The big moment is here. Ichigo has resolved to tell Aoyama that she’s a Mew Mew so they can have an honest relationship.
Most of the episode is buildup to that big moment, but it’s pretty good buildup. It never feels like it’s going too slow.
Most of the buildup moments are the people closest to Ichigo subtly giving her support. The other Mews surprise her with a new phone case that they custom-made with chibi drawings of all of them on it. That was sweet. I also liked how Mint was the one who rushed to catch Ichigo’s phone when she dropped it.
Miwa and Moe nudge her to go to her date and praise her for the lunch she made for Aoyama. Ya know, I thought they’d do a bit more with Miwa and Moe since they bothered to give them some semblance of characterization in this series, but I feel like they’ve shown up like four times in this entire reboot and have somehow done even less than they have in the past.
Her parents (mostly her mom) even get in on it. Her father grumbles about Ichigo making Aoyama a lunch, but he’s pacified when Mrs. Momomiya says it reminds her of when she made food for him when they were younger.
Mrs. Momomiya gives Ichigo more confidence in her culinary skills, telling her to think of Aoyama as much as possible while making it because, if you make your food with love it will always taste delicious.
When we finally get Ichigo and Aoyama together, it’s a very sweet and loving moment between the two of them. He even KINDA proposes? He tells her he wants to spend the rest of their lives together, and it’s hard to infer anything else besides that.
Ichigo can’t spit it out until Quiche shows up and attacks Ichigo with intentions of drawing out the Blue Knight. He creates a chicken Chimera Anima, and Aoyama winds up with his back all torn up from its talons while trying to protect Ichigo. Wanting to protect him, and understanding that he’s always been upfront and honest with her, Ichigo transforms in front of him to reveal her identity as a Mew Mew.
She’s unable to actually defeat the chicken or Quiche…..so, of course, the Blue Knight steps in to do both….*sigh* Quiche reveals a new power – making a bunch of shadow clones. The Blue Knight defeats them all with his super cool cutscene-inducing Comet Cutting Strike. Quiche is badly wounded as a result, and he tells the Blue Knight to kill him. As he awaits the fatal blow, he sees a flash of a different being in the Blue Knight’s place and realizes who he really is. Ichigo stops the Blue Knight from killing him, and Tart and Pie rush over to teleport Quiche away.
The Blue Knight leaves, and Aoyama walks over. I’ve been through this song and dance a few times now, so you probably know how the rest goes, but I’d say this was the most effective of the confession scenes. The soundtrack does a LOT of work in this episode. It’s lovely.
But everything’s out in the open now…..where Ichigo’s concerned. We obviously have much more to discover about Aoyama, but that’s for another episode. The two are in love, they kiss, he promises to keep her secret, and everything’s all well and good….for now.
If I had anything negative to say about this episode, it’d be that this is the first episode that felt budget-y. There were several shots and scenes where the art and animation just felt a lot cheaper or rushed than normal. Don’t get me wrong – it’s nowhere near the laugh factory that was the original series on its worst day, but there were still numerous instances of janky animation and weird art that it was distracting sometimes. There were a few beautiful shots in here, too, but it just felt like some shots suffered from budget-itis.
One other note is that Ichigo finally has some aspirations in life besides just being with Aoyama. She wants to save red-data animals, she wants to protect the environment, she wants to support people who have existing efforts to save the Earth, etc. I mean….I can’t help but feel like a chunk of this is coming from her being influenced by Aoyama, who explains that he wants to be an ecologist who travels the world to protect wildlife, but I do feel like it’s also genuine.
Next time, Aoyama’s true identity is revealed, and then his true identity’s true identity is revealed.
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