Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Episode 14 Review: Sakura, the Shrine, and the Zoo

This Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card review contains spoilers.

Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Episode 14

This episode snuck up with the feels. At first it was being played like it’d be a nonstop roast fest for Meiling. An endless display of her savage one liners. I was into it. I was laughing my ass off.

Then the show took a sharp turn. All of Sakura’s friends were turning into animals. She was seemingly thrust into another dimension. Her friends were put in danger, a burning tree about to topple down on them. Sakura couldn’t do anything.

Then that yellow glow. Syaoran had managed to stop time. He tried to get Sakura to identify what the problem was. Tried to help her focus. She tries but quickly became overwhelmed.

“I don’t know what to do! I… I…”

She starts to panic. She can’t help her friends, the most important thing in her world. As she begins to be consumed by her fears Syaoran embraces her.

“It’s okay. I’m here. Are you still scared? Can you take a deep breath?”

She does. He encourages her to think.

“What do you want to happen?”

Sakura just wants everything to go back to normal. 

“Then, wish hard for that, Sakura….” He helps her focus on what needs to get done and she manages to capture the new card.

I didn’t mean for this to turn into a summary of one scene but I recap it just to point out how powerful it is. How it perfectly portrays Sakura’s emotional defenses being broken down for the first time in Clear Card.

Usually Sakura is very put together. She always believes in herself. She knows things will work out. That’s very inspirational but I’ve been wondering if she could always keep that up. Was Sakura just going to be able to roll with the punches no matter what happened?

No, she couldn’t, and that is what makes me love her and this series more than I ever have. She isn’t this perfect person who can survive anything. She finally broke down and needed help which Syaoran was able to provide. This scene did more for solidifying their new realationship than any of the adorable moments we’ve seen thus far.

Syaoran knew how to help her. He knew the right thing to say. Sure, he’s still being mysterious as hell but the conflict over that will come later. Right now he’s everything Sakura needed.

This is an important lesson for her and the audience. You can’t make it through all the bad things by yourself. Sometimes, even if you’re an upbeat and positive person, it can all become too much. Simply saying “it’ll all get better” can’t solve every problem. Sometimes you just need to cry and let someone else help you along until you’re strong enough again.

That’s what Sakura plans to do by the episodes end. She wants to get stronger. She’s seen her weakness and wants to tackle it head on. Whether that means emotionally or magically isn’t clear but it’s still a great goal.

This episode of Clear Card was a triumph. It’s hard to be rational about scenes like this when they cut to my very core as not only a fan but someone’s who’s been going through similar anxieties. It’s a reminder that media can have a positive effect and help viewers through pain they might not have even realized they had.

Also Meiling was flawless and I never want her to leave. We need her to keep these kids in line.

Shamus Kelley is a pop culture/television writer and official Power Rangers expert. If Yamazaki can’t tell lies what does that make him? Will he need to find another purpose in life? Answer this question, Clear Card! Follow him on Twitter!