History YMMV / PrettyGuardianSailorMoon

* HilariousInHindsight: The team-ups in the Reiko-Minako battle. For Minako's team (Minako, Usagi, Luna), their actresses post-PGSM had stints in the gravure idol genre.

** When it first started any criticism of the show (especially those comparing it unfavorably to the anime) would be met with the rejoinder "at least it's more faithful to the manga".

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** A major complaint of the original anime was that TheReveal Usagi was the Moon Princess wasn't really a twist (given that Tuxedo Mask had a dream of the princess and she had Usagi's exact hairstyle). This series gets much more mileage out of the storyline that Sailor Venus is pretending to be the princess, including the choice to modify the flashback princess’s voice and face (complete with a different hairstyle that carries over in future appearances).
** While Tuxedo Mask still plays a part in the fights over the span of the series, the Senshi are able to destroy a fair amount of monsters on their own even early on in the show.
** The fact that the Senshi [[ClarkKenting look no different in uniform than they do in civilian gear]] is a common source of criticism among fans (to the degree that {{Fanon}} says an enchantment prevents anyone from recognizing them). Here the girls all have normal hairstyles in their civvies, and then transform into the more colorful and elaborate anime styles. This makes it more plausible that they wouldn't be recognized in public. Even so, Minako recognizes Rei as Sailor Mars instantly upon seeing her out of her senshi mode, and [[spoiler:Nephrite recognizes Ami as well, though she doesn't recognize him.]]
** [[DamselScrappy Naru]], [[EducationMama Ikuko]], [[AnnoyingYoungerSibling Shingo]] and [[TheGenericGuy Motoki]] were [[BaseBreakingCharacter base-breakers]] to some degree in the original anime. Most fans agree that the changes made to them in this series [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap fixed those issues]] and made them [[EnsembleDarkhorse much more interesting and likable characters]].
** The show provided a more manga accurate version of Rei Hino, after the original anime shifted her character to be more [[SmittenTeenageGirl boy crazy]].

* FashionVictimVillain: The Shittenou, because their uniforms in the manga and anime were rather drab. But especially Beryl and Mio in the special act.

** Zoisite's extreme devotion to [[spoiler:Mamoru]] - much more so than any of the other Shittennou, even after they all regain their memories - certain suggests ''something'' on the HoYay front.

** The flashback of Kunzite screaming as the corpses of the Shittenou lay around him.

* EarWorm: Just try getting ‘C'est La Vie’ out of your head after the first several episodes.

* LesYay: This is ''Sailor Moon'' after all, there is a lot of deep, deep girl-girl friendship. The subtext fans go crazy with this show. Even the cast jokes how in love Ami is with Usagi. Rei and Minako's love/hate rivalry/friendship also count. Lots of feelings there.
** It even carries over the cast in real life post-[=PGSM=], where all five girls remain in constant contact for impromptu gatherings or birthday celebrations. Considering the relationship of Mars & Venus in Myth/ClassicalMythology, Keiko (Mars) and Ayaka (Venus) are very close to each other. Mew (Jupiter) and Chisaki (Mercury) are also close friends after the show.
** Mio could even be read as a Yuri FemmeFatale.

** Any scene involving [[spoiler:Nefukichi]] involves a boatload of [[LargeHam hamminess]], [[{{Wangst}} overreaction,]] and Narm. But due to the nature of his FishOutOfWater plot this is very likely an intended audience reaction.

* TearJerker: Anytime a character dies. Except for [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bitch]] Mio, which is ironic since [[spoiler: she's a clone of Beryl, and Beryl DOES get a sad send-off.]]

* WhatAnIdiot: Ami of all people gets such a moment in episode 16. So she sees Naru about to drown in a sandpit. She clearly can't reach her, but it doesn't even occur to her to use her scarf, which can extend further down so Naru can grasp it, which would have saved her!

* SpecialEffectsFailure: At the start (after episode one, of course), the effects (particularly in the transformation sequences) were ''awful''. The team refined their craft over the course of the show's run, though.

** The fact that the Senshi look no different in uniform than they do in civilian gear is a common source of criticism among fans (to the degree that {{Fanon}} says an enchantment prevents anyone from recognizing them). Here the girls all have normal hairstyles in their civvies, and then transform into the more colorful and elaborate anime styles. This makes it more plausible that they wouldn't be recognized in public. Even so, Minako recognizes Rei as Sailor Mars instantly upon seeing her out of her senshi mode, and [[spoiler:Nephrite recognizes Ami as well, though she doesn't recognize him.]]

** A major complaint of the original anime was that TheReveal Usagi was the Moon Princess wasn't really a twist (given that Tuxedo Mask had a dream of the princess and she had Usagi's exact hairstyle). This series gets much more mileage out of the storyline that Sailor Venus is pretending to be the princess.

