IN WHICH IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE SNAKE LADY SINGS

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 48 (Series Finale)
My Own Review

https://prettycure.fandom.com/wiki/STPC48/Image_Gallery

IN WHICH IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE SNAKE LADY SINGS

Well now, looks like I was wrong about episode forty-eight being the last one. So, here’s one more episode review of Star ☆ Twinkle. Getting to this point involved a sacrifice, but things aren’t over just yet.

A good villain doesn’t stay down for long

In this episode, the Ophiuchus Princess comes back after what was supposed to be her defeat. There is little anyone can do as the thirteenth princess completes her ritual, and darkness consumes the entire universe.

the others can only look on as the Ophiuchus Princess returns

So it turns out what happened in the previous episode was not enough for peace to be brought back to the universe. This leaves the Ophiuchus Princess free to continue with her own plan, and nobody can stop her. A rare instance of an overlord/overlady antagonist actually being able to carry out their objective.

Even lost in darkness, Lala will find Hikaru

So all that’s left in the end is darkness, but perhaps there is a faint glimmer of hope. Also, Lala finding Hikaru in the darkness with those electric feelers – that’s such a great moment. Of course, the other girls are there as well, but I’m thinking of views from a Hikala perspective her.

Hikaru sings one last time

With this episode, it also becomes perhaps a little clearer as to why they opted to have the girls singing during the transformation theme. Their rendition of the transformation theme in the cold black void is beautiful. Usually it is such a happy, bouncy theme, but it works really well as a slower tune.

If the Ophiuchus Princess can make a comeback, so can PreCures

As anyone who was seen Symphogear can tell you, music is the perhaps the most powerful force in the universe. So much so, that our Cure company return in super forms ready to fight the Ophiuchus Princess.

There’s so many great moments in this fight

The all-PreCures vs. Princess Ophiuchus fight is absolutely superb. It looks so good, though it definitely needs to be seen in motion. Screenshots won’t do it justice, so you’ll either have to watch it yourself or just take my word for it. So good!
The end of the fight takes a cue from the Dragon Ball franchise, though that wouldn’t be the first time the PrettyCure franchise has done that.

Cure Milkyway will support Cure Star’s decision

After the battle, Cure Star has a choice to make. It is not an easy one, but the other girls are willing to support her regardless of what she goes through with.

Oh, so Star ☆ Twinkle is just going to stab me right through my heart, huh? Thanks…

If you feel that perhaps the end of this episode invokes certain events from towards the end of Mahou Girls (namely the leave-taking of muggleborn Mirai and mageborn Riko at the end of the series!), let me just say that Star ☆ Twinkle has the same writer. Man, they really want to make their audience shed tears with this episode, huh?

An utterly fantastic episode, that certainly invoked a range of mixed emotions. There was just so much great stuff going on here, and we still have one episode to go. Can’t help but feel we might be headed towards an ending very similar to Mahou Girls for the Hikala pairing, but I guess we’ll have to see.

Going by past seasons, it is likely that we’ll be seeing a very important debut in the next episode. Knowing that Aoi Yuuki voices the lead Cure is only making me look forward to Healin’ Good♡ even more.

Before that, though, we have one final episode of Star ☆ Twinkle (combining both the where-are-they-now epilogue and the segue into next season in one single 20-minute installment!), and I’ll have a review to write, as well as a serious think about how I’d rank this season among all the others.

IN WHICH THE 13TH STAR PRINCESS REVEALS...

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 47
My Own Review - Series Finale
IN WHICH THE 13TH STAR PRINCESS REVEALS...

https://prettycure.fandom.com/wiki/STPC47/Image_Gallery INSERT ALL SHOTS OF THE STAR PRINCESSES AND AYEWAN/YUNI (AYUNI) INTERACTIONS FROM THIS EP IN THIS FINALE REVIEW



We’ve more or less come to the end of our time with Star ☆ Twinkle, as we have only two episodes left – and I’ll be writing a review for the show after the last one. Things tend to get pretty spectacular during the final few episodes of any season of PrettyCure, so lets see if Star ☆ Twinkle continues that trend.

Hikaru and company check on the KNotraiders

After taking Fuwa captive in the previous episode, the Ophiuchus Princess starts a ritual with the intent of destroying the universe. PreCures and the Starscape Alliance join forces with the KNotraiders in order to bring a halt to the thirteenth princess’ plans.
When they confront her, our sheroes discover that protecting the universe comes at a cost.

