"For Friendship: Ami vs. Bertheir" is the 25th episode of the 2nd season of the Sailor Moon anime and the 71st episode overall. It aired in Japan on October 16, 1993. The DiC English dub title of this episode is "Checkmate" and it aired in North America on November 20, 1995.
Summary[]
Ami enters an international chess tournament at the Chess Tower and discovers that Berthier has targeted the building.
Plot[]
Usagi loses a chess match against Ami in her room as Luna, Chibiusa, and Makoto watch. Chibiusa challenges Usagi to a game and promptly beats her and Ami leaves to visit the Chess Tower.
The Black Moon Clan argue about Koan's defection and transformation to a normal human. Berthier is confused about it and volunteers to target the next Crystal Point which happens to be at the Chess Tower. Petz and Caleveras say they'll lend support if needed and Rubeus orders them to do so as he thinks to himself how the Spectre Sisters are disposable pawns to him.
Usagi and Makoto join Ami to the Chess Tower. Ami mentions an upcoming chess tournament she signed up for but is not concerned about winning. Berthier, disguised, interjects and tells them winning is all that matters as she heads inside. Ami heads in alone and runs into the Old Chess Man and plays a game with him as they talk. Ami asks if she can explore the tower and she finds Berthier using Dark Water to corrupt the area. Berthier, annoyed at Ami's attitude earlier, attacks Ami. She transforms into Sailor Mercury and uses Shine Aqua Illusion to undo the corruption. Sailor Jupiter surprise attacks with Sparkling Wide Pressure prompting Berthier to retreat. Ami is worried that Berthier now knows her identity.
Petz and Calaveras notice Berthier is injured and make fun of her for failing. Berthier denies her failure and refuses to ask for help. She plans to play Sailor Mercury at the World Chess Tornament and brainwashes the receptionist to sign herself up. Watching from another room, Usagi, Rei, Koan, Minako, and Makoto are there to cheer on Ami. The Old Chess Man talks to the girls and Koan recognizes Berthier who makes it to the finals against Ami.
Ami checkmates Berthier who then freezes the cameras in the game room. The other girls transform and arrive to help Ami but they are trapped by Berthier who tells Sailor Mercury they'll die if she loses the chess match which she modifies to remove the checkmate. She also slowly freezes Ami as she loses pieces and gives Ami the chance to retreat. The girls tell her to run but she refuses to give up her friends which Berthier doesn't understand. Petz and Caleveras arrive to share credit for Berthier's work. Tuxedo Mask breaks Berthier's queen which frees Sailor Mercury and the other Sailor Senshi from the magic trapping them.
With her plan unfolding, Berthier asks for her sisters' help but they refuse and leave her to die. She starts to cry thinking it ridiculous Ami would risk herself for friends when sisters don't even do so. She attacks with Dark Water Full Power which starts to freeze the entire room intending to die with the attack. Koan arrives to tell her sister she isn't alone and convinces her to stop. Sailor Moon uses Moon Crystal Power to help Berthier turn into a human like she did for Koan. The episode ends with Koan and Berthier playing a game of chess as sisters as Luna, Ami and Usagi watch.
International Dub Titles[]
- Brazilian Portuguese: Pela Amizade! Ami VS Beruche ("For Friendship! Ami VS Beruche")
- European Portuguese: Ami Contra Bertierite ("Ami Against Bertierite")
- French: Molly contre Bérénice ("Molly vs. Berenice")
- German: Die Schach-Weltmeisterschaft ("The World Chess Championship")
- Hungarian: Molly kontra Bérénice ("Molly vs. Berenice")
Changes[]
Changes From the Manga[]
- Berthier, like Koan, was killed by Moon Princess Halation
Dub Changes[]
- The scene where Sailor Jupiter's attack hits Berthier and draws blood is edited on the DiC dub to digitally remove the blood spurt.
- Calavaras' and Petz's lines to Berthier about wanting to kill themselves rather than be human were altered on the DiC dub.
- The scene of Koan getting hit by a block of ice as she's talking Berthier out of freezing herself and everyone else had the actual scene of Koan getting hit in the face with the ice replaced with a repeat shot of Berthier staring in shock (making it look like the hit happened off-screen) on the DiC dub.
- On the Korean KBS dub, Usagi cheering for Ami while waving two fans with the modern Japanese flag on them had the red circle digitally removed.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- When Tuxedo Mask appears, his theme music doesn't play.
- This is the 1st episode to have a new intro depicting Crystal Tokyo.
- Viz Media spells Berthier's name as "Bertheir" in their title translation.