(Where I Watch) Heartcatch Precure!

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 39: Erika's in a Pinch! The Marine Tact is stolen.

The fairies are in collusion. They want to do something to thank the Precures for their hard work. Coffret's struggling to come up with something, so when he leaves the botanical garden and floats past Erika's window, she grabs him and pulls him inside.
True to the title of the episode, she's in a pinch.

Precure Open My Heart Count: Tsubomi 32, Erika 32, Itsuki 13, Yuri 4

There's no Desert Apostle. No Crisis. Erika's just wanting to see if the demonic purification power of her tact can also clean her room...
You would think this kind of experimentation would have taken place earlier in the season. However, her room is about eight steps above my own in terms of messiness. One tact isn't going to do it, Marine. You couldn't clean that mess even if you could duplicate yourself like Gatakiriba.

Nope, you know what... Anything Coffret does from this point on is completely justified. Erika and the others have been through hell and high water, stood against their own shadows and defeated a demon that could instantly kill all flora on earth. She should be more mature than this.

Not only does Erika try to use supernatural power to do mundane tasks(PSST...Erika! Red Seed!) She tries to pawn the work off on Coffret because they're partners. When she falls asleep, the tact rolls on the floor. Coffret uses both Blossom and Marine's catchphrases, and packs up the tact in a hobosack, leaving Erika behind.

Everything he sees makes him angrier. Chypre is out planting bulbs with Tsubomi, and Tsubomi is very grateful. Potpourri is going with Itsuki to a martial arts match and will be the cheering section.

Angry at his partner's indifference to everything she's learned, he retreats to the Botanical Gardens. Yuri is there, reminiscing about Cologne.

I'm already hating this episode. But I'll finish what i start.

Coffret meets up with Haruka and Rumi while in the dark desert, Sasorina watches a Snackie propaganda film. She blows off the minions because the Desert Devil makes them even more useless.

After a quick game with the Tact, Coffret moves to take it back from the girls, when a big hand grabs it.

Boss Snackie takes the Tact, and the other snackies threaten to stomp Coffret when Erika baseball slides to the rescue!

Precure Open My Heart Count: Tsubomi 32, Erika 33, Itsuki 13, Yuri 4

Marine opens up a small can on the Snackies. Then Coffret asks her what she really thinks of him. She shoots the question right back. They get angry at each other, and have a Rattrap and Dinobot moment. You know the type. Two characters furious at each other, and even more furious at the enemy that tries to interrupt.

Marine gets back to Snackie-bashing, using one Snackie as a club against several others. Marine Shoot knocks them back. Then Impact after Impact pummels them away.

And here's a not so startling revelation. Snackie bodies are made of sand. The surprising bit, at least to Marine and Coffret is that they're repaired using painter's tape.

A dogpile of snackies overwhelms the two of them, as Boss Snackie fails to use the Tact. It should be known that only a Precure can use a Precure weapon. Once marine breaks free of the dogpile, Boss Snackie tries to use the little girls as human shields...and promptly gets his face kicked in by Blossom.
Coffret uses the opening to steal back the Tact, but Boss Snackie slams him to the ground. And that's Marine's cue to rampage. "How dare you hurt my precious partner?"

Flashy Finishing move Count: 65

BLUE FORTE WAVE! It just turns Boss Snackie white, and he escapes with his minions into the playground tube. The faeries are left wondering how.
Coffret gets a chance to show the gift he actually got for Erika. A hot water bottle. Though according to him "Fools don't catch colds." Couldn't resist that last shot, could you?

And we're right back at what started the situation. Erika needs her room cleaned.

Our Next Episode is: Farewell Sasorina! A Heart Flower Can Bloom in the Desert Too!

Thoughts on this episode:
WRATH. This episode did nothing to move the plot along, and just made me despise Erika's laidback attitude. For Cobraja's sake, we already had an episode showing just how much of an irresponsible twitmonger Erika is.

I've said what thus far? Two bad episodes, two meh, most others good? This one is abysmal. The only high point is Boss Snackie. And because I really didn't like this episode, there will be no pictures.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 40: Farewell Sasorina! A Heart Flower Can Bloom in the Desert Too.

We open on a fight. Sasorina's controlling a mailbox Desertrian, and getting her ass soundly kicked. As the team shows why their strategies are superior, Sasorina finds herself staring down the barrel of the Moon Tact for a Silver Forte Wave.
Flashy Finishing Move Count 56

For those keeping track, Sasorina's been exposed to the healing rays three times now. Once with Gold Forte Burst, Once with Shining Fortissimo, and Now one with Silver Forte Wave. And she's starting to have feelings. Strange feelings. She questions her comrades "Is it all worth it?" Kumojacky wants to get in there to talk some sense into her, but Cobraja stops him.

"She's been exposed to the Healing Light again. Her evil nature has been weakened again."

Down at the school, Itsuki's making it known that when her term ends, she's not putting her name in for re-election. She wants her current VP, Satou, to become school president.

Satou's one of the many young men in the student council who give off the Gendou Glare from his glasses. He's automatically assuming that all the attention that was lavished upon Itsuki will immediately pass to him. And as he's gloating about that possibility, he spins around in the big chair to see that Itsuki heard the whole thing.
"Are you really running for such a shallow reason? The president has to think of how the whole school works." Itsuki's admonishment causes him to run screaming from the office.

Down in the Dark Desert, Cobraja and Kumojacky are pleading with Sabark to remove Sasorina from her command position. She warps in to shout them down, and Kumojacky just tells her that she really can't do it. She still wants her one more chance. Both men step back sadly, knowing that this time they're likely to lose an ally and a friend.
When Sabark gives her permission to deploy, the other meet her on the balcony, giving over their Dark Bracelets. With triple the power, she might be able to beat the Precures, but it will put a great strain on her body.

"Don't expect me to thank you." Sasorina warps off and finds Satou to claim his heart flower.

And what does she use for the Desertrian?

THE WHOLE DAMN SCHOOL.

The teachers and Itsuki safely evacuate the school before it fully turns.

As the school stomps towards the city, Yuri shows up.

Precure Open My Heart count: Tsubomi 33, Erika 34, Itsuki 14, Yuri 5

Once the Precures use a fourfold body strike to remove the school Desertrian from the area, Sasorina shows her hand. With triple power, she mutates the Desertrian once more.

