I have to say, I watched Sailor Moon as a child, and I can still remember the premier of episode one in the USA, and I was only 4 at the time to boot.
I think I fell in love with Serena instantly and watching her probably changed my life because I grew up to have much in common with her.
It was actually a really great for start of the series, it could have been more high school centered or had some romance in it, but I loved it just the way it was.
The English Sub was actually better in my opinion, sometimes that isn't the case, but it is this time. I think it is because of the shopping and friendship conversations. I was able to relate to a shopper but not to someone who thought Sailor V was real.