“Wish Upon a Star: Naru’s First Love” is the 23rd episode of the 1st season of Sailor Moon anime and the 23rd episode overall. It aired in Japan on August 22, 1992. The DiC English dub title for this episode is "Molly's Folly" and it aired in North America on October 5, 1995.
Summary[]
With Naru now infatuated with Nephrite's alias Masato Sanjouin, Usagi is powerless to stop her friend from being used by the increasingly desperate general.
Plot[]
Usagi and Naru are at a swimming pool, Naru sits at the side of the pool thinking about Sanjouin. Usagi comes up to her from the water and splashes her, only to be called childish. She asks if Naru's an adult, and she states she is, ever since falling in love. Usagi is worried she's fallen for Tuxedo Mask or Motoki, when Naru tells her about Sanjouin.
Later, Usagi discusses what she was told by Naru with Ami and Rei. They tell Usagi she should urgently reveal the reality about Nephrite's identity, though she's hesitant. At the Dark Kingdom, Queen Beryl can't find Nephrite, causing her great anger. Meanwhile, he decides to obtain the Silver Crystal by relinquishing his Celestial Globe, as other attempts at substituting it with energy had failed. Zoisite appears arguing that the Silver Crystal is his assignment.
Nephrite uses astrology and his powers to create the Black Crystal to help locate the Silver Crystal. An image of Naru appears through the Crystal, and Nephrite wonders if she's the one who holds the secret all along.
Zoisite goes to Kunzite. for advice on what to do, should Nephrite manage to get the Silver Crystal. Kunzite says they can just steal it for themselves once it’s found, making him content. He then tells Zoisite to send a Youma to follow and take out Nephrite.
Usagi goes with Luna to Naru's house, but she can't build up the courage to go in. Usagi decides to go ask Motoki for advice, and goes to Game Center Crown. Motoki is helping out another girl at a game, causing her to go red with anger. Mamoru stands behind her, making fun of how irritated she’s getting.
Motoki, Mamoru, and Usagi go to a coffee shop, and she explains the situation. Motoki states she should let it go, but Mamoru insists on telling Naru the hard truth if she really cares about her friendship. Usagi becomes happy it's finally resolved, ordering a large dessert. The boys get scared about the cost, though she pays for it.
Usagi goes to OSA-P, badly explaining the truth about Sanjouin to Naru. She asks her to give up on him, running away before Naru can say anything or ask questions. That night she reflects on what Usagi said when she gets a phone call from him. After the phone call, Naru leaves immediately for the park.
At the park, Naru and Sanjouin are sitting on a bench. He says his last goodbye as he's being pursued by dangerous people, and doesn't want to get her mixed up in it. Naru who's tearing up, asks if there's anything she can do to help. Nephrite’s manipulation worked, and he suggests the Silver Crystal, though Naru is clueless to what it is. She then remembers one crystal that her mother showed her, which sparkles with a silver too. Naru asks him to wait and hurries back home, stealing the crystal from store’s safe and escaping when she's seen.
Usagi and Luna are on their way to Naru's house, in a hurry. They run into Naru's mother who's looking around on the street, calling out for her daughter and asking for help. She tells the two that Naru was last headed to meet a man. They go immediately when they hear Sanjouin's name mentioned as who she went to see. Naru hands the crystal to Nephrite, and he tests it eagerly though it doesn't respond. Naru becomes happy she could be of use to help out, when the Black Crystal starts responding.
Naru starts shining as a result of the Black Crystal's reaction, and Nephrite knows there's something special about her. He plans to take her somewhere, when Sailor Moon appears and tells Naru of his true identity. She can't believe what she's hearing, and argues that he's a kind person when he blasts Sailor Moon with his Starlight Attack. Sailor Moon starts crying, as she falls to the ground and tries to avoid the oncoming moves.
Just as he is going to attack again, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars arrive. They attack Nephrite with Bubble Spray and Fire Soul, though he easily evades both. Sailor Moon uses Moon Tiara Action, it heads towards Nephrite when Naru stands in the line of fire to protect him. Sailor Moon orders the attack to stop before she is obliterated. The Sailor Guardians demand to move out of the way, though Naru reveals she would sacrifice her life to save him because she's in love.
The Black Crystal starts flashing and Nephrite realises it also responds to her caring hearts and love. Zoisite's Youma appears, barrelling towards them in an attempt to steal it. Nephrite blasts the monster in order to protect Naru, and Sailor Moon finishes it off. He gives back the crystal that Naru gave him, as it isn't what he’s searching for. He declares, "The world will be in the hands of the Dark Kingdom if they get the Silver Crystal," before leaving.
International Dub Titles[]
- Brazilian Portuguese: Estrela Cadente, Proteja o Primeiro Amor de Naru ("Shooting Star, Protect Naru's First Love")
- European Portuguese: O Primeiro Amor da Sara ("Sara's First Love")
- French:
- TV: Premier amour ("First Love")
- DVD: Un vœu à une étoile filante ! L’amour pur de Naru. ("A Wish to a Shooting Star! Naru’s Pure Love.")
- German: Narus Erste Liebe ("Naru's First Love")
- Polish: Pierwsza miłość Naru ("Naru's First Love")
Changes[]
Changes from the Manga[]
Dub Changes[]
- In the English dub of this episode, Molly called Nephlite by his real name when she did not know what it was yet. In the original, she called him by his pseudonym, Sanjouin.
- The scene where Zoisite and Kunzite were having a conversation was completely cut from the Korean dub.
First Appearances[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This episode showed for the first time that Moon Tiara Action could be aborted in mid-flight. It was also the first time a human physically protected an enemy from a Sailor Senshi attack.
- Nephrite here uses a named attack, which are usually only reserved for Sailor Senshi and monsters-of-the-day (occasionally).