Star Twinkle Precure Ep 12 and 13 Review

Hi Everyone! I am back from Japan and I watched both episodes already and I have an announcement to make. I have decided that there won't be regular episodes reviews of Star Twinkle Precure after this episode. Why is that? I realised that after reviewing so many seasons of Precure, I noticed that there are a lot of filler episodes in order to get to the main plot or something important related.

I also felt the level has dropped in Star Twinkle after the emotional Huggto series. I understand that Toei is trying to do something different this season like not giving a regular monster of the week, a more diverse cast of characters and so on.

As such, I decided that like my fellow reviewer in Livejournal, Animeangel4ever will be doing reviews for episodes which I think it is important or significant to the plot and not cover every episode regularly. I know all of you who have supported my blog all these years might be disappointed and that that there are better reviewers who can do better reviews on Precure than me. I am just a regular fan who love anything super hero related and anything interesting in pop culture.

Furthermore, my personal and work life was affected due to getting the review up every week and if there is nothing interesting about the episode, I felt it is a waste of my time and effort since you can notice that despite the high views on my blog, no one seem to talk much about this season. (Yes, it is too early since we have not reached the mid season where all the important plot points will occur)

I am not abandoning Precure and all of you readers who has supported me in my blog and LiveJournal all these years.I am just taking things slowly now but if you see me put a review post on Livejournal or my blog, you know it is an episode of some significant. Hope you will understand and continue to support my blog.

Now back to the reviews!

Episode 12 continue from where we left off when a mysterious man with a camera appeared and he happened to be a movie director from America named Abraham. He managed to trick Kaguya that all the happenings were special effects but Hikaru make matter worse by saying they were helping Abraham in making a movie in Japan.

Abraham revealed to be an alien and is a representative of the Galaxy Union. Lala will be repatriated due to her involvement with Hikaru and company. But now Abraham has to make a movie in order to continue the charades. There were some funny moments during the shoot but of course, when Lala's character was supposed to return to the stars, Hikaru actually ad-lib her lines and said her true feelings of not waiting Lala to leave Earth which I got a feeling it is going foreshadowing in the season finale.

Abraham was touched by her lines and used it in the film. Oh yes, the girls also battle Aiwan after she turned Abraham into a Knotrigger. After the battle, Abraham decided to let Lala stay on Earth and she was given a family name-Hagoromo Lala and she want to go to school!

Episode 13 started with Lala going to school. She decided not to rely on her AI as such make a lot of blunder and mistakes which she felt embarrassed. The stress got to her when her fellow classmate, Karuonori unintentionally remarked her as weird and she ran back to her rocket sulking.

The next day, she took her AI glove along and behave like a typical student which got Hikaru worried. She gathered everyone the next day to go to school (on a non-school day) and explained to Lala that they want her to be herself and not enjoy school life.

Suddenly Kappard appeared and absorb Karunori's imagination to turn his sword into a surfboard?! I was expecting like a monster created out of Karunori but this is lazy since we know that the girls will defeat him (as always) and he retreated in the end.

In the end, Lala was accepted by her classmates and peers and was given her nickname-Ru Chan due to her ending her sentence with "Ru"

Both episodes are all right as it showed how Lala wanted to stay on Earth with her earthly friends and Hikaru's speech to her is probably the emotional so far despite being a movie. But I am pretty sure when the time come, Lala will find it difficult to bade farewell to her friends. The school episode is a cultural shock for Lala since she is used to rely on her AI for advices and now she is unsure of what to do in school which led to all sort of situations.

Although Lala tried to make things right but Hikaru want Lala to be herself and count on her friends and not relying on her AI. Kappard turning his sword into a surfboard was really what Toei could come up with? We know the generals are not going to be defeated now unless it is an important plot related episode but at least do something like creating a monster not something gimmick which the girls clearly can overcome with the Southern Cross Shot.

As I have stated in the beginning of this post, Reviews of Star Twinkle Precure from now on will not be a regular thing but rather based on how good or important is the episode. Seeing that we are getting an Elena episode next week about her family and her brother is clearly behaving like a brat, I am half hearted to do the review. But if it is good, I will post it. Until then, see you in the next post and hope you can still support the blog! Cheers!

Star Twinkle Precure Ep 11 Review: Precure to the South! Part 2

Kirayaba! This is my review of Star Twinkle Precure Ep 11 and what happened after the girls' first major defeat?

After their spaceship suffered damages from the crash land, Madoka's father Kaguya and his men were heading towards the landing site and Lala turned the spaceship into a mini portal ball and they began to run away from the scene. (Though why Lala never thought of making the spaceship portable in the first place is anyone question)

The girls arrived at Futarou's observatory and he was shocked to see Fuwa and Prunce. However Kaguya has arrived and the girls hide in the next room. Futarou played dumb and Kaguya was distracted by his men although he noticed the dirt on the floor. Futarou learn the true identifies of Lala and agreed to keep it a secret.