The Ophiuchus Princess

This episode is effectively made up of two parts. The first has the others interacting with the hospitalised KNotraiders, whereas the second is the confrontation against the Ophiuchus Princess.

Ayewan & Yuni

 I heard you stopped all of us 'raiders from going berserk...

 There's no need to thank you, Jo.

 Aún así, gracias, Nena. De todo corazón.

(¿Qué? ¿Por qué?)

On the front, Tenjou decides to help Soleil

We get some nice little moments between the KNotraiders and members of PreCure ensemble; each good counterpart with their respective evil counterpart. Elena’s chat with Tenjou is one moment that carries over nicely from their prior interactions, and we get even more Yuni & Ayewan (or Eye-wan, whatever you prefer) interactions. Lots of chemistry between good counterparts and their respective evil counterparts -- also Ayuni is the new Valvert, isn't it?

 Trying to get something to open

 Yuni judges Ayewan's taste in designing

HOW DARE YOU CRITICIZE ME?!

Yuni tells Ayewan there's a trick to opening that

Meow! (*wink*)

Ayewan blushes and looks away

Ayewan tells Cosmos that she won't lose this time

The newfound alliance with the KNotraiders is not something that people readily accept, but there isn’t really any other options due to the circumstances.

PreCures and allies heading straight towards the final battle

This episode of Star ☆ Twinkle is also one that is most certainly playing up its sci-fi aspect, and I can appreciate that. I’d say I something about expecting someone to pull out a lightsaber, but Kappard has that covered.

We get a few still frames of shots that perhaps could have been animated…

Don’t expect too much from the KNotraiders, by the way. All they’re doing is simply clearing a path to allow PreCures to get to the Ophiuchus Princess. Kind of a shame, but I guess someone has to take a hit with what part of this episode is providing.

PreCures ready to confront the Ophiuchus Princess

So yeah, quite a bit of this episode is actually just exposition delivered by the Ophiuchus Princess. She goes into the origin of Star Twinkle Imagination, and how the universe came to exist. Basically, the creation of the Star*Twinkleverse by its thirteen physical goddesses is delved upon in detail. Of course, her ultimate goal is also revealed as well. SO THERE IS MORE TO HER AGENDA???

Gemini and Cancer giving up their some of their power to create imagination in the universe

Apparently the 12 official Star Princesses, as they created this universe, they granted imagination as a gift to all its sapient species, hoping to see their creativity used in wonderful and prosperous ways. And, much like Zeus hated Prometheus for giving fire to us puny naked apes, Ophiuchus was against giving imagination, let alone cognitive thought, to living creations of her kin, expecting the worst outcomes instead of hoping for the best; in Ophiuchus' own words, believing that it could be misused and disturb the proper order that all thirteen had worked so hard/given their all (ganbare) to maintain; not to mention catastrophes as a consequence of free will.

AND WHAT WILL YOU TWELVE DO IF THEIR FREE WILL BECOMES TWISTED?

And, to be fair, she wasn't wrong, as the KNotraider cadres would later approve (viz, Kappard's species dying of thirst due to extravagant water expenditure - Ayewan living in squalour or want as a streetrat - Tenjou suffering discrimination due to not fitting into the beauty canon of her species).

Ophiuchus tells the Cures that the Star Princesses granted everyone imagination

Understandably, Ophiuchus wasn't convinced by what the other twelve were trying to sell, ie that those with pure imagination will purify those who are twisted - and, to right things out, they all decided to just seal her away.

Ophiuchus forced out of the Star Palace

So even if she did bring up some good arguments, Ophiuchus's twelve fellow deities didn't hear her out. Thus, the Star Princesses pretty much created their worst enemy in the process. Thus she has a body count of at least trillions if not much more. Like Nietzsche said, those who fight monsters become monsters themselves.

Fuwa makes a move when PreCures can’t

This exposition culminates in the Ophiuchus Princess revealing that a sacrifice will have to be made to put a halt to her plans. This shakes the others into inaction, so Fuwa takes it upon herself to actually get something done.

