LE PRINCE DES GLACES

Hugtto! Pretty Cure
Episode 8 - My Own Review
LE PRINCE DES GLACES (THE PRINCE OF ICE)

It is Homare’s turn to shine again. A face from her past shows up, and is eager to have her go to Moscow to pursue a figure skating career.

You are giving me the wrong idea, Henri! (Now take that dress off!)

 Henri introduced himself to the girls as him and Homare trained together since young. He wanted Homare to follow him back to Moscow and claimed that spending time with the girls is a waste of time. 

Henri, who also happens to be happy to wear ladies’ wear as long as it suits him

So the person who turned up at the end of previous episode was Henri, who used to train together with Homare for figure skating. Hearing that Homare has gone back to it, he wants her to go to Moscow to pursue the sport further.

He also says right to Hana and Saaya’s faces that they are holding Homare back. Not a good impression to be making there.

Homare is trying her best to make that skating jump. (With a creepy looking Henri stalking her everywhere she goes)

The transformation devices can function as phones

 While she's training, it seems that Homare finds some comfort in hearing her friends' voices. Homare invites Hana and Saaya to go out with her the following day.

Hugtan stands up for the first time

Hana, Saaya and Homare go out as promised. Saaya talks a little with Homare, and says that her first memories of them sparkle more and more when she is together with them. Harry suggests that the girls may be a little too nice, and should be honest with their own hearts as well.

MEANWHILE AT CRYASSE:

The mysterious man, George which Papple commented that she wished her time with George would last forever but George preached of a utopia will fall eventually which is similar to what Harry described of his world before Cryasse conquered it.

A little later on, Henri approaches Homare when she is alone, en tête-à-tête, and says that she can have a top level coach if she goes to Moscow with him.
Henri retorts that she is just adding extra pressure to Homare by doing that, and that anybody can cheer someone else on. He insists that Homare goes with him.

But Henri rebutted that anyone can cheer and the girls are holding Homare back. 

On cheering: Henri claimed that anyone could do it and it is giving unnecessary pressure to the people that is cheered on. 

Homare comes to a decision

Homare has something that she wants to show Henri.

The thing she wants to show is her ice skating, and how Hana and Saaya have introduced her to a brand new world.

Homare decided to show Henri that the girls are not holding her back as she showed off her skating skills to him. She fell down the first time but their cheer gave her strength and both Hana and Saaya swore they saw angel wings coming out of Homare's back (Like Saaya in the previous episode)

Homare astounds her observers with her ice skating. It doesn’t go perfectly, however; when she tries the same jump that injured her before, she ends up falling.

Homare refuses to give up

Homare may have fallen down, but she just gets back up again. She gives it her all, and shines just a like a shining star. After successfully landing that jump, Hana and Saaya rush onto the ice.

Homare gives an incredibly moving performance

Even Henri is wowed by his Étoile's brilliant performance and perseverance.

But that’s enough happiness for the moment, it’s about that time for the monster of the week to strike. This time it is summoned by Papple, who uses the thorny power of the people stuck in a traffic jam (a bunch of people irritated about being stuck in a traffic jam) to create a boomgate theender. The snag that ticks me off is that they made ONE monster with the negative emotions of ALL THOSE driverS. I always love multiple Monsters of the Week in the same episode, right?

Since this is a Homare episode, Cure Étoile ends up getting most of the action this time around. When Papple mentions something about a waste of time, Étoile simply states that there is no thing as wasted time. (Hamilton reference not mandatory, but still...)


Moreover, Henri is caught in the crossfire...

Étoile doesn’t take kindly to Papple’s words

Homare finally makes that jump but at the same time, Papple has created a theender from angry road users. The girls went to battle and with the help of her friends, Cure Étoile was able to form the new Future Crystal from her emotions.

Étoile awakens her second Future Crystal, and the monster of the week is eliminated in due course after a display of teamwork between all three Cures.

With the enemy gone, the Cures return to normal. After having seen Homare’s skating, Henri gives up on trying to get her to go to Moscow.

Hana encounters this mysterious fellow

Hana ends up encountering a mysterious man, a forty-something with dark features who has an interesting-looking book. He says something about a beautiful story where people looked forward to the future, full of hope. With those words, he departs.

This mysterious man (who earlier was together with Papple) started preaching about how nothing lasts forever. 

