SuperS/Nehelenia arc alternative cut

[JunoDX]

SuperS was the least popular season and from here on the anime went downhill. One of the many reasons was the absence of the Outers, another one was the focus on Chibiusa and another one was the filler episodes (and there might be many other reasons). From time to time I watch some random SuperS filler episodes and I appreciate them for what they are, but I wonder, if we bring the best essential episodes of SuperS (39) + the Nehelenia arc of Stars (6) together and leave out the unnecessary and bad ones, how would we judge this story arc? What essential episodes would that be?

 

[ChibiNehellenia]

This list has some best episodes of SuperS.
So, now that SuperS is over, what are your top 10 favourite episodes this season? | Fangirling in the Key of Nik [backup]

 

[SILVER]

id love to know this too so that I can rewatch the plot relevant episodes -though I don't mind some filler

 

[Clow]

I am in the minority, but I think Stars was a great season. I think episode 167 is one of the best Sailor Moon episodes. Episode 167 has the outer senshi investigating something eerie and strange, the return of Pluto, and the awakening of Sailor Saturn. What else could you ask for? It is a solid episode.

If you keep only the essential episodes from SuperS, then jump to episode 167, you have a perfect transition from “S” to what is expected to be a darker and more serious season.

 

[sapphire91]

The first six episodes of Stars are for most peope I know the best episodes of the anime. But the actual Story arc was a hot mess.

 

[JunoDX]

The first six episodes of Stars are for most peope I know the best episodes of the anime. But the actual Story arc was a hot mess.

I think the Nehelenia arc in Stars started strong but had it‘s weakness towards the end. Maybe I‘m in the minority but I like how S handled the senshi, the inners as a strong team, the outers aside and pluto and saturn mysterious. For me, Saturn and Pluto don‘t work as normal senshi and the Stars arc treated them badly by putting them on the same level as the others.

 

[sapphire91]

I think the Nehelenia arc in Stars started strong but had it‘s weakness towards the end. Maybe I‘m in the minority but I like how S handled the senshi, the inners as a strong team, the outers aside and pluto and saturn mysterious. For me, Saturn and Pluto don‘t work as normal senshi and the Stars arc treated them badly by putting them on the same level as the others.

For me the manga did a much better job showing why and how gradully the outers were more willing to work with the inners. As it explores much more their past and everything.

 

[Yamoon]

So many things went wrong in SuperS season….

But the main reason are for sure the fillers and the disappointment after the great season S.

You have to remember that at this time in 1994/95 there was no replay, no possibilities to binge watch the season in 5 days.

I remember watching every week the new SuperS episode and getting every week more and more angry and bore.

Yeah the comedy is here but honestly :

1/ It seems that this season is not about Sailor Moon anymore, everything is about Chibi usa. Even Sailor Moon cannot transform or attack without her. Why did they do that ? Was Chibi usa so popular at this time ?

2/ All fights seems unserious and using EVERY TIME the same scenario. Tuxedo Mask is coming to save the girls, Chibi Usa calls Pegasus etc...

3/ What happens with school ?? In the third season, they were all studying hard to go to high school now we don't see them at all in school (not in a single episode). I always wonder if the all season is supposed to happen during summer holidays between middle school and high school ?

4/ Filler episodes in the first seasons were most of the time about the girls; here they are about secondary characters which would be most of the time never seen or heard again...

5/ Nehelenia's whole story is confusing... It seems that Naoko was late giving direction about her story to TOEI or what happened here ?

6/ For me this season is typical TOEI. we've got a license who made a lot of moneys, who give a [BLEEP] about being good or bad anymore

I don't say everything is bad, obviously they tried to change the direction in the last 6/7 episodes but it was too late...

etc etc...

 

[ChibiNehellenia]

Even Sailor Moon cannot transform or attack without her. Why did they do that ?

That also happen in the manga in the dream arc in fact it was even worst there.

3/ What happens with school ?? In the third season, they were all studying hard to go to high school now we don't see them at all in school (not in a single episode). I always wonder if the all season is supposed to happen during summer holidays between middle school and high school ?

I have my own headcanon as to why they didn't went to school.

4/ Filler episodes in the first seasons were most of the time about the girls; here they are about secondary characters which would be most of the time never seen or heard again...

I actually like this choice because it shows how empathic the girls are in helping other people dreams come true.

5/ Nehelenia's whole story is confusing... It seems that Naoko was late giving direction about her story to TOEI or what happened here ?

Her story is pretty straightforward to me.

 

[Yamoon]

That also happen in the manga in the dream arc in fact it was even worst there.

hmmm as far as I remember Sailor Moon can transform and attack alone in the Dream Arc... only in few chapter they’re doing it together... or what do you mean exactly ?!

I have my own headcanon as to why they didn't went to school.

For me the only explanation is that all season happens in few days during summer holidays... all episode seems for me to happen in Summer in this season... I don’t remember any winter or automn depicted... or ?

Her story is pretty straightforward to me.

hmmm if you mix it with the star season it’s pretty confusing... and the all point of Nehelenia is basically about the fact that she IS with her curse The origin of the Millenium tragic ending. the fact that is not even mentioned in the anime is a big down!

