“Take a spin on the merry-go-round! Ride to the top of the Ferris Wheel! Young girls just can't stay away from amusement parks like this one! But taking advantage of them for their pure hearts full of dreams is seriously evil. I am Sailor Moon! And In the Name of the Moon, I'll punish you!”
— Usagi Tsukino
(DiC Episode: "Nightmare in Dreamland")
Rei's inclusion as the third Sailor Guardian leads to some rocky tensions as a petty rivalry forms between herself and Usagi. Personal drama aside, the Guardians find themselves investigating a shocking number of disappearances that tie back to the seemingly pleasant theme park known as Dreamland.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Adaptational Jerkass: In the original version (and Viz dub), Usagi cries over Ami being locked inside the park's candy house and accuses Rei of not caring that their friend is in danger. In the DiC dub, Serena was more upset about not being able to enter the castle because she wanted to eat desserts, not even caring that Amy was in peril.
- Ambiguous Situation: The current state of the 50 visitors. Considering that they were abducted for a week, it's unknown if they managed to survive that long or if they perished from the ongoing energy absorption. The Sailor Guardians don't even mention what became of them after defeating Murido.
- Amusement Park: The location of the day is a fairy tale theme park called Dreamland.
- Animal Mecha: Dreamland is filled with animatronic animals that can talk and engage in friendly interactions with the parkgoers.
- Combination Attack: Mars combines her Fire Soul attack with Moon Tiara Action to deliver a finishing blow onto Murido.
- Deadpan Snarker: When Usagi first asks how they'll find the princess, Rei snarks that she'll have a big sign saying she's the princess.
- Distracted by the Sexy: Both Sailor Moon and Mars are lovestruck when they envision Tuxedo Mask riding on a white horse.
- Dramatic Irony: Usagi is offended by the vary notion that Mamoru and Tuxedo Mask can be the same person.
- Dub Name Change: Princess Dream is only slightly renamed as "Dream Princess" and Murido is named "Dream Dolly" in the DiC version.
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Usagi boasts that she has more experience as a Sailor Guardian and isn't keen on Rei criticizing her so often.
- Everything Fades: The candy house disappears into nothing after Murdio is destroyed.
- Evil Costume Switch: When Princess Dream reveals her true colors, she swaps out her bubblegum pink and white dress for a black and red dress along with a Creepy Doll aesthetic.
- Foreshadowing: Queen Beryl is becoming increasingly displeased with Jadeite's failures and utters an Implied Death Threat.
- Freudian Trio: Usagi is the emotional McCoy, Rei is the serious-minded Spock, while Ami and Luna double as a level-headed Kirk. The majority of the conflict in this episode is Usagi's wide-eyed idealism clashing with Rei's seriousness.
- Here We Go Again!: Despite defeating Murido and saving the kidnapped visitors, Usagi and Rei get into another argument over their ice cream.
- Implied Death Threat: Queen Beryl warns Jadeite that he's running out of chances to successfully harvest energy and defeat the Sailor Guardians. She even states that he's expendable.
- Let's Split Up, Gang!: Luna decides to break into two teams so they can cover more ground. She goes with Ami leaving Usagi and Rei by themselves.
- Lotus-Eater Machine: Murido can blow out hallucinogenic mist that traps people in a pleasant dream-like world.
- My Significance Sense Is Tingling: Rei immediately picks up negative energy from the seemingly-sweet Princess Dream.
- Nice Character, Mean Actor: Princess Dream is the head mascot of Dreamland and is known for being friendly and nice. In truth, she's another one of Jadeite's youma created to lure the park visitors to have their energy stolen.
- Not So Above It All: Despite being presented as more mature and serious with completing her mission, even Sailor Mars goes boy-crazy when she sees the Tuxedo Mask illusion.
- Ofuda: Rei's paper talismans come in full clutch throughout the episode. From dispelling a petrification curse to immobilizing Murido in the climax.
- Oh, Crap!: Usagi does this when she sees the lion animatronic.
- Ominous Music Box Tune: A creepy tune plays when Princess Dream turns into her true self. Befitting as Murido resembles a worn out doll.
- Stranger Danger: Usagi and Rei are caught in a tug-of-war over a young boy in a argument whether or not he should be allowed to ride one of the animatronics. His mother arrives and is understandably not amused.
- Taken for Granite: The snake bite turns Sailor Mars' arm to stone. She gets better after using her ofuda.
- Taking the Bullet: Mars pushes Moon out of the way when a flower wreath she's given transforms into a snake.
- Visual Pun: Usagi shows Rei a bunny in one scene. The rabbit is holding a rabbit.
- We ARE Struggling Together: The core conflict in this episode is Usagi and Rei trying to work together during their mission despite getting into arguments over every little thing.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Luna and Rei are quick to chastise Usagi when she runs off to ride the merry-go-round.
- Would Hurt a Child: Usagi and Rei get so caught up in whether to allow a little boy to ride a bear animatronic that they resort to pulling the child via tug-o-war.
Wouldn't you know it. We finally get to go to the way coolest amusement park, only to discover not-so-amusing things going on there, like...Tuxedo Mask comes to our rescue...*sighs*...It's gonna be really great! So stick around!
