Easily one of the best episodes so far.

I expected something a bit more… well, grand with Dia’s transformation. All the hoopla before was drawn out and sparkly, but the outfit? Not so much. Amu’s outfit looks like it was based on a post Gold/Silver Pokemon reject; that or Gumby with limp wings. I would be tempted to say that Platinum Royale looks a bit better. Dia’s true form does look pretty good with the whole twintailed pop idol look. Also having Ito Kanae voice Amu herself added to the whole “strongest form” feel to Amulet Dia.

It’s 10 p.m., do you know where you’re children are? You never know where a lolicon lurks.

Happy Utau is winnage (loli Utau gets double prizes). I’m glad the days of emo Utau are now behind us–I’m done with goth/emo Utau–and we are finally seeing the other facets of her character and personality. More times than not she was either a wet blanket or a non-factor. She’d come in, babble her ideals, sings a song, and retreat. That, or she’d be off in her own world longing for Ikuto. I’d be more than happy to like Utau’s character more, but honestly, all the majority of her storyline and character development appeared in the last 2 episodes. I enjoyed what we did get, but it’s a little disappointing that we didn’t get to know earlier on.

I am impatiently twiddling my thumbs in anticipation for the next Utau single. Standard version and loli version, of course. I never really thought much of either Meikyu Butterfly or Black Diamond when I first heard them in an episode, but really got hooked once the singles were released. I don’t think it will be any different if this one gets released as well.

Upped production value is a good thing. In general, Shugo Chara has always looked pretty good, but the more “important” episodes seem to always get a few extra bucks. Someone was feeling generous because even Yaya proved to be useful this time around. Yaya <3. Not enough love Yaya and her Nanoha hair.

“The choice is made. The Traveler has come.”

“What did you do, Ray?”

Unlike Amulet Dia, Seraphic Charm looks awesome. Wings and ballet shoes… it’s like I’m back in college watching Card Captor Sakura for the first time. That or the final episode of Sailor Moon Stars. Amu’s Amulet Angel looked good as well, but Utau just works out better.

So the shiny egg has been appearing for awhile now… If it’s the all important Embryo, how is it managing to get caught up with all those other eggs? It makes wishes come true and Easter wants it. And that’s pretty much the extent of our knowledge about it. Hopefully the remaining 8 episodes or whatever becomes of the second season tell us more. Does it turn roaches into unicorns? Does it make clouds rain Skittles? Will is make Pumpkin Scissors Season 2 appear? Can it be made into one kickass omelet?

And with that (and episode 44), another major arc ends. It’ll be interesting to see becomes of the remainder of this season pumps out. As for the manga, I am only about as far as what the anime has covered, so I have no clue what is happening next. Seems a bit farfetched to expect any significant story progress with the elusive egg, Easter’s next move, or Ikuto the Key Master (especially because episode 45 looks like return to filler). We probably just have to wait patiently to see what happens with this season and the next one.