Sailor Moon is one of my favorite anime series, being one of the first I ever saw. Back then all I saw was the dubbed version, but I eventually was able to acquire the subbed versions when the Season 1 and 2 uncut sets came out. It only helped me come to love the show even more. The show spans five "seasons", like so:
Season 1
Sailor Moon
Episodes 1-46
Season 2
Sailor Moon R (released as Sailor Moon in the US)
Episodes 47-88
Season 3
Sailor Moon S
Episodes 89-127
Season 4
Sailor Moon SuperS
Episodes 128-166
Season 5
Sailor Moon Stars
Episodes 167-200
So all together there are 200 episodes to the show, as well as three movies, Sailor Moon R: The Movie, Sailor Moon S: The Movie, and Sailor Moon SuperS: the Movie and several specials.
While I really love the show, even I must admit that trying to rewatch the series can be something of a daunting task. After all, just watching the 200 main episodes, skipping the movies and specials, would still take over 83 hours! One reason being that the show has a lot of filler episodes, i.e. episodes that don't advance the story or really show any character growth. This is particularly noticeable in the first four seasons.
So I decided to make a "Episodes To See" guide for Sailor Moon, showing which episodes are the must see episodes for important character development and/or story advancement. This guide actually has two sets of episodes. The episodes listed are the ones to see for character development, first uses of new attacks/weapons, and story advancement. Those colored in red italics are skippable if you don't need to see the new attacks/weapons.
Using this guide, you can cut the viewing down to 147 episodes for a slightly more manageable viewing. Or if you skip the red italic ones, you'll have 96 episodes which is certainly more manageable than 200. ;-) I've included notes on the important things that happen during the episodes, while also trying to avoid major spoilers (unless the title of the episode spoils it anyway). As for the specials and movies, they are all skippable for character and story development, however I do highly recommend the R movie as being purely awesome and I think it does clarify quite well what keeps Usagi going and what her power really comes from.
1
Duh, start of the show; introduces Sailor Moon, bad guys, Luna, Tuxedo Mask
3
Luna Pen first used, Sailor Moon controls Moon Tiara mid-flight
5
Moon Tiara Stardust attack first used; Luna actually accepted into the family
8
Mercury appears
9
Mercury's computer and VR goggles first used
10
Mars appears
11
First use of the three way combo attack
13
Jadeite dies, next enemy appears
14
Nephrite's name revealed to viewers, Zoisite appears
17
First use of the communication devices
19
Tuxedo Mask transformation and ID revealed to viewers; Sailor Moon learns Sanjoin's real identity
22
Kunzite Appears; Sailor Moon's first kiss
23
Naru protects Nephrite from Sailor Scouts, Nephrite protects Naru from Zoisite's spy
24
Naru/Nephrite conclusion, Last appearance of Nephrite
25
Jupiter Appears, Crescent Moon wand appears, Moon Healing Escalation, fist appearance of Queen Metalia
26
Star Locket appears
31
Last Rainbow crystal retrieved (and the fun of hearing Zoisite screaming like a little girl)
33
Sailor Venus appears
34
Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon discover each others identity, Moon Princess revealed
35
End of Zoisite, Kunzite takes over
36
Tuxedo Mask returns working for the enemy
42
Venus's past
44
Past of the Sailor Warriors revealed; end of Kunzite
45
Sailor Warriors go to Dark Kingdom, Sailor Scouts killed
46
Final battle: Sailor Moon/Princess Serenity vs Queen Beryl
Season 2 (Sailor Moon R)(technically all of the Doom Tree arc is skippable, but it is a great arc)
47
Usagi regains memory of being Sailor Moon; Ali and En appear
48
Usagi realizes Mamaru doesn't remember her; Other scouts regain their memory
49
Moonlight Knight appears
50
Sailor Moon's Tiara no longer works
51
Sailor Moon power up with Moon Scepter
52
Venus power up
53
Mercury power up
54
Mars power up
55
Jupiter power up
58
Mamoru and Usagi captured for Doom Tree
59
End of Doom Tree arc
60
Chibi-Usa appears
61
Mamoru dumps Usagi
62
New Sailor Scout transformation pens and communicators; Mercury power up and new transformation (mild change, adds Star)
63
Mars power up and new transformation
64
First attempted use of Time Key; Puu appears
65
Venus and Jupiter power ups and new transformations
68
All Sailor Scouts & Tuxedo Mask vs all Phantom Sisters and Reubeus
69
Mamoru let's Usagi think he has a new girlfriend
70
First use of Moon Crystal Power to "refresh" and heal someone; Koan saved
71
Berthier saved; new opening sequence featuring Crystal Tokyo, new bad guys and some future folks
72
Sailor Planet Power used for first time; Chibi-Usa discovers scouts identity; Petz and Calaveras saved
73
Reubeus captures Sailor Scouts after Chibi-Usa steals Silver Crystal
74
Reubeus defeated; First appearance of Prince Dimande
75
Puu revealed to be Sailor Pluto, first appearance of Saphir
76
Esmeraude begins her attack (fairly optional)
77
Usagi and Mamoru reunited
81
Chibi-Usa's releases her power as an attack
82
Sailor Scouts go with Chibi-Usa to the future
83
King Endymion appears; Chibi-Usa's true identity revealed; Dimande captures Sailor Moon
84
Chibi-Usa captured
85
Black Lady appears
86
Dimande defeated
87-88
Chibi-Usa saved; Wise Man defeated
Season 3 (Sailor Moon S)
90
New enemies appear and unleash Daimohns in search of pure hearts; Sailor Moon's broach broken and her transformation undone; new scouts appear (unnamed); new opening sequence; Rei's pure heart targeted
91
Name of enemy, Death Busters, revealed; Sailor Moon gets new transformation (Moon Cosmic Power Makeup) and Moon Spiral Heart Rod; first use of Moon Spiral Heart Attack
92
Haruka Tenoh and Michiru appear; new sailor soldiers' names revealed; new ending theme and sequence
93
Haruka and Michiru discuss their mission (pretty much confirming what audience probably already knows as to who they are :-P ); good scenes between Usagi and Michiru as well
96
Mako's pure heart targeted (mild character development)
97
Ami's pure heart targeted (good Ami character development)
100
A school friend figures out that Mina is Sailor Venus, but doesn't share (or ever appear again)
101
Usagi's birthday; Usagi's pure heart targeted; Kaorinite gets her transformation brooch and recognizes it as Sailor Moon's; Tuxedo Mask captured (yet again)
102
Continues from 101; Usagi figures out that Haruka and Michiru are Uranus and Neptune; Usagi's pure heart stolen again; first time Venus pretends to be Sailor Moon using transformation pen; first (and only) use of Love Me Moon Chain; combo of Burning Mandala and Supreme Thunder; Kaorinite defeated
103
Introduction of Witches 5; new Daimohn creation sequence; witches get pure hearts with gun, while Daimohn acts as "bodyguard"; Chibiusa returns as "apprentice" Sailor Chibi-Moon; first use of Pink Sugar Heart Attack
104
First time we see Sailor Chibi-Moon's transformation sequence
105
Adhara_Black