IN WHICH MADOKA KAGUYA MAKES HER OWN CROSS

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 41
My Own Review
IN WHICH MADOKA KAGUYA MAKES HER OWN CROSS

The forty-first episode of Star ☆ Twinkle turns its attention to the Moon of Mihoshi Secondary School, Madoka Kaguya. Madoka’s future is a key point that is brought up in this episode.

Madoka steps down as student council president; she 'abdicates' in favour of her blond kismesis Sakurako in a grand secondary-school ceremony.

Madoka’s time as student council president has come to an end, and as such her father Fubuki wants her to focus on preparing to study abroad, in London town no less. Madoka isn’t so keen to pursue a future that her father has set out for her, though (all the while her mum remains neutral and keeping silence). After calling the old man out before the trophy cabinet, talking with Elena, and a clash with a sworn enemy, she will come to a decision.

Elena realises that something is bothering Madoka

The first half of this episode is pretty much spent on Madoka, as she struggles with what she wants to do with her future. It does lead to some lovely interactions between Elena and Madoka, especially when the latter discusses the '69 Moon landing (the Moon being essentially a ball of mirrors that reflects sunlight and gets trod on by astronauts vs. that 'giant leap for [hu]mankind' of the Eagle's crew) and decides that she is definitely fed up with following others (her elders, rules, society at large) and ready to take those first baby steps on her own two feet.
This follows on from an earlier episode when Elena told Madoka that she could rely on the others, and I am glad to see that that didn’t go forgotten. More Soluna stuff is certainly not going to go unappreciated by me.

Garuogre appears

The enemy for this episode is Garuogre, and just the big blue brute alone. Garuogre may have only fought the Cures on a couple of occasions, but they are certainly memorable. This time around is no exception to that rule.
For a start, this fight looks great.

Soleil and the others are wiped out at one fell swoop, leaving it all to a battered Selene.

Showing off his Erlang-style third eye (seen them on western ogres, but never on oni until now!!)

It may be treacherous, but Selene has no other choice than to shoot Garuogre in the back.

I really love that shot of Cure Selene ready to attack Garuogre from behind – perhaps because it invokes any shonen anime. Cure Star, Milkyway, Soleil, and Cosmos all get knocked out rather early into the fight, leaving it up to Selene (especially for Soleil's sake).
When the fight ends up being this level of quality, I kind of wish that we’d see more one-on-one cadre fights.

Selene responds to Garuogre’s attack; breaking that shield with an icy Aquarian shot she's definitely not throwing away (bonus for using my sign's star colour pen, and for Frozen 2 coming up soon!!)

I know that the PreCures’ finishing attack (Finishing Move or hissatsu) is a once-per-episode thing, but it really feels like padding this time around. I feel like there would have been a greater impact if Selene had defeated Garuogre on her own, but PrettyCure is gonna PrettyCure, I suppose.
This wonderful episode ends with Madoka figuring out what she wants to do, and a fair bit of focus on her bare feet. You know, just because. 

At the end of the day, she calls the old man out, before the trophy cabinet at the Kaguya estate, to turn down studying in the UK at least for the moment (maybe London University or Oxbridge when she is in her twenties?) A nice healthy argument ensues (any moment I worried Fuyuki might clutch his left arm, or the left side of his chest, and collapse like a ragdoll, breathing heavily, only for his wife or daughter to cradle him and loosen his clothes). Instead, that rant made Mr. Kaguya realise the error of his ways (before a heart condition, a stroke, or even before Madoka could snap and pull a Tyrion-on-Tywin on him?) while looking at his own reflection in the trophy cabinet, then at a family portrait (awwww, don't the three of them look adorable together?). Maybe having been the victim of last week also played a role in how Fuyuki's stern and stubborn demeanor was intensified at the start of this episode upon him deciding to send Madoka off to London so early on... like a mirror shard in The Snow Queen or Princess Tutu, or a hangover from a rea-ea-ea-eally altered state... and all it took was for her to call the old codger out, for the effect to wear off and for snapping out of it.

