I have recently been watching the dubbed re-runs of the R season (it's in syndication now, happy day!), and had a good time laughing at the horrible mistakes and stupid edits and changes (there is a difference, in my humble opinion), and crying too (like when Ami is going to leave... its's really sad...) Then one night, as I pondered a marathon I had treated myself to earlier in the day, I realized something... And that realization is the reason I am writing this when I could do other things, but you must be educated of this crime.

We all know that Serena/Usagi and Darien/Mamoru broke up for a while in the R season, because King Endymion was sending Darien dreams that Serena would die if they stayed together. He did this so that they would know that their love is strong enough to survive anything and beat anything, and blah de blah de blah... Darien took the dreams like Endy. wanted him to, and he broke up with Serena to protect her, which is, in my humble opinion, very romantic... sigh... I wish my boyfriend was as romantic as that... I wish I had a boyfriend period... Especially that hottie in English... (clear throat) Anyways, I digress.

So they break up, and Darien tell her (in both the dubbed and original) that he just doesn't love her any more, he is not mad at her. AT ALL. And without further ado, the aforementioned reason I am writing this: The dubbed goes ahead and BLAMES THE ENTIRE BREAK-UP ON... SERENA!!! How is the unfortunate Serena made a scape goat? I present my case:

Exhibit A- Episode 59, A Charmed Life. When Serena goes into the charm shop with Mina and Lita, she askes for a stone that will make someone forgive you. What does Darien have to forgive her for, he broke up with her, not the other way around, thank you very much. And, in defense of the original version, (which commits some crimes of its own, but I won't go into that right now...) that is not what she apparently says in the original. According to Hitoshi Doi, she askes for a stone that will make a boy who is cold to like you again. And then later, Darien comes into the shop, and Serena askes him if he has forgiven her yet. And he thinks, "Maybe I should say yes... She looks so sincere..." Once again, what does she have to be forgiven for?

And then, Exhibit B- Episode 63, Enemies No More. When Rei and Serena are talking at Rei's temple, Rei accuses Serena of mistreating Darien, though she never tells what exactly Serena did. That is just like before, when it's not mentioned what exactly Serena said to Darien that supposedly made him break up with her. Rei then procedes to comfort Serena by telling her that once she apologizes (again with the apology thing) to Darien, and "really mean(s) it" then he'll forgive her... Whatever. Once again, to defend the original, when Rei points out that Serena is no longer technically going out with Darien, Serena says that she believes in Darien. Rei then tells her to keep believing in him, that's what really counts.(According to Hitoshi Doi, again.) The prosecution rests.

Please don't take me the wrong way, the dubbed does have its good points. I'm no anime purist, or anything. Quite frankly, I don't want to see certain aspects of the original show. But I do think it is unfair to Serena to blame her in any way for their break-up. And, perhaps this is just my overly-sensitive feministic side, but doesn't it seem rather sexist to blame the girl? Of course, the reason why these changes were made are rather obvious if you think about it. They are trying to preach at young girls again, just like with those horrible (yet funny) Sailor Says.

Submitted by: Amichan99
Posted on: 11 / 05 / 2001