Calm, Cool and Collected

One of the "laws of anime" seems to be that most girls will scream in the supersonic range whenever something even remotely threatening occurs. The girls scream helplessly and cower, waiting for the Evil Monster/Demon/Overlord to get them while getting in the way of whoever is trying to rescue them---BUT!!!

These Leading Ladies are not helpless, are not prone to bouts of hysteria, are not frozen in shock/fear/dismay when something nasty or unexpected happens... In other words, they are way cool and don't we know it!

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Come on! Dr. Akagi never even BLINKS when something horrible is happening. She's got a 3 foot space and 1 inch of glass shielding between her and a berserk Unit 00 and she's still calmly directing the technicians in what to do.

She personifies the calm, cool and collected--because she is nearly never NOT. One second before the MAGI initiate a self-destruct sequence, and she's barely sweating. I tell you, this scientist is definitely a favorite.

Jeanne says:
          Let me add my voice to the chorus...Cool, funny, romantic, reisei, kakkou ii (excuse me while I babble in Japanese- that's 'cool' in both senses of the word)- role models to die for.

Kyle-Ohki said says:
          As for Michiru, it was really sad when they both died!!! They really like each other, so Michiru couldn't choose someone else! It wouldn't be right.

The cooler head of the Haruka-Michiru duo (if it were at all possible for someone to be even cooler than they are... =) Neptune is usually the voice of reason. Interesting the way she can be so kind to the Inner Senshi and yet be totally ruthless if they were at cross purposes. Even more amazing, neither attitude can be considered a put on of any kind. Omoishiroi!

Yay! Go Nabiki! Do the words 'dead pan' mean anything to you? I love her attitude! It is so great! Even though she is a money grubbing loan shark, she is still easily the most fun to watch at times. The way she shamelessly takes advantage of the--uhm, less mentally adroit--characters? I love it!

In the second movie, she let Kuno believe he had saved her from the dog-man. Now there's the mark of a real lady--never let yourself look better than anyone. It is enough to know that you are better than anyone! =)

Jeanne says:
           I *loved* the bit at the end of S where Haruka turns on Usagi: 'This is all your fault! Get ready to die!' Now if only she'd done it.... (sigh)

Kyle-Ohki in a note after seing Haruka in the Annoying Women, saying: That's unfair to Haruka!!! She's DEFINiTELY one of the better gals in SM!!!!!!!!! She dislikes Usagi and doesn't care for Tux, but the Tux thing is okay!!! I've never liked Tux myself. Haruka saved the Senshi's butts in S a lot, when Tux couldn't! Haru-Chan RULES!

I liked the way she never got troubled by the odds, and she was so cool about everything that happened. Add to that the fact that she is actually a powerhouse by herself--useful, ne? Also, it takes a LOT to handle the first advances of a girl (or girls, as the case may be) with a crush without missing a step--something I will always admire the Outer Senshi for.

Stefan says:
          Now I know she's in your annoying women but some of us like her. I love her devious tricks to lure Tenchi into her experiments and the sly wit she harbours. Plus the way she's always several steps ahead of her opponents.

Mike says:
          There is a definite reason why she acts the way she does, that is immature. I won't spoil it for you, but watch the OVA series I think either volume 8 or 9 and you will get a glimpse of just how deep Washu goes. She is also a brilliant scientist nonetheless and is very observant as to what is going on, especially the big picture.