This is a small step for Madoka, but a leap of faith into the unknown for her friends and parents, and not only herself.

This episode was superb. Elena and Madoka bonding is always nice to see, the fight against Garuouga look great and PreCures have moved one step closer to achieving their goal.
These character-focused episodes which leads to each PreCure powering up have been fantastic. Yuni, Lala, and Madoka have had their turns, and I’m confident that Elena and Hikaru will do the same.
Talking of Elena, it is her turn to worry about her future in the next episode. She has smaller shoes to fill, but the lives of more people weighing down on her shoulders...

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
Oui. As an only child of privilege with a beautiful mind, I can totally relate. Been there, done that. Graduate at the UJI, Master's at the UV, and now looking for a winter job. With an Education Papa who even looks like Fuyuki Kaguya hounding me in the Javert way.
Speaking of which: REAL TENSION between generations à propos that leaving for the UK. Mitsuka keeping silence and neutrality all the while, not wanting to upset either her husband or their daughter.
Of course the upper-class Cure has to deal with this kind of issues of leaving for foreign lands and/or following in her elders' footsteps during the climax of her arc (Minami Kaido's wish to be a marine vet tending to penguins in Antarctica; Yukari Kotozume's departure for the Ruritanian kingdom of Confetto; Saaya Yakushiji telling her stage mum that she wants to be a midwife instead of an actress).
One can also see Fuyuki is a bit of a control freak and a stick-in-the-mud and treats his family just like he treats his men-in-black underlings (Tywin vibes all over the place!). Everything must go according to plan... We just saw the calling-the-old-man-out moment take place before the Kaguyas' trophy cabinet for a good reason.
And the pluck she mustered... her afterthoughts on being the Moon who reflects sunlight and gets trod on by astronauts... and deciding that she is definitely fed up with this subordinate role... She does appreciate her parents and moirail for showing her the way, but now it's time for her to take the first steps on her own two feet! YOU GO, GIRL. MAKE YOUR OWN CROSS, DON'T SIT ON SOMEONE ELSE!!



PS. Upcoming Star*Twinkle AUs:
Tengu of the Opera: Soluna/Elenjou AU. Dark horse Elena gets to star in the latest production, which she didn't expect, due to her rival/senpai Sakurako losing her singing voice and a series of poison pen letters from the so-called Opera Tengu to the troupe's benefactor, Fuyuki Kaguya, whose only daughter is in ostensibly unrequited love with the new leading lady, to whom a raven-masked muse of inspiration appears in her dreams... Featuring Otokoyaku!Elena, Fuyuki having the heart condition I was thinking of throughout Madoka's rant in canon, a torture chamber, and my own Tenjou headcanons.
Rapunzel AU: Once upon a blue moon, a drop of blue moonlight fell to the ground... an ailing pregnant noblewoman had to drink it, but shortly after her newborn daughter was whisked away... Valjean-style Elena, AKA Nena, left orphaned, stole to survive and feed her younger siblings, and has spent a while institutionalised; she is on parole and a social outcast when she comes across a feudal-Japanese-castle-style tower and a lonely damsel with loooooong violet hair...

IN WHICH LALA HOSTS A SLEEPOVER

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 26

My Own Review

IN WHICH LALA HOSTS A SLEEPOVER

We are now more than halfway through Star ☆ Twinkle. The opening animation has also been updated, so we actually get to see more of Yuni/Cure Cosmos in it now. PreCures and we spectators are steadily moving towards their goal of collecting all the Princess Star Colour Pens, and some new information concerning the whereabouts of the next one, the Cancer Pen, sees them blasting into space once more.

Hikaru decides to have a pyjama party

Lala receives a transmission from her (fraternal twin) brother Lolo about the discovery of a princess’s power, so PreCures decide to go to Lala's homeworld and check it out. However, the warp through the Starscape goes awry, so they are left stranded in outer space. Hikaru decides the best thing for them to do is hold a pyjama party.

Just look at their pyjamases! My favourite is doubtless Madoka's, with its frills, chest ribbon, and empire waistline.

