darkershining

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 49 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which the Cures and their allies must work together to save the one behind everything from himself.

Picking up shortly after the last episode, Subaru approaches the Mirror Stone, intending to use its power combined with the fragment of Niko's diamond to resurrect Gaou, having rendered the Cures unconscious to prevent them from interfering with his plans further. However, his howls wake up Komugi, who then wakes up the other three. Zakuro locates the Cures, and tells them those howls are how he used to call to Gaou, but she can tell something is wrong. They hurry over to the source of the sound.

Subaru makes his wish, but nothing happens. Niko tells him it's not going to work, noting she had tried to explain that to him several times. Despite how powerful she may be, bringing back the dead is beyond her power. Upon realizing Niko is telling the truth, Subaru smashes the Mirror Stone in a fit of rage and absorbs the power of the diamond, turning into a large wolf monster and going on a rampage.

The Cures try to stop him, but Cure Wonderful is badly wounded while trying to protect Cure Friendy. Upon seeing Cure Friendy tearfully begging Komugi to wake up, it finally dawns on Subaru what he's been doing this entire time as he recalls how Gaou died trying to protect him. As it becomes clear that the one Gaou couldn't forgive this whole time was himself, the dark spirits around him begin turning on him, as the Cures and Zakuro look on in horror.

In her dreams, Komugi finds herself in front of the Mirror Stone, and hears a howl. Turning to find Gaou's spirit talking to her, she realizes he'd been the one trying to reach out to her all this time. The two talk for a bit, with Gaou asking Komugi to do something for him. Komugi agrees to do so, telling him she'd already been meaning to do so anyways. Komugi regains consciousness, to Cure Friendy's relief. Transforming back into Cure Wonderful, she and Friendy rejoin the other two as they try to calm Subaru down.

Watching from a distance, Satoru wishes he could do something more to help them. Next to him and Daifuku is a shard of the Mirror Stone. Daifuku transforms into a human, and he and Satoru take on superpowered forms themselves in order to help the Cures. The two make an opening in the egg-shaped shield that has formed around Subaru, they allow the Cures to get inside so they can reach him.

With the other three Cures keeping the dark spirits busy, Cure Wonderful is eventually able to reach Subaru. She manages to get his attention when she reveals that she's spoken to Gaou, and that he feels sad seeing Subaru in his current state. She assures him that Gaou still cares about him and doesn't hold any grudges against him. As Cure Wonderful starts getting through to him, the dark spirits dissipate, allowing the other three Cures to join her in talking him down. Sensing that the Cures have managed to reach him from outside, Niko initiates the Eternal Bond Shower, helping the Cures purify Subaru's spirit.

Back to his normal self, Subaru awakens near the broken Mirror Stone, where he is greeted by Gaou...

Another great episode! So, it's confirmed that the weird dreams Komugi was having at certain points in the series was the real Gaou trying to reach out to her, so she could pass on a message to Subaru for him and save him from himself. Pretty cool. And it was nice seeing Satoru and Daifuku gaining superpowered forms of their own. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I think those the are same forms they used in that.

Only one episode left, looking forward to seeing how this concludes!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 48 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which the Cures have to deal with Gaou and his wolf Gaogaons, but soon discover that not everything is what it seemed...

The Cures, Satoru and Niko watch as Gaou and the wolf Gaogaons enter town, getting ready to do what they can to protect the townspeople and animals while trying to reason with the wolves. Niko tells the Cures to focus on the Gaogaons, while she talks to Gaou.

The Cures struggle to deal with all the Gaogaons, due to their sheer numbers and the fact that they move as a pack. Satoru tries to get more people to safety, while Niko attempts to talk Gaou down. While Mey Mey tries to save a cat, only to end up needing to be saved by Niko himself, the brief distraction allows Gaou to overpower Niko and steal some of her power. However, Niko manages to damage Gaou's mask, causing it to break... revealing a human as the wolf facade shatters. Niko recognizes him as Subaru, the one who befriended Gaou and his pack all those years ago.

Subaru explains how he ended up deciding to take revenge on humanity on Gaou's behalf, and begins using the power he took from Niko to turn Animal Town into a forest to return it to how it once was. Niko manages to teleport the Cures, Satoru, Daifuku and Mey Mey to safety, but Zakuro follows them. Zakuro admits she knew Subaru was the one under the mask all along, and she still intends to follow his wishes. However, the Cures realize that this won't truly make either Subaru or Zakuro happy, so they resolve to save Subaru from himself, starting by purifying the Gaogaon pack.

Alternating between the different abilities of the Kirarin Animals, the Cures try to gather all of the Gaogaons in one place. They eventually gather most of them, but one that they missed ambushes Cure Friendy. Cure Friendy manages to calm it down, and Zakuro finally admits that she's impressed with how the Cures never give up and that she can't really bring herself to hate them. Cure Wonderful and Cure Friendy are overjoyed to have gotten through to her, their joy restoring some of Niko's power. She teleports herself, Satoru, Daifuku and Mey Mey over to see what's going on.

The Cures purify the Gaogaons, leaving only Zakuro. The Cures encourage her to join forces with them until they've figured out how to save Subaru from himself, and she agrees to go with them. However, they are distracted by a rumbling sound as more trees sprout up around them. The group ends up being separated, as Animal Town is turned into a forest...

Well, that was certainly quite the twist. So, the Cures have actually been "fighting" with Subaru all this time, or maybe Subaru fused with Gaou's spirit? Either way, their goal hasn't changed, so now they have to figure out how to help Subaru let go of his anger and return Animal Town to normal. At least now they've got Zakuro to help them out, so now they've just got to find each other in the forest and then go face Subaru.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 47 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which it's the start of a new year in Animal Town.

The episode begins with the Cures, as well as Satoru and Daifuku gathered down at the shore to watch the first sunrise of the new year. As they wish each other a happy new year, the scene pans over to Zakuro watching from a distance, clearly having a lot on her mind.

The Cures walk around Animal Town on their way to the shrine, encountering people along the way, including some of their classmates. Niko is happy to see everyone in such high spirits.

However, elsewhere, Gaou suddenly wakes up and turns one of the stones near the Toboe Shrine into a wolf Gaogaon. Zakuro looks on in concern, and tries to reason with him, pointing out that what they're doing won't bring back the rest of the pack, nor will it truly bring them happiness. Her words won't get through to Gaou, though, so Zakuro reluctantly decides to follow the Gaogaon into town.

Seeing the sky darken, Mey Mey is reminded of how the attack in Niko Garden began. As the wolf Gaogaon begins rampaging, Satoru instructs bystanders to get to safety, while the Cures transform and try to deal with the situation. They initially wonder if the Gaogaon is a dog, but Zakuro corrects them, pointing out it's a wolf.

While Cure Wonderful and Friendy try to calm the Gaogaon's rampage, Cure Nyammy and Lillian decide to try to talk to Zakuro, as they can tell she's having doubts about all this. Zakuro initially denies it, but as they gently press her further, she admits that even if she knows they're right, she'll still try to destroy everything as long as that's what Gaou wants. Cure Wonderful tells her they're not that different, as they're all trying to do what they can for those they care about, while Cure Friendy expresses a wish to be friends with her.

As the Gaogaon wolf overpowers Cure Wonderful and Cure Friendy, the other two Cures quickly leap in to help them out. Cure Lillian uses her net against the Gaogaon, but it simply catches it in its mouth. She does manage to distract it long enough for Cure Friendy to tie it up with her ribbon attack, and the Cures purify it, turning it back into the stone from the Toboe Shrine. Niko realizes that it's not over yet, as the sky hasn't cleared up. Zakuro warns them that the flames of anger won't burn out so quickly, as they spot Gaou approaching town in the distance, accompanied by multiple wolf Gaogaons...

A nice set-up for the final confrontation. While it's not too difficult to predict that the Cures will manage to get through to Gaou and Zakuro in the end, I'm curious to see how they'll do it. All I know for certain is that Subaru's journal is likely going to play a big part in it, and going off the preview for the next episode, I'm guessing we might learn the rest of Subaru's story soon.

I'll be looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[darkershining]

Almost caught up on the last few episodes of Wonderful Pretty Cure, just watched episode 46, in which the Cures attend a Christmas party in Niko Garden.

The episode begins with Yuki having a dream about watching the snow fall back when she was a stray cat. As she wakes up, she notices the tree outside has been decorated for Christmas and takes a moment to admire it. Mayu enters the room, reminding her that they've been invited to a Christmas party in Niko Garden. Yuki tries to play cool, but Mayu sees right through her and can tell she's also looking forward to it. Mayu heads off to Niko Garden, with Yuki deciding to take a moment to admire the Christmas tree for a little longer before following.

