so I did this thing half a year ago where I compiled my favourite 4*s of the first six months of 2021, so it makes a bunch of sense to do it again but for the second half!

same rules as last time - only one from a set, no DF cards! also, no birthday cards. which is fine cause I don't really love any of them coughs--

once again I'm doing this before the last set dropped and just kinda hoping that it won't wow me enough to be on here, but if it does ... I'll just edit the post I guess

and while I've got your attention I just wanna point out that Chisato has not gotten a single 3* this year. yea. just let that sink in. she'd better be in the NY set

oh this Nanami is to die for. the lighting, the textures, the details, the whole atmosphere ... she feels so dreamlike and unreal and she's also just super beautiful to look at. this whole set is an absolute banger but Nanami easily takes the cake (though I also love the Mashiro), she's good enough to be a DreamFes card imo. her eyes pop so well against the other colours too ... she good

this card just makes me happy. like look at her. she's riding on a dolphin who in turn is also extremely happy. they both go :D and I can't help but smile along with them. I also really love the colours in this card, the marine blue/white coupled with the red works so well; there's nothing rly fancy going on lighting-wise but there doesn't need to be, it's just a solid simple card that makes my heart go fuwafuwa. how can you not love Kasumi look at this

I honestly prefer this card untrained cause the lighting and atmosphere are SO good but the trained is also amazing; HaroHapi in a scary circus theme for Halloween makes so much sense but I would have never thought of it myself ghdkgfhd it puts such a cool spin on the cheerful theming they usually have and makes it extra creepy imo. also really loving the wink accentuating the "scar" over the eye as if it really was missing. this card slaps I'm very happy I have her

super tough choice between Mashiro and Rui for Monika BS2, but something about the Rui just gets me ... she tends to get super beautiful cards idk I think it's the shape of her hair that I find nice to look at?? does that make sense?? anyway this whole set is super beautiful and def follows the more detailed, not as realistic theme of BS2 that the other bands have set as a precedent, except with the art improvement that has come with just coming a few years later. I especially love the linework in this idk it's just so pretty ... and once again, I don't tend to like very blue cards, but this one is nice. I like this one

Ran got some very funky cards this year, I loooove her hairstyle and the angle in this, it looks so casual yet cool ... honestly if this was her default hairstyle I'd be down for that. the colours in this are super nice and warm, and her pose ... I will say I don't like Moca's pose as much cause it feels a bit artificial but this one looks rly effortless and is super nice to look at, it's got so much dynamic without needing large movement. card good

GOD Christmas Roselia came and absolutely destroyed me and I didn't even get to scout for it sobs,,, really any of the cards had 4* potential (even the lighting on Rinko is like. just slap her on a nice background, work her in a bit, and bam) but I didn't have to choose long between Yukina & Ako because I just LOVE when we look at the girls through something other than just a normal camera lense. and look at her smile!! I will give her the world

this is. my favourite Tomoe card possibly? (either this or the Sensenfukoku one.) historically I've not been a super big fan of Tomoe cards cause something about a few of her trained has always looked kinda awkward to me (to the point where I honestly think that is on purpose cause Tomoe's a rly practical girl who I don't think would be very good at posing for photos deliberately; the cards that look best to me are the ones where she just gets to be Cool), but this is just ... so beautiful ... winter is my favourite season so the aesthetic is 100% my thing, but just. she's so well drawn. she looks so good and sweet without losing the Tomoe vibes. Rinko is gorgeous too but man I love this Tomoe