Space Wars!! The whole original hexalogy at one go...

Was this when Canakin killed all the younglings?

Elena can’t handle scary films

I guess yellow Cures tend to be yellow-bellied… This episode is pretty much about the others getting to spend time with each other, and deepen their bonds. Hikaru manages to find some common ground with Madoka, thanks to an old film. We also discover that Elena isn’t so good when it comes to scary films.

Madoka, on the other hand, is a scifi and horror buff...




La gallina y la gata de a bordo.

Yuni’s ear twitches when Hikaru calls out to her

Definitely got to take time to focus on Yuni just for a bit, just because. Finds a comfortable place to curl up and fall asleep, much like a cat. So good. A purrfect catnap.

The girls talk about their families

After the film, the topic of conversation turns to family. They also talk about their friendship. Hikaru never imagine she would have a pyjama party with friends before becoming a PreCure, and neither did Lala, Madoka, Elena, or Yuni for various reasons... but that is exactly what has happened in this episode. Clearly meeting has been a very good thing for Hikaru, Lala, Elena, Madoka, and Yuni.

Madoka explained that she is going overseas to western lands after she graduated which is what her father and grandfather did the same at her age. (Also, the Kaguya lineage has hunted monsters for the Imperial Crown since ancient times...) Elena was worried about her half dozen siblings and wonder if her parents could handle them. Lala told them her parents are well-known people on her planet and she felt the pressure of being their favourite child. (Surely, if they are celebs as well, Madoka sees herself reflected in this predicament - the only difference being the existence of a twin in the shade). And Yuni... still having her catnap.

Yanyan

The crew picks up a stowaway – a hermit crab-esque reggae alien named Yanyan. She was a stowaway on another spaceship (heading for the Rototom here in Benicassim?) and was kicked out onto the asteroid until she saw Lala's spaceship and hid there. 

Someone needs to be the victim of the week when Kappard attacks, after all. Oh, apparently she is also able to repair the crash-landed wreck after it has been damaged (seriously, how often has Lala proven she was the captain of the Vasa in a past life?), or at least that is what she says.

Kappard uses Yanyan’s imagination to power up his weapon

Kappard actually launches a pre-emptive strike on PreCures, damaging the wrecked starship even more in the process.

Cure Star helps out Cure Milkyway

PreCures are given the opportunity to show of their newly deepened bonds during the battle against Kappard, and they do just that.

Cure Soleil & Cure Selene

This was quite a sweet episode, with the bonds between the five girls growing stronger. For me, Yuni was the highlight of the entire episode, which probably doesn’t come as a surprise. 

The other girls all had their own moments to shine as well, though.

Next time, mermaids.

Curses... wrecked again!





Lala's spaceship suffered damages due to both crashlanding and Kappard attacking... and Yanyan suggested to come to her home planet to get it fixed. Using Purunce as propulsion (and to extract all that sand from the mechanisms), they were on their way to Yanyan's homeworlds...- The Ocean Planet!

What I like about this episode? Other than the girls watching a horror film and Elena's priceless expression, I like how the girls express their thoughts as similar to previous seasons, there will be a moment where the girls speak about their dreams and anxiety. 

Madoka going overseas could be a future episode plot and probably a conflict might make Madoka to choose her path. Elena loved her family a bit too much which might become an episode since she felt being the eldest, she shoulders the responsibility of taking care of the family not realising that her personal life is also important. 

Looking how Lala will react in returning to her home planet already suggested that she doesn't have a close relationship with her family. (We will just have to wait till episode 29 for them to arrive at Planet Samman, her homeworld, to find out why)

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:

Return of Dave: Agent Dave as in Meet Dave is back... and he meets Yuni -- por suerte, Elena omitted the whole "space cat thief" angle since the Miniaturian has connections with the galaxy authorities!

Lala's homeworld:

Lolo Hagoromo: Lala's fraternal twin brother, seconds older... Also, the twins' parents are celebs and put pressure. Like... that's something Madoka can mirror herself in, except for on the sibling front.