From the look of it, this man which is credited as George in the ending could be (a) the overlord/big bad in human form or (b) a person related to Hug-tan (her dad?). Or both...? just think of it... Only time will tell.
Hana encounters an incredibly mysterious (handsome/ikemen) man, and who carries a beautiful book, describing it was a world where everyone had great hopes for the future. They called it the a veritable Garden of Eden. However its splendour would not last forever. It is hard to decipher whether or not he is referring to the story, past, or perhaps even this world. One of the biggest question that comes to mind: Who is he? And which side is he on?
He appears to also be the same man standing outside on the terrace with Papple inside reviewing paperwork of a sorts. I am curious of whether or not that is actually the case. It also did not go unnoticed to me how it looked as though he had a wistful expression on his face when he spoke about the book, only making me even more curious about the world he speaks of. But another big question is of course: What is Papple’s relationship with the man? She has mentioned about going on dates, and today we hear her mention how she wished tomorrow would never come.

Finally, there is one last surprise in store for this episode.

Henri joins the 3rd year sports class of L’Avenir Academy

"Did I actually say 'au revoir'?"

Henri accepted Homare's resolve and later contrived to transfer as a student in their school. He even deduced that Homare is Cure Étoile and teased he might try to be a Precure (Oh no, you don't!)

Henri showing up at the school is a surprise, but he also reveals that he knows Homare is a PreCure. He keeps that to himself, though.
That brings this episode to an end.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
Henri appears to be of French descent. I mean, a Slav with a French name? Or a Frenchman who relocated to Moscow to pursue an ice-skating career?
Then there was Henri. I am glad that I was wrong about his origins (I had initially though he was a Russian skater due to the topic of Moscow in the last week’s preview), but he is still the cut out classic half French, half Japanese, or as he likes to call himself: "a double." He and Homare have been skating together since they were kids, and Henri came to see her in hopes she would join him to train in Moscow.
Of course by the end of the episode, Henri surprises Homare with having transferred to their school and is now part of the Sports Class (which she was once a part of, before transferring to the regular class). Although Henri came off as a prick for most of the episode, his attitude improved by the end of the episode, and I actually screamed when he confirmed my suspicions he had caught onto Homare being a precure, and even joked to her about maybe he should try becoming one himself. And I am not gonna lie, if they were to do that, I would be all over it. The only thing I am concerned about however is making him disappear altogether, especially since he and the girls are in different departments at school. I think it would be great he were to have a similar presence as Yui did in Go! Princess Precure. One of the most memorable characters to be part of the group without having any super power of their own.
Henri’s earlier comments on how “Cheering someone is something anyone can do”--- And to some degree, Henri is right.
The stalking element in the Homari pairing (Homare*Henri) definitely gives it a bit of a creepy vibe, what with invading your kismesis's privacy (at least Iago and Cassio were roommates, right?)...

The school in this continuity is called L'Avenir, which means The Future in French.

As for that mysterious George bloke, I’m almost certain that he is involved with Cryasse. Maybe it's Kurai himself? Only time will tell... The relationship between George and Papple (Georple?) is certainly interesting. If there ever is a Precure Mizzie AU in the works, I've already handpicked my Thénardiers!

Hana encounters an incredibly mysterious (handsome/ikemen) man, and who carries a beautiful book, describing it was a world where everyone had great hopes for the future. They called it the a veritable Garden of Eden. However its splendour would not last forever. It is hard to decipher whether or not he is referring to the story, past, or perhaps even this world. One of the biggest question that comes to mind: Who is he? And which side is he on?

He appears to also be the same man standing outside on the terrace with Papple inside reviewing paperwork of a sorts. I am curious of whether or not that is actually the case. It also did not go unnoticed to me how it looked as though he had a wistful expression on his face when he spoke about the book, only making me even more curious about the world he speaks of. But another big question is of course: What is Papple’s relationship with the man? She has mentioned about going on dates, and today we hear her mention how she wished tomorrow would never come.

UNE NOUVELLE PÂTISSIÈRE EN VILLE

Kirakira Precure à la Mode - Episode 19

My Own Review

UNE NOUVELLE PÂTISSIÈRE EN VILLE
(A NEW PÂTISSIÈRE IN TOWN)

In the last episode, a blond foreign girl was seen on the streets of Ichigozaka; later on she was revealed to be French sweetsmaking prodigy Ciel Kirahoshi...

Getting off at the Mount Ichigo trail...