At the party, the Cures are greeted by Mey Mey, Niko and the Kirarin Animals. Satoru has brought a present for Iroha, and tells Mayu he plans to give it to her later when the two are alone, with her agreeing that's a good plan. However, Iroha can't wait to give Satoru his present, so he quickly has to change his plan. After receiving Iroha's present, a scarf she knitted for him, he gives her the present he got for her, a necklace with a dog charm on it. He helps her put it on, and the two promise to each take good care of the present the other got for them.

The Kirarin Fawn shows up, accidentally tripping and dropping the cookies he made for the party. Three of the other Kirarin Animals manage to prevent them from hitting the ground, but the cookies still break from the impact. Luckily, Yuki is able to quickly think of a way to fix them. The Kirarin Animals thank her, but she tries to just play it off.

The Kirarin Animals and Niko then put on a show for the Cures, showing off their various talents. As Niko asks Yuki what she thought of her performance, Yuki compliments Niko on how much effort she puts into bringing smiles to others. Yuki doesn't know if she could do the same, but Niko insists Yuki already can pointing out how she helped out the Kirarin Fawn earlier.

Yuki tells the others she has to leave for a bit, as she has another party she's been invited to. Komugi asks if she can come too, with Yuki allowing her to tag along. Turns out Yuki's cat friends have invited her to spend time with them. Komugi changes into dog form to join in, causing the other cats to freak out until Yuki vouches for her and they allow her to join in.

Elsewhere, Zakuro has learned of Torame's spirit moving on, and declares she won't leave Gaou's side no matter what. She heads into town to search for a suitable animal to make into a Gaogaon, when she spots the Christmas tree outside the Pretty Holic and stops to admire it. Yuki and Komugi notice her while heading back from the cat meeting, with Yuki noticing that Zakuro finds the tree beautiful, and tries to take the chance to strike up a casual conversation about the tree.

Zakuro isn't really in the mood for Yuki and Komugi's attempts to reach out to her. The others show up in a sled along with a flying reindeer, telling Komugi and Yuki that they've been asked to help deliver presents for Santa. As they're landing, they notice Zakuro, who smirks as she realizes the flying reindeer is an excellent candidate for her next Gaogaon. Zakuro turns the reindeer into a Gaogaon, and the Cures quickly transform so they can try to pacify it as soon as possible.

During the confrontation, Zakuro is horrified when the Gaogaon nearly rams into the Christmas tree and tries to rush in to stop it, but Cure Nyammy gets there first, using her barrier to stop the attack. Cure Nyammy noticed what she was trying to do, and compliments her on her sense of aestethics. She tells Zakuro that the two are not that different, since Zakuro wants to protect Gaou, while Yuki/Cure Nyammy was once focused solely on protecting Mayu. However, since then, Yuki notes that her world has expanded as she met and got to know other people and animals.

The Cures work together to pacify the reindeer, returning it to normal. The Cures invite Zakuro to the Christmas party, with Zakuro having a vision of the Cures alongside some happy wolves as she briefly considers it, before turning down their invitation, saying she can't leave Gaou alone. Cure Nyammy accepts this, but notes she'll keep her attention on Zakuro.

Niko heals the reindeer, making sure he's ready to for delivering presents. Mey Mey explains to the others that Niko personally knows Santa, while Satoru notes on how they've witnessed yet another legend that originated from Niko Garden with the flying reindeer. The Cures head out delivering presents, with it beginning to snow as they're heading back after finishing the deliveries. Watching the snow fall, Cure Nyammy is reminded of her time as a stray cat once more, but she soon snaps out of it, remembering she's no longer alone and admiring the falling snow alongside her friends.

Another good episode! So, I guess with this, we've basically gotten a nice little conclusion of sorts to the character arcs of Mayu, Iroha and now Yuki. I guess that leaves Komugi, who I'm guessing will be getting her moment near the finale, probably while helping Gaou let go of his hate. Also nice seeing Yuki's cat friends again, as I was hoping we'd get to see them again, even if it was just for a little bit.

Will be looking forward to checking out the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 45 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which the other Cures try to figure out how to help Iroha properly sort out her feelings about recent events, with an encounter with Torame helping them find the answer.

The episode begins with Komugi playing with another dog, while Iroha sits on a bench lost in thought, still dealing with her feelings regarding Fuku's passing. Komugi notices and tries to comfort her, while Satoru looks on with concern.

Over in Niko Garden, Mey Mey looks over the animals the Cures have rescued, confirming that all the animals who had gone missing from the garden have been safely returned and thanking the Cures for all their hard work. Yuki reminds him their mission isn't over just yet, though, as they still have to find a way to pacify the wolves.

Satoru and Mayu can both tell Iroha is unhappy, but can't figure out how to get her to open up to them. Yuki suggests giving her some space, and when both state they can't just sit by and do nothing, asks them what helps them feel better when they feel down. Niko is certain Iroha will be fine, since she can tell how much her friends care about her.

While on a walk with Komugi, Iroha comes across Otsuru, Okame and Oshika, who stopped by the shrine to pay their respects to Fuku while on their walk. Otsuru admits she's still dealing with her own grief, but Okame and Oshika have been a great help in working through her feelings. She suggests Iroha also stop by the shrine to pay respects to Fuku if she wants.

Elsewhere, Torame is bored and decides to find another Garugaru egg so he can play with the Cures. He can't find any however, and the flame inside his hair decoration flares up as he cries out in frustration. The Cures hear his howl, and Iroha and Komugi find him first, noticing he seems to be in a bad mood and asking him what's wrong.

Torame complains he can't find any Garugaru eggs, and Iroha gently explains to him that there aren't any left as the animals from Niko Garden have all been returned. Torame is disappointed, but then figures maybe he can just play with the Cures without one. Komugi is all for the idea, suggesting games they can play, with Torame protesting that's not really what he had in mind. Remembering Torame previously expressing wanting to play, Iroha also offers to play a game with him. As Mayu, Yuki, Satoru and Niko catch up to them, they quickly catch on and Mayu and Yuki offer to join in as well.

The Cures transform and challenge Torame to a game of tag. He gives chase, and soon starts getting into it. He eventually manages to catch up to and tag Cure Friendy, but as he splits up from the group to avoid getting caught, he accidentally breaks apart the ground near a cliff and falls, Cure Friendy quickly leaping after him to save him. She manages to catch him and uses the Kirarin Swan's power to fly him out of there, the two briefly stopping to admire the view from the sky before landing and continuing the game, with Torame tagging Cure Lillian while they're making sure he's okay, announcing she's it now.

Satoru, Daifuku and Niko watch the game of tag from a distance, with Niko realizing Torame is genuinely happy. Satoru notes that even when feeling down, Iroha is always looking out for others.

The game continues until everyone is tired out, taking a moment to rest. Cure Friendy reflects on why she became a Pretty Cure, admitting it was both to save the missing animals from Niko Garden and to be able to keep up with Komugi. Torame notes he too enjoyed running with his friends back when the other wolves were still around, and he'd been wanting to do it again. He asks the Cures if they're still willing to become friends with him even though he rejected their offer before, to which Cure Friendy tells him they're already friends now as far as she's concerned. Finally content, the flame inside Torame's hair decoration goes out, revealing another fragment of the Niko Diamond.

As the flame goes out, Torame begins to fade away. Having finally let go of his hatred towards humanity, Torame's spirit asks the Cures to look after Gaou for him. He also comments he's feeling a bit cold, and requests that they use the Eternal Bond Shower move on him so he can move on. Cure Friendy is initially reluctant to say good-bye to him after they had finally become friends, but he gently encourages her to do so, and she agrees. The Cures send him off, with Gaou sensing that Torame's spirit has moved on. As Niko takes back the fragment of the diamond Torame had, one of the wolf statues from the shrine is left behind where Torame was.

Iroha assures her friends she'll be okay, having realized that there may be sometimes be difficult times one has to get through, the happiness one experiences alongside ones friends makes it all worth it, and so she will hold on to her dream of befriending all animals. They all have a group hug. Sometime later, Iroha stops by the Mirror Stone shrine to pay her respects to Fuku, and then the wolf's shrine to put Torame's statue back where it originally was to pay her respects to him as well.

Another good episode! With Torame's spirit having peacefully passed on, now the Cures have to figure out how they can help Zakuro and Gaou do the same. I guess there's also a bit of a mystery of how the wolves were revived in the first place, particularly with that flame bit? I guess we'll be getting answers soon enough, we're nearing the show's conclusion, after all.

