Suite Precure was fighting a losing battle right from the start. It came out directly after the uber popular success that was Heartcatch, as well as after an earthquake that caused Toei to rewrite parts of the show to be more light-hearted. But as someone who quite liked Heartcatch but didn't find it to be this perfect high point in the series, I feel like I'm the perfect position to judge Suite on its own merits.
Suite Precure is about Hibiki and Kanade, two classmates with a long history of fighting and not getting along, forced to become Cures together to stop an evil king named Mephisto from finding the Notes and singing the Melody of Sorrow. Let me get this out of the way first, yes, Hibiki and Kanade fight a lot throughout the first cour of this series. I know this is a point of contention but honestly, I really like this twist on the formula. I feel like this is the natural extension of Precure's "polar opposites forced to work together" premise, and it's the first time since Futari that the main cast don't immediately become the best of friends with zero conflict. The arguments the duo get into feel surprisingly organic too (compared to the Futari fights that are usually just spurred by Honoka's big mouth), like with that sibling episode where Hibiki and Kanade's different outlooks on the latter's brother spawn from their different upbringings. The arguments are also genuinely funny a lot of the time, like with the jerk villagers in the early Animal Crossing games, there's just a fun level of edge to seeing everyone not be super nice to each other all the time. It's because of their arguing that Hibiki and Kanade manage to gain such a close and intimate understanding of each other over time, and you can really see them grow closer as their arguments get more spaced out. It makes for an unusually strong early stretch for the series, even if it's admittedly pretty fleeting.
As far as the slice of life elements go, Suite goes back to the standard formula of basing most of its plotlines on struggles that the main cast is dealing with and yeah, I definitely prefer this to Heartcatch's approach. I don't deny the importance of a good side cast, hell I even criticized the Yes duology for lacking one, but I think there's a balance that shows like Splash Star and Fresh have struck pretty perfectly, and Suite at the very least fits near them. The majority of episodes do focus mostly on the main cast, and it allows you to spend a lot of time watching them interact, but there is also a solid side cast here. It's not the best side cast a Precure show has had, but they're likable enough. And I just have to say the chemistry between the characters is off the charts, and the dialogue can be surprisingly natural at points, especially with Hibiki and Kanade. The characters just bounce off each other really well, it's a joy simply to watch them chat. I also have to give credit to the adorable airheaded fairy Hummy, who was voiced by Kotono Mitsuishi aka Sailor freaking Moon. Hummy is an absolute treasure from start to finish, hands down my favorite fairy since Tarte, and the innocent ways in which she responds to an episode's conflict are always a treat (Hummy telling Hibiki she'd be her little sister was the most wholesome thing, I swear).
Then there's Siren/Ellen/Cure Beat, who is this season's token redeemed Cure. I'm going to be perfectly blunt here, it was hard to shake off Setsuna for much of this season. Like, look, Setsuna's has such a great redemption arc that ideally, other shows should take more cues from it. But also, Setsuna is probably my favorite character ever now so any other redemption arc would have to be in her shadow, which is doubly so in the context of Precure, and triply so in the context of Ellen being the first redeemed villain since Setsuna. Anyone who tries to follow after Setsuna is inevitably going to suffer from following up Setsuna. That being said, I did end up enjoying Ellen on her own merits. As a villain, she's very hammy and fun, and since she's actually the main villain in the first half, she gets more time with Hibiki and Kanade. But I think the really interesting element of Siren is the fact that she's technically a fairy. This means that she has a history with Hummy, making the conflict to get her to turn a lot more personal. In addition, since becoming a Cure means being permanently made human, Ellen's post-redemption arc is less about finding a family and more about learning what it means to be human, which isn't as emotional but it is incredibly fun on its own. Ellen becomes such a massive dork after her redemption, it's so good. I don't think anyone will be able to top Setsuna for me, but Ellen does bring some neat new ideas to the table regardless and is still a big highlight.