Our Little Pony, you see, contains the 50% of imagination the Star Princesses had left within themselves after they sent the other half to sapient species across the Star*Twinkle universe. And Ophiuchus needed all of that power within Fuwa to hard-reset the universe. Meanwhile, the dozen Princesses wanted to use Fuwa and the Twinkle Imagination to permanently defeat Ophiuchus next time - the Star Princesses are trying to erase her for the good of the universe. Doing so would get rid not only of the villainess, but of Fuwa as well in a mutual kill. No strange that the Cures waver in the face of sending their sacrificial unicorn to the slaughter; even though the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Fuwa’s decision results in… well, that’s something for the next episode. While everyone else is wavering, she uses the power of the Princesses to annihilate Darknest/Ophiuchus, but perishing herself in the process.

I feel that perhaps this episode could have been a little lighter on the exposition, perhaps give more chances for the KNotraiders to shine in battle.
Overall, though, I would say this was a good episode. PreCures, Starscape law enforcement, Star Princesses, and their former enemies charge into battle against a great evil to save Fuwa – it definitely sounds good when it is summed up. Gondor calls for aid, and Rohan replies. Even though Fuwa, like the One Ring, has to be reduced to nothing at the end of the day...

I believe the next episode is the final one, so I’ll have a review out for Star ☆ Twinkle, and I’ll have to think about where this season fits into my ranking of every season/continuity of Pretty Cure franchise.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:

At last we got to see what the thirteenth Star Princess's real game was, and I have to agree that all well-intentioned extremists who preach about the evils of free will are somehow right. Though, even if the WIE in question is lawful good, it calls to mind that, like Nietzsche said, those who fight monsters become monsters themselves.

The highlight of this episode was definitely the tale of the Star Princesses, told in flashback. I really adored the moral quandary that results from it - I like how, through the villains of this show, we've seen how free will can be used in the best and worst of ways, giving credence to their side. I wished I was a little more invested in said villains (the backstory I identified the most with was Tenjou's, having suffered from bullying in the flesh - but Kappard's or Ayewan's were a tad removed from personal experience).

A Clockwork Orange - the titular metaphor explained by Alistair Murden:
If a person is able only to do good, like Alex de Large post-brainwashing, they become like a clockwork orange: ostensibly a living fruit but inside full of cold metal, lifeless, unable to slake anyone's thirst - and a tin toy or timepiece that can only move upon being wound up by higher powers, be them gods or fates or the police state (the last being the case of Alex).

SSSUSSPICIONSS ABOUT DARKNESSST CONFIRMED

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 46
Series Finale First Part
My Own Review

SSSUSSPICIONSS ABOUT DARKNESSST CONFIRMED

Here we are at the start of the final act of Star☆ Twinkle. Episode forty-six is the beginning of the end, and it has quite a bombshell to drop. Tsar Bomba-sized, actually. It is a rare case of Toei actually not spoiling a surprise (I think), though I had it spoiled for me on Twitter anyway…
Well, whatever, let’s just dive in.

The conversation at the Star Palace is interrupted by some unwelcome visitors

In this episode,  the others meet with the Star Princesses at the Star Palace, who are prepared to start a ritual that will bring peace to the universe. However, the arrival of the cadre KNotraiders puts a stop to that, and they are accompanied by Darknest.

The armour twists their imaginations

One of the first things I want to highlight in this episode is the soundtrack. The electric guitars come out as the KNotraiders lead an assault on the Star Palace, and I am all about that kind of thing. HARD ROCK HALLELUJAH!! (headbanging)
PreCures’ enemies aren’t exactly fighting of their own will, as Darknest is twisting their imagination so they are beyond control. It results in Cure Star, Cure Milkyway, and allies having a rough time holding their own.

The Cures react to Darknest’s reveal

There’s some use of repeated animation as the 'raiders attempt to destroy the barrier protecting the Star Palace, which perhaps could have been used for something a little more visually interesting. The use of a siege/storming in the climax with the sheroes as the defenders of the beleaguered place was also amped up (the Bastille was stormed to Ça ira and La Marseillaise, and ever since every good storming needs a soundtrack to encourage the attacking side!!)
On the subject of interesting, Darknest sheds the armour in this episode. And what liessss beneath the cobra cowl issss both ssssomething exxpected and a ssssurprissse...

Darknest’s true appearance

Darknest reveals herself to be the thirteenth Star Princess: the Ophiuchus Princess. Back towards the beginning of this season, I did wonder if Ophiuchus would be incorporated in some way. I guess the whole snake motif should have really given that one away…

Tsundere Ayewan

The Ophiuchus Princess reveals her ultimate goal, which leads to the KNotraiders attempting to turn against her. She possesses incredible power, though, so that doesn’t happen – not without some interference from PreCures, at least.