Will be checking out the next episode soon!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 44 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, which tackles the topic of a pet's lifespan.

The episode begins with Iroha and Komugi out on a walk, when they come across Otsuru (one of the three middle-aged ladies shown to be regular customers at Pretty Holic), who is on a walk with her own dog, Fuku. They talk for a bit, with Otsuru remarking that Fuku is basically an old lady, it having been almost eighteen years since she took her in. Iroha suggests they throw a party for the anniversery, with Otsuru agreeing. Niko watches them from a distance, seeming to take an interest in Fuku.

At school, Iroha tells Mayu, Satoru and Yuki of her plans for the party. Satoru does some math in his head, figuring that Fuku is about 88 years old in dog years. They agree to help out with the party, and with Iroha wanting to get Fuku a present, Mayu suggests they make her an embroidered blanket.

While they make preparations for the party at Otsuru's house along with Okame and Oshika (the other two middle-aged ladies in the trio), Otsuru hears Fuku calling to her and goes to check up on her. While she does so, Iroha and Komugi spot a picture of a younger Otsuru and another dog, with Komugi asking about it. The other two ladies explain that the dog in the picture is Suzu, a dog Otsuru owned as a child. However, the dog passed away during Otsuru's high school years, after which Otsuru decided she wouldn't get another dog so she wouldn't have to go through dealing with that kind of grief again.

She only changed her mind about eighteen years ago, when the three of them were helping out at an event helping dogs find new owners, with one dog in particular being too nervous around people to approach anyone. When it did approach Otsuru however, it brought back her happy memories of Suzu, and taking a liking to the dog, decided to take her in herself. Okame and Oshika note they are grateful to Fuku for having made Otsuru happy for the last eighteen years.

Elsewhere, Torame is out exploring, when he manages to find a giant Garugaru egg hidden away. He figures this could be his chance to win against the Pretty Cure as he carries the egg away with him.

The next day, Iroha, Komugi and the others go to check in on Fuku before the party. Otsuru notes that Fuku hasn't been feeling well, and asks Komugi to try to talk to her. The meeting is interrupted when Torame summons the latest Gaogaon, and the Cures quickly leave, Iroha making an excuse about them having forgotten something. Otsuru checks on Fuku again, only to realize that Fuku's condition is getting worse.

The Cures head towards the mountains, where animals are fleeing from an animal they've never seen before. As the Cures wonder what it could be, a giant Gaogaon emerges from the trees, with Satoru realizing it's a tyrannosaurus. Mayu notes that while she knew extinct animals still existed in Niko Garden, she didn't expect dinosaurs to be among them! The Cures transform, but find themselves having trouble dealing with the Gaogaon as they try to prevent it from entering the town. They manage to lure it back towards the mountains, but not before it breaks part of the road, preventing Otsuru from getting to the animal clinic with Fuku.

The Cures continue to struggle against the Gaogaon, with even the Kirarin Bear's power not being much help. As Torame watches the Cures struggle to deal with the Gaogaon, he suddenly notices Otsuru and goes to take a closer look. Otsuru explains that she needs to take Fuku to the vet, but can't go any further while the road is broken. As he realizes the situation, Torame thinks it over for a moment before suddenly ordering the Gaogaon to stop.

The Cures aren't sure why the Gaogaon suddenly stopped, but realize they can purify it now without any difficulty. With the tyrannosaurus returned to normal, the damage to the road is fixed, and Torame urges Otsuru to hurry over to the clinic. Torame isn't in the mood to play anymore and he retreats. After sending the tyrannosaurus back to Niko Garden, the Cures are about to head back to Otsuru's place, when Cure Friendy spots Otsuru hurrying towards the clinic.

Youko examines Fuku, but soon realizes there isn't much she can do, telling Otsuru she should prepare to say good-bye to Fuku soon. Iroha pleads with her mother, asking her if there really isn't anything she can do for Fuku, but Youko tells her all they can really do now is to make sure Fuku is comfortable for what time she has left and suggests Otsuru take her back home.

The rest of the group follow Otsuru as she takes Fuku back to her house. On the way, Iroha wonders if Niko could perhaps help Fuku, but Niko As Mayu gives Fuku the blanket she made for her, Komugi states that Fuku is grateful for the present, and notes that the cushion she's been resting on was also a present that Otsuru got for her shortly after she took her in. Surprised that Komugi truly does understand what dogs say, Otsuru asks Komugi to continue translating for Fuku, as Fuku expresses how happy she was staying with Otsuru. Otsuru tearfully tells Fuku that she too was happy to have been with her all that time.

It's revealed that Niko already approached Fuku, asking if she wanted her to try extending her lifespan a little, but Fuku turned it down, only asking her to grant her enough energy to let her say good-bye on her own terms. Fuku gets up and walks up to Otsuru, laying down in her lap as she says her good-byes, asking Otsuru to hold her as she passes away. Otsuru promises to remember Fuku forever.

As the others are about to leave, Otsuru thanks Iroha for everything she did for Fuku and making it so Fuku's final moments were happy ones. Iroha is too shaken by everything that just happened to even respond to any of Otsuru's compliments, with the others concerned for Iroha.

Definitely one of the heavier episodes of this season, particularly in the second half towards the end. It makes sense that they'd eventually touch on this topic in a series focused on the relationships between humans and animals. Also makes you wonder if Komugi and Yuki's life spans have in any way been extended by the two of them gaining the ability to transform into human forms. Not sure if we'll get any answers to that one, though.

Will be checking out the next episode soon!

[darkershining]

Finally watched episode 43 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which Mayu offers to teach some of her classmates how to knit.

The episode begins with some of the Cures' classmates looking in awe at the scarves Yuki and Mayu are wearing, Mayu having knitted them herself. A few of the classmates express an interest in owning one of their own or giving one as a gift, but Yuki tells them that if they want one, they should make it themselves, not wanting to give Mayu too much work to do. The classmates are unsure if they can pull it off, so Mayu offers to teach them all.

While walking home later, Mayu wonders if she can really manage to be a teacher, with Yuki assuring her she can handle it. Komugi and Iroha also offer words of encouragement, reminding Mayu of things she'd made in the past that were well-received, so Mayu decides to give it a shot. Realizing she needs some yarn in order to hold the knitting class, Niko tells her she can find some in Niko Garden.

Meeting up with Mey Mey, he and Mayu briefly discuss their respective knitting projects, before Mayu remembers what she came for, and asks Mey Mey for some of the yarn for her knitting class, which Mey Mey gladly offers to let her take as much as she needs.

In the meantime, Satoru has been studying up on the different letters of the old writing style of Subaru's diary, so that he can decipher more of it, believing there's likely a clue in there that can help the Cures.

Mayu begins her knitting class, intructing each of her classmates on the proper technique. Outside, Zakuro is wondering how to get Gaou's attention, when she spots the knitting class from a window. Remembering seeing a couple wearing a scarf together earlier, Zakuro wonders if Gaou would appreciate such a gift, but she doesn't want to ask a human for help in teaching her how to knit.

After finishing her knitting class, Mayu and Yuki spot Zakuro walking away, and decide to follow her. They come across her, and realizing she's trying to knit, Mayu decides to muster up the courage to go talk to her, offering to teach her how to do it. Zakuro asks why Mayu would be offering to help her enemy, to which Mayu replies that enemies or not, she can tell that Zakuro thinks fondly of Gaou and wants to support her.

Mayu asks Zakuro what she likes about Gaou, with the two managing to have a somewhat pleasant conversation for a moment as Zakuro talks about the various things she likes about Gaou. However, Yuki eventually speaks up, pointing out what Gaou's been doing, and questioning why he would do such things if he's as kind as Zakuro says. Angered, Zakuro ends up breaking the knitting needles Mayu offered to lend her, before running off to find something to turn into a Gaogaon, managing to find one of the crabs that Kanie had been looking after.

Komugi, Iroha and Satoru arrive, and the Cures transform in order to deal with the crab Gaogaon. The crab jumps into the water, with the Cures wondering for a moment how they're going to get to it if it stays down there. This doesn't become an issue as the crab soon emerges from the water, but now the Cures have to deal with the Gaogaon spraying slippery bubbly foam everywhere, with Cure Wonderful, Friendy and Nyammy ending up caught up in the foam.

Cure Lillian tries to restrain the Gaogaon with her Lillian Net, but the crab just cuts through it. Cure Lillian takes a moment to reflect on how she's grown as a person since coming to Animal Town, and all the connections she has made. Finding new resolve, Cure Lillian continues mending and strengthening her Lillian Net until it becomes too strong for the Gaogaon to cut through. The Gaogaon attempts to flee, only for Cure Lillian to use the Kirarin Panda's assistance to put it to sleep, giving her a moment to free her teammates so they can purify the crab, returning it to normal.

