IMPORTANT HAPPINESS CHARGE NEWS

This week, in the Happiness-Charge-Precure-verse, there has been an event that confirmed one of my worst fears when it comes to the series's premise:

Spain has fallen into the clutches of the Empire.
We don't know if the economic crisis is rampant in the Happiness-Charge-Precure-verse Iberian Peninsula, but we have witnessed the Phantom Hunter defeating the resident Cure (Cure Matador)!
Which is connected to both of these events:

• In the Happiness-Charge-Precure-verse, Sweden and the other Northern countries remain free and protected by their respective Cures... so far (and we're counting our fictional blessings).
• In the real world, Spaniards are recovering from the crisis and cheering on La Roja for this summer's long-expected footie World Cup. While an intellectual like me has unexpectedly caught the so-called "Red Fever". With two Euro Cups and the last World Cup under its belt so far, La Roja is going through a brilliant winning streak... Will the national team get its fourth big cup?

ALICE-THEMED BRITISH CURE

In this week's episode of Happiness Charge, the dashing and puzzling Phantom routed the Pretty Cure in charge of protecting the UK. With such long fair hair, that headband, and those spade-shaped earrings, Cure Continental reminded me of a certain fairytale character:

By the way, the Hunter has also struck in Russia and Auz, among other locations no longer protected by Pretty Cures. Which makes me wonder if the Cures stationed in Sweden and/or Spain may be next on the hit list!

HAPPINESS CHARGE NEWS

A new general appeared. His name is Phantom, and he's a Precure Hunter. Id est, he targets Cures and traps them in those coffin mirrors. He's very courteous and loyal towards Queen Mirage, making Oresky feel jealous.

Today, Phantom confronted Cure Fortune, who may have realized that she needs to stop being aloof:

We also got to see Mirage before being corrupted. She was an innocent priestess.

How could this have become an evil overlady?

And there is apparently something going on between her, Blue and Phantom... though we may have to wait until autumn for those loose ends to be tied up!