[Sh Ranger]

I was surprised this episode came out as early as it did since I was expecting the usual New Year pre-emption but it turns out that's happening this weekend instead. With the confirmation that Zenkaiger premieres on the first Sunday of the month, instead of the second like Kiramager, that means my prediction of Kiramager having at least 46 episodes is no longer plausible.

And surprisingly, that disappointment ties in perfectly to the theme of this episode, about the danger of unfettered optimism. Feels like my Sh 5 is missing and I'm just the Sh 1234 doomed by my own enthusiasm for a show I enjoy. Which means this moral is actually something I think I should apply in real life, to prepare for the worst case scenario and bounce back with a Plan B. This episode couldn't have come at a better time for me.

It's also a Sena focus episode which, just like every other Sena focus episode, is awesome and I just found my new favorite Kiramager episode. Splitting Sena in to 5 components of her personality allows me to appreciate each part of her for how they make her the unique character that she is. Especially in the case of Sena 5 since the plot is all about the question of whether or not she's actually needed to make Sena great and if she would actually be more perfect without her. This turns out to not be the case at all, since Sena 1234 is a total klutz even with Sena 3's logical component. Sena 5's negativity is actually quintessential to Sena's identity.

Sayo has a secondary focus in this episode and it's the first time this dynamic has happened. Usually it's Juru who has the most insight in to people but he doesn't contest Sena 5's theory that she should be left out. He's weirdly unperceptive here but fortunately Sayo has her own Hirameking! moment. She sees that Sena 5 is the missing sparkle, citing Sena's admirable recovery after her first dish was unavailable. It's that respect from her and later Sena 1234 that allows Sena 5 to accept herself.

The Yodon reveal was cool in its own right but I think it kind of just hijacks the more intriguing Sena plot which doesn't really get the conclusion it deserves. That's my only complaint about this episode and maybe things would've been different if the Zenkaiger staff could've just waited one more week. I mean, the Saber staff pushed their schedule back to accommodate Zero One but I suppose that's fair since Zero One was having some serious pacing problems towards the end while Kiramager was still at the starting line. Still, one less episode of Kiramager is something I lament since this is a great show. But to fit with the gemstone analogy, this show is a diamond in the rough and ultimately, I really appreciate the effort that both the staff and cast are putting in to polish it in to the best diamond it can be.