Elena gallina, Elena gallina... o al menos asustadiza :O

On the other hand, who would have said the upper-class Cure is once more an ardent horror buff (looking at you, Saaya!)? and we get to hear her squeeeee at last!!

The Kaguya family history -- who ever said they were IMPERIAL MONSTER HUNTERS?? That's even higher stakes when it comes to expectations issues (it would be like having a military dynasty who have been officers since the early modern period or even medieval knights!).

Por otro lado, los padres de Elena se ausentan para hacer su agosto y la ascienden a mamá, siendo la hermana mayor de siete. Ella no está segura de si ha de apañárselas.

Soluna moments in this episode...

After receiving the message from her twin brother Lolo that they had found the princess power pen of Cancer, Lala (who didn’t really want to bring them along) and the girls are off on a trip to Planet Samaan, the Hagoromo siblings' homeworld! But to my surprise, the trip did not go as planned. Due to the lack of sleep, Fuwa’s warp failed and is presently out of commission, Hikaru suggested they host a pyjamas party.

And goodness, it was so cute and wholesome to watch! I really liked that we actually got an episode where everyone just sat down and talked a bit about themselves. It was great because this not only helps us (the audience) learn more their characters, but it also gave them the opportunity to deepened their bonds. It was also fun just to see the girls interact with each other in a way they  hadn’t before either. Hikaru had brought a video tape (I can’t believe they actually used a VCR, and somehow managed to hook it up!!!!) of a scary B-movie, and sure enough we got to see how each of them are about it. Hikaru was the hype-builder, Lala was bored (because it was low-budget to her), Elena can’t handle scary movies at all regardless of its quality, Madoka thought it was amazing and would get upset whenever Hikaru would blurted out spoilers, and Yuni… well she slept through the whole thing, took a catnap... hahahaha!

But of all the conversations that were held, the one that stuck out to me the most was Hikaru’s. It made me opened my eyes to appreciating her character even more than I had before.

Hikaru is a heroine who was content doing her own thing instead of hanging out with other people her age. While it’s nothing new, I think it is fairly uncommon, especially in these type of magical girl warriors series when the main protagonist is either already has a friend (companion, ie nakama) or two, or harbours the strong desire to find friends (ie companions-nakama). Hikaru is that type of character who is right in between the two. She has been fine either way, and it’s a characteristic that I admire about her. It also goes to show that it’s not impossible to have fun on your own, especially when you are doing something you are passionate about or engrossed in. They also reminded us, how while that’s fine and all, having a group of friends who you can share that with makes it all the more sweeter.

But this circle will not last forever. The daunting reminder their inevitable separation was brought up today by Madoka, who shared she is due to study abroad in the near future. Interestingly, nobody seemed to pay too much mind to what that meant for them as a group, but I can understand why. In their heads, that day is probably still far off, when in reality… time flies by when they are having fun, and before they know it, they will all have to part ways to either return to their home planets or follow their own path, where Hikaru will find herself mostly alone once again (with the exception of Elena who will remain in Mihoshi, at the Floristería Sonrisa, but always puts family obligations first). So it will be interesting to see whether or not Hikaru can still keep up that independence streak when everyone has to go their separate ways. It can be hard to go back to the activities you used to do on your own after getting a taste of what it’s like sharing the experience with others. But I suppose what makes Hikaru different from other heroines is how this isn’t exactly new to her. She has already gone down a similar road once before by encouraging her father to pursue his dreams, so I imagine as much as she will have that sense of loss, she will also cherish the memories and adventure they shared together.

Overall, I would say this episode is probably among some of my favourites from this series so far. Just having simple conversations and getting to know each other really goes a long way, especially when friendship plays such an important role in the story. It looks like we won’t be arriving to Samaan just yet with the girls taking a detour to bring their unsuspected reggae crab stowaway Yanyan back home in exchange of their wrecked starship getting fixed! But it looks like we will be seeing the return of Ayewan! I wonder what she has been up to?