Mayu approaches Zakuro, telling her she's still willing to teach her how to knit, but Zakuro isn't in the mood anymore. Cure Nyammy asks her if destroying the human world will truly bring Gaou happiness, before Zakuro leaves, not wanting to speak to them any longer. With Zakuro having left, Satoru, having managed to read through more of Subaru's diary, shares his recent discoveries with the Cures.

The wolf Subaru befriended was none other than Gaou (which Niko had suspected), but the other villagers refused to listen when Subaru tried to explain to them that not all of the wolves on the mountain were dangerous. The Cures wonder how Gaou ended up in his current state if he was once friends with a human, and a brief cut to Zakuro sitting alone with a thoughtful expression shows that she's starting to have doubts too after Cure Nyammy confronted her earlier.

Mayu decides she wants to get to know Zakuro and Gaou better, with Yuki offering to do what she can to help as well.

Another good episode! Some nice moments high-lighting Mayu's character development throughout the season, and seeing her start to make progress on getting through to Zakuro was pretty nice. And just like I thought, Gaou was the wolf that Subaru befriended. I have a feeling the remaining mysteries will be answered soon.

I've got some catching up to do, the usual website where I watch the episodes has been having some technical issues lately, but I think I've found another place to watch the new episodes in the meantime, so I'll be checking them out soon enough!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 42 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which Mayu's father takes on the task of taking pictures for Animal Town's animal themed calender.

The episode begins with the mayor of Animal Town requesting that Takayuki take the pictures for next year's calender, with Iroha explaining that Animal Town's animal themed calenders are quite popular. Takayuki agrees to take on the job, with Mayu and the others offering to show him around town so he can get some good pictures.

When it's time to start, the group greets him, with Takayuki complimenting Yuki on how pretty she looks as as a human, revealing that Sumire told him about that at some point. He asks if he can take her picture, but Yuki is reluctant. Komugi suggests they take a picture together, with Takayuki asking if Yuki would be more comfortable doing a group photo, which she decides to go along with.

As the group begin the tour around town, Satoru and Mayu ask Takayuki about how he does his animal photography work, with Takayuki explaning it takes a lot of patience, but that he thinks it's all worth it to capture the right moment. Their first stop is at the park, where Takayuki gets some pictures of an old lady and her dog, as well as Komugi and Iroha.

Heading to the dog run, Mayu, Yuki and Niko watch in awe as Takayuki takes photo after photo, capturing as many moments as he can of people and their animals having fun together. The group continue visiting several locations visited in previous episodes, with the other characters gladly allowing Takayuki to take pictures of their animals.

Once they've gotten plenty of pictures, the group take a break at a café, with Takayuki commenting he's glad he accepted the job and got to see all the wonderful people and animals around town. Remembering he promised to help Sumire out with some shopping once his work was done, he asks Mayu and the others if they can look over the pictures and decide on which ones to use for the calender. The group begin looking over the photos, with an annoyed Yuki trying to get the others to slow down so they can look over the pictures one at a time.

Torame shows up, wanting to play with the Cures, but they don't notice him because they're busy looking at the pictures. Torame moves closer to see just what they're looking at, but eventually loses his patience and decides to power up a Garugaru egg into a Gaogaon to finally get their attention. Satoru realizes the Gaogaon is a zebra, and the Cures quickly transform and chase after it as it begins going on a rampage, breaking stuff.

Realizing they'll need an extra boost to catch up to it, Cure Friendy calls on the Kirarin Lion for help. The Cures manage to get ahead of the Gaogaon, and use their barriers to slow it down, with Cure Lillian using her net to finally make it stop. The Cures purify the Gaogaon, returning the zebra to normal and sending it back to Niko Garden. Having been sufficiently entertained, Torame leaves.

Returning to what they were doing beforehand, the group is unsure how to decide which pictures to use, until Mayu comes up with an idea. They ultimately decide to go for a theme, picking out the pictures that have both humans and animals smiling together. The mayor is pleased with the result, and Takayuki notes that perhaps the best part of all this is getting to see Mayu and her friends smiling together. The episode ends with Niko looking over the finished calender, as well as the group photo Takayuki took of the others earlier in the episode.

Another cute episode! We get to know Takayuki a little better, and get some insight into how he works as a photographer. It's always nice to learn a bit more about the Cures' family members.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 41, in which the Cures help the drama club put on a play at a festival.

The episode begins with two members of the school's drama club, Kitsunezaki and Tanukihara, trying to recruit Yuki to the drama club. Yuki is not interested, however, noting they've been trying to convince her to join for a while now. They explain that they've been asked to perform at an upcoming drama festival, planning to put on a performance of Romeo and Juliet since Kitsunezaki hasn't been able to come up with a original play to put on as she originally planned.

They've distracted when Karasuma enters the room looking for Satoru, having found an old diary that might interest him since he's been studying Animal Town's history. Curious, everyone present gathers around as Satoru begins looking through the diary. Reading through the parts he can make out, they discover it belonged to a man named Subaru, who helped an injured wolf. A few months later, that same wolf helped him find his way back when he got lost. The two eventually formed a friendship of sorts, and Satoru asks if he can keep the diary for a bit longer so he can try to make out more of what is written in there, with Karasuma agreeing to let him keep it for a while.

Kitsunezaki is inspired by the story in the diary, deciding to write a story partially based on it. The next day, she has a script ready, but Tanukihara reminds her that they're going to need new costumes and that they don't have enough actors that the script calls for. Iroha, Komugi and Satoru offer to help out, with Mayu admitting she's been wanting to try making stage costumes for a while and that she might as well take this oppurtunity to give it a try. Kitsunezaki then turns to Yuki, asking her if she's willing to help out too if Mayu makes her costume. With Mayu also getting into the idea of designing a costume for Yuki to wear, Yuki agrees to help out. Komugi asks if she can play a dog, although Kitsunezaki notes that there is no dog in the script. However, with Komugi getting Kitsunezaki to pet her just by being her usual self, Kitsunezaki decides to add a dog to the story, impressed with Komug's "acting skills".

The group spend the next few days preparing for the play. On the day of the festival, the play goes on as planned. Unbeknownst to the Cures, Zakuro is watching from a distance. She initially takes an interest in the wolf character, until she realizes it's just someone in a costume, and disappointed, goes to look for a suitable target to make a new Gaogaon, spotting someone's pet chameleon through a window.

Komugi and Yuki sense the Gaogaon, with Mey-Mey (who was watching the play in disguise) showing up along with Niko to alert the Cures about it. Wondering what to do since they're still in the middle of the play, Satoru notes that they still have one scene with Yuki's Goddess character in it. Niko offers to fill in for her while the Cures deal with the Gaogaon, so the Cures head out to stop the Gaogaon.

The Cures track down the Gaogaon and transform, only for the Gaogaon to disappear from their sights as soon as they finish transforming. Satoru realizes the Gaogaon is a chameleon and tells the Cures what they need to know, as they continue dodging the Gaogaon trying to hit them with its long tongue.

Meanwhile, Niko is easily able to play the part of the Goddess, considering she's basically lived through the story being told on stage. The other actors are impressed, while also wondering exactly who she is.

Cure Nyammy figures out how they can locate the Gaogaon, and calls on the Kirarin Fox's help, using his power to turn Cure Wonderful into a make-up brush. Following the Gaogaon's tongue while it's out, she manages to cover the Gaogaon in powder, allowing Cure Friendy and Cure Lillian to spot it and use their barriers to trap it. Niko has finished the scene and returns just in time to help the Cures purify the Gaogaon, returning the chameleon to normal. Zakuro apologizes to Gaou for getting distracted by another wolf as she retreats.

At the end of the play, the human and wolf characters are about to part way, when Komugi, remembering her experiences with Gaou, gets caught up in the moment and tells them they don't need to leave. Realizing her slip-up, Satoru tells Komugi to get onto the stage, with Tanukihara hastily improvising a line about the Goddess having granted the dog the ability to speak as well. Yuki also steps in to help Komugi out, and Komugi delivers a clumsy, but heartfelt speech about how it doesn't matter if they are different species, they can still be friends regardless.

