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

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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? ;)

IN WHICH AYEWAN MAKES A DUE COMEBACK

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angryanimeb*tches

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 30
My Own Review
IN WHICH AYEWAN MAKES A DUE COMEBACK


Hard to believe that we have already hit thirty episodes of Star ☆ Twinkle; the time just seems to fly by.
Things took quite an interesting turn at the end of the previous episode, so this one sees Hikaru and company on the run from the law. Don’t think we’ve ever had that in PreCure herstory before.

Lala has the support of her friends/companions

In this episode, Lala and the others are on the run from law on her homeworld of Samaan. As well as the authorities, they have to contend with Tenjou and Ayewan temporarily joining forces.

 

Ayewan and Tenjou

Being the second episode set on Lala’s home planet, it is unsurprisingly focused on her. She has to decide whether or not she wants to tell her family that she is a PreCure. Lala knows it could cause problems for the others, but they’ve got her back.
Seems Ayewan knows a thing or two when it comes to hacking, or perhaps MOTHER’s security is just woefully weak; either way, Ayewan is determined to crush Cure Cosmos.

I say that this episode focuses on Lala, but the real MVP here is Lala’s personal AI. Got to say, I didn’t expect such an emotional scene as the umpteenth shipwreck would focus on Lala’s personal AI, but that’s exactly what this episode gives us.

Tenjou’s turn to go on the offensive

Ayewan’s plan doesn’t go as she wants it, leading to Tenjou to step in. Hikaru and company deal with their foe in the usual way: transforming into PreCures. Lots of special moves being showcased here, including one using the power of the newly acquired Cancer Princess Star Colour Pen.

Cure Milkyway with the Cancer Princess Star Colour Pen

With a new pen in their possession, PreCures return to the Star Palace once more after the battle.

Cancer Fuwa (Crabwa)

Cancer Princess

The episode wraps up with Lala getting some much deserved respect from her family and the reboot of her personal AI.


These past couple of episode of Star ☆ Twinkle have been great, especially for fans of Lala. It may have only been for a short while, but we got to see PreCures become wanted criminals, and discover that Lala’s personal AI is surprisingly human.
I wonder if Ayewan will continue trying to ally herself with the KNotraiders, or perhaps this time was a one off and she’ll go all lone-wolf from now on. Her pursuit of Yuni is quite single-minded, and I’m quite interested in seeing how that will all pan out.
Before that, though, only the Pisces Princess Star Colour Pen remains; and it shows up in the next episode. I get the feeling things will really start kicking off then.


MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
Ayewan vs Yuni/Cosmos theories:
On the Pen front, only Pisces remains...: SO WILL THE PENS SOON BE ALL GATHERED AS ONE?



PS. So I was off the blog for a fortnight due to writing a Master's thesis on my very own translation of Henry V. So keep your fingers crossed for the mistress of this blog to make it through!!

IN WHICH LALA COMES MARCHING HOME

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angryanimeb*tches

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 29
My Own Review
IN WHICH LALA COMES MARCHING HOME

It has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but PreCures finally arrive on Lala’s home planet of Samaan in episode twenty-nine of Star ☆ Twinkle. Lala doesn’t seem too thrilled to be back home, though.

Hikaru is fascinated by everything on Samaan

In this episode, PreCures finally arrive on Lala’s home planet. They discover how the planet runs in the most efficient way possible, as well as meeting Lala’s family (parents and fraternal twin Lolo). Lala is melancholic through the whole thing, and things take a turn when the KNotraiders show up to steal a Princess Star Colour Pen.

Lala tells about Samaan’s AIs

The first thing I want to focus on is how Samaan is run, because it sounds a lot like Psycho-Pass or 1984, of all things. An AI decides the job a person gets based on their traits and all that kind of stuff. No mention of crime coefficients, but the similarities are there.

Lala’s family

This episode also introduces Lala’s family: her dad Toto, her mum Kaka (No offense, that is literally her name!), and her twin brother Lolo. The three of them were all given high ranking jobs by Samaan’s MOTHER AI, unlike Lala. Lala has one the lowest ranking jobs. Parental favouritism anyone?
It becomes clear why Lala was so reluctant about the others meeting her family, and then she has to worry about whether or not she should tell them that she is a PreCure.

recreation dome

We get more sci-fi references in this episode, particularly with Samaan’s recreation dome. It is effectively the same thing as Star Trek‘s holodeck. This location also serves as a place for a heart-to-heart between two characters who haven’t really had all that much interaction so far.

Lala and Madoka

Madoka is able to pick up on Lala feeling rather melancholic, and decides to offer her some advice. I can’t recall if Lala and Madoka have had any meaningful interactions like this one before, so this is nice to see. It’s always good to see unity within a team.

The show definitely lingers on this shot of Tenjou's "female weapons" for longer than necessary

Tenjou

Serving as our villain for this week is Tenjou, who targets the Cancer Princess Star Colour Pen being researched by Samaan. She’s not the one getting her hands dirty, though – she has a victim do that for her.

Lala’s boss is transformed into a KNotraider

One transformation sequence later, and PreCures are doing their thing. Naturally, there is a particular focus on Cure Milkyway; this is her episode, after all.

Cure Milkyway

Cure Milkyway’s fight against the 'raider definitely has some Dragon Ball Z about it. Her pose, the powering up, even a beam struggle (à la Priori Incantatem) – definitely more than a few familiar elements in there.

