IN WHICH YUNI GOES FULL-ON CARMEN SANDIEGO

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 36
My Own Review
IN WHICH YUNI GOES FULL-ON CARMEN SANDIEGO

The thirty-sixth episode of Star ☆ Twinkle is one that puts Yuni – or more specifically, her alter-ego the Blue Cat – into the spotlight. A character who appears in the Star ☆ Twinkle film also makes her debut her, too.

Just Yuni chowing down on a doughnut

In this episode, Lala’s AI informs everyone that an octopoid alien mafia boss by the name of Don Octo Polpone has obtained a ring from the planet Rainbow. Yuni is determined to take it back, so she and the others sneak into Don Octo’s base. Besides the alien mafia, the Blue Cat also has to contend with an inspector from the Starscape Alliance.

Mary Anne

Making her debut in this episode is spaniel furry Starscape Police inspector, Mary Anne. She also appears in the upcoming Star ☆ Twinkle film, even pulling out a Miracle Light at one point. She’s on board Don Octo’s ship as a spy, but she dreams of pursuing bigger cases; such as catching the Blue Cat. Looks like Ayewan is not the only wan with Javertian ambitions surrounding our catgirl (ps. wan is also the onomatopoeia woof or ruff in Japanese).

The Fuwa Mafia

A lesson that this particular episode is very keen to teach is that stealing is bad. Remember your Eighth Commandment? The thing is, Yuni’s motivations for stealing back the ring from Don Octo are totally sound, and I’m on her side. 

Yuni manages to obtain the ring from Don Octo

Fortunately, Yuni is not deterred by her crew’s objections. I’m glad to see Yuni stick to her convictions, and even more so because that means we are getting to see more Blue Cat.

Don Octo captures Blue Cat and Mary Anne

Of course our Blue Cat has to deal with the mafia after stealing the ring from Don Octo, and the situation is only further complicated when Mary Anne reveals she is with the police. The mafia aren’t too happy about that, but the Blue Cat decides to help her out when she gets into trouble – doesn’t really work out for either of them in the end, though.

Don Octo Polpone is transformed by Tenjou

Can’t have an episode without the KNotraiders getting involved, and it is Tenjou who does so this time around. Of course, Mary Anne quickly discovers that Blue Cat is actually a PreCure following that.

Cosmos blushes as her friends praise her

The fight in this episode has its fair share of great moments. Soleil protecting Selene is one, but everyone just complimenting Cosmos is definitely the highlight; they all just say she is pretty much tsundere.

Cosmos’s goofy face here is great

After the fight, everything resolves itself in pretty typical PreCure fashion – though Yuni does tell the others she will steal if necessary. She’ll just make sure to not endanger everyone else.

This was a great episode of Star ☆ Twinkle, and that all pretty much comes down to Yuni. The previous episodes did maybe have a decent moment here or there, but this one is definitely an improvement.
It helps that I like Yuni a lot, so of course an episode that focuses on her is going to be one that I enjoy. The whole concept of it was fun though, and it was a pretty good introduction to one of the characters who shall be appearing in the upcoming film. Hopefully we’ll get a little more of the rivalry between Blue Cat and Mary Anne outside of the film as well.

Next time the fun looks set to continue as everyone dresses up for Halloween.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:

Not long ago I had a common cold and was bedridden with a fever, a runny nose, and a laptop on which to stream the whole Netflix Carmen Sandiego. What can I say? (Especially about PaperStar and Gunnar Malström...) Intrigue, excitement, edutainment, and a righteous heroine who, just like Yuni, steals from the corrupt in the name of higher causes.