Happiness Charge Precure! Episode 31

When you think about it, it is quite amazing how much shipping instincts can interpret things. I don’t know whether what had happened this episode should be considered as being trolled, because it sure felt like it. It turns out that Yuuko’s first love was not a person, but a dog she had found in a park when she was little. As soon as we learned that, I couldn’t figure out which was more awkward: the fact Phantom was being compared to Debit (Yuuko’s dog) or the fact she was sharing her first love story when I’m sure he doesn’t give two shits about it. Another thing that kind of irked me was the whole thing of Yuuko dressing up as a nurse. Like really? Was that REALLY necessary? Just to bring food up to him? I don’t even… I honestly didn’t find that charming at all, just plain weird and totally random. Nevertheless, despite how things played out, it was sweet to see that in the end, Phantom couldn’t find it in him to attack Yuuko while she was in her defenseless state. I also appreciated the fact that he had thanked her for the meal she had given him. Goodness, that made her happy to see that he had eaten the entire bowl!
While the episode was covering Yuuko’s back-story and revealing the twisted truth that we all surely had concluded at the time, I felt they also highlighted Phantom’s true self as well as his mission. He blames Blue for Mirage for changing into who she is today, but we all know at this point that the blame is somewhat misdirected. It’s the Dark Mirror that is the culprit for changing and manipulating Mirage. For a while now we have known that Phantom wants to serve and protect Mirage in the best he can, but today revealed it’s more than just that. He wants her to go back to the time she was that lovely innocent Shrine Maiden. Whether he loved her from afar or simply cared about her, we know that Mirage means the world to him. It is up in the air whether or not he will pass on Blue’s message that he wishes to speak with her, but even if he did, it may prove difficult with the Dark Mirror doing it’s best to keep feeding Mirage misunderstandings. Actually, I wonder whether Phantom’s experience with the Precure (or more precisely, with Yuuko) may clear his vision and see what he didn’t before, that is Dark Mirror’s true colors and what he is doing. I would like to think that realization would be a turning point in the series and Phantom would assist the Precures into their territory, claiming that this is his way of paying back for their hospitality. It would be fun if that were to happen, but after having been trolled, I won’t be holding my breath for it. But I will say one thing: IT WAS SUPER EASY TO MISS, BUT PHANTOM SMILED at the way Yuuko responded to him just a second before he opens the mirror portal.
Speaking of the devil, when Dark Mirror went on about how he is Mirage’s eternal friend, the first thing that crossed my mind was the whole memory of Captain Earth’s, “Puck doesn’t lie” line because we all know (and for a while now) that is absolute bullshit. He also goes on about how the Precures were holding Phantom captive (oh please), and that they are evil and that Blue wants to hurt her.
It was quite amusing to see both Hime and Iona for a brief second get caught with their shipper goggles on. Actually, I have a feeling this was supposed to represent how we are seeing things from time to time given that it took a moment for both of them to realize, “Oh there’s not any forbidden romance going on”. Needless to say Hime represented shippers’ disappointment when the shipping vision clears.
Next week is supposed to be a love story for Iona, or so they claim it to be. Obviously it is a filler episode with a character we have never seen before. She might go on a date with him, (I am assuming he is the one who is going to confess and asks of it) I have my doubts that it will go anywhere. I mean really, what are the odds of her suddenly falling in love and dating a character we are seeing for the first time?