[DreamSword]

Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure

Now this... this is more of what I wanted out of Heart Catch.

That's not to say it's a one to one comparison, mind you. What I more mean is, this show has alot of what made HC good while adding more things I prefer.

Sure, the fights aren't as good, but nearly every episode is focused on the journey, interactions, and development of our main cast. There's never a moment where things feel like they've ground to a halt. Well, mostly. I'll get to that.

And given how long ago Heartcatch came out, whereas Hirogaru Sky is the most recent entry, it really does feel like "old + new" was the entire focus here, especially given that this season celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Pretty Cure franchise as a whole.

While Hirogaru retains alot of the more simplistic elements that I've grown to appreciate the franchise for, it also does alot of firsts and adds its own spin on things to keep it fresh. For example, while it is an anniversary season, it celebrates the Precure legacy in a way different than what Hug did: Mainly in doing small references and callbacks rather than direct tributes.

This can also be seen immediately with our cast and how it's handled right away. The first Blue Cure as the lead character. The first (legally) adult Cure who's a part of the main team. The first White Cure who can transform on her own. The first direct successor to a Legendary Cure. And last but arguably most importantly: The very first Male Precure who's a part of the main team in Tsubasa, also known as Cure Wing.

And that last bit can be a bit of sticking point, I've noticed. While most of the reception surrounding Tsubasa has been positive(atleast from what I've seen), I have read a few comments scattered about expressing some disappointment. Don't get me wrong, I disagree mostly, but many comments do have a few valid points. They mainly express disappointment in how Tsubasa moreso fills the "Fairy Cure" archetype via him being a bird rather than a fully human boy, as well as him not expressing many typically masculine features(both physical and mental), which would in turn help spread acceptance for "typical" guys liking more feminine things.

I'll admit, I do get where they're coming from, especially given how Hugtto had Henri who openly expressed acceptance for feminine men. But I do still think there's value in Tsubasa not only existing on the team, but the way in which he is portrayed. Basically, HS tries to focus alot more on showing rather than telling, and what they're trying to do with Tsubasa is normalize boys and girls being friends and sharing common interests. "Feminine" hobbies included, such as babysitting.

Would I like to see other Boy Cures of various different personality types featured as the franchise goes on? Of course I would, but I feel as though Tsubasa is just another step in the right direction, with Henri having been the first. "Normalization" is the name of the game here, and another way in which that's showcased is with my personal favorite character of the group: Ageha, the first legally adult Cure in a main team as well as the first Pink Cure who isn't the leader of the pack. And the way she's normalized is in her backstory about how her parents got divorced, which, for those not in the know, is seen as a major disgrace over in Japan. It's never talked about in length, nor is the audience ever sat down for a preaching session. The show merely shows how good of a person Ageha is, and that she has nothing to be ashamed of.

Sky isn't all rainbows though, unfortunately. The lead villain is rather weak in terms of characterization and character motivation, there's a few weak episodes here and there, and as much credit as give Tsubasa as a talking point for representation, he's also the one who I feel has the weakest character arc overall. There's also alot of plot and setting elements that are only really relevant for a few episodes before getting dropped entirely. Granted, the focus is entirely on the characters rather than any sort of plot, but still, some rather interested stuff ends up getting lost along the way as a result.

But at the end of it all, Hirogaru Sky is still a wonderful addition to the Precure franchise, and even has the distinct honor of having my favorite Pretty Cure movie in All-Stars F, which was full of wonderful character interactions and development. And really, that's what I'm here for. While it's not my new favorite season(that's still Hugtto!) Hirogaru Sky Pretty Cure is still a really great time overall, and I'd highly recommend it for newcomers and veterans alike.

I give this season of Pretty Cure a very high 5/6.