Episode 1: I'm Going to Change! Watch Me Change!!
A flower might wilt, but another will blossom in its place.
"Tsubomi, welcome to Kibougahana."
— Kaoruko Hanasaki
I'm Going to Change! Watch Me Change!! (私、変わります！変わって見せます！!, Watashi, Kawarimasu! Kawatte Misemasu!!) is the 1st episode for the season HeartCatch Pretty Cure! as well as the 293rd episode of the Pretty Cure franchise overall.
The episode tells about the beginning of Tsubomi Hanasaki’s story, beginning with her arrival in Kibougahana and is chosen by Chypre and Coffret to become Cure Blossom after her predecessor Cure Moonlight was defeated protecting the Tree of Hearts.
Tropes:
- A-Cup Angst: Downplayed. After talking to her, Sasorina inspects Tsubomi’s “large chest” and clicks her tongue before leaving.
- Action Prologue: In a first for Pretty Cure, the first episode begins with an already established Pretty Cure locked in battle with an enemy.
- Affectionate Nickname: Erika refers to her elder sister Momoka as “Momo-nee”.
- Ancestral Weapon: The Heart Perfume Chypre and Coffret give Tsubomi is the one Cure Moonlight told them to bestow to another.
- As Long as There Is One Man: After being defeated, Cure Moonlight promises Sabaku that others after her will defeat the Desert Apostles in her place.Cure Moonlight: I-I’m afraid that’s too bad. Even if I fall, the Precure who will protect the Tree of Hearts will definitely appear before you.
- Big "WHAT?!": Upon finding out that new her new classmate Erika is her next door neighbor, Tsubomi lets out one of these.
- Breaking Old Trends: There was a total of three prominent new elements in this episode that separated it from its predecessors.
- We see a Pretty Cure in action who is not The Protagonist.
- The Protagonist is a bespectacled Shrinking Violet as opposed to a Genki Girl.
- The stereotype of pink and blue Cures has switched e.g. Erika is the energetic Cure while Tsubomi is the shy one.
- The episode ends with The Protagonist transforming for the first time as opposed to completely defeating the Monster of the Week.
- The Monster of the Week is fueled by both an inanimate object as usual but also the soul of a person, called a Heart Flower for the first time.
- The place where the fairies come from is actually a native place in Earth and not in a parallel world. Also, there isn't a certain place the Cures have to protect, but a living being instead.
- Chypre is the first female mascot who is bonded to the lead Cure, the later mascots who are bonded to the lead Cures are female, too. The first three other lead Cures have been bonded with a male mascot.
- By the Power of Grayskull!: Tsubomi, at Chypre and Coffret’s urging yells “Pretty Cure, open my heart” to begin her Transformation Sequence.
- Catapult Nightmare: Tsubomi is introduced to audience waking up from the Action Prologue, which turned out to be her nightmare.
- Catchphrase: Tsubomi says her "I can't stand it anymore!" line after Sasorina’s antics push her to her limits.
- The Chosen One: Tsubomi is the one ultimately chosen to inherit Cure Moonlight’s power.
- Class Clown: Erika is one in her homeroom class.
- Contrasting Sequel Main Character: Tsubomi is this towards past pink colored Pretty Cures. Lead Cures are often outgoing or passionate Genki Girls, while Tsubomi is shy and introverted.
- Crash-Into Hello: As they flee from the Desert Apostles, the two fairies crash headfirst into Tsubomi.
- Delayed Reaction: While Tsubomi is instantly shocked by the realization that she is Erika’s new neighbor, it takes the latter a minute to realize.
- Downer Beginning: Cure Moonlyis defeated by Dark Pretty Cure and bequeathes her power to another.
- Dreaming of Times Gone By: Several times before this episode and twice in it, Tsubomi dreamt of Cure Moonlight’s defeat at the hands of Dark Pretty Cure.
- Early-Bird Cameo: Fashion Club member and recurring supporting character Nanami Shiku makes her debut welcoming Tsubomi to class.
- The Empath: Sasorina can sense and see that Erika’s Heart Flower is wilting.
- Establishing Character Moment:
- Tsubomi has hers when she sees and clover, points out what it stands for and asks it for luck.
- Erika gets hers when she teases the meek Tsubomi for her lukewarm self-introduction.
- Eye Catch: There are two consisting of Erika and Tsubomi.
- First-Name Basis: Erika immediately moves onto calling Tsubomi by her first name, much to the latter's keigo-based disapproval.
- Friendship Denial: Erika comes on really hard to the reserved Tsubomi who becomes repelled from her.
- The Glasses Gotta Go: Part of The Makeover is getting rid of Tsubomi’s glasses.
- Green-Eyed Monster: The Desertrian reveals to Tsubomi that Erika envies her more successful elder sister.
- Hidden Depths: Despite her bubbly and forward personality, Erika is secretly jealous of her sister’s accomplishments.
- Informed Flaw: Tsubomi is actually withdrawn but easily finds a group pf acquaintances to eat lunch with on the first day.
- Innocently Insensitive: Erika seemingly bullies Tsubomi during her self-introduction but means well.
- Kick the Dog: Sasorina throws away Erika when she removes her Heart Flower.
- Sasorina also calls Erika’s inferiority complex pointless after hearing the Desertrian voice it.
- Leitmotif: The aptly titled Heart Flower, come out
plays when the audience is introduced to Sasorina. - The Makeover: Erika gives one to Tsubomi after the latter says she wants to change herself.
- Manic Pixie Dream Girl: Erika tries really hard to be a platonic one to Tsubomi. It hasn’t stuck yet but The Makeover she gave her has.
- Meaningful Name: In Kibougahana, Kibou (希望) means "hope" and Hana (花) means "flower". Altogether, it means "Flower of Hope".
- Mirror Boss: Dark Pretty Cure is this to Cure Moonlight as she has identical attacks.
- Monster of the Week: The Desertrian is unveiled for the first time and the victim is Erika.
- Mythology Gag: The plant focused on in this episode was a major theme of the previous season; clovers.
- One-Steve Limit: Interestingly, Tsubomi's family name is comprised of the names of a past Cure and a future Cure: Hanasaki.
- On the Next: Tsubomi promises to save Erika and the two banter.Tsubomi and Erika: We’ll catch your hearts!
- Our Souls Are Different: Heart Flowers are a person’s soul and they will wilt if their owner becomes depressed.
- Soul-Powered Engine: Desertrian are fueled by wilted Heary Flower’s.
- Signature Move: Cure Moonlight unveils hers: Precure Floral Power Fortissimo.
- Take Up My Sword: Moonlight instructs Chypre and Coffret to give her Heart Perfume to the next Precure.
- Transformation Name Announcement: Cure Blossom does this after being prompted by Chypre and Coffret.
- Transformation Sequence: Tsubomi transforms into Cure Blossom for the first time in the conclusion of the episode.
- Victoria's Secret Compartment: Chypre and Coffret hide in Tsubomi’s shirt from Sasorina. It works.
- Welcome Episode: This episode is Tsubomi’s introduced to her new home Kibougahana and her new school Myoudou Academy.
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