#makopi

I really need to try and get a schedule going for this again or I'll never finish them all. Ai-chan continues to be suspicious and weird, meanwhile Regina came in all guns blazing... I don't expect her to be allowed to keep that sort of momentum or attitude for long.

EP 16

>.< I am trying to ignore it but it's that centre stage creep in for Mana as a character. Makato's outburst is justified and Reika is playing middle man, sorta but strangely it seems Makato is ignoring her to. Meanwhile, Regina, uses her powers and threatens to do more, in front of a class that doesn't even flinch, just mildly surprised by this supernatural like activity occurring before them ???

I dunno if Selfish is the right word at the moment, ironically. Regina is rude, really can't take no for an answer and impatient but not exactly being shown as selfish at the moment.

Possessive much, telling Rikka to back off because she's Mana's friend now, she even shows up and openly bosses Alice around, which I'm surprised she allows, Alice has already been shown to have standards and lines and Regina was pretty much the opposite end of them all.

This is going to be a recurring theme, you can just feel it.

"With" doesn't seem like the right word, open kidnapping feels like a better description, shows up and drags her away with out consent. XD Darn does Regina just have a way with words; so blunt. I swear, it feels like every series uses a drinks can style monster of the week o.O am I just imagining it at this point?

And despite Heart not being there and Diamond takes the lead, none of them get the extra quip at the end, however Heart does when she re-joins the group still. Meanwhile, supposedly seasoned Precure Sword can do squat all against the monster of the week, the whole group are useless until Heart shows up. (It's little things like this, which are really worrying signs)

Precure, Lovely Force Arrow - It has to be said, visually is an amazing attack that nods at all four members. Top tier group attack!

Overall a decent ep though, it does highlight Regina more as a character and acknowledges it won't be easy trying to be friends with people from opposite sides of the conflict, it didn't really shy away from anything.

EP 17

>.< It isn't even subtle! (But Forest Sculpture Gallery XD Could it have been anymore on the nose.)

It was this sort of thing I was expecting off Alice last time but it never appeared.

And Joe shows up, being a weird creeper again who just keeps abandoning AI to a bunch of teens he barely knows but trust them with it anyway... -.- just one ep of him being written decent, is it really too hard? (The build up, the attempt at redemption, the effort to be better and Mana pushing for them to be a friend group of five, it is mind boggling that Regina isn't the fifth member with all this set up!?)

Why are they so alarmed about Regina knowing that much? She's King Selfish daughter, she knows about the Trump Kingdom and Makato's true identity, that little but shouldn't matter. Why didn't Alice off to compensate for the broken statue? Flaunting her cash everywhere, to deal with problems was all she did for about the first four episodes. It's a bad lesson for the kids but you'd already started it, why back off now?

(Even the crystals are nodding at it, the whole thing is such a red herring)

You have to give it to the staff, they just nailed all the group shots so far. This was a very dynamic group pose.

They came up with these for all four members and never do you hear anyone but Heart give theirs...

I assume it's the principal of the matter but you have a big shiny reset button after each fight, you should have seen it enough times by now to know everything will be restored to how it was once you beat the Selfish...why is it a concern?

Good gravy, how did they get away with having Regina be so dark in this series???

Never mind, the guy is having a full blown Tuxedo Mask moments in this ep! He literally challenges Regina with no worry. (Just where and how did he change though? He definitely isn't wearing that under his regular clothes.) Not that he does much but block attacks.

Again, how does Sword not know this? Was this secret? Surely Ange would still inform Sword though, she was practically her main bodyguard and Sword admired to such an extent she was nearly with her 24/7 and yet she still had no idea?

EP 18

Lance isn't wrong and prove he pays more attention than you would first think. (also Racquel is meant to be a boy...how?) He doesn't even explain how he survived, just skits right pass the matter.

I suppose that does work as an excuse, there is an age gap but having zero idea, despite the amount of time she was serving under her? It still seems weird that she didn't even have an inkling of this.

A miraculous Trump card XD card puns!

Speaking of, is there a pun or something that I missed? Has it actually explained why they are hanging out in an abandoned bowling alley of all places?

