By: Moon Klutz
There are many things that people in general
take for granted. We automatically assume that Ami is smart
because she loves to study, or has no life etc. We
automatically assume that Makoto likes to fight because
she's agressive. We automatically assume that Rei argues
with people because she is cranky and easily agravated.
We automatically assume that Minako is a ditz because she
can't get certain phrases or sayings right. I read an
article at AQ's Worst of the Web about the outer senshi and
how the inner senshi are just boring old plain characters,
standard in every way and not easy to relate to because
they are so two-dimensional.
Well if you think that way about them, you
obviously can't see much or understand much about real
people, and the reasons they act that way.
Ami for instance. Ami grew up in an environment
where her mother is her only parent, and is constantly at
the hospital working with little time for her daughter.
Ami does NOT study in excess because she is bored, or has
no life. Ami studies because it is the only thing she is
good at, and if she becomes the best, she thinks her mother
will notice her more. This is classic. I know a LOT of
people who try to do something very well, or lash out in
hopes of gaining attention from their parents/loved ones
etc. Who can't relate to that? Because I sure as heck
can.
Makoto as we all know, loves to fight. The first
time we see her in the anime, she beats the crud out of a
huge guy trying to steal Usagi's lunch money. Latter,
Umino reports that she was kicked out of her old school for
fighting. Makoto does not love to fight because she is
aggressive. Makoto's parents died in a plane crash when
she was younger. Obviously, fighting is her way of lashing
out, getting rid of excess anger that builds up in her due
to her circumstances. Maybe not everyone has lost their
parents, but I know that when I get angry, I slam doors,
hit things etc. It's very plausible that the first time
she had to lash out, the only thing around hit, was a guy.
It all becomes a pattern, and eventually, you forget why
you are angry, only knowing that you are upset. When you
get upset, you lash out at people. It's very common!
Rei is a very personal person. She doesn't
compliment people easily, and is constantly nagging on
people. This is not because she's a terrible person, or
hates Usagi. It is not because she is picky and controlling
either. Rei actually has a very hard time showing her
emotions, so she tries to show she cares for someone, like
Usagi, by getting them to be the best they can be without
getting to close to them. So she argues with Usagi and
yells at her a lot, basically, it's her way of saying she
loves her. My family is the same way. We don't eat dinner
together, or talk much. Mostly, we disagree on everything,
and argue about it constantly, but we love each other.
Minako is NOT a ditz. Have you ever thought
about what her past as Sailor V was like? She didn't have
time for anything after she became Sailor V. There was
only practicing, fighting and patrolling. Also, Minako
might have a fear of leadership. She might be afraid of
failing others, and so she makes it easy for them to accept
anything wrong she does as simply normal.
Usagi is a story all in herself. As a child,
Usagi was probably naturally clumsy. People would make
jokes about it, calling her a klutz. Latter on, she would
enter school, and maybe the she wasn't the best at
everything. People probably reinforced her already
negative opinions of herself, and she basically, 'became'
them. If everyone tells you that you are a failure, you
most likely will fail. Eventually, it would become a
reinforced habit, subconsciously failing. Also, she might
have the same fear of responsibility Minako might have.
So, though the Outer Senshi do have good sides,
and some rather unique issues for us to relate to, the
inner senshi are not cardboard copy two-D characters, all
face and no substance. I'm sure the Outer Senshi have
these issues just like the Inners, but they are probably
more complicated and easier to notice because they are
older.
Don't judge a book by it's cover, it might have a
Katana sword behind it's back.
Comments on this article can be sent to:
Moon Klutz.
