"Heartcatch Precure" didn't quite live up to my expectations as the highest-rated and critically praised entry in the franchise, but this title isn't exactly unmerited either. The things it does well, it does really damn well. Heartcatch certainly doesn't pull its emotional punches, even more so than other Precure series. Most episodes focus on deeply personal problems and emotions that most of us will have to confront at some point and are able to empathize with. Even background, victim-of-the-week characters were given lots of emotional depth. Themes of death, family loss, and depression were handled very gracefully and to an extent no other Precure season dideven 14 years later.

Unfortunately, as all fans of the series know, Precure fillers are generally hit-or-miss, and this season is no exception. Many episodes were a drag to get through. Fluid animation style doesn't translate into fights - aside from the final Moonlight vs. Dark Precure/Sabark fight there were no memorable fights in the season. Aside from having one of the most competent villains in the franchise - Dark Precure - the villains don't really feel threatening at all and we don't get to gain any understanding of their motivaton. The final episode and fight vs. Dune felt rushed, the timeskip felt out of place (unlike in other Precure series).

Overall, a solid 7.5.