Animania

Sailor Moon is one of my favorite anime series, being one of the first I ever saw. Back then all I saw was the dubbed version, but I eventually was able to acquire the subbed versions when the Season 1 and 2 uncut sets came out. It only helped me come to love the show even more. The show spans five "seasons", like so:

So all together there are 200 episodes to the show, as well as three movies, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, Sailor Moon S: The Movie, and Sailor Moon SuperS: the Movie and several specials.

While I really love the show, even I must admit that trying to rewatch the series can be something of a daunting task. After all, just watching the 200 main episodes, skipping the movies and specials, would still take over 83 hours! One reason being that the show has a lot of filler episodes, i.e. episodes that don't advance the story or really show any character growth. This is particularly noticeable in the first four seasons.

So I decided to make a "Episodes To See" guide for Sailor Moon, showing which episodes are the must see episodes for important character development and/or story advancement. This guide actually has two sets of episodes. The episodes listed are the ones to see for character development, first uses of new attacks/weapons, and story advancement. Those colored in red italics are skippable if you don't need to see the new attacks/weapons.

Using this guide, you can cut the viewing down to 147 episodes for a slightly more manageable viewing. Or if you skip the red italic ones, you'll have 96 episodes which is certainly more manageable than 200. I've included notes on the important things that happen during the episodes, while also trying to avoid major spoilers (unless the title of the episode spoils it anyway). As for the specials and movies, they are all skippable for character and story development, however I do highly recommend the R movie as being purely awesome and I think it does clarify quite well what keeps Usagi going and what her power really comes from.

