REVIEW: ‘Tropical-Rouge PreCure,’ Episode 17 – “Mermaid’s Miracle Transform! Cure La Mer!”

Last time in the tropi-cool Tropical Club, Laura was captured by the Witch of Delays and her crew, leading the legendary Pretty Cure Wars beneath the water down below. Thankfully, they’re not without aid. Laura helpfully left a trail of glimmering, glowing aqua pot-created bubbles behind. They lead to her place of capture and the Witch of Delays. Now, in Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17, the girls are heading along that very path to save the day!

Episode 17, “Mermaid’s Miracle Transform! Cure La Mer!” gives away a bit of what’s going to happen, though ultimately, I’ll leave that up to you to enjoy and won’t gab about it. What I will say is that this episode starts in medias res with Laura and the Witch of Delays, who promises her humanity. Of course, it’s not without a cost, and just like Ursula… it’s a pricey one. But Laura would never help the Witch of Delays, no matter how much she might want to walk on land with her friends. She, and the legendary Pretty Cure warriors, will stand together… if she can escape.

We spend a lot of time in Laura’s head in the opening few minutes of Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17, which shows that despite all of her bravado, she’s still a teenage girl who gets scared. And she’s in a quite frightening situation. Plus, she’s alone! Thankfully, Laura ends up finding Kururun, who is able to escape her undersea prison and eventually can start to piece together a plan.

Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17 definitely feels like a step up all around. The music is on point, making the battle sequences with the Tropical Quartet feel properly action-y. There’s some dynamic cinematography that makes the Pretty Cures fight in the front half feel a little tense. This tension doesn’t flag either, especially since the girls have a lot to juggle in Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17. In fact, this is probably one of the most plotty episodes since the girls got an attack power-up. It feels timely, refreshing, and also really mixes up the series in a genuinely surprising way.

As I said in the opening, Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17’s title gives away a major plot point concerning Laura. While I won’t discuss it until next week, when it most likely will appear again, I will say that I personally didn’t expect it. I suppose that’s what’s truly enjoyable about Tropical-Rouge Pretty Cure. It keeps viewers on their toes, regardless of age. It would be easy to write Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17, and the series as a whole, off for being a kid’s show. However, the deft display of suspense and tension in this episode proves that it’s more than just a “kid’s show.”

In the end, Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17 is a strong reminder that friendship is one of the world’s most powerful forces. With friendship -genuine, earnest, true friendship- nothing is undefeatable. Kindness, love, affection, and the genuine power of caring for one another can defeat anything, including a Zenzen Yarane-da.  Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17 is also a reminder that there’s a lot of power in trying, in giving whatever your all is. Giving your all and doing your best have been constant throughlines in this series. Both shine through in full effect during Tropical-Rouge PreCure Episode 17.

All in all, this is a magnificent, genuinely heartwarming episode. I really can’t wait to see what happens in the next arc. Hopefully, we’ll see a brand new combination attack and maybe… a stylish new upgrade for the Pretty Cure warriors.

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