Live-Action Sailor Moon's Complex Characters

My celebration of PGSM's 20th anniversary continues! Today we look at how the series handles some of Sailor Moon's friends: Sailors Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and... Luna? Say farewell to episodic conflicts resolved in 20 minutes. These girls have twists and turns, ups and downs. They have, what do you call it, arcs! From neuroses to unexpected transformations to shocking turns at villainy, this show really does have it all!
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00:00 Intro
00:54 Mizuno Ami (Sailor Mercury)
06:37 Hino Rei (Sailor Mars)
09:52 Kino Makoto (Sailor Jupiter)
13:59 Sailor Star Tambourines
15:17 Luna (Sailor Luna)
18:48 Conclusion

[@GrandArchPriestOfTheAlgorithm]

I just wanna dispel the rumor that I been listening to the theme song of PGSM while watching video essays, or while baking. Stop listening to online rumors.

[@xHx23x]

I am so happy for this show to be covered. The Minako story is something I wish future incarnations kept

[@hamidahrashid2421]

You ain't wrong😙 Minako/sailor Venus feel so different in PGSM than her other counterpart in the manga and anime which makes her stand out even more. (I even still feel sad what happened to her in the final arc)

[@fabledredeyes]

Alright I cracked the code Guy MistareFusion: Cool older brother who knows a lot about stuff and is always there for you Girl MistareFusion: That fun aunt that is your co-conspirator and gives you secret money to spend on bad decisions I already knew Dark Mercury was an awesome concept but I love how this gets into the _why_ its such a great addition, that comment about the senshi being loners but Ami being the one that _doesn't want to be_ in particular. It's so simple but so good for character writing groundwork. There's also a cool parallel of Rei accepting being a senshi like a job while rejecting bonds with others at first, just like her dad thinks only about his job and didn't form a connection with her.

[@Gardetrace]

It's cool that this is becoming a Dragon Ball/Sailor Moon channel.

[@otaking3582]

I'm pretty sure that Sailor Luna was supposed to be a composite character of both Chibiusa and that weird human transformation Luna had in the S movie.

[@Googaliemoogalie]

She seems to be Chibi Usa. I'm disappointed that they even thought about including her.

[@theassortedhobbyist]

After watching the Dark Mercury episodes of the show during my first time watching PGSM, what struck me as intriguing was how similar it was to Vegeta's mini arc during the Boo saga in Dragon Ball. Both the Majin Vegeta and Dark Mercury side-plots are intriguing character studies on being consumed by your negative thoughts and emotions due to giving into your inner demons or latching on to a tempting offer to sedate your selfish desire. Both Majin Vegeta and Dark Mercury themselves have proved to be deadly adversaries to their friends turned enemies and their redemption moments managed to be emotionally impactful scenes in addition to serving as a satisfactory turn around for their transition back to the heroes. If I were to criticize these side-plots and their utilization in the narrative, it would be that Vegeta isn’t given enough time as a “good guy” for his comeback as a villain to be devastating for Vegeta’s character or for the characters that have come to grow close to him. Meanwhile, Dark Mercury’s side-plot has a fantastic setup and introduction and conclusion, but she doesn’t do much as a villain before the final episodes of this arc to raise tension and drama amongst the Sailor Senshi as to how they can return Ami back to normal. Regardless of these shortcomings, these characters have made an impact amongst each show’s respective fan base and they certainly know how to handle the spotlight and keep our attention as they take over the show.