It's a real battle now.
Flashy Finishing Move Count: 69

All three styles of Forte Wave fly towards the Super Desertrian, but the power has made Sasorina strong enough to resist the purification. She starts showering the area in purple lasers while her compatriots watch from a distant roof.

As Sasorina rampages, she starts to question everything. "What's the big deal with Heart Flowers? Why Precures? It's all just nonsense!" She manages to slam them through a building, and is about to finish them off with a Kirkian double-fisted karate chop when the Dark Bracelet hits her with feedback.

"We'll use the Heartcatch Mirage to end your suffering." Moonlight declares.
The Precures step up to Super Silhouette, and call down the Heartcatch Orchestra.

Flashy Finishing Move Count: 70
After the angel brings down the brass knuckles, Sasorina tries to fight it, but there's too much healing power flowing through her. This time, Cobraja wants to step in, but Kumojacky holds him back. "She can't fight anymore. So just leave it alone."

The school is restored, and Satou's keart flower is claimed. The precures look to their left to see Cobraja and Kumojacky holding Sasorina. The look Kumojacky gives them speaks volumes.

"Sasorina, you did a fine job." Sasorina hands them the dark bracelet and thanks them for everything as her body fades away, leaving a lone Katakuri flower inside a purple gemstone.

"Katakuri means 'Bearing Jealousy and Loneliness.'" Blossom explains.

"We won't forget this, Playtime's over." The two general warp out as the heart Crystal flies into the air.

It comes back down at a mountain clinic, where a coma patient wakes up for the first time in a long time.

Down at the school, while the building was returned to its original location, the interior is in disarray. The newly invigorated Satou gets the ball rolling on starting the cleanup. He dos everything from moving desks to replanting the garden.

Tsubomi and Erika watch the progress. "Sasorina was crying. I guess even Desert Apostles have hearts. Cobraja and Kumojacky will be even tougher now, but we'll be ready."
The next episode is : The Fairies Transform? Start of the Precure Troupe.

Thoughts on this episode:
Now, I knew that Sasorina was going to be purified. It's been a given since she was blasted by the Gold Forte Burst. However, this episode still hits hard. It's not because she gets purified, it's the care her comrades show for her. Even though they give her the power to stand stronger, they just know, deep down in what's left of their hearts, that everything they want to do to help her is futile. Each time they share a glance, you can see it in their eyes that this is the end of their trio.

Another concept here is that Sabark has a heart somewhere in there as well. He's allowing his generals to speak on each other's behalf, and they're actually requesting she be sent back to her earthly body before she's purified. If Dune was completely in charge, that kind of emotion probably wouldn't be allowed.

Slightly related note that made this hit harder. My ipod was on random shuffle during the watching of this episode. Just as Cobraja and Kumojacky stood over their purified
comrade, Meadows of Heaven by Nightwish started playing. Ouch.

Comparatively, the story of Satou falls flat. Sure, he caused the destruction, unaware, but the only reason his Heart Flower was wilted was because he had been caught in an embarassing situation.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 41: The Fairies Transformed! The Precure Troupe has begun.

After the fairies show off their impersonations of the Precures, Rumi comes barrelling in,tackling Coffret. Her sister follows after, explaining that there was going to be a puppet theater show, but that's no possible unless Coffret and the others can be volunteered for it.

Our story this week is probably based on Noriko, the preschool teacher. She's being pulled in every which direction by all the kids. She can't keep control over them.
Oh no...they did it again! A common theme I've seen in Precure is that the OP and ED themes are actual songs in their world. If the people in Kibougahana didn't know of the Precures before this year, who recorded "Alright, Heartcatch Precure" and "Tomorrow Song?"

It's a clever little puppet show, but Sensei Noriko witnesses how easy it is for Yuri to keep the kids under control and she falls into the background. At lunch, she's still being pulled around by the kids.

Cute. The kids start playing with their oranges, and one of them says that he's "Mandarin Superhero Double." Does he tell the others to count their seeds? Is there a Setsuna Superhero Accel to go along with it?

Noriko tries to get control of the classroom, but there's some underlying fear here. Some kind of trepidation about administering discipline. The kids call her out for acting weird.
Moving forward: Kumojakcy pledges vengeance for Sasorina's defeat, and heads off to meet up with Noriko-Sensei.

This desertrian is created from the dinosaur puppet they used in the show. Yuri tells the others to leave the children to her while they go out to fight.

Precure Open My Heart Count: Tsubomi 34, Erika 35, Itsuki 15, Yuri 4
Now the fight starts but having the Desertrian punched up into the air, and brought back down forcefully. Yuri creates a shield with her Seed to protect the children.

"I love the children, but I need to get them to listen to me! How can I be more like that girl?" Yuri responds by throwing the curtain open so the Desertrian can see the kids calling for their teacher.

"When they wake up, the first thing these children do is call for their beloved teacher. There is no replacing you! Despite all that, why do you feel like you're losing yourself?" Words alone don't convince the Desertrians, but the ineffectual flailing of twenty-five kids does.

Sensei's soul is overwhelmed by the love the children have for her, so Kumojacky dives in. The Precures wisely bring the Desertrian to an empty field, and Kumojacky shows the strength with a gust of wind from the mouth. Fortunately, Moonlight has arrived. Then who's taking care of the kids?

All it takes is angering Kumojacky enough to open up the dinosaur's mouth for the gust attack, then right to Super Silhouette and the Heartcatch Orchestra.
Flashy Finishing Move Count: 71

Kumojacky bails before he gets completely overwhelmed, and Noriko-Sensei wakes up surrounded by the kids.

Floral Heraldry: Safflower means Tolerance.

The episode ends with Sabark looking up at a Bacta Tank holding Dark Precure, whose hand twitches and her lips curl into an evil grin. How long has it been since we saw her last? Seven episodes?

The next episode is "Yuri is Bewildered. She Saw a Love Letter..."

Thoughts on this episode:

As a person who takes care of kids at family and church functions, I can totally see where Noriko is coming from. There's got to a balance between being the kids' favorite toy and the kids' harsh tutor/governess. Many people who work in childcare spend their whole lives trying to find that balance. But as Yuri showed, Noriko had found it, because the kids sought her out as soon as they woke up.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 42, Yuri is Confused! She saw the Love Letter...