The Ophiuchus Princess takes advantage of the exhausted PreCures

PreCures may be able to live up to their proclamation of protecting the KNotraiders, but that just gives the Ophiuchus Princess the opportunity she needs to move closer to her goal. Unfortunately, our old friends and their new allies are left with little choice but to take a tactical retreat.

Though the thirteenth Ssssstar Princessssss hasssss already taken Fuwa for ssssinissster purpossssesss...

This episode was really good. I approve of Darknest’s reveal. I presume the PreCure ensemble will manage to redeem her next time, but I hope they do so through the medium of a good old brawl.
Soundtrack was superb in this episode, as I’ve already stated, and it was a joy to see Ayewan lend her aid to Cure Cosmos. I mean, the cyclopette and the catgirl have been playing catch-me-if-you-can throughout their character arcs and this point with snap-out-of-it-ness and the brainwashed-and-crazy factor from one of them ... kind of made me think of when Valjean freed Javert from the revolutionaries - cue existential crisis on a bridge meters above the Seine - cue plunge. Only that Ayewan fortunately didn't even stride towards the deep end of the pool.

I’m expecting good things from the next episode, as we get to the final battle.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION...
So... our sssserpentine sssussspicionsss about Darknessssst and the thirtheenth sssssign of the wessssstern zzzzzodiac were confirmed... even though we didn't expect Darknest's real self to be female under that cobra cowl. An imposing physique and a deep contralto were all it took for us to draw a foregone conclusion... and this was a pleasant surprise indeeeeeeed!!
That also makes the youkai she is inspired by, or rather that she inspired among humans, in the KnotRaider youkai lineup the orochi --kappa, tengu, ao oni, cyclops, and neko are all usual suspects,but the orochi is a hydra-like Lovecraftian abomination (check out my mukashibanashi on orochi for more info and agree that it's scary) that fortunately has eight weak heads for strong drink. So what are the Cures going to do to defeat Darknest... get her wasted?

As I’ve already stated, it was a joy to see Ayewan lend her aid to Cure Cosmos. I mean, the cyclopette and the catgirl have been playing catch-me-if-you-can throughout their character arcs and this point with snap-out-of-it-ness and the brainwashed-and-crazy factor from one of them ... kind of made me think of when Valjean freed Javert from the revolutionaries - cue existential crisis on a bridge meters above the Seine - cue plunge. Only that Ayewan fortunately didn't even stride towards the deep end of the pool.

We also got some background about Purunce being not the only one of his species... and all the others being sent by the Star Princesses to a safe haven, while only he stayed behind to stand guard...

DARKNEST'S REAL AGENDA/BACKSTORY: Having worked with the other Princesses to create this universe (which makes all 13 of them physical goddesses!), she viewed their creation as a failed project because it was filled with too much imagination - which is obviously inevitable if life is allowed to develop. Thus, she resolved to just destroy it all! She had even begun the process in recruiting the cadres and, in some of their cases like Garuogre and Kappard -and maybe Ayewan- taking up GENOCIDE in order to traumatise and subsequently recruit the sole survivors of those worlds! Let's face the facts: the Ophiuchus Princess has a body count of trillions, or even more. And those victims aren't coming back, all because this snaky lady didn't like how her art project turned out. Tempting to draw parallels with the totalitarian dictators of the last century, right?

Now I listen to Parcast podcasts about fictional villains and real-life con tricksters. Alistair Murden's velvet voice and RP British accent are perfect for bedtime storytime tucked under the covers. He seems to have a background in psychology, and gives some great analyses of psychopaths like the Joker or Alex de Large or Norman Bates or the cast of No Country for Old Men. I can't wait for Alistair to dissect Iago, because his motives and intentions always slip like fish between our fingers and he (Iago, NOT Alistair) says at the end of the play that he'll nevermore breathe word about his agenda. But now back to Darknest's motive-hunting. Now Alistair Murden says that males are more likely to be psychopaths and/or violent by nature, and females to be ditto by nurture - he does very few episodes about women; but still, being a physical goddess who manifested herself ex nihilo from the primordial chaos of the Star*Twinkle universe, Darknest has little to no nurture, parental figures, education... and, with all the power that divinity entails added to her inherent perfectionism and obsession with control, a cosmic-horror entity intent on wiping out life because of its sheer entropy and freedom has carte blanche to do whatever she pleases.
Only a ragtag band of sheroes stand between her intentions and their coming to fruition.

