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Hulu has Sailor Moon listed under shows that are LGBT-friendly. Most people who watched the American version of the series in the 90s and early 2000s would probably be confused. How can a children’s series be so LGBT-friendly? We remember the Sailor Scouts kicking some serious butt. Indeed they did, and IT WAS AWESOME.

However, what many people don’t know is that there are some significant differences between the American version and the original Japanese version of the series, especially in the later seasons. One notable difference in the third season of Sailor Moon S was the portrayal of two lovely and fierce characters, Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. In the American version, they were introduced as cousins, but in the original version, they were a couple.

I assume that the American producers did not want such a couple on a show targeted toward young people, which is unfortunate because their sexual orientation did not detract from the show’s wholesomeness. Instead, their relationship further strengthened the bonds of friendship and love within the group. When the producers changed them from lovers to cousins, Americans missed the awesomeness that the Outer Planets couple brought to the show.  

What I believe is even more impressive than their intense love for each other is Sailor Uranus’s effect on the other Sailor Scouts. The first time Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus met Sailor Uranus, they were utterly smitten with her. They believed she was a man, but it was still amusing to see them fight for her affection, especially when we all know that Sailor Moon already had a boyfriend (poor Tuxedo Mask). When they finally found out that Sailor Uranus was a girl, they were heartbroken, but that in no way stopped them from being charmed by her mysterious demeanor. Throughout the season, the Scouts continued to be captivated by Uranus’s presence. They would often catch themselves being swept away by her protective demeanor, and they continued to blush as she talked kindly to them while she was busy saving their lives.  It was apparent that she had a way of drawing people in. She was strong and tender at the same time.

As for the couple themselves, at first, they shied away from their romance, you know, because of the “we-have-to-sacrifice-our-romance-to-save-the-world” kind of thing. However, by the final season, it was obvious that Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune were official. They were destined for each other, just like Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, and we loved every second of their journey. 

Sailor Uranus’ and Sailor Neptune’s personalities and their interactions with the other Scouts portrayed the complexity of sexuality and friendship in such a playful way. The show’s message was clear: protecting the common good could only be achieved through the bonds of friendship and love. It is such a shame American audiences could not see it.