** Mamoru is often seen several times with a motorcycle, foreshadowing his role in [[Series/KamenRiderHibiki Kamen Rider Hibiki]]. Several of the show's cast would later appear in [[Series/KamenRider Kamen Rider roles]] as seen on the Trivia tab.

** Zoisite's extreme devotion to Mamoru - much more so than any of the other Shittennou, even after they all regain their memories - certain suggests ''something'' on the HoYay front.
** There's also a little bit of Zoisite/Jadeite tension near the end of the series due to Jadeite staying loyal to Queen Beryl.

** Zoisite and Minako have a temporary cease-fire and even work together in order to keep Usagi and Mamoru away from each other, because they know [[spoiler: it can bring about the end of the world.]]

** Mamoru is often seen several times with [[Series/KamenRiderHibiki his motorcycle]]. Several of the show's cast would later appear in [[Series/KamenRider roles]] as seen on the Trivia tab.

* [[FoeYayShipping Foe Yay]][=/=]HoYay: And how! As opposed to the original anime/manga, Kunzite and Zoisite are at each other's throats in terms of their motives throughout the series. While Zoisite [[spoiler:realizes early in the series that his true master is Endymion and continues to protect him from then on]], Kunzite wishes to [[spoiler:destroy Endymion and Princess Serenity alike for falling in love and leading to the destruction of their worlds]]. Needless to say, their conflicting motives cause sparks to fly, and Kunzite goes so far as to [[spoiler: shove Zoisite into his piano with his sword to keep him down]] to make a point not to cross him. Although some of it could be ShippingGoggles due to them being a canon couple in the anime (where they were quite loving and respectful of one another, there was no FoeYay).

** There's also a little bit of Zoisite/Jadeite Foe Yay near the end of the series due to Jadeite staying loyal to Queen Beryl.
** [[FoeYayShipping Mercury and Nephrite]] have quite a bit of subtext, starting with her repairing his cape [[spoiler:as Darkury.]] Following that moment he prevents Kunzite [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness from disposing of her]] [[spoiler:once the brainwashing was broken]] and [[spoiler:as Nefukichi]] awkwardly tries to be nice to Mercury and gets flustered around her, implying he has a crush.
** Before this, Kunzite states Mercury belongs to him before [[spoiler:brainwashing her into his Dragon]] and goes to great lengths to [[spoiler:keep her under his hold, even after he gains the information on the Moon Princess he initially desired.]] His YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness moment after she [[spoiler:breaks free]] can furthermore easily be seen as an IfICantHaveYou moment.

* FoeYay[=/=]HoYay: And how! As opposed to the original anime/manga, Kunzite and Zoisite are at each other's throats in terms of their motives throughout the series. While Zoisite [[spoiler:realizes early in the series that his true master is Endymion and continues to protect him from then on]], Kunzite wishes to [[spoiler:destroy Endymion and Princess Serenity alike for falling in love and leading to the destruction of their worlds]]. Needless to say, their conflicting motives cause sparks to fly, and Kunzite goes so far as to [[spoiler: shove Zoisite into his piano with his sword to keep him down]] to make a point not to cross him. Although some of it could be ShippingGoggles due to them being a canon couple in the anime (where they were quite loving and respectful of one another, there was no FoeYay).

** [[FoeYay Mercury and Nephrite]] have quite a bit of subtext, starting with her repairing his cape [[spoiler:as Darkury.]] Following that moment he prevents Kunzite [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness from disposing of her]] [[spoiler:once the brainwashing was broken]] and [[spoiler:as Nefukichi]] awkwardly tries to be nice to Mercury and gets flustered around her, implying he has a crush.

** [[FoeYay Mercury and Nephrite]] have quite a bit of subtext, starting with her repairing his cape [[spoiler:as Darkcury.]] Following that moment he prevents Kunzite [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness from disposing of her]] [[spoiler:once the brainwashing was broken]] and [[spoiler:as Nefurin]] awkwardly tries to be nice to Mercury and gets flustered around her, implying he has a crush.

** Any scene involving [[spoiler:Nefurin]] involves a boatload of [[LargeHam hamminess]], [[{{Wangst}} overreaction,]] and Narm. But due to the nature of his FishOutOfWater plot this is very likely an intended audience reaction.

** In one filler episode of S Minako auditions to be the leading along side a popular idol singer she's a fan of. At one point she's saying how amazing it'd be to be an idol and a senshi only for her to not pass to which she laments how it would have been cool. Come the live action and guess what she is?

** Ikuko: In the anime, she was more of an EducationMama who disciplines her children that is normal in the Far East (a controversial ValuesDissonance in the West). In PGSM, she's a more hip, trendy and klutzy mom who's basically Usagi's adult version.

