[Precure] Otona Precure 4, Hirogaru 39

So, Splash Star got introduced at the last minute of the previous episode, so now they get to be the focus! ..Or I guess mostly just Mai and her struggles dealing with being aroace in a world where you're expected to be in a serious relationship.

..And also Bunbee was there.

But yeah, Mai was the core focus in the episode and like. The episode was definitely emphasizing how Saki's engaged, and a coworker of Mai's is going on maternity leave, while her own romantic relationship is collapsing...

And then towards the end of the episode, we get Mai's perspective on the things going around, and it's basically just "The thing is, I don't really want a romantic relationship, and I feel like I'm weird for being like that."

...Meanwhile, Kurumi is calling in the cavalry -- meaning the mascots, and Nozomi is avoiding making contact with her prince boyfriend/fiancé until she can consider herself a "full-fledged" teacher, and the next episode trailer was absolutely talking about Nozomi and Coco having to have a proper conversation.

And then Hirogaru episode 39... Immediately started off by having a magical girl in a white robe with pinkish-brown hair saying "have you heard?" and I immediately felt like I was back in MagiReco.

Anyways, this was a cute episode, mostly focused on letting the characters be cute: Letting Mashiro talk about how she feels a spiritual connection to Halloween, Sora act like a kid, and for some reason giving Battamonda a full magical girl transformation sequence.

So the short summary of the episode: Mashiro wants to do something big for Halloween, Battamonda steals candy while claiming to be a Precure (absolutely nobody falls for it), and then Skearhead continues barely mattering to the plot beyond "there needs to be a monster fight, so here's Skearhead".

Also Sora had a meltdown about not being able to say "trick or treat", and while everyone else stared blankly at her, Elle nodded sagely in agreement. Absolute highlight of the episode right there.

And then the next episode trailer came and... You know how I was saying on the previous episode that the adults were setting Tsubasa up to be Elle's fiancé? Well. Next episode trailer: "Elle sees a marriage and decides she's getting married!" ...To Tsubasa. Yes. I admit I did not expect this direction, even if I predicted the ship.

Anyways, Ancillary stuff: Butterfly did the Pre-ED for this week. Yes, that is all for now. Will update on Wednesday or Thurday regarding Precure birthdays, assuming I don't forget.

Okay, we seem to have Cure Sword on the 4th!