Why does Sakura always compromise the team? I compliment her on attempt but just wish that she would follow thru to some degree of usefulness at least.

Anyway, I quite agree about the excess flashbackness. The point with the flashbacks could have been made with a 1/3 of that footage. But I think they really just wanted to use this episode to gather everyone and then use the next episode to set the scene for the fight, and the episode after that to actually begin the fight.... We're in for the long haul guys and gals!

Must admit though, without all the excess stuff, the episodes are awesome!