Cobraja and Kumojacky meet on the spiral hill, basking in the moonlight. Kumojacky admits he doesn't care whether he beats the Precures or not. He just wants strength, and if he can beat them, they're just another means. Likewise, Cobraja admits he's only after beauty, and therefore wants to remove the competition.

Dark Precure is still heaing in the Bacta Tank. Both of her eyes open, and Sabark is pleased.

The girls are watching Yuri, and mimicking her movements. There's still a few years gap between them, so aside from Grandma, Yuri is the closest any of them have to a grown-up friend. As they sit down for tea, someone's shadow is seen lurking around the outside of the Botanical Gardens. Itsuki senses his presence first and when they rush out, they find a love letter on the ground.The letter has no receiver or return sender information on it, but for the younger ladies, it's the first one they've seen.

And Potpourri decides to read it. "For a very long time, I've liked you." As they start wrestling with the implications and embarrassing the daylights out of each other, Yuri packs it up and heads home.

The other girls find a young man searching for the love letter and press the question. Hayato's his name, and he lets it slip that he's interested in Yuri. They grew up in the same apartment building, and played together. He was witness to her sadness when her father vanished, but he wants to protect her smile. So the girls are going to set things up for him to give her the letter.

The meeting on the hill is where they used to play together. And everything that happens makes him even less likely to hand over the letter. He runs away from the scene.
You know what, no pictures this time. Cobraja uses the love letter to create a Desertrian with Hayato's soul.
Precure Open My Heart Count: Tsubomi 34, Erika 35, Itsuki 15, Yuri 5
All we get here is paper weapons from the Love Letter Desertrian, which are deflected by the Sunflower Aegis.

"I don't want to be treated like a kid. I wish I was an adult so Yuri would..." Cobraja dives in to stop that. Blossom asks him why he fights.

"I just want to find beautiful things! But hearts...hearts are pitiful things, stained with hate and jealousy. They aren't beautiful at all." He brings down the double fist, and Blossom shouts him down.

"Don't you get it? Beauty isn't found in the eyes. It's the heart that tells you what's beautiful!" And with that, the Blue-haired one suffers a BSOD.
Flashy Finishing move Count: 72

Super Silhouette! Heartcatch Orchestra!
Cobraja warps away, almost purified by the light. When the Cures move into finish him, Dark Precure shows up, blasting them away with both eyes. She warps Cobraja away, and leaves the Precures in a crater.

They recover Hayato's soul, and he gives Yuri the letter. "I just wanted you to know how I felt. I know I'm still too young, but one day, I'll be an adult like you and then I'll try again."

Floral Heraldry: Cherry means Little Lover.
Our Next episode involves a major life change for Tsubomi. What kind of change? Well the title is "A New Family! I Will Become an Older Sister!"

Thoughts on this episode:
I chose to not put up screencaps because there was really only one way that they could go with the Desertrian.
I've seen this situation unfold among my friends. It rarely ever goes this well.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 43: New Family! I Will Become an Older Sister!

Tsubomi and her dad are rushing to the hospital, because they heard from Grandama that Tsubomi's mother was taken there. Obviously, if you've read the title you know what's going on. But for Tsubomi, the sudden revelation blows her mind. When they come back from the hospital, the other girls are waiting and celebrate with Tsubomi.
Since Mom has to be cared for at the hospital, Tsubomi promises to take over the Flower Shop the next day. And the others show up to help with the work. These are awesome friends.

Meanwhile, Kumojacky takes a long shower and meditation break under a waterfall. Wait...who just threw a log at him? He rises and cuts the log in half with his fencing foil. "If you clear your mind of wordly thoughts, you can even cut the Heartcatch Orchestra in two."
Ye gods. If he was any more manly, the world couldn't contain him.

Everyone's helping out at the Hanasaki flower Shop. Yuri's getting a business man interested in preserved flowers, Erika's showing off her knowledge of floral heraldry, and Itsuki's getting all the ladies.

As the day goes on, Tsubomi gets an order for a wedding bouquet. And this is an interesting case. Originally, both families were against the marriage. However, with the birth of two children, the warring families are looking to make up with an official wedding. Tsubomi is stumped for ideas, and calls her mother at the hospital. Also, the eldest daughter Kasumi seems lonely. So Tsubomi wants a bouquet to make the whole family happy.

Tsubomi and her dad walk to meet with Kasumi and her family. And along the way, Tsubomi asks about the day she was born.

"That day, it was raining hard. You were the only one crying, while the rest of us were smiling. The rain eventually stopped, and we saw the light sparkle off the blossoms on a flowering tree outside. Your mother said 'A blossom will one day grow into a beautiful flower that will make everyone happy.'"

Now little Kasumi is experiencing a feeling that people who are only children will never understand. That all too familiar feeling that the newest member of the family is stealing your parents from you. Tsubomi tries to get her to help create the bouquet, but all this makes Kasumi do is run away.

Kumojacky finds her... She's about five years old, so I'm not going to show her Heart Flower. Just the Desertrian that was made from her soul and Kumojacky's foil:

Tsubomi is on the scene:


Precure Open My Heart Count: Tsubomi 35, Erika 35, Itsuki 15, Yuri 5

When Kumojacky found Kasumi, she was drawing on rocks. A mother, a father, and the two girls. The Desertrian cuts the father and mother stones in half in its rage and opens a fissure under the baby's image. Blossom dives into the fissure to rescue the picture of the baby.

"True parents never stop loving you! That's why babies are so happy! I'm sure you looked forward to the birth of your little sister! You actually love her."

"Yes, I do." The Desertrian drops its foil, and Kumojacky dives in.

Blossom runs towards to Desertrian, and the blade is held back by a shield created by Moonlight. They very quickly step it up to Super Silhouette Mode, and it's time to see if Kumojacky's boast works.
Flashy Finishing Move Count: 73

He's actually holding back the power of the Orchestra as Moonlight and Sunshine focus their essence into it. But when Blossom and Marine add it in for the Holy Knuckles, he can't hold it any longer and warps off.

Kasumi Makes up with her family, and Moonlight explains that the Lily of the Valley means "Arrival of Happiness."

Our next Episode is "A Christmas Miracle! I Was Able to Meet Cure Flower!"

Thoughts on this episode:
As a middle child, I've been on both sides of the equation. My older sister got jealous of me for being born, and I was jealous of my little brother. Again, if you're an only child, this is a perfectly natural feeling that you'll never experience for yourself.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 44: A Christmas Miracle! I Was Able To Meet Cure Flower!