* FoeYay[=/=]HoYay: And how! As opposed to the original anime/manga, Kunzite and Zoisite are at each other's throats in terms of their motives throughout the series. While Zoisite [[spoiler:realizes early in the series that his true master is Endymion and continues to protect him from then on]], Kunzite wishes to [[spoiler:destroy Endymion and Princess Serenity alike for falling in love and leading to the destruction of their worlds]]. Needless to say, their conflicting motives cause sparks to fly, and Kunzite goes so far as to [[spoiler: shove Zoisite into his piano with his sword to keep him down]] to make a point not to cross him.
** Although some of it could be ShippingGoggles due to them being a canon couple in the anime (where they were quite loving and respectful of one another, there was no FoeYay).

* MemeticMolester: Kunzite has a penchant of capturing the senshi as his own minions.

* FoeYay / HoYay: And how! As opposed to the original anime/manga, Kunzite and Zoisite are at each other's throats in terms of their motives throughout the series. While Zoisite [[spoiler:realizes early in the series that his true master is Endymion and continues to protect him from then on]], Kunzite wishes to [[spoiler:destroy Endymion and Princess Serenity alike for falling in love and leading to the destruction of their worlds]]. Needless to say, their conflicting motives cause sparks to fly, and Kunzite goes so far as to [[spoiler: shove Zoisite into his piano with his sword to keep him down]] to make a point not to cross him.

* MethodActing: Ayaka (Minako's actress) had no idea about Sailor Moon when she got the part. Miyuu (Usagi) and Keiko (Rei) were avid fans of the manga and anime who tried convincing Ayaka to read the manga. Given that PGSM!Minako has significant deviations, Ayaka kept it that way and never read the manga throughout the course of shooting, allowing her to portray Minako's pained isolation much more effectively.

* VindicatedByHistory: As the current ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal'' garnered criticism due to its poor handling of the manga story and moments of glaring animation failures, PGSM became better regarded and recommended by the fandom due to its more evenly-distributed character-driven plot.

** Luna and Artemis as plush cats. While it's sensible that teenage girls can bring along plushies compared to real cats, the aspect of having toys that talk and ConspicuousCGI scenes have been met with "demonic plush cat" derisions.

* VindicatedByHistory: As the current Anime/SailorMoonCrystal garnered criticism due to its poor handling of the manga story and moments of glaring animation failures, PGSM became better regarded and recommended by the fandom due to its more evenly-distributed character-driven plot.

** The fact that the Senshi look no different in uniform than they do in civilian gear is a common source of SnarkBait among fans (to the degree that {{Fanon}} says an enchantment prevents anyone from recognizing them). Here the girls all have normal hairstyles in their civvies, and then transform into the more colorful and elaborate anime styles. This makes it more plausible that they wouldn't be recognized in public. Even so, Minako recognizes Rei as Sailor Mars instantly upon seeing her out of her senshi mode, and [[spoiler:Nephrite recognizes Ami as well, though she doesn't recognize him.]]

** Sailor Luna. She's the EnsembleDarkhorse for one side of the fan base for being the Senshi form of Luna the cat, but she's TheScrappy for the other side for her childish nature and felt her entire existence was made to pander to little kids, feeling her to be the Chibiusa of this adaptation. Ironically, the reverse might be true; [[Creator/NaokoTakeuchi]] described the premise of Luna turning into a small child was actually an early concept for the manga she ended up scrapping.

** Naru: Despite being her usual "youma bait" role, she is very supportive of Usagi throughout the series. Being played by a Musical/SeraMyu alumna ''helped''.

** Sailor Luna. She's the EnsembleDarkhorse for one side of the fan base for being the Senshi form of Luna the cat, but she's TheScrappy for the other side for her childish nature and felt her entire existence was made to pander to little kids, feeling her to be the Chibiusa of this adaptation. Ironically, the reverse might be true; [[Creator/NaokoTakeuchi]] described the premise of Luna turning into a small child was actually an early concept for the manga she ended up scraping.

* EarWorm: Since PGSM!Minako is a J-Pop star, her songs are bound to be this. She even has 7 songs in the series' soundtrack!
-->''Atsui kimochi wa C'est la vie! Watashi ga watashi de iru kagiri, C'est la vie!''
** Each [[http://sailormusic.net/pgsm/pgsm-complete-song-collection/ senshi actress has 2 image songs]] (Luna and Mio has 1 song each); at least one of these songs will get lodged in your head.

* HarsherInHindsight: A terminally ill pop idol releases an album (with a song of self-eulogy) and dies shortly after. It's very hard not to compare it to Music/DavidBowie who died from cancer shortly after the release of ''Music/{{Blackstar}}''.