Happiness Charge Precure! Episode 43

WHAT WENT DOWN:

EPIC FIGHT
MEGUMI CONFESSES HER LOVE, ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT’S ONE-SIDED
DARK MIRROR INTERVENES AND CHAOS ENSUES
MIRAGE IS SAVED
THE WORLD IS SAVED
BLUE CONFESSES HIS ETERNAL LOVE TO MIRAGE
THEY KISS (AKSDJLKASJDLKAJDLAKSJDLAS FANGIRLING ENSUES)
MEGUMI FACES THE BROKEN HEART (BRB SOBBING)
THE BIG BAD IS STILL ALIVE AND KICKING,
AND NOBODY KNOWS IT!!!!

This was hands down my favorite episode to date. Everything about it was absolutely stellar, from the execution, to the dialog, to the interaction between Mirage and Megumi as they fought against each other, man there is so much to talk about that I don’t even know what to start off with!!!

A round of applause to the staff involved producing this episode because I don’t think they could have delivered it any better. This was hands down my favorite episode to date. It was absolutely stellar, from the script of the interactions between Mirage and Megumi as they fought against each other, the gorgeous animation, the soundtrack, the voice acting, I loved everything about it.

What I loved about this particular fight was the fact Mirage was dominating the physical aspect of the battle. Mirage has been a Precure long before Megumi came into the picture, so she as countless years of experience that neither she and or Cure Tender could compete against. With that mind, it allowed the fight more realistic and enjoyable. Having recognized that she could not hold her against Mirage through power, Megumi had to take a more difficult approach: Persuading Mirage to stop fighting against them and realize that bathing the world in misfortune is not going to make her happy. Although Megumi is powerful, like Yuuko, she is even stronger when it comes to communication. Countless times she has made efforts of peace-talks with the enemies, and so I appreciate that they highlighted and utilized that strength for this particular battle. Another thing that I especially loved was that Megumi’s convictions were so strong, that she had the courage to confess that she loves Blue right there on the spot, knowing that her love was unrequited. She said that so that she could show Mirage that they could find some common grounds, to give a concrete example that she understands the pain she is going through. And to top things off, Megumi counters Mirage with telling her that it’s okay that it is one-sided love. She is fine with that. While Blue may not return her love, she can still find happiness in this world.

“…Even if that’s the case, it’s okay. This entire time I’ve been with Blue… I learned what truly made me happy. I had overlooked an entire world. When I am with Blue, everything became sparkling and bright! Blue allowed me to understand! How happiness can fill my heart so much! Even if my love for Blue won’t become reality, my happiness won’t disappear!” – Cure Lovely/Megumi

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING EVER.
How often have we seen stories that involve love that reminds the audience/readers that while the character’s love may be unrequited, they can still find happiness in the world? How often do we actually hear that from a character, in particular, coming from a protagonist? Often times, in these types of stories, the heroine ends up with her true love and they live happily ever after- and that’s great, everyone loves that stuff! However, there is something more powerful and bittersweet about the heroine facing unrequited love. I appreciate it so much because it is important to hear, especially for the younger audience. It is that reassurance that while the world seems dark and hopeless, remember that they can still find happiness elsewhere.

Speaking of which, according to the preview, it looks like that is exactly what Megumi is going to go through next week. She is going to be dealing with that heartbreak, and with the support of her friends she will find the strength to begin her process of moving on. Ugh I just wanted to hug her, while I never shipped Megumi x Blue, my heart hurts for her. Of course that isn’t all what the episode is going to be about. The guy behind the Dark Mirror is still alive and kicking, and is absolutely furious that Megumi has successfully rescued Mirage from his clutches. Actually, what is more scary is that they have no idea that the big bad is still out there is and ready to ensue revenge. I get the feeling that because Megumi is the target, Seiji might find himself caught or throw himself in the crossfire. It’s something that I have been theorizing would happen for a long time now, and for the past few weeks it felt like they weren’t going to go in that direction. But now that Mirage has been saved and Megumi is the target, it looks like that device is still a possibility.

This week’s animation quality was probably not as showy as some of the other fights we have seen, but it was just as great and in some ways, better. I am a huge fan of how they have been using the filters over the course of the season. They don’t use it all the time, but when they do, they deliver. There was something about it that made the whole battle scene so much more spectacular to watch. One of the particular details that stood out to be was how they stripped Mirage of her makeup, allowing them to display her raw emotions. It allowed her to look both vicious and vulnerable. Her gorgeous feathered wings made her look so sophisticated yet badass at the same time. The setting of the mirage stage formed by her tear represented her broken heart, not shrouded in darkness but weary, along the grand Deep Mirror displaying her being tied down by her pain. And there there was the Innocent Purification which had a special sequence, featuring the girls showering Mirage with lots of love and support. It was so sweet to watch as we all know that it is exactly what Mirage needed after having been trapped within Dark Mirror’s clutches for so long.

Finally, Dark Mirror. They have showed us what he looked like this week, and surprisingly, he has red hair, so I get that makes him Red then, right? (Raise of hands if you thought he’d have dark blue hair… because up till now, I was convinced he was going to be known as: Dark Blue, MISSED OPPORTUNITY YO!!!) He is evil, like holy shit evil, I mean look at that malicious look on his face.

So tell me, is it Sunday yet?