What really surprised me, though, is that my absolute favorite thing about Suite Precure ended up being all the world-building and lore. I did not expect the series to have such a compelling myth arc, but here we are. And it's established right from the get-go, with an extended prologue introducing Mephisto, his plan, the Music Trio, and Hummy and Siren's relationship. Hell, even Hibiki and Kanade have "lore", so to speak. They don't just meet and immediately start fighting, they have a history together that needs to be unpacked. And that's not even getting into Cure Muse, and that whole mystery about who she really is and the way she ties into Mephisto, it's all really engaging and well-done. I'll always wonder what the original darker version of Suite would be like, but even this more light-hearted version still has a super engaging plot regardless. It's also the little things that really make Suite's world-buillding stand out, like how musical motifs are literally built into the show's world. The Major Kingdom is a more fantastical and blunt with it, like having staircases made up of literal piano pieces, but even Kanon Town has more subtle music-themed decorations scattered around while still feeling like a believable place. Let's just say that if you're a fan of Music Park from Mario Kart, you'll love Suite's aesthetic.
Which leads to Suite Precure's presentation. As far as the animation and general artstyle goes, yeah, this is a pretty big step down from the more cartoony styles of Fresh and Heartcatch, especially the latter. The action isn't as good, the colors don't pop as much, Suite generally looks a lot more like Futari and Splash Star did. That's not a bad thing though, and the animation can still be pretty fantastic at points, especially during the transformation sequences and attacks. Actually, let me just say, Suite has the best attacks out of any Precure show to date, from Cure Rhythm walking away from an explosion to Cure Beat using her guitar as a gun, they both look cool and exude a lot of personality. But even more, the general art direction is fantastic. I already praised the design of the Major Kingdom and Kanon Town, but even the character and costume design is pretty stellar. Special props go to Hibiki's casual clothes, that pink and black rock look is great. And as you'd expect from a show about music, Suite's music is really great, especially when it needs to be. Both the Melody Of Happiness and the Melody Of Sorrow are both incredibly well-composed and well-delivered, they genuinely feel like these all-powerful melodies.
Highlights (no I'm not adding the Nyas at the end of the titles):
Hibiki Hates Music (episode 3): This was the episode that sold me on Suite, in particular, that door scene was fantastic. The editing, the voice acting, the awkward way Hibiki finally opens up to Kanade, it was incredibly well-done. Hibiki's struggle here was really engaging too, especially for such an early episode. I feel her. Even if everyone seems to like what you create, if your parents don't, it could feel incredibly demoralizing.
The TV Reporter Challenge (episode 5): I don't understand how you can't love the bickering, this episode was hysterical. Those scenes where the duo was trying to film a TV report, with Hibiki trying to hog the spotlight and Kanade delivering a rigid report, left me in absolute stitches Also, Siren's villainous entrance this episode was fabulous, I love how silly the villains are this season.
Siren And Hummy's Secret (episode 13): Siren and Hummy are the best thing about Suite. The way Hummy completely ignores that Siren is a villain now is the sweetest thing, and she came really close to getting her to turn before Mephisto showed up and brainwashed Siren again. I do kinda wish Siren was actually evil, but the fact that poor Hummy has no idea what's going on does add a nice tragic element to things.
Best Friends By Switching Places (episode 16): This is the last episode where Hibiki and Kanade fight, and I'd say it's a fitting conclusion to that part of the show. Most of Hibikana's arguments were over a lack of understanding of each other's differences, so what better way to close this chapter of the show by having them literally swap places. Aside from the novelty of seeing Hibiki experience having a brother and present mother for a bit and the comedy of Kanade dealing with Hibiki's dad, they really do gain a lot of respect for each other. And to really hammer it home, Hibiki finally notices Siren's necklace, so her disguises won't even be able to work on her anymore.
Birth Of A Miracle Pretty Cure (episode 21): The culmination of Hummy and Siren's relationship, and it was just as climactic and grandiose as I would've hoped. I love that the brainwashing didn't affect Hummy at all, her love for Siren was just that powerful. Cure Beat's first appearance was great, and the scope of the episode as a whole felt like it could've been a season finale. Also holy heck, Hummy's got pipes!
A Tear In The World's Smallest Ocean (episode 23): God, this show is so cool. Those shots of the Cures leaning against a wall talking it out with Mamoru feel like they could've been the front cover of a punk album. And Cure Beat's big fight this episode, where she shows up, strums her hair like a guitar, tosses a Negatone with her legs, and whips out a guitar-shaped rod only to use it as a gun all the while heavy rock music is playing in the background rivals the Heartcatch finale as one of the most metal things I've seen in a Precure show.
