User blog:GlitterInformer/Smile Pretty Cure!/Glitter Force SDC: Episode 43 (Sub), 35 (Dub)

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'''Japanese title: “Reika’s Path! I am Studying Abroad!!”'''

English title: “Abroad Decision”

6 more episodes, 3 more bad ticks, 2 more good ticks, and 3 more Décors/Charms! If that weren’t enough cause for excitement, Beauty/Breeze is fighting Joker/Rascal today! And if that weren’t enough, AzenZone has included this episode in his list of the top 8 insert songs in Pretty Cure. Will it live up to his designation? Will the dub ruin it? Will the dub ruin the whole episode? Let’s find out!

Like the past three episodes, this one starts with its focus character inner-monologuing. Due to a lot of Japanese text Saban was too lazy to edit, the first part of this scene is cut.



They fight some more. Dialogue is added where Rascal says he’s had enough and Breeze agrees. Beauty/Breeze then knocks the sword out of Joker/Rascal’s hand, and unlike her, he can’t form more. Beauty says her path is a path only she can decide, while Breeze says that her first goal is to send Rascal packing.

Joker/Rascal jumps into the air and creates a bunch of replicas of himself, mirroring episode 5 (pun!). Dialogue is added where Rascal says that Breeze has to find him and his clones giggle. Beauty/Breeze turns her two ice swords into a giant bow and arrow. Beauty says that even if the path is long and windy, it is her path; Breeze says that the straight and narrow path isn’t always the best, but it usually is in archery.

A bunch of spotlights light up and reveal the real Joker/Rascal. I don’t know why they do this, or if they really don’t and it just represents Beauty/Breeze pointing out the right one. Joker/Rascal panics, and Beauty/Breeze uses her finishing attack.

Name Change: Beauty’s new attack is called Beauty Blizzard Arrow. Breeze’s is Sparkle Blizzard Arrow.

Both Joker and Rascal cry out when they get hit by the arrow, but Rascal also says, “Uh-oh!” and screams, “NOOOOOO!!!” The attack then turns the parallel universe into an expanse of clear sky and ice, amazing Happy/Lucky. Beauty/Breeze says that now is their chance to defeat Joker/Rascal, and they perform Royal Rainbow Burst, earning the Pudding Décor/Charm. Joker/Rascal jumps out of the Akanbe/Buffoon before it gets hit, with dialogue added where Rascal wishes the Buffoon good luck.

Joker/Rascal teleports away, Joker saying Cure Beauty’s name angrily and Rascal saying that he’s running out of chances. The alternate world fades away, leaving the five in the archery room.

We cut to somewhere outside, with the girls de-transformed. In the sub, this is a while after the last scene, since Miyuki says that Reika rejected the offer to study abroad; in the dub, Emily asks if Chloe is really going to stay. Akane/Kelsey says that she’s giving up a huge opportunity. Reika says that she is giving up a lot, but she’d rather be with her friends; Chloe says she isn’t giving up anyway and that she never wanted to study abroad and instead wanted to be with her friends. The girls celebrate and give her a big group hug.

The episode ends with an inner-monologue from Reika/Chloe. Reika says her name and that her path is heading for her desired future alongside her friends; Chloe says that she hasn’t given up anything and that she’s gained a lot from refusing to take a trip abroad.

Overall: Man, was this episode great! I like that it in some ways broke the formula of the previous three episodes. Even though the episode did annoyingly ignore the fact that teleportation exists in this world, I liked the way it went with the stock plot. Usually, the character not going away is treated as a sacrifice, but for Reika/Chloe, it was exactly what she wanted. Plus, the interaction between Joker/Rascal and Beauty/Breeze, especially the wonderful fight scene, was absolutely amazing. I look forward to seeing these two more, especially as the conflict ramps up.

While the dub did cut out a good number of shots, it didn’t detract from the quality of the episode like last time. I do worry about poor Chloe having to deal with her overbearing parents, though…

Next time: Miyuki/Emily searches for an old friend who brought her out of her shell as a kid!