...she travels through a tunnel hewn in the slope,

...as if she already knew the place.

Suddenly, her humanoid shadow...

...poofs into a yousei shadow...

Then, Ciel is revealed as actually a yousei, a pink bunny yousei...

CIEL (before the ruins, sobbing): Everyone... where are they?

CIEL: They're all gone... What ever happened?

***Cue Evolving Credits!***

This time, Pekorin and Ciel are given equal status as yousei before the logo.

Cue the Precures standing before a fruit shop.

Suddenly...

A WILD FOREIGNER APPEARS!

CIEL (grabbing a melon): Bon!
Her sudden appearance startles the Cures indeed.

To hammer home the point that she's French... what other background music than accordion?

CIEL: This one looks like the best of the bunch!

However, she hands the melon over to the Precures. 

Eyebrows are raised. Even Aoi Tategami, this show's epitome of hot blood, is taken aback by the straightforward European.

AOI: What the heck?

Akira simply keeps silence.

CIEL: Monsieur?

GREENGROCER: Who, me?

After perusing all of that scrumptious fruit, Ciel has very clear ideas.

CIEL: Hmm... Right.

CIEL (to the greengrocer): Well then, this one, this one, that one, and that one. Also that one there, as much as you have.

(She points at the fruits because she's not sure of their Japanese names)

The greengrocer gasps in astonishment.

GREENGROCER: Well, isn't that something... Those are all the local seasonal fruits here in Ichigozaka!

CIEL: Starting with the finest local ingredients is key... isn't it?

Even Akira gasps this time, while Aoi keeps silence, thinking maybe about the lines of "what an ignoramus is the lead of Wild Azüre..."

The more intellectual Cures, however, recognise her in spite of the sunglasses.

YUKARI: Isn't that girl...

HIMARI (standard introvert blurting-out): She's... she's... she's... the pâtissière prodigy...

(Well, Yukari could have done some Varysing here to explain it as well...)

(At least the highschoolers keep calm)

ALL THE PRECURES: Whaaat?! No... no way!! CIEL KIRAHOSHI??!!

CIEL (taking off her glasses): My cover's blown already?

Once the shades come off, she reveals those lovely blue eyes of hers...

...then breaks out into a wistful smile.

She looks exactly like on screen!

IT'S REALLY HER!!

Even Akira gasps it out loud. Which means it's serious business.

Soon, the square is full of passersby who gasp at seeing the prodigy right in their midst.
TOWNSPEOPLE: Is that Ciel Kirahoshi? I can't believe it! Sugoi!!


CIEL: Bonjour à tous!! I'd like to take this moment to announce, for a limited time only, the grand opening of my brand new shop here in Ichigozaka!

CIEL (doing this V sign): I encourage everyone of you to come and visit me!

Of course the intrigued Precures will be there...

for the big day is right now!!

Fireworks are fired...

...and there's an overly long queue stretching all the way along the high street...

...all the way to this park templet...

...a pretty chapel-like, neogothic one.

There, the queue disappears into Ciel's café, and right outside stands a cameraman ready to film it all.

 The interior is certainly beautiful (kirei), with all those prism lamps and the stainglass window...


MAÎTRE D': Right this way.


CIEL (turning around, to receive the Cures): Bonjour!! Please, have a seat.

However, our ever vigilant garçonne leader notices something amiss...

AKIRA: Eh? There's no display case?

CIEL: Here, we do assiette desserts.

Feast your eyes on this treat and the bishie garçon making it... and learn what's the proper name for restaurant desserts you get on a plate.

CIEL: They're desserts meant to be presented on plates, or assiettes. Sweets should be pleasant to the eyes as well... So... allons-y! (snaps fingers)

And, having said that word, Ciel deftly and quickly swirls syrup into spirals...

...on top of each and every assiette...

...then berries and white chocolate balls...

...as well as edible petals, with a speed and dexterity too impressive for this girl to be human.

Just a flick of the wrist and the mango is in its place.

But what comes next cements the fact that Ciel is supernatural...

For Ciel pours liquid nitrogen into a vat...

...then begins to stir it with both of her hands...

...fishing up some green ice cream, and unscathed, once the nitro-fog has cleared.

Magic? No, science. Like I feel Himari will give a chemistry lecture rather soon...

CIEL: Hmm... There. Finished!


