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...

THREE LI'L KITTIES AND A KAPPA GENOCIDE

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 37
My Own Review
THREE LI'L KITTIES AND A KAPPA GENOCIDE

We are now wrapping up the month of October, and that means it is almost time for Halloween – so of course, episode thirty-seven of Star ☆ Twinkle is the de rigueur Samhain (pronounced saawin) episode.

Lala looking forward to the dress up contest

In this episode, Lala gets hold of a leaflet from Mihoshi High Street with information about a dress up contest for Halloween. Her whole class decides to enter the competition. They aren’t the only ones, as some familiar faces join the fun, including Kappard. Not that Kappard intended to get involved…

Hikaru, Lala, Sakurako Himenojou and some other characters, dressed up for the contest

As you can imagine, there are plenty of costumes to be seen in this episode. Hikaru’s class goes for a cryptid theme. And Sakurako as Mothwoman (FRICKING MOTHWOMAN) completely steals the spotlight...

Una familia muy floral

Elena, Madoka, and Yuni are Las Tres Gatas

Apparently Elena gets to wear two different costumes, but I’m fine with that. Amusingly, Yuni simply opts to use her true form; going as herself literally. Kind of a shame when she is (almost) a master of disguise. I like the sun and moon pendants on Elena and Madoka’s respective kitty collars; it’s a neat little touch. Yuni has a galaxy pendant because she's Cosmos.

Kappard proves to be surprisingly popular

Kappard gets to do a bit more than the usual antagonist role in this episode, starting with taking selfie photos with all the people dressed up (like these two sexy pumpkinettes). Naturally, they think he is in a kappa costume as well, and we also get some glimpses into Kappard’s past.

Kappard attacks

Of course, Kappard is still a villain, so when the others come across them a fight ensues. Thing is, PreCures need to do something to prevent Earthlings learning about the aliens in their midst. Fortunately, Hikaru has an idea.

Mihoshi Stars

The encounter with Kappard turns into a hero show, at least until they can move the fight away from civilians. We get a full on sentai-esque sequence with the Mihoshi Stars’ introductions and everything. It is some pretty amusing stuff.

A flashback featuring a young Kappard

We get a Kappard-focused flashback, showing us how he lost his planet and all of his kin to an invasion from another world. The Kappa Planet was drained dry of freshwater by the enemy, and everyone was dying of thirst, until only one kappa boy remained alive to tell the tale (guess who?) It also gives the audience an idea of why he firmly believes people from different planets are unable to get along. Of course, Cure Milkyway doesn’t believe that; her bond with her friends (or rather companions, ie nakama), some Earthlings and a Rainbowian, totally contradicts Kappard’s views.

This is actually a group photograph, but we’re focusing on the important characters here

The episode wraps up in the usual manner. It was quite a good one, and I did like learning a little more about Kappard’s past. I do wonder who was in charge of the forces that drained Kappard’s home planet of water; was it Darknest, or some other evil force?
I could totally see Kappard turning on Darknest in the future, perhaps aiding the Cures when they inevitably come to fight him.
Lala got a fair bit of focus in this episode, but ultimately, I’d say that this was very much Kappard’s episode. It’s nice to get to know our villains a little more.

Next time, looks like the plot gets back on track with an episode that focuses on Yuni as the search for Twinkle Imagination resumes once more. Ayewan will be back, too.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
(Cue The Final Solution by Sabaton)
Oui, the Great and Powerful Kappard is the sole survivor of a genocide. And he was underage when said catastrophe occurred. THE FEELS. Knowing the trauma that lies beneath.

IN WHICH SAKURAKO GETS INTO POLITICS

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 35
My Own Review
IN WHICH SAKURAKO GETS INTO POLITICS


angryanimeb*tches

Next up in spotlight for Star ☆ Twinkle is Hikaru, who Madoka feels would be a good fit for becoming the next student council president. Somebody else has their eye on the position as well.

Hikaru suggests alien transfer students (besides the one they already have)

In this episode, Madoka is due to resign as student council president. As such, it falls to her to find a new candidate, and she believes that Hikaru will fit the role with her imagination. Also aiming for the role is Sakurako Himenojou.

Sakurako declares her intention of becoming student council president

With two candidates, a proposal for an election is put forth. It will be Hikaru vs. Sakurako, so both girls get out on the campaign trail.

Lala supports Hikaru in her campaign

Much of this episode is spent on Hikaru trying to work out what sort of student council president she wants to be. The answer she moves towards is one that is just like Madoka, even though that is something that takes its toll on her.
Sakurako isn’t exactly straightforward about what she wants either, but she works hard ie does her best/gives her all (ganbare is not only "working hard", fansubbers!!!) to earn votes.

Yuni just hanging out with some cats on the rooftop

Sakurako takes note of things that require improvement

This episode dedicates some time to Sakurako, showing us that she has the school’s best interests at heart; even more so when Hikaru and Lala find her notebook. Of course, that also means she gets to play the victim of the week when the KNotraiders show up.

