Yes! Pretty Cure 5

[Guido]

This Pretty Cure certainly moves the story on a very fast pace. New characters are introduced each week.

In addition, Pretty Cure Five added a new device twist that was not present in other sentai magic-girl shows like Sailor Moon or the previous Pretty Cure series.

That is just as it features a monster-of-the-week also adds a bad-guy-of-the-week as well.
The Nightmare characters are getting laid-off and rotated as soon as they fail against Pretty Cure at the end of each episode.

Let me put this way. The Nightmare villains operate as a corporate enterprise, and their hierarchy goes as follows:
-Girinma, Gamao, & Arachnea (episode 4's bad girl of the week) are employees or executives struggling to climb upwards in the management chain.
-Bubbi (their boss) must be a executive manager, and likely a mid-boss.
-Despariah then must be the CEO, who stands at the top of the company.

Spoiler:

When Bubbi runs out of his batch of employees Despariah will become pissed off at him for his constant failures. Fearing for his life, Bubbi will appear to challenge the Pretty Cure team for a last showdown. Bubbi is defeated and permanently laid-off the company.
Despariah promotes another executive to become the next manager. The next manager has his or her own batch of loyal employees; it can be possible that employees who were fired like Girinma would be granted a second chance by the new manager.

[Guido]

I am unfortunate to say that the initial warming up I had for the transformations in Pretty Cure 5 is quickly waning on me. This is because all of the girls assembled so far transform separately and is the same footage, though slightly edited with a few cuts.

I also have to digress at how all the Kowainaa are getting thrashed. In fact, Cure Dream is the one who ends up turning them to dust while the other Pretty Cure shower the Kowainaa on the justification to weaken them.
I comment the series has not Pretty Cure Hope on the title, but Yes! Pretty Cure 5 to emphasize and focus on the lives of five girls who share dreams and want to make something wonderful for their dreams while they fend off the Nightmares as the Pretty Cure team. Therefore, the focus and spotlight should be made to all the Pretty Cure members and not just to Nozomi/Cure Dream.

Anyways, this was a good episode that prevented from falling to generic, magic-girl storytelling for a critica plot twist.

Spoiler:

The blue butterfly came to Karen, but as it just sparkled to give her the watch the light suddenly vanished, rendering Karin in a disappointingly shock.

This mostly attributed to Karen's fear of witnessing for herself that what Nozomi and the others told her was the truth about Pretty Cure and felt overwhelmed with fear upon the presence of Bubbi.
The episode explored that Karen has been attributed as a source of trust, who can deal and handle when others request their jobs to her. She simply wonders how nothing is done unless it is done by her, leaving Karen disappointed and frustrated that she has to look after everyone as else but is not allowed time to look for herself.

Each of the Nightmares' executives and employees in their transformed stated draw the motif about a living being which is closely associated with fears, disgust, or superstition mainly from girls.

Spoiler:

Girinma is a praying mantis.
Gamao is a bull frog.
Arachnea is a black-widow spider.

For episode five it was Bubbi's, the manager, turn and his form is of a super-human Locust.

BTW, Bubbi accomplished what his subordinates failed to do so, though partially. He snatched and captured a Pinky before Komachi was able to do so right under the girls' noses.

[Demon Eyes]

I still prefer Nagisa and Honoka but I love Karen so I will watch this too.

Not to mention that I can watch it in HD.

[Maceart]

Urara's quite similiar to Onpu, so I'm going to be keeping up with this awesome series.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Maceart

Urara's quite similiar to Onpu, so I'm going to be keeping up with this awesome series.

I don't know about that, really... Sure they're both child stars, but Onpu was (especially in the beginning), much more self confident.

[Guppy]

Originally Posted by Guido

I also have to digress at how all the Kowainaa are getting thrashed. In fact, Cure Dream is the one who ends up turning them to dust while the other Pretty Cure shower the Kowainaa on the justification to weaken them.

Spoiler for eps. 5-6:

Signs of improved teamwork started to show up in episode 6. In particular, Aqua seems to be (predictably) the tactical brain of the group, and she, Mint and Rouge end up tackling the weekly Kowainaa (aka the captured Pinky) together. Dream and Lemonade together have a go at the Nightmare boss, and interestingly enough it's Dream who goes in as the first-wave diversion while Lemonade follows up (although Dream does, in the end, launch the last attack that convinces him to retreat).

