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 A BIG BLUE BRUTE IS BACK TO BASH

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 32

My Own Review

IN WHICH A BIG BLUE BRUTE IS BACK TO BASH

PreCures may have achieved one of their objectives, but it turns out that is only the first step in their mission. In the thirty-second episode, they discover what comes next.

Yuni takes it easy whilst the others fuss over Fuwa

Now that PreCures have gathered all twelve Princess Star Colour Pens and Fuwa has transformed, the Star Princesses give them their next mission: to find some MacGuffin called the Twinkle Imagination. A fight with a powerful adversary also leads to a new finishing technique.

Garuogre isn’t exactly the sharpest tool in the shed (unsurprising for the Brute among the cadres)

Garuogre returns for a rematch in this episode, though not before grabbing Fuwa. Fortunately for PreCures, he (as the Brute of the KnotRaiders that he is) doesn’t recognise Fuwa in her new alicorn form and just throws away the opportunity to capture her.

PreCures vs. Garuogre

The main event in this episode is the fight between PreCures and Garuogre. Our Big Blue Brute isn’t exactly happy about what happened previously, so he uses the second chance that Darknest has granted him.

Those who had lost everything

Garuouga has a few choice words to say about PreCures’ desire to protect Fuwa, which gives us a bit of insight on the KNotraiders. Much like Yuni, it seems that Garuogre, Kappard, and Tenjou (and most surely Ayewan) had all lost their planets. When they were lost, Darknest appeared. The flashback to that event implies that some darkness drove them from their homes – and to that, I ask: is Darknest that darkness, or is there some other malevolent force out there?

Cure Star lands a solid hit

The battle banter is pretty typical PreCure stuff: Garuogre convinced that protecting something makes them weak, whilst PreCures are strong because they have something to protect. At least the fight is fun to watch, though – the ogre has a pretty good track record for his fights so far (all two of them).

Pretty Cure Star Twinkle Imagination

Garuogre is a tough opponent, but all PreCures and Fuwa putting their feelings together results in a new finishing move: Pretty Cure Star Twinkle Imagination. PreCures get some new outfits for the attack, and Fuwa participates as well.

Perhaps the first time that PreCures have seen Darknest

If I’m remembering correctly, PreCures also get their first sighting of Darknest in this episode. He calls Fuwa a “vessel”.

The Star Princesses give PreCures their next objective

One more impromptu trip to the Star Palace gives PreCures their next objective: to gather Twinkle Imagination. That’s all they have to say on the matter, though: it is up to Cure Star and the others to seek it out themselves.
This episode of Star ☆ Twinkle was a good one. The fight against Garuogre was decent, we got to learn a little more about the KNotraiders, and PreCures have powered up. Good stuff.
Next time, the quest to gather Twinkle Imagination begins! Or at least it would, it everyone wasn’t so busy…

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
ALL STAR PRINCESSES TOGETHER NOW!! Hadn't seen that since the springtime of this year, when Star*Twinkle began. WUUUIIII!!! >D OwO 

Fuwicorn: so, as we mentioned in last episode Fuwa evolved from jigglypuff to... alicorn? Maybe this is some brony bait, intentional or not, ... GARUOGRE, the Brute as he is, failed utterly to recognise an evolved Fuwa ( XD )

The conflict thickens:
KNotraider cadre backstory::: so Darknest created this black hole that swallowed up Planet Kappa, Planet Tengu, Planet Cyclops, and Planet Ogre, leaving a sole survivor from each world on purpose, so that, racked with trauma, survivor guilt, and lack of a purpose in life... they had no choice but to join the Ophiuchus Star Prince as his closest warriors, as soon as he coaxed them into him.
Is Fuwa a vessel... for what? Namely, His Overlordship's words

The Star Princesses have another quest: The Twinkle Imagination? (heheheheh...) Do these Japanese anime-makers have any idea of the innuendo the word "twinkle" carries in its native English? (I mean, to put another example, Mandibuzz's original name is Vulgina, which officially stands for "vulture regina", but the appearance of that pokémon does give off some unfortunate innuendo as well).

