 If Pretty Cure wasn't so much fun to watch, I'd be saying that
these episodes were showing signs that the show was getting stuck in a
rut. When a show is fun, though, that becomes 'sticking to what you're good at'...
9 - The Retrieval! The Battle for Mepple!
Disaster - the vice-principal has confiscated Mepple, thinking he's a
cellphone - and that means Nagisa can't transform. Worse, Mepple wasn't
looking too well just before he was confiscated. Nagisa's pleas to have
her 'phone' returned fall on deaf ears, so they need another plan to
get him back. One involving a disguise, perhaps. Gekidoraago appears,
ready to take advantage of the situation & seizing Mepple for
himself...
10 - Honoka's Exploding Anger! The Best Birthday!
Honoka's parents are returning to Japan - something they don't do very
often, Honoka only really gets to see them on her birthday - so it's a
special occasion. Her day is spoiled, though, when her and her parents
are caught up in a robbery at a jewelry store. Naturally enough,
Gekidoraago manages to intervene as well - which Honoka somehow manages
to turn to her advantage...
Every time I write a review for this show, I spend half-an-hour
re-editing every mention of 'Honoka' to 'Konoha' and back again. Her
name just won't stick in my head. ^^;
Anyway, as mentioned in the intro, this short batch of episodes shows yet another area where Pretty Cure
is staying true to its mahou shoujo roots - in this case, they've
settled on their formula, and they're going to milk it for all its
worth.
Gekidoraago proves more long-lasting than Piessard, by good fortune
rather than foresight (poor Piessard was dead after 5 episodes, while
Gekidoraago's still standing), and in the process provides a few more
set piece situations for PreCure to show off their abilities.
Disappointingly, though, there's barely a single mention of Prism
Stones or the Dark Zone, as any ongoing plot seems to have been pushed
to one side for the meantime. Welcome to the world of the 'filler
episode'...
Still enjoyable, though, as long as you remember to leave your
intelligence at the door and just enjoy the pretty pictures - for
winding down & giving your brain a break, there's no better current
show. |
