I started writing about the Dracul Arc, so I might as well write about the rest of it.
The Good:
Two words: Ono Hikari.
Image songs for the Inner Senshi were introduced in this show, so yay! "Koi no Senshi ja Irarenai" is also a great ensemble number for the Sailor Senshi.
The costumes for the villains look pretty darn good overall. Having the villains be European figures of legend (Elizabeth Bathory, etc.) is an interesting concept.
"Kokoro Tabanete Watchin' On The Sight" vindicates what was arguably the best song from Shin Densetsu Kourin.
Some of the villain songs have a more operatic sound to them, which is an interesting stylistic choice.
The Bad:
The worst Mercury I've ever seen is in this show, and I'm glad that she was recast in the Kaiteiban.
This is easily the most convoluted Myu. I'm a proficient Japanese speaker, and this is the only Myu that I have trouble following due to the messy writing.
The dialogue will hit you over the head with certain themes, even by the standards of things made for kids. The pacing is rather uneven, especially in the second act (why did Elizabeth Bathory need a monologue?).
The show would have lost little to nothing without the Samael Quartet's subplot.
Sailor Moon's speech at the end is poorly written. Some might find it hilariously bad, but for me, it's just garden variety bad.
The "Meh":
For some reason, the video footage uses pre-recorded music. I'm not sure if they went back to lip-syncing or were attempting to cover up recording issues, but it's a bummer because Miyuki's run is so short and I'd love to hear her actual singing.
The writing generally feels like it's trying too hard to be "dark", which doesn't balance well with the humor.
The Kaiteiban: A major step up from the original. The script has been noticeably streamlined, though some potentially confusing areas of ambiguity still remain. My favorite Inner Senshi image songs, "Drive Me The Mercury" and "Traditional The Grace", were added. Lilith and Sheba's roles are reduced in service of story changes to set up the next show. This is required watching for anyone trying to follow the entire Dracul storyline.
Final Thoughts: TNM has some great ideas, but they get lost in its overly complex execution. The Kaiteiban streamlines it, but there are still some lingering issues, such as the Quartet subplot and the show trying too hard with its darkness. It is a unique show with some notable stylistic departures, and is worth watching at least once. Just don't be too hard on yourself if you have a tough time following it.
Transylvania no Mori
I started writing about the Dracul Arc, so I might as well write about the rest of it.
The Good:
The Bad:
The "Meh":
The Kaiteiban: A major step up from the original. The script has been noticeably streamlined, though some potentially confusing areas of ambiguity still remain. My favorite Inner Senshi image songs, "Drive Me The Mercury" and "Traditional The Grace", were added. Lilith and Sheba's roles are reduced in service of story changes to set up the next show. This is required watching for anyone trying to follow the entire Dracul storyline.
Final Thoughts: TNM has some great ideas, but they get lost in its overly complex execution. The Kaiteiban streamlines it, but there are still some lingering issues, such as the Quartet subplot and the show trying too hard with its darkness. It is a unique show with some notable stylistic departures, and is worth watching at least once. Just don't be too hard on yourself if you have a tough time following it.