IN WHICH ALL 12 STAR COLOUR PENS ARE GATHERED

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 31
My Own Review
IN WHICH ALL 12 STAR COLOUR PENS ARE GATHERED

hallofanimefame
angryanimeb*tches


PreCures’ goal of obtaining all twelve Princess Star Colour Pens is in sight in the thirty-first episode of Star ☆ Twinkle, but obviously their enemies don’t intend to let that go unchallenged.

Some great expressions in this episode

In this episode, PreCures return to Earth, with General Topper from the Starscape Alliance in hot pursuit. He asks the girls to join the Starscape Alliance, but the response he gets is not something he expected.
The final Pisces Princess Star Colour Pen shows up, but they will have to fight Garuogre in order to get it.

Seems like Hikaru’s onigiri (filled rice ball) is really quite popular with extraterrestrials

The first part of this episode focuses on Topper and his efforts to recruit PreCures into the Starscape Alliance. Unfortunately for him, the girls have other commitments (including caring for the family business, or practicing to become a concert pianist). We get some more light-hearted moments in this part of the episode, too – because things get a little more serious shortly.

Topper regrets his lack of power

“With great power comes great responsibility” could be a well-known phrase that applies to the conversation Topper has with Hikaru. She is a PreCure, and it is her duty to protect; something that the vertically-challenged general failed to do (when the 'raiders stole and scattered all the Pens).

Garuogre vs. Cure Star

Topper’s conversation with Hikaru is cut short by the arrival of Garuogre; it is the first time we are seeing him fight any Cure directly. Unlike the other cadre enemies, Garuogre relies on his own strength – which has been augmented by Darknest.

Garuogre throws off his cloak (INSERT PILLAR MEN THEME)

Cure Star and Garuogre fight a single combat on the Earth's Moon – something which amused me quite a bit considering the events of Symphogear XV episode 10. No lunar ruins in sight, but we do get a nice fight sequence. The fights tend to be pretty good whenever a cadre antagonist gets directly involved, and this time around is no exception.

The fight does not go well for Cure Star

During the fight, Garuogre has some things to say about a pummelled Cure Star’s desire to protect. Perhaps he failed to protect something in the past, and that led him to serving Darknest (CONFIRMED IN NEXT EPISODE!!). That’s just a guess, it could just be typical villain talk.

The cavalry arrives

You’d think the arrival of the other Cures would mark a turning point in the fight, but Garuouga is remarkably resilient, even shrugging off all the Cures’ special attacks. Fortunately for the Cures, Darknest’s power is a finite resource.

Cure Star acquires the Pisces Princess Star Colour Pen

During the fight, Cure Star manages to grab the final Pisces Star Colour Pen from her foe. Once he retreats, it is time for one more trip to the Star Palace.

Pisces Fuwa (Merwa)

Pisces Star Princess (oui, she's a mermaid!)

That’s all twelve Princess Star Colour Pens gathered together, and their combined power has a surprise in store for Fuwa.

Fuwa transforms into an alicorn

That caps off this episode of Star ☆ Twinkle, and it was a great one. The fight against Garuogre has to be my highlight; some really enjoyable animation there. It also helps that Garuogre is the biggest threat the Cures have faced; though I guess it does depend on how much of that was Darknest’s power.
Still a great fight, though.
Fuwa’s transformation is all right, I guess. I don’t dislike it, but I’m not sure why it is necessary to have Fuwa transform at this point. Perhaps the next episode will provide some insight into all that.
We haven’t really had the chance to see what the power of all twelve Princess Star Colour Pens can do, but what we have got so far is a little underwhelming. They were built up as being able to grant any desire, or something along those lines, and all we have at the moment is Fuwa becoming a unicorn. No matter how you look at it, she is still the cute mascot fairy.
Looks like we might get some more background on Garuogre (and maybe the other 'raider cadres) next time, as well as discover just what is going on with Fuwa.

