I cannot emphasize enough how much Minami NEEDED this episode. For so long I felt like Minami was being overshadowed by Haruka and Kirara because of their social butterfly nature and being able to act more freely as themselves while Minami must take care of her responsibilities as the Student Council President. It was so good to see Minami loosen up, be in her element, but most importantly, be herself. We don’t see this side of her at the academy, and I sincerely wish we could in the future episodes. I also loved how Minami had the opportunity to be strong on her own, by fighting in the water, protecting what she loves. I won’t lie, it ripped me into shreds seeing Tina take the hit for her and be so terribly injured the poor thing probably almost died- hence the waterfall of tears falling from my eyes (I can’t help it, I love it when character have a powerful bond with animals, and when the animal gets hurt, it DESTROYS ME). The relationship between Tina the Dolphin and Minami was so freaking precious, oh my heart! (Tina had saved her from drowning when she was little, and ever since they have been BFFs.)
Of course there was another special individual, and that was Wataru, Minami’s elder brother. It was great to be able to meet him today, especially since the Family Day episode was only for the first years students (and Kirara will have her turn with her mother in next week’s episode!) and was a Haruka central episode. What was important however is that we were able to be given a better understanding towards Minami’s dream. In the previous episodes, she was a bit vague about it, but today we were able to understand it better. Her brother is her biggest inspiration, and she too wishes to participate in the Kaido family business, by entering the management field, similar to what her brother is doing right now. Seeing in action the skills and qualities one needs for management, we are able to look at Minami’s duties as Student Council President, and her determination to set up events properly exercises to gain experience like Haruka and Minami to work towards their dreams.
After discussing how it would be nice to see the villains use their heads to divide the girls, I was thrilled to see them do exactly that today. The humor of who gets the buff up first was priceless. I also liked the fact it was Lock who was the bigger threat of the day since Minami had to fight him solo, since she was the only one who can move freely in the water. Which was a good to see since it allowed Haruka to return to the dry grounds to assist Kirara, who was also struggling against Shut. But I will add it was also extremely pleasing to see even the two of them weren’t strong enough to take Shut down after his buff up. It shows even fighting as a duo isn’t enough, and I like that because it creates future opportunities, and makes the villains a threat again.
On that note, it is unfortunate to to say that opportunity is a bit short lived as the girls will all quickly obtain yet another power up – just as Minami had today with the Miracle Dress Up Key. See, before the whole fight got seriously intense and Tina was in trouble, I wasn’t too happy about any of them getting another power up this soon. But of course with Tina in trouble and Minami being the one for an exchange to be the first to obtain the second power up, it didn’t bother me after all. Why? Because Minami freaking deserved to be the first to get a special power up! And you know what? There is actually a positive opportunity if the power ups are going to occur this frequently. See if we were to look at the previous series, there is a pattern where the villains usually won’t change their strategies until a power up happens. But girls in this series are constantly evolving to become stronger at a rapid pace- so what do the villains do? They adapt, they become more creative, and most importantly, they start using their brains. If the writers do play this out, it would be quite refreshing because this is a way to ensure the villains can continue to be perceived as a threat and make the fights all more interesting. By doing so it provides an opportunity to break the predictable habit, making it so we the audience wonder what else they have up their sleeves.
Speaking of Princess Twilight, I wanted to mention was it was great to see Cure Mermaid be officially acknowledge as a strong precure. Up until now, Twilight didn’t think the Cure Twinkle and Mermaid were a threat (I’m not entirely sure though if she sees Cure Flora as a threat yet…), but now she that she has seen Cure Mermaid’s strength, she claimed she will remember her name- which is significant. So there you have it Twilight Princess: YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE MERMAID PRINCESS ON HER TURF. SHE WILL DESTROY YOU.
The only thing that is troubling me though is the fact Twilight’s heart is developing a consistent pattern of wavering. Her heart ached when she saw Minami and her brother. While it’s nice to know Haruka isn’t the only one triggering the waver, I am growing iffy of how much longer she will be able to last as a villain.
Next week! Kirara will be getting her own new key (no surprise there) but hey we will be able to meet her mom!
Random Note of the Week: ANNNND SURELY ENOUGH, WATARU ZETSUBORG’S FORM IS AN ORCA LMAO. LOOK YOUR MAN DREAM CAME TRUE!