[@TirOrah]

You really hit at the core of these three character arcs in such a concise way! On the topic of Ami's front-loaded arc, I agree, but I think it's intentionally balanced out with Makoto's back-loaded arc. Ami's insecurities come to a head so fast and so intensely that she's forced to deal with them early. Makoto spends so much time supporting others, so she can avoid her own troubles, that she spends half of the show not addressing them at all. I can't wait to see the Minako video and how her story also ties into Rei and Makoto's arcs. Everyone who's watched this show to completion knows how powerful Rei and Minako's interactions are. But Makoto's interactions with Minako are also really juicy, because it's all about (inadvertently) debunking their respective philosophies on the show's central theme and unlearning the bad lessons they learned due to this Sailor Guardian stuff. Solid character writing all around in my opinion. Anyway, have a subscription. It's obvious you've spent a great deal of time thinking about this show and that knowledge, combined with your humour, makes these great fun to watch. Looking forward to more!

[@hamidahrashid2421]

Nice video😄 Sailor Mercury were one of the best characters in PGSM . She feels so different than her other version in manga and anime . (I couldn't wait you to talk about other characters as well)

[@EmeralBookwise]

Yeah, growing up, I was always the "smart" kid too. Admittedly, I never exceled at school, but that was mostly because I viewed homework as a waste of time since I could ace most tests without ever needing to study. Still, that just set me up for problems when I finally reached college where school stopped being "easy mode", and because I wasn't used to needing anyone else's help, I didn't know how to ask for it. So yeah, I might not be the same kind of study-bug as Ami, but I can very much relate to feeling closed off and isolated from others, of desperately wanting to reach out and make friends while not really knowing how. Although in my case that usually means that whenever I do finally manage to connect with someone, I tend to open up alarmingly fast and come on a bit too strong.

[@Googaliemoogalie]

The more I hear about this version of the story, the more it seems like it's more thought out than the original series (maybe even more than Crystal?). I like the whole Amy has an evil arc, and Usagi gets possessed by the princess' soul (Kinda like a Kikiyo/Kagome in one body thing from Inuyasha, If my nerd comment wasn't bad enough) looking forward to the next episode! Minako is the funniest one in the original, I'm interested to see how they handled her in this version

[@TirOrah]

Oh, you are in for a TREAT.

[@matt0044]

Luna is an oddity since she's meant to be a voice of reason to Usagi. An older college student trying to whip her slacker middle school sister into shape. Her becoming a Chibiusa expy isn't bad but she seems to act more childish.

[@BobbyMoore2-mp8wb]

Love ❤ your videos on sailor moon

[@PrimeroJinJusuke]

There‘s something surreal about Mercury wielding a sword. If you think about a Sailor Senshi with a sword, it’s usually Sailor Venus, Sailor Uranus, Sailor Galaxia and Sailor Moon. Mercury is usually the least lethal Senshi (apart from Chibi Moon) and her weapon is a harp, so seeing her with a sword is quite jarring.

[@genyakozlov1316]

This had such a noncharacteristically boring thumbnail that I didn't think it was a video from you at first, but then I realised no other KZbinr I subscribed to would talk about Live-Action Sailor Moon. Or maybe they will, I don't know. There are too many of them.

[@sailorcat]

The characters in PGSM are amazing! They're written better than in any other Sailor Moon version. I like Sailor Luna's concept (and she's a cat Senshi, yey!), but yeah, it's weird that she even exist. There's no real explanation, and she feels so different from the cat. Why is she suddenly a child? But I don't mind her, her cuteness compensates for that. xD

[@manjiimortal]

Dark Mercury is the only reason why I knew about this show before you started covering it. It's just an unexpected development you wouldn't think of.

[@justbny9278]

How is it people always pick Sailor Mercury for things I mean i would also b--

[@donaldcass9678]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="96">1:36</a> like Double D's sticky notes

[@igorsterribleideas6305]

TWO pins? Oh that's fantastic! Honestly, I wish every Sailor Moon remake, retelling or whatever would keep these personalities or stories. It gives each Senshi so much personality outside of Usagi, Minako especially.

[@pasupii]

Thank you for the video!!❤ Love Motoki and his obsession with turtles Looking forward to the next one

[@serenitymoon825]

Oh my god that Teen Girl Squad reference took me back!!