Christmas Time is here, by golly! Disapproval would be folly! Deck the halls with boughs of holly!
The girls have set up the Christmas Tree display, and there's one little girl who hung a wish on the tree. Her name is Tachibana Mayuka, and she knows the difference between Christmas and Tanabata, but all she really wants is to meet the precures. She's getting really deep into this, and makes a rash promise to her young friends that the Precures will be at the Christmas Tree at 5AM Christmas Morning.

Tsubomi hears this promise and even when she confronts Mayuka about, Mayuka lies again. It's a common problem according to her father. She's been lying about everything. But it's all been about making friends, and Tsubomi recalls that she was pretty much the same way. She tells Mayuka that she's friends with the Precures, and the little one calls her out for lying. But Tsubomi gets Mayuka to promise not to lie in exchange for meeting the Precures. And her friends agree to help out.

On the dark side of things, Tsubomi has a passing encounter with a strange green-haired person. Cobraja and Kumojacky co-create a Desertrian from a Snowman Toy and a Christmas cake vendor who hates couples.

Because Sunshine fights alone, they have to give up on helping Mayuka. When the other cures show up, Moonlight smacks down the Desert Apostles in one motion,while Blossom and Marine perform a "Christmas Impact." Also of note, Sunshine is able to build up to, and unleash the Gold Forte Burst in ten seconds.
The Desertrian goes down, and both generals dive in.

With a sudden blast of icy wind, all four Precures are frozen and impaled. Seriously.

Back at the Botanical Gardens, Grandma asks Coupe to give her a bit of his power to provide a Christmas Miracle. And just in time, because the double desertrian is attacking the Christmas tree.
Their combined power is no match for a righteously indignant grandma, who introduces herself as "A Flower That Shines With Holy Light! CURE FLOWER!"

Cure Flower orders Sora/Coupe to get the kids to safety so that she can open a can. Her first move is the Flower Candle, which spins the Desertrian around. Second is the Flower Carnival. Four flower blossoms appear on compass points around the desertrian, projecting four illusory Cure Flowers right into the heart of the Desertrians to soundly thrash the generals. This is all she can do. She doesn't have the strength to call in a Forte Wave, so she rejoins the others.

"Heart Flowers, free the Precures from their bondage!"
Flashy Finishing move Count: 73

Time for the Heartcatch Orchestra! Of course, the generals flee. The Precures leave the poor vendor with an autographed christmas card and go back to the Christmas Tree in time for Mayuka to make up with her friends and admit her own dishonesty.
"Long time no see, Cure Flower." This guy comes up behind them.

Cure Flower identifies him as Dune. And this leads into our next episode: "It's Hopeless! The World Has Become a Desert!"

Thoughts on this episode:
Rock on Grandma. Even if you can't use a finisher, you wailed upon two generals with Dark Bracelets.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 45: It's Hopeless! The World Has Become a Desert!

Yup! Dune is here! Initiate the bishie boy villain panic measures!

He's just blabbing on. The Precures move into deal with Dune, who is a match for all of them in a straight fistfight, and when he opens up his power, he just has to point his hands at the Precures to reduce them to base energy level. He challenges Cure Flower to a fight and winds up smacking her down.

Coupe roars and goes airborne. CHEEKY BASTARD JUST BLASTED COUPE! Dune grabs Cure Flower and takes her aboard Sabark's palace. With a wave of his hand, he summons the Great Heart Tree, steals back his sealed power from Grandma's brooch and shatters the shield around the Great Heart Tree.

He brings her to the tree to wither it by touch. It doesn't just wither. It dies at the roots and falls over. As this happens, Desert Devils are dropped in on earth at all possible locations. The seas,rivers and forests are buried in sand. Famous landmarks become sand as well.

When the Precures wake up in the only place that remains green, they use the Mirage to look upon the now dead Heart Tree.

Leaving the Botanical Garden greenhouse/oasis, they go to their homes. Fairy Drop is completely buried. The Myoudouin Dojo is buried to the rafters, and surrounded by crystals that used to be the students. Yuri's apartment is not only buried, but listing to one side. And the Hanasaki Flower Shop, along with any trace of life.

Clock it folks. We are ten minutes into the episode, and the villain has all but won already. Operative Phrase: All But...

Back at the gardens, the Precures meet up with everyone whose Heart Flowers they saved, starting with Momoka and moving on to pretty much the entire school. The work they did to save people strengthened their hearts against the apocalypse. If this is true, there have to be at least fifty kids here too.

Seeing everyone returns Tsubomi's resolve and she tells them that the Precures will never give up. A Desert Devil attacks, forcing everyone inside the Greenhouse.

Precure Open My Heart Count: Tsubomi 36, Erika 36, Itsuki 16, Yuri 6

The flowers of land, sea, sun and moon return to combat with their flying fairy capes. And they soon hit on a strategy. Because the Desert Devil has so many heads, it can be made to attack itself. Once it staggers from its own blows, Blossom and Sunshine bring down a double impact to smash the upper half of a skyscraper into the Desert Devil. But this is just a distraction for the real power.
Flashy Finishing move Count: 74

HEARTCATCH ORCHESTRA! All they manage to do is defeat the Desert Devil. Nothing is restored yet. To do that, they have to rescue Grandma and the Great Heart Tree. And just as they ask where that is, Coupe appears, pointing at a specific point in the sky. He's going with them.

Before they can leave, the city arrives to see them off, and Kanae gets her greatest scoop ever.

"We promise to save all of you. So just wait." And the Precures rocket off into space to Wakuseijou to beat the hell out of Snackies. Snackies who are in utter disbelief that their enemies survived the withering of the Great Heart Tree.

Screw waiting! NEXT EPISODE RIGHT NOW!

As we move into the Next Episode, titled "Kumojacky and Cobraja Will Never Be Forgotten," Let's recap:
Earth is a desert. Almost seven billion people have been turned into crystals, save only those who were rescued during the Precure's year of action. Dune has returned and withered the Heart Tree. And now the Precures are in for their true final battle.
As they lay the hurt on Snackies, Cobraja and Kumojacky are watching, waiting to make their move.

"You know, while i don't understand most of what goes on in that meathead of yours, I do find your joy in battle lovely." Cobraja says.

