[Zolda]

Yep. The worst thing happens in this episode. It seems like Hiroki Uchida goes full Yuuya in this episode. Out of nowhere, without any hint whatsoever in previous episodes, @ 01:16 Minato shows that he has actually suspected about the existence of an unknown Chemy (i.e. Nijigon) inside Houtarou's body. Kyoka says @ 01:37 that the unusually high amount of energy is the signature of the 101st Chemy, so it turns out she has also known about the existence of the unknown 101st Chemy outside of the known 100 ones. Yep. It turns out 2 important characters have known about the existence of an ultra-crucial, plot-defining item, yet they've always failed to mention it or at least to show their suspicion... Until the very convenient moment the writer calls for it when the story needs it in this episode. The very very very sudden and very very very convenient appearance of an ultra-crucial, plot-defining information without any hint at all is one of the hallmarks of Yuuyaism aka Yuuya Takahashi's trademark atrocious writing style. It's basically not a reveal nor plot twist, but an asspull. *facepalm*

Then there's yet another asspull. Minato says @ 01:48 that he has also heard rumors about the existence of the 101st Chemy, a phantom Chemy that doesn't fit into any Level numbering system, and that Fuga integrated it into the Gotchardriver. Soooooooo, Fuga actually integrated Nijigon into the Gotchardriver all along? Nijigon also says @ 03:51 that he has existed inside Houtarou's Gotchardriver all this time. Yep. Another ultra-crucial, plot-defining information that very very very conveniently appears out of nowhere without any previous hint at all. Maaannn... What a bad writing. And, if Nijigon was integrated into the Gotchardriver, then how and when did he move into Houtarou's body? Is it because he's gradually fused with Houtarou's body due to Houtarou's continuous use of the Gotchardriver? And why did it take a long time for Gigist to locate Nijigon's position, if it has such a high level of energy signature?

And if Nijigon has existed inside the Gotchardriver all along (and or Houtarou's body) then why didn't Kyoka mention her suspicion about it in episode 21 @ 07:26 when she scanned Houtarou's whole body when he transformed as KR Gotchard, along with the Gotchardriver? Why didn't she show any sign of suspicion about the existence of an unknown alchemical matter/energy signature inside the Gotchardriver (and or Houtarou's body)? One could dismiss my question by saying that Nijigon's high energy signature remained dormant in previous episodes and is only active in this episode due to Houtarou falling into despair after he "killed" Hopper1, but, even if Nijigon's high energy remained dormant, at least Nijigon's matter was still inside the Gotchardriver (and or Houtarou's body) and should've been detected by Kyoka. Matter being conserved and converted into energy (and vice versa) or other forms of matter has been the core idea of alchemy (and modern chemistry and physics). The writer of episode 21 (Keiichi Hasegawa) should've shown a hint by making Kyoka showing some kind of minor gesture of suspicion or surprise. Well, of course, Hasegawa didn't show it in episode 21 because he had no plan at all to make the asspull in this episode. The discrepancies between episodes written by Hasegawa and Uchida could be a sign that those two writers don't communicate their ideas with each other very well. It seems like they don't see eye to eye. It seems like they have two completely different ideas and approaches to writing Gotchard's story. Well, if my suspicion is true then it explains why Gotchard's story feels like a story with severe identity crisis. The writers being unsure about what to do with the story is probably the main reason why Gotchard's story feels so hollow, vapid, and lethargic.

As shown in the scene @ 03:32, Nijigon is very likely just another Chemy, not Houtarou's dad, so my hypothesis in episode 37 thread here is completely wroooonnnggg, haha. The hypothesis I proposed in episode 37 thread was to remedy several severe logical anomalies surrounding Houtarou's dad disappearance, Kid Houtarou being stranded in the Ouroboros world (and using alchemy without the Ring) in episode 18, Houtarou's ability to understand Chemies, and several others. So, if my hypothesis last week is proven wrong in this episode, then those logical anomalies still remain unremedied. I'm 90% sure that the truth about Houtarou's dad existence and identity will be used as a cheap shock factor by the writers (or rather the writer, i.e. Hiroki Uchida) in future episodes, probably between episodes 40-45. Some people hypothesized that Houtarou's dad is actually Fuga. Some others hypothesized that Houtarou is his own dad and his mom is just an alchemy doll. If they're true then they'll be several of the cheapest plot twists (or rather, asspulls) in the history of this franchise, though still not as cheap as the plethora of asspulls in (God forbid) Geats.

The appearance of a Chemy Malgam made of 5 Chemies at once (Donposeidon, Macentaurus, Vanfenrir, Gingriffon, and Haodin) @ 05:31 is obviously to shill 5 new RCC's at once, haha. I wonder if Zukyumpire's zukkyun finisher is effective against Chemy Malgams like this one.

Gigist brings up Spanner's black flame powers @ 04:30 and offers a chance for Spanner to join his side. It seems like Spanner's black flame powers will be reclaimed by Gigist as plan B in the case he fails to reclaim Nijigon.

Why does Nijigon say @ 06:56 that Houtarou is just a normal high schooler who happened to be entrusted with a Driver? Hasn't the story established that Houtarou is a genius alchemist in the making?

Where's Lachesis? She doesn't appear at all in this episode. Not even one frame. She should appear and help Spanner as the new Valvarad.

KR Rainbow Gotchard looks nice. I wish it has a signature weapon like Geats IX's Geats Buster QB9. And, as expected, KR Rainbow Gotchard has the ability to resuscitate "dead" Chemies, so Hopper1, Antrooper, and Skebows are back to normal. Soooo... All's well that ends well. Might as well revive Glion to make it a happy ending for everyone, haha.

Next week:

The debut of KR Rainbow Gotchard's summon ability that can create 2 copies of Best Match forms. This is probably the ability granted by the normal RCC's that are upgraded by Nijigon's powers. From the preview, it seems like KR Rainbow Gotchard will summon the Gaiardragon form.

And the Gigist guy will very likely get his ass kicked for the first time.