[@sylentknyte]

That's a bold way to open a video. Sailor Moon feels so mysterious to me. It was a show I watched countless bits of as a kid, but never had any idea what was going on throughout the larger story arc. If you ever decide to do a dissection of the manga/anime I'll be there for it.

[@MatameVideos]

I'm in love with this series

[@primusvsunicron1]

of course Toei reused the evil ranger trope

[@zeokingsilver]

not many talk of this show

[@primusvsunicron1]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="645">10:45</a> not even his own father hit him

[@user-uh1ue6mb8j]

there's an anecdote about the child actress of sailor luna saying she was being fitted for a chibiusa costume earlier on, so yeah she probably was meant to be a chibiusa counterpart

[@reneemorton4904]

This tracks as the senshi costumes from Sera myu were pulled for the PGSM cast for fittings.

[@donaldcass9678]

So I'm guessing you didn't like what they did wth Scrappy in the Scooby Doo movie

[@mitchfletcher2386]

I know I sure didn't.

[@justinmiddleton8818]

The whole "Luna can become a Sailor Girl" thing feels like the show taking a stab at using the plot point (or some version of it) from the manga that the cats from the Moon Kingdom can change themselves into humans. Artemis, Luna and Diana all have this ability and of course there was also Luna's transformation via Usagi's help in the Sailor Moon S: Hearts in Ice film. Aside from this, i could see it also being they wanted a Chibiusa-esque younger character and since the latter didn't show up herself until the next arc in the manga/anime, it was decided to give Luna that in order to fill the hole.

[@santi27o]

I want a Sailor Tambourin so bad 😭

[@DonWeaselYeehawEdition]

Happy to be here, but KZbin didn’t notify me when it dropped?? How rude…

[@MistareFusion]

Aw, that makes me so sad. I need people to watch this! But I'm so glad you're here!

[@DonWeaselYeehawEdition]

@@MistareFusion the pleasure is mine 👍

[@SAILORMOON4LIFE]

SAILOR MERCURY GOOD FILM

[@whateverfc]

Lance, could you make a comparison series about power ranger wild force just like the mighty morphin one?

[@Maniac536]

Hi fusion!

[@GUAGA0612]

This series has became my favourite thing

[@Googaliemoogalie]

Maybe Luna being the replacement for Chibi Usa is better? At least it'll be less cringe when she falls in love with a horse...

[@MrDariox555]

Never missing these Never

[@xibecou2b]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="207">3:27</a> "I love her so much" Really? For me, she is my least favorite!

[@VICTORZITOSS]

Yeaaaah Let's get this video to a lot of views in the first hour so that it gets love from youtube Algorithm bless this video which i liked even before watching it because it's that good Seriously, sometimes i end up pissed off because i can't like it again after watching it, fix that youtube Lots of words lots of engagement, yadda yadda

[@andrewshearsby8125]

Dark Mercury was awesome

[@AkatsukiKaizoku]

Oh Lance you can get your own Dark Mercury uniform! ... If you submit to the powers of Satan that is.

[@Kolbatsu]

How about....Sailor Fusion Mercury?

[@VICTORZITOSS]

eaaaah Let's get this video to a lot of views in the first hour so that it gets love from youtube Algorithm bless this video which i liked even before watching it because it's that good Seriously, sometimes i end up pissed off because i can't like it again after watching it, fix that youtube Lots of words lots of engagement, yadda yadda

[@rowanmonteith3974]

One tragedy is pgsm never got dubbed and aired outside Japan and I don’t mean the Anglosphere nations cause Toei might get some lost coins since pgsm is a commercial flop in its native Japan.maybe the ballet fu would be too risky for the sensibilities of nations like Indonesia.atleast when Kamen Rider Ryuki aired on a Arabic tv channel with a Arab dub then atleast the character won’t be showing fan service unless the super hero bug suit qualifies as fan service to some weirdo with a oddly specific kink but that’s overreaching.