New outfit time! And why does Alice have a roller bag? You'll struggle with that across fields and how does Alice have so much free time for this anyway? She was this busy CEO like individual in the first few eps and nothing since???

Ooh, it's the bird from before, so did that belong to the Princess to and now he looks after it, almost like a keepsake? (For 30 secs, they did a good job showcasing their budding relationship and interest in each other.)

Opening the transformation with a headshot, was actually a good way to cut animation corners because they switched outfits, no need to redraw the first part can just keep reusing what you have.

And just how does Joe keep switching outfits like that? I don't recall if we ever get to see, just click the fingers off screen and poof, knight armor! When you take a moment to stop and think about it, there's a lot about him that is still unexplained... then again, were not even at the half way mark so there's plenty of time.

In a single ep, they pull a complete, yet understandable 180 on Joe's character. (Still doesn't change the fact he was unsettling creepy at the start)

At the mo, Doki Doki does sit in a weird camp, it feels overhated, it does have a lot going for it at the moment. While Mana suffers the Dream problem, it isn't so much Mana is a bad character (Nozomi actually was though, especially GoGo version), it's how everyone around her treats/speak about her, like she's the best thing ever and can solve any problem and that causes a whole set of separate problems.

EP 4 XD Monthly tea party, just going all out with this aren't they.

It makes you wonder how that isn't more of an issue in other series either.

Seriously, its like they looked at how insane Karen's family wealth situation was and went, how can we top it.

Are you telling me she nearly had all those mastered at the age of six o.O on top of learning the piano and calligraphy, does Alice not work on a twenty four hour day?

It's probably pretty accurate to those watching but its a nice contrast to the ipod like selfish they had in the first half.

It is marginally more deserving than Diamonds was but I do like how it actually sets up her being a blocker, so her running as a shield/defence doesn't come as such a surprise but actually fits her motivations as a character.

Considering she is Clover themed, why did they go with Rosetta? Did they just want to avoid using the colour green? Even though she's quite green adjacent?

And now the problem is, they've set Alice up to have all these tricks up her sleeve to assist and basically over rule any plot issues, how do you make it so they group actually have issues to overcome and tackle?

EP 5

-.- Seriously, Rosetta was only the last ep and we're already tackling Sword again.

It's a league of its own already ^^" Some one on the writing team was having a lot of fun writing this level of eccentricity for Alice. (Still, it makes you wonder why it never comes up in any series after considering, this would all be searchable stuff).

Charges into Makopi's dressing, spurts all the secrets about the Precure and then decides to ask is she's actually Cure Sword -.-''

What is it with pink leads and these basic etiquette of grand delusions of theirs?

I'll give it this much, Makoto can actually sing, most other characters who made this claim in Precure, really can't.

When you have them altogether like that, you can see how it could be a misconception but what's this a whole decade early.

The problem now being, having watching it already and knowing, I dunno if this is actual subtle genius or just spelling it out to the audience? The intro and all that aren't particularly subtle?

Then again, how in the world did she know where Mana lived? Did she follow her? Pull a secret network of intel like Sebastian?

On the plus side, Makoto didn't automatically join up but once again the purple Cure is leagues above all the others in skill and power... it's easy to see how the colour stereotypes got set up in the earlier series.

EP 6

Would this be considered stock footage? This is the exact same TV crew from the previous ep? It doesn't look like the same stage so are we suggesting it is or isn't the same studio?

Davi is a sly one... (oh wait nope, turns out Makoto actually picked it to observe the others).

They say good morning but the scene prior have it act like Rikka and Mana are just coming back from school?

Cracking eggs is not lowering difficulty o.O Still, even if you don't know how to do it, surely at some point, you must have seen some one do it? That reaction though, makes it look like a murder scene or a horror fest.

Curiously enough, Yuuko says the exact same line, some one on the Precure board is a passionate chef?

Listen to the blue one, they're onto something... instantly gets dismissed though.

Only EP 6 and the critic is stepping up already...

One can only wonder where they got those shapes from and that ketchup is not going to go very far like that but yay for more card motifs!