"Don't pull that crap on me. I don't like to be acknowledged by your type. But I do have to admit that you're strong."

Both of them dive down to the bridge to meet the Precures. Sunshine wants to fight the generals alone, but Marine steps up to back her up. Blossom and Moonlight are sent to rescue Grandma, and Kumojacky pounds the ground to create a maze of pillars. But there's no way they could be beaten by that. Moonlight and Blossom punch through to the pipes below.

Cobraja claims Sunshine and his opponent, and Marine gets Kumojacky, who only wants to fight for strength. And Marine moves between the ticks to punch him in the face. She opens up all barrels on Kumojacky who feels nothing. Marine gets plowed through a wall.
She starts dodging on the Z-axis to avoid Kumojacky's new bigger sword. She finds herself facing the sword when Coffret smacks him in the face. When he threatens to cut Coffret, she pulls off a snap kick that breaks his blade.

Marine then hits Kumojacky in the ribs so hard that it leaves an indent on his back. She kicks his face, sending him sliding five inches down and fifty feet back.

"Cure Marine! What has caused you to become so strong?"

"You keep rambling about strength. But what you talk about isn't true strength! Just now, Coffret did his best to protect me. And though he doesn't have the power to fight, Coffret is a trillion times stronger than you! One does one's best to protect others. That is the true strength! "

And Marine's Anima flares, bathing Kumojacky in a blue light.

"Kumojacky, it's true you're strong. But what do you want to do with that strength?" He has no answer. "I want to live with my friends, and protect them. I want to become stronger to protect that life. But your strength serves no purpose. Because you have no purpose, you sought to make the world a desert. And while my heart may be as vast as the sea, it has reached its limit."

Marine punches, not at Kumojacky, but at the Dark Bracelet, then calls down her Tact.

Flashy Finishing move Count: 75

Blue Forte Wave, with a new insert song backing it up.

"I am beaten, Cure Marine. There's still a lot of power I don't know of in the world."
Kumojacky is reduced to a heart crystal. The flower inside is Sneezewort, which means "to fight."

On the other side of the battlefield
Cobraja wants two who are beautiful to fight beautifully. Sunshine dodges his moves and tells him that she'll never acknowledge his way of thinking as beautiful.
He moves too fast to be seen, and uses his phantom jokers to break through Sunshine's shield. He wants the fight to be seen as art. Sunshine skates around trying to evade the Phantom Jokers.

"How unsightly, Cure Sunshine!"

"You're not beautiful at all, Cobraja!" Potpourri is one bold little baby.

"How can a lowly fairy know what is truly beautiful?"

"Sunshine has the heart to do her best to protect everyone, no matter what happens! That's what's most beautiful!"

"I told you before! I have no interest in people's hearts."

"It doesn't matter how ugly or unsightly I become! I am the sun and I will protect everyone's hearts." Sunshine's anima flares surrounding Cobraja in a field of gold.

"Protecting those whose names you don't know, is that the beauty you speak of? It doesn't matter. At this point, there's no going back."

Sunshine launches a Sunshine Impact through the shield, breaking apart the Dark Bracelet.

"There's still time Cobraja. I will become the sun in your heart!"

Flashy Finishing move Count: 76
GOLD FORTE BURST!

"How beautiful! What a fitting end. I'm so glad I got to fight you, Cure Sunshine. Adieu!" Cobraja is gone leaving the crystal behind. The flower within is a Japanese rose, meaning "Beautiful Sadness."

Inside Wakuseijou
Sabark walks towards Grandma. Wonder what he has to say. She knows that he created Dark Precure and wants to know why he copied Moonlight to make Dark. "In that moment, when Coupe appeared to rescue Moonlight, you could have ended it. But you didn't. Something held you back. Why?" Sabark chooses not to respond and stalks off.

A whole staircase full of snackies is left beaten by Blossom and Moonlight. But they soon get stopped by the appearance of Dark Precure. Moonlight tells Blossom to go on ahead while she deals with Dark Precure and the shadow within herself.

When Blossom arrives, she takes out the black boss snackie and Coupe takes out the white one. A screen pops up showing Moonlight and dark still standing there, waiting for the other to make a move.

"Tsubomi! Don't let Moonlight fight Sabark!" Why? We'll find out in the next episode: Tell Me It's a Lie! Sabark's True Identity!

 

[Wraithstrike]

Episode 47: Please Say It's a Lie! Sabark's Identity!

Sunshine and Marine reunite in the deep corridors as a wave of Snackies appear. Sunshine opens the floor with a Sunflower Aegis Impact, turning her shield into a rolling Snacky Smasher.

Rather surprisingly, the snackies allow the Precures to have a time out to discuss their plan. And their plan is to dress as Snackies to find their way to the others. Time in, followed by a Big Explosion. The costumes don't work very well, but they manage to get to Grandma. Coupe uses teh Heart Seeds they've collected to recharge Erika and Itsuki, just in time for the Snackies to find them.

Precure Open My Heart: Tsubomi 36, Erika 37, Itsuki 17, Yuri 6
BOOM GO THE SNACKIES!

Down at the big fight, Blossom catches up with Moonlight, who refuses her aid. Sabark blasts Moonlight to prevent her from getting the drop on Dark. Dark has the edge in the fight as long as Sabark is pummeling her with the darkness. Blossom jumps up to distract Sabark, who smacks her down. "In the end, that is your limit. You have always been the weakest Precure."

"That's not true. I may have been weak before, but when I became I Precure I realized something. Even if your heart shines like the sun, Even if you're quiet and serene like the moonlight, everyone bears some worry in their heart." Her speech is puncutated with the memories of the people she helped. Despite that we do our best to live by seeking the light. I learned that one emotion I never knew while shut away in my shell."

"Emotion is not necessary. You are still weak!"

"Right now, I have comrades and family that are counting on me. People I love, that I want to protect..."

"Even if I'm the weakest Precure, I will still protect everyone's hearts. I will not lose while I hold that sentiment."

Moonlight sees this and is bolstered once more. Even though Dark comes flying at her at mach speed, she casually catches Dark's fist in her own hand. "This is the emotion shared by all Precures. Prepare to feel it!"

Blossom jumps towards Sabark, who body flickers out of the way. She counters this by having Chypre dive down onto his face so Blossom can kick him.
Sabark drops down to protect Dark Precure from a Moonlight Impact and his mask falls off, revealing Moonlight's father.