Originally Posted by Guido

The blue butterfly came to Karen, but as it just sparkled to give her the watch the light suddenly vanished, rendering Karin in a disappointingly shock.

This mostly attributed to Karen's fear of witnessing for herself that what Nozomi and the others told her was the truth about Pretty Cure and felt overwhelmed with fear upon the presence of Bubbi.

Interesting. I didn't think Karen's fear was the cause of her failure at all. The butterfly came to her because she honestly wanted to help - it was the way she wanted to help that I suspect was the problem. As the butterfly alighted, Karen wasn't thinking "I want to be part of this group and help out!" but rather "I'm going to have to save the day by myself again..."

Pretty Cure (especially this version of Pretty Cure) is a team, and the butterflies clearly aren't interested in candidates who view themselves as solo acts. The second time around, Karen expressed her desire in terms of wanting to support the others and the butterfly immediately accepted her as Cure Aqua.

[Quarkboy]

Episode 7 just aired, and, if there was ever an example of a male Tsundere, it's the new mascot, Nuts.

Although, annoyingly enough, there are a ton of VERY obvious signs that say "Natts".

Even though it's OBVIOUSLY suppose to be spelled "Nuts" (since Coco+Nuts = coconuts, in case you are totally oblivious).

Strangely enough, I get the sense that the biggest fan pairing from this series won't be yuri, but will be yaoi . Pretty smart considering that the majority of the audience is female.

[Tatiana Razajev]

One nice thing about episode 07 is they had a team transformation scene. Which if used often enough will keep the transformation scene from taking up too much episode time. Of course I'm sure there will be times you'll still see individual ones. Like say if the only one there is Rin and Karen for example. In which case it would be silly to show all five transforming at once.

As for the fan pairing. Heh I'm not going to make any predictions myself, but yeah it's a given that there will definitely be a yaoi fan pairing. Of course in my case since I'm a guy I'll pay more attention to the Yuri fan pairing. Still if Dream has Rouge and Aqua has Mint. There needs to be someone for poor Lemonade.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Tatiana Razajev

One nice thing about episode 07 is they had a team transformation scene. Which if used often enough will keep the transformation scene from taking up too much episode time. Of course I'm sure there will be times you'll still see individual ones. Like say if the only one there is Rin and Karen for example. In which case it would be silly to show all five transforming at once.

As for the fan pairing. Heh I'm not going to make any predictions myself, but yeah it's a given that there will definitely be a yaoi fan pairing. Of course in my case since I'm a guy I'll pay more attention to the Yuri fan pairing. Still if Dream has Rouge and Aqua has Mint. There needs to be someone for poor Lemonade.

I've decided that Lemonade will end up betraying everyone. Ala Sailor Moon Live Action. Mainly because she doesn't get a pairing .

[Maceart]

I hope not... Urara's my favorite character, and having her betray everyone in a series as innocent as Pretty Cure would be quite disheartening.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Maceart

I hope not... Urara's my favorite character, and having her betray everyone in a series as innocent as Pretty Cure would be quite disheartening.

Scene from episode 32:

...
Urara: After all... I have to be true to myself!
Nozomi: But... why?!
Urara: I'm a child star idol, right? I've been a pawn of large corporations from the very start! You just don't understand...
Nozomi: I refuse to accept this! Urara, please...
Urara: But... But...
(pause)
Urara: I'm still under contract!

[Guido]

Originally Posted by Guppy

Spoiler for eps. 5-6:

Signs of improved teamwork started to show up in episode 6. In particular, Aqua seems to be (predictably) the tactical brain of the group, and she, Mint and Rouge end up tackling the weekly Kowainaa (aka the captured Pinky) together. Dream and Lemonade together have a go at the Nightmare boss, and interestingly enough it's Dream who goes in as the first-wave diversion while Lemonade follows up (although Dream does, in the end, launch the last attack that convinces him to retreat).

Interesting. I didn't think Karen's fear was the cause of her failure at all. The butterfly came to her because she honestly wanted to help - it was the way she wanted to help that I suspect was the problem. As the butterfly alighted, Karen wasn't thinking "I want to be part of this group and help out!" but rather "I'm going to have to save the day by myself again..."