Now let's all be confused at Ira showing up when Bel said he was going?

Sebastian, super butler! The guys good, I hope we get some backstory on the guy.

Never to be heard again... it's only ever Heart who does them. Sword seems violent for a magical girl show, although Spade would also be a pretty meh name to; card suits certainly weren't the easiest theme to go with but they managed to make it work.

That's a bold introduction, pity these sort of characters never get to keep it up long term.

And just like that we have the whole team -.- it will be a mystery to me why Precure feels like it needs to rush out its team members, there's so much more to gain by giving them room to breathe and work as duos or trios for a bit first; a couple of eps at most. This is a franchise that is certainly getting a reputation for rushing things unnecessarily.

Take two on trying to be impartial but Mana/Heart does make it so tricky to do.

EP 13

That would explain why she never looks like she attends school but a thirteen year being part of such major business decisions? How?

When some one doesn't respond as you want but still, calling her a friend seems a bit of a stretch? (or is it done on purpose because Alice knows her game?)

Helpful subbers notes! That would explain the star on her choker to contrast with the clover on Alice.

And unsurprisingly, Reina's act is to play on Alice's known short fuse, now that doesn't seem very lady like. (The closeness to Regina is not lost on me, it's like a single letter difference)

After the third sabotage attempt, the gimmick gets tedious, kudos to none of the others flat out reacting to any of her stunts, despite being at their wits end with it.

Explains why there was only two finalists but for what they are trying to find, why? Tennis is hardly ladylike.

Famous last words, not once but twice, offence and defence, go hand in hand. (>.< It's Rosetta's moment but once again though, it's all about Mana) (This group are constantly going between civilian and Cure names against the villains.)

The loveheart arrow is done at different pitches depending on the Cure, seems like an odd thing to put in? (or there's a meaning to it and it is just lost on me?)

Comes in and the first thing she does is openly offers to break Ira's neck XD so unexpectedly violent but how did none of these three know King Selfish had a daughter if they all work for him?

But huzzah, is was a much belated, mostly Alice episode.

EP 14

And now a Rikka episode, it took a while, the first dozen were very Mana heavy.

Imagine being disappointed at being second best out of everyone. (The woes us average joes will never understand).

There's a lot of curve balls with this, considering how many characters have already been introduced with red as their theme colour but this very much indicates there's a fifth member.

That can not be true, you'd be eliminating like 99% of your potential students that way. (I know it's a serious and stressful course though, only knew one person to take the medical route and he was kicked off his course at uni because he couldn't keep the marks up and that guy was pretty smart, although his arrogance may have been his downfall there but it wasn't quite that relentless, just a high passing mark on all assignments and one fail/ below standard allowed.)

Once again with the fairies getting carried away due to something they've seen on tv. At this point, fairy partners should just not be allowed to watch tv.

So... Precure doesn't impact her studies but taking up a hobby in competitive Karuta some how does? Not entirely sure what the message they are trying to say here is because it comes across as if hobbies are bad?

Alice with all the right questions! I guess the gimmick here is because it's a card game.

Alice being the odd one out and Sebastian once more proving he desperately needs some backstory. Not entirely sure why they needed a fitness regime for this, it's a concentration game not part of a marathon.

Ira has just recovered from the last one and he's at Beast Mode again.

That was an interesting monster of the week battle...not sure how else to describe it but Diamond turning the tide with only one card win seemed like a cop out, should have at least let her get two of three to drill the point home.

Mysterious bird strikes again.

Point for acknowledgement and A+ response off the Mum! Supportive, understanding and completely flexible.

EP 15

They are getting carried away with Queen naming business, that's all three episodes now, two involving actual people.

So, at this point, is it denial or just flat out refusal that the Queen may be dead? She did stay behind to tackle the assault when they escaped? And when does she fit her studies/homework into her day?

When you stop and think about it, all four members of this cast are super busy in their day to day lives, its a bit exhausting.

Why do they keep coming back to this guy?

Because why not at this point? What did her family even specialise in originally?

Covered ground! Was going to say, it's one thing to volunteer but they have no idea who they are looking for unlike Makoto and Davi. The other fairies are new, so they don't know either.

