IN WHICH FUWA STRUGGLES TO FIND HER NICHE

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure
Episode 33 - My Own Review

IN WHICH FUWA STRUGGLES TO FIND HER NICHE


The thirty-third episode of Star ☆ Twinkle is one that focuses on Fuwa. Quite fitting, given the (physical and psychological) growth she has experienced recently. Fuwa is very eager to get on with PreCures’ mission, but everyone else is busy.

Fuwa is not happy with being unable to search for Twinkle Imagination

This episode’s plot is a pretty standard one for mascot focus episodes, as things go. Fuwa wants to start searching for Twinkle Imagination, but everyone else is so busy. She tries to help them out, but only causes trouble. That’s all there is to it.

Fuwa’s attempt at helping does not go down well

I don’t really have a whole lot to say about this episode. Fuwa has the potential to be annoying, but she never really crosses into that territory for me. After all, what she wants is to effectively move the plot along, so I can agree that everybody should get out there to find the Twinkle Imagination.

Fuwa (in Santa garb) is almost discovered by Sakurako

As far as mascots go, Fuwa is by no means the worst the PreCure franchise has to offer, but she’s not particularly the best, either. Fuwa is supposed to be growing up, but Maho Girls had a much better take on that with Haa-chan, AKA Kotoha. Fuwa is pretty typical in terms of PreCure pixies (yousei).

Fuwa meets old Ryou

Whilst I think that this episode was average overall (well, at least until the fight against Kappard), I will admit that Fuwa deciding that Ryoutaro is a space wizard amused me quite a bit – even more so when Yuni sees him for the first time and agrees (I mean, he's the spitting image of Albus F-ing Dumbledore, right?).

Kappard’s weapon is powered by pet dog Yeti’s imagination this time around

Kappard is the villain this week, and unlike Garuogre, he is able to recognise Fuwa upon seeing her in her new form for the first time. The fight scene is where this episode picks up a bit – Cure Star finds herself having to fight Kappard alone whilst the others are dealing with the mooks.
Fuwa wanting to be helpful also comes into play here, too. Fortunately, her desire to help doesn’t cause any trouble this time around. PS. Isn't it evident that the victim of the week was an English Sheepdog? (Especially with the shield design)

So overall, not the greatest episode of a PreCure series, and not the worst either. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it more if I had a stronger attachment to Fuwa. That’s not the case, so this episode to me was a pretty middle of the road experience.

Next time, seems like we’re getting an episode that focuses on Elena as a cactus-like alien visits Earth.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
Isn't it evident that the victim of the week was an English Sheepdog? (Especially with the shield design). The VotW is generally another animal, wild or pet, in a mascot-centric episode (most notoriously, Go! Princess had a cicada when Towa fell dangerously ill in August and was left alone with her guardians).

Also. SAKURAKO. May not have the same memetic status as Ranze and Ranko, but once more she stole the spotlight right before our noses.

IN WHICH A PRODIGAL SON COMES HOME

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 22
My Own Review

IN WHICH A PRODIGAL SON COMES HOME

Previously, the Star ☆ Twinkle team grew one stronger, so what better way to celebrate that fact than by having her in the background waiting in the wings for most of this episode?
Yuni will get her chance later on; for now, both Hikaru and Lala have reasons to be cheerful.

Hikaru hugs Lala

To sum up this episode, it is Tanabata (7th of July) and Lala’s birthday. The main focus though is on Hikaru’s dad Yoichi returning home for the day. There seems to be a rift between him and his father (Hikaru's granddad), though.

Youichi Hoshina, Hikaru’s father

This episode introduces us to cryptozoologist Youichi Hoshina. In the words of Lala, “They’re clearly family-lun.” In fact, Hikaru’s catchphrase – “twinkool” or whatever translation you want, comes from him.

Yoichi goes ga-ga about the new cryptid girls in town, prodding Lala's antennae and Yuni's catlike features. Not to mention Fuwa and Purunce give him the same reaction.

So much time spent in western lands has not only darkened his skin, but also diminished his sense of personal space to the point of making Lala and Purunce cringe.

