[Androzani84]

Yes, that last post was an April fools joke. I have no intention of ending this thread until I have watched both every episode of the show and every bit of post show official media in which one of the show’s characters has a prominent role (Abaranger vs Hurricaneger, Boukenger vs Super Sentai, Gokaiger episodes 25 and 26, Akibaranger Season Tsuu episode 7, Hurricaneger 10 Years After, Ninninger episodes 7 and 43 and Hero Mama League. If you think this is long, you should see the list you’d be stuck with in a similarly dedicated Dekaranger watch thread). For now, let’s move on to the one episode who’s monster was never adapted into Power Rangers (all the other ones at least managed a cameo).

Scroll 35: Sparkle and Shamisen

Instead of the usual opening credits, we open with Shurikenger training the Hurricanegers and Gouraigers to use the Ninjamisen (well, after a shot of Revolver Mammoth)









After Ikkou is unable to lift the ball higher than few feet, Shurikenger hands the Ninjamisen over to the Hurricanegers to try (Apparently, Isshu doesn’t even get a turn). Now, we cue the titles.



After the OP, the copy of Floaty-Head has a prophecy showing a cosmic event.





He then raps himself in a cocoon, in (what I’m sure is) reused footage from when the original did this (he even has the same dialogue once he’s fully rapped up)



Elsewhere, all three Hurricanegers try the Ninjamisen (which only brings up my earlier Isshu, er issue) and fail to even move the ball (but at least their playing sounds like a Shamisen. Looking at you Shurikenger and your rock solos). Before Shurikenger can fully berate them, he receives a call on the phone in his Shuriken Zubatto (just what can that thing NOT do?)

Shurikenger: Hello. What? The Evil Will? Are you sure, Master Gozen?

Before he can explain who he’s talking to, he leaves, telling them to keep practising (giving no actual practical advice, I might add).

At the Centipede, Tau Zant discusses the Evil Will’s latest message (that thing wastes no time) using his 4 heads (sadly, they all speak with the same voice and personality, so this is just to be visually interesting).









Sargain then enters the room, offering a new plan, involving his newest puppet, Gliding Ninja Musasabitaru (which I do have a nickname for, you’ll have to wait a paragraph).



As Satarakura mocks it, Sargain leaps out of his own body and into the puppet’s (thus, I shall dub this “Squirrelgain”)





Squirrelgain stated that he’s controlling this one so the operation won’t be an utter disaster like the last one (and Furabijo gets a laugh out of the sick burn directed at Wendinu). Tau Zant is intrigued enough to let him try this plan. Soon enough, Squirrelgain glides over the city, dropping down jewels, which trap anyone who picks them up, before returning to sender. All of this is witnessed by this guy (played by Yuji Kishi, better known as Kyosuke Jinnai/Red Racer in Gekisou Sentai Carranger. He’s also a voice actor and provided the voice for Chubozoo in the vs movie with Gaoranger, in addition to dubbing over his second PR counterpart TJ).



The Hurricanegers are alerted to the attack and fly in on their Hurricane Wingers… which Squirrelgain promptly shoots down. When they try to fight him, Squirrelgain quickly gains the upper hand.



When the Gouraigers show up, they for, the Victory Gadget… which fails to do anything (In all honesty, they seem to have more luck when they solo/pair kill a monster lately). Shurikenger shows up and suggests they use the Ninjamisen. Yosuke uses it… in gun mode, which is not what Shurikenger meant at all. So Ikkou plugs in the Ikazuchimaru and attacks him with a low frequency sound attack, which causes some damage.



However, Shurikenger chooses to criticise him for this, which gives Squirrelgain an opening he happily takes. This forces the 6 to withdraw, much to the pleasure of the rest of Jakanja, with Tau Zant advocating that Sargain hurry up and corrupt the Earth. Back with the heroes, Shurikenger reveals that Squirrelgain’s weakness is supersonic waves (quick, call Voicelugger), which can be generated with the Ninjamisen. But then the Hurricanegers speak up to say they’re sick of Shurikenger treating them as his whipping boys and not actually telling them anything about himself(as much as I like Shurikenger, this was long overdue). The state that they’ll defeat Squirrelgain without his help. And even the Kasumi Bros admit that Shurikenger focuses too much on the results rather than the actual method of getting there. It’s then we see that the guy from earlier has been watching them and he’s a Shamisen player himself… which gives Shurikenger an idea.

Elsewhere, as Hamster Headmaster tries begging Master Gozen for another chance, it turns out the Hurricanegers have no idea how to beat Squirrelgain… until they see our guest character, who they recognise as the “Charisma Shamisen Player” Kazuma Namikawa. They decide that he’d be a much better teacher than Shurikenger and get him to agree to teach them… once they’ve worked out a payment plan.



As Kazuma tells them to focus more on heart than technique, the Kasumi Bros show up, also deciding to take the lessons



Kazuma tells them to keep playing until they reach a state of zen and are able to grasp the “Nagare Basho” (Running Water Bomb. Hmm, that sounds a lot like a Ninpo technique).





Elsewhere, Squirrelgain tests his powerful laser, powered by the people he captured.





Hearing of the trouble, the Hurricanegers and Gouraigers abandon the lesson, stating they’ve found their resolve. Pleased by this, Kazuma hands them the Ninjamisen (as the episode itself states, don’t ask where he got it). Thus they run to the scene, Shinobi changing and facin down Squirrelgain with the Ninjamisen.



Yosuke inserts his Hayatemaru and goes first in attacking.



Nanami goes next.





Then Kouta.



Ikkou then inserts his Ikazuchimaru to take over the chain.



And finally, Isshu gets his turn.



Kazuma then appears and pulls out the Shuriken Ball (and if you’re not convinced he’s Red Racer, he does the Carranger/Turbo pose, just like the last guy).



Shurikenger then takes up the Ninjamisen and inserts his Shuriken Zubatto, performing the final part of the Nagare Basho: Shuriken Sonic.



This successfully destroys Squirrelgain and sends Sargain flying clear of the blast (strange. Normally a bad guy turning into a monster of the week means they’re going to die). Shurikenger apologises for his earlier lack of tact and Wendinu grows the Squrrel body, with Sargain returning to his old one to control it remotely.







Shurikenger hands Yosuke the Ninjamisen, confident he can use it to call Revolver Mammoth. Despite Yosuke playing it differently to Shurikenger (again, his playing sounds more like a Shamisen), he successfully manoeuvres Revovler Mammoth to take down the Squirrel robot, before they form Revolver GouraiSenpuujin to destroy it for good.

Back at the Centipede, a copy of Manmarva (who I will dub “Clonemarva) emerges from the cocoon, reeling from the power he has now, ending the episode.







In our next instalment, “Scroll 36: Ring and Revenge”, Clonemarva goes full force against the heroes. And in addition to the pre-title scene, we now get an extended next time trailer, with no dialogue beyond one line at the end, set to an instrumental of the main theme.













Final thoughts: as said, I like that Shurikenger was actually called out for his aloof ally schtick, rather than being allowed to carry it on throughout the show. And it’s cool that the Ninjamisen does more than control the final upgrade Mecha. As for Manmarva’s clone… you’ll hear my thoughts on that next time.