Now that's one heck of a cheat code, only fitting for King's Selfish daughter though.

I know he's the driver but he just appeared out of nowhere and where did Joe go?

Compared to the Sword from Ep 1 to now, she's come a very long way.

All with their unique little touch to the group attack but it doesn't quite work when Sword looks so serious.

Lovely Force Arrow is a snazzy group attack though.

Admits battling them was fun and being surprised they bear her Selfish then smugly makes earth shattering announcement, leaving them in a state of shock as she then just casually leaves. XD Regina is actually a lot of fun as a villain.

Fittingly convenient they all found their matching colour crystal but that does leave a gap for the red one?

Last week we crammed a lot into three eps and we're only just hitting double figures; we had lore, we had backstory, we had sword, we had AI and I suppose we even elaborated on Joe abit more...The speed its going through things, you'd think it was only half the length of a normal Precure series.

EP 10

I feel this is the sort of thing that opens the floodgates on interpretation.

When it comes to matters of the school, Mana does seem to have her head screwed on and comes across as quite dependable.

At this point, this is some really weird running joke and I don't get it... Also, strolling by? Alice do you not have a school of your own to attend?

Subber has a point, why didn't Alice transform to. Lance is right there! (Also, solo Diamond but no Diamond phrase but Heart does hers when she arrives?)

Davi is darn well psychic but turns out it wasn't quite for the initial reason you thought she was doing it for.

Characterisation wise, this ep was just full of awkward moments or current realisations on the cast in its current form.

EP 11

The blunt honesty, go Rikka, go as you realise Mana stretches herself way to thin, she should have burnt out long ago.

XD It doesn't even work as a burn because that's exactly what he wants. You can't even root for Mana/Heart because you know she's being an idiot by doing this.

This is the only role that I've been established for thus far and have nothing else to contribute to the team aside money >.< good gravy she's one of your main four, shouldn't you have done something with Alice by now? But Heart ironically being given the team player speech after the rest of this ep thus far. Speaking of MVP though, "Sparkle Diamond" coming in for the save/win once again!

The guy just swallowed a psyche, Bel is a crazy one but those reactions only to get swiftly beaten up by the guy XD

So Ai splits the Lovie given by Joe earlier into four and just magic or it came to the four during prayer? They just knew the name of the new item and were able to summon it and use it with ease.... (Unsatisfying though because it wasn't really earned, just given to them.)

And they didn't even make a message out of it... not that six years old have much use for the don't text and drive memo.

>.< Seriously, none of this helps his case, Precure or Toei some one on this department has a serious issue.

How many times is Makoto going to come to this resolve and decide to work with everyone to find the Queen? Surely this only needed establishing once?

EP 12

And here we go again -.- another mainly Mana focused ep... the heck? Why?

XD Rikka is relentless, no lee way or excuses, just because he's a first year, just brutality.

The Makopi hype died down very quick, no signs or traces of it outside that one ep.

Is that not just a rehash of the scene from EP 1?

They still haven't explained why they're chilling in a bowling alley for? Is it an abandoned one, an active one? Some sort of side dimension one? (Beaten up bad guys after a fight though is a nice touch... also Bel is rather buff for some one whose meant to be an old man???)

It's Keroro XD I can't believe they share a VA here but now that I know, I can kinda hear it. She's here though, the generally considered high point of the series according to most comments on the show that I've seen.

The confusion of Mana being a Mary Sue is understandable after this weeks eps, she does tick a lot of the boxes on the other hand though, she is flawed and she does have weaknesses, even if that does mean reading between the lines to spot them. However, even this early in their is something rather grating about her and I feel at the mo, it may be due to a similar issue that Nozomi had, its how the rest of the cast are around her. Yes they call her out or step up with out her but at the end of the day, the other three have zero character that isn't some how praising Mana or they achieved this due to just knowing/befriending Mana and this sort of pedestal writing is not how you make a likeable/favourable character.

This one is going to test the ability of being impartial, I recall not liking Cure Ace, because Regina was right there with a wasted redemption arc potential and not liking Cure Heart, not for being a Mary Sue but for being a busy body who just seemed to illogically have all the answers...but blank slates and time to see how it stands.