 


MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
WOWOWOW Alicorn Fuwa: I definitely smell some brony bait in the design of her evolution... also unicorns and alicorns are pretty much in vogue this decade, so this was not entirely unexpected (think of Cure Parfait's rainbow pegasus theme!)... However, she had reminded me all the way of a jigglypuff before she evolved, so this came as a twist and a surprise!

General Topper (and his Napoleon complex): Anyone else agrees that with his oversized commissar cap, he might be compensating for something? ;)

EN QUE EL SOL DESCORRE UNA CORTINA DE HUMO

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure Episode 4
My Own Review
EN QUE EL SOL DESCORRE UNA CORTINA DE HUMO

In the fourth episode of Star ☆ Twinkle, Cure Star and Cure Milkyway gain a new ally. This is an episode that certain people I know have been eagerly anticipating. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.

This is my review of Star Twinkle Ep 4 and Elena's life is about to change forever today!

Elena Amamiya will be the star of this episode

This episode begins at the household of the Sonrisa florists; crayon drawings from the little siblings line the walls, and we see Elena making breakfast for them all. We know both parents are alive and Elena is the eldest of seven... así que hacen 9 comensales para los que cocinar. Nueve. Hay que ser toda una chef y tener un par de huevos. O al menos uno por cabeza - pero, de hecho, ella debuta aquí friendo los dos primeros, seguramente para sus padres, al estilo inglés, sacándolos de la sartén con su espumadera.

Then we have a scene with Hikaru stopping by to bring some food (filled rice balls) to Lala, before she heads off to school. Lala decides to join Hikaru, and Fuwa and Purunce tag along as well. Of course, Fuwa and Purunce have to remain out of sight, but fortunately there is something else that has the other students’ attention.

Elena is very popular with the girls

The students’ attention is focused on Elena Amamiya, the sun of Mihoshi Secondary School. Hikaru and Lala want to thank her for her help the other day, but they can’t get near her.

¡Chao!

¡Chao!

ELENA: ¡Chao!

FANGIRLS: Squeee-e-e-e-e!!!

We finally get to see why Elena is being loved by her peers at school. Her cheerful and positive demeanour could make everyone smile (which is her motto) and she is also very athletic. Furthermore, she has her own fan club which in another word- she is another Akira from Kira Kira à la Mode (minus crossdressing).

When an errant football is kicked towards the group of fangirls surrounding Elena, she skilfully returns the shot.

VAYA CHUTE DE ÓRDAGO...

With Hikaru in lessons, Lala decides to peek in through the window on a couple of classes to see what this school thing is like. Always hanging from the eaves like an overgrown bat...

 Lala also gets to see what school is like since her planet does not have an education system as they were taught by their AIs.

A girl with a different hair colour- A Recurring Side Character! PS. She also suspicious of Lala's snooping around class...

(Insert pivoting Elena here)

Lala happens to see a gymnastics class where Elena performs admirably, pivoting in such a way that wows even us across the fourth wall.

 The Twinkle Book can also summon food (so far, strawberry cakes) out of thin air just by drawing that food item in question on its pages.

 

Fuwa enjoys a slice of cake for lunch

At lunch, Hikaru and Lala eagerly talk about how great Elena is before they eat.

MEANWHILE IN THE SINISTER HEADQUARTERS OF THE KNOTRAIDERS...

We also get to see the Knot Raiders' base of operations and the remaining generals- GalRUogre (which is based on the Japanese Orge) who is the leader and wished to seek their "Lord" who is yet to be awaken.

Ayewan (as in Eyeone) who is based on a Yokai cyclopette and is very bratty towards Kappard... and a catike butler (no name mentioned yet) who gave Kappard a device to search for the Star Princesses.

That device on the silver platter is a Star Colour Pen Locator.

MEANWHILE AT MIHOSHI SECONDARY... 

 Later Hikaru and Lala want to look for Elena to thank her for that word of encouragement last week and came across Kaguya, Madoka-the student council president and top student.

