#debated between this screenshot and the silly string

[tvsnationalgeosapphic]

this is what happens when he sees the killer for the first time. or chili.

[precuredaily]

Precure Day 165

Episode: Yes! Precure 5 17 - “Love Story of a Pure-Hearted Maiden” Date watched: 12 December 2019 Original air date: 27 May 2007 Screenshots: https://imgur.com/a/md9kwKC Transformation Gallery: https://imgur.com/a/6k6SzS0 Project info and master list of posts: http://tinyurl.com/PCDabout

Remember the Prism Love Checker, the Takoyaki Handy, or the Charm Pencil Case from the last three seasons? Yeah, it’s that time again! Time to loosely base an entire episode around a toy that doesn’t fit the theme of the series.

The Plot

Natts House is sold out of everything, and for some reason there’s an implication that Rin should be doing something about this, but instead she’s crafting a bead bracelet, ignoring her surroundings, and generally acting strangely. Nozomi recalls that only other time she’s seen her friend this way was when she had a crush.....

Later, the girls pay her a visit at her mom’s shop, and see her giddily selling flowers to a handsome young man, and blushing. They confront her and she doesn’t admit to having a crush on this guy, but doesn’t deny it either. Since she agreed to deliver a flower to him, they urge her to make the delivery now while they mind the shop, and dress nicely to do it.

Nuts gives her a blue bead bracelet to match the red one she’s wearing (again, toys) and she sets off. However, the girls are curious to see her shoot her shot, and after some debate Karen justifies it by saying she’s just looking out for the students, so they follow her in secret. Rin arrives at his residence but hesitates, unsure what to say. Meanwhile, Girinma watches ominously from a tree....

As she’s just about to knock on the door, he opens the porch door and sees her. She gives him the flower and is just about to confess her feelings when a lady comes over and he introduces her as his girlfriend, for whom he buys the flowers. Rin goes from crushing to crushed, but manages to hide her feelings long enough to give them both the bracelets and wish them well before running off and breaking down. She sits on a bench and reflects on how she met him, as a patron of her shop, and starts to cry. Girinma shows up, taunting her dream for being pointless, and he prepares to attack her. The other girls catch up, declare Rin’s feelings to be precious, and they all transform. Girinma turns a nearby water fountain (the large, decorative kind, not the ones you drink from) into a Kowaina, which tosses the girls around. Even Aqua, who is supposed to be able to manipulate water.

Despite being overpowered and heartbroken, Rouge declares that she still wants to look forward to good things in life, and refuses to give up. The Kowaina suddenly weakens and it turns out Coco and Nuts have cut off the water supply to the fountain. Lemonade, Mint, and Aqua handle Girinma while Rouge and Dream take out the Kowaina, and the day is won.

As they all walk home, Nozomi, Urara, Komachi, and Karen suggest activities to cheer Rin up, but she knocks them each down in turn because they’re impractical or not to her tastes. Then she realizes that with all of them there, including Nuts and Coco, nobody is watching the shop, so they have to get back there as soon as possible, and the episode ends with a still frame.

The Analysis

First off, if I haven’t established this by now, I’m a sap for romance episodes. Always have been. So seeing Rin crush on someone warms my heart, even if I know it’s not going to end well for her. Also, she’s really cute when she’s like this. I mean, she’s always cute, but more cute. Actively cute.

I have to give props to her actress, Takeuchi Junko, for this. She sounds a bit more high-pitched and aloof than normal. Also there’s a sequence where she’s roleplaying in the mirror as herself and the guy, switching between personas and voices and it’s hilarious and a good show of skill.

I can’t really say her taste in men is great, this guy’s only notable feature seems to be “he comes to her shop, is personable, and is moderately attractive” but since she’s modeled after Nagisa, the bar isn’t exactly high. And of course, young love is rarely rational. It’s less about who she likes as much as the fact that she likes someone, and the writers’ ability to craft an episode around that. As far as episodes of this show goes, this one isn’t very good, especially coming off the fantastic Komachi focus episode, but it’s still fun overall. In this series, even the bad episodes are still pretty solid. They spend just the right amount of time showing Rin as lovestruck, doing silly things, and then getting heartbroken, before they move into the battle.

