Necessary?!

The accusations are everywhere. You don't have to look through many Sailor Moon websites to find the same statements, over and over again:

"Why are the Starlights here again?"

"We don't need extra Scouts."

"What's the point?"

"Ultimately, they can be considered an unnecessary addition to an already overly-large cast."

The question that arises: Are the Sailor Starlights necessary?!

The answer: NO!

Yes, you heard me. No, the Starlights aren't necessary! Ms. Takeuchi didn't need to create three more Sailor Senshi. She didn't need to create Sailor Senshi from another planet. She didn't need to create Galaxia and the Sailor Animamates. She didn't need to create Chibi-Chibi, Princess Kakyuu, or the entire Sailor Stars season. Heck, while we're at it, let's go into what else never really needed to be created. Hmmm, let's see . . . All four of the Outer Senshi . . . All four of the Inner Senshi . . . and Chibi-Usa!

Well, there you have it. They're all completely unnecessary additions to what should have been a cast of two. After all, the series is called "Sailor Moon." All that we really NEED is the herione, her love interest, and her best friend. Okay, so a cast of three. Throw in Naru for the "best friend" role.

Er, in case you couldn't tell, I was being sarcastic.

Well, I do admit that the Sailor Starlights aren't necessary per se. But then again, was there EVER a character, major or minor, that was necessary for Naoko Takeuchi, or for the good folks at TOEI animation, to create? The answer is no. Ms. Takeuchi created the original cast of supporting characters - Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, the cats, Umino, Usagi's family, and a few others - because she WANTED to. She expanded the Sailor Moon story, and created the Outer Senshi, because she WANTED to. And, finally, Ms. Takeuchi created the Starlights and Kakyuu because she WANTED to.

Or, you could look at it another way. The Stars season revolves around the idea that there are Sailor Senshi guarding other planets, within other solar systems, throughout the entire galaxy. To integrate this idea into the storyline, and to bring the Sailor Moon saga full circle, it made sense for Naoko to create three alien Sailor Senshi with their own Princess, who could fight on the side of Sailor Moon. For the purpose of the Stars season alone, the Starlights are indeed very necessary. But on the other hand, like I said before, the Stars season - and the three seasons before it - can be written off as unnecessary in their entirety. For example, the four Outer Senshi are a necessary and integral part of the S season, but on the other hand, the S season itself could be seen as unnecessary. Naoko never needed to expand the Sailor Moon universe beyond the self-contained storyline of the original season. But she DID, and the Sailor Moon canon is much richer, and much more interesting, because she did so.

Now, a second, related question arises: Does being "unnecessary" make a character stupid, hateful, and lame?

The answer: No, of course not! If that were true, then 80%-90% of the characters on the show would be hated by the entire fan base.

The third question arises: If that's the case, then why is the "unecessary" argument often used as a reason to hate the Starlights?

The answer: Because some people are probably just looking for an excuse.

Actually, the answer is a bit more complicated than that. I can understand why so many fans dislike the Starlights on face. Three major reasons why include:

1. They're weird! I'll admit that freely. All that gender-bending, and the revealing fuku, is so utterly and completely different from the Sailor Senshi that we know and love. And people are scared when things suddenly become "different".

2. In the anime, the producers really shoved the Three Lights down viewers' throats. Surely I wasn't the only one who noticed this. Some of the early episodes in the Stars season just SCREAMED "Look, here are these cool new characters! Wow, they're so cool! Look, these are actually complicated characters with painful and tragic pasts! Gee, don't you feel sorry for them?!" Don't get me wrong, I'm probably one of the few fans who actually liked those episodes. I think that they were very well done. But I have to admit that the intent of the writers is painfully clear. And some viewers are just turned off by that. Some of us like to think for ourselves. ^_^ But then again, the writers did the exact same thing to Haruka and Michiru in the S season.

3. Seiya dared to interfere with the sacred couple of Usagi and Mamoru. This alone is enough for many fans to (unfairly) despise Seiya and his companions.

So, those are some of the *real* reasons why so many fans dislike the Sailor Starlights. I can certainly understand their point of view. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. If you are a fan who dislikes the Starlights, I have nothing against you. I have my own personal list of characters that I like and dislike. Everyone does.

But please, please, if you're going to be honest about it and say that you don't like the Sailor Starlights . . . PLEASE don't use the stupid "necessary" argument! I'm so sick and tired of it! That's why I wrote this rant in the first place.

Necessary? Heck no. But is that a reason to hate the Starlights? Heck no, again.

Thank you for reading.

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