[Androzani84]

As promised, we're doing two bonus reviews this weekend and the next. If the stress is manageable, then I?ll probably make it the regular schedule. But anyway, let's get on with the show

Timeranger: Case File 09: The Don?s Depression, 15/09/2000

We open with a bit of reality sweeping in, as the Londarz are exposed to the public by a tabloid magazine.



Discussing this over breakfast, the Timerangers agree that this turn of events was inevitable.



But they'll have to be on their guard. After all, who knows what these journalists might uncover?





But that gives way to everyone heading to their jobs... except for Ayase, who goes to take his driving test (so I'm guessing those documents Tock and Sion were forging just allowed him to take the test?). Cue a montage of Timeranger at work.









But then we cut to Casa de Dolnero, where Lila is sick of the Sentai trope of carrying on with their operations as if the heroes don?t exist and won't stop them every time (I know how she feels).



Gien then gets an idea after finding one of the criminals they have frozen is a police officer, and decompressed him, with the name being a bit of a hint as to what he was busted for.



And by ?brother?, he means in the street sense (apparently, that?s universal enough to exist in Japan).



He reveals that he used his position as a police officer to help pass hints to Dolnero's gang back in the future. And as Gien points out, he obviously didn't do a very good job since he was arrested. Despite being dismissive of his "Brother's" new crew, Arnold willingly goes out to gather money, as Dolnero returns to his apparent craft model building hobby.



Meanwhile, back with Ayase, unlike Lucas during his test, he has a competent and appropriate instructor.



But the lesson comes to a screeching halt when Arnold attacks motorists, demanding they hand over exorbitant fines for alleged infractions.



Ayase sends the instructor away, before transforming and moving to battle Arnold. The others arrive, and battle Arnold until he decides to withdraw and regroup, leaving the heroes to escape the paparazzi.



Back at the prison, Arnold talks with Dolnero, getting an answer as to what the model he's building actually is.



Arnold then flaunts his old friendship with Dolnero to insult both Gien and Lila, causing both of them to leave and grumble about how much they hate the smug bastard.



And then as they agree they're going to kill him, Dolnero overhears this, and decides to take action. So he provides Arnold with an upgraded weapon (wait for it).



Arnold proceeds to go on the attack again, with the Timerangers finding out about it from Sion's hacking the police radio, of all things. They face Arnold, and Tatsuya gains a palpable advantage over him, forcing him to use his new weapon.



But before Gien can take a shot and finish him off, the new weapon explodes, weakening Arnold, much to the shock of even the two regular villains.





Sou Arnold weakened, Timeranger take the opportunity to blast their foe with the Voltech Bazooka, which... look, you all know the drill at this point. But the giant battle does stand out, because Arnold turns invisible to ambush TimeRobo.



But they're able to come back from behind and win. Meanwhile, Dolnero confirms to his lieutenants that he sabotaged Arnold?s weapon.



He explains that while Arnold is his friend, the other two are his family, and keeping harmony within the family comes first. Meanwhile, the heroes finish freeze-compressing Arnold, before the same paparazzo from earlier comes back, successfully taking photos for her editor.



Unfortunately for her, they refuse to answer any questions and leave. Meanwhile, the heads of the police decide they need to do something about all those questions about whether the Timerangers are affiliated with them (They're already getting flak for talk that one of the Unidentified Lifeforms they're supposed to be neutralising is somehow stealing police equipment to slaughter his fellows).



Their solution: Produce an article that confirms the rumours as "truth".



Yuri doesn't mind the lie, since it'll help them operate in secret. But then Tatsuya changes the subject with some good news: Ayase passed his driving test and got his license. (And all it took was not having a biased instructor who took a minor injury too seriously)



But during the celebration, Ayase's hand shivers, as he drops his wine glass, and he stumbles out, unnoticed by all but Tatsuya. The episode ends with him collapsing outside Tomorrow Research.





Next week: Ayase explains the truth to Tatsuya: He's dying from Osiris Syndrome. This and more in Timeranger Case File 10: The Escape to Tomorrow.

Final thoughts: I like the Dolnero plot with him being torn between his old friend and his new family (even if "Depression" doesn't really fit as a title), and the hook with Ayase is interesting, even if the trailer spoiled it. But I wasn't too keen on the subplot of the news reporting on the Timeranger's battles. Realistic? Probably. Interesting? I wasn't too thrilled.