Now, the elephant in the room here is the Pop’n Beads Maker. It will appear again, and I know it appeared in HUGtto under a different name. This is a toy that was released in the Precure 5 toyline with branding from the characters, but it doesn’t have any plot relevancy. We’ve seen this before, but the previous items they were plugging were a bit smaller than this.

In stores now! Wait, I’m 12 years late.

Based on translated Amazon reviews it seems it was well-liked. I don’t have much to say about this. It threads beads onto a string for you so you don’t have to do it by hand. I read mixed reviews of how good it was at doing this. It may feature the least into the story of any of these gimmick items. For reference, the Prism Love Checker was used by Nagisa to see how compatible she was with Fuji-P.... or would have been if she hadn’t chickened out. The Handy was shown to be useful at Akane’s takoyaki cart, and Honoka used it to control a slideshow as well. The pencil cases in Splash Star were used to share messages about how Saki and Mai cared about each other and were sorry for upsetting one another. The bead maker is shown once, as Rin makes a bracelet, we see Nuts hold one more bracelet, and then it’s never seen or heard about again in this episode. Very weird. It’s preferable to forcing their whole relationship to center around the bead maker, but then it comes across as a less effective toy plug. I feel like there’s a middle ground for effectively marketing your product and integrating it into the plot in a non-hamfisted way, but I don’t want to waste time coming up with one.

I would like to point out that, despite being portrayed as sporty and tomboyish, they always take care to show that Rin also has feminine interests as well. She’s happy making flower arrangements, and here she is fawning over a boy. Her friends make note of this, and I’m not bringing it up to say it’s unusual for her. I like that she’s able to express all aspects of her personality mostly freely (she feels a little embarrassed about the crush, as people are wont to do).

I really like how they showcase Rin and Nozomi’s old friendship. We know they’re second generation friends who have known each other since they were very young, and we know they always look out for each other, but I love is how they show it in this episode. Nozomi recalls Rin’s previous crush that got her acting all giddy, and wants to support her wholeheartedly. When she gets her heart broken, Nozomi gives her some space, but when Girinma mocks her, she jumps on the offensive and declares how important Rin’s feelings are. When it’s time to strike the final blow, she works in tandem with Rin and says “Don’t make a maiden angry! You wouldn’t like us when we’re angry!” She has no time for anyone who upsets her friends, especially Rin, and that’s admirable.

Komachi, Urara, and Karen don’t have a whole lot going on this episode. It’s not about them. They’re mostly moral support, and encouraging poor decisions. All of them know they should leave Rin alone to go talk to this guy herself, but they’re also curious to see how she does. Karen is initially the voice of reason, saying they should give her her privacy, and Nuts backs her up. However, when Nozomi insists, she comes around and says as student council president, it’s her responsibility to look out for the students, and comes along. This is a pattern of behavior with her, she acts reasonable at first but then she makes poor decisions. I kinda like that about her, it shows that she’s not the unflappable student council president they all think she is, she’s just good at logic-ing her way into situations. And then when they’re all coming up with ways they can cheer her on, using their unique skills, Komachi suggests that she could write lines for Rin and Urara says she’ll be her stunt double!

she is unique.

They’re a bunch of dorks and I love them.

Also over on the villain side, Girinma isn’t doing so hot. Bunbee handed him his termination papers and threatened to fire him if he didn’t improve his performance, so he’s especially cynical of Rin’s misadventures when he spots her, but it doesn’t really relate to his attack. It doesn’t seem to amount to much of anything, except to show that Bunbee is at the end of his rope with his employees, which will come into play in a few more episodes.

To wrap it up, it’s a filler episode with the intention of plugging a toy they couldn’t advertise any other way. No Pinkies are gathered, but we see a little insight into Rin’s softer side, and some machinations behind the scenes. It’s not a bad episode, but if I had to recommend ones to skip for time, this would be one of them. I do understand the importance of fleshing out your cast so the audience cares about them and appreciates the bond between characters, which is what this does, but ultimately it’s not especially relevant. I would rate it a 7 on a scale of 10.