For the fillers. Well I disagree for me the characters evolution of each girls is around zero during the supers season... basically you could watch most of episode in any order that you could not see the difference... i prefer the fact in star that, people attacked are basically some random people just met for a minute or two before they are targeted (at least in most of the episodes).

 

[ChampionOfNuggets]

Chibi Usa was in school at least once. The whole thing did not take place in the summer holidays.

I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure SuperS reflected the typical spring>summer>fall>winter cycle the other seasons did? Haven’t watched SuperS in a good decade though

 

[Slowpokeking]

So many things went wrong in SuperS season….

But the main reason are for sure the fillers and the disappointment after the great season S.

You have to remember that at this time in 1994/95 there was no replay, no possibilities to binge watch the season in 5 days.

I remember watching every week the new SuperS episode and getting every week more and more angry and bore.

Yeah the comedy is here but honestly :

1/ It seems that this season is not about Sailor Moon anymore, everything is about Chibi usa. Even Sailor Moon cannot transform or attack without her. Why did they do that ? Was Chibi usa so popular at this time ?

2/ All fights seems unserious and using EVERY TIME the same scenario. Tuxedo Mask is coming to save the girls, Chibi Usa calls Pegasus etc...

3/ What happens with school ?? In the third season, they were all studying hard to go to high school now we don't see them at all in school (not in a single episode). I always wonder if the all season is supposed to happen during summer holidays between middle school and high school ?

4/ Filler episodes in the first seasons were most of the time about the girls; here they are about secondary characters which would be most of the time never seen or heard again...

5/ Nehelenia's whole story is confusing... It seems that Naoko was late giving direction about her story to TOEI or what happened here ?

6/ For me this season is typical TOEI. we've got a license who made a lot of moneys, who give a [BLEEP] about being good or bad anymore

I don't say everything is bad, obviously they tried to change the direction in the last 6/7 episodes but it was too late...

etc etc...

Agree with everything other then Nehelenia's plot, I think it was quite clear.

 

[Seen2]

I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure SuperS reflected the typical spring>summer>fall>winter cycle the other seasons did? Haven’t watched SuperS in a good decade though

Yeah, the seasons are all depicted.

 

[ChibiNehellenia]

hmmm as far as I remember Sailor Moon can transform and attack alone in the Dream Arc

No she can't in the manga she couldn't transform alone in the dream arc.

and the all point of Nehelenia is basically about the fact that she IS with her curse The origin of the Millenium tragic ending. the fact that is not even mentioned in the anime is a big down!

I always felt that was so pointless and unnecessary hell the Guardians outright told Nehellenia that her curse causing the fall wasn't true and it was something always destined to happened.

 

[Yamoon]

No she can't in the manga she couldn't transform alone in the dream arc..

Yes they do... I don’t know what you’re talking about I just checked it again

Act 46 - Chiusa transforms and attack alone
Act 47 - Usagi transforms alone with Tuxedo on her side
Act 48 - Usagi attacks alone with Moon Gorgeous mediation ...

 

[Seira Hazuki]

I think SuperS was an attempt to turn the series into what a lot of other long running anime (for example, Pokémon ) eventually become. The characters essentially never age and are stuck in an infinite stasis. That's why so many of the episodes are Sailor Moon at its most formulaic, episodic and kid friendly to the max (since those tend to be what long running shows are).

Of course, either the approach didn't work or Naoko was not on board for thousands of episodes continuing to this day, so in the next season you have characters actually age and show some of the development they were supposed to go through in Stars (even though that was handled pretty clumsily too). It's why Usagi goes from one season being jealous if someone even LOOKED at Mamoru, to immediately being mostly secure with Mamoru going to another country and hearing radio silence from him.

 

[Yamoon]

I think SuperS was an attempt to turn the series into what a lot of other long running anime (for example, Pokémon ) eventually become. The characters essentially never age and are stuck in an infinite stasis. That's why so many of the episodes are Sailor Moon at its most formulaic, episodic and kid friendly to the max (since those tend to be what long running shows are).

Of course, either the approach didn't work or Naoko was not on board for thousands of episodes continuing to this day, so in the next season you have characters actually age and show some of the development they were supposed to go through in Stars (even though that was handled pretty clumsily too). It's why Usagi goes from one season being jealous if someone even LOOKED at Mamoru, to immediately being mostly secure with Mamoru going to another country and hearing radio silence from him.

Yes that’s a very good point!

 

[Zhortac]

I can't even say, cause tbh, Nehelania was absolute hot garbage. IMO, she's easily one of the worst villains ever made, and not in a good way.

 

[ChibiNehellenia]

I can't even say, cause tbh, Nehelania was absolute hot garbage. IMO, she's easily one of the worst villains ever made, and not in a good way.

In the manga maybe (she's very underwhelming there) in the anime HELL NO! She is one of the best villains in Sailor Moon.

 

[ChampionOfNuggets]

She’s honestly so bland and forgettable in the anime for the longest time I couldn’t be bothered to remember her name and just referred to her as The Dream Queen

We from a mad scientist being all goofy and extra to a Lady in a fancy dress who just stands there