IN WHICH LORD DARKNEST STEALS CHRISTMAS

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure

Episode 44 - My Own Review

IN WHICH LORD DARKNEST STEALS CHRISTMAS


Christmas is approaching, and as such Star ☆ Twinkle is giving us a festive episode. The Cures are not alone in enjoying the wintry cheer, as a couple of new unexpected guests show up. One of them isn’t exactly getting into the festive spirit, though.

Lala and Yuni get to experience Christmas for the first time in forever

Christmas is upon us in this episode of Star ☆ Twinkle, which ends up with the Cures discovering the one responsible for delivering presents is an alien Jack Frost/Elvis impersonator. Thus the others end up helping to deliver presents, but an attack from the enemy threatens to cancel Christmas.

A Santanian

Whilst there is some nice stuff coming from PreCures delivering presents (as they do every continuity because the giftgiver --always Saint Nick, never the Seven Gods on a Boat of traditional Shinto lore!-- suffers an occupational hazard), I’d say that the main draw of this episode is something that comes up a little later on. Before getting to that, there are a few moments worth mentioning.

Christmas Cures

Of course, delivering presents means that the others have to dress up for the occasion. Hikaru’s twin Santa hat thing is interesting. For the most part, the present delivery goes unhindered – though there is a child or two or three who now believe that Santa Claus is a catgirl. That would be an improvement over the jolly old fat bloke, if you ask me. And to top it all, we musical and classic literature nerds are intending to watch Cats on silver screen as the icing on the Christmas cake!! Yuni would DEFINITELY also sign in on that plan...

Another Elena x Madoka moment (YEAH 4 MORE SOLUNA!!)

We get a nice little nod to Elena’s development over the past few episodes. Seems that she and Madoka could end up following similar paths; hopefully they’ll do so together.

Darknest attacks

The main event from this episode has to be Darknest actually fighting the Cures (another thing that happens every winterval in every continuity has to be the overlord finally getting off his throne!). He is after Fuwa, of course, but it does look a lot like he is just asking for a hug the way he reaches out…

PreCures vs. Darknest

For the first time in Star ☆ Twinkle, the main antagonist steps up to battle PreCures (ut supra, another thing that happens every winterval in every continuity has to be the overlord finally getting off his throne!). Got to give props to Cure Soleil for leading the attack on Darknest, even if it doesn’t go quite as she hoped.

Cure Star vs. Darknest

The fight against Darknest is pretty enjoyable, and the first part even foregoes the usual stock footage attacks. Not so much for the second part, though, where everyone gets to use one of their stock footage attacks, followed by the usual finishing move.
There is a surprise at the end of the battle, but all I say is that this particular fight is most likely a hint of things to come.

So the Christmas plot was your pretty typical PrettyCure festive episode, but things certainly took a turn for the interesting with Darknest just showing up. That resulted in an enjoyable battle.
So, overall, a good Christmas episode.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:

Ladies and gentlemen and adolescents of every gender and larvae of all stages of the jury, exhibit A. Lord Darknest wears a cowl themed after a cobra hood. As well as a pretty reptilian design on his belly, and fangs framing his overshadowed face.

This seems to confirm the well-thought-of theory that he might be the thirteenth and only male Star Prince, the one of Ophiuchus! You know, the serpent sign in between Scorpio and Sagittarius that got pruned off due to triskaidekaphobia and caused quite a stir last decade? Plus, Ophiuchus is known as "hebitsukai", literally "snake charmer," in Japanese, and what kind of reptiles do these performers use the most during their animal acts? (Cobras, of course!)

Ophiuchus in Zodiac Dancers, Star Darlings, and Romina Russell's Zodiac: of course in more than one Western Zodiac-themed franchise, the thirteenth sign had to pop up as the wild card. In the 12DP short story retelling "Zodiac Dancers," he is also the only male, thirteenth dancing prince, who seduces his sisters to entrap them in the underworld and have them wear out their shoesoles each and every night. In Star Darlings, albino Ophelia is a sixth... well, thirteenth ranger who replaces aloof punk-goth girl Scarlett (Scorpio) temporarily. In Romina Russell's Zodiac books, Ophiuchus or Ocus/Ochus for short is a major catalyst that underpins everything (NO spoilers here!!).