Next time, Masuko Mika interviews Karen at home, and we see spring uniforms! Look foward to it!

Pink Precure Catchphrase Count: 1 Kettei!

[rauliskafan]

The Doctor and His Doll: All Hallows’ Eve

Author’s Note: Happy Halloween one and all!!! The time has come for the Doctor and his Doll to celebrate this special day in style. But will things go according to anyone’s plan??? Read on for more!!! Check out the previous parts below, and enjoy!!! :)

The Doctor and His Doll

The Doctor and His Doll: Story Hour

The Doctor and His Doll: Date Night

Tagging @vintagemichelle91, @yourtropegirl, @mrschiltoncat

Well… I suppose I am as ready as I will ever be.

Yay! How about a selfie, Doc?

Please.

Come on!

Perhaps I prefer to keep you in suspense.

No fun!

I mean to make tonight alter that assessment.

Swiftly sending Frederick a smiley face, you examined your reflection in the mirror. The beaded dress fit just right, accessorized with a long string of pearls. After debating between a feathered headband or a cloche hat, you ultimately opted for a sparkling skullcap dripping with strands of silver that looked better than your hair ever could. And there was no way that you were going to spend the night under a wig. Strapping on your heels, you couldn’t resist the urge to snap your own set of self-portraits before bouncing back to the bed. There you scrolled through the series of photos. Selecting your favorite, you sent it to Frederick, tapped your toes against the floor…

…and waited.

“What’s the hold up? Hope the doctor didn’t come down with something.”

Paulette emerged from the hallway dressed as a baby, complete with bonnet and bib.

“He’s on his way,” you said. “What do you think?”

Rising to your feet, you twirled in the dress and smiled when Paulette’s approving whistle filled the room.

“Nice,” she said. “Guess things are getting serious with the old man.”

“He’s not that old,” you quickly said.

“Hey, I’m not knocking it,” Paulette said. “Nothing wrong with a sugar daddy.”

“And he’s not that either,” you said.

“Come on, girl,” Paulette said, pulling on an oversized plastic bottle and washing you in a wave of cupcake vodka when she spoke again. At least the bib was bound to come in handy at some point during the night.

“Three dates,” she continued. “He always picks up the tab. And now he’s taking you to this high society shindig.”

“That was the plan from the start,” you reminded her. “But it’s not like… I mean he doesn’t expect anything.”

“Nothing?” Paulette asked, lifting one eyebrow and taking another drink.

“Nothing but… I mean it’s just that he’s lonely,” you said. “He likes to talk. Sometimes I think that no has ever listened to him in his entire life.”

Which was doubly tragic considering that the stories of his past often centered around running a hospital, writing a book that you could not see yourself reading but definitely had an audience. All that plus his wealth, his sense of his style, the way he listened when you spoke… it was triply, quadruply sad that he didn’t have a coterie of allies.

Also sad that you seemed to be inventing words as you readjusted your mascara and heard Paulette sucking in her bottle.

“And you really should be nicer after the way he helped you out,” you said.

“Hey, I never said I didn’t like the guy,” Paulette insisted. “He obviously likes you a lot. So what happens after the big party?”

To that you had no answer. Not that the possibilities hadn’t raced through your mind like a video you kept replaying until the effort to buffer the image was a battle better lost. But there was something to be said for a screenshot of his kisses tinged with the taste of metal, his hands roaming down your arms and up your skirt…

“Why are you laughing?” Paulette asked.

“Because I think he would be so clumsy… but sweet…”

Turning away from the mirror, you saw Paulette smirking, and you were about to tell her to mind her own business or at least change the subject to how many bottles she planned on chugging when your phone dinged.

“Is that him?” Paulette asked. Saying nothing, you swiped the message to life.

I am no angel. We will leave that to you. Where do I meet my lovely lady?

Weak in the knees at his words, you started to ask him where his car was when you shifted gears as you keyed in your response.

You know where I am, Doc. Come to my door?

It was a risk, and the time it took for him to respond made you fear that you’d stepped too close to the sun despite the light of the moon…

I am here, Doll. Waiting for you.