Long time no see, sweetie pie!



The whole Hoshina family reunites...

Harukichi, however, is not that amused by the prodigal son coming home.

Yoichi returned home and his wife and grandmother welcome him back however Hikaru's grandfather, Haru (who we now know is Yoichi's father) ignored him completely. 

Before Yoichi did field research, he was a university lecturer.

A young Hikaru persuades her Dad to follow his dreams

One particularly standout part of this episode is a flashback, that explains the reason why Youichi only returns to his family once a year on Tanabata. It’s quite a sweet flashback, though Youichi deciding to travel abroad did not sit well with his own father Harukichi.

As the girls prepare the BBQ for tonight, Hikaru explained that her father is a lecturer at a university and she was influenced by her father's passions on searching for cryptids. Hikaru was the one who encouraged her father to go overseas and do field research about cryptids in foreign lands. But Haru objected the idea of his son going claiming that he is abandoning the Hoshina family for an impossible dream. Even Haru didn't send Yoichi off when he went overseas.

Lala talks to Harukichi about Youichi

Lala gets a funny moment when she is talking to Hikaru’s grandfather – Harukichi – and is pretty quickly able to figure out that there is something wrong between him and Youichi.





Even before that, turns out that the Hoshinas aren’t exactly adept at hiding their hunger. For three generations straight.

Haru confides in best friend and fellow pensioner Dumble... I mean Ryoutaro.

Haru went off on his own and the girls and Yoichi went to look for him.

Harukichi sealed inside a Notrey mook (by Tenjou)

Harukichi is the victim of the week this time around, which means PreCures have to fight a mook version of him.

The first time all five Cures have transformed together

The fight is pretty typical PreCure stuff, though for some reason Cure Star decides that they can’t use their Southern Cross Shot. Not that it matters, because Cure Cosmos is there to steal the show. Appearing out of nowhere...

Cosmos borrows Milkyway’s Gemini Princess Star Colour Pen

Perhaps it would have made more sense to have the others prepare to use their finishing move, and then have Cosmos swoop in at the last moment to deal the finishing blow. That would fit with her stealing the show, after all.

Cure Cosmos lend the Gemini Princess pen from Cure Milkyway to purify Haru with the Precure Rainbow Splash. After the battle, Yoichi found Haru resting on a bench. He carried Haru back home and despite Haru's complaint, Yoichi did not budge and continue the way back home. 

That night, the girls and Hikaru's family celebrate both Lala's birthday and the Tanabata Festival with Uni watching from afar. The next day, Yoichi was ready to go overseas again and Haru actually send his son off despite not saying a word this time...

A toast to the birthday girl

Yuni is still as aloof as always

So overall, a neat episode is how I would sum this one up. It had some charming moments, particularly with Hikaru and her family. Cure Cosmos stealing the show was appropriate, considering she was a space thief.
Youichi is a fun character, quite the lovable eccentric; and it’s interesting to see just how much influence he has had on Hikaru.

I didn’t mention it last week, but we have now got a new ending theme for the show. It’s all right – I’m sure it will grow on me more as the season progresses.

Next time, lots of Fuwas. Think tribbles or parasprites!

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION;

This episode provide some development about Hikaru's father and grandfather and the reason why Haru was so angry with Yoichi. Apparently Haru is pretty stubborn and he blamed himself for him not teaching his son that families should stay together. However it was actually Hikaru herself who insisted that her parents should follow their dreams and knew that their bonds are very strong and can never be broken.

Of course, Yoichi is voiced by one of my favourite Veteran Seiyuu, Otsuka Akio who voiced two of my favourite badass male leads- Japanese version of Solid Snake and Black Jack and seeing Otsuka playing a more lively father figure make you wonder what will Solid Snake and Black Jack's lives will be if their whole lives isn't filled with death and destruction.