PS: When it comes to watching scary movies, which ones of the girls are you? I would say I’m probably a combination of Yuni and Elena! I’m too scared to watch it so I’d hide behind a pillow or would just go to sleep instead, hahaha!!

On the Pen front: We still got Cancer and Pisces left!!

IN NEXT EPISODE (27):

Elena sirena -- and Yuni the catfish

A cyclopette who thinks she's Javert... no, better Ahab!

And a watery merworld to explore and cherish...

We did get a new opening with Yuni/Cure Cosmos joining the rest ---- and looks like Ayewan has gone emo and seeing in the next episode, she is back with a vengeance to defeat a certain catgirl! Until then, see you in the next post!

A SPREAD OF WINGS

Hugtto! Pretty Cure - Episode 44
My Own Review
A SPREAD OF WINGS

Already this is an excellent episode

Saaya finally got the chance to act with her mother in a new epic... With Saaya and Reira both prepared to shoot a scene for the film they are working on, they end up getting sent into the world from the script. Since it is set in a medieval European fantasy world, everyone’s outfits change to be appropriate for the setting.

Since Lulu is now a Wonderland character, ie the Cheshire Cat, now it's Emiru's turn to become Red Riding Hood... or is she a druid of sorts?

Daigan has a brief scene as a pirate or brigand of sorts... (or is he a woodsman?)

He's a lumberjack and he's not okay... he eats all night and he cooks all day!

It was also fun to see Emiru as a little mage or druid spouting out "Cure Up Rapapa" from Maho Tsukai and Lulu as a catgirl saying Mirai Asahina's catchphrase. Her catchphrases are "Did you just say○○?!" (○○っていいました？！ ○○tte iimashita?!^?) and "This is so exciting!" (ワクワクもんだぁ！ Wakuwaku monda~a!). Even Daigan showed up (To everyone's surprise) and tried to protect Saaya from a cute Welsh Green dragon which ran over him 3 seconds flat...

Of course, Saaya is still playing the princess. And Reira appears to be playing her mother in-universe, a warrior queen (since she is armoured, she appears to be the frontline commander type)!

Saaya and Reira may be in a different world, but the show must go on

Saaya and Reira act out their scene. (Maybe this could be a fine AU, with Reira a widowed warrior queen and her daughter as a reluctant crown princess who would rather be a healer - maybe sth of a Henry IV-Lion King retelling?)

As that happens, they are also watched from the shadows by Ranze Ichijou, Saaya’s self-proclaimed rival. She doesn’t feel that her heart was in the scene, and pretty much challenges her to single combat - I DEMAND A TRIAL BY COMBAT!.

Throughout the episode, Saaya was feeling anxious working with her mother Reira and was not giving her all during the scenes with her mother. This annoyed Ranze who also showed up and claimed that Saaya is betraying their rivalry. 

Saaya and Ranze have a fight scene

Saaya and Ranze act out a fight scene, but Saaya doesn’t quite manage it, due to being more of an intellectual and wearing petticoats against a martially-trained and trousered rival, who quite obviously wins the duel. She says she’ll do better next time and offers to shake Ranze’s hand, but Ranze refuses. She believes that only worthy opponents shake hands.

Saaya talks to Doctor-Septa Maki about her aspirations

After an amusing incident caused by Ruru, Saaya has a chance to sit down and talk with Doctor... Septa Maki (who is in the cast as well, obviously playing a healer). She reveals that she gathered all kinds of experience whilst working in various fields of medicine, before eventually discovering the path she is on now, that of obstetrics. Saaya asked Dr-Septa Maki why did she chose to be a obstetrician; and she was touched by the birth of life when she was still an intern and chose this career path. Saaya finally took the courage and told her mother that this will be the first and last film together as she decided to be a doctor after that.

Saaya and Ranze shake hands

Getting back to filming, Saaya is able to flawlessly act out the scene with Reira. Afterwards, however, she says that she will quit acting after filming this epic wraps up. It is not acting that Saaya wants to pursue, but a career in medicine. This comes as a shock to Ranze, who is upset at first but she understands Saaya’s decision in the end. 