Great review! You know how about the comment I added before? Well I did started to realize after I made that comment, how much Lock just wants to push Shut’s buttons! I think this episode is definite proof that Lock isn’t just into the power up because of the boost. He’s doing it to troll Shut! XD
I mean he’s been at it against Shut since episode 12, when he remarked that it’d be quieter if Shut wasn’t around. Then he trolls Shut even more by sticking him up and mushing up to Twilight just to push his buttons, and now this episode in which he shoves Shut a long to get the power up first! (Which I found hilarious because when Shut screamed, he reminded me of a fish about to eat a little fish! XD)
But yeah you made good pointers that now the villains are actually thinking, something I think the other Precure villains weren’t doing at least in the earliest series such as Doki Doki and Happiness Charge. (I know people are tired of others giving those two series a hard time but can’t help that those two series have a lot wrong with it compared to this so far refreshing series). I’m glad they two have been coming more of a threat.
That made me sad a little bit that the dolphin got hit. I’m surprised it’s still alive because it knew Minami for so long, but this is Precure and naturally they don’t want cute things to die. (Though…they did allow a fairy to die in Heartcatch.) My friend said it would have been a bit dark and more interesting like Heartcatch if they did allow the dolphin to die and Minami would have just get her power up to not really avenge it, but it’d motivate her even more to fight and protect the ones she still has. Though I agree with you, I prefer the dolphin alive and healed up. I love dolphins too much and it always saddens me when I see one die or get badly hurt in like movies and such…:(
Lock is such a mischievous guy, I love seeing him mess with Shut and hope to see more of it in the future. Troll Lock FTW
This episode from Go! Princess has already been enlisted to my top tearjerking episodes/scenes in the Cure series. My kokoro got teared up when Tina took the hit for Minamin/Mermaid from the orca Zetsuborg (summoned from Wataru’s dream), it really crushed me and my whole entire nerve system like it was the end of the world (similar to the dolphin movies). I mean, ugh! I can’t say anything but watching how the poor dolphin suffer to ensure her BFF’s enjoyment and I was shouting like, “Dammit Tina, please don’t die! Mermaid really needs you.” :'( But thank God, a miracle occur (of course, it’s Pretty Cure so I agree on Techou-kun has said)! And I also agree on Kragito-kun that at first it was another filler episode, but turns out to be the start of the Miracle Dress-Up Keys arc in the season. Flora and Twinkle had a hard time to manage the second Zetsuborg, but they’ve got the payback check on it.
Oh that Wataru’s such a damn hottie, but remains a down-to-earth person despite of being the boss of the Kaido Group! >////< I like the way he treats his employees like his own friends, incl. the elders, which reminds me much of Sebastian Javier from the family comedy-drama, Dream Dad, and technically, Minamin's elder bro has owned 10 companies, a cruise ship, a hotel, an aquarium and a resort! Oh.my.G! 😮 But you know, this episode made me surprising but a very warming and touching one because of both Minamin and Tina. Their friendship really means a lot to me and, oh yeah, I like dolphins ever since a kid to be honest.
I almost forgot about Shut and Lock BTW, the okame general got NTR'd again and trolled by the devil hooded kid. Twilight, as always, has the damn feels once again this time to Minamin. I'm suspecting that she'd realize about love, hopes and dreams once she switched sides. 3:)
This episode is full of surprise and also full of win! 😮
– It’s Minami episode (not a surprise here). It’s been so long to hear her voicing the intro of OP and saying “gokigenyou” after final attack. The episode did a good job showing us why Minami was working so hard to become good at management and dependable person. In episode 9, I felt a bit of hesitation from her words. But this episode reinforced that statement and could convince me to believe that it is really her dream.
– Twilight had a heart ache when she saw Minami talked with her brother. This is definitely a foreshadowing for her future development.
– Bubble Key! I never expect that Mermaid will get new key in this episode. I said it in my previous comment that they will get new power up soon but I don’t expect it to be this soon. I think that they will receive three new keys altogether like in episode 10. This season surly has very fast pace compare to previous seasons.
– Two Zetsuborg! This is my biggest surprise. I never expect to see both Lock and Shut teamed up! It always feels refreshing to watch the villains really try to defeat our heroines instead of just routinely sending fodder (even if the result is still the same). I think that this is probably the reason why they decide to kill off Close. If all three generals have worked together and also receive buff from Twilight then it will be too much for our heroines. Also, I must say that I changed my opinion about Lock. At first, I thought that he might have any hidden agenda and could become a big bad guy later. But he looked just like a mischievous kid who loves to play game in this episode. I think that I may expect too much from him. Hmm…
My only disappointment is that Mermaid’s new move, Bubble Ripple, is just a reused animation and I don’t really feel that it is stronger than Frozen Ripple. It’s still an excellent episode, nonetheless.