My Review
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S SELF-ESTEEM
This summer's local fête (matsuri) is already prepared on a little island off the coast of Yumegahama, on the grounds of Noble Academy.
Have a shot for every time you see Seira Azuma in this episode.
THERE'S A FÊTE HERE TONIGHT... WANNA COME?
The eve of the fête. Haruka, Minami, and Yui are soon dressed in their kimonos.
YUI: I'm so excited that we are putting together a stand for the Yumegahama Fête!
Meanwhile, at the tennis court, three girls in kimonos watch Yuki, dressed in his tennis-playing suit but who can't play at all, nervously rubbing his right elbow as he frowns and frets.
The three girls look on with concern.
Then, the Big Evening arrives!
(SEIRA APPEARANCE I: 1 SHOT OF ABSOLUT VODKA DOWN)
HARUKA (over-impressed): Seira Azuma is so cool!!
Minami looks adorable in a kimono, even though Western lady dresses are more her style.
Meanwhile, Reiko Kisaragi is desperately trying (and failing) to ring in a Puff plushie to win it.
REIKO: Sigh!
*A wild Haruharu appeared!*
HARUKA; Kisaragi!
REIKO (shocked/startled): AAAAAHH!!!
HARUKA: Which one are you aiming for?
REIKO (hesitant): Um... that...
HARUKA: That Puff plushie?
PUFF (excited): Puff!
AROMA: It looks just like her!
YUI: I wonder who made it.
*A wild Mrs. Shirogane appeared!*
(No one expects Mrs. Shirogane!!! Her main weapon is surprise...)
MRS. SHIROGANE: I did it myself.
HARUKA, YUI, REIKO (surprised): Mrs. Shirogane!!
MRS. SHIROGANE: Students get one free try. Want to have a shot?
HARUKA (determined): Leave it to me!!
REIKO: :o Oh?
Haruka's ring successfully hits its target.
MRS. SHIROGANE (holding out the plushie): Our most sincere congratulations.
HARUKA: I'm good at the ring toss! (Giving Reiko the plushie, with a smile) Here you go.
REIKO (surprised): Gasp! Can I have it?
HARUKA (smiling, cheerful): Sure.
REIKO (elated): Thank you! (Her cheeks flush with joy as she holds the plushie)
YUI: That's great.
REIKO (stroking the real Puff's head): I'll take great care of it.
Somewhere else in the fête grounds, a photoshoot is taking place with Kirara and Towa as the models.
PHOTOGRAPHER: That's a wrap!
KIRARA: Thank you very much!
HARUKA: Towa's a model, too?
TOWA: Kirara invited me...
KIRARA: Her yukata (summer kimono) is perfect!
HARUKA: Yes!! It looks really pretty!
TOWA (blushing, shyly smiling): Really?
(Haruka looks around for a while, surprised by what she sees)
TOWA: What's the matter?
YUI: It's nothing, really. It's just that we are all here together even though we didn't plan it.
(Everyone giggles)
In the meantime, Yuki is wandering around the fête stands with his boy friends, playing with a bouncy water balloon. Suddenly, he bumps into Haruka, and his balloon bursts.
YUKI: Haruka!
HARUKA: Yu... Yuki!
YUKI (bowing to apologise): S-sorry...
HARUKA: Looks like I'm fine.
MINAMI (sternly, to the boys): Please refrain from activities that may bother those around you.
ALL THREE BOYS (bowing to apologise): I'm sorry.
RAVEN-HAIRED BOY (To Yuki, worried): Hey, we have to hurry.
KIRARA: What's going on?
RAVEN-HAIRED BOY: The Tennis Club is starting summer camp tomorrow.
AUBURN BOY (smile of embarrassment): We'll get scolded if we don't get back to our dorms. Right, Yuki?
(Yuki frowns.)
YUKI (slightly angered): We still have time!! (Smiling, excited): Isn't the fête more important right now? Let's play some more.
AUBURN BOY (shocked): What are you saying? (gradually flaring up) I understand how you feel, but you need to get yourself together!
