[MidoGreen]

And so Gekiranger comes to an end. My thoughts on this spectacular quartet of episodes:

46: Ah, episode 46. I liked to call this episode "I FUCKING CALLED IT!" when it first aired back in 08. For the longest time things hadn't been adding up in my head, a variable was missing, As the mysteries kept growing, Long fell into my suspicion, especially after Rageku's reaction to him shortly before he killed her. Back in those days I was a Toku Greenhorn so never in my wildest dreams did I expect such a consummate schemer like Long to exist in Super Sentai. So when this episode happened, I felt vindicated. Especially so since I had a buddy who doubted my suspicions of Long ever since I started having them. Moving on from my nostalgia anecdote, I liked this episode. Bombshells dropping all around as Long reveals and revels in his handiwork to alleviate his boredom. A rather weak motivation but what else can you expect for an immortal villain? The best part of the whole episode IMO was when he learn Rio what Rio's attachment really is. It was not the fated showdown, but Mele. To learn that he truly cares for her was very touching

47. Then we move into the aftermath episode. Seeing Rio broken in the aftermath of all that just happen was reasonable, but tough. The way Jan broke through to him was really good. We also got some growth on Mele's part as she finally recognized the Gekirangers instead of calling them losers. The teamwork in the episode was superb. Mele hitting Sanyo's pressure points disabling his ability to use gravity attacks and then proceeding to team up with Gekirangers to take him down even though. Jan and Rio defeating Long together (with an impressive solo use of the Geki Bazooka). And finally the SaiDai GekiRinTouja, nuff said. One last little note is that Bae is free from being trapped in Mele due to her expelling the Gengi inside of her. While that is cool, in hindsight it's rather ominously convenient..

48: I loved the scene before the opening credits. It shows what could have been. I understood where Ran and Retsu were coming from. Rio and Mele had terrorized humanity many times and just to sweep that under the rug would tough. At the same time, what the hell guys. Why did you have to be such killjoys after such a great moment of unity? We also have a great moment between Jan and Rio as he brings the curtain down on RinJyuDen by burning it to the ground. The trial was good quick fight, but there is a rather telling moment when Rio and Mele don't bother to block or repel the attacks Ran and Retsu were going to throw at them. But before the techniques can hit, Long and Sanyo show up again, revealing they are immortal. And then Long reveals his true form, the long lost brother of King Ghidorah . I remember all those years ago my heart skipped a beat when Mele pushed them out of the way of Long and then was chomped. It happened again. And then after Rio goes out with a blaze of glory in an attempt to kill Long after giving the Jan, Ran, and Retsu a final Ringi. They wanted to go out on their own terms so that RinJyuKen can fade from history. Topped off with the scene of them going on to the afterlife...good stuff. Finally Long mocks their sacrifices, he's going to pay for that.

49. While Gou and Ken try to hold off Long, the triangle gets a last minute training session from three unexpected tutors, the spirits of the Kenma. I like this, as it truly unifies JyuKen after the schism many years ago. And rather fitting the bracelet stolen in the first episode becomes a key to victory in the finale. I enjoyed that even the Kensei got inolved to give the Gekirangers more time. And when Jan, Ran, and Retsu show up, the fight that follows is great. Long who has been nearly unstoppable after taking Sanyo back into his body is being repeled and beaten down effortlessly by them. WITHOUT Kageki. Then to top it all off, they use the DoKokuGan technique on Long sealing the smug bastard who kept bragging about his immortality into a ball the size of a billiard ball. And it gets used as a billiard ball . This is how you deal with such a smug villain. When they are at their height of arrogance, you drag them all the way down and humiliate them greatly. The epilogue was nice. Amusing to see Janisms has become part of JyuKen teachings. Finally to wrap things up, we have Jan pass the torch to Sosuke.