[Androzani84]

Scroll 26: Bow and Arrow and Sea-Bathing

Here we are, at the episode that got me back into the series. It?s written by Atsushi Maekawa and it came out in the same week as Kamen Rider Ryuki episode 29, which has a similar plot (and, if I remember correctly, our own Kamen Rider Die declared it his favourite episode of the series, much to Fish Sandwich?s disbelief). With that said, on with the review.

The episode begins with the Hurricanegers checking up with Isshu on how Ikkou is doing (recall that he has a scorpion egg in his heart that will kill him when it hatches). This tender scene is interrupted by Nanami stating that Hase (her boss, if you?ve forgotten, since he hasn?t appeared for a while. Speaking of absent bosses, Yosuke?s boss?s actress appears in the aforementioned Ryuki episode as the female victim) has offered to introduce her to Kazuya Misaki (Ah yes, Kazuya Misaki. The big star created specifically for this episode) and she asks if the others are interested (Nanami, honey. Do you really think Isshu would be into that sort of thing?). Isshu, predictably, gets annoyed and leaves. Elsewhere, a woman gets shot by an arrow fired by a mysterious figure.



The figure then reveals himself to be Love-Sickness Ninja Chupid, whose attacks on other people quickly catch Isshu?s attention (way to blow your own scheme, you moron).



Elsewhere, Kazuya Misaki, played by Masaya Matsukaze, better known as Shun Namiki/Mega Blue (and he also unsuccessfully auditioned for the lead role in Kamen Rider Kuuga. Imagine how differently things would've gone if he got the role), prepares to disembark his bus.



He is almost immediately hit by Chupid (talk about bad luck) and knocked out, forcing Nanami and Hase to go looking for him. Isshu is soon after hit by another arrow, causing him to fall back into Nanami?s arms. He takes one look and becomes smitten, before she sends him off. Kazuya Misaki then comes to and also becomes smitten with Nanami when he sees her (It?s easy to see where they?re both coming from, but?). Chupid?s other victims begin to fall in love with the first thing they see, a plan that doesn?t inspire much confidence from the non-Sargain Dark Spears.





Isshu then goes to his brother to ask for romantic advice? which causes Ikkou to spit his drink out (I know right? Guy like him in love with someone?). Kazuya Misaki (look, if the episode is going to use the full name every time, then so am I) shows up to Nanami?s dressing room with flowers and asks her to the beach. Isshu then disrupts the actual concert (Guy has no tact) to hand Nanami a love note… written on a calligraphy scroll, complete with flowery language. Nanami later announces to her friends that Kazuya Misaki is taking her to the beach (which makes Oboro dejected). Yosuke and Kouta thus decide to give Isshu some much needed advice (apparently, a jerk is a better match than a total stranger in their eyes). Ikkou listens in, saying that he?ll support his brother no matter what he decides.



Elsewhere, the things people are falling in love with after being hit with the love arrows? becomes stranger.



Isshu then goes to Nanami as she?s waiting for Kazuya Misaki to pick her up with the cute animal he found for her? a cow.



Predictably, she ends up leaving with the rich guy with some sense of taste, who gives his rival some much needed words of advice. (?Cowboy, go home.?)

Elsewhere, as a political meeting with a foreign senator goes awry since the Prime Minister is enamoured with a dog doing a tinkle on a tree, Sargain explains his plan. (It?s amazing nobody thought to follow up on Isshu chasing after him when Chupid first appeared)











The other Spears begin applauding him all of a sudden and Tau Zant gives permission for the plan to begin (Um, it?s been in operation for a while? Is this a flashback?). At the beach, Kazuya Misaki and Nanami are playing volleyball (and the ball is green), before Isshu turns up to fight for the maiden?s hand. Then Chupid shows up to attack, causing KuwagaRaiger to change tact and battle him for Nanami?s affection. Kazuya Misaki then stops him and pulls out the Shuriken Ball (and in case you?re not convinced he?s Mega Blue, he does the Megaranger/In Space pose, though I captured it at a different point to Taro doing it a few episodes ago).



Nanami is frustrated that he?s not the real Kazuya Misaki and even more frustrated when Isshu starts fighting Shurikenger when he calls Nanami ?My honey?. And when she tries to face Chupid by herself, she gets blown up for her troubles. This does have the effect of getting the boys to stop fighting and help her? only for them to get blown up too while Wendinu and Furabijo watch from the side in bikinis. But luckily for them, Isshu is able to stand up to way more explosions than the others.



The two Spears are confused, since his love for Nanami should be weakening him. Yosuke, Kouta and Ikkou (all of whom have arrived late) explain that love doesn?t weaken you, it makes you stronger when the one you love is threatened. Isshu then continues to tank all of Chupid?s shots until Shurikenger throws him his Stag Breaker (which he dropped earlier), which he combines with the Ikazuchimaru to create the Ikazuchi Breaker.



This new weapon combo defeats Chupid, breaking his love spell. Wendinu revives him with a Copy Giant, with the Gouraigers and Shurikenger responding by calling their Mecha. During the fight, Tenkuujin detaches its armour to use it as a Shuriken.



Shurikenger then suggests they do a threesome? by which I mean they combine their robots into TenkuuGouraijin (Incidentally, part 3 of our feature)



Hamster Headmaster is shocked, while Oboro is just about ready to give up with all these new combos. After Chupid is defeated again and the Jakanja withdraw, Shurikenger explains that he knocked out and imitated the real Kazuya Misaki to investigate Chupid, but didn?t think he?d get hit with one of the arrows. Nanami dismisses it, since she knew the real deal would never fall for her (unless he got hit with one of those arrows). As everyone leaves, Isshu notes that the feeling he had for Nanami under the spell hasn?t faded. (Make of that what you will) Next time: Yosuke apprentices under a middle aged Sky Ninja. This and more on Scroll 27: Yakiniku and Gravity.

BUT FIRST: The Hurricanegers must travel to an abandoned island to rescue a princess from space chimps (not to be confused with the movie Space Chimps). Will they succeed? Find out in Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger: Shushutto the Movie.

Final thoughts: Much like Die?s review of the Ryuki episode, I think this might be my favourite out of the series. The love triangle involving Shurikenger is just hilarious, as is Isshu?s ideas of cute. It?s just the right level of goofy and sentimental for this show (especially compared to the last episode).