazaki/Zachary would not be playing the witch like he does in the manga.
Oh, by the way, it's official: only one song is allowed in Reddington School District. The background music was the same as the recorder song and the song during Tori's play. Wow, lazy.
Let's talk about the last part of the episode. So you've probably noticed that the message from the Dream Sakura came true in both versions, much to my relief. However, the English version doesn't make it "her spell". I will be frank, I thought this was silly in the manga, that simply saying, "I will be all right" was her secret spell. So I'm not too torn up that they changed it to the Cards being by her side, which frankly, I preferred since they're supposed to help her during the Judgement.
And I will be honest and say that I preferred Ms. Mackenzie's mysterious "yes, it will be soon" comment rather than Ms. Mizuki's repeating the spell, simply because it's a response to Kero's comment (although I did joke to myself: Kero: Uh, how did you hear me? Ms. Mackenzie: I have super hearing) and is more mysterious.
But, to be fair, either way really works. "I will be all right" or, in the English version, "I have to trust myself" is her secret spell, whether I like it or not and Ms. Mackenzie's comment makes just as much story-telling sense as Ms. Mizuki's comment. But the Cards can still support her.
Alright, plot holes!
1. Why did these kids not have a dress rehearsal? Why did Tomoyo not have the costumes ready until the day of the play?
2. Why was neither Sakura nor Li consulted about what they would be wearing? Sakura would agree to anything but surely Tomoyo must have realized that Li would not like the fluffy dress? Does she like torturing him?
3. Why doesn't Li's wig match his hair? Surely Tomoyo should have realized that the wig had to match! I thought she wouldn't compromise on the costumes! I guess she only meant Sakura's. Sucks to be you, Li! In fact, the wig constantly changes color from auburn to blond and back again.
4. As must as I loved the manipulation of Li by Tomoyo, I couldn't help but wonder: Doesn't Li have an understudy? I mean, suppose Li had fallen ill, which happens all the time, what would they do then?
5. Doesn't Tomoyo feel a little guilty about only taping Sakura's part of the play? Wouldn't it be nice to tape the whole thing so Sakura could actually see the whole thing instead of just her parts? She had to stay backstage the whole time! Furthermore, I'm sure her classmates would like a video of their parts as well.
6. Silly plot hole but I don't care: If the Light Card was in her heart this whole time, then how did her heart continue to function? Wouldn't having a magical Card in her chest make it hard to pump blood and stuff?
And for a special bonus, plot holes about the fairy tale itself:
1. If the third fairy was able to use her gift to change the spell from "death" to "sleep", then why not just remove the curse entirely? I guess the witch is too powerful?
2. If they destroy all the spinning wheels, then how do they get thread for cloth? That's what spinning wheels are for! Man, that must be some huge import deficit!
3. Why do they never warn the princess about the curse? Just show her a picture of a spinning wheel and say, "Princess, avoid this object at all costs! Especially on your sixteenth birthday!" Then she wouldn't be a stupid ditz and be all, "What's this? I want to touch it!" (Although I think the Disney version has her compelled to touch it) when she finds one.
4. So what happens to the kingdom while everyone is asleep? Okay, I think some versions actually do have the entire kingdom fall asleep but not all. Most of the ones I've heard just have the castle fall asleep. Regardless, why does no one invade the kingdom (because the castle is not the entirety of the kingdom)? Unless the thorns cover the whole kingdom, which, dude, extreme.
Although both versions do a great job with the story, because of the English probably unnecessary cuts and some weak acting from the most comedic part of the story, I judge these episodes to be...
Different, with the Japanese Card Captor Sakura being the superior!
Episode 43