The Moon of Mihoshi Secondary School, Madoka Kaguya

After a scene where we see a few more of the antagonists, Hikaru and Lala decide to try and find Elena. They spot a crowd, but discover that it is Madoka Kaguya at the centre of it. Madoka is the student council president, and the Moon of Mihoshi Secondary School. Madoka tells them that Elena has gone home. As Hikaru and Lala leave, Madoka notices Fuwa. And Lala's antennae.

Madoka has her own followers but did not show any airs to the two girls. However Madoka has a sharp eye once she saw Fuwa popping out of the girls' bag, as well as Lala's feelers, and became interested about the pair.
Something's going on...

Elena’s siblings want to play with Fuwa

Hikaru and Lala go to the Floristería Sonrisa (“smile flower shop” in Spanish), where Elena works. There, her siblings manage to get hold of Fuwa and want to play with her. Purunce assures Lala that it will be fine, so they get the go ahead.

Can we keep her, Sis?

Hikaru and Lala learn from Elena that she has a lot of personal commitments as she has to take care of her siblings and the flower shop at the same time which explained why she rejected many offerings from the various clubs. (Why do I get a feeling that this is going to bite Elena back in the future?)


After talking for a while, it comes time for Hikaru and Lala to depart. As they walk home, they encounter Tenjou and her soldiers.

This time Tenjou enters the battlefield in style, held aloft in a sedan chair just like Albrecht von Wallenstein...

Tenjou employs divide and conquer tactics to fight PreCures

Speaking of battles, Tenjou and her minions decided to trap Cure Star and Cure Milkyway in a smokescreen while the mooks tried to catch Fuwa.

As Cure Star and Cure Milkyway fight against Tenjou’s forces, the smoke from the smokescreen used in the battle catches the attention of Elena’s siblings. Knowing that Hikaru and Lala were walking in that direction, Elena heads straight there.
She sees the fight, but is too scared to step forward to help.

At first, Elena was shaking her legs after seeing what is going but began to charge forward after seeing Fuwa's tears.

However, when Fuwa is threatened Elena gains the resolve to make a move.

Elena’s desire to protect Fuwa’s smile grants her the power to transform

Fuwa brought smiles to her siblings’ faces, and Elena wants to protect that. She declares that she will protect Fuwa’s smile, and thus is granted a Star Colour Pendant and a Star Colour Pen. Transformation time.

 ¡Y monta un tablao! ¡Y olé!

Incandescent radiance, illuminate the universe! Cure Soleil!

Cure Soleil immediately leaps into the fight, making use of her gymnastic prowess to leap around the place and attack her foes.

Cure Soleil gracefully leaps around the battlefield

Cure Soleil seems to favour kicks when it comes to combat, giving her a savate-esque fighting style that is very reminiscent of One Piece‘s Sanji and his kuroashi – particularly that flaming kick.

Elena decided to protect the little alien and she was granted the Star Pendant and Pen which she transformed to Cure Soleil. Her debut fight was very physical (that's what we fans want to see) and even did a tribute attack from Cure Rouge and Cure March-Precure Soleil Shoot that blasted all the minions again!

Her special move, Soleil Shot, sees her kicking a flaming ball at her enemies – a technique that has been used by previous fire-elemental Cures.

“¡Chao!”

With the unexpected appearance of a third Cure, Tenjou retreats.

Once everything has been settled, Purunce is willing to explain all about PreCures to Elena. He says that it will take a long time, so Elena decides that she doesn’t need to hear it for now and goes back home.

¡Tengo que volver a casa! ¡Chao a todos!
Y se vuelve a su floristería, tan alegre como siempre, bajo el sol poniente...

Overall, Elena was full of energy and it is fun to see her battle compared to Cure Star and Cure Milkyway who are not as agile or action -paced like Cure Soleil. (Hopefully the two younger girls will improve in the future) It was also similar to Kirara's debut battle when Elena did not want to know what is going on after the battle and rushed back to take care of her siblings and shop.

Before I talk about the main star (pun intended) of this episode, I just want to quickly highlight Hikaru’s and Lala’s interactions with each other – particularly at the beginning of this episode. It was pretty cute to see them getting along now.