Season 1
1	Duh, start of the show; introduces Sailor Moon, bad guys, Luna, Tuxedo Mask
3	Luna Pen first used, Sailor Moon controls Moon Tiara mid-flight
5	Moon Tiara Stardust attack first used; Luna actually accepted into the family
8	Mercury appears
9	Mercury's computer and VR goggles first used
10	Mars appears
11	First use of the three way combo attack
13	Jadeite dies, next enemy appears
14	Nephrite's name revealed to viewers, Zoisite appears
17	First use of the communication devices
19	Tuxedo Mask transformation and ID revealed to viewers; Sailor Moon learns Sanjoin's real identity
22	Kunzite Appears; Sailor Moon's first kiss
23	Naru protects Nephrite from Sailor Scouts, Nephrite protects Naru from Zoisite's spy
24	Naru/Nephrite conclusion, Last appearance of Nephrite
25	Jupiter Appears, Crescent Moon wand appears, Moon Healing Escalation, fist appearance of Queen Metalia
26	Star Locket appears
31	Last Rainbow crystal retrieved (and the fun of hearing Zoisite screaming like a little girl)
33	Sailor Venus appears
34	Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon discover each others identity, Moon Princess revealed
35	End of Zoisite, Kunzite takes over
36	Tuxedo Mask returns working for the enemy
42	Venus's past
44	Past of the Sailor Warriors revealed; end of Kunzite
45	Sailor Warriors go to Dark Kingdom, Sailor Scouts killed
46	Final battle: Sailor Moon/Princess Serenity vs Queen Beryl
Season 2 (Sailor Moon R) (technically all of the Doom Tree arc is skippable, but it is a great arc)
47	Usagi regains memory of being Sailor Moon; Ali and En appear
48	Usagi realizes Mamaru doesn't remember her; Other scouts regain their memory
49	Moonlight Knight appears
50	Sailor Moon's Tiara no longer works
51	Sailor Moon power up with Moon Scepter
52	Venus power up
53	Mercury power up
54	Mars power up
55	Jupiter power up
58	Mamoru and Usagi captured for Doom Tree
59	End of Doom Tree arc
60	Chibi-Usa appears
61	Mamoru dumps Usagi
62	New Sailor Scout transformation pens and communicators; Mercury power up and new transformation (mild change, adds Star)
63	Mars power up and new transformation
64	First attempted use of Time Key; Puu appears
65	Venus and Jupiter power ups and new transformations
68	All Sailor Scouts & Tuxedo Mask vs all Phantom Sisters and Reubeus
69	Mamoru let's Usagi think he has a new girlfriend
70	First use of Moon Crystal Power to "refresh" and heal someone; Koan saved
71	Berthier saved; new opening sequence featuring Crystal Tokyo, new bad guys and some future folks
72	Sailor Planet Power used for first time; Chibi-Usa discovers scouts identity; Petz and Calaveras saved
73	Reubeus captures Sailor Scouts after Chibi-Usa steals Silver Crystal
74	Reubeus defeated; First appearance of Prince Dimande
75	Puu revealed to be Sailor Pluto, first appearance of Saphir
76	Esmeraude begins her attack (fairly optional)
77	Usagi and Mamoru reunited
81	Chibi-Usa's releases her power as an attack
82	Sailor Scouts go with Chibi-Usa to the future
83	King Endymion appears; Chibi-Usa's true identity revealed; Dimande captures Sailor Moon
84	Chibi-Usa captured
85	Black Lady appears
86	Dimande defeated
87	Chibi-Usa saved; Wise Man defeated
Season 3 (Sailor Moon S)
89	New enemies appear and unleash Daimohns in search of pure hearts; Sailor Moon's broach broken and her transformation undone; new scouts appear (unnamed); new opening sequence; Rei's pure heart targeted
90	Name of enemy, Death Busters, revealed; Sailor Moon gets new transformation (Moon Cosmic Power Makeup) and Moon Spiral Heart Rod; first use of Moon Spiral Heart Attack
91	Haruka Tenoh and Michiru appear; new sailor soldiers' names revealed; new ending theme and sequence
92	Haruka and Michiru discuss their mission (pretty much confirming what audience probably already knows as to who they are )
96	Mako's pure heart targeted ( mild character development)
97	Ami's pure heart targeted ( good Ami character development)
100	A school friend figures out that Mina is Sailor Venus, but doesn't share (or ever appear again)
101	Usagi's birthday; Usagi's pure heart targeted; Kaorinite gets her transformation brooch and recognizes it as Sailor Moon's; Tuxedo Mask captured (yet again)
102	Continues from 101; Usagi figures out that Haruka and Michiru are Uranus and Neptune; Usagi's pure heart stolen again; first time Venus pretends to be Sailor Moon using transformation pen; first (and only) use of Love Me Moon Chain; combo of Burning Mandala and Supreme Thunder; Kaorinite defeated
103	Introduction of Witches 5; new Daimohn creation sequence; witches get pure hearts with gun, while Daimohn acts as "bodyguard"; Chibiusa returns as "apprentice" Sailor Chibi-Moon; first use of Pink Sugar Heart Attack
104	First time we see Sailor Chibi-Moon's transformation sequence
105	Appearance of the talismans and holy grail revealed
106	Back story of Haruka and Michiru; first view of Uranus and Neptune's transformation sequences
109	Minako's pure heart targeted and she steals it herself LOL; from title, obviously, everyone's ID is revealed to each other and to Eugeal, though Sailor Moon's surprise is kinda silly
110	Mimet plots against Eugeal; Setsuna (unrecognized as Pluto, as usual); Uranus and Neptune die; two talismans revealed
111	Continuation of 110; Pluto transformation sequence; Third talisman revealed; cameo by Hotaru as Holy grail revealed; Sailor Moon gets Crisis Makeup second transformation; Eugeal defeated
112	Hotaru "formerly" introduced and revealed as Messiah of Silence; new pure heart capture method and Daimohn creation sequence; first use of Rainbow Moon Heartache attack; Hotaru revealed to have healing abilities; first appearance of Hotaru's father (the nutty Professor)
