Fushigiboshi no Futago Hime Gyu! 20
Elizabert can't stand the heat -- no air conditioning, apparently. She'd prefer sitting in a cool room eating hot cheese fondue, so she's going to call her cooling machine and freeze the entire Fushigiboshi (^^;;) Fine and Rein stop her and say they'll take her somewhere cooler..
They all go to the Windmill Kingdom to meet Sophie and watch an airship race between Auler and Bright. It's still not cool enough for Elizabert -- she wonders where the wind comes from, so Sophie explains that the windmills make it. Elizabert wants her to make them go faster.. no (^^;;) Fango gives Elizabert a travel guide and tells her to read -- Fine and Rein explain how the Fushigiboshi works (the background music from the avant from the 1st season). Fine and Rein are in the guide, too. Edward, in butterfly form, thinks he could use the windmills... after they all arrive at the castle, Edward possess Sophie when she's alone.
Sophie, now in Edward's control, goes to one of the windmills. Edward remembers Fine talking about the Jewel Kingdom producing things... she goes back to the castle and asks Bright, who was having tea with Fine, Rein, and Auler, to talk with her for a bit. It's not the usual Sophie.. Rein thinks that it's love~. So if Sophie and Bright get married, then Altessa will be Auler's sister, and call him onii-sama, and... there's something bad about that? ;) Fine, Rein, and Auler spy on evil Sophie talking to Bright about some kind of party. Bright seems more kind than he is with Rein...
While Pumo tries to keep Elizabert cool so she doesn't destroy the Fushigiboshi, Rein lies face-down on a couch, rather depressed. Fine says she should ask Bright directly, but Rein can't do that. Fine says she'll do it for her and runs out, but before Fine can say anything to Bright, Rein pushes her out of the way and tells her not to say anything. She'll do it herself.
Of course Rein can't ask Bright about Sophie, instead asking if Bright likes soft cream (ice cream). She can't say it and falls down.. evil Sophie comes up and asks Bright -- just "Bright", not "Bright-sama" (yobisute, showing that she's closer to Bright) -- if she should take Rein somewhere to rest. Sophie also tells Bright to keep their secret, making Rein think that there's something going on between the two even moreso. She's lost it (^^;;) Fine says it's not good to keep secrets, but evil Sophie tells Bright he can't say a thing, so he doesn't. Rein cries and runs off... evil Sophie tells Bright to hurry up preparations for their party.
After Bright leaves, evil Sophie changes back to the regular Sophie, having no idea what's been going on. Auler comes running up and asks how things are between her and Bright. He said something about having a fun party... Auler, just like Rein, thinks it must be that and congratulates her (^^;;) Sophie doesn't understand why he's congratulating her -- she and Bright are getting married so it's party for them announce that, right? Auler says he'll get everything set up for it and send invitations...
Sophie had no idea that marriages were set up when the person getting married didn't know about it. But if she and Bright get married then she and Altessa will be sisters, and Altessa will call her onee-sama... I'm sure Altessa would love it (^^;;)
The party gets started that night with fireworks. Auler teases Bright, telling him to make Sophie happy. Sophie's not anywhere to be found, though -- she's still waiting for the BBQ heater to come from the Jewel Kingdom. BBQ? That's odd for an engagement party, Auler says. Engagement? (^^;;)
In a windmill nearby, evil Sophie uses the BBQ heater to make a hot wind blow towards the castle. Pumo tries his best to keep Elizabert's finger off the button to freeze the Fushigiboshi (^^;;) Fine and Rein run to the windmill and call Kyukyu and Pyupyu, but the monsters Edward releases keeps them from reaching Fine and Rein. Bright and Auler clear out the insect monsters and Fine and Rein transform and get rid of them easily (as usual). Edward leaves Sophie -- she doesn't remember anything. Must've been a midsummer night's dream then (^^;;)
Bright apologizes to Rein for the misunderstanding, and Rein apologizes, too. But now that the party's started let's enjoy -- Fine and Rein do the friendship dance. But what about Elizabert? Sophie showed her to a special seat -- the inside of a freezer (^^;;)
Even normal Sophie is plenty dark, though she doesn't mean it ;) At this point they've got to worry more about Elizabert plunging the planet into the deep freeze than Edward doing something (^^;;)
Anyways, quite a fun episode this time. Evil Sophie is too good. It fits her too well :) And Rein was too cute this time. It's been a while since Rein's been like this so it was fun. GJ, Yuuko Gotou, as usual. Least she didn't turn into Kaede and do that empty pot thing when she thought Sophie was going to marry Bright (^^;;)
Continuing from last time, the animation was also great. All of Rein's different faces this time were interesting, and everybody was cute in a bit different way than last time. GJ, Tadashi Shida, animation director this time.
Next time:
It's the required summer swimsuit episode. Animation style looks interesting again -- we'll see if the usual rule for swimsuit episodes applies (animation quality always drops in a swimsuit episode). Following Sophie, the next to be possessed by Edward will be Leonne. Should be fun :)
Rein's reactions seemed very School Rumble to me (but then I've only read the manga, although I have seen one ep of the anime). And I agree, Evil Sophie was cool. And it was nice to see Aura in good-looking clothes for once ^_~