Stuffing your phone in your clutch and not caring to respond, you brushed past Paulette, clicking down the steps in your heels. The sunken lounge serving as a lobby already brimmed with Disney characters gone berserk. You ignored them all, the beads dangling from the back of your head touching the base of your neck as you opened the doors with both hands…

“Frederick.”

And there he was. All in ivory. Who said he wasn’t an angel? With his cane in hand and his hat slanted to the side, his smile brightened as you drew nearer.

“Even better up close,” he mused.

“What about you, Doc?” you asked, touching his arms, feeling the perfectly laundered fabric and letting one hand fall slowly into his. “You look sensational.”

“I have a secret weapon,” he whispered, leaning closer until his lips touched your ear. “The best and most beautiful Halloween stylist in town.”

Giggling, you glanced back to see Paulette smiling before tossing you a sweater.

“Don’t catch cold,” she said. “Hi, Dr. Chilton.”

“Paulette,” he began. “I would advise you to take it easy with the spirits tonight.”

“But it’s Halloween,” she whined.

“Doesn’t mean you have to join the dead,” Frederick argued. Paulette rolled her eyes, wishing you a good time, and drinking all the way.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine,” you said.

“I hope so,” he replied. “But you will forgive me if I’d prefer to focus my attention on you.”

He offered his arm and walked you across the campus. Never the homecoming queen, never the girl of anyone’s fantasy, you forgot those feelings. There was a sense of pride having when having him beside you, even if some of the looks you received were confused and curious above all else. Regardless, you soaked up the glances.

“Hey? You okay?”

Still several feet from his car, your realized that Frederick’s face was flushed, his one eye wide, and when you looked down you saw his grip too tight and tense around and about his cane.

“Of course,” he assured you. “I just… seeing your campus so… engaged. I almost hesitate to tell you, but…”

He fell silent, and you caught a few frat boys making faces and whispering cruel words under their beer-soaked breath.

“Don’t hesitate, Doc,” you prodded. “What’s up?”

“It is deeply buried in the past… my past... do you really want to spend All Hallows’ Eve with someone who would have done far worse than Paulette and just drink himself silly? Alone? Longing for a night like this to mercifully end?”

His confession shattered your heart, but you stretched to the tips of your toes, your heels leaving your shoes as you kissed him full on the mouth. His taste stayed unlike any other man’s. Yet it was a flavor you were quickly growing accustomed to, unable to imagine anything else.

“Well,” he whispered when you brought the kiss to an end, and somehow both of his eyes sparkled in the moonlight as you stroked his scarred cheek.

“Well,” you echoed. “I don’t want this night to end. I want to get it started. With you.”

Smiling, Frederick suddenly had a skip in his step as he held open the door to his town car, and you slid against the supple leather, waiting and watching until he sat at your side and signaled for the driver to depart.

“Then we shall get started,” he said. “Here we have Armand de Brignac Brut Gold.”

He revealed an ivory bottle that matched his suit adorned with an ace of spades, and he popped the cork.

“I won’t say no to champagne,” you said, hoping that skipping lunch wasn’t the worst of ideas. Trying to sip, hoping you looked something close to sophisticated, you crinkled your nose as the bubbles tickled your skin.

“A problem?” Frederick asked.

“It’s fine,” you said. “But I guess you can see that this is not really my thing.”

“I will tell you another secret,” he confessed while coming closer. “When I was… not much older than you. The girls in my circle came out at a debutante ball.”

“Bet they looked nice,” you said, watching the bubbles calm in your glass and trying not to sound too jealous.

“I would not know,” he said. “I shot the Dom Perignon right out of my nose. Spent the night in the men’s room trying to clean my tie with soap and paper towels that kept falling apart.”

One more moment to add to his tragic list? You started to tell him that you were sorry when he waggled his eyebrows.

“See? You have nothing to feel bad about, Doll,” he said. “You are far more graceful than I ever was… ever could be.”

You smiled, happy to see him back at ease, and you clinked your glass to his.