113	Outer scouts explain some of past to Mamoru; Kaorinite returns but not quite the same
115	Hotaru unleashes a powerful attach to protect herself from a Daimohn; Haruka warns the scouts to keep Chibiusa away from Hotaru; Uranus untransformation
119	Professor Tomoe references Nephlite's old catch line of "the stars know all" :-P; Pluto reveals more about the enemy and the outer scouts goal;  Hotaru revealed to be Sailor Saturn and outer scouts attempt to kill her; first use of combined outer scout attack; first mention of Pharaoh 90
120	Mugen Academy first mentioned; first appearance of Telulu; end of Mimet; some of Hotaru and Professor Tomoe's past revealed
121	Continues where 120 left off; new method of collecting pure hearts, this time in mass; Kaorinite transformation sequence; end of Telulu; Hotaru begs Chibiusa to save her
122	Continues where 121 left off; Next of Witches 5, Byruit; Haruka and Michiru find Hotaru while Mugen academy;
123	Last of Witches 5 Cyprin; Kaorinite captures Chibiusa and her pure heart is eaten by Messiah of Silence; Mistress Nine awakened
124	Sailor Moon captured; Professor revealed to be a Daimohn; first use of Sailor Soldier barrier power; Sailor Pluto dies; Sailor Neptune and Uranus use their Talismans for first time
125	Uranus and Neptune captured; Tomoe returns to himself; Grail destroyed; Sailor Saturn awakens; Pharaoh 90 defeated
126	Ending of 125 shown again; Michiru and Haruka take baby Hotaru and give back to hospitalized Tomoe (who has forgotten everything that happened in last few years); Sailor Pluto's spirit returns to explain things to Chibiusa; Uranus and Neptune demand a fight with Sailor Moon apparently because of her idealism, but really to reveal true Messiah
Season 4 (Sailor Moon SuperS)
128	Start of Sailor Moon SuperS, new opening and ending visuals; first appearances of Pegasus, Dead Moon Circus, Amazon Trio (use Remless), and Zirconia (hunting beautiful dreams), Sailor Moon regains Super Sailor Moon transformation thanks to Pegasus along with new weapon
129	First showing of Chibi Moon's transformation this season
130	Pegasus reforms broaches to allow Sailor Moon and Chibi-Moon to do Moon-Crisis Make Up for Super transformations (first use of new double transform sequence); gives Usagi the Kaleido-Moonscope and Chibi-Moon the Crystal Carillon; Used for new double attack of Twinkle Yell and Moon Gorgeous Meditation (MGM used but unnamed in first two episodes, now gets full sequence)
131	Naru attacked (you know it was coming LOL) and the hilarity of Tiger's Eye getting turned down for Umino is fun to watch, but otherwise skippable
132	A classmate of Mamoru named Saori discovers who Sailor Moon is, but still skippable since it is never brought up again LOL
133	First anime appearance of Diana, Luna and Artemis' daughter of the future
135	A Remless discovers Pegasus in Chibi-usa's dreams, but doesn't get to share the secret with anyone :-P; Pegasus gives Chibiusa an Stallion Rave (unnamed until episode 163) that lets her talk to him whenever she wants (and is alone)
136	Rei's dream targeted, otherwise skippable
141	Minako's dream targeted (by Tigers-Eye AND Hawks-Eye), first (and only) use of Sailor Venus' "Furious Random Crescent Beam Shots", Venus reclaims her own mirror (much like she did her heart crystal); new ending theme and animation
143	First appearance of other scouts in super form for thanks to Pegasus, but don't appear again for awhile
144	Shingo's last appearance in the series, otherwise skippable
147	First use of Super Supreme Thunder
148	Mamoru targeted, first appearance of Amazoness Quartet (unidentified), first mention of Queen Nehelenia (sort of appears, in voice), origin and true forms of Amazon Trio revealed, first mention of Golden Crystal
149	Continues from 148; Fisheye figures out Usagi is Sailor Moon and that Pegasus is inside Chibiusa; Usagi targeted; last appearance of Amazon Trio
150	First time anyone in town appears to notice the Dead Moon Circus; Amazoness Quartet "formally" introduced (brats), Queen Nehelenia fully seen; revealed that mirror needed will be golden; start of that stupid chant thing; new way of gathering mirrors (bouncing ball through back) and Remless now eat mirrors
151	No more episode previews for this season; first use of Mercury Crystal Power Make Up and Mercury Aqua Rhapsody
152	First use of Mars Crystal Power Make Up and Mars Flame Sniper
154	First use of Venus Crystal Power Make Up and Jupiter Crystal Power Make Up; first use of Venus Love and Beauty Shock and Jupiter Oak Evolution
155	First time this season when everyone transforms in a single episode with the new Crystal Power Make Up sequences; otherwise skippable
156	Interesting in that a mirror is "dirty" after someone betrays their own dreams, otherwise skippable
157	Pegasus leaves Chibiusa after she pushes to know more about him, but comes back so still skippable; first combined use of Flame Sniper and Aqua Rhapsody
158	Pegasus tells Chibiusa about the Golden Crystal, his world of Elysian, the truth of his existence, his true name, and true form; Chibiusa's first kiss
159	Cute/sweet Pegasus and Chibiusa stuff, but otherwise skippable
160	Amazoness Quartet and Sailor Scouts work together without realizing it; identities not revealed but still worth watching for more characterization of the Amazoness Quartet and lead up to next episode (despite the name, no Naru)
161	Dead Moon starts full scale attack on the town to capture Pegasus and Scouts figure out the enemy headquarters (took 'em long enough, gesh); identities revealed (also about time)
