To do it once is a nice coincidence. To have it happen twice makes me think Toei's doing this deliberately. Right after Yayoi and Hurricane Dragon electrify the screen, two weeks later, Water Dragon and Reika are using ice attacks within a few minutes of each other. And once again, when Toei pours their budget into something, they can produce a beautiful fight sequence. Reika's instachange and altering of the arena was a wonderful sight to behold. If only Joker had been the villain in more episodes.
Joker has the right mix of dickishness and whimsicalness that makes him fun to watch. (Rather like Enter. Speaking of Go-Busters, the MotW in both Smile and this week's Busters involved a heavy sword and shield. Though Joker inside an Akanbe
inside Joker is some Gurren Lagann level stuff.) The only Joker-type Hyper in the series, and it's smarter than most. The insert song, and Reika's archery finally being used for a finisher, were also quite nice. It reminded me of Suzuri's Saggitarius in Shirokuma. Though any VN I tend to be playing at the moment bleeds into my anime impressions, but the ice/wintry motif helps too.
But why London? I'm half expecting Reika to run into Houkago Tea Time and Milky Holmes while she's there. And that I bring up those two groups are important - they're both groups. Reika doesn't want to go alone (though she could use the bookportals, but her reaction time wouldn't be nearly as instant. An attack mid-afternoon would be in the middle of the night for her. Time zones are unfair.) Maybe she'll get another chance in high school.
Akane's and Nao's episodes were about appreciating what you have.
Reika's is about thinking about where you're going.
And Miyuki's and Yayoi's, the last of these really good focus episodes that'll be airing next week, are about the magic of childhood. Miyuki's first
love friend, spotted!