This was the first musical to feature entirely original villains and an original story. How does it hold up?
The Good:
The plot holds together really well.
Loof Merrow is a badass, and Space Knight has loads of cheesy charm.
I actually don't mind the child characters (which says a lot).
The use of leitmotif is on point.
"LINK" is one of my favorite Myu songs ever. The songs are quite strong across the board - I honestly can't think of a song that I don't like.
The cast is noticeably stronger compared to Shin Densetsu Kourin, and the legendary Nao Yuuka combo was introduced in the Kaiteiban.
The Bad:
Hara Fumina is my least favorite Moon. Her Neo-Queen Serenity scene in the Kaiteiban is good, but she otherwise lacks stage presence and emotional range. She does improve between the original and Kaiteiban, but for me, it's too little, too late.
The Meh:
Dark Plasman's outfit hasn't aged too well. 1999 me probably wouldn't have cared, though.
The Kaiteiban:
The visual upgrades look great (better effects, inclusion of the sea monster).
The addition of the Dark Illness subplot raises the stakes and allows for the Senshi to do more while they are dealing with it.
I'm also quite happy with the altered ending, in which Sailor Moon sends the comet away because she sees it as a friend, rather than destroying it. That feels much more consistent with the show's themes, especially considering that a song titled "Everyone is Loved By Someone" immediately follows it. I'm also happy that Loof was revived, because leaving her out of the ending in the original just felt wrong to me.
Final Thoughts:Kaguya Shima Densetsu was a strong first attempt at an entirely new story. The music is strong, the antagonists are interesting, the humor is balanced well with the drama, and the show is full of charm that stands the test of time. I give it a strong recommendation, especially for Myu newbies.
Kaguya Shima Densetsu
This was the first musical to feature entirely original villains and an original story. How does it hold up?
The Good:
The Bad:
The Meh:
The Kaiteiban:
Final Thoughts: Kaguya Shima Densetsu was a strong first attempt at an entirely new story. The music is strong, the antagonists are interesting, the humor is balanced well with the drama, and the show is full of charm that stands the test of time. I give it a strong recommendation, especially for Myu newbies.