#Top Ten Episodes of Sailor Moon That Were Ahead of Its Time
Table of Contents
“#Top Ten Episodes of Sailor Moon That Were Ahead of Its Time”
10 Episode 125: “The Shining Shooting Star: Saturn and the Messiah”
In an epic clash between good and evil, Sailor Moon hands over the Holy Grail to darkness in hopes of reviving the good inside of Hotaru. This episode deals with choices that have neither right nor wrong answers. What Sailor Moon must do is not obvious, nor does it have a totally justified answer. And that is okay. It all works out in the end, although she makes her choice even after being told it is wrong. This episode shows that you can still be a hero by doing the wrong thing if you have faith and there is truth that what you are doing is right.
9 Episode 35: “Returning Memories: Usagi and Mamoru’s Past”
Dealing with the death of his lover, Zoisite, Kunzite seeks vengeance over his fallen partner. Meanwhile, this is the episode where the Sailor Soldiers learn of their past. We see our hero, Sailor Moon, wish to quit the fight, which prompts Sailor Mars to slap her in the face. This episode deals with two complex storylines that aren’t common in children’s media. One being the hero actually regressing after learning of her destiny, and the other being compassion for a villain and understanding their motives. Not to mention the villains in question being openly gay characters in the first season of an animated show.
8 Episode 60: “Angel or Devil? The Mysterious Girl from the Sky”
A small child falls from the sky and holds a gun to Usagi’s head demanding the Legendary Silver Crystal. She is later revealed to be the future daughter of Usagi and Mamoru who is seeking help to save her mother. The plot line that follows gives an outlook of the maturing Usagi will go through. This is the season that teaches Usagi that she isn’t just a kid atoning for her past civilization, but that she will one day rule her planet. We don’t often get to simultaneously watch our characters be children and adults at the same time and learn the importance in teaching children why their future matters.
7 Episode 70: “Battle of the Flames of Love! Mars Vs. Koan”
In a standoff between Koan from the Spectre Sisters and Sailor Mars, the Sailor Soldiers revive Koan and allow her to restart her life as a normal human. This episode begins an arc where the Sailor Soldiers revive each of their enemies from the Spectre Sisters and allow them to be reborn. Sailor Moon did the redemption arc before it was popular, and stands out as a moment where girls empower girls despite their oppositions.
6 Episode 85: “The Dark Queen: Birth of Black Lady”
In an attempt to win over the Legendary Silver Crystal, Wise Man captures Chibi-Usa and brainwashes her into believing her parents never loved her. His manipulation transforms her into Black Lady and grants her dark powers. More important in the manga, we know that Chibi-Usa yearns to grow up and become mature. She is constantly trying to prove herself to others and after accidentally making the kingdom vulnerable to the attack of the Black Moon Clan, she is more doubtful than ever. Chibi-Usa’s desperation to help her parents and her lack of understanding of who to trust lead her to this temporary downfall. This episode shows the corruption of children when placed in vulnerable situations, and how easily they can be manipulated.
5 Episode 45: “Death of the Sailor Guardians: The Tragic Final Battle”
In the final showdown with Queen Beryl, the Sailor Soldiers face off against her minions who pick them off one by one. Each meet a gruesome end, something quite shocking in children’s media. The episode shows their last moments and leaves us with their regrets and wishes they left behind as teenage girls. Normally the hero always wins, but in this case they lose.
4 Episode 110: “The Death of Uranus and Neptune: The Talismans Appear”
After being trapped by the enemy in a cathedral, Uranus and Neptune must witness each other be killed in front of one another. In an emotional finish, Neptune sacrifices herself in an attempt to rescue Uranus. They believe this is the end for them, before they are gathered again with their pure heart crystals. The writers do a good job fleshing out these characters in this episode by showcasing their love for each other, and willingness to die for one another. They take the couple one step further from being a secondary relationship, to an important, emotion-filled plot that allowed audiences to recognize that same sex love can be at the forefront of a series.
3 Episode 92: “A Handsome Boy? Haurka Tenoh’s Secret”
The famous introduction to Haruka and Michiru, a leading couple in the series. Haruka is a race car driving tomboy who Usagi and Minako quickly develop a crush on. Even after learning Haruka is a girl, the two still remain smitten towards her and aren’t taken too aback by their discovery. Here the show normalizes gender fluidity (one of many times to come), and that it shouldn’t be embarrassing to crush on someone the same gender as you.
2 Episode 188: “Invitation to Terror: Usagi’s Night Flight”
After being invited on an airplane together, the Sailor Soldiers and Sailor Star Lights are forced to reveal their identites to each other to save themselves. The Star Lights are a popular boy band that have come to town, and are also three powerful female Sailor Soldiers. Their gender fluidity is never a deep topic of discussion on the show, but the representation matters. Usagi and Seiya both have an emotional connection that is constantly slipping into something romantic. Finding out that they are females in fighting form is accepted and not a point the show makes relevant, they just are who they are.
1 Sailor Moon R: The Movie
The entire film, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, is important for its portrayal of a queer character and the potential of the leading male character having any affiliation with homosexuality. Although the main villian is the queer character being represented in this case, the premise of the story revolves around his love for Mamoru after he has returned from space. He arrives to find that his love has settled down with Usagi, which angers him. There is even a conversation between the Sailor Soldiers where they discuss if Mamoru is gay or not, and that it is quite normal to be so. This is all packed into an hour long film that was theatrically released in 1993 in Japan. The movie was later redubbed and had a small release in cinemas back in 2017.
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