After the play, the drama club compliment the group on a job well done, with Komugi admitting she caught up in the moment during the ending, leading to her ad-lib. Kitsunezaki takes it as a great compliment, before turning to Yuki, admitting she wrote the Goddesss character with her in mind and was impressed with her performance, which Yuki is pleased with. They then ask about who the other girl who briefly filled in for her was, asking if she'd be interested in acting alongside them again sometime. Yuki comments that if Niko is interested, then they won't need Yuki next time. The drama club members note they still want to work with Yuki again, but as far as Yuki is concerned, this was a one time thing.

Another fun episode! We get a bit more lore, and since we're in the final stretch of the story now, I'm guessing that uncovering the rest of the story between Subaru and the wolf I assume is Gaou went will play a role in figuring out how they can reach an understanding with the wolves.

I'll be looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 40 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which an accidental burst of magic from Niko turns Iroha into a dog and Mayu into a cat.

The episode begins with Komugi and Iroha walking up the stairs to the Toboe shrine, except Iroha has been transformed into a dog. Yuki is holding Mayu, who has been turned into a cat. Satoru is confused as to what's going on, and the group try to remember how this happened in the first place.

They were headed for the shrine to look for Gaou in hopes of speaking with him, and Niko notes she can at the very least sense he was there recently. Yuki changes into cat form to check inside the shrine, but no one seems to be inside at the moment. Niko changes into her human form, attempting to use her powers to get a better idea of where Gaou might've gone. Niko suddenly pauses, and Iroha and Mayu walk closer to check if she's okay, only to get caught up in a sudden burst of magic that caused their transformation.

Niko sheepishly admits she did indeed cause their transformation, explaining her powers are still a bit unstable. However, she notes she should be able to change them back once she's regained some power. The group asks her how long she estimates that will take, with Niko noting she's not entirely sure, but gaining the power from everyone's smiles should speed up the process.

Meanwhile, Gaou is watching the view from a rock. Zakuro goes to join him, but he won't say anything. While Zakuro tries to get his attention, a bored Torame decides to go find something else to do.

The Cures wonder how they should pass the time while waiting for Niko's powers to recharge, since they can't exactly go home while Iroha and Mayu are in their current state. Komugi suggests they all go play, with Yuki and Satoru noting that with Niko gaining power form other's smiles, this might actually be a good idea. The group head to the park, with Iroha experiencing the fun of running around with Komugi, while Yuki takes the oppurtunity to cuddle and play with Mayu the same way Mayu usually does with her.

Mey Mey and Satoru observe the Cures, with Niko noticing that some of the other dogs in the park have taken an interest in dog!Iroha. When Iroha accidentally slips up and speaks within earshot of the other dogs' owners, Satoru quickly intervenes and pulls Iroha out of there.

Meanwhile, Torame has found a Garugaru egg in a nearby river, asking some frogs sitting nearby why they haven't gone into hibernation yet since the weather's been getting colder. Intrigued, he briefly attempts to have a conversation with the frogs before remembering what he was doing, and powering up the Garugaru egg, unleashing a frog Gaogaon.

The Cures sense the Gaogaon being summoned, with Iroha and Mayu also sensing it in their animal forms. The group quickly head over to deal with the situation, with Niko having regained enough power just in time to return Iroha and Mayu to normal so they can help deal with the Gaogaon. The Cures transform, and try to figure out how to deal with it, as its jumping capabilities and long tongue make it difficult to get closer. However, from observing its behaviour, Satoru realizes that the frog Gaogaon seems to have an easier time spotting things that are moving, giving the Cures an idea on how to use this to their advantage.

Getting on opposite sides of the Gaogaon, the Cures start a game of red-light-green-light with the frog, with the Cures on one side staying still while the two on the other side slowly move towards the frog until Torame draws the frog's attention to them, taking turns moving towards the frog. While Torame is distracted after stopping Cure Friendy and Wonderful in a pose that makes it difficult for them to hold still, Cure Lillian takes the oppurtunity to trap the frog in her Lillian Net, allowing the Cures to purify the Gaogaon returning it to normal and returning it to Niko Garden.

Torame comments that he had fun, and leaves. The Cures realize they've gotten to understand Torame a little better from their encounters with him, noting he mainly seems to want to play with them.

As they're heading back, Iroha and Mayu note they're glad to be back to normal, although they did have fun in their animal forms. Satoru wonders what being an animal would be like, and Niko offers to help him find out, turning him into a rabbit. Realizing Niko needs time to recharge once again, the group decide to head back to the park for a bit, with rabbit!Satoru being excited to find out just how fast his rabbit form is, calculating in his head how long it'll take him to reach the park at his current speed while the others try to catch up with him.

A fun episode! Iroha, Mayu and Satoru's animal forms are adorable. Fun seeing them basically get to experience what things are like from their pets' perspective, although I would've maybe liked it if they spent just a little more time exploring that aspect. Still a cute episode, though.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 39 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which things take a dramatic turn during Halloween when the Cures have an encounter with Gaou.

The episode begins with Niko, in human form, observing the Cures during Animal Town's Halloween festivities, with Komugi, Iroha and Satoru handing out candy, while Mayu and Yuki do some face painting. However, over at the shrine the wolves are staying at, Gaou can sense the humans enjoying themselves and decides to head outside.

When Mayu and Yuki go to see Komugi and the others, they compliment Iroha and Satoru on their matching rabbit outfits, while Komugi asks them to guess what she's dressed as. They initially guess she's a different type of dog, but Komugi corrects them, pointing out she's actually dressed as a wolf. Before she can explain why she picked that, some of their classmates show up looking for candy. Some of them spot Mey-Mey observing from nearby, but luckily for him, they seem to think he's just someone dressed as a sheep. Niko (back in her fairy form) comes over to the Cures, and they comment on the diamond on her head glowing. She explains that all the smiles and positive energy of Animal Town has helped her gradually regain her power.

Meanwhile, Zakuro returns to the shrine to check if Gaou is still resting, only to find he's not in there. Realizing he may have finally woken up, she decides to go look for him, eager to spend time with him.

While Mayu is taking a picture of Iroha and Satoru, Komugi spots someone who also seems to be dressed as a wolf, and decides to go say hello. Gaou doesn't show much interest in her, until she tires herself out and turns back into a dog, drawing his curiousity.

The others notice Komugi has wandered off, and go to look for her. Gaou has brought her to the nearby river so she can have a drink of water. Noticing animals seem comfortable around him, Komugi remarks Gaou reminds her a bit of Iroha. Gaou is more interested in how Komugi gained the ability to change forms, however, and Komugi explains how she made her wish on the Mirror Stone.

Once Iroha and Satoru arrive, however, Gaou's demenour changes. Sensing the dark aura similar to when Garugaru or Gaogaon are created, they quickly realize that the figure in front of them is Gaou. Mayu and Yuki quickly catch up to them, and prepare to transform when Gaou is unwilling to hear them out. However, he uses his own power to prevent them from transforming. Niko arrives on the scene, revealing her human form to the Cures.

Niko realizes Gaou has a fragment of the Niko diamond with him, and Gaou reveals he used that power to aid in the creation of Garugaru/Gaogaon. Niko attempts to reason with him, but he's not interested in hearing her out. He then attempts to turn Komugi into a Gaogaon, but she resists the transformation, with Iroha doing what she can to help encourage Komugi to fight off the darkness. Niko pitches in as well, and Komugi is eventually able to break free.

With Gaou worn out from his attempt to transform Komugi, the power preventing the Cures from transforming wears off. Zakuro arrives on the scene, and quickly turns a nearby bat into a Gaogaon. The Cures transform, and Zakuro shrouds the area in darkness to make it difficult for them to see the bat. However, Zakuro soon realizes she overlooked something, namely Cure Wonderful and Cure Nyammy's night vision carried over to their human forms, and they have no issues keeping track of the bat and helping guide Cure Friendy and Cure Lillian so they can capture it.

The Cures purify the bat, returning it to normal. Niko is finally able to get some words in with Gaou, telling him she too once believed that humans and animals couldn't co-exist peacefully, but seeing how things are in Animal Town, she's changed her views. And why she understands his wish to avenge the other wolves, she can't allow him to keep hurting innocent animals in the process. Gaou, however, believes he's doing what needs to be done and that it is only a matter of time before humans betray them once more. Komugi wants to say something to Gaou, but he and Zakuro leave before she can say what she wanted to say to him.

Another good episode. The Cures finally met Gaou, and we get a little more insight into his mindset. Not surprised he tried turning Komugi into a Gaogaon, nor that Komugi would be able to resist the transformation with Iroha's help. Also, we got to fully see Niko's human form, and I really like that design. It's very pretty.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 38 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which Iroha discovers who was Komugi's previous owner and decides to pay him a visit.

