[FreshToku]

If you knew nothing about what was to come, I wonder how it would have felt to tune into this episode and the whole thing carrying such a distinct 'finale' feel. It is a really nice and warm set of episodes regardless though, made all the sweeter (or maybe bitter) that this was basically the end for the current production crew.

I would say that Asumu's encounter with the shoplifter happening in flashback was one of the surest sign that the team knew this was going to be their last work, so they wanted to pick up on that thread again. Buuuut it also reminded me of how Kuuga's first battle with Daguva was presented only in brief, blurry flashbacks, so for all I know, it could have actually been a bizarre but conscious decision.