[sarcasm]Wow...what a surprise.[/sarcasm]

Yuri breaks her henshin to run to her father's side. Dark blasts her with the eye and reveals that the only reason she exists was to destroy Moonlight. Sabark doesn't deny it.
"He is no longer your father. He is mine! Disappear!" Dark dives towards Yuri, and is blocked by Blossom.

"Pull yourself together! We can't afford to lose here! You need to protect your father! Overcoming Dark Precure is overcoming your old self. The strong and kidn Yuri I know would never lose to herself. Please believe in the feelings you have for your father! Our feelings as Precures are with you! Don't Lose!"

Blossom manages to break through Dark's assault, and Yuri shields her with her Seed. "Thanks to you, I regained the courage to fight! From now on, yours and everyone's feelings will be in my heart!"

Precure Open My Heart: Tsubomi 36, Erika 37, Itsuki 17, Yuri 7

Moonlight walks towards Dark. "Even if I disappear, Blossom, Marine and Sunshine will still exist. And you cannot beat them easily, because of the bond they share."

"Well, let's settle this with one attack!" Dark has her Tact ready.

"Just as I want it." Moonlight responds in kind.
Flashy Finishing move Count: 77

Dark Power Fortissimo and Floral Power Fortissimo clash with the dessicated earth as a background. Moonlight draws power from the bond of the Precures and the prayers of all those left on earth, and pledges to protect all the feelings of everyone.

"HEARTCATCH!" and Dark goes Boom.

And now, the next two episodes! First up, "For the Earth, our Dreams! The Final Henshin!"

Down on earth, Kanae and Ban watch as the Desert Devils march around the landscape.
"Don't worry. As long as we believe in the Precures, everything will be all right." Rock on, Ban.

Dark staggers from the attack, her wings falling apart, her scream echoing throughout all of Wakuseijou. Eventually, her body hits the ground and the other half of Moonlight's seed rolls from her hand.

Doctor Tsukikage stands up and Moonlight runs to him, embracing him for the first time in years.
"I don't have any right to embrace you. This all happened because my heart was weak. I wanted to unravel the secrets of the Great Heart Tree to make everyone happy. Everyone, even the devil. I didn't want to hear that there was no way that everyone couldn't be happy. I hit a roadblock in my research, took Dune's offer and tried to destroy the world as Sabark."

Dark, stop trying to stand up. You're beaten. She wants Moonlight away from her creator, and drunkenly staggers towards him.

"I made Dark Precure to do harm to Cure Moonlight. She's just a soulless doll." Professor Tsukikage embraces his creation. "That's enough."

"She came from my research, and a part of your body. She's your little sister. I made my daughters fight each other and I regret it even now." Dark Precure starts fading into the light, allowing herself a single smile, knowing that her father loved her in the end.

Screw you Dune! This was a meaningful moment! Don't you come around with your sarcastic applause.
Like a stone cold badass, Professor Tsukikage walks forward, shouting Dune's name. And Dune shows us that the professor chose to put on the mask.

"Your research was very helpful in wearing down the Heart Tree's defenses." Dune lets his anima flare, as Tsukikage throws down with him. Moonlight joins the fight, then Blossom.

Even with all three of them, Dune's too much of an opponent. He snares them in an energy trap, and blasts them away with a miniature dwarf star.

"The strong devour the weak. What's wrong with that?" Dune prepares another Dawrf Star and Professor Tsukikage puts up another level in badass by PALMING THE STAR AND SHIELDING YURI WITH HIS OWN BODY! His last words are "Take care of your mother."

"Are you going to attack me with hatred as well?" Dune asks as Yuri walks towards him. However, Tsubomi holds her back.

"Don't do it! Don't fight for anger or hatred's sake."

"But I do hate him. It's his fault that I lost Cologne and my father. As long as hatred gives me strength,I don't care."

"Don't say such pathetic things. The Yuri I know and love wouldn't do such things. When faced with sadness and hatred, one has to grit her teeth and let it go. For what reason did we Precures work so hard? What did Cologne and your father entrust to you? Tsukikage Yuri! My idol, Cure Moonlight! What do want to do? And for what reason do you want to fight? Think hard about it!" Tsubomi hold up the other half of the seed and Yuri takes it.

"We don't fight for hatred. We must fight for love! Tsubomi, let's transform and do this."
Precure Open My Heart: Tsubomi 37, Erika 37, Itsuki 17, Yuri 8

Moonlight and Tsubomi has leveled up! They have mastered "Two-hand Wave Motion Cannon!" With their hearts clear of rage, they're able to fight Dune on their terms, not his. And when Dune does manage to get a blast off, it's intercepted by the Sunflower Aegis! The Precures are Reunited!
What follows is a long storm of punches, kicks ,blasts and rapid fire shots. Dune is just barely able to defend himself.
Flashy Finishing move Count: 79

Sunshine and Marine tag up for a Floral Power Fortissimo. Moonlight and Blossom follow suit. They blast Dune down to the ground and dive through the lonely cavity where his heart should be.

BOOYAH!

But they're not done. Nope, now it's time for the Heartcatch Orchestra!
Flashy Finishing Move Count: 80

And the episode ends there. But not the series. We still have one more to go!
Our last episode is All Hearts Are One! I am the Strongest Precure!

After the angel brings down the holy Brass Knucks on Dune, he breaks free from the binding. The angel vanishes, and Dune drops down into the crater of his base.

"You've done it now, Precures. But you haven't beaten my hatred. It will expand, It will destroy everything." As he speaks, the fragments of Wakuseijou float about him.
"Your love is mere garbage before my hatred!"
As Wakuseijou breaks apart, Grandma and Coupe appear to rescue the Precures.

A megasized Dune appears! He punchs the whole earth at once.

Marine steps forward. "This is ridiculous. Mere 14 year old girls against that kind of power? Well, let's go save the world!" She flies out of the Coupe Forcefield, and Sunshine follows her.
"Marine, don't forget, Yuri's 17."

"Whoa! My Apologies, Yuri!"
Moonlight nods. She's ready to rejoin the fight. but Blossom stops her. "I'm sorry if what I said earlier was disrepectful. I know it was a hard moment for you."
"You gave me something important to fight for." Moonlight flies off, and Blossom says goodbye to Grandma before heading out.