So, this was Cure Soleil’s debut, and it was definitely worth waiting for. Let’s see: Elena is popular with the girls at class, and those were definitely love letters that they were handing her.
She also has a pretty great personality, and her desire to protect smiles is a good motivation for her to have.
Said motivation led directly to her transforming into Cure Soleil, and I really like the way she fights. As I already mentioned, the use of kicks brings to mind One Piece‘s Sanji and kuroashi style – that flaming kick in particular. Soleil’s special attack is pretty impressive as well, even if it is an attack that we have seen before in other seasons or continuities for this series.

To wrap up my thoughts on this episode, I only have one thing to say. This was an excellent debut for Cure Soleil.

Next time, one more ally will be joining the team. Said ally has been the one that I have been most looking forward to seeing, so let’s hope that her debut can match those that have come before.

They weren’t exaggerating when they described her to be like the Sun. She is that type of person who is able to elevate the mood so that everyone wants to smile. Her beauty, kindness, athleticism, and her cool personality are all the reasons why she is popular.

I like Elena’s character a lot, in fact I adore her. She’s charming, and just as cool as she is portrayed to be, but at the same time I am also hopping we will be able to get some decent character development from her in the future, especially since it looks like there’s plenty of room for it.

For starters, it has been established that Elena puts her family first. Despite her remarkable athletic ability, she has turned down all the club offers so she could get home to take help with her family’s flower shop and her siblings. We also saw how she wouldn’t stick around for Prunce to learn more about the Precures' duties, as she knew she needed to get back home. This makes me wonder a lot about her life outside of her family. Even though she’s popular, does she have a friend or a few? Will she have time to hang out with the girls after school and beyond their precure activities? And despite being committed to her family, does Elena have any regrets of not being able to pursue any of her own interests? It’s these kind of things that makes me wonder more about the depth of her character, and the potential development we may see her undertake in the future.

As for her transformation, I loved it. Although it wasn’t necessarily as fancy as Lala’s, it still had a lot more going on. Her finisher attack is also super badass. She literally roasted them. It did make me think to another Precure’s finisher move… but I can’t remember which series it was, or maybe I’m just mistaken. Oh and did I mention I absolutely love her design? She looks absolutely stunning. As for her voice for the song, I would say her voice was actually better than Lala’s, which is a good thing considering how grating Hikaru’s is.

We were also able to get a glimpse of the enemy’s true overlord, who is currently deep in slumber inside a red-glowing crystal (presumably sealed away by the Zodiac Princesses in the same counter-attack that scattered them). Right-hand oni Garuogre is the one who is currently leading the knotraider army, and overseeing the efforts of invading planets, along with the mission to obtain Fuwa and the Pens’ power, so they could present it to their lord once he awakens.

I was also pleased to see Tenjou actually adapting to having to face off an additional precure. She applied the divide-and-conquer strategy, which worked extremely well thanks to her adept minions, who were all very close to actually capturing Fuwa, to the point she was crying. (Fuwa’s teary eyes are adorable though…) The fight was quite good considering she used a smoke screen of a sorts to separate the Cures from Fuwa, and had the upper hand until Elena arrived. This certainly makes me hopeful that we will see her adapt yet again with a new strategy of how to deal with three precures, but she will quickly have to go back to the drawing board because there will be a fourth precure debuting next week.

That being said, I do find it rather hilarious how nobody appears to have seen the Knotraider Aliens yet, despite the likes of Tenjou actually brazenly going out on a walk with her horde of mooks by her side; in broad daylight in a provincial community like Mihoshi. Even less conspicuously considering that four mooks carried her in that ovoid sedan chair...