162	Continuation of 162; Pegasus tells scouts origins of Dead Moon, about Nehelenia, the Golden Crystal and the truth about himself; Chibi Moon captured
163	Nehelenia tells Chibi Moon of her past and her ties to the Moon Kingdom of the past
164-166	Keep watching, last three episodes, grand finale, etc
Season 5 (Sailor Moon Stars) - only available via fansub download or fansub DVD (please avoid the bootlegs on DVD)
167-172	These are all key story episodes for concluding the Nehelenia story and leading into Stars; girls finally move up to high school, Outer Senshi return with super forms; new opening them and animation (note that stars is the ONLY series not to use Moonlight Densetsu for the opening); First use of Moon Eternal Make Up; Kaleido-Moonscope changes to Eternal Tier (unnamed); this set of episodes also is one of the only times Venus is noted to be the leader of the scouts in the anime
173	Mamoru leaves to study abroad; Chibiusa back in the future; Arrival of Three Lights (Seiya, Yaten, Taiki); First appearance of Galaxia (voice from earlier; unnamed); new enemy after a true Star Seed (similar to heart crystals but diamond shaped and come out of flowers on body ); first appearance of Sailor Iron Mouse/Nezu (Anima-mates); new Eternal transformation sequence (back to the usual long thing); new monsters called Phages (all named Sailor something) with defeat call of "beautiful"; first appearance of Sailor Starlights (Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Maker, Sailor Star Healer); first use of Star Serious Laser; first use of Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss (named) with new sequence
174	First appearance of enemy base (Galaxy TV); Galaxia named; Three Lights transfers to girls' high school; first use of Star Gentle Uterus (yes, you are allowed to laugh at every use)
175	First use of Star Sensitive Inferno; otherwise skippable
176	Sailor Star Fighter identity revealed to audience
177	Sailor Star Maker identity revealed to audience (in case you didn't figure it out yourself already LOL) and hey, more Uterus! :P (Starlights start using "stage on" in intro or may be next episode)
178	Sailor Star Healer identity revealed to audience; Luna gets to know Yaten better
179	Haruka and Michiru return; revealed Starlights are looking the girl they are looking for their princess; first time audience learns that Mamoru has not contacted her at all; added sound effects to Starlights
180	First identifiable, though unnamed, appearance of Sailor Aluminum Siren and Sailor Lead Crow (they appear in shadow in the last episode); Uranus and Neptune attack Starlights as intruders from outside solar system
181	Sailor Iron Mouse targets Seiya and sees him transform into Sailor Star Fighter;  final appearance of Sailor Iron Mouse; Galaxia introduces self; Seiya suspects Usagi is Sailor Moon
182	Start of intros before opening again (blech); first appearance of Chibi Chibi (pulls a Chibiusa, except she becomes Usagi's little sister instead of cousin LOL); Sailor Aluminum Siren/Reiko Aya new Star Seed collector with Sailor Lead Crow/Akane Karasuma finding targets; Usagi has now sent 30 letters to Mamoru; Setsuna reappears; shout out to Robo Cop
184	skippable but extremely funny with almost everyone spending the night at Usagi's house (only Setsuna is missing) and end up having to deal with a phage :-D
185	First view of what the Starlights' princess looks like, otherwise skippable
187	Aluminum Siren sees Usagi transform and tries to get her Star Seed; Chibi Chibi transforms after touching Tier; first use of Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss (longest attack sequence yet)
188	First appearance of Tin Nyanko (unnamed); Aluminum Siren reveals Sailor Moon's identity to Three Lights; everyone's identity pretty much revealed to each other First use of "Galactic Tsunami" LOL; last appearance of Aluminum Siren
189	Aftermath of revelations
190	Seiya tells Usagi about their past and why they came to Earth
191	Chibi finds an small incense burner; Three Lights and scouts reach an understanding
193	Sailor Iron Crow finds Aluminum Siren's diary and targets Usagi; Yaten and Taiki target Chibi Chibi; Princess Kakyuu (Fireball) appears (duh); last episode for Iron Crow
194	Princess Kakyuu (Fireball) tells the scouts of the Sailor Wars, Sailor Soldiers, and Galaxia; real face of Galaxia seen; new Star Fighter transformation
195	Girls finally learn that Usagi hasn't heard from Mamoru since he left; Galaxia comes to Earth; Princess Kakyuu Star Seed captured; final episode for Tin Nyanko
196-200	suffice to say, watch all five cause it is the lengthy final battle against Galaxia with plenty of fun revelations, betrayals, and heart breaking scenes (oh, and have tissues on hand)

I hope this episode guide is as helpful for others as it has been for me. It was certainly a fun way to revisit one of my favorite series, though it took me several months to get all of the episodes rewatched so I could make the guide. Of all of the seasons, it is hard to say which is my favorite. I enjoy all of them, though I was disappointed by how far from the manga the anime goes, especially in the R, S, and Super S arcs (and possibly Stars from what I've read online, since I've yet to obtain copies of the rare English Stars manga releases).

Eventually I plan to do another Sailor Moon post that will detail the differences between the anime and manga versions of the show, but its still very much a work in progress due to work and school constraints. Keep an eye out for it though! I may also do a similar guide for Cardcaptor Sakura, though I think such a guide will be much harder for me to make. CCS has some "filler" episodes, but they never really feel like fillers to me. :P