(Warning My post pretty much contains spoilers of every season and everything there is, so err don't read further if you haven't watched all seasons)
All my thoughts are based on the sub (Jpn version)
First of all, I kinda regret that I am so late to this anime. I saw one or two episodes in English in the end of the 90s, but it never got my attention back then. Funny enough I rediscover it like 8 years later and boom. Stuck! Stuff like that happens I guess.
I think I just exhausted myself watching Sailor Moon. I watched the 200 episodes + the movies in just 3 weeks. I couldn't stop watching, I was like "only one more" The whole time. Well the fact is that nothing in anime or movies have moved me like SM.
So what made the anime so great? (for me)
It's pretty safe to say that without a good main character, you lose interest. This was the reason I loved SM so much. Usagi Tsukino with the voice of Kotono Mitsuishi carries the series for me with her excellent personality. It's great to see how she matures through-out Season 1 to Sailor Stars, how she ages from 14 to 16 years old, and it definitely shows in her personality. I like her because she is sweet, kind hearted, funny and cute. Okay I gotta be totally honest, but the other sailor warriors didn't interest me as much. Mainly because they were not as developed as Usagi was. (Rei, Minako, Ami, Makoto pretty much stays the same except for new attacks) I thought it was much more interesting to follow Usagi's struggles. Just a personal preference I guess.
Which season(arc) was the best?
At first I thought SMC was the best one, but after Sailor Stars I had to cave in for that one. So as of now it is this order for me now:
Sailor Stars > Sailor Moon Classic > Sailor Moon R > Sailor Moon SuperS > Sailor Moon S.
That's right. I disliked Sailor Moon S the most (probably going against a lot of people on this one). It's still a very enjoyable arc, but I liked it the least. I will get more into that soon.
Sailor Moon Classic
Very special season indeed. When I started watching I had pretty much no idea what to expect and how many episodes I would watch before I was bored or something. Well needless to say it didn't take me long to take a liking to Sailor Moon. And I love the first intro, it is the best intro after the Sailor Stars one.
When Usagi met Luna I thought for sure that Luna was one of the Sailor Soldiers and was waiting for her to transform, lol so stupid by me ^_- I also didn't realize that Usagi was the moon princess they looked for, what I do had a feeling about though was that Mamoru and Usagi had something going pretty early. Usagi meeting him all the time, and the fights they had could only led to one thing. Naru's love story with Nephrite was also very interesting, and it was at that point when I realized that this anime is very special. The Nephrite and Naru story really moved me.
From there on, it was a ride. A pleasant ride. The ending of first season had me in tears, and Usagi(or serenity if you want) showed her amazing ability. Defeat your enemies with love and always believe. Well I guess that's why she is a healer.
fav episode: When Mamoru and Usagi revealed their identities
Sailor Moon R
I had high hopes on this season, and while it started off slow, I liked the drama between Usagi and Mamoru. There were some very emotional episodes between them when Mamoru pushed away Usagi. In one episode, I felt so bad when Usagi tripped on the street while she came running to him. Definitely shed some tears here.
I didn't care much for the doom tree arc, but I was glad they got together in the end of that. And then came Chibiusa. I disliked her a lot in the beginning, to the point that I felt she ruined things. But she grew on me later in later seasons. Death Phantom was the best villain after Galaxia, I really loved the ending of Season R. It was refreshing to see Usagi as Neo Queen Serenity again. You also noticed that Usagi started to mature more and more, and in the end she was the one believing the most (as usual)
fav episode: When it is revealed that Chibiusa is Usagi's and Mamoru's future child. The look on every ones face says it all! (especially on Rei's)
Sailor Moon S
This season comes down to one of the favorite seasons for many, but It is my least favorite one. Mainly because of Uranus. I just flat-out disliked her character. And she was so mean to Usagi in the end episodes. Usagi gave her all because it's in her kind hearted nature to save everyone, which Uranus and Neptune couldn't understand.
S had some hilarious filler episodes though, when Usagi gets drunk comes to mind. I laughed so much at that one
I also liked the one when Usagi got 15 years old, and the b-day present crisis.Sailor Moon SuperS
A season many disliked. (from what I gathered) But it actually grew on me. I disliked that chibiusa was the focus, but at least the relation between Small Lady and Usagi became better and better for each episode that passed, which was heartwarming to see. Some teared filled episodes also comes to mind as Usagi was ready to sacrifice herself for Mamoru. (that college friend episode)
Ah and yeah, the episode when Sailor Moon and Chibi Moon went to the dentist was hilarious. A very good laugh. I really liked the Nehelenia arc, and the ending of SuperS was absolutely beautiful. Seeing Usagi falling down through the atmosphere after Chibiusa was a very touching one. Less Uranus than Season S was also a plus.