Even the frame around the sweets is more elegant, being kirei as opposed to the Precures' kawaii sweet frames.


CIEL (doing the V sign): Parfait!

YUKARI: It means "perfect" in French.

So she speaks French --in the original series-- too? 

So far, we have seen Yukari Kotozume can:

• brew tea the traditional Japanese style
• make perfect macarons
• make perfect daifuku
• play tennis like a pro
• combine colours, shapes, and other details with incredible aesthetic sense (in fashion, cuisine, everything)
• speak more than one foreign language - French and English (aside from Japanese), at last
• give sensible fashion advice
• stop fires
• make beautiful ornaments out of kirakiraru
• catch runaway falling plates in her left hand (further confirming my theories on her ambidexterity)
• outwit a magnificent bastard/chessmaster while playing along with his own game

(Is there any flaw -aside from that pushing herself too hard- that may be her weak spot?)

Anyway, Ciel's tied with Yukari when it comes to skills so far... still, one of them is a demi-humanoid member of a Fairy/High People race, and the other is a regular human, which really says something.

Anyway, let's see if this assiette dessert tastes as good as it looks...

The verdict is unanimous.

YUKARI: This must be a galette, right?
HIMARI: I've never felt such an incredible texture!!


AOI: There'f bafil in vat forbet, ifn fere? (There's basil in that sorbet, isn't there?)
AKIRA: It does well with this thick mango sauce, doesn't it?

AOI (swallowing, wincing slightly): Now it's tingling...
CIEL: That's the sansho pepper.

AOI: Oh... Sansho pepper? Like the one you put on roast eel?
CIEL: Mais oui!

YUKARI: It's unusual, but it fits together well.
HIMARI: The flavours and the textures keep on shifting... So much fun!
(Wait, Prof, until the blondie tells you about the nitrogen. Then you'll go gaga!)

In the end, only a little mango sauce and a few petals are left on each and every plate.

(I take no prisoners myself...)

CIEL: How was it?
Her sweets get described as an amusement park/funfair of sparkles (kirakira no yúenchi)


CIEL: Merci! Part artist, part entertainer. That's the kind of ultimate pâtissière I hope to be!

Of course **insert idiot heroine shenanigans in here** see why I prefer escapist characters?

I just posted these pics so you could see the faces Aoi, the high-schoolers, and Ciel make.
Aside from Mana (who deserves a little more loving) and Tsubomi (the pink Cure being for once the nerdy introvert), not to mention the two original Futari wa Cures (the academic Ace on one hand, the athletic Ace on the other)... they basically use a Tsukino, or rather Zucchino, cookie-cutter for all the pink Precures.


Is there something between Akira and Ciel's maître d'? Maybe they're just talking garçon things in the background. Also, Aoi's even more catlike shock face.


CIEL: My answer is... non. As a general rule, I take up no apprentices.

CIEL: They are my staff, not my apprentices.

And he was washing in the meantime... maybe not paying any heed to Akira who was seated right before him...

And there Akira sits in front of the same garçon. Maybe he's opened up to her...

CIEL: Okay, then. This will be your entrance exam, to express yourself through sweets. Your own self. On our next day off, I shall be waiting for you here.
(Why give the Zucchino-style idiot heroine that ball? It's like... It's like, [through Ciel's POV] for me, playing poker against one of my echolalic Burrow classmates! Right, I get the whole audience surrogate point... but not all viewers are twits in the first place! Not everyone finds an outright twit relatable...)

AOI: Really? I'm not so sure...

Sarcasm, hot blood, a backstory of conflict and freedom... heck, Aoi is more my cup of tea. 

Just make Tyrion Lannister a genki magical girl warrior, that's it.

AKIRA: Not... quite that, I think.

I also love bifauxnen characters, especially if they have any boyish short hair (from Haruka Tenoh to Akira Kenjo via the Maid of Tarth), being a bifauxnen myself. 

Himari also stresses that the dish has to please a professional's high standards. She's outright called Ciel a professional (a pro in the original series)!!

Back to Little Miss Sarcasm...

AOI: This is way too hard...

YUKARI (from offscreen): Is it? I think it's quite interesting.

AOI: Huh?

YUKARI: To meet the one and only Ciel, that prodigy pâtissière, for the very first time in forever, and immediately request to be her student.

The plot definitely thickens here at the KiraPâti...

Cut to an ominous nearly new moon in the night sky...