EP 1

-.-'' These darn serious, dramatic, sad scenes that lead into the fast paced, upbeat, cheery intro and outro's of Precure is a really irksome habit of there's and here it is again. As far as intro's go though, it does the job, it doesn't really spoil anything, on the other hand, it doesn't leave you really questioning anything that may be about to come either but it shows off what it needs to, it introduces the girls, the cures, the villains, just slice of life friends with a touch of action.

It makes a change of pace that it's the actual pink lead and not the blue or purple character filling the role.

Already giving Karen a run for her money. (Ha, pun unintended)

The colour coding likely makes it obvious but its only ep one, it feels like it spoils so much already but ten series in, they may also be thinking you now the formula by now, why bother hiding it?

How in the blue blazes did she get up there? She said she was beat and couldn't move a muscle after running up all those stairs, there was no rubble in view for her to climb and there's no way just jumped up there because they made it look like she casually climbed out???

She's back, the Precure team really do like Finn's VA don't they, how many roles is this now? Also, ha evil Krillin... but turns out this VA is also One Piece's Luffy, how the heck did she have time to fit this in to?

Is Mana the first to actually flat out change hair colour when transforming? Over the usual, becomes much brighter/lighter of the actual hair colour/shade; she's gone from pink to blonde, now that's how you make a secret identity.

I do like the design though.

EP 2

That's excessive, even by Precure standards!

Was there anyone not thinking of Tokyo Mew Mew when they heard that?

¬.¬ Lousy magic reset button despite the fact the whole Selfish transformation was done in front of people and everything else happened in real time.

Ha, Sword just left her hanging but darn, talk about jumping the gun, you don't know anything about this person to be deciding that.

Then what in the world does Davi count as?

That's a long time and so strangely specific, lol at Rikka simply not believing Mana's excuse and retorting with an eccentric sarky one of her own, which in its own way is a clever one considering. (Considering the other girl is called Alice, it would have been better coming from her, just to nail the reference home but I don't think it'd quite suit that lady persona of hers).

That makes two, her and Uta could start trading tips. Again with the Dad as a chef though?

Good grief, how long did it take her to get downstairs o.O for Mana to be able to flat out disappear like that? And is it not a bit late to be telling Mana off about exposing Precure secrets? She already told Rikka once on the way home?

That's almost like famous last words.

The devil on your shoulder approach is a nice touch.

Oh, the Happy Prince and the swallow story actually went full circle, with a good message to. Rikka wanting to be Mana's swallow is a unique way of putting it.

So, Cure Heart and Rikka are able to move again once he turned green but everyone else who got frozen wasn't able to move until it was defeated?

o.O What time of year are we working off here? Altough, if its real time and a series starts around the beginning of Feb, Japanese school years wrap up in like April-ish time don't they? (something to do with the cherry blossoms) If that's the case, then that would actually make sense being near the end of a school year.

But darn that trailer for the next ep spoiling it all at the last second.

EP 3

Has no one noticed the yellow one is missing somehow? That's one way of going about it... that's a he... the blue one is a he >.<

Rikka rejected the off though, believing she didn't have the qualities to be a Precure, especially when compared to Mana. (Unfortunately, the preview has spoiled this from being an interesting plot point/arc).

Another running job trend it seems? Also the Dad again to o.O? Precure and its odd habits but looking at that room you'd think he was an archaeologist or something.

There's subbers notes with this and they make a good point that he does come across as a bit of a creep. Rikka has a good head on her shoulders calling him out for his not so suitable behaviour/actions. (Seriously...Precure writing staff? Or some where down the line on that team have a problem with writing guys...)

As far as becoming a Precure goes, that was super underwhelming and in a way, not even deserving but the attack is super snazzy.

Seriously, that's both times, they've gone I refuse... and then spoil it with the end of the preview trailer -.- seriously having both candidates refuse, only to join a bit later would make for a really interesting mini-arc. It's only ep four, there is no need for the third member to be joining already anyway. We could have at least had an ep with them as a duo first...