“To our big night, Doc,” you said by way of a toast before drinking deep and believing that anything and everything was possible.

His car pulled up to a brick building resting atop a wide white staircase. Frederick set your glasses aside and offered his arm again. Keeping him close, you climbed the steps and saw at least four witches, three cats, and clowns wearing mismatched floppy shoes. Safe and simple and not at all sensational. You held your date’s arm tighter, loving him for taking a risk, for taking you to the ball. Wondering, wishing that you wouldn’t become a roaring twenties version of Cinderella, his town car turning to a pumpkin once the clock struck twelve, you pushed those fears aside and stepped into a grand ballroom. The floor was an endless swath of black and white diagonal tiles A massive chandelier hung overhead while an orchestra played off to the side.

“What do you think?” Frederick asked, his voice dragging you from your reverie. He left your eyes for just a second to nod at a colleague before returning his entire focus to your stare.

“I… I think it’s fabulous,” you said. “And I think that you are by far the handsomest man in the joint.”

“The joint?” he echoed. “The costume’s era is going to your head, my dear.”

“And what about yours?” you asked. For a second he was silent, the fingers free of his cane reaching for one of the beads drizzling down your neck. He tenderly flicked it away, started to come in for a kiss…

…but he suddenly stopped short.

“You do look amazing,” he said, blushing as the band changed tones, and you saw the clowns and the cats flood the dance floor.

“Do we dare?” you asked.

He started to follow your suggestion, your lead when he halted and somberly shook his head.

“I… maybe not just yet,” he said. 

Your heart hurt to see him sad, a little scared, and you patted his cheek just below his scar.

“Night’s still young,” you responded. “Maybe another drink?”

“Do not go all Paulette on me,” he gently chided, and you swatted his arm as he left you with the promise of a cranberry juice and vodka. Left alone, your gangster with a heart of gold still close by, you smiled at some of the other party goers. A few of the women and several men looked past you to where Frederick stood, their eyes full of questions that went unasked. For that you were grateful, not in the mood for an interrogation, counting the seconds until Frederick was back at your side…

“Care to dance?”

Glancing over your shoulder, you saw a baseball player. Or a carbon copy who hardly knew how to hold the bat. With a smirk, he doffed his cap.

“No thank you,” you said. “I’m waiting for my… date.”

“Dr. Chilton,” the young man said.

“You know him?”

“Used to be on his staff,” the faux ballplayer continued. “When he sort of kind of had the head to run a hospital. But make no mistake; even without the… troubles, he wouldn’t have lasted long.”

Knowing that the man’s cold words must be connected to Frederick’s injuries, wanting to hear more but not from this fool’s lips, you started to take your leave when the shortstop without a mitt grabbed your arm.

“Hey! What do you think you’re---?”

“Showing you a Happy Halloween,” he said. “Ditch the dull doctor. Dance with me.”

Struggling to break free from the stranger’s hold, you heard ice clinking in glasses and the tip of a cane tapping against the tiles. Sensing Frederick was close, you started to search for his eyes when the ballplayer brought his hand close to your breast. His fingers flexed, squeezing to lay claim to you like a trophy, unearned. Furiously, you pushed him back, and the movement knocked the cap from his head. Lifting your knee in your beaded gown, you couldn’t help but smile as you made contact with the barely there bulge in his pants.

“I said I wasn’t interested,” you stressed as he writhed in pain, his bat rolling away until a server dressed as Jason, hockey mask and all, snatched it up so that no one would trip. “Listen when a lady tells you that.”

Ignoring the crying ballplayer, his game lost, you smiled when Frederick caught your eye.

“I… are you al---?”

“Never better, Doc!” you chirped, taking your drink from his hand. “Bottoms up.” The sweet and the sting swirled down your throat, and you waited for Frederick to return your smile…

…when he turned on his heel, his cane tapping towards a quiet corner.

“Hey!”

Rushing after him, your drink still in hand, you tried to twist his face to yours. It hurt when he winced in the wake of your touch.

“What’s wrong?” you asked. “Frederick?”

“You knocked him down,” he said.

“Damn straight,” you agreed. “Don’t know who he is but---”

“Someone I worked with. A subordinate.”