When they find the giant Dune, he fires a laser blast from his third eye, which does nothing to harm them.

"Your sadness didn't end because we lacked the power to make it so. Your hatred didn't end because we still didn't have enough love. That's why we combine our powers!" Everyone lays hands on the Heartcatch Mirage, to "open the flower of infinite possibility" as Grandma puts it.

"A giant flower blooming in space! Possessing infinite power and infinite love, the star-eyed Precure... Heartcatch Precure Infinity Silhouette!"

Dune tries to punch at Infinity Silhouette, and can't even come close.
"Hatred only causes you to hurt yourself. Now receive this love!
Flashy Finishing Move Count: 81

PRECURE PUNCH! Infinity Silhouette punches at Dune's chest, setting off an explosion of cosmic proportions.
The sun rises once more over a renewed world. All life is restored, and it's been a few months. Tsubomi's little sister, Futaba, has been born. Erika is the little sister, so she doesn't know what it feels like.

They walk to school, and meet up with Itsuki practicing with Satsuki. And there's a new student at Myoudouin:

In a bit of prescience we also see what became of the other two. The woman who was Sasorina is a preschool teacher, and the man who was Cobraja is a dressmaker.

Erika suddenly comes down with a case of "HOLY CRAP I JUST SAVED THE WORLD!" and has been doing it for days. Yuri convinces her to stop, and we see that a new Heart Seedling is growing. They can't always rely on infinite power and infinite life to protect it.

They all have a moment of introspection about what they want to do with their lives from now on. Erika wants to be a pro fashion designer, Itsuki wants to carry on the Myoudouin legacy, but doesn't want to limit herself any more. Yuri's not sure of what she wants to do, and Tsubomi?

Tsubomi wants to go to space again. This time under her own power, to make flowers bloom where they never have before.

Tsubomi gives us one last monologue. "I'll never forget this year. All the memories I have, All the hearts I protected, it's a precious treasure to me."

We end as a young girl with pink hair, possibly Tsubomi's sister or her daughter, holds the Heart Perfume and looks at that one picture of the Precures before they headed off for final victory.

Thoughts on the series as a whole:

Music: The music was epic. At every point, you felt like you were a part of the action. 5/5

Animation: Once I got into the story, I forgot about the weird animation style. 3/5

Fight Scenes: With some minor glitches, such as the Butt Punch, these were some pretty awesome fights. 4.6/5

Characters: I loved them all, except for Dune. I know the Precures were eventually able to show him love, but I can't. 4.8/5

Secondary Characters: People rescued by the Precures show up in the series later on, and are even instrumental in helping them regain their power. 5/5

Next up, I review the Heartcatch movie. Without a working knowledge of the Yes and Fresh series, I'm going to have to pass on the DX Allstars movie for now.

 

[Wraithstrike]

Heartcatch Precure Movie: Fashion Show in the Flower Capital!

We open on the Eiffel Tower as our movie-specific villain is ranting about the coming end of the world, tied to the full moon.
Meet Baron Salamander:

And his adopted son, who he calls Loup Garou:

The boy steals the gem from the cap of the Baron's cane, begging him to give up on destroying the world. Baron responds by hitting him with a swarm of Snacky-bats that knocks him off the tower.

The girls are in Paris for a vacation and the opening is awesome. It's a wide pan around Paris, showing the villains, heroines and every major landmark in the City of Lights.
Now the reason that they're here is because Momoka brought them on a modeling excursion to participate in a fashion show. Tsubomi gets separated from the rest of them searching for the mystical City of Flowers.

Loup Garou runs around the rooftops, still being pursued. He distracts the Snacky-bats with a bit of sleight of hand. As he jumps off the roof, he meets up with Tsubomi. She asks him for directions, and notices that he's covered in wounds. She won't leave him alone, and when the Snacky-bats launch a fireblast, he grabs Tsubomi and they run the rooftops.

Eventually, the Baron catches up with the boy, ripping out his heart flower and combining it with the Obelisk monument.

Movie-Specific Open my Heart Count: Tsubomi: 1

Blossom assumes her caped form to fight the Desertrian, who is moaning about not wanting the world to be destroyed. He doesn't know what to do. Though he grapples Blossom, she breaks free by focusing power into her fairy cape.

"If you don't want to harm the world, I'll help you!"
Movie-Specific Flashy Finishing move Count:1

Because of the Wolf in his Heart Flower, the Pink Forte Wave fails and Blossom goes flying. Fortunately, Itsuki and Erika see Blossom flying through the air, followed by the Obelisk Desertrian. They look at each other, look around to realize they're in a public place and just say "Screw it!"

Movie-Specific Open my Heart Count: Tsubomi 1, Erika 1, Itsuki, 1

Movie-Specific Flashy Finishing Move Count: 2
They're going for the Shining Fortissimo! This time because they claim the Heart Flower, the Desertrian is stopped.

Baron Salamander shows up with a solar eclipse, and the faeries steal back the boy's body gem.
"So there's Precures in this Era as well. Can't say I'm happy to make your acquaintance. Why do you fight for the Loup-Garou? He's..."

"A troubled boy!" Right on, Blossom. "He may be different, but we'll still fight for him."

As the boy recovers, he dreams of how he met Salamander. He was praying in the cathedral for the Archangel Michael to grant his wish, and the voice of Salamander led him to a door similar to the one that leads to Precure Palace. The boy was the first one to find Salamander in a few centuries. They walk out together, and Salamander hears his wish for a mother and father.

"Hey, I don't even have those. But let's go find them together."

He wakes up in a spare room of the apartment the girls are renting. his wounds have been tended to, but he doesn't know why they helped a complete stranger. Erika gets the ball rolling with introductions.

Everyone gets introduced, even Momoka and Yuri. But the boy still only responds to the name Loup Garou. Momoka comes up with an interesting way to keep him around. her mother needs a young male model for some of the photoshoots.

Tsubomi's trying to convince the boy to open up and talks about how all meetings have meaning, even a bump in the street. He responds that "Loup Garou" is just a nickname the Baron gave him. So Tsubomi comes up with one of her own. "Olivier" based on his heart flower.

After practicing walking(and falling) for the fashion show, Erika takes Olivier's measurements and talks about the importance of fashion. Itsuki takes him away on a subway, and explains why she acted like a boy for so long. Olivier finds her confusing, but not infuriating.