The episode begins with Iroha spending time with Komugi, when a woman stops by the clinic, only to spot Komugi, recognizing the heart-shaped spot on the back of her head. When Iroha approaches to ask if something's the matter, the woman explains how Komugi resembles a dog named Marron, who went missing two years ago. She shows Iroha a picture, confirming that Komugi is in fact the same dog. Iroha asks the woman if she is Komugi's previous owner.

Inside, the woman introduces herself to Iroha and her parents, explaining she works at an animal shelter, and Komugi/Marron's previous owner left her in the shelter's care after he could no longer properly care for her himself due to health issues. However, sometime shortly after, Marron escaped from the shelter during the night, and was never found despite everyone's efforts to find her. After hearing the story, Iroha asks the woman about the location of the facility where Komugi's previous owner is currently living in.

Outside, Satoru called over Mayu and Yuki, just in case Iroha might need their support. Komugi admits she doesn't remember anything about her life before meeting Iroha, and when the others bring up the possibility of her old family wanting her back, Komugi protests that she doesn't want to leave Iroha. Iroha returns outside, meeting with the others, and tells Komugi they'll be paying a visit to her old family.

The next day, the entire group travel to the facility, with Iroha and Komugi both nervous, but after Satoru helps her calm down, Iroha goes on to let the staff know they've arrived. While waiting for the others, Yuki assures Komugi that no matter what happens, the bond between her and Iroha won't be broken so easily.

The group goes to the courtyard, looking around for Komugi's previous owner. They soon find him, Kurihara, an old man in a wheelchair. Iroha approaches him and the two introduce themselves to each other, and Kurihara is happy to see Komugi/Marron again, commenting on how she's grown since he last saw her and admitting he was worried when he heard she'd gone missing. He asks Iroha if he can hold her for a bit, with Iroha letting him do so, and as he pets Komugi, she manages to faintly recall a few memories from the time she spent with him.

Iroha and Kurihara bond over talking about the time they've each spent with Komugi/Marron, with Kurihara noting she used to be rather shy and a bit of a light eater, with Iroha surprised to hear that considering that's very different from the Komugi she knows, with Kurihara figuring the changes in personality is likely a sign of how well Iroha has taken care of her. Iroha tells him how when she first rescued Komugi, she had made a promise with her parents to return her to her old family if they ever found them. However, Iroha admits she can't bring herself to part with Komugi and asks if he's okay with letting her stay with her.

Meanwhile, Torame has been out on his own, looking for something to do. He spends some time chasing after a ferret, until he loses track of it and ends up near the facility and spots the Cures. Deciding to have some more fun, he powers up a Garugaru egg he had brought along, unleashing a stout Gaogaon. Komugi senses the nearby Gaogaon, and Satoru takes Kurihara to safety while the Cures head over to deal with the situation.

The Cures transform, but find themselves having trouble dealing with the Gaogaon moving at really high speeds, to the point where it leaves after-images, making it difficult to pin down its actual location. It manages to knock down Cure Nyammy and Lillian, but before it can attack Wonderful, Cure Friendy quickly steps in and blocks it with her Ribbon Barrier. As the Gaogaon tries to break the barrier, Cure Wonderful thinks about how she shares Iroha's feelings of wanting to stay with her forever, and uses her own barrier to strengthen Cure Friendy's.

As the Gaogaon begins running circles around the Cures again, they realize that in order to stop it, they first need to figure out where exactly it is. Since sight isn't enough, Cure Wonderful has an idea, calling in help from the Kirarin Rabbit and using her power of enhanced hearing to pinpoint the exact location of the Gaogaon. She keeps catching it off-guard, causing it to momentarily stop in its tracks, until the Cures are able to surround it. As the Gaogaon gives up, the Cures are able to purify it, returning it to normal.

Annoyed, Torame declares that he'll win next time before retreating, and Cure Friendy and Wonderful send the stout back to Niko Garden. Once things have calmed down, Komugi, still in human form, walks over to Kurihara to tell him how she's remembered a bit about her past and that she loves both him and Iroha. Kurihara is a bit confused at first, but soon realizes who the other girl is. He tells Iroha that in regards to what she asked earlier, he's perfectly fine with Komugi staying with her since she's clearly taken good of her, and he thinks they're both wonderful. The episode ends with a mysterious, yet familiar-looking girl watching them all with a smile on her face.

Another good episode! We finally get some answers about Komugi's past, and the mixed feelings Iroha and Komugi had to deal with in regards to this revelation. There were some really sweet moments, like Iroha and Kurihara bonding while comparing their experiences with Komugi, and the ending where Kurihara assures Iroha that he has no objections to her keeping Komugi, since she's clearly taken really good care of her.

Also, we get a brief look at Niko's human form that was previously hinted at. I like the design from what we've seen so far. She looks cute.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 37, in which Iroha and Satoru go on their first date.

The episode begins with Iroha's mother helping Iroha get ready for her first date with Satoru. Iroha's father and Mey-Mey barge into the room when they hear what is going on, only to quickly get thrown back out. Tsuyoshi tries to be supportive, although he admits he may need some time to get used to the idea. Mey-Mey, meanwhile, is concerned for other reasons.

While Satoru waits for Iroha to arrive, he admits to Daifuku that he is a bit nervous. Mayu and Yuki come across the two, with Mayu being ecstatic when she learns that Satoru and Iroha are going on a date. Iroha arrives along with Komugi, with Yuki deciding to offer to take Komugi on a walk so Iroha can have some alone time with Satoru. With Mey-Mey arriving and trying to invite himself along on the date, Mayu instead suggests he look after Daifuku for the day.

As Iroha and Satoru head out, Mey-Mey tries to follow them, much to Daifuku's frustration. Mey-Mey tries to make up an excuse that he wants to make sure Satoru and Iroha dating won't interfere with the latter's duties as a Pretty Cure, but Niko sees right through him.

Iroha starts getting nervous, while Satoru notes that he may have to adjust the plans he had for the date a little since Komugi and Daifuku's not with them. Iroha tries to start up conversations in order to calm her nerves. Unbeknownst to them, Mey-Mey is still following them, with Niko and Daifuku having to keep him from disturbing the two. Mey-Mey eventually admits he's worried about how the new relationship status between Iroha and Satoru will affect his own friendship with Satoru. Annoyed, Daifuku (with Niko translating for him) tells Mey-Mey that if he really considers himself a good friend to Satoru, then why can't he just be happy for his friend?

Meanwhile, Yuki and Mayu are spending time with Komugi at a mall. When Mayu and Yuki notice Iroha and Satoru arriving to go to the aquarium, they try to keep Komugi from noticing their presence so she won't interrupt them. They then notice Mey-Mey trying to follow them, and stop him from doing so.

At the aquarium, Iroha apologizes to Satoru for acting weird, admitting she got nervous. Satoru assures her that it's fine, admitting he was actually a little relieved to see her acting different from the usual, and that he too was a little nervous about the date.

While the rest of the group are outside, they are spotted by Torame, who challenges them to deal with a Gaogaon from a powered-up Garugaru egg, unleashing a giraffe Gaogaon. Mey-Mey is about to go alert Iroha, but Mayu tells him to wait, wanting to try to see if the three of them can handle it on their own. Since Iroha and Satoru are always working so hard to help everyone, she figures they deserve a moment to themselves to just enjoy each other's company. Remembering Daifuku's words from earlier, Mey-Mey agrees to let them try, noting that he will have to alert Iroha if the three of them get into trouble.

The three Cures transform, and try to limit the Gaogaon's movements by forming barriers around its neck, but the Gaogaon overpowers them and knocks them aside. Cure Wonderful and Nyammy get trapped under a bunch of shopping carts, while Cure Lillian continues to try to calm down the Gaogaon. Mey-Mey rushes in to help out, removing shopping carts from the pile until Wonderful and Nyammy are able to free themselves.

At the mall, Iroha and Satoru have been alerted to the commotion outside, and decide to go deal with the situation. Iroha transforms into Cure Friendy and joins the other three. Satoru tells the Cures to aim their barriers at the Gaogaon's legs, allowing them to stop its movements and purify it. With the giraffe back to normal, Cure Lillian and Cure Nyammy send it back to Niko Garden. Torame decides he's had enough fun for one day, and leaves.

After things have calmed down, Satoru assures Mey-Mey that even if he and Iroha are a couple now, he'll still spend time with Mey-Mey as friends, allievating the sheep butler's worries. As everyone is heading home, Iroha tells Satoru there was something she wanted to ask of him: She wants him to start calling her by her first name. Satoru does so, and the two hurry up to catch up the others.