RAVEN-HAIRED BOY (stepping in between the auburn boy and Yuki to make peace): Stop it. (To Yuki, who is still frowning) We two will be going back now. Don't stay out too late, okay? (To the auburn boy) Let's go.
AUBURN BOY: Okay.
(Both leave the fête in a hurry.)
HARUKA (worried): Yuki...
YUKI (turning around): What? (Smiling in an aloof manner) I guess you'll do.
YUKI (To Haruka, courteously): Let me treat you to something, since I got your yukata all wet. Let's enjoy the fête together!!
HARUKA (shocked): Eh!!??
TOWA, MINAMI, KIRARA, YUI: Eh!!??
They eat noodles...
...get brain freeze...
TOWA BEING SEXY (DOES SHE KNOW IT?)
A reviewer notes: "The rest of the episode is just fanservice since we get to see the girls in yukata.
Kirara and Towa are sexy!"
YUKI IN DIRE STRAITS - AND SHUT LOOKING UP
Yuki spots a shotgun stand.
YUKI: Shall we try the shooting game next?
HARUKA (worried): Yuki! (Pointing to the bandage.) What's that?
YUKI (ticked off): It's nothing!
HARUKA (worried): But...
*Three wild Fangirls appeared!*
Haruharu is shocked.
*No one expects the Yuki Aihara Fanclub Inquisition!*
SHORT-HAIRED FANGIRL (whispering in Haruka's ear): Do you have a minute?
All three spirit Haruharu away.
TOWA: Who are they?
YUI: They're Yuki's fanclub.
In a corner of the woodlands, the fangirls corner Haruka.
HARUKA: Uh... what's up?
FANGIRLS (Angry stare, coupled with frown, for a long time)
SHORT-HAIRED FANGIRL (determined, grabbing Haruka by the shoulders): Miss Haruno! Please save our Yuki!!
Haruka has flashbacks of Yuki being exceedingly passionate about his sport.
*YUKI (seriously, determined): I won't lose to anyone in tennis!*
HARUKA (thinking): Yuki's putting something else ahead of tennis...? That's weird. Did something happen?
All three fangirls nod.
*Flashback begins.*
Tennis court of Noble Academy. All three fangirls, dressed as cheerleaders, are cheering on Yuki with their pompoms.
FANGIRLS (unison, cheering): Go! Go! Yu-ki!!
*FANGIRL: During practice...*
Yuki slips on the floor and falls forwards.
FANGIRLS (shocked): Gasp!!
*FANGIRL: ...he got hurt.*
Yuki rises up, clutching his right elbow. All three fangirls look shocked on.
*End of flashback.*
HARUKA (shocked): The right elbow??
PIGTAILED FANGIRL: It wasn't anything major. (Pause.) But he was dropped from the first team. (Pause.) I think he's a bit bitter from that.
SHORT-HAIRED FANGIRL (pleading): Please! Cheer him up!! We can't rely on anyone else but you, Haruno!
HARUKA: I understand. I'm not very confident, but I'll do all I can.
FANGIRLS (elated, all three at unison): Thank you!!!
Yuki, still grumpy, looks at them from afar. He clears his throat loudly, getting their attention.
SHORT-HAIRED FANGIRL (whispering in Haruka's ear): Please!
HARUKA (nods, then runs towards Yuki, who is still brooding): Yu-Yuki!!!
YUKI (furious): MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!!!
Haruka, scared, darts off towards the fangirls.
HARUKA: Sorry, I don't think this will work.
FANGIRLS (shocked, all three at unison): So fast!!!
YUKI (determined, irate): Let me tell you all now!! Your support will lead to nothing good!!
All three fangirls are surprised.
SHORT-HAIRED FANGIRL: Th-that's not true!! Yuki, you're a first year on the first team!
PONYTAILED FANGIRL: That's really cool!
PIGTAILED FANGIRL: (nods twice, determined)
YUKI (irate): It's not cool at all!! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!!! (He turns his back on them and walks away with firm steps.)
Haruka and the fangirls, worried, look at one another.
In the same woods, someone else is brooding. Someone blond in a white top hat is sitting on a branch...