“Who obviously still doesn’t know his place,” you continued. “But I put him in---”

“I was only going to be another moment.”

Clutching your glass and seeing his face fallen, your mind began to connect the dots, and you quickly reached for his hand.

“Doc, I’m sorry,” you spoke fast.

“I was on my way back to you,” he pressed. “Do you think that I would not… that I could not have protected you?”

“No,” you swore. “Of course I don’t think that. But I’m tough, too. I thought you kind of liked that about me.”

“I do,” he said, his voice thick. “But just for once. It would have been nice to save someone... instead of the other way around.”

You wanted to understand, to listen. But then Frederick brushed past you, leaving you alone with your drink. Watching him disappear into a sea of black pointy ears mingled with a few fluffy rainbows, you sank to the nearest windowsill. 

What the hell had just happened? Everything was perfect. Kisses and champagne and chandeliers. Now you wanted to weep. And not simply because Frederick was suddenly so far from your side. You feared that you had lost him beyond this night and hated the idea of a world where you didn’t get to hear his voice and see his shy smile. Downing your drink, you started after him, desperate to find him, to make this right when you stopped atop a smaller staircase.

And saw a slim blonde praising his costume.

“It’s so cute, Dr. Chilton!” she chirped.

“Thank you, Sandra,” he said. “Now if you don’t mind, I---”

“And I felt horrible when I heard what happened to you,” Sandra droned on. “But you’re back and obviously better than ever. Maybe we could find a shady spot and get reacquainted?”

Frederick was slow to answer the question, just shaking his head. But the sight of another woman’s hand on his face caused you to charge forward and rip her fingers away.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Sandra demanded.

“Telling you to take your hands off him!” you said. “He’s spoken for.”

“He’s certainly not sticking close,” Sandra spat.

“But I am,” you said, grabbing Frederick’s arm once more. “Now buzz off, bitch.”

Sandra looked shocked, but when Frederick failed to leap to her defense she stomped off in the other direction, leaving you alone with…

“Frederick.”

“Doll? What are you doing?”

“Setting you straight.”

The liquor still swirled in your brain as you pushed him past a quartet dressed as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Not caring about a day in the life or who was leaving home, you took hold of his tie and spoke fast.

“Look, I like you. I don’t want the boys on the quad or that prick with the bat.”

“I---”

“I’ve had to take care of myself most of my life,” you continued. “I’ll keep doing that. It doesn’t mean that I don’t trust you. Or care about you so much that I think about you night and day.”

“You---”

“Or know that bad things happened and want to fight anyone that would ever try to hurt you again. Not happening. Not while I’m around.”

The feel of his hand on your cheek allowed you to relax some.

“Doll, not that I don’t appreciate… Sandra is harmless. A decent nurse but---”

“A gold digger,” you said without any proof but still feeling so certain. “And I won’t share you with her. I don’t want to share you with anyone.”

Was it too much? You didn’t care. At least he would know where you stood when he left your life.

“Doll.”

Here it came. The other shoe. You brushed some beads from your eyes and just gasped when you saw his smile.

“Dance with me now?”

Too stunned to do anything but nod, you savored the feel of his hand in yours and let him lead you back to the place under the chandelier. Despite some titters from the costumed crowd, he let his cane fall and circled an arm around your waist. You swayed to the music, the lights sparkling from above. As his feet traced tentative circles against the tiles, you matched his steps and realized that his eyes were not aiding any mission in pursuit of some marvelous minuet.

Because those eyes were only for you.

“Frederick?” you whispered.

“Yes.”

“I really wouldn’t want to be anywhere else tonight. I’m sorry if I showed you up or---”

“It’s forgotten.”

“But if I made a scene with that nurse, I’m sorry---”

“Never apologize for that,” he said, dancing you closer to the center of the room.

“Why?”

Staying silent, he dipped you, his kiss passionate, the taste of his tongue causing you to forget your name. And as he guided you back to his gaze you saw his smile brighter than every light in the room.

“Because I was wrong,” he said. “And I rather think that I like being rescued by you.”