Another good episode! Some nice moments showing everyone dealing with Iroha and Satoru's relationship upgrade, with the date itself, Mayu and Yuki being supportive friends, Komugi not really fully understanding what's going on, but being happy for Iroha and Satoru anyways, and Daifuku and Niko having to deal with Mey-Mey's antics until he gets over his jealousy. I also had a feeling Satoru would finally start calling Iroha by her first name now that they've started dating, so that's sweet too.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 36 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which Iroha tries to figure out if she merely thinks of Satoru as a friend, or if there's something more.

Picking up where the last episode left off, Komugi doesn't quite understand the situation, while Mey Mey attempts to defuse the awkwardness by claiming he was just joking. However, Satoru decides to finally be honest and tell Iroha how he really feels. Iroha, caught off-guard and unsure how to handle this revelation, runs off. Mayu, Yuki and Komugi chase after her, with only Komugi able to catch up to her.

Mey Mey tries to apologize to Satoru for causing this mess, but Satoru doesn't hold it against him, noting at least he finally managed to say it. He gets the impression Iroha doesn't return his feelings, though, but Niko disagrees, telling him she thinks Iroha just needs some time to think it over first.

Mayu and Yuki wait for Iroha at her place, as she and Komugi return from their walk. Yuki keeps Komugi company while Iroha and Mayu have a talk. Iroha asks Mayu what the difference between platonic and romantic feelings are, but Mayu admits she isn't quite sure herself. Iroha's father briefly enters the room to bring the girls some snacks, before Iroha's mother sends him to deal with a new client. Noticing Iroha seems troubled, Yoko correctly guesses that Satoru finally confessed to her.

Iroha asks her mother about it, with Yoko admitting she's gotten a few love confessions in the past, but when it came to Tsuyoshi, she was the one who confessed to him.

Meanwhile, Satoru tells Daifuku he finally confessed to Iroha. Niko shows up, deciding to translate for Daifuku as the rabbit expresses his feelings on the matter, being happy Satoru finally confessed to her. Niko and Daifuku are able to cheer him up, although he's still unsure about what to make of Iroha's reaction from before.

Later that night, Iroha lies awake, still trying to make sense of things.

Elsewhere, Zakuro is annoyed that she can't get Gaou's attention, and decides to go out and find some excitement to make herself feel better.

The next day, Iroha is still unsure how to approach Satoru. Satoru decides to tell her that if she's more comfortable just staying friends, then that's fine. However, that doesn't make Iroha feel better. Mayu asks Satoru if he's really okay with that, while Yuki tries to encourage Iroha to have a proper talk with Satoru. They're interrupted when they sense a Gaogaon having been created, with Zakuro having transformed a black kite to take out her frustration on other couples.

The Cures arrive on the scene and transform, with the bird Gaogaon quickly getting the upper hand. With Satoru's glasses getting knocked off, Zakuro takes a closer look at him. Noting she likes the look in his eyes, she figures that if Gaou won't pay attention to her, she might as well take Satoru out for some fun instead and tries to take him away. Cure Friendy is not having any of that, though, quickly giving chase with the help of the Kirarin Swan's power. Back on the ground, Cure Nyammy comes up with a plan for how she and the other two Cures can stop the Gaogaon.

As Cure Friendy pursues Zakuro in order to rescue Satoru, she is able to properly reflect on her feelings for him. With the help of the other Cures and their barriers, they are able to stop the Gaogaon in its tracks and rescue Satoru, with Cure Wonderful ensuring he and Cure Friendy have a soft landing, while Cure Lillian traps the Gaogaon in her net. With the Gaogaon caught, the Cures are able to purify it, returning it to normal.

Sensing the romantic vibes between Satoru and Cure Friendy, Zakuro decides to give up on him. After all, Gaou is the one she truly wants. After Zakuro leaves, Mayu, Yuki and Niko invite Komugi to go on a walk so Iroha and Satoru can have a moment to themselves to talk things out. Iroha is finally able to put her feelings into words, and Satoru realizes that she returns his feelings.

Another good episode. So, Iroha and Satoru are a couple now. This is certainly a special occasion, since as I mentioned in my thoughts on the previous episode, past Pretty Cure series with a male implied love interest for the Cures rarely get to the point of confessing, and when they do, what happens after is usually left vague. Not this time, though. Some great animation to go with the special occasion as well, as well as some great teamwork between the Cures to stop the Gaogaon and rescue Satoru.

Speaking of Zakuro, I guess not getting any sort of attention from Gaou must've made her kind of desperate. Her going for Satoru is a little creepy, though, considering he's 14, while Zakuro's human form looks to be a few years older, I'd guess she'd probably be in her late teens at the youngest. At least she gave up on it pretty quickly, though, so I guess she was mainly just trying to forget about her own frustrations with Gaou.

Other than that, there was some nice moments, with Mey Mey assuring Satoru he'll still be there for him if he needs to talk, Niko giving Satoru some insight into how Daifuku feels about Satoru's relationship with Iroha, and Yuki and Mayu keeping Komugi entertained so Iroha can figure out the important stuff.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 35 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which Mayu and Yuki encourage Satoru to finally confess his feelings to Iroha.

The episode begins with Satoru turning down a love confession from a girl at the school, the girl realizing he might already have feelings for someone else. Mayu and Yuki happen to witness the exchange while looking for a notebook Mayu had accidentally left behind. Satoru admits this isn't the first time another girl has confessed to him, and Mayu suggests he try confessing to Iroha. Satoru, however, tells her he's fine with things as they are, not wanting to make things complicated between them.

As they walk down the hallway, they meet with Komugi and Iroha, who are eager to get home to meet with a client of theirs, Keiji. Iroha seems quite fond of Keiji, talking about the things she admires about him, with both Satoru and Mayu concerned he may be a rival for Iroha's affection.

Heading over to investigate, they soon discover that Keiji is in fact a dog, who is currently training to become a police dog. Satoru is relieved, but Yuki tells him it might be too soon to relax, noting that Iroha does seem to get along well with Keiji's owner, Keiichi. Feeling a bit anxious, Satoru decides to leave, with Mayu and Yuki deciding to follow. The two try to convince Satoru to go back and confess his feelings to Iroha, noting that if she does have other potential suitors, then Satoru has to confess to her first. Admitting he wouldn't feel great about seeing someone else date Iroha, Satoru decides to do it and begins trying to think of what to say to her. Niko, having been observing from a distance, decides to head over and offer some assistance.

They head over to Niko Garden, where Mey Mey decides to have Satoru observe the courtship rituals between the other animals to possibly give him some ideas. Turns out Mey Mey was never told about Satoru's feelings for Iroha despite all the times they had spoken, leaving Mey Mey feeling a bit dejected that Satoru wouldn't tell him something like that.

Trying to take a simpler approach, Mayu decides to ask Satoru about what exactly it is he likes about Iroha, and when he can't decide on just one thing, asks him about when the two of them first met. Satoru explains they first met around three years ago, shortly after he first met Daifuku. He had found the rabbit hurt by a snake, and brought him to the clinic. While Iroha's mother was treating Daifuku's injury, Iroha approached Satoru, reassuring him that Daifuku would be okay.

After Daifuku's injury was treated, Satoru asked if the rabbit's ears not pointing up was due to the injury, with Iroha clarifying that no, it isn't, Daifuku is just of a breed whose ears are normally like that. As the two talk, Iroha compliments Satoru on his kindness, and that's when he developed his crush on her.

Mayu and Yuki tell Satoru to just be honest with Iroha, but Satoru begins overthinking things again trying to figure out the best way to get his feelings across, while Mey Mey tries to get his attention, wanting some reassurance that Satoru considers him a friend he can confide in.

Elsewhere, Torame is trying to get Gaou's attention. When he doesn't get an answer, he decides to go do something on his own. He finds a Garugaru egg and powers it up, unleashing a kangaroo Gaogaon that starts punching down trees in the forest. Sensing the Gaogaon's appearance, the Cures head over. Iroha and Komugi arrive first, with the rest of the team arriving shortly after.

The Cures transform, but have some trouble dealing with the kangaroo Gaogaon's strong punches, with Cure Friendy getting sent flying. Satoru runs over to her, giving her some advice, pointing out that kangaroos can't move backwards. Starting to put together a plan, the Cures call on the Kirarin Lion for help, allowing Cure Friendy to get ahead of the kangaroo and lure it away. The other Cures are about to follow, but Satoru stops them, as there's something else they need to do.