After geeking out in a dress shop, Itsuki takes Olivier out for lunch. "I find you interesting. You're not really running away, you're just acting." Eventually they get back to the apartment, and Olivier gets caught up in the minor fashion show. However, the light of the moon causes a change in him.
Tsubomi barges into the room to see him glowing and become a werewolf. He pushes her back, tearing her new dress. As the claws grow, she embraces him, and the changes stop.
So, love is a lycanthropy deterrent. Interesting.

The next day, Olivier and Yuri are walking around when they meet a golden retriever. He gives her the jewel to look at. "It's the crystallization of the Baron's Power."
"Just how are you and he related?" Yuri asks. and we see a memory of their time together. Salamander protecting Olivier from wild wolves, and giving him the power of the werewolf so he could defeat the wolves the next time they fought. And until the Baron regained his power, he actually cared for him.

Salamander appears at the other end of the tunnel, and Yuri moves to protect Olivier.
"You're not a Precure, so defying me is folly."
"Is that so?"
Movie-Speicific Open my Heart Count: Tsubomi 1, Erika 1, Itsuki 1, Yuri 1

Salamander very easily avoids Moonlight's attacks and warps them all to a stage to explain his story. "The Great Heart Tree gave birth to Precures because the Desert Apostles existed first. I was the first one, and I was sealed away by Cure Angel."

"I never wanted to turn the world into a desert. I just wanted to know why we were created. Dune hated me for this. He sent me to fight Cure Angel, who easily defeated me. That's why all I want is revenge. Revenge against the Desert King, and against the Precures." he walks to Olivier.

"That power I gave to you was a fragment of my own, a piece of my own hatred. When you rampage, the fragment you have and my gem will consume your soul. It will be complete at tomorrow's full moon."

Moonlight can't take anymore and she throws punches. "Apologize to this boy! Have you ever considered what you're doing to this boy? You can't even properly face him, so you can't face the world!"

Moonlight hammers Salamander against the wall. "There's no meaning to destroying everything. It will not satisfy you!" She gives him a look, and he doesn't like it. It's the same look of Pity that Cure Angel gave him. As tehy dive towards each other, Olivier stops them by grabbing both of their weapons.

"Stop it! The Baron's right. Nobody's going to love me because I'm a monster. I'm sorry that I couldn't take part in the show. Tell Tsubomi I'm sorry."

Once she hears the story, Tsubomi runs from the apartment crying. She found a friend in him, and wanted to show him the photos.

"So show him the photos. It's not like he told you not to follow him. Besides, you've got us."Erika stops her from harming herself in her sadness. The other Cures gather around Erika and Tsubomi. Yuri wants to contact Grandma for what she knows about Cure Angel and the Baron. And they're all going to stop the Desert Apostles.

Meanwhile at the Baron's castle, we get a great scene.
"I sure will miss this landscape when the world is destroyed."

"Then don't do it." Olivier says. "I don't get why you want revenge so much. I don't understand your hatred. I don't know why you want this world destroyed. But in this world, I have you. You've always been there for me. And this world is now precious to me because of the people in it. I'm not running anymore. I'll stop you even if it has to be by force, father!"

"How much you've grown. Show me your fangs then!"

As Olivier throws punches, he says "People change by meeting others. Aren't we the same way?"

"Nope. I'm a Desert Apostle." the Baron rains fireballs down, and Olivier dodges them, flying up towards the Baron. With one swipe of his claws, he knocks the Phantom mask off the Baron.

"Don't you see? It's too late." Baron places the gem against Olivier's chest, turning him into full werewolf. Olivier howls in pain and the moon glows red. Wolf-Olivier blasts apart the ancient castle binding Baron Salamander, while Salamander himself prepare a ritual.

The Precures have arrived. Blossom and Marine get attacked by the Werewolf Olivier, while Sunshine and Moonlight break into the ritual chamber of Salamander.
Blossom intercedes, preventing Marine and Olivier from attacking each other. He's not fully gone yet and she knows it. Once again Blossom shields Olivier with her own body, and they can see the tears dripping from his face. Blossom embraces Olivier once more, and the transformation is undone.

Sunshine and Moonlight fight Salamander, trying to convince him how he's not too late and there's still time. But they notices that his body is crumbling even as he restarts the ritual. "Well, your body would fall apart if it was hundreds of years old too."

The ritual takes place revealing Salamander's true form...

See, Dune? That's how it should be done! That's how you do a True Form!
Dragon Salamander fires a blast at the city and Potpourri throws out a shield to protect everyone. As the shield cracks, Coupe in his Sora form appears, landing an elbow drop on Salamander.

Sunshine defends the others from a fireball. "There's still a light that can shine in Salamander's heart! It's you! As long as you hold fast, we will fight with you!"

Coupe saved the other two, and everyone in the city watches the fight.

Blossom joins hands with Olivier and convinces him to fight against Salamander.

Movie Specific Flashy Finishing Move Count: 3
Stepping up to the power of Super Silhouette!

"SALAMANDER! That's heart stained by hatred! We will catch it!"

HEARTCATCH ORCHESTRA!

Salamander's fire meets the fist of the angel, and pushes the Precures back. Olivier produces the gemstone, which now glows green. "Hang in there, Precures!"
The faeries commandeer a TV camera and beg everyone to lend them the power of their Heart Flowers. Everyone sends their power to the Precures and the angel grabs Salamander in a warm embrace.

Salamander falls back to earth, and Olivier brings him back to life with his tears. Baron Salamander looks up at the Precures and declares he'll win next time. Olivier,laughing for the first time in a long time, holds up the gemstone which breaks apart.

"Let's go another journey, Salamander. A journey to find what really matters in life."

And the movie ends with the fashion show, with a remix of Tomorrow Song, and everyone's taking part in this, even Coupe/Sora.

Thus ends the review of the series! Thanks for reading!

 

[Kaji Motomiya]

Isn't it great that Baron Salamander didn't have a human form like Sasorina, Kumojacky, and Cobraja, and wasn't even purified, but he isn't purely evil? He SO ranks higher than those three.

Also, it's worth mentioning to anyone in who also enjoyed this series that Baron Salamander and Loup Garou makes a TINY cameo appearance in a flashback when Professor Tsukikage puts on the mask that made him Sabark, and that Tsikikage received this power in Paris, where the movie takes place.