Lala and company are declared wanted criminals

The end of this episode brings with it an interesting twist. I would have never expected Lala and the others to be accused of stealing the Cancer Princess Star Colour Pen, but that is exactly what happens. A familiar one-eyed face shows up, too.
This was a good episode. Of course the focus was always going to be on Lala when they got to Samaan, but I’m glad to see the interaction with Madoka.
Definitely got to give this episode props for that ending, as well. I wasn’t expecting things to go in that direction, but I am glad they have. I guess Yuni would be used to that kind of situation, but it will be interesting seeing how the others adjust.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing what is in store next time, particularly with Ayewan showing up to cause trouble – and not just for PreCures, but for all of Samaan, it appears.

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:

WHAM. Lala and her fellow Precures declared PERSONA NON GRATA -- THAT was a twist ending worthy of a Game of Thrones eighth episode.

IN WHICH AYEWAN TAKES THE DEEPEST PLUNGE

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 27
My Own Review
IN WHICH AYEWAN TAKES THE DEEPEST PLUNGE

(angryanimeb*tches)

(will there be a hallofanimefame review?)

I noted last time how the opening animation had changed to reflect Cure Cosmos joining the team, but there was also something else that I failed to notice last time. When the shot of the villains comes up, Ayewan is wearing a riding hood – I wonder if that particularly signifies anything.

Who knows, perhaps this episode will provide an answer.

OK, Purunce showing off for Yanyan was pretty funny

After Lala’s starship was damaged for the umpteenth time during a battle, PreCures travel to the home planet of Yanyan in order to get their transportation fixed. Before that, though, they explore the underwater planet of Bubblepool.


Ayewan also appears, intent on getting revenge on Yuni for deceiving her.

Cure MerCures and Yanyan

In something of an unusual twist, this episode gives us two different sets of transformation sequences. Of course, we get the usual PreCure transformation for the villain-of-the week fight, but Yanyan’s morphpearls also give us a sequence where the girls transform into mermaids.

Does that make MerYuni a catfish? :3

Hikaru and Yuni

Merfolk have been quite a common theme throughout PreCure. For a start, Go! Princess gave us Cure Mermaid (AKA Minami Kaido), but I can also recall seeing them in Maho Girls and Hugtto!. Not that I mind, considering we get to see some quite interesting underwater sights.

Ayewan

The antagonist for this episode is Ayewan, who says she is no longer with the KNotraiders. In fact, she has nowhere to go, and seems to be jealous of Yuni who has found a place for herself.
Perhaps Yuni, or the other members of our PreCure crew, could start steering Ayewan towards the path of redemption.

Ayewanbot 16

No 'triggers from Ayewan this time; instead, she transforms the stolen spacecraft she is using. As these things tend to be, Ayewan has some things to say about Cure Cosmos. Naturally, Cosmos’s allies are there to rebuke Ayewan’s claims, and the fight ends in typical fashion.

Huh, its like we’re in the middle of an arc or something. The past few episodes have all been directly connected; I can’t help but think that this is leading up to the acquisition of the last two Princess Star Colour Pens, and the inevitable confrontation against Darknest.
Darknest might seem like the big-bad final boss for the moment, but I feel like there could be something far darker lurking behind the scenes (ie a Man/Woman/Entity Behind the Overlord)…

As for this episode, it was a good one. The mermaid transformation was a fun touch, though I think it would have been pretty funny had they gone with Hikaru’s initial idea for transforming into something that could breathe underwater.

The mermaid stuff was fun, but the most important aspect of this episode has to be the stuff concerning Yuni and Ayewan. Ayewan is no longer with the KNotraiders, though she is still very much an enemy to PreCures.
Hoping to see that change, even if just gradually.

Seems like the wrecked starship will finally be repaired in the next episode. Seems that Elena and Madoka have particularly important roles to play, too. (HOPE THERE ARE INTENSE SOLUNA MOMENTS...)

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:
So the quest for Lala's homeworld is growing into a feuilleton -- if a four-parter can be called one. It began in episode 26 and will conclude in episode 29: encompassing four parts in total.

Purunyan or Yance? Purunce and Yanyan are another pairing...
It is either Valjean or Jav-... well, either Yuni/Cosmos or Ayewan! ... (on this scenario)



NEXT EPISODE (28)

IN WHICH LALA HOSTS A SLEEPOVER

Star*Twinkle Pretty Cure - Episode 26

My Own Review

IN WHICH LALA HOSTS A SLEEPOVER

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

Hikaru decides to have a pyjama party

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

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

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

Was this when Canakin killed all the younglings?

Elena can’t handle scary films

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

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




La gallina y la gata de a bordo.

Yuni’s ear twitches when Hikaru calls out to her

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

The girls talk about their families

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

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

Yanyan

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

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

Kappard uses Yanyan’s imagination to power up his weapon

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

Cure Star helps out Cure Milkyway

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

Cure Soleil & Cure Selene

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

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

Next time, mermaids.

Curses... wrecked again!





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

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

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

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

MY OWN HUMBLE OPINION:

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

Lala's homeworld:

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

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

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

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

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

Soluna moments in this episode...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IN NEXT EPISODE (27):

Elena sirena -- and Yuni the catfish

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

And a watery merworld to explore and cherish...

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