SHUT (weary): I'm tired from thinking. Twilight... Lock... (Determined) I need to rid myself of all thoughts and return to the beginning. (Pause.) Yes! Gathering despair for Her Highness Lady Dyspear is my greatest calling!! (Looking in the distance.) Huh?
Shut watches the three dejected cheerleaders walk across the clearing.
SHUT: Mmm... Those three... (Evil chuckle)
Shut hops off the branch in front of the three fangirls, who are startled to say the least.
The first multiple summon of a monster of the week in this series.
This is the first episode with a multiple victim, and I frigging love and adore the sentai episodes where there are twin or triplet monsters of the week to fight.
The cheerleaders' dream, which is the same for all three:
"Go! Go! Yu-ki!!"
SHUT: So all three of you share the same dream. (Pause.) This is a great chance to gather despair.
SHUT YOUR DREAM!! (Shouldn't it be "SHUT YOUR DREAMS", in plural? OK, it's the "YOUR" that is plural. The dream is shared by all three.)
When the three desporgs are created and the three girls Shut in the same Despair Prison, the level of red liquid despair in the Gauge rises to fill half of it.
SHUT: As expected from three people. Their despair is off the charts.
TOWA (irate): Shut!!
SHUT (shocked): Twilight!! (Frantically shaking his head.) No, no! I must think of nothing!
All four Cures transform subsequently:
PRECURE PRINCESS ENGAGE!
YUKI'S HOPES REVIVED
Post-transformation...
SHUT: So you're here, Princess Precures.
The desporgs being three, the Cures (four) are evenly matched.
Meanwhile, at a certain distance from the frontline, Yuki Aihara is sitting on a stump and brooding.
Suddenly, Cure Flora is violently thrown by a desporg into the clearing where he is sitting... and he recognizes her from the moment he came to after being purified.
A desporg comes towards the two of them, but Cure Mermaid quickly pins her to the ground.
YUKI (startled): Now a blue one?
CURE MERMAID: Cure Flora, please take care of him.
CURE FLORA (determined): Got it! (She takes Yuki up in a bridal carry and hops away from the frontline with him in her arms.)
As Cure Scarlet and the others confront the desporgs in a three-versus-three fight, Cure Flora is left tête-à-tête with Yuki in the clearing.
CURE FLORA: Run away quickly! (She rushes back to the frontline.)
YUKI: Wait! You saved me once before, right?
Cure Flora stops.
CURE FLORA: Uh... That's...
YUKI: You're Cure Flora, right?
CURE FLORA: Yes... (Running back to the frontline.) I'm sorry! I've got to go!
YUKI (Running after her): Wait! I'm not finished!
CURE FLORA: Why are you following me!?
In the meantime, the tide turns for the desporgs and the other three increasingly curb-stomped Cures. It appears that even Cure Scarlet is helpless. (Which is no good omen...)
Thus, Cure Flora rushes back to the frontline with Yuki Aihara in tow... An expansive wave from the desporgs' attack pins the young student to the ground, making him scream in pain.
Yet he gets up again, groaning and clutching his right elbow...
CURE FLORA (concerned): Does your injury hurt?
YUKI: It's nothing. (Pause.) Why do you fight those things?
CURE FLORA (at first surprised): We... We want to protect everyone's dreams. Something like that?
YUKI (surprised): Dreams?
CURE FLORA: (nods) We're not that amazing.
YUKI (determined): You are!! You are like real heroes!!
CURE FLORA: I... I guess so. (Pause.) This is a bit weird, Yuki, being praised by you.
YUKI (surprised): Huh?
YUKI: I see. That's why you saved me too. Dreams, huh? Sorry, but I think you wasted work on me.
CURE FLORA: Huh?
YUKI (stripping his right sleeve): Due to this injury...
*Flashback begins*
YUKI (determined) Coach!! Let me play in the next tournament!!
COACH (sternly): NO!!
COACH (sternly): You have to rest until you are completely healed!
*End of flashback*
YUKI (in the same frustrated mood): I can't play in the next tournament. What's the point of me being here at camp then?