Sailor Stars
Ok I gotta admit. After SuperS, Sailor Stars caught me totally of guard. It felt VERY different from the other seasons. Different in a good way. It was clear Sailor Moon was going to go out in a bang. Usagi was 16, and she didn't fool around and doing funny and dumb things as much as the other seasons. (except the episode when she messed up on TV, lol) The continuation of the Nehelenia arc was very good. I really liked how that one came out. Usagi's wish to save everyone (including the enemy) with her love; I just love those episodes! (that's how I am)
Then at the Galaxia arc I was surprised to see that Mamoru left immediately in the season. I thought like, oh he will be back soon. Boy how wrong I was. When they said goodbye it was very emotional indeed. I cried big time here.
Even though I consider Sailor Stars as my favorite season, I had a hard time for the star fighters. Seiya was okay, but I wasn't hoping that he would steal Usagi's love instead of Mamoru. The other 2 starfighters I totally loathed. They often came off as rude and not very nice. (Yaten-kun and Taiki)
Thoughts on the ending in episode 200
I expected an epic ending, and yeah I got an epic ending. The ending was simply fantastic and very beautiful done. When I found out that Mamoru was actually dead I was in shock. I didn't know they would go that far. Usagi's final transformation went a level beyond I thought they would do also.(heh) I guess that they wanted to show her pure hearted way of things (when naked), and that she doesn't want to hurt anyone, not even the most dangerous enemy in the galaxy, heh. I was glad the ending turned out to be a happy one after all, after such struggles it sure was worth it!
Now I am very sad that it's all over. I feel kinda empty. I want more, but this is it
On Usagi's and Mamoru's lovestory
I noticed that some people here dislike Mamoru, and even call him a jerk. I don't agree. One of the arguments was that Usagi and him was meant for each other just because it was said so, but actually they started to take a liking to each other before they found out that they were destined for each other. In an episode in the first season they're both sitting on a bench waiting for a painting job, and they look at each other, and mamoru thinks she looks cute upfront and usagi think the same. (that's the first sparkle of emotion between them as far as I know)
I really like Mamoru, I don't get why people think bad of him. In the first movie they explain how lonely he was as a child losing both parents. I understand him, that will hit your feelings very hard. I lost my dad at a very early age. Coming back from that will spin your feelings in a bad way and you might be a very reserved person.
Usagi gives him a lot of affecting, reaching out real hard for him. Mamoru does answer it well, yes he doesn't go crazy about it, but then again the rating would have gone up if it was more erotic. (lol)
When he left for studies(he didn't get far I know), i don't think it is anything wrong with that. He said he will be back in a year or so. It is more of a test for Usagi to be able to wait for him. It might actually improve the relationship doing some stuff apart from each other, it might grow stronger later on.
Usagi had a real hard time with Chibiusa in the begining, but they grew more found of eachother in every episode and season. Mamoru liked chibiusa from the start, as he was probably more mature about the situation. He knew that she was their future child and treated her well.
I think Mamoru fits Usagi a lot better than Seiya. Mamoru is more down to earth (nice pun) while Seiya is more of show case. I don't think their relationship would last like mamo's and usagi does. I was happy when usagi told seiya they would only be friends.
In the end I think Mamoru is the one who should be happy though. Usagi is really the perfect girl. She is kind, loving, sweet, funny, cute ,and even though she cries a lot she is always the strongest of them all. She defeats the bad guys with her love and belief, how about that.
On the movies
I prefer the TV series, but I still enjoyed the movies. SuperS was the worst one with a silly story, but it was still watchable. Promise of the Rose was pretty awesome because you got to know more about Mamoru's background. I found the S movie to the best one though since it had more character development and less fighting stuff. Too bad there wasn't a Sailor Star movie, though I heard that the fans really wanted one.
Some final quick notes
- Sailor Pluto's Dead...Scream was the coolest attack :p
- I thought Chibi Chibi was Seiya's and Usagi's future child for a while, lol.
- Death Phantom was the only final male villain in the anime, or else the last boss were all females.
- The Dual Moon transformation in SuperS was probably my fav transformation.
- I noticed that Seiya and Usagi started about the same way Mamoru and Usagi did.
- The music is very solid!
That's it for me I guess.
