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This to my mind is the best of the 5 seasons of Sailor Moon, so I was eager to get the DVD box set. I'll divide this review into *detailed* info about the characters/story and the translation/packaging.
Characters/Story:
If you've only seen the first two seasons of Sailor Moon, this one may come as a bit of a shock, since it takes quite a different turn in theme, especially in the latter half (in this set, the 2nd half of disc 4, plus discs 5 and 6).
To make an analogy, Sailor Moon S is the "Empire Strikes Back" of the Sailor Moon series: it comes in the middle of the series, but more than that, it also alters the tone of the series; the other seasons surrounding it are much more light-hearted. S is significantly darker, with more mature themes (the emphasis on world destruction is prominent), and the addition of new characters adds new blood to the series. These new characters and their personalities (to my mind) are more interesting: they have a more serious agenda, more strength and more evolved personalities; this tempers the sometimes-annoying aspects of the younger Usagi and friends (and Chibiusa). The manner in which Uranus, Neptune and Pluto play off of the original Sailor Soldiers helps to add depth to the characters of Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Sailor Moon. Each of the original characters gets at least one "personalized" episode focusing on their own obstacles, as does Haruka/Uranus (in which Michiru/Neptune plays a big part, as one would expect).
There is still some silly stuff (the Daimons in the early part of the series are all pretty goofy) but as the season progresses the intensity of the enemies and the issues increases.
This particular season is also where the tide turns from being a kid-friendly cartoon into something rather more serious. Again, despite some silly enemies and friendship-oriented storylines, the increased focus on destruction, "The Silence," and a child whose possessed father has twisted her into a force of evil with apocalyptic powers certainly has the potential to freak out a lot of kids. As viewers may or may not be aware, in Japan this wasn't really meant as a kids' show (as is the case with many anime programs), which is why some of the characters/plotlines had to be manipulated to make them fit the audience to which the show was ostensibly marketed when it was aired on U.S. tv (i.e. children). This box set recommends that the show is suitable for ages 13+, which sounds accurate to me based on the content of this season.
Also, less-than-liberal-minded folk might be distraught over the fact that Haruka and Michiru are a lesbian couple. In the dub [more on that in a minute] they are said to be "cousins," though one would have to suspend disbelief quite a bit to buy that story, considering the events of various episodes. In my opinion, their relationship is much deeper, and sweeter, than the oft-cloying one of Usagi and Mamoru. Uranus and Neptune's combined powers also make them a well-matched team during battle sequences, as do their personalities in their everyday surroundings. They also work side by side, unlike Tuxedo Kamen (Mamoru -- whose very name means "to protect" or "guard"), who usually swoops in to save Sailor Moon when something has gotten too hard for her to handle, though he isn't consistently present.
Translation/Packaging:
Like many other viewers, I prefer the subtitled version [this is the case for anything foreign that I watch, really], and once you've seen it in the original format, the dub comes across as pretty dreadful, but in this case part of that is due to the changing of the characters' relationship (Haruka and Michiru) and how some episode plots were tinkered with to accomodate the idea that they are supposed to be "cousins" rather than partners. (If you want to see the difference between the real story and how it's been changed in the dubbing process, when you're on the menu page at the beginning of any of the discs, go to the Setup section and choose English language with subtitles On; this way you are watching the dub but with the subtitles from the original Japanese version, so you can follow along and see what was warped during the translation. This is particularly enlightening for the episode "The Distant Days of Uranus.")
Though I prefer the subtitles, there were a couple of strange discrepancies, such as name spellings, between discs; in one, the name of the first of the Witches 5 is spelled "Yujiel" and thereafter it's "Eugeal." Not a big deal, but a little editing would have helped continuity.
Also, as others have mentioned, the translation of "odango atama" (dumpling head -- a reference to Usagi's hairdo) to "buns-head" is just plain wrong. (One line in particular in a subtitled episode comes out really badly with this translation...I'll let you find it.) Even "meatball-head" from the dub would be preferable to this.
As to the physical aspects of the box set, the slimline packaging doesn't bother me, though some other people don't seem to care for it. It was easy to get the DVDs out of their plastic holders within the cases (which isn't always true!), and the thick cardboard slipcase seems like it will be durable, which are the most important elements to me.
I do wish that there were some special features with these DVDs! That may be the biggest disappointment.
Overall, this is a great season and a decent set. Enjoy it!
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