Learning that his allies mean to pull back, Rubeus turns to reckless tactics in his hunt for Chibiusa. His gamble pays off in the worst way for the heroes, as he manages to seize the Sailor Guardians themselves.
Summary
Word of the planned retreat pushes Rubeus into more desperate measures, driving him to intensify his campaign against Chibiusa. Rather than continue trading blows, he escalates until he succeeds in capturing the Sailor Guardians and carrying them off.
Key Events
The abduction reshapes the balance of the arc, stripping the team of its members through Rubeus's aggressive scheme. The manga stages the same fall very differently, spacing out the captures of Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter across separate chapters, sparing Venus entirely, and having the Ayakashi Sisters aid in the roundup.
In that version the seized Guardians are taken to Nemesis in the future, and Esmeraude surfaces far earlier, at the very start of the Black Moon storyline.
Notes
The 27th episode of the second season debuted in Japan on November 6, 1993, and reached North America as "Rubeus Evens the Score" on November 30, 1998. It carries lasting significance as the first fresh episode to premiere within Cartoon Network's Toonami block, the payoff of the fan-led "Save Our Sailors" campaign that revived the dub after cancellation.
The revival brought several recast voices, since the original performers were unavailable: Vincent Corazza took over Darien and Tuxedo Mask, while Emilie Barlow stepped into the role of Rei. Because of the rushed schedule, every Sailor Says segment through the end of the season reused footage from earlier episodes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the Sailor Guardians in this episode?
In "A UFO Appears: The Sailor Guardians Abducted," learning that his allies plan to retreat pushes Rubeus into more desperate tactics, and he manages to capture the Sailor Guardians and carry them off.
Who is Rubeus and what is he trying to do in this episode?
Rubeus is a villain hunting Chibiusa who escalates his aggressive scheme once he hears of a planned retreat, culminating in the Sailor Guardians' capture.
How does the manga handle this same story differently?
In the manga, the captures of Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter are spaced across separate chapters, Venus is spared entirely, and the Ayakashi Sisters help round up the Guardians, who are taken to Nemesis in the future.
Why is this episode significant for the English dub?
This episode was the first fresh episode to air on Cartoon Network's Toonami block, the payoff of the fan-led "Save Our Sailors" campaign that revived the dub after cancellation, and it brought recast voices like Vincent Corazza as Tuxedo Mask.
What is the US dub title of this episode?
The episode aired in North America as "Rubeus Evens the Score" on November 30, 1998.
Sources & Information
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View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Dragon Ball anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
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