My Own Review
ON WITH THE SHO-O-O-O-OW-W!!!
ALL RIGHT, FELLOWS! THIS IS ANOTHER, MAYBE THE LAST, AOI-CENTRIC EPISODE... WITH MAYBE THE DISBANDMENT OF WILD AZÜRE (WTF?! YES, THAT'S THE WAY IT SOUNDS)
SO IT'S ANOTHER MUSICAL REVIEW!
The episode begins with Wild Azüre finishing up a successful show. Everyone goes to the KiraPâti to celebrate and to quench their thirst... but one member of Wild Azüre isn’t joining in with the merriment.
We are the champions, my friends...
And we'll keep on fighting
till the end...
We are the champions,
we are the champions...
No time for losers,
'cause we are the champions...
(Ballroom Blitz percussion intro, Sweet)
Ready, Ryúta?
Aha!
Sara?
Oh yeah!
Kei?
... (Dramatic pause, followed by throat clearing)
The bassist and de facto leader of Wild Azüre, Kei Sonobe,
announces that he will be leaving the band
to concentrate on studying for his exams,
since he is striving for as high marks as possible
to land a university degree in the medical profession,
following the Sonobe family tradition.
That news comes at a pretty bad time, as Wild Azüre are due to take on Misaki Ayane’s band Ganache, the inspiration for Wild Azüre itself, in another battle of the bands (the rematch for August, remember?).
Aoi talks to Misaki en tête-à-tête about Wild Azüre and Kei
So you think you can tell
heaven from hell,
blue skies from pain?
Can you tell a green field
from a cold steel rail,
a smile from a veil...
do you think you can tell?
Cold comfort for change...
and did you exchange...
your welcome part in the world
for a lead role in a cage?
How I wish,
how I wish you were here...
We're just two lost souls
swimming in a fishbowl
year after year...
running over the same old ground...
what have we found?
The same old fear;
wish you were here...
Upset with that development, Aoi decides to talk to her rival/role model Misaki about it. She says that Kei Sonobe is the one who formed Wild Azüre, as well as the de facto leader. She pretty much admits that it feels like her dream will be slipping away from her.
Misaki tells her that she can skip out on the concert if she wants.
With Aoi feeling down, her Precure friends decide to try and do something to cheer her up.
Misaki tells her that she can skip out on the concert if she wants.
With Aoi feeling down, her Precure friends decide to try and do something to cheer her up.
Akira lifts Aoi, ready to whisk her away
And that was a bridal carry to make Yukari's sang-froid waver at least slightly,
foreshadowing this winter's Snow Queen AU
having some Aoikira scenes in the three last stories...
Whilst Aoi is walking home, she is topped by Yukari and Akira who tell her that they will take her somewhere special (to top it all, a bit of a shipping war here with the bridal carry approach!). Turns out that they are just going to the KiraPâti, but the girls do have something planned there: a pyjama party.
Aoi winds up on one front of the battlefield, and our OTP on another.
I don't know at first on whom to cheer...
Oh, I see a "man" at the back, as a matter of fact,
"his" eyes are as red as the sun! ]:)
And the girl in the corner, let no one ignore her,
'cause she thinks she's the passionate one! ;)
"his" eyes are as red as the sun! ]:)
And the girl in the corner, let no one ignore her,
'cause she thinks she's the passionate one! ;)
...but Yukari is ambidextrous and Akira is so tall and strong...
definitely, Team OTP has the upper hand over Team AOI!
(Even though this ep is Aoi-centric...)
Oh yeah! It was like lightning!
Everybody was fighting!
And the music was soothing!
And they all started grooving!!
Yeah!
Everybody was fighting!
And the music was soothing!
And they all started grooving!!
Yeah!
yeah!
yeeeeeah-
yeeeah-
yeeeeah
yeeeeah!!!
And the "man" in the back said "everyone attack!!"
And it turned into a bedroom blitz!!And the girl in the corner said "boy I want to warn you
it'll turn into a bedroom blitz!"
bedroom blitz!!
bedroom blitz!!
bedroom blitz!!
bedroom blitz!!
And the "man" in the back is ready to crack
As "he" raises his hands to the sky
And the girl in the corner is everyone's woman
She could kill you with a wink of her eye ;)
As "he" raises his hands to the sky
And the girl in the corner is everyone's woman
She could kill you with a wink of her eye ;)
Oh yeah!
It was electric!!
So perfectly hectic!!
And the band started leaving,
'cause they all stopped breathing!!
So perfectly hectic!!
And the band started leaving,
'cause they all stopped breathing!!
Yeah!
yeah!
yeeeeeah-
yeeeah-
yeeeeah
yeeeeah!!!
And the "man" in the back said "everyone attack!!"