This was also just a great episode in general. Where Episode 22 felt more like Setsuna's Anguish 2.0, this episode took Ellen's redemption in a pretty unique direction as she bonds with a kid who's run away from home, only to be thrown for a loop when that kid realizes his parents do in fact care for him. It all culminates in this fantastic sunset-lit scene where Ellen screams out her apology to the world. It's brilliantly cathartic and emotional, and a moment that's entirely original to Suite, even if she adorably gets embarrassed by it next episode.
Save The World In 30 Minutes (episode 27): This episode wasn't even anything all that special, I just had to point out that THEY PARODIED 24.
Finally, Muse Takes Off Her Mask (episode 35): Oh, great, we can finally get to the Cure Muse stuff! I already liked Suite up to this point but Cure Muse is what really elevates it to being truly fantastic. Episode 35 was chock full of massive plot-bombs, in particular. Otokichi knows Aphrodite? Cure Muse is Ako? Mephisto is being brain-washed? There's another villain? Mephisto is Cure Muse's father?! So much happened!
Let Muse's Thoughts Reach His Heart (episode 36): Cure Muse, aka Ako, falls along the same archetype as Homura Akemi. She's a character who starts off super closed off and morally ambiguous, to the point where you never have any idea what she's thinking. But once you get her backstory, it all clicks perfectly into place and you realize just how much she's had to deal with. Ako has had to deal with a lot. Her father turned evil, she had to leave home, she became a Precure, and the only way she could deal with it is lock away her emotions... and keep in mind that she's like nine years old. How can you not admire that?
Anyway, as for the episode itself, it's great. I was surprised that Mephisto would be healed this far before the finale, but it paves the way for the true villain Noise to get the focus for much of the final act rather than just showing up at the last second as is the case for Precure. The first half was pretty heavy on the backstory and exposition, but Suite's lore is so intriguing and well-crafted that it was engaging regardless, and Ellen awkwardly apologizing to Ako was absolutely adorable. I'm glad that Ellen's past being brain-washed was brought up again for this and the episode before it.
We'll Never Hand Over The Last Note (episode 41): Precure's Home Alone, but instead of a home it's the town, instead of traps it's the side characters, and instead of a kid it's a fairy. The Cures' plan to protect Fari by faking the filming of a movie so that she'll be disguised among merch an protected by rabid fans is both brilliant and hysterical, and just a flat-out great usage of the side cast, all of whom gets their moments to shine as they bully the Minor Trio.
The Final Arc: Once again, Suite ends on a pretty strong note.
The Miracle Born In The Holy Night (episode 44): Noise getting revived (ending that incessant squawking) and petrifying the entire town. It's no desert, but still pretty devastating.
We Won't Let Noise Have His Way (episode 45): Noise kinda won in this one, huh? Sure, the Cures give him a seriously impressive beating but he also manages to seal away Otokichi and the Crescendo Tone, exacting his revenge.
The Pretty Cures' Last Battle (episode 46): Easily some of the best action in the series, and you start to get some hints towards Noise's motivations. Also, Aphrodite's rebellious concert was genuinely one of the coolest scenes in the series.
Everyone's Melody Of Hope (episode 47): This isn't the first time the Cures won by convincing the bad guy to change sides but I think it works a lot better here than in Yes 5. The reveal that Noise is an incarnation of sadness puts all of his actions and motivations into a new context. It also helps that the actual final battle is fantastic, and the episode as a whole is directed incredibly well. With Matsumoto Rie having stopped doing episodes, Suite has shown that Tanaka Yuta has become the new Precure director to watch, and apparently he even goes on to head Go Princess. I'm expecting great things.
Also given how this episode ends and how much effort they put into hiding Cure Muse, it would've been the funniest thing if they just cut Hummy from the ending sequence. Cowards.
Resound Throughout The World, Melody Of Happiness (episode 48): I'm really happy Suite decided to end things with an epilogue episode, and it's a pretty great one at that. The Cures trying to get Hummy to wake up makes for a very personal episode, but I'm glad that things end on an unambiguously happy note. No one is forced to leave, there's no bittersweet twists, it's just a happy ending. And I'm glad to see Ellen get so much focus too, it's a great end to her storyline.
Overall, Suite Precure was... really good actually? Like seriously, I don't have many complaints here. The characters are strong and have great chemistry, the plot is intruging and well-developed, the fairies are abnormally great, the pacing is on-point, the presentation is polished and thoughtful, I'm genuinely impressed! Suite stands up alongside Splash Star as a great season that was sandwiched between two vastly more popular ones, and it's a real shame that it got drowned out as a result.
5/5 Stars
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