Back in the day, she used to be a fairly popular request, but she missed her chance twice in a row for both Smash 4 and Ultimate despite being pretty close, and you don't hear her being talked about much anymore. I feel like I'm the only one left who genuinely wants her in (she's a top 2 request for me). I'm clinging onto the hope she somehow makes it next time around.
It's been about a month since we were introduced to her properly in the show. Everyone knows that she has been having quite the popularity lately, but now that we have had enough time to think about her, an ongoing question is if she has really transcended Precure to bring people into the series, or perhaps, it has all been overblown.
I've had conflicting things that she has broken into the larger anime zeitgeist. I've heard she has and she is giving more push to Precure in the west, and I've also heard she hasn't and it's that her popularity is primarily a Precure fandom thing, or that she is barely known to western anime fans. Well, what exactly is it?
Check your area. They seem to have gotten their shipment.
I've said this before, and I will say this again, but it boggles my mind how unseen this show is with western audiences. Each passing week, this show keeps getting better and more engaging with it's mystery. Think of it as a carefully crafted puzzle piece that simultaneously is what you expect and don't. And that's not bringing up it has one of the best characters of the year, a villainous force with so much power, who happens to love ice cream.
Don't let the Precure name fool you. This is one of the year's best anime. Maybe it is that mystery shows just get to me, and it's best explained if you don't know anything, but this is a show that keeps getting better. And yes, it is a standalone story. You don't need to watch the other seasons to get it. But seriously, how is it not appearing on these weekly anime trending lists?
Maybe it's just me, or that this is the result of this being the season that really hooked me on the franchise after being a casual fan for a few years that has been getting me into watching every past season I missed out on (currently on Hug), but I dunno, I kinda get this instinct Star Detective has this growing passion and momentum that I haven't seen with a recent Precure season. To be fair, this could just be a bubble thing of being around Precure fans, but seeing people I know genuinely express interest, I know something's up.
Maybe it has to due with a certain ice cream princess exploding in popularity, or that the mystery hook is inherently more intriguing then pets or idols, but I feel because the show just keeps getting better each episode, and as a result, it's getting more eyes then a usual Precure season would. And well, as long as the show keeps being good, I genuinely think it can go all the way By this time last year when Idol was airing, before it feel apart, while I had liked it, I wasn't rushing to suggest everyone I know to watch this show the same way I am doing with Star Detective. I think this season is different. I also hope this statement does not age poorly in case it dips in quality after I say this.
Characters presented in the image; Tom (Hoppers), Cure Arcana Shadow (Star Detective Precure), Coco (Witch Hat Atelier), Omni-Man (Invincible)
I never thought I would say this about a Precure season, but after watching through the first 13 episodes of Star Detective Precure, it is surprising me how this is shaping up to be one of the best, if not possibly the best, that this franchise has to offer. It has the trademark spirit of what we expect of the series, but wow, talk about a mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat across each episode. Everything has a purpose to their role in the story. A mix between lighthearted fun, and genuine complexity behind it's set-up across each chapter. A series that deserves to be seen without knowing anything.
It amazes me how this is one of the best shows of the year so far, but is barley being discussed outside it's fandom, despite having everything going for it, including a top tier magical girl who could go down as an all timer in the medium should it stick. I truly think if it did not have the Precure name attached to it, it would be discussed to the same lengths as something like a Witch Hat Atelier or Botan Kamiina. If there will ever be a Precure season that breaks out, this will be the one. But if it doesn't, there likely never will be one.