And thus... gimme five... Ranko's girl recognises the blue-eyed upstart as the worthy opponent she was all along! Ranze was upset about it but Saaya explained her reasons which she finally admitted defeat. The two of them finally make peace and agreed to be the best in their field. 

(Which in turn also changes Saaya's clothing into a similar get-up as Dr Maki-probably a healer class - and even Saaya taking on the robes of a septa instead of regal petticoats!).

Whilst Ranze accepts it, stage-mum Reira is not quite able to bring herself to do the same, having always wished that her daughter would follow in her footsteps. Reira didn't express her feelings to Saaya and it cause her to become a theender by Ristle. Ristle takes advantage of this, using her toge-power to bring forth a wild theender, who snatches Hugtan, so naturally it is time for PreCures to do their thing.

Reira has to accept that Saaya is becoming her own kind of young woman - you cannot live your children's lives, but accept that they usually branch off when they come of age...

During the battle, Saaya is able to go within the chest of Theender!Reira, where she finds both Reira and Hugtan. Reira is proud that Saaya is growing up, but she can’t bring herself to cheer her on. 

Theender!Reira grabbed Hug-tan and absorbed her into her body. The girls went to battle and Cure Ange realised her mother is the opponent of the week (it maybe helps that she's an armoured warrior queen with long Prussian blue hair, right?). She too entered theender!Reira's body and into Reira's psyche. 

However, Saaya was able to touch Reira’s world, which allowed her to find her own dream. Saaya saw what her mother has gone through for her and even sees Reira giving birth to Saaya which touched her. Reira admitted that she has problems expressing her feelings to Saaya all these years despite knowing that her daughter has looked up to her. 

Leading to his heartwarming, fluffy mother-daughter embrace... awwwwww... 

Saaya thanked her for taking care of her and giving her a chance to express her love for her. The two finally hugged each other and free her from the dark force...

PreCures defeat the monster after that, and everyone returns to the real world. The filming goes smoothly afterwards, with Reira and Saaya improvising a little bit.

With everyone walking home, they realise Christmas is coming up. In her excitement, Hugtan manages to summon Santa Claus (OH, SANTA!). That brings this episode to an end.

After everyone returned to the real world, the girls realised it will be Christmas soon and Hug-tan summoned Santa Claus from above!? Did Hug-tan just drop Santa from above? Maybe this is a veiled allusion to Cornelia Funke's Als der Weihnachtsmann von Himmel fiel (When Santa -literally, the Christmas Man- Fell from the Skies)!

Eh, not as cool as the time as when Hugtan conjured Cure Black and Cure White out of thin air

Well, first of all, it probably won’t come as a surprise that I really like black cat Lulu (thinking of maybe she'd be Cheshire Cat in the Emialice AU - with Masato as the King and Henri-ette crossdressing as his Queen!). But, she’s not the star of the episode.

Saaya’s episodes have been consistently excellent, and this one is no exception. She has been struggling with her future and this episode brings all that to a satisfying conclusion. It’s episodes like this one that make me feel I don’t quite show Saaya enough appreciation. She’s definitely up there as one of my favourite blue Cures, that is for sure.

Still was a very enjoyable episode, though.

Definitely a step up from the previous episode, and just an all round excellent experience that focused on Saaya, her mother, and her career choice. 

This episode is a better episode than the previous episode between Saaya and Reira. Since Reira is always portrayed as a calm and cool mother but yet to see that Saaya has grown up which she finally broke down in her psyche. However being the gentle and understanding daughter, Saaya was able to understand her mother's love and thank her for bringing to this world.

It was also no brainier that Saaya choose to be a doctor (which field of medicine will she choose?) rather than follow the same path as her mother which is too similar to Minami Kaido's arc when she choose to be an ocean veterinarian than taking over her family business. The difference was that the higher-class Minami was worried of her family's rejections while Reira was more repressive, less expressive towards Saaya. 

