The 1992 magical-girl anime Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon is thought to be a fully lighthearted series, and to some degree, that's true. However, there are many times when the heroes fall into unduly dangerous situations where the usual levity is replaced with outright sadness.
From fighting one's beloved who has been turned evil, to watching best friends sacrifice themselves for the greater good, Sailor Moon has had her fair share of sad moments. Fans can look back and vividly recall the most emotional times in the series.
The Amazon Trio Sacrifices Itself To Save Usagi
The Amazon Trio is far less developed as characters in the manga; they are essentially one-time villains who the Amazoness Quartet summon. In the '90s anime, they last far longer and are more autonomous. However, Fish Eye learns the Trio, including Hawk's Eye and Tiger's Eye, is not quite human. They lack the ability to dream and have aspirations; this realization comes in episodes 148 and 149.
During a climactic battle, Hawk's Eye is killed while shielding Fish Eye from a Lemures' attack. Using the one magical object that could make them all fully human, Tiger's Eye and Fish Eye instead divert that power to save Usagi from the same Lemures. As a result, the three returns to their original animal forms. Luckily, Pegasus rewards them their own dreams as they all go off together to Elysion.
Wiseman Kills Saphir In Front Of His Brother
Loss is inevitable in Sailor Moon, but the casualties are always on the other side. That doesn't make their deaths any less hard to watch, though. In episode 86, Saphir disabled Wiseman's reactor powering the Malefic Black Crystal and escaped to the 20th century with the key card.
Just as Saphir is close to convincing his brother Prince Dimande about Wiseman's ulterior motives, the cloaked mastermind shows up and murders Saphir in cold blood. What was even worse was watching the expression on Petz's face as she mourned her former love from afar.
Zoisite Dies In Kunzite's Arms
After disobeying Queen Beryl's orders to not kill Mamoru in episode 34, Zoisite is punished in the following episode. Meanwhile, Zoisite's love Kunzite watches in silent horror.
Kunzite takes Zoisite's dying body back to their home, and the couple shares their goodbyes. Zoisite, staying true to his vain personality, asks to die beautifully. So, Kunzite uses his magic to grant Zoisite's final wish.
Usagi Reveals The Truth About Mamoru And Seiya Asks Her If He Himself Is "Enough" For Her
In episode 173, Mamoru left to study in America after proposing to Usagi. Since then, Usagi has not heard from him; there has been no response to her many letters. Early on, audiences see Mamoru's plane is attacked by an unknown force, and for all they know, he is dead.
Usagi carries this burden all by herself for many episodes, and it is episode 194 where she comes clean during an especially heartbreaking scene. After Sailor Tin Nyanko's failed attack, Usagi collapses because she briefly mistook Seiya for Mamoru. She ultimately breaks down and blurts out everything that has been going on with Mamoru. To which Seiya, who harbors deep and romantic feelings for Usagi, asks her if he himself is enough for her.
Nephrite's Death
There are known and widely discussed problematic elements about Naru and Nephrite's romance in the first season, but looking past them and addressing the fundamental sadness about a 14-year-old girl watching someone die in front of her, fans can understand why this scene is so impactful.
Sailor Moon got very serious in episode 24 when Nephrite suddenly changed; he protected Naru from the enemies and died because of it. Naru wails as Nephrite fades in her arms, and even the Sailor Guardians express sadness as he disappears into the ether.
The Inner Guardians Support Princess Serenity
In the Sailor Moon R movie, the five Sailor Guardians travel to an incoming asteroid in order to save a mortally wounded Mamoru from the alien Fiore. When Sailor Moon transforms into Princess Serenity, she decides the Silver Crystal is the only way to stop the asteroid from colliding with Earth. Using the crystal is a double-edged sword; the user's life force will diminish.
So the four other Sailor Guardians lend their total energies to Princess Serenity while remembering fond times with Sailor Moon. Although their efforts are successful, Sailor Moon indeed dies once the Silver Crystal shatters. Fiore, in a bid to both redeem himself and honor his friendship with Mamoru, restores the Silver Crystal and resurrects Sailor Moon.
The Final Battle With Galaxia
The Sailor Wars come to an end in episode 200, the '90s anime's final episode. As Galaxia decimates the planet and seizes all of the other Sailor Guardians' Star Seeds, Princess Serenity holds out hope she can save not only her friends but also Galaxia.
Often accused of being too sentimental and optimistic, Sailor Moon's power does not lie in brute strength or destruction. It is her ability to love and forgive that makes her so powerful; she sees through Galaxia's crimes and understands this is not of her own doing. Using the Silver Crystal and her overwhelming sense of compassion, Princess Serenity expels the evil force, Chaos, from Galaxia's body. The entire galaxy is safe — for now.
The Silver Crystal Appears And Mars' Reaction To Mamoru
After Mamoru sacrifices himself to protect her in episode 34, Sailor Moon becomes very emotional in the next episode. Her outcry reads as a tantrum to Sailor Mars, who herself is mourning Mamoru's supposed death. Fans have to remember Mars dated Mamoru long before she or anyone knew he was the reincarnation of Sailor Moon's past love.
So when Mars slaps Moon in episode 35, this is her admittedly misguided way of addressing her own feelings. Not only does Mars have to deal with Mamoru's death, she know she now must step aside and let destiny take over.
Sailor Moon Desperately Tries To Transform
The consequences of Sailor Moon's actions lead to the dramatic denouement in episode 125. Sailors Uranus and Neptune want to kill Hotaru because her existence will lead to the end of the world. Moon, being the idealist she is, protects Hotaru until the end. As expected, Hotaru, or rather Mistress 9, ushers in the apocalypse.
The Death Busters' leader Master Pharaoh 90 arrives on Earth, and the only one who can stop the colossal entity is Sailor Saturn, Hotaru's true form. Thanks to Sailor Moon, Hotaru was able to free herself of Mistress 9's control and become Saturn. She enters the vortex where Pharaoh 90 resides and battles him even though she has no means of escaping following her victory. And Sailor Moon cannot follow because she cannot power-up to Super Sailor Moon anymore. In the end, Sailor Moon's desperation and will to save Saturn from dying, as well the combined powers of her fellow Sailor Guardians, allows her to turn into Super Sailor Moon. She then rushes into the vortex and rescues Saturn off screen.
The First Season's Last Two Episodes
The first season's final two Sailor Moon episodes are the most touching in the whole series. In episode 45, Queen Beryl sends five Yōma monsters to "greet" the Sailor Guardians as they encroach upon her territory in the North Pole. One by one, Sailor Moon's friends are killed by the monsters until she is the only one left standing. As Moon mourns, she feels a hand on her shoulder; the spirits of her friends comfort and encourage her. With their love and blessings, Sailor Moon hurries off to save the world.
In episode 46 after saving Mamoru, Sailor Moon turns into Princess Serenity and challenges Beryl to one last fight. Just as she thinks her Silver Crystal is not enough to stop Beryl, the other Guardians' spirits offer their powers. They are triumphant, and the war is won.