As Cure Friendy is leading the kangaroo Gaogaon to a particular spot, Satoru follows after them, thinking about what he wants to say to Iroha. Arriving at a bridge, Cure Friendy finds the other three Cures waiting, with Cure Lillian and Nyammy preparing a net to catch the Gaogaon. The shape of the net reminds the Gaogaon of its mother's pouch, leading it to willingly jump into the net. With the Gaogaon having calmed down a bit, the Cures are able to purify it and return it to Niko Garden. Torame figures it was a fun enough distraction and decides to leave.

At the bridge, the others watch in anticipation as it seems Satoru is about to confess to Iroha, only for him to decide not to do it after all. Mey Mey walks over, wondering why Satoru didn't tell Iroha his feelings... only to realize he just asked that out loud while Iroha was still right in front of them. And at that awkward moment, the episode ends.

Another good episode. Nice getting to learn how Satoru met both Daifuku and Iroha. And things took an interesting turn with Iroha now knowing how Satoru feels about her, and how that might affect things once she's processed this information in the next episode. After all, in the series that have them, it is pretty rare for the male support character with a crush on the lead Cure to actually confess their feelings for her (or well, I guess Mey Mey accidentally did it for Satoru in this case), and even in the series where she does find out, it usually happens near the end of the series, leaving it pretty vague if it'll change anything between them. So, I'm quite curious to see if this will affect the status quo in any way.

I'll be looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 34 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which Mayu's father arrives in Animal Town to put up a photo exhibit, and while Mayu is spending time with him, Yuki decides to take some time to herself and try some new things.

The episode begins with Mayu asking Yuki to play with her. Yuki is initially uninterested, until Mayu brings out Yuki's favorite cat toy. Yuki tries to resist the temptation, but eventually gives in. Play time is interrupted when Mayu's parents return home, with Mayu happy that her father is finally back from travelling for work. Mayu asks about how his trip went, and he offers to show her some of the photos he plans to show off at an upcoming exhibit.

The next day, Iroha, Komugi and Satoru are headed to the exhibition, Mayu having invited them. Niko is also with them, expressing a desire to have her picture taken too, before Satoru reminds her she's supposed to stay hidden.

Heading in, the group meet up with Mayu and admire some of the photos. Komugi asks where Yuki is, with Mayu explaining she decided to stay home, wanting some alone time. When Mayu's dad, Takayuki comes over to talk to them, Niko quickly hides herself in Iroha's bag before he can spot her. Takayuki is happy to finally meet Mayu's friends, explaining that she's talked about them in video chats with him.

Unbeknownst to the group, Yuki decided to stop by to check on Mayu, observing from outside. Yuki figures that Mayu is fine, and decides not to enter the building. Since she's already outside, Yuki decides she may as well take the oppurtunity to try some things she'd secretly been wanting to try for a while.

After spending some time enjoying some of the things Animal Town has to offer, Yuki arrives at a park. She spots some cats having a meeting, recalling having seen them while out on a walk with Mayu before. She wonders again how Mayu is doing, reflecting on how much Mayu has grown since becoming a Pretty Cure. Her thoughts are interrupted when she spots a grey kitten being bothered by some crows, and rushes in to help. Noticing the kitten seems lost, Yuki decides to help the little one out.

Meanwhile, Zakuro is by herself, complaining about the couples around her and wishing she and Gaou could be like that. Her daydreaming out loud causes some bewildered looks from onlookers.

At Pretty Holic, Mayu notes that Yuki isn't home, and wonders where she might've gone. Komugi offers to help find her, and so the group decide to go look for her.

Back at the park, Yuki has changed back into cat form to ask the other cats if any of them recognize the grey kitten. The kitten's mother quickly walks over, and Yuki is about to leave, but the other cats invite her to stay and join their little gathering. Yuki tells the cats a little bit about herself, and then asks the cats what their meetings are usually about. However, the meeting is interrupted when Zakuro shows up. The boss cat tries to chase her away, scratching at her. Yuki changes into her human form, startling the other cats. Zakuro recognizes Yuki as one of the Cures, while Yuki tells the other cats to get to safety.

Annoyed at getting scratched, and figuring the boss cat is an acquaintance of Yuki, Zakuro decides to turn him into a Gaogaon. A short distance away, Komugi and Niko sense what has happened and the group hurry over to the park.

Cure Nyammy tries to dodge the cat Gaogaon's attacks, managing to hold him off until the other Cures arrive to assist her. Cure Nyammy gives the others a brief explanation of who the boss cat is, asking for the others' help in returning him to normal. Hiding in some bushes, Satoru, Niko and the rest of the cats from the meeting watch things unfold between the Cures and the Gaogaon. Satoru wonders why the rest of the cats haven't fled to safety, with Niko explaining they're concerned about their leader and want to support Cure Nyammy.

Continuing to dodge the cat Gaogaon's attacks, the Cures go over what they know about cats to determine how to best resolve the situation. Cure Lillian asks Cure Nyammy for her input, with Nyammy replying that Lillian already has the skills she needs to handle it. Realizing what Cure Nyammy has in mind, Cure Lillian calls on the Kirarin Fox for help, turning Cure Nyammy into a giant cat toy. Cure Lillian then uses the transformed Nyammy to get the Gaogaon's attention, with Satoru having to hold back the other cats to keep them from trying to join in.

Once the Gaogaon has calmed down a bit, the Cures are able to purify it, returning the boss cat to normal. Zakuro decides to leave to treat the wound from where the boss cat scratched her earlier. Niko heals up the boss cat, who then decides to show his appreciation for Yuki helping save him with an affectionate lick, catching her off-guard. The other cats show their appreciation as well through cuddles. Mayu is happy to see that Yuki has made some new friends among the other cats.

The episode ends with Yuki and Mayu back home, with the latter excitedly asking the former to tell her about her day, wanting to know all about how Yuki met the other cats.

Another fun episode! Nice to see a little more of Mayu's father, and him meeting Mayu's friends. And it was nice seeing Yuki decide to take some time to explore new things at her own initiative. Her interactions with the other cats were also nice, and I'm kind of hoping to see more of them.

I'll be looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[darkershining]

Just watched episode 33 of Wonderful Pretty Cure, in which we get to know Iroha's father a little better.

The episode begins with Iroha's father tending to Witt (the dog from episode 22), before getting ready to move on to Yuki, since Mayu wants to make sure she trimmed her claws correctly. Komugi is out playing in the dog run with other dogs brought to the clinic, including Moca, a new client.

After checking Yuki's claws, and giving a finishing touch with a nail file, Tsuyoshi gets ready to go give Moca a fur trimming, but Moca isn't interested. He decides to join Komugi in playing with Moca in order to get the dog to warm up to him so it'll let him groom their fur.

Satoru stops by, having come to get Daifuku's claws checked. While the group waits in Iroha's room, they ask her about how her dad got into the animal grooming business, noting it's kind of rare to find men in said profession. Iroha's mother stops by bringing snacks for the group, so they ask her about it since Iroha doesn't know.

Yoko explains that she first met him in the park, where he was working to learn about animals so he could get into the animal grooming business, but was having some trouble getting the dogs to trust him. Yoko gave him some tips to speak in a higher voice since a lower voice might come across as aggressive and make the dogs nervous, which is how he developed the voice he uses when addressing the dog clients at the clinic. Since Yoko was also looking to open an animal clinic, she invited him to work with her.

Somewhere in the city, Torame has picked up a Garugaru egg from somewhere, and is observing people walking their dogs, wondering why the dogs put up with having to walk on a leash. He powers up the Garugaru egg, unleashing a pig Gaogaon. Sensing it from a distance, the Cures head out to deal with the situation.

Satoru isn't entirely sure if the Gaogaon is a pig or a boar, but figures that either way, they might be able to calm it down by leading it to a patch of mud near the riverbank, since pigs love playing in mud. The Cures change up their strategy of chasing the pig, instead getting ahead of it, and trying to make a page from Tsuyoshi and speak to the Gaogaon in a cheery voice to lure it to the patch of mud.

The plan works, and upon reaching the patch of mud, the Gaogaon eagerly jumps in to play in it. With the Gaogaon distracted, the Cures are able to purify it, revealing it to be a pig from Niko Garden. Torame exits the scene, while Cure Lillian sends the pig back to Niko Garden.

Returning to the clinic, Tsuyoshi has successfully befriended and given Moca their first trim, with Moca's owner complimenting him on his work. As Tsuyoshi heads inside to take a break after saying good-bye to Moca and their owner, the Cures admire how well Tsuyoshi does his work and Komugi and Yuki both request that their owner brush them later. Niko observes from inside, commenting on everyone's smiles.

Another good episode! Nice to get to know Iroha's parents a little better, including how they first met. Not much else to say about this particular episode.

I'll be looking forward to the next episode!