BILBERRY: What the heck is up with today? Anywhere I go, these ugly line-ups are everywhere.

Maybe it looks less Sovietic than Scar's moon backdrop stance, but I can see a homage,

even more pronounced when she's seen overlooking the queues from that belltower spire. 

IRU: That's right.

IRU: Hey, maybe they're all just one and the same big queue?

And thus, Bilberry hones in on the queuers.

THIRTYISH BRUNETTE IN SKY BLUE: I can't wait to taste that pâtissière prodigy's desserts... 

BILBERRY (surprised): A pâtissière... prodigy?

 BILBERRY (chortles): Tee-hee!

Shouldn't it say Fermé instead?

Wait... far fewer Asians are francophone. Yukari Kotozume is an exception.

Isn't that star pattern nifty? Behold the door!

(Westeros pun included for this time!)

The café is empty, save for...

...a lone yousei peeling a kiwi on the counter.

A shut door and a re-entrance later, Ciel reappears in human form with a startling "bonjour!!"

CIEL: Glad you came. Is that so? Come with me.

CIEL (advancing towards the counter): I was just working on some new creations.

Are all these assiettes first trials of said creations?

CIEL: Oui! The theme of today's research was kiwi. Would you like to try?

In all these recipes, the kiwi plays the lead role, but it also adds all sorts of accents. The taste and the texture are both completely original.

In the meantime, Ciel test-tastes one of her creations...

...then writes about it in her journal.

CIEL: Maybe it could stand to be a little more tart...
Does she take notes every time she makes a new dessert?

CIEL: Oui! Even using the same ingredients, the grower, variety, locale, and harvest can vary, changing the final results.

(Look at how many different kiwis there are; she's chosen what appears to be a Zespri Green)

CIEL: From preparation and pairings, it's a world of infinite possibilities.

CIEL (elated): I want to create the best dishes I can from that world!!

That's basically her creed in a nutshell.
I love when characters explain their creeds that way, it's so ASoIaF...

CIEL: Now then. Today is your turn to shine. Show me the sweets that truly express you!

CIEL: Sigh...

Here we can see Ciel's assiettes once more.

CIEL: Sigh...

(More on why idiot heroes are not my cup of tea above)

Meanwhile, the plot requires the other Cures to stay at the KiraPâti... (What did I say? Give Aoi or Akira that discipleship and you get an equally interesting plot)

AKIRA: Ichika was pretty nervous... I hope she'll be okay.

(And I hope the spotlight will shine on you two highschoolers soon.)

One could even hear a leaf fall.

AOI: Hmm... Hmmmm...

AOI: Fine!! Let's go peek in!!

(You know what I mean? Aoi is the Large Ham and Motormouth of the show, hot-blooded, impulsive, and as sarcastic as Tyrion Lannister. Pairing her with Ciel would allow for even more interesting dynamics; even more considering Aoi's own proper-lady background.)

Back chez Ciel...

CIEL (coldly): This is the sweet that best says "you"? Is that so?
She resolves to try a spoonful of that strawberry cake herself.

CIEL (after swallowing): Hmm... All wrong. Catastrophically unbalanced. Particularly, since the sauce is broken. 

CIEL (smiling, on a more cheerful note): But... its individual components are not bad at all.

Suddenly, our French prodigy has an eureka moment...

CIEL: That's it!! Give me one second, s'il-vous plaît.

Off she saunters, running at an unusually lively pace (more credible given her Europeanness than her role as a Technician and a perfectionist), taking a left turn towards the café kitchen.

Then she runs to left, to right, doing lots of things offscreen as she scurries hither and thither, only to exclaim when she is finally ready, her catchword...

CIEL: Parfait!! I dub thee "Rondeau de lapin!!"


It's round and it has a bunny. Which basically makes this a shaped-like-itself name.
CIEL: Strawberry cake à la manière de Ciel. Feel free to take a bite.
CIEL: To keep the cotton candy from making it too sweet, the cake is made with fromage blanc to balance things out. The berry sauce really sings, n'est pas vrai?


(And now comes the conclusion of those idiot hero shenanigans...
CIEL: I'm afraid I cannot take you as an apprentice. Pardonnez-moi.
I. SAW.  IT. COMING.)


CIEL: I'll go make tea.
And off she saunters to the kitchen to put that kettle on...

While Ciel's away... why not have a peek at her illustrated journal?

