[DreamSword]

Episode 9: Ratings Crash! The Golf Episode!

DS: If golf were a bit more like this I think I'd tune in a bit more often.

En-chan: True, unfortunately golf is the bane of the mainline Toku Fandom, that and marathons.

So it's amusing that we get an in-universe "golf episode" for this show.

DS: Yeah, I can see why though. As advertised. This is just golf. That's it. Absolutely nothing else.

En-chan: So true. Totally no revelations about the new characters this season. No way.

Just good old fashioned golf... as good and old fashioned as you can get with Dogengers...

DS: Alright, we kid. This episode was interesting to me in that, like golf it was actually rather slow and methodical about things. And it also brought an answer to a question/concern I'd had in the back of my mind for a majority of the show so far. That being that, despite being the main character of the first season, Jiro has been little more than a supporting character throughout Nice Buddy. Which might make one wonder, why is he even still here?

En-chan: That is a good question/concern to have.

He very much fulfilled his arc in the original season so he's basically on the same league as the others in terms of how they're presented? Well despite still being a bit new to how crazy things can get.

DS: Yeah, even in the episode where he and Ohgaman teamed up, that episode had alot more to do with Ohgaman than Rookie. But ya know, I'd say it was worth the wait, because we got some excellent payoff here with how Jiro and Riku are foils, and how Jiro's' backstory ties into Riku's' own sense of justice outside of the one Great-Z has. That scene where they bond over the Great series was adorable!

En-chan: It was so cute seeing Jiro just snowball into fanboy mode with Riku following soon after. Just the way they talk about their favorites of the Great Series and start doing attack callouts was fun to watch. Truly a love of Tokusatsu Heroes can help bridge gaps and form bonds between others.

DS: That was another thing that surprised me about this episode too: It was basically all talking. It's the sort of thing I've seen other shows fumble, too(hi Blassreiter), wherein the lack of action makes the episode feels slow or boring. But here, no, they did it how you should. Making the conversations ones that are actually interesting and/or fun to listen in on. Riku and his dad, Riku and Jiro... it's all just nice to have insight on.

En-chan: The conversations hold a purpose, and still keep some good energy to them too despite the expository nature of some of them.

Plus we still get some fun comedic moments too sprinkled throughout which is Dogengers' strong point.

DS: So what did you think of Riku's' backstory? Did you agree with him that it was lame?

En-chan: It's not the most exciting. But it is admirable to see him try and change himself after stagnating for a good while.

DS: Yeah, it's pretty basic all things considered. I do hope we get a little bit of expansion on it, but if not, I guess maybe they were trying to do a bit of a subversion on how exactly superheroics tied into his upbringing in that it was mostly a hobby rather than anything incredibly substantial? This isn't exactly Soul of the Dragon, is what I'm saying.

En-chan: Right.

Though Great-Z as a hero himself is technically divided into/complimented by the two people who make him up, Riku and his Dad. So that might be why Riku's is rather basic all things considered.

DS: True. Seeing some of the stuff he did as part of the film crew was a nice touch too. Though it does makes one wonder how Yabai Kamen didn't recognize him when he got handed that giant blade.

Then again, with that shot of YK with those piercing red eyes, maybe he did. He's definitely scheming something at the very least, and I can't wait to see what it is!

En-chan: Yabai Kamen's basically been taken out of his damsel in distress role due to the rescue last time.

He's just chilling, and potentially waiting for some opportunity. Which is probably the most dangerous position he could be in at this point.

DS: Given how incredible of a showing he had in season 1, I can only hope he gets to show off his wonderfully villainous side once more. I feel it'd be a bit of a waste otherwise.

Was there anything else about the episode that stood out to you?

En-chan: Not so much in the episode but I did want to drop a bit of trivia.

Riku's actor, if you all aren't aware by now, is Katsuhiro Suzuki, best known as Go-Buster's Red Buster but also as Kamen Rider Quiz from Zi-O. The latter of which I find a bit amusing given his character this time also has father issues.

DS: Huh, I did not recognize him at all.

En-chan: It was probably the blond hair.

DS: Listen, just because you fooled me by putting on a wig one time...