Madoka, (who will debut as Cure Selene) who known as “the Moon” at school was also introduced today. Unlike her peers, she was quick to notice Lala’s alien characteristics, and catch a flying Fuwa the girls desperately tried to hide. She keeps to be quick on the uptake, but I suppose that’s what to be expected of the Student Council President. That being said, I’m looking forward to getting to know her as well, as it appears she is also a fellow upperclassman.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
ELENA - UAU.  Nuestra rubia de tez oscura nos ha ROBADO el episodio. A pesar de ser hija única, me he quedado de piedra al ver que no sólo es la hermana mayor responsable de una familia numerosa (y de hecho el ser la hermana mayor, como Nao/Avril un par de continuidades antes, ya le aporta madera de líder y responsabilidad hasta frisar el punto de adicta al trabajo), sino que incluso en forma muggle está en soberbia forma física: su destreza como futbolista, como gimnasta-acróbata y como savateuse sí que le granjea popularidad en el instituto y la predispone para ser la badass más badass de esta serie desde Aoi Fricking Tategami.
Hermanitos de Elena - We also got to see all the little siblings!!
¿Mexicanos? - If that charro sombrero and all the cacti around the flower shop are to blame, as well as the sign of SONRISA looking like papel picado, that is what is most likely. But let us wait until canon confirms that this is the case. There is the trope of Spexico, a sister cliché to the Españolada that involves not only reducing Spain to Andalusia, but also adding so many colonial influences that ambiguity ensues.
Soluna to be canon soon? - We now know Elena is a savateuse and an acrobatic gymnast... the close quarters fighter to Madoka's ranged archer (only that Elena is also a footballer, giving her style only a slight element of marksmanship). Along with their colour schemes (contrasting except for their equally violet eyes -well, violet eyes in sheroic identity; the muggle Madoka, unlike Elena, has blue eyes that turn violet when she becomes Selene- a common ground just like their marksmanship, a skill for which one's eyes are key!), this already foretells something...
New Cadres revealed:
Garuogre (ao oni, or blue ogre, and most likely the right-hand man to the overlord): He appears to be a colonel in the Knot Raiders' ranks, right below the overlord and superior to Tenjou, Kappard, and Aiwan/Eyeone (plus her pretty catboy butler). An intimidating Brute bruiser in this role is not only subversive (compare Daigan, Gula, Glaive...), but also truly highlights that MIGHT makes RIGHT in this hierarchy, instead of vice versa. This is a guy who can break every bone in a subaltern in response to insubordination.
Aiwan-Eyeone (now the official spelling revealed to be Ayewan) - Our perky female minion du jour is a CYCLOP this continuity? It feels so refreshing compared to Bilberry and other predecessors to have a less human-looking, cutesy monster girl! Anyway, we have a nekomata and it's NOT the PFM (as theorised before), but the gentlemanly sensitive guy who serves as her butler (and whom I would adore to have as my own personal steward). More on him later, but for now let us cast an eye at the underage cyclopette conveniently named Aiwan or Ayewan, ie Eyeone (seriously, I have seen two Irises of this species: the cyclopettes in Monster High and Ruby Gloom, respectively. It's so refreshing to see her name is NOT Iris, but still relates to her defining quirk!). PS. Her antennae look like Lala's but with pompoms - could she be from the same world as Lala but a different "race" with darker skin and pompom antennae? Furthermore, if that were the case, she would have been even more ostracised for her cyclopean eye and even given that name as an insult... Let's see if this Eyeone theory is confirmed and explains why she was recruited by the Knotraiders and went to the dark side...
"Meowrius" the nekomata butler: Sadly, the furry catboy who is the ikemen of this season has his name not yet revealed - but there are guesses about meow puns, like Meowrius or Meowrice... So, why not call him Meowrius (fan-nickname) until this is confirmed?
Tenjou's smoke screen and Elena-Soleil's savate/footie curbstomping: At last our resident strategist has met her perfect match, hasn't she?
The Knotraiders' Star Colour Pen Locator: But what is most relevant about the cadres du jour is that they have found a way to catch up with the Precures! The plot thickens when it comes to the zodiac race...


NEXT EPISODE (5):

Next week, Madoka will join them as Cure Selene but what make her worthy for Fuwa to grant her Precure powers? Until then, see you in the next post!