Destiny is a worrying concept. I don't want to be fated, I want to choose.
“Now that our long, tough battle is over, it's time to kick back and relax! Like that's gonna happen! I'm so behind on my schoolwork that I need to do some serious studying if I want to get into the same school as my friend! But how will I find time while I have a new enemy to deal with?! Ahh! It's making me crazy!!! In the Name of the Moon, I'll punish you!”
— Usagi Tsukino
(CWi Episode: "Star Struck, Bad Luck")
As the girls prepare themselves for their upcoming entrance exams for high school, Rei becomes plagued with strange visions that foretell of an apocalyptic future that will bring everything to ruin. Meanwhile, in a hidden laboratory, Professor Tomoe, a mad scientist and his assistant Kaolinite hope to make that silent apocalypse a reality using the former's newest creation: a Daimon egg.
Tropes in this episode include:
- Anatomy of the Soul: The new villains target Pure Hearts which appear as floating red crystals.
- And the Adventure Continues: Yet another new group of villains has surfaced with their own batch of weekly monsters. Kickstarting another exciting Sailor Moon adventure.
- Apocalypse How: Rei foresees the world falling to ruin by an unstoppable force known as "The Silence".
- Badass in Distress: Rei is instantly captured by Mikuuji before she can transform and is the first to have their Pure Heart exposed. The rest of the Guardians are left bound to trees while in civilian form.
- Big Damn Heroes: Mikuuji succeeds in capturing Rei's Pure Heart while detaining the heroes in their wooden bindings. But out of nowhere, she's struck by two powerful attacks that destroys her Daimon form and frees everyone. And the ones who unleashed those attacks return Rei's heart after they analyze it.
- Brought Down to Normal: To Usagi's horror, Mikuuji manages to undo her transformation by neutralizing her brooch.
- The Cameo: Umino appears in the background when Usagi gets her test report.
- Comically Missing the Point: After Ami points out that Minako's saying of "crying over spoiled milk" is wrong, Minako and Usagi agree that "spoiled" milk would make for a stronger metaphor.
- Dismantled Macguffin: Three Talismans are needed in order for the Holy Grail, an artifact of absolute power, to be revealed to whoever brings the Talismans together.
- Dreaming of Things to Come: Rei has a grim vision about an upcoming apocalypse that will destroy everything she knows and loves.
- Downer Beginning: The new season starts with Rei having a premonition where the entire world is falling to despair, her friends are powerless to stop it, and the Messiah who can save them goes beyond their reach. Oh, and the girls are studying for their upcoming entrance exams.
- Evil Plan: Professor Tomoe explains to Kaolinite that his Daimon egg will be utilized in hunting people with "Pure Hearts" in the hopes of finding special Talismans. When the three Talismans are brought together, they will reveal the Holy Grail which will allow the Mad Scientist to obtain world domination. He then tops it off with an Evil Laugh.
- Face Framed in Shadow:
- Professor Tomoe's face is covered in shadow with only his Scary Shiny Glasses and red smile appearing.
- The same applies to the two strangers who defeat the Daimon and return Rei's Pure Heart.
- Friendship Moment: While alone in the park, Rei takes the time to ask Usagi about her future while reminding her that her positive energy is one of her strongest qualities. This is enough to help Usagi feel better after her poor test score.
- Getting Crap Past the Radar: A portion from Usagi's English test reads as followed:"One day, Mr. Ikuhara went to Roppongi to do nanpa. He was tired after a big work. So he applied for comfort to any tender girl."
- Go-Getter Girl: Rei confesses to Usagi that she has various careers and jobs she'd like to accomplish in her future.
- The Heavy: Kaolinite goes outside to watch over the Daimon Egg and determine if the person (Rei) it targets carries a Talisman.
- Here We Go Again!: The Sailor Team end the episode with the realization that they have new enemies to face along with new questions about what their motives are.
- History Repeats: This isn't the first time where a tree-themed Monster of the Week captured the girls in their civilian form, de-transformed Sailor Moon, and required the presence of an unexpected force to be destroyed.
- Inelegant Blubbering: Usagi does this after Rei comes back to life after her Pure Heart is restored.
- Ironic Echo Cut: After Rei's Pure Heart is stolen leaving her "dead", Usagi thinks back to her conversation with her before the travesty took place.Rei: And stay positive Usagi! That's the best thing you've got going for you! Bye Usagi.
- Mad Scientist: One of the new main antagonists is a creepy, white-haired scientist named Professor Tomoe.
- Mass "Oh, Crap!": The heroes react in shock after Mikuuji defeats Moon's finishing move.
- Monster of the Week: The monsters of the new season are Daimons: creatures born when a Daimon Egg fuses with a random object who will then hunt the holder of a Pure Heart. The first of these is the Fortuitous Daimon: Mikuuji.
- Mood Whiplash: The Downer Beginning of Rei's apocalyptic nightmare is disrupted by the reveal of her waking up to Usagi explaining her own dream of eating too many snacks with Mamoru.
- No-Sell: Mikuuji manages to trump Moon Princess Halation with her Bad Luck Triangle attack.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Usagi comments that Rei must have bumped her head quite hard if she's complimenting Usagi's positive qualities.
- Rearrange the Song: The original version of the opening "Moonlight Densetsu" by DALI has been replaced with a cover by Moon Lips, a group consisting of the original five actresses of the Inner Senshi from the stage musicals.
- So Last Season: In one of the most straight forward examples in the series, the new villains of the season effortlessly overpowers Sailor Moon simply because they're stronger, rather than because a Mid-Season Upgrade has been lost.
- Taken for Granite: Rei's friends appear as stone statues that are obliterated by the Silence.
- Tempting Fate:
- While Usagi is on the streets sulking over her latest failed test, she worries out loud over Rei finding out and berating her for it. Cue Rei bumping into her head first in public.
- Rei ties her fortune to her shrine's tree while wishing for only peace and good things to happen. Cue the tree transforming into the Daimon Mikuuji.
- When Trees Attack: Mikuuji is born after fusing with the Hikawa Shrine's paper fortune tree.
Luna: "It seems our new enemy is hunting down people with Pure Hearts."
Ami: "But that strange creature said something about looking for a Talisman."
Artemis: "Plus we don't know how that mysterious pair are connected to this."
Usagi: "Well one thing's clear, a new battle is about to begin."