And it turned into a bedroom blitz!!And the girl in the corner said "boy I want to warn you
it'll turn into a bedroom blitz!"
bedroom blitz!!
bedroom blitz!!
bedroom blitz!!
bedroom blitz!!
IT'S, IT'S
A BEDROOM BLITZ...
IT'S, IT'S
A BEDROOM BLITZ...
IT'S, IT'S
A BEDROOM BLITZ...
YEEEEEEAH,
IT'S A BEDROOM BLITZ!!
After their pillow fight, the girls decide to make ice cream. Aoi then asks everyone what they would do if their favourite sweets ever went away. Himari would be upset, and Ciel says she would just have to go and find them.
Akira kind of dodges the question, and Yukari keeps her answer a secret
(That awkward flustering... definitely, still my OTP. Aoikira just doesn't feel quite right)
"One would have to just make more, but regardless, it wouldn’t affect how much one loves (daisuki) sweets." Aoi has an epiphany upon hearing that. Whilst everyone else goes to sleep, Aoi starts writing a new song.
Empty spaces...
what are we living for?
Abandoned places?
I guess we know this score?
On and on..
Does anybody know what we are looking for?
Wild Azüre ready to put the finishing touches on Aoi’s song
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
Inside my heart is breaking,
my makeup may be flaking, but my smile
still stays on...
They put the song together, and the time of the concert soon arrives.
(Insert song closest to Ganache's here!)
After Ganache’s performance, Misaki tells Aoi that she didn’t expect her to show up. Aoi simply retorts that they came to win.
Just before Wild Azüre can begin performing, an uninvited guest shows up, making THE MOST REDOUBTABLE ENTRANCE HE'S MADE SO FAR ACROSS THIS SERIES!!
Mesdames et messieurs...
THE GRREAT AND POWERRFUL ELYSIO!
Definitely, I Know What You Like (In Your Sissy Villain Wardrobe)!!
I know what I like, and I like what I know;
getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show...
getting better in your wardrobe, stepping one beyond your show...
Elysio arrives to steal Aoi’s dream, which makes him sound a lot like one of the villains from Go! Princess PreCure (besides, he looks pretty Shut-like in that top hat and Classy Cravat; I just adore the Elegant Gothic Aristocrat look. Shut lost all his charm when he turned a Hufflepuff! #AoiApproved Shut cosplay!). He turns the audience into mook soldiers and makes Wild Azüre disappear, with the exception of Aoi.
(He already took her maidenhead, or at least there was blatant subtext... setting more Aoilysio Stockholm-syndrome enemy shipping cogwheels in motion)
The others arrive to help Aoi
Though all PreCures show up fairly quickly, Elysio has made them all disappear within a matter of moments. Even Chocolat and Macaron fall prey to the Worf Effect.
Are you happy?
Are you satisfied?
How long can you stand the heat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
to the sound of the beat...
Another one bites the dust!!
another one bites the dust!!
another one bites the dust!!
another one bites the dust!!
and another one --
How long can you stand the heat?
Out of the doorway the bullets rip
to the sound of the beat...
Another one bites the dust!!
another one bites the dust!!
another one bites the dust!!
another one bites the dust!!
and another one --
and another one --
another one bites the dust!!
(To Macaron and Chocolat) Hey!
I'm gonna get you two...
another one bites the dust!!
So Aoi is left on her own, but she’s not going to give up without a fight. She transforms, but Elysio manages to get the upper hand.
In order to destroy Cure Gelato’s dream (as payback for what happened in August), Elysio traps her in a container and takes her voice.
In the dark of the night
evil will find her!
In the dark of the night
just before dawn!
Aah...
Revenge will be sweet
when the curse is complete...
In the dark of the night
SHE'LL BE GONE!!
As the pieces fall into place,
I see her crawl into place!
Au revoir, petite Aoi, Your Grace...
Farewell...
In the dark of the night,
terror will strike her...
Terror's the least I can do!
In the dark of the night,
evil will brew-w-w-w...
Soon she will feel
that her nightmares are real!!
In the dark of the night,
SHE'LL BE THROUGH!
Elisio takes away Gelato’s voice
She is powerless to escape at first, and the tears start flowing. However, she reaffirms her resolve, and starts to sing.
In the dark of the night,
evil will find her...
In the dark of the night,
terror comes true-ue-ue-ue...
My dear, here's a sign
it's THE END OF THE LINE!!
In the dark of the night,
SHE'LL BE MINE!!
I guess I'm learning...
I must be warmer now...
I'll soon be turning
round the corner now...
Outside the dawn is breaking,
but inside in the dark I'm aching to be free!
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
I'll face it with a gri-i-in!!
I'm never giving i-i-in!!
O-o-o-o-on with the sho-o-o-ow-w!!!
Aoi escapes thanks to her heart singing on
She may have been voiceless for a while there, but Gelato’s heart sang out regardless. Her song was able to reach the rest of PreCures and the other members of Wild Azüre, too. With the other PreCures returning from wherever it was that Elysio trapped them, they unleash their finishing move and force him to retreat.
