REVIEW: ‘Tropical-Rouge PreCure,’ Episode 3 – “Believe Yourself, Super Cute Cure Coral!”

Last episode, Manatsu started her brand new school life in Aozora City and met her new friend Suzumura Sango. However, this led to a bit of a spat between Manatsy and Laura, putting their tenuous, interspecies friendship between a rock and a hard place. Yet friendship saved the day when Manatsu rose to the occasion as a Pretty Cure, healing their friendship and trouncing the monster of the week. Viewers also got a glimpse of the new PreCure, which will be explored in Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 3.

In Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 3, “Believe yourself. Super Cute Cure Coral!” kicks off with a rather frustrated Manatsu. Why is she frustrated? Well, she can’t decide which school club to join. Whatever club she joins, she’s determined to join with Sango, her new friend. However, she’s going to have to narrow her choices down from doing everything to doing just one thing, especially as a Pretty Cure.

Skip ahead to Sunday, and Manatasu is off to the mall to live her best tropic-cool life with her new school friends. Just like the last episode, we get to see Manatsu and her friends being girls, hanging out together, and just enjoying fashion and make-up. Viewers follow them to an aquarium too, which is where Sango meets the best mermaid Laura, and the plot picks up.

Part of the charm of Tropical-Rouge PreCure is seeing the female characters enjoy being girls. It’s refreshing to see a series celebrate femininity and being feminine, rather than making it a joke. At no point do the girls get put down for liking make-up or pastel colors or just being feminine. If anything, Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 3 really embraces this, as does the entire series thus far.

That being said, let’s talk about Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 3’s title, which gives away what we’re focused on: Pretty Cure Cure Coral. 

Tropical-Rouge PreCure’s OP already revealed it, but Sango -Manatsu’s new friend- is also a legendary warrior or a Pretty Cure. And y’all? Sango is such a sweet character. She’s a good foil to Manatsu, who’s got the energy to spare. In many ways, Sango is the cool island breeze to Mantasu’s bright, shining tropical sunshine. 

Where Manatsu is all action, Sango tends to mull things over before leaping into action. Where Manatsu might overlook the little things, Sango notices them immediately. It’s a good set-up for them as friends. I hope that we’ll get lots of good Sango and Mantasu moments as the series continues. I’d love for them to become best friends.

Initially, Laura is quite hesitant to bring Sango into the group, despite Manatsu’s insistence. However, the monster of the week quickly changed her mind, especially when Sango’s own desires resonate with the Cure Compact and grant her a magical girl form.

Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 3 was yet another excellent entry into this new PreCure series. I find myself liking Tropical-Rouge PreCure more and more, every week. Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 3 progressed the plot while being just as colorful and fun as the first two episodes. The addition of Sango as Cure Coral felt timely and fun all at once. Her color palette is a nice compliment to Cure Summer, and the action sequences we get with her are really beautiful. Honestly, Tropical-Rouge PreCure always looks good though. 

I also can’t wait to meet the rest of the Legendary Pretty Cure Warriors. I imagine viewers will get to meet all of them before we reach episode 6 or 7. Then again, I’m here for the totally tropi-cool ride. If that means waiting a bit longer to meet the other PreCures featured in the OP, then that’s fine by me. Tropical-Rouge PreCure is definitely worth it!

Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure is now streaming on Crunchyroll.