Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou – Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 41 to 45

Original Run: April 7, 1998 - March 21, 2000
Number of Episodes: 70
Based on the Series Created By: CLAMP

As A Reminder:  Anime Hajime Impressions: Benkyou is not a review series. Anime Hajime’s LofZOdyssey attempts to watch an anime in Japanese with no English subtitles. Therefore, misinterpretations and misunderstandings are possible.

Feel free to leave comments, clarifications, and thoughts in the comments section below.

---

Episode 36 to 40 Recap

The previous five episodes were the gathering of the storm. In rapid succession, so many questions and mystories stacked on top of one another. Ms. Mizuki became simultaneously more suspicious and more of a potential ally. Touya, Sakura’s older brother, is far more aware of what is happening around him than he lets on. It is like this series is building up to something.

Spoiler alert: It was.

Episode 41

Japanese Title: さくらと小狼と砂の海
Romaji Title: Sakura to Syaoran to Suna no Umi
English Title: Sakura, Syaoran, and the Sea of Sand

Episode Summary

Sakura’s class is getting ready for the School Arts Festival, where they will be putting on a production of Sleeping Beauty.

As the class is deciding who will play what role, Sakura acknowledges that Ms. Mizuki is definitely the person she is seeing in her Tokyo Tower dreams. At the same time, Ms. Mizuki gives Syaoran an ominous-sounding piece of advice.

With the focus back on the play, the class is eager to determine who will get what role. The process is random, and as a result, Sakura gets the part of the prince. Syaoran, to his horror, gets the part of the princess.

The two Cardcaptors get together to practice their parts. While doing so, it is clear they are becoming much closer. Syaoran, in particular, often finds himself feeling the same way about Sakura as he does Yukito.

The next morning at breakfast, Touya appears to be on the verge of confronting Sakura about her double. Ultimately, though, he says nothing.

While on the way to school, Sakura passes the shrine where Ms. Mizuki lives. Unbeknownst to the Cardcaptor, a spirit exits the premises and followers her.

At school, while Sakura and Syaoran are practicing, the spirit, the Dirt Card, attacks.

The Dirt is exceedingly dangerous, but the combined powers of the Sakura and Syaoran defeat the spirit. However, the Cardcaptors are left wonder. It appeared as though the Card sought them out specifically.

Principle Characters

Episode 42

Japanese Title: さくらのまっくら学芸会
Romaji Title: Sakura no Makkura Gakugeikai
English Title: Sakura and the Blacked Out School Arts Festival

Episode Summary

The day of the School Arts Festival has come, and Sakura’s class is about to perform their rendition of Sleeping Beauty.

As the show goes on, it is well-received by the audience. Everyone is executing their roles flawlessly, and everything seems to be falling into place. However, Ms. Mizuki appears to be waiting for something.

As Sakura and Syaoran, the princes and the princess respectfully, are about to perform the iconic kissing scene when the entire theater goes black.

Sakura loses sight of everyone and is alone in an empty void. She prepares to fight but is shocked to discover her magic won’t work. Although scared, Sakura uses all her experience as a Cardcaptor to deduce the spirit’s identity, the Dark Card. She also notices that despite not seeing anything, she can make out her own features as though they are a beacon.

Realizing this, Sakura summons a Clow Card from within her, the Light.

With the two spirits reunited, they warn Sakura of coming danger. As they are sealed away, the pair mentions a single name to the Cardcaptor – Yue.

Principal Characters

Episode 43

Japanese Title: さくらのさよなら苺鈴
Romaji Title: Sakura no Sayonara Meirin
English Title: Sakura and Farewell to Meiling

Episode Summary

At the Li household, Meiling receives a call from her mother. To Meiling, it is the worst possible news. She must return to Hong Kong the following week.

At school, Sakura can’t bear to see a distraught Meiling. So, the Cardcaptor invites her friend over for a slumber party. Together, Meiling tells Sakura how she feels like a burden to Syaoran. She confesses that she feels guilty about him always needing to look after her.