Conveniently for an Ichigozaka-based loser protagonist, it's not in French.

Unbelievable. This is how hard she works to make her sweets... (and, for once, the word rendered as "work hard" by the subs is not "ganbare" ["give one's all"], but a more accurate "doryoku shiteru"!!)

However, here lies her motto and the core of her philosophy:
SWEETS TO BRING HAPPINESS TO EVERYONE.

Suddenly, the door opens with a loud bolt and a Perky Female Minion stands right in the doorway.

BILBERRY: Hi-i-i!! So this is... the Pâtissière Prodigy's shop?

BILBERRY (chortling): Ha-ha! So those must be the Prodigy's sweets, amirite?

Notice that Iru's right leg is still bandaged. I somehow have the feeling that all four of his limbs will be injured one by one during this summer cour... (think Monty Python's black knight or the Tar Baby story!)

Suddenly, Iru's muppet mouth opens wide, revealing the black hole within and attracting the kirakiraru within the Rondeau, and all the other assiette desserts on display, towards Bilberry.

BILBERRY: Ha-ha-ha-ha! (Off she gravitates out of the café as the doors shut behind her, right before Ciel arrives)

Enter our prodigy with a teapot and a teacup.
CIEL: Did someone come in? (Looking at her desserts, in shock) Gasp! That is...

BILBERRY (from atop the Chez Ciel tower): As expected from a pâtissière prodigy's sweets. Look at all of it!!


BILBERRY (spinning around with arms outstretched and Iru in her hands, until she stops with the ragdoll right in front): Kirakiraru! I stain you in darkness!

BILBERRY: Noir Filling!
As she says these words, Iru's hat star glows and darkens all the kirakiraru; then he opens wide once more and breathes in, or swallows, all the darkened kirakiraru...

...making Iru's belly swell until it's spherical...

...then turning him into a daikaiju Iru with a cotton candy torso and arms.

***CURE À LA MODE... DECORATION!!***
***cue transformation scene***





Out of the café storms Ciel to find herself right in the middle of this mano a mano battle.

Upon seeing Cure Whip, our prodigy's eyes suddenly widen...

CIEL: It can't be... Gasp! It's...!!

 From right above, she hears the voice of the PFM perched on her monster's top hat.

BILBERRY: Right! Take this kirakiraru to my beloved Master Noir!!

As usual, Kaiju!Iru spits the black hole out of his muppet maw.

CIEL: What's that hole?

Right then, she gasps in horror as as the massive right fist of a cotton candy kaiju looms overhead...

...suddenly falling down upon her...

...and sending her reeling, unconscious, about five meters backwards on the lawn.

Still Ciel, in spite of the pain, is pretty much alive.

BILBERRY: Aaaaight! Let's go!!!

BILBERRY: Pest... Go get her!!

BILBERRY: Haha! I should have known! Such awesome power from that pâtissière prodigy's sweets and their kirakiraru!!

BILBERRY: This is the best...

BILBERRY: Huh!?
Ciel's sweets deserve better than to have their power misused. Ciel's sweets were meant to make this world a happier place! Those beautiful, wonderful (kirei mo suteki na) sweets...

Ciel, still unconscious on the lawn, reacts to this praise.

BILBERRY (sarcastic): Ha! Then let's just use those boring feelings to crush you!

IRU: No-III-r!! (seriously, like Hodor, that's all he can say as a daikaiju)

And then, all suddenly, right when we expected it the least... GASP!

 CURE CHOCOLAT: Kirakira-kirarun... CHOCOLAT... AROMASE!!

Checking blood pressure: four heartbeats per second...

Right when we least expect it, the bifauxnen leader swoops in to save the day!!

That Aromase quickly reduces the enemy's cotton candy volley to smithereens.
Bilberry is not amused.

BILBERRY: What the...??!!

CURE CHOCOLAT (to Cure Whip and Ciel): You okay?

Everyone!!

Once the Zuka Cures step in, the battle always gets more exciting.

CURE CHOCOLAT: Right. Let's go.

First, we open with a nice Gelato Shake...


Let that ice shrapnel scatter in all directions!!

With the present-day heat wave, encasing Iru in ice from the waist downwards seems to be the best solution, especially in the light of the move to come...

That's right! It's not over till the oneesama sings...

...and she is right about to begin!

CURE MACARON: Kirakira-kiraru! Macaron Julienne!