Kappard is our villain this week

For some reason, Hikaru knows right away after seeing Kappard’s weapon that he used Sakurako’s imagination. The usual PreCure fight procedure is followed in this episode, with one notable difference.

Cure Star seems to be awakening a new power

Cure Star shines brightly, and that is something that even the Star Princesses are able to sense. Seems Cure Star has some hidden power; perhaps it is the Twinkle Imagination PreCures are supposed to be looking for.

The fight is resolved, and the new student council president is decided at the end of the episode. It was a fun episode, providing a hint of things to come with that fight against Kappard.
There isn’t much else for me to add. A good Hikaru episode.

Next time is a Yuni episode. Blue Cat returns, and I am looking forward to that.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
Holy Fricking Grail does she steal the spotlight...
Sakurako as a politician:

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 THERE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S FÊTE

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 25
My Own Review


IN WHICH THERE'S A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S FÊTE

It is the middle of summer (summer summer summer...), which means it is the perfect time to hold matsuri festivals. That is exactly what is going on in the twenty-fifth episode of Star ☆ Twinkle.
As a side note, I thought the opening would have been updated to reflect Cure Cosmos’ addition to the team by this point. It hasn’t, at least not yet.

The girls wearing yukata

In this episode, the members of our PreCure ensemble go to a matsuri, even making sure to dress up for the occasion. Yuni doesn’t seem quite as keen on the festivities as everyone else, though.

Yuni wearing a yukata

I will get around to how the girls spend their time at the festival, but I figure it is fair to mention that Elena and Madoka each draw quite the crowd of admirers – we’re not quite at Yukari and Akira fangirl levels here, but it seems to be heading that way. Elena and Madoka aren’t the only ones drawing attention, though; people are quite interested in finding out more about Yuni.

Sakurako makes an appearance (cue noblewoman laugh!)

As for the festival itself, it is your pretty typical matsuri festival. Here’s a few screenshots of the girls participating in various activities:

Elena jugando a los aros

Madoka firing a gun at the shooting range

T

Team Lala fishing for water balloons

Yuni's catlike instincts kick in while scooping for pet goldfish (she ATE hers ALIVE!!)

Lala has a chat with Yuni in the woods

One particularly good scene from this episode is simply Lala and Yuni talking to each other en tête-à-tête. Yuni’s convinced that she has to save the planet Rainbow on her own. Lala has been in Yuni’s place before, so she pretty much tells her that she doesn’t need to go the distance alone.

Three monsters of the week this time around (OUI!! Last time we had a dual or triple motw...?)

Our weekly battle comes courtesy of Tenjou, and gives Cure Cosmos three enemies to worry about. Through this battle, Cosmos is able to come to realise the value of friendship.

Cosmo Shining

Cure Cosmos also has an attack she is able to use when she doesn’t have access to a Star Colour Pen: Cosmo Shining. It’s not a finishing move; that duty falls to the others this time around.

Enjoying the fireworks together

I really liked this episode. When it comes to Yuni, I certainly have no complaints about her getting more screentime; even better if she gets some kind of meaningful interaction with another member of the cast, like she did with Lala here.

Here’s hoping that we get plenty more interactions between Lala and Yuni in the future, particularly as both are not from Earth. Lala’s speech about the universe expanding was really quite sweet, and made me think about the Milky Way Song by the Monty Python comedians (The universe itself keeps on expanding and expanding in all of the directions it can whizz; as fast as light can go, the speed of light you know, three million miles per minute; that's the fastest speed there is!). Good episode.

This week, we got to see more of why Yuni is having start a hard time integrating into the group and homesickness coming into play. The girls brought her to the local summer fête (matsuri), and while things were okay for a time, as soon as Yuni saw a sign about the fireworks show, homesickness took over and it only increased her frustration of not making enough progress to save her fellow kin and home planet. After Lala went to check up on her, Yuni opened up about how she doesn’t like how she can’t be her true self.

I am glad Lala had stepped up, because as a fellow alien who hails from another faraway planet, a homeworld threatened by enemy invasion, Lala can relate to the struggles of being forced to disguise themselves, so they can seamlessly blend into Earth society. She can also relate to being homesick. But the one thing that none of the girls can truly grasp is Yuni’s loneliness and pain of having lost all of her loved ones to the knotraiders. This is what makes it so much harder for her to have fun on Earth when they aren’t searching for the Pens. For Yuni, there isn’t a moment to waste. But after going off on her own to get away from the festival, Yuni learned the hard way that she has no choice but to rely on her new comrades. Without them, or their pens, she doesn’t stand a chance against Master Darknest and the 'raiders. (We also got to see, Lala can still use to the perfume as a power source, but without the pens, she can’t use Rainbow Splash). Luckily for her, the other girls got her back.

Aat least we got to learn more about Yuni’s internal conflict, and how she feels about joining the team. I am definitely looking forward to the upcoming episode, as we are finally going to Lala’s home planet! A message came in from what appeared to be her brother (is he?), so I’m looking forward to meeting them, and find out what’s going on.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
Ah, the matsuri episode. That short August night when the local park is suddenly crowded with all kinds of carnival paraphernalia.