After that, Wild Azüre are able to perform, and we get to see Aoi’s parents.
After that, Wild Azüre are able to perform, and we get to see Aoi’s parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Tategami, both pretty much alive, sharply dressed (She, Aiko, looks like Masumi Kaido --are they blood-related? Headcanon: Aiko Tategami, née Kaido-- while he, first name still unknown, reminds me of Robert Baratheon)... took the day off from their entrepreneurial duties to see their girl play. (And I must dry up a tear myself.)
Empty spaces...
what are we living for?
Abandoned places?
I guess we know this score?
On and on..
Does anybody know what we are looking for?
Another hero...
another mindless crime
behind the curtain
in the pantomime?
Hold the line!
Does anybody want to take it anymore?
Another hero...
another mindless crime
behind the curtain
in the pantomime?
Hold the line!
Does anybody want to take it anymore?
Though Mr. Mizushima looks as stern as usual, I can see through that he's equally warmed by that performance!
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
Whatever happens,
I'll leave it all to chance...
Whatever happens,
I'll leave it all to chance...
I guess I'm learning...
I must be warmer now...
I'll soon be turning
round the corner now...
Outside the dawn is breaking,
but inside in the dark I'm aching to be free!!
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
SHOW MUST GO O-O-O-O-ON!!
I'll face it with a gri-i-in!!
I'm never giving i-i-in!!
O-o-o-o-on with the sho-o-o-ow-w!!!
(Guitar solo!!)
I'll top the bill, I'll overkill,
I have to find the will to carry
o-o-o-o-on with the sho-o-o-o-ow-w...
SHOW MUST GO O-O-ON!!
Aoi’s parents approve of her choosing to walk the path of music. As the song, and the episode, ends, we see that it seems that Misaki approves of Aoi’s new song as well.
MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
It's hard when the leader leaves a good band decapitated. Take Genesis before and after Peter Gabriel's departure, for an example. My favourite Genesis albums are those of the Gabriel era for a good reason.
Aoi F-ing Tategami has all the trappings of a good leader (only a little lack in the self-control department, but, like Gustavus Adolphus, that actually adds more charisma), so we're crossing our fingers and wishing for this changing of the guard to improve the band under a new leadership, that I already see as widely surpassing her predecessor Kei's!
This episode, with Elysio's revenge on Aoi and Wild Azüre's rematch against Ganache, felt like a natural second half for the diptych that began in August this year with that festival! Really exciting, also seeing how the pieces fit together and these characters --Aoi, Elysio, Misaki, and Aoi's bandmates-- have developed and their dynamics have unfurled within but half a year... a lot of circumstances can change in such a short lapse of time, right?
And maybe Kei's departure, like Syd Barrett's (bless his soul), I hope inspires tunes and lyrics that surpass those written before he left...
When Elysio trapped the other girls in a pocket dimension and Cure Gelato in a soundproof bottle, Cure Gelato continued to sing with all her heart and soul and freed everyone. After the battle, Aoi and her band gave one hell of a show with Aoi's parents approved of their daughter's choice.
The crowner are definitely the Tategamis, just like the Kaidos (seen my headcanon above?), seconding their daughter's choice of career. This weighs even more because Aoi, like Yours Truly (and unlike Minami), is an only child, with all the expectations that this condition entails. I swear even Mitsuyoshi's eyes are teary under those Scary Shiny Glasses of his once more!
I’m also really starting to think that Elysio is my favourite villain from this season of PreCure. He tends to be the one that forces PreCures to face their insecurities, and as a result makes them grow as a characters.
He also seems to be fairly manipulative, and it woudn’t surprise me if he ends up usurping Noir’s power in order to be the final challenge that the Cures must face this season.
I also really like his current method of fighting, mostly due to the different outfits he’s been getting. Yesterweek he was a raven knight, this week he's doing Shut cosplay (and nailing it at that!).
He also seems to be fairly manipulative, and it woudn’t surprise me if he ends up usurping Noir’s power in order to be the final challenge that the Cures must face this season.
I also really like his current method of fighting, mostly due to the different outfits he’s been getting. Yesterweek he was a raven knight, this week he's doing Shut cosplay (and nailing it at that!).
On the shipping front, we had some Aoikira undertones --bridal carry and all--. Still, those are still undertones at the end of the day, and if there ever is a threesome, Aoi will just be third-wheeling and answering for the background music, right?
IN NEXT EPISODE (42)
Next ep follows our chemistry-nerdy introvert once more...
The Prof, to gain self-confidence, has joined a talent show;
Elysio's afoot to seize the chance and cause more woe...
Is chemistry the key to find the pluck she's always missing?
And will she hold it in her heart since now, will she both speak and listen?
