[Androzani84]

Scroll 39: The Seventh Spear and the Mysterious Stone

Not much to say here. This is Miyashita’s return after 4 episodes and it features the debut of our final villain. With that said, on with the review.

The episode opens with something zooming through space, heading towards Earth.



As the Jakanja are lying around (literally, in Satarakura’s case), the something impacts the Centipede.



As everyone gets shaken by the impact, a newcomer enters the main chamber.





The 4 regulars ask who he is, to which he gives his name (a portmanteau of Sunday, dahlia and the Japanese pronunciation of “eel”), while Tau Zant says he’s been waiting for him.





(I’ll mention that Sandaaru is voiced by Shuichi Ikeda, better known as the voice behind the original Char Anzable in the Gundam series. He’s also the dub artist for Jet Li in Japan)

After the titles, the Hurricanegers are pursuing Shurikenger, who assumes a disguise (played by Shuuhei Izumi, better known as Domon/TimeYellow in Mirai Sentai Timeranger).





At Ninja Base, Oboro is giving a slideshow summarising the plot so far to Hamster Headmaster, who is feigning disinterest.











In their training sessions, the Kasumi Bros have come to the same conclusion as Oboro regarding the big mystery.



The Hurricanegers follow Shurikenger to a baseball stadium, where Yosuke reveals his theory that he is a pro baseball player, due to his HiDan Senban Knock finisher. He is dismayed to find out he’s wrong. They then pursue him to a business centre, where Kouta reveals his theory that Shurikenger is a foreign diplomat, hence his tendency to speak English. He is dismayed to find he is also wrong (“Why?”). The next stop is a guitar shop, where Nanami shares her theory that the man is a rockstar, hence the Ninjamisen (which isn’t based on a rock instrument, but whatever). She is… happy to find out she’s incorrect (because that means there’s less competition in the music world, despite their two different mediums.) (In general, this seems like some kind of commentary on fan theories that are way crazier than the truth).

At the Centipede, Furabijo, Wendinu and Sargain all attempt to defeat Sandaaru… only to end up soundly defeated. (Not sure why this scene is here. Feels pointless)

Back with the trio, they’ve chased Shurikenger to a gyoza shop… where it turns out he just wanted somewhere to eat a cheap lunch (there were food places at all of his previous stops). While eating, he receives a phone call from Master Gozen (which is partially overheard by the Hurricanegers).



Shurikenger retreats into the bathroom. The Hurricanegers go in and pull him out… only to find he’s swapped places with the real guy, 7 times ramen eating champ Teppei Sakaki. They realise he knew they were following him as he makes his getaway.



Back at the Centipede, Tau Zant has an announcement, and Sandaaru is ready to follow orders.





Sargain interjects, revealing he’s created his final, ultimate puppet (which means that he either doesn’t expect to surpass this or he intends to die before he makes another one). Everyone is annoyed by his rudeness… except Sandaaru, who says “If he has a plan, let him carry it out.” Tau Zant thus gives an annoyed Sargain permission to start the plan.

Back with the main heroes, Yosuke and Nanami are annoyed at Shurikenger… and not just for throwing them off the scent.



Their search is then disrupted by falling gold dust… which turns everyone it touches to gold (this is basically Miyashita saying “this show ain’t funny anymore. Now it’s all business).





This turns out to be the work of the newest puppet, Corrosion Ninja Fushokuruga (While the name is straight to the point with the whole “corrode Earth” plan the Jakanja have, I’m going to call him “Gabriel” to go easier on my spell checker).



The Hurricanegers Shinobi change and fight Gabriel off fairly easily, destroying him with the Triple Gadget. But if you thought his would be over that quickly, you’re wrong, as more gold dust scatters and Gabriel rebuilds himself with the aid of a light on his back.





The Gouraigers then show up and Ikkou destroys Gabriel again with the Ikazuchi-Ryu Kengi: Raigeki-Zan. Which once again, just makes things worse. Sargain then appears to explain that his is exactly what he planned. (Well duh, why else would you do it if it wasn’t?)



As the fight continues, Shurikenger appears in a void, fading back to his suited appearance (booooo).





Turns out this is the home of Master Gozen, who apparently sits on a bed with silk curtains with his face covered by a cloak (just how paranoid and rich is the guy to go to these extremes?). Shurikenger has a simple request.



Gozen wordlessly tells him not to do so yet (I guess they haven’t cast an actor to play this role? That’s the only reason I can think of why they wouldn’t have him talk). He then informs Shurikenger of a mysterious cosmic phenomenon.



(I always knew Jakanja had allied with Davros for their final plan)

We then get a visual of the planet Astram from the movie exploding(that princess and her talking bracelet? They’re dead now).



At the Centipede, Satarakura and the girls are ready to let Sargain finish off the Earth Ninjas. But Sandaaru has other ideas.



After a speech about the values of teamwork and friendship (it’s strange to see the villains preaching this), the other three become communists.



With the riffraff out of the way, Sandaaru does what he came to Earth to do.





Back with Shurikenger, he receives distressing news from Gozen and decides to rejoin the others. (And as is usual in these situations, this news is too late to do anything about it)



As Gabriel is beating up the Earth Ninjas, the other Spears appear and join the battle, to Sargain’s dismay. From the side, Sandaaru watches, the mysterious stone in hand, as Tau Zant explains the prophecy that came with the last meteor shower 4 episodes ago.









(Which reminds me, when is the new Floaty Head going to come out of his cocoon? Manmarva only took two episodes).

As our heroes are about to lose, they get saved by Tenkuujin’s Karakuri Ninpo: Tenkuu Ripper.



He then engages Gabriel with his Chou Ninpo: HiDan Senban Knock... which gets deflected back at him.



But this damages’s Gabriel’s regeneration device enough that Sargain has him withdraw. Rather than turning the tables in the hero’s favour, as you’d expect, Sandaaru decides to help his comrades, much to Shurikenger’s concern





He then attacks the Earth Ninjas with his Uchuu Ninpo: Jiyuu Saku, which captures them in his cords.



He then pulls Shurikenger towards himself to make a point, defeating him int the process. (When even the strongest member of the team is getting beaten, it’s not a good sign).



As their allies look on with shock (well, I assume Gozen is shocked, but I can’t see his face) and Tau Sant watches with glee, the Hurricanegers and Gouraigers charge into a sword fight with Sandaaru as the episode ends.



Next time: Shurikenger is torn between loyalty and friendship. This and more on “Scroll 40: Decoy and Ninja Law”.

Yosuke: Everyone. Be sure to visit our website. (That’s http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/hariken for anyone interested. The link’s probably dead now).

Hurricanegers: We’ll be waiting.

Final thoughts: Like I said, the subplot with the Hurricanegers tailing Shurikenger and ending up paying his bill was a nice bit of levity in what is otherwise a very plot-based episode. And Shurikenger is getting a chance to shine, which I like. And I’m already in love with Sandaaru, to the point I’ve been reading his dialogue with the voice of Marc Thompson (look him up). Which leads me to a question: if this show was dubbed into English, who would you cast as who?