CURE FLORA: But there will be more tournaments, right? So you still have more chances, right?
The coach has probably got something in mind.
YUKI (coldly): You, too?
CURE FLORA: Huh?
YUKI (irate): Everyone's saying the same thing! None of you understand how I feel!! (Pause.) I finally made it to the first team! I wanted to make myself even better! I want to become a pro tennis player quickly! And yet I am stuck here!! It's embarrassing!!
CURE FLORA (gently): You're right. It's embarrassing. (Sternly, anger increasing.) Right now, Yuki, you are so lame!!
YUKI: Huh?
CURE FLORA (ranting, loudly and passionately): You're feeling so down just because you can't enter a single tournament!? I have lots of things that don't pan out, too!! But I'm here because I have the support of all my friends!! Yuki, why don't you take a look at the people around you!? So many people are worried about you! They all want you to cheer up! I can't allow you to just ignore all of that!! (Pause.) I've got to go!
As she saunters off towards the frontline, Yuki is left alone once more.
YUKI: You have the support of all your friends?
*Flashbacks to the coach forbidding Yuki to enter the tournament, to the other two male students at the fête, to the three cheerleaders waving their pompoms.*
Rising up, he realizes and steels himself, burying his head in between his hands in shock.
YUKI (shocked): I'm so uncool!!!
With Cure Flora back on the front, the Cures have got advantage over the desporgs once more. Suddenly, a stone thrown with a slingshot hits all three desporgs unawares, shattering their attack formation.
Cure Flora turns around to see Yuki with a slingshot in hand.
CURE FLORA: Gasp! Yuki!
YUKI (confidently): Someone as weak as that can be taken care of with my weaker hand! (He shows that he fired the slingshot with his left hand, then smiles and gives thumbs up with the right one.)
The Cures thank Yuki for his unexpected aid.
*Scarlet Violin!
You know the whole desporg purification drill by now.*
SHUT: But my goal has been met today. (Looks at the half-filled gauge) Goodbye!! (He disappears into the keyhole portal once more.)
Yuki smiles as he sees the Cures vanish into an outburst of petals, leaving him with the unconscious fangirls.
YUKI: Where did they go?
The fête still goes on...
*Second appearance of Seira Azuma! (playing the drums at night)
Down with another shot of Absolut!*
In the clearing, the fangirls come to and see Yuki standing before them!
FANGIRLS (all three, unison): Yuki!!
YUKI (sincere): Sorry about that. I'm going back now. I have to get some rest so I can make it to the camp's meeting time. (He turns his back on them and leaves.)
SHORT-HAIRED FANGIRL: Um, Yuki. (In response, he stops and turns around.) I think you're really cool when you're playing in a tournament. (Getting excited) But I think you are the coolest when you are doing your very best for tennis!
Yuki is astonished. Speechless.
PONYTAILED FANGIRL: When you're running or picking up loose balls...
PIGTAILED FANGIRL: ...just watching you gets our spirits up.
SHORT-HAIRED FANGIRL: So please, can we keep cheering you on?
YUKI: It's embarrassing just cheering for me. Support everyone else as well.
FANGIRLS (all three, unison): Okay!
The Cures watch by, smiling, as they hear the sound of fireworks.
On his own, Yuki wanders through the woods...
YUKI: Oh yeah, how did Cure Flora know about me? Even my injury, too. (He thrusts his head on his hand to think, then looks up to the fireworks in the night sky.) Oh well.
The ending card shows all of the Keys discovered so far.
MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION
Though Haruyuki is not my OTP for this series (as you regular readers know), I liked this episode as far as I adore the whole series so far. Honestly, I think there was a con and a pair of pros to this summer episode.
The only con: The victim of the week was NOT my favourite muggle character Seira Azuma, but rather a trio of random Yuki fangirls, who are also his cheerleaders.
The pros:
1) The cheerleaders. This is the first episode with a multiple victim, and I frigging love and adore the sentai episodes where there are twin or triplet monsters of the week to fight (the last episode had the first animal victim).