While this is happening, a pair of spirits is loose in the town. Everything they touch multiples, creating an exact copy of whatever they come in contact with.

Sakura senses the card and brings Meiling along to fight it. The girls meet up with Syaoran, and together they face the Twin Card.

Although Sakura can easily hit one of the spirits, both must be attacked simultaneously and in the same manner to be defeated. Fortunately, Syaoran and Meiling were trained in the same martial arts style, making them ideal team to face the Twin.

For the first time, Meiling plays a crucial role in capturing a Clow Card.

Following the battle, Syaoran tells Meiling he has never thought of her as a burden and will miss her very much. A few days later, Meiling says goodbye to her friends.

Principal Characters

Episode 44

Japanese Title: さくらとケロと不思議な先生
Romaji Title: Sakura to Kero to Fushigi na Sensei
English Title: Sakura, Kero, and the Mysterious Teacher

Episode Summary

Sakura has her Tokyo Tower once again. However, along with seeing a clearly defined Ms. Mizuki, and new winged figure makes its appearance.

When she wakes up, Cerberus tells Sakura that they are on the hunt for the final Clow Card.

The Cardcaptor and the Guardian head out to meet Tomoyo and Syaoran to cheer on Yukito at his archer tournament. While at the event, the group is surprised to see Ms. Mizuki participating as well.

As the competition goes on, Yukito and Ms. Mizuki are evenly matched. But in the final round, Ms. Mizuki reacts to an odd sensation, causing her to miss.

Following the tournament, Sakura notices that Cerberus has run off somewhere. Little does she know the Guardian went looking for Ms. Mizuki. The two confront one another, and Ms. Mizuki shows no indication of surprise surrounding Cerberus’ existence.

Eventually, a shocked Sakura discovers the two calmly chatting. Unsure of what to make this pairing, Sakura is filled with nothing but questions.

As the day ends, Sakura, Syaoran, Tomoyo, Cerberus, Yukito, and Ms. Mizuki are leaving the area when an extremely powerful spirit attacks.

Principal Characters

Episode 45

Japanese Title: さくらと最後のクロウカード
Romaji Title: Sakura to Saigo no Kurou Kaado
English Title: Sakura and the Final Clow Card

Episode Summary

Picking up where the last episode left off, the powerful spirit turns out to be the last of the four elemental Clow Cards – the Earthy.

With the Earthy laying waste to the city, Sakura uses all her power and experience to fight. After a hard-fought battle, she wins and collects the final card.

Having achieved her mission, Sakura is floored when Cerberus transforms into his proper Guardian form. But while this should be a happy moment, Cerberus appears to have a heavy heart. With all the Clow Cards collected, the Cardcaptors must face their last challenge – Cerberus’ companion guardian, Yue.

To Sakura and Syaoran’s terrified amazement, Yukito morphs into the fabled Yue.

This foe challenges the Cardcaptors one at a time and effortlessly defeats Syaoran. Yue then turns his attention to Sakura.

The episode ends where this series began; on full moon night in the shadow of Tokyo Tower.

Principal Characters

Thoughts and Impressions

From what I can tell, there is one more episode in this story arc. However, due to how I set the schedule, that final episode will be part of the next batch of five. At that time, we will also start the third season of Cardcaptor Sakura.

I’m not going to lie. There was a ton of information dumbed in episodes 44 and 45, and I did not catch everything. Aside from a bunch of magical-girl-f@#$ery going on, I cannot wait to see this climax.

Thanks for following along with me. If you’ve seen this series and feel I am wrong in my descriptions, please let me know in the comments below. I wouldn’t want to put this show in an inaccurate light.

If you’ve liked what you have read, be sure to follow Anime Hajime on our social media sights so that you never miss a post or update. Also, please share this post across the internet to help add to the discussion.

For Anime Hajime, I’m LofZOdyssey, and I’ll see you next week for Cardcaptor Sakura Episodes 46 to 50.