Looks like we are finally going to meet Hikaru’s father, and he is as eccentric as Hikaru is! That should be interesting. On the concerning side, NOOOOOO HIKARU’S GRAMP GETS ATTACKED BY TENJOU! (Also, he Is her PATERNAL gramp, 4YI) and pretty much "why Yoichi my lad did you fly the coop, leave your wife and child in my care and your poor mum's, and become a wandering cryptozoologist?" Of course he had to see Fuwa and Purunce as cryptids, and was equally intrigued by Lala and Yuni (a cat girl and an electric girl staying at your birthplace are always interesting).

Tanabata and the Orihime story: the 7th of July might be associated in Spain with the running of the bulls -- but Asian cultures use this short summer night to wish upon stars, because of the tale of star-crossed lovers across the Milky Way, the tennyo ("angel" or lesser goddess) Orihime and the mortal farm boy Hiko (representing the stars Vega and Altaire respectively), who are only allowed by their elders to meet on the seventh night of the seventh month -- a short fleeting summer night -- since their relationship interfered a lot with their everyday duties and affairs. So the two lovebirds have only got this rendezvous to see each other once a year (much like Mr. Hoshina and his parents, wife, and daughter), and their respective stars become, thus, prime wishing material to hang up tanzaku wishlists on bamboo canes for.

As a whole I loved this episode, I thought it was fun and sweet, and enjoyed getting the chance to learn more about Hikaru’s family, particularly of her bond with her father Yoichi who only comes home once a year; on Tanabata, just like the star-crossed lovers themselves.

Before Yoichi embarked on his journey to pursue his dreams of research Cryptids and Aliens and writing books about it, he worked as a professor at a University and he and taught Hikaru all about the wondrous mysteries of aliens and such. He put his passion on hold since he felt he needed to be there for his family. However Hikaru and her mother both recognized he had dreams he wanted to pursue, and encouraged him to go for it. However while he had the support of his wife and daughter, and even of his aged mother, his father (Harukichi) was against the idea of him leaving the family behind. In Haru’s mind, it is important for him to be there for the Hoshino family, especially now that the senior parents were pensioners, and was against it, not to mention he was also worried about him. Nevertheless, Yoichi went anyways, and Haru would always worry about him but also bear the burden of feeling like he failed to raise him properly.

This was probably the saddest part of the episode. Hikaru’s granddad felt as though he failed Hikaru and her mother, and his own wife, and hurt them all by not raising Yoichi properly, by making sure that family always comes first. Of course we know that Hikaru and her mother were the ones who told him to do it, but it’s hard to distinguish whether or not Haru truly understood that, or maybe he didn’t believe it, or maybe he was just simply disappointed that his son took the opportunity when it was presented to him rather than choosing not to. But another reason why Haru might have been upset could also be the fact Yoichi only comes home once a year. Luckily he seems to move past that by, as this time, he made sure to see his son off.

Nonetheless, it’s clear how much Yoichi cares about his family, especially since he is certain to write and send lots of pictures of his travels to Hikaru. I found it adorable how alike the two of them are. I am sure once Hikaru graduates from school, the two of them are bound to go on series of adventures together, or if her mother is on hiatus they can do a major family trip. Perhaps the most ironic part of all, is how coming home actually allowed him to meet aliens (Lala, Purunce, Yuni, and Fuwa), unfortunately he can’t write anything about it since they have to be kept a secret, but he was just like Hikaru, went along with it with no further questions asked. Poor Fuwa got freaked out real good though haha!

However as much as I enjoyed the theme for this week, it bothered me this week was the way they went about Lala’s birthday. I was bummed out how she ended up she wasn’t the focus, but rather an example of someone who is living away from her family, as Yoichi is. It feels like a missed opportunity to have not been creative by showing us perhaps how Lala would celebrate her birthday (if any differently) in her culture, especially since she has already reached the age where she is regarded as an adult.

And then there’s Yuni… Let’s just say I was not a fan how she was quietly watching from afar, waiting in the wings as she observed the girls during their fight and then finally pitched in the deal with the final blow. I’m not going to comment on this any further because it’s still too soon to judge exactly how they plan to go about her role in the group, which is something we will probably get to see next week since it’s supposed to focus on her again.

Next week, looks like there’s going to be mayhem with Fuwa since she ate one of Yuni’s cookies that she wasn’t supposed to eat!