Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card - Episode 9 (Review)

By: Rae and EyeSpyeAlexThis week’s episode of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card seems to have granted our wish of finding a balance between the clear cards and Sakura’s relationships. Need to catch up on the action? Check out our previous review here!Sakura and Li take their relationship to the next level by going on an official date! The pair head to the aquarium to enjoy the sights of the sea creatures, and each other. Just when it seems like things will finally calm down, the universe reveals its true plans. The pair sits down for lunch and as Li prepares to ask Sakura out, the aquarium glass suddenly shatters, unleashing a torrent of water and fish. As Li swims to the surface he realizes Sakura is stuck under the water in a vortex and dives down to save her, while Sakura’s brother (who is conveniently working that day) engages the emergency drainage system. After being rescued, Sakura comments to Li that this is near identical to what happened when she originally caught Watery.With Tomoyo’s help and brand new outfits, the gang heads back to the aquarium after hours to investigate the mysterious phenomenon. They don’t have to wait long before the entity makes itself known again, and begins pursuing Sakura. Using several of her cards, Sakura manages to evade the being before ultimately securing and revealing it to be Spiral. The series of events once again causes the group to comment on how similar the situation is to when Sakura captured Watery.All in all, this latest episode of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card seems to have found the perfect balance between Sakura’s ever evolving relationships with her friends and with the mystery of the clear cards. The only major downside is that the plot wouldn’t stop hammering home how they’ve done this exact storyline before - even going so far as to have Leave it to Kero comment about the aquarium workers all looking healthy again. Clear Card doesn’t need to remind us that it’s done this or that - the series has done an incredible job of tapping into its nostalgia potential.  Callbacks and deja vu episodes definitely have their place in TV shows, and work best when the audience is the one to spot them. Being constantly reminded that the story being outlined has happened before ends up feeling cheap.However, it was great to see more of Sakura having to focus on how to seal a new card. Several of the episodes of Clear Card were far too easy, and didn't make good use of the power that Sakura has at her fingertips (well.... wand tip?) Here we get to see a little more of the type of action that the original series so often gave us.Sakura and Syaoran’s relationship is definitely a big theme in this episode, and we were loving it! With the pair being part of the original canon, it could have been so easy to fast-forward and make them too close, too soon. Clear Card clearly remembers that Sakura and Syaoran are both middle-schoolers, with no real dating experience, and treats them accordingly. The end result is a cute, slightly awkward pairing that never feels too adult for its circumstances. If you haven’t checked it out yet, this is definitely a solid follow-up to the original series. New episodes of Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card air Sundays on Crunchyoll and VRV platforms.