Smile Precure

[Liddo-kun]

Spoiler for Episode 18:

This is surprisingly one of the more serious episodes. There's a little humor of course (Miyuki unable to grab the baton, Reika running in place? ), but most of the episode focused on Yayoi's insecurity about running. A rather dramatic end too, this episode showed that even precure can lose in sports events.

Oh, and lastly. In the middle of the episode, looking at all of them sitting together - I get the feeling that Nao seems to be the most mature among the 5.

Spoiler for smile:

@Midonin

Haven't seen the picture of Cure Peace drawn by Ika's creator.
Thanks for sharing.

[RiderLeangle]

Spoiler:

Yeah... I didn't expect them to actually lose

OK Reika... next race just lay spread eagle at the finish line when it's Nao's turn to run

[Kismet-chan]

[gsilver]

Right now, I'm really wishing that this season had a better developed secondary cast. Episode 18 in particular would have been better if there were other students with established characters for them to interact with.

[Liddo-kun]

Originally Posted by RiderLeangle

Spoiler:

Yeah... I didn't expect them to actually lose

OK Reika... next race just lay spread eagle at the finish line when it's Nao's turn to run

Days already passed since the episode aired, so I'm not putting it in spoiler anymore.

Maybe it's a message to young girls (and boys) in Japan, that even heroes can't always win. Who knows, some kids might try to avoid being sore losers after they've watched it.

Originally Posted by gsilver

Right now, I'm really wishing that this season had a better developed secondary cast. Episode 18 in particular would have been better if there were other students with established characters for them to interact with.

Well, there's still a lot of time for that to happen.
Precure series are usually 40+ episodes.

I think it's because all 5 precure are introduced early, so they're concentrating more on character development of the main cast first.

[Midonin]

Spoiler for Wilhelm Grimm's Magical Girls 19 - Peace: On Earth:

This might be one of the best episodes of anything I've seen this week. In a week full of body switching, haters, time travel shenanigans, bear attacks and legendary chefs, it's Smile that pulls ahead for a flawless victory.

There's been a somewhat higher concentration of holiday themed episodes than usual for this season, and this one is Father's Day. I don't know if Yayoi's dad is dead or just on a really long business trip. There's no traditional mourning place set up in their house, but the episode was kind of ambiguous on the whole thing. If you ask the pixiv artists, Yayoi's dad is really Kamen Rider Some Guy. This is my personal headcanon, but I should focus on the actual canon first.

I knew from the preview this was going to be an emotional episode, and it delivered. The constant rainy atmosphere and low musical cues established the tone right away, along with a homework assignment about finding out the meaning of everyone's names. The other main characters were pretty obvious. (On that note, Miyuki's hero [one of them] is Momotaro. Her dad is Momotaros. This has not gone without comment.)

The fight against the paper kitsune was simply gorgeous. The animation was fluid, dynamic and even when it switched to stock footage for Peace Thunder (a victory which Yayoi totally earned), Yayoi didn't get the goofy "I've just been electrocuted" expression. She remained dignified and kicked Akanbe ass with grace, style and power. The music didn't even change during her attack. It flowed beautifully.

There were still some lighthearted moments, of course, such as Miyuki's umbrella flipping over on itself, but the episode stuck to its tone, all the way through to the end. Oh, and there was a subtle change in the OP. The girls' powerup modes replaced their normal selves at the very end, but that's the extent of it.

A very competently made episode that was a joy to watch. Excellent work, Toei.

Now, after an emotional week like this one, onto some jokes with Miyuki and Akane going invisible and Majorina using another of her ill-named inventions.

[RiderLeangle]

Spoiler:

I think I remember someone saying that Yayoi's dad was dead and this was confirmed in the one scene where they were walking with their umbrellas.

As for power-ups in the op near the end of it, those have been there since ep 1 actually

Unrelated... I just wish I was still with anxious working on Smile :/

[Midonin]

Originally Posted by RiderLeangle

As for power-ups in the op near the end of it, those have been there since ep 1 actually

My fault. The subtle change wasn't even the powerups. I was thrown off course by a pink background.

[elior]

sunny new form in the ending card look awoseme and no episode next week becouse of the holiday

[RiderLeangle]

Originally Posted by elior

sunny new form in the ending card look awoseme and no episode next week becouse of the holiday

I'll agree on her new form looking awesome. But I thought it was because of golf, not a holiday

[gsilver]

Originally Posted by Liddo-kun

I think it's because all 5 precure are introduced early, so they're concentrating more on character development of the main cast first.

Even Precure 5, which had 5 leads, did alright with introducing secondary characters early on, like the reporter girl. It is a weakness of Smile to not use secondary characters to develop its primary cast.

[Ichuki]

I wonder what will happen in the 2nd half of Smile since they got power ups (Princess Form) in this half. I hope it is new cures since I'll be bothered if the orange jewel and purple aren't used.

[Liddo-kun]

Originally Posted by gsilver

Even Precure 5, which had 5 leads, did alright with introducing secondary characters early on, like the reporter girl. It is a weakness of Smile to not use secondary characters to develop its primary cast.

I guess it would be a matter of personal preference. I've been through Precure 5, and liked the change that Smile didn't go the Precure 5 route in regards to secondary characters.

Spoiler for Precure 5:

Precure 5 had a second mascot arriving and staying as early as episode 7 (or 8?), a reporter, a cafeteria cook, etc. I'm actually liking the fact that Smile didn't have those for the first half. Miyuki and her interactions with the other 4 and Candy is entertaining enough for now.

[Midonin]

In honor of this week's episode, our heroine's fathers. (And Reika's grandpa.)

[PzIVf3]

Spoiler for 5 Smile Precure New Form Sample cards:

[Sol Falling]

Wow, what's with Reika's spiky hair. Looks crazy lol.

[Midonin]

Nao's about the only one unchanged, since her hair was poofy enough as it was. Akane is probably the biggest difference, which might be why the pixiv community has taken to hers the most. They always do when a tomboy lets her hair down. (See: Ritsu)

[Von Himmel]

Originally Posted by PzIVf3

Spoiler for 5 Smile Precure New Form Sample cards:

That awesome cure sunny ;_;

After watching a couple of episodes a while back, I guess I could see why there are so many people who likes this Though when I tried to persuade my friend to watch this series too by telling him that the fight animation is awesome, he wouldn't give it a try

[Liddo-kun]

Originally Posted by Midonin

Nao's about the only one unchanged, since her hair was poofy enough as it was. Akane is probably the biggest difference, which might be why the pixiv community has taken to hers the most. They always do when a tomboy lets her hair down. (See: Ritsu)

I saw at a wiki that they were originally designed to all have long hair.
Long hair plan for everyone was scrapped because it made them all look too similar (or something that).

[Midonin]