CURE MACARON: Meowww...


Right as she gives this kitty impression...

...those sharp blades appear on the macaron yo-yo!

BILBERRY: (Gnashing of teeth)

All right, time for that Finishing Move, to purify Iru with Sweets Wonderful à la Mode!

Soon, the Iru of the Week is steeped in colourful kirakiraru...

...as Ciel, coming to, witnesses the outcome of the battle.
CIEL (slurred): Pre...cures...

She catches merely a glimpse of the Cures' Finishing Move before her eyes shut and her consciousness drifts away once more.

The purified Iru has no more injured limbs than his right leg, as before. Only that his injuries have spread down to the foot due to Cure-Gelato-induced frostbite.

BILBERRY (picking up Iru): (Gnashing of teeth.)

Exit Bilberry stage left, with the usual hop backwards.

 Soon Ciel comes to for good, with a startled gasp.

CIEL: Waaah! Hey, were the Precures right here??!! So... They really do exist...

Does Ciel know... does that mean she, as a yousei, thought that the Precures were nothing but the stuff of prophecy and old sages' tales? It surely does...

AOI (crazy ironic as usual): As for THAT kind of thing...

What does the rest of this cour have in store?

A surprise visit from the Tategamis and/or the Kotozumes?

Akira in a frogman suit (I cannot see her wearing trunks or a bikini, given her bifauxnen physique) at the seaside?

An arranged marriage for one of our young Ladyships?

More chemistry explanations (Ciel and Himari never discussed nitrogen freezing onscreen, but it's still a headcanon of mine)?

Surely, the HMS Yukakira will stay afloat, I've got the feeling...

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
We get to see Ciel Kiraboshi from a bit closer up when she's arrived in Ichigozaka. Apparently, she must have heard in Tokyo or Osaka of the pâtissières in that idyllic provincial town and decided to pay them a visit... and to open a shop in Ichigozaka herself. A pretty fancy shop that makes the KiraPâti look austere in comparison. For once, the token European shows no signs of gaucherie in her new environs, becoming extremely popular among the consumers, and a serious contender for the KiraPâti.
The word "prodigy" (tensai) is used right off the bat for her. So... tensai (天才, rendered in the fansub as "prodigy"), is a word often used in anime to describe an Ace character, to emphasize the formidable combination of their youth and skills.
We know that she's in the same age group as the secondary-school Cures (again, because the latter were intended as audience surrogates)... let's see if she's good at more things than just pastry-making and speaking French, shall we? (Is she an all-round Ace as an artistic academic athlete?)
On her chemistry with the Zuka Cures... The review Akira gave of Ciel's sherbet shows that our resident middle-class and practical bifauxnen actually knows how to enjoy the finer things in life.
On her relationship with her maître d'...
On her shop... Ut supra diximus... move away, KiraPâti. It looks too kawaii, unless they improve it mid-season.
On her principles of sweetsmaking... These assiette desserts are treats I imagine as being served for dessert in at least a five-star restaurant. But she makes them for the general public.
On the reveal of Ciel being actually a yosei from Ichigozaka... It seems that, when Giulio's cronies stormed Mount Ichigo, she somehow wound up in France. Or did she leave before the invasion? So many mysteries...
 
On the possibility of Giulio and Ciel being siblings: Just look at the two of them.
Maybe I should just stop calling this summer cour the Bilberry arc and call it the Ciel arc instead, right? The Ace/Technician (Ciel focuses on the technical aspects and visual presentations of making sweets, including the taste and combinations) token foreigner overshadows the Perky Female Minion by faaaar... I mean, look at the desserts our blonde has made, and even how she outsavvies Yukari when thinking about flavour and presentation.
Usually, when she wears sunglasses, she is avoiding from the people, but, once revealed, she quickly shows herself in public. Comparing to Kirara, she is quite arrogant (even though she is worth to be arrogant).
PS. Speaking of Bilberry, her facial expressions are comparable to those of both Shut and Ranko. She looks like a palette-swapped Elegant Gothic Lolita Ranko Ichijo with a few dashes of that PFM icon and codifier Harley Quinn, doesn't she?


IN THE NEXT EPISODE (20):

Our Ace is an aloof young girl, like most prodigies are,

yet she admires the Precures, who eclipse her very own star...


A trip into the woodland may reveal some more backstory:
the plot thickens as much as storybooks by Edward Gorey...