2) Yuki. Nice to see the prince of Noble Academy receiving some character development. Here, he is obviously worried about his future, about his career as the next Roland Garros. There we have the rare kind of career-oriented young person seen in this kind of fiction (more examples: Kirara from this very show, Becca from the Waterfire Saga, Applejack in MLP:FIM). The fact that he obsessed about what he believed to be a career-ending injury and the shattering of his dreams reminds me of Jaime Lannister after his right hand is severed. And so did his use of the left hand, I was thinking the same all along. "The way Yuki is suffering... and that use of his "bad" left hand... it's like Jaime freaking Lannister!") Luckily, it turned out not to be the career-ending injury he feared (but giving him a prosthetic limb would turn him into the badass muggle of this 'verse).
3) Seira. As I said before, a shame she is not the victim of the week, but she still displays her bifauxnen charms as she plays the drums constantly during the fête. Have a shot for every time she plays the drums!
4) Towa being sexy. I knew Kirara was sexy from her first appearance, but I thought Towa was more innocent (I didn't expect that Spanish Inquisition!), though also petite, shy, and what in Belle Époque France was called a "fruit vert". And yes, now it's revealed that she's got pointed elf ears in this form as well.
5) SHUT. Realizing to whom he really owes loyalty, even though Lock may have become no longer his rival, but his real enemy, after discovering Shut's allegiance. Love the way his character arc is unfurling. Seems like he will be killed off for real in an episode soon... The gauge is now half-full, which means Dyspear will return soon and the day of reckoning for Shut and Lock will arrive...
Pros: Shut speechless seeing a Yukata clothed Towa, Never Changed.
POSTLUDE: SHUT'S REALIZATION... WHAT WILL IT MEAN?
SHUT (weary): I'm tired from thinking. Twilight... Lock... (Determined) I need to rid myself of all thoughts and return to the beginning. (Pause.) Yes! Gathering despair for Her Highness Lady Dyspear is my greatest calling!!
In stating his allegiance is to Dyspear, Shut has surely made an enemy in Lock. Now his character arc has reached another turning point, which may surely mean that Shut will die in the finale of this story arc (just a theory.) And that he will be either killed by Lock or the twins in clone trooper helmets.
Which means that the power struggles between the Dysdarks are now as intense as those in Westeros, more or less...
And it also appears that, no matter how much he steels himself, his love for Twilight is a die-hard weed in the garden of Shut's mind...
TOWA (irate): Shut!!
SHUT (shocked): Twilight!! (Frantically shaking his head.) No, no! I must think of nothing!
Will love or duty prevail in there? The answer is still hanging in the air.
Here are some other fans' theories:
Shut will have a Heel-Face Turn.
- Or it could be a case of Love Redeems.
Cure Scarlet will Mercy Kill Shut.
He's losing it as of Episode 27 and now holds a grudge toward Towa. Towa, on the other hand, seems to have something towards him (not love) since she's now the first to say Shut's name whenever he appears and has a shocked look on her face whenever she sees him.
What about these theories? It seems far more plausible that Tyrion is a half-Targaryen. So we'll have to wait some more and watch the events unfurl on screen...
IN NEXT EPISODE (EP 28)...
The Cures go down to the seaside. Yes, this is the beach episode of the series (after the fireworks episode, the sick episode, and the matsuri/summer fête episode, we have yet another stock scenario for the filler):
Towa is super strong when it comes to volleyball.
On land, on terra firma, she has as much fun as you please.
But Towa can't swim at all, and she's hiding this flaw of hers as a secret from the others... Will she overcome this hurdle?
In the trailer, we also see Lock project a creepy-looking dementor shadow (is he in league with R'hllor?), which may have something to do with his agenda... The shadow is triple, with Lock's one own in the middle and other two in profile at the ends... which means that "Shock" and "Barrel" (my provisional fan-nicknames for the generals in clone trooper helmets) may be part of him. (After all, Aguri and Regina were the light and darkness of the same person).
Besides, I expect both "Shock" and "Barrel", or at least one of them, to be female!
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