Lala is NOT AN ONLY CHILD?? - Wham. I tend to draw foregone conclusions about that fact for both fictional characters and real-life people until siblings are introduced.

IN WHICH WORTHY OPPONENTS DRAW THEIR BOWS

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure
Episode 16 - My Own Review

IN WHICH WORTHY OPPONENTS DRAW THEIR BOWS

https://angryanimebitches.com/2019/05/star%e2%98%86twinkle-precure-episode-16-17/

The sixteenth episode of Star ☆ Twinkle puts Madoka in the spotlight once again. This time around, she is participating in a national archery tournament.

Madoka conquered fierce competition in the preliminaries

The main event in this episode is the aforementioned archery competition. Madoka is pretty keen to win it for the sake of her father, who seems to have become somewhat obsessed with his research into aliens.

Translation: "Mihoshi Secondary's Venus" - Besides, that's one massive PR balloon!

Since Madoka is doing a thing, that means that Sakurako Himenojo is present. If Elena is the sun of Mihoshi, and Madoka is the moon, that makes Sakurako the Venus. With those golden ringlets and that caustic temper, she's already off to a good start for that title!

One of the standout competitors, Yumika Nasu

Madoka is more or less a prodigy (tensai) when it comes to archery, but there is another girl, a dark horse tomboy who is able to perform at Madoka’s level. She is Yumika Nasu. She’s a solitary type, and believes that friends/nakama are just distractions.
Madoka and Yumika are equals when the competition starts, so they end up having to face each other in a deciding round.

Yumika KNottrigger

During a break in the competition, Hikaru, Lala, and Elena make lucky charms for Madoka before sitting down and eating lunch with her. Yumika, on the other hand, becomes a target for Ayewan.

Cure Selene wants to face Yumika in the deciding match

Cure Selene and the others fight the 'trigger. Cure Selene does not take kindly to hearing Yumika called her an ‘enemy’, and she makes sure to let Ayewan know. With the power of Sagittarius, Selene gives PreCures the opening they need to finish the fight.
Yumika is returned to normal, whilst Ayewan and Bakenyan make a hasty retreat.

Results of the competition

Madoka and Yumika face off in the deciding round of the competition, and it eventually reaches an end, with the Moon of Mihoshi winning gold and the dark horse taking her second-place silver in stride, like the worthy sportswoman she is. As too, does this episode.

This was an enjoyable Madoka episode. She got to do her thing whilst being supported by her nakama/friends.
Actually, it seems that Madoka is picking up quite a few rivals lately. Firstly there’s self-proclaimed rival Sakurako Himenojo, and then she had a thing with the Blue Cat. Now there is Yumika Nasu. Madoka seems to be quite popular.
Madoka's father does care about her despite showing little emotions during the archery competition. Madoka's rival on the other end was your typical loner who does not believe in the power of friendship and lose the match. But Madoka is a goody two shoes and encourages her rival to work harder (or rather do her best -- why the fudge does "ganbare" get so often mistranslated as "work hard"?) so they can meet again. 

There isn’t really much more that can be said about this episode. It done its job, and it done it in a decent enough manner. I do hope that we get to see Yumika again at some point.


Next time, the girls return to Planet Zenny where the Blue Cat has a heist planned. Needless to say, I am looking forward to seeing the Blue Cat again.

Not much to say about this episode. It seemed to have focused more on the product placement of the “Fortune Capsule Maker” than anything else. (It was really cute though!) Madoka wanted to win the competition in hopes to cheer her father up a bit since his investigation hasn’t been going well. It’s good to see though that the excuse the alien agent who posed as the director isn’t fooling him anymore since he is re-investigate the evidence of the battle that transpired there. It does make me wonder if he will make an eventual breakthrough, and I am curious to see how he would react if he were to discover his daughter is fighting it out with aliens to protect space!

As for the rival, I didn’t particularly care much about her. She appeared to have been a bit envious of how Madoka was surrounded and supported by nakama friends, and so she kept on convincing herself that nakama friends just get in the way.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
Two Selene focus episodes in a row?? Makes me feel like it's Xmas AND 12th Perigee!!
Yumika: this very week we lost GrumpyCat, we happened to get a character who is just like her, ie GrumpyCat, as gijinka (in human form)! Purely coincidental?
YumiKaguya as kismesis?:
With the Blue Cat, it's far more like Valjean and Javert. With Sakurako, it's the standard Cure Ojousama fare of the second-fiddle who wants to surpass Her Ladyship. Unlike these other two, the third candidate for kismesis is a tomboy to the core, aloof and a worthy foil-shadow to the Moon of Mihoshi...



IN NEXT EPISODE (17):
THE. BLUE. CAT. RETURNS.
This time, she's planning a heist on Zenny... like, are we going casino-robbing, Ocean's Tetralogy style?