AnimeVision

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.