It also gave closure between Ranze and Saaya which I felt that Ranze was given too little chance in the series so far unlike Ranko and Kirara (anyone else seconds the Ichijo descent theory?) which I enjoyed their banter when the two are around. 

Other than Daigan who actually thanked Saaya for trying to save his soul when he was apparently "killed" and her choosing the path she want to go with in her life. The rest of the girls were just goofing around until the battle.

The fact Saaya’s character has been neglected throughout the entire series and this episode made it all the more apparent. For me, it was just a whole lot of nothing new under the sun, mainly because I already knew the outcome and all this was was wrapping up the so-called “character arc” about Saaya’s dream changing. She is a smart girl, and she understood that when it comes to pursuing a difficult dream such as going into medicine, she need to commit to only one thing at a time. That’s why this film was going to be her last acting project. But breaking the news to her mother made her feel anxious about it. Luckily her mother is the supportive type, and despite having been exploited by Ristle, she has always told Saaya she would support her, no matter what her dream becomes. The heartbreak for her mother was more about her having grown up to the point she is now choosing her own path, pursuing her own dreams outside of the realm of which has been introduced by her mother. But it was only because she was able to experience that, she knew medicine was what she wanted to do.

Other than that, frankly I don’t have anything more to say about this episode, I already knew Saaya’s arc was not going to make up for the lost time. During Homare’s episode (43), I listed my complaints about how Saaya’s character has been severely neglected to the point it has been as though she has been demoted to a background character— and I am not exaggerating, she litterally had no presence for so long! I just don’t really have anything more to add to that, or else I am just going to repeat myself for the 21938197312983rd time. It’s just a shame that both she and Homare got the short-end of the stick.

In other news, I can’t believe Hugtan summoned Santa! Girl, he’s a busy man with Christmas around the corner! Well anyhow, no surprise to see we got a Christmas Episode, which leads us to Episode 45.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
OH SEVEN GODS WHAT AN EPISODE!
The highlights are not only every Ranze-centric scene (and Lulu's catgirl costume), but also when Ristle took advantage of Reira's stage-mum agenda, and worries that her daughter might defect from showbiz, in order to make her the victim of the week (Reira Yakushiji who was upset that her own daughter is growing up and that one day she won't be acting alongside her; insert Cersei Lannister parallels here). The way Saaya reached out into her mother -just like it happened to Henri in last episode- was heartwarmingly amazing and amazingly heartwarming. Reminds me of my own mum and our relationship ;) !
Speaking of this, I would like to rec a marvellously fluffy book if you live in Spain or any other Hispanic country, and have a relationship with your mum like Yours Truly, or that between Saaya and Reira ;) Para mi hija que ha crecido, by Lidia María Riba, published by V&R Editoras. Nowadays it has been discontinued, but you can keep on looking for it on the second-hand book market! https://www.google.com/search?q=para+mi+hija+que+ha+crecido&rlz=1C1SVEA_esES466ES468&oq=para+mi+hija+que+ha+crecido&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60j69i65l2j69i60j0.10994j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
It can also presently be read on wattpad, although I am worried that they will delete it sooner or later: https://www.wattpad.com/174671885-%E2%80%A2para-mi-hija-que-ha-crecido%E2%80%A2-i 
And by the way, here's another rec for a discontinued Spanish book, an equally fluffy one, I have been looking for in second-hand since childhood: the illustrated poemary Tanto amas, tanto vales, by Gloria Fuertes, published by Susaeta. https://www.casadellibro.com/libro-tanto-amas-tanto-vales/9788430591732/658484 It contains only Gloria's pacifist poems and those that center on loving, cherishing, and warmth. Yes, I know I am a big sweetie and that sensible adults tell me I am already one of them - but still this is a free country and liking fluff is not illegalised... awwww...



NEXT EPISODE (45)
It will be pretty obvious that it will of course be the Christmas Episode of this continuity, right? Seeing it is the obligatory Christmas Episode next week, we are getting closer and closer to the finale, right? Until then, see you in the next post!