Pretty Cure (especially this version of Pretty Cure) is a team, and the butterflies clearly aren't interested in candidates who view themselves as solo acts. The second time around, Karen expressed her desire in terms of wanting to support the others and the butterfly immediately accepted her as Cure Aqua.

Now that's more like I was talking about! Teamwork fighting!

I do really praise this Pretty Cure series for its immersive and poignant soundtrack, and I got the feeling they would be exploring and developing individually the lives of each of the five main-cast.

Karen has become my favorite characters. Even if she keeps some of her sorrows within, she warms up for everyone and can be quite cute as elegant.

Comparing her childhood with Honoka's, at least Honokas' parents visit her once a year at her birthdays.

And seriously how come villains on a magic-girl show can get as more stupid?

Spoiler:

I knew it! I had the feeling that Bubbi guy would bring the Pinky with him.

What it surprised me is that another conventional rule of the genre was broken. I wouldn't imagine that even Pinkies can be turned into Kowainaa with the mask on, which also opens the door for creepy possibilities.

Turning Kowainaa out of anyone from the Pretty Cures!

BTW, if you never noticed, the Nightmares used the same mask to make the Kowainaa, until it shattered.

[Maximum Burst]

At first, I didn't think I'd like Karen, but after actually watching her episodes, I think she's awesome (and her younger self was so adorable). Karen, Rin, and Urara are my favorites of the group.

Does anyone think there needs to be a Super Sentai-type team up movie or something? I think it would be pretty darn epic if it were to come out sometime near the end of Yes 5 lol.

[Tatiana Razajev]

Originally Posted by Maximum Burst

Does anyone think there needs to be a Super Sentai-type team up movie or something? I think it would be pretty darn epic if it were to come out sometime near the end of Yes 5 lol.

A team up would be rather nice to see. Especially if they make sure to include the special versions of Cure Windy and Cure Bright from Splash Star. Just imagine that many Pretty Cure holding hands.

[zrdb]

I was throughtly addicted to the originial Pretty Cure-Max was ok-haven't seen much of Splash Star-but this is pretty good-it kinda capures the flavor of the originial series. So far I haven't been dissappointed (at ep.6).

[Maximum Burst]

I wish someone would pick up Splash Star. It's actually really good. I have all of the episodes that have Michiru and Kaoru in them (at least I think I do, based on the Wikipedia article), and those alone make Splash Star great.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Maximum Burst

I wish someone would pick up Splash Star. It's actually really good. I have all of the episodes that have Michiru and Kaoru in them (at least I think I do, based on the Wikipedia article), and those alone make Splash Star great.

I will sub splash star under a few conditions:

1. I've already finished Max Heart and Sugar Sugar Rune.

2. I've settled into a new apartment in Japan with a stable internet connection.

and most importantly

3. I still do not have a steady girlfriend.


So everyone pray for my loneliness.

Until then you'll have to make due with me only subbing YPC5 and Max Heart.

[Maceart]

Well at least you're really dedicated... we at Doremi still haven't gotten the first season of Doremi done, and you're already on the 4th season of Pretty Cure, Quarkboy.

Looking forward to episode 7 and the tanned guy.

[Quarkboy]

Originally Posted by Maceart

Well at least you're really dedicated... we at Doremi still haven't gotten the first season of Doremi done, and you're already on the 4th season of Pretty Cure, Quarkboy.

Looking forward to episode 7 and the tanned guy.

Now that's just exaggerating. I've finished 52+31+7=90 episodes of pretty cure which is 90/50 = 1.8 seasons.

And how many episodes of Sgt. Frog did you get done?...

Comparing Arienai's output to Doremi's is unfair .

[Tatiana Razajev]

Originally Posted by Maximum Burst

I have all of the episodes that have Michiru and Kaoru in them (at least I think I do, based on the Wikipedia article), and those alone make Splash Star great.

I definitely have those episodes myself since I was collecting the series raw. Either way yes Michiru and Kaoru definitely help improve the series. Still I do wonder what Saki and Mai's movie outfits will be like. Yes there is a Splash Star movie and yes it's obvious that they'll get special outfits. If they don't I'll be surprised.