Now that Sailor Moon is neck deep in its revival, it’s time to wrap up season one with the final 26 episodes! As the remaining Sailor Guardians are discovered, their quest to find the Moon Princess they’ve been tasked to protect becomes even more urgent, as the Dark Kingdom zeroes in on the seven Rainbow Crystals. Whoever possesses these will obtain an immense power that not only threatens the heroes if they fall into the wrong hands, but may even draw a rift between the team and the mysterious Tuxedo Mask, who is after the crystals for his own ends. As the fight between our heroes and the Dark Kingdom draws to a close, this marks the first time that many of these episodes have been dubbed in their unedited form, serving as a true test as to whether or not the new cast can bring these crushing scenes to life. Now that the credits have rolled and the curtain has closed on the first full season, I’m happy to say that the team has nailed it!
More so than Part 1, which was mostly introductory and filler material, Part 2 takes no time in hurrying the story along, starting with Nephrite’s heartbreaking last stand. In between the introductions of Sailor Jupiter, the guardian of lightning and thunder, and Sailor Venus, the long teased original guardian, the team must fight off their latest threat in Zoisite. Perhaps the cruelest of the Dark Kingdom’s Four Kings, their chase after the reincarnated monsters that hold the Rainbow Crystals takes an unexpected turn when Tuxedo Mask begins claiming the crystals for himself! This struggle eventually leads to some shocking revelations, changing the dynamic between Sailor Moon and her team, with their uneasy allegiance with Tuxedo Mask, and a final battle against Queen Beryl, her right hand in Kunzite, and the ultimate evil in Queen Metalia. One threatens to leave the Sailor Guardians in shambles.
Of course, none of this would come off as great as it sounds if the voice acting didn’t follow through. Yet, whether it was Liam O’Brien’s emotional performance as Nephrite, Mars’ and Jupiter’s actors sounding almost exactly like the original 90’s voices with so much more material to work with, or the rest of the cast leaving their own stamp on such iconic characters, it didn’t take long for me to completely forget that I was listening to a new cast, and become completely absorbed in the world that they were bringing to life. Of course, the true test would come in the final few episodes, which have never aired in English before now without heavy edits. There’s no way that I’m spoiling it here, but if you’re a long time fan, know that these pivotal scenes were performed to near perfection, living up to the enormous task of establishing the emotional tone while completely selling me on Stephanie Sheh’s Usagi/Sailor Moon. Make no mistake about it; she’s the real deal!
But with all the praise that I’m giving the new content, not all was perfect in the Moon Kingdom. Namely, the animation never felt like I was watching a remastered, high definition version. Considering that the animation is older, this can be mostly forgiven. However, if it wasn’t for the DVD being bundled with the Blu-Ray release, I wouldn’t see any reason to purchase it over the cheaper alternative if you just want the series.
Part of the aim with this new set is to bring a faithful version of the series to Western audiences, sticking to the Japanese version as close as possible. Yet, in the case of the episode titles, our friends in the East have a habit of giving away the plot in both the episode previews and in the titles themselves! I’ve watched these episodes multiple times, but if I was a new viewer, I’d hate to have the surprises ruined for me before I watch. On a side note, the eye catch, (or break between episode halves,) was awkward in Japanese, with its cringe worthy Sailor Moon cry. In English, it feels even more out of place. Personally, I could do without, but this will likely be an issue spanning the entire series since the original cuts keep them around.
As for the episodes themselves, there is still a fair amount of unnecessary content, some of which feels extremely out of character in certain cases. Namely, in Episode 43, the whole concept that the Sailor Guardians would double cross Sailor Moon was absurd, and even though the episode is fun if not taken too seriously, it’s hard to believe that both the Guardians AND the Dark Kingdom would fall for each other’s thinly veiled traps. Some moments are head scratching to say the least.
On that subject, Kunzite gets the short end of the stick in the worst way. Despite being the most powerful and most threatening of the Dark Kingdom, his entire arc consists of nearly all filler content, often feeling like an afterthought compared to not only his subordinates, but the allies he interacts with. Once he finally takes the stage in his only real battle, he’s so easily defeated, that it’s hard to understand why he was so hyped up to begin with. Still, the final moments and everything before were so strong, that it’s easy to forgive these underwhelming moments.
In addition to the main episodes, the set comes with some collectable cards with various artwork, and a series of special features that fully explore the revived Sailor Moon fandom. Including clips of the activities held on Sailor Moon Day at various conventions during the summer, fan interviews discussing their favorite memories of the series, and the full Anime Expo Sailor Moon panel, (much of which we covered as they were happening,) these bonuses served two purposes from what I can see. One, they helped people like me relive such a great time for longtime fans who were finally rewarded for their patience with this revival. Two, it allowed those who couldn’t make it to enjoy the festivities like those who were in attendance did! Outside of these sections, the standard clean opening and endings, trailers, and art galleries round out the extra content, all of which is worth a watch!
All in all, watching the first season has made me so excited for what the rest of the series will deliver. With so much never before released content in the West on the way, this will be a long term commitment, one that seems like it will be worth taking. Season One Part Two has set the bar high in terms of vocal quality, which has been boosted by the (mostly,) excellent story that it was framed around, and despite the dated visual quality, it delivers in almost every other way. Obviously, you might want to start with Part One, since this set starts at the end of a running storyline, but most of the most important developments are housed in Part Two, making it so much better for it. Plus, this set will fit nicely in that Part One Box Set with the gaping hole in the side! Whether you’re a new fan, or a longtime Moonie who still believes in the Guardians of Love and Justice, you can’t go wrong with this set!
Key Episodes: (WARNING! Some Titles Are Spoilerific!)
24: “Naru’s Tears: Nephrite Dies for Love”
25: “Jupiter, the Powerful Girl in Love
27: “Crushing on Ami: The Boy Who Can See The Future”
30: “Grandpa Loses Control: Rei in Danger”
31: “Love and Chased: Luna’s Worst Day Ever” (Complete filler aside from the Rainbow Crystal plot, but a fat, green cat that mimics Tuxedo Mask is too hilarious to miss!)
33: “Enter Venus, the Last Sailor Guardian
34: “The Shining Silver Crystal: The Moon Princess Appears”
35: “Returning Memories: Usagi and Mamoru’s Past
41: “I Won’t Run Away from Love Anymore: Ami vs. Mamoru”
42: “Sailor Venus’ Past: Minako’s Tragic Love” (A MUST WATCH for Venus fans, detailing her past as Sailor V, bridging the original Manga with the anime. Never before dubbed until now.)
44: “Usagi’s Awakening: A Message from the Distant Past”
45: Death of the Sailor Guardians: The Tragic Final Battle” (Uncut and dubbed for the first time, this episode will sell you on the new cast if you weren’t already.)
46: “Usagi’s Eternal Wish: A Brand New Life”
Final Score: 4/5