This is where we see Hikaru all down inside the auditorium. Futarou explained that the Southern cross constellation is not just a guide for travellers but it also hold the endless possibilities for those who seek the unknown.

Meanwhile, the Knot Raiders has arrived on Earth and Aiwan suggested using the Taurus pen to make them become a Knot Trigger. Bakanyan actually declined the offer which suggested two things-He is actually very strong and overwhelm the other three generals or he has a hidden secret that might be connected to the revival of the big bad-Darkest who is also awaken in this episode.

The Three generals become a Knot Trigger and Kaguya was knocked unconscious by it. The girls arrived to battle but were no match against the generals. They even taunted Cure Star for being naive about the galaxy since the three generals has lost everything and has no choice but to serve Darkest.

However the other three Cures told Cure Star that it was her and her "Imagination" that brought them together and learn the value of friendship. Cure Star joined with the others and their combined powers awaken their new power-Twinkle Stick and the Team Attack-Precure Southern Cross Shot which defeated the three generals.

Cure Star got back her Taurus pen but Bakenyan retrieved the other pen and the generals. Before he leave, he told the girls that those who have all twelve pens will control the universe. (Sounds like Infinity Gauntlet all over again)

Kaguya arrived to see Madoka and her friends and was about to probe them when an unknown person with a camera arrived...

This episode is very personal to Hikaru as she learn about her mistakes and she nearly lose her "Imagination" since the three generals overwhelm them. But thanks to her friends, (Which is a common trope in Precure) she believed in herself again and their bond actually create their new power up-the Twinkle Stick! Similar to last season, we had yet to see how individual stick will work with each Cure but the team attack was pretty nice although I felt there was no finishing pose from the girls after the cleansing but it is still early since we have not even reach the middle of the season.

As I said before, Bakenyan is now the most interesting character since he rarely take any action but he is the most calm and perhaps the most dangerous. (It is always the quiet ones you have to be careful) Furthermore, Darkest was awaken by Cure Star's new power and the idea of gathering the Princess Pen for the ultimate power is nothing special since it has been done to death by previous seasons.

Overall, a great follow up from last week's episode but now who is this man with the camera that approached the girls? However the preview for next week episode spoil it as it is an Alien Film Director and he want Lala to be the lead for his next film! Until then, see you in the next post!

P.S: I will be in Japan from this Wednesday and be there for a week. The next review will probably be posted after Episode 13 aired.

Star Twinkle Precure Ep 10 Review: Precure to the South! Part 1

Kirayaba! This is my review of Star Twinkle Precure Ep 10 and the girls are about to learn the taste of defeat in this episode!

Wow! I was expecting some development for the upcoming power up episode and we got the three recurring generals literally beaten the girls to make them retreat out of the alien planet.

What happened really? Well, for starters, after Hikaru want to see the Southern Cross constellation after hearing it was Futaroru's favourite constellation. She dragged everyone into the spaceship despite Madoka's advice that her father is still searching for them after their previous blast-off.

But Hikaru insisted on going and also learn the location of the Aries Star Princess Pen which is on Planet Bearine. They met with a local native, Coumu who offered to take them around. But the girls have problems moving around due to the planet's heavy gravity pull.

Along the way, the Knot Raiders' three generals arrived but this time, they were given a power boost which was granted by their Mysterious Master. It kinda of make sense since the generals were defeated 10 times already due to the Star Princesses power.

The girls tried to fight them off but they were faster and stronger. As a result, Aiwan found the Aries Star Princess Pen and corrupted it. Cure Star tried to use the Taurus pen but Kappard snatched it before she could use it. (At least somebody got the intintive and interuppted an attack before it can be deployed)

Fuwa distracted the generals long enough for Lala to call out her spaceship and everyone escaped in time. The three generals now set their eyes on Earth to claim the remaining three Star pens. Hikaru then realised it was her fault that she got too confident and losing the pen.

But things are about to get worse as the spaceship crash landed back on Earth where Madoka's father is nearby and he is rushing to the scene...

I felt this is a wake up call for Hikaru as she has to learn that being a Precure has responsibities. (Sound similar to the recently Shazam movie where Billy Batson has to learn the hard way of being a hero) Sure, she got all high handed and insisted that everyone to follow her in her quest and it got them all defeated. Precures are strong but they are not invincible. Like how Hana from last season has to overcome her lack of confidence and it got Hug-Tan in a coma, Hikaru need to understand there is a time for fun and a time for action. (plus responsibity)

Furthermore, the Knot Raiders are not going to let this lying down. The three generals were given a power boost and they totally overwhelmed the girls in battle. I am kinda of intriguted that Kappard make a comment that Earth is a paradise compared what he has been through which might give him a hint of why he is so bitter and serving the Knot Raiders with no doubt.

Overall, a great first part and seeing the girls are on the run from both Madoka's father and the Knot Raiders. Can the girls especially Hikaru overcome their first serious challenge? Until then, see you in the next post!