[Androzani84]

Here we go with week 6, starting off with...

Timeranger Case File 06: The Imposter Invitee 19/03/2000

Once more, we open with the Londarz, who are in the middle of a fancy dinner (how does Gien eat? Damn if I know), while Dolnero and Gien wonder how to stop the Timerangers from cutting into their profits by recapturing their recruits.


Lila is in an unusually good mood, she explains because she already thawed and sent out a criminal. And then we meet said criminal as she comes across a businesswoman heading home.



Rouge freezes the woman in place, before assuming her appearance and heading into the jewellers the woman is manager at, sending the guard away so she can take a diamond.



The next day, the staff of Tomorrow Research is sitting down to a breakfast of bread and ham. (I?m guessing that's the Japanese version of a cheapskate's meal)



He suggests that Tatsuya go to his father to ask for money, but the latter refuses to even consider it.



Then Yuri brings up a news story about how the Moon King diamond was stolen by a woman who looked exactly like the manager (presumably, the fact the manager was found lying nearby with no diamond or idea what they were talking about was enough of an alibi). But Tock takes note of a tattoo on the imposter's neck, and recognises her from her jewel theft cases in 2991, 2994 and 2998.



Tatsuya is surprised that minor crimes are worthy of being freeze-compressed, but Yuri points out that once you've committed a crime enough times, it stops being a minor crime.



Tock then explains that he recognised her by one simple limit to her shapeshifting powers.



Back at Londarz, Rouge presents Lila with the stolen Moon King, promising to make her theft even better with her next target.



It turns out that Yuri has had Sion crunching the data and figured out where Rouge will strike next.



The Moon Queen (wow, creative naming there, whoever found those diamonds) is about to go on display at a fancy upper class wedding anniversary held by its owner. And luckily, the team has one member who just so happens to be part of Japan's elite (and unfortunately, doesn't have any better ideas compared to Yuri?s).



(Why Yuri went with a leather jacket and skirt over something fancier... I've got nothing)

Fortunately, Tatsuya just has to mention that he's an Asami and the guards at the gate let the group in.



And for even further embarrassment for our Red, even the party's host joins a group fawning over him (despite looking old enough to be his mother).



Someone explains to the other 4 that the Asami name is just THAT respected within Japan. But Yuri simply sees it as an opportunity to look around and check the necks of every woman to make sure that Rouge isn't already there.



Yuri in particular bumps into a lady in the bathroom... who then gets accosted and replaced by Rouge (missed her by that much).





Domon meanwhile has stopped to fix his appearance, which Ayase chides him for.



Sion comes across the disguised Rouge, but she stops him from getting close to her scarf covered neck. Meanwhile, Tatsuya's dad arrives at the boat for the party? accompanied by his wife! (That's right, PR fans. The "all mothers are never mentioned" rule is not in effect here)



The two head to the houseboat, where Asami Sr. learns that his son is on the boat from the doormen. Meanwhile, the Timerangers report back to each other on their lack of progress.



As for Tatsuya, he's sick of all the attention he's been getting from the rich mothers and fawning young men.





With the excitement over, the host starts her speech, at which point Sion singles out the woman he failed to search before, who Yuri recognises because she didn't have a tattoo when they met... but she also didn't have a scarf either.



Having cornered a prime suspect, the Timerangers head to investigate... except for Tatsuya, who gets caught up in an unwelcome reunion with his father, who chews him out for supposedly abandoning his attempts to be independent.



But even without him, they're able to successfully expose Rouge by getting wine spilled on her, causing her to show off her neck... and the tattoo.



The 4 drag Rouge off the boat, with all 5 transforming to do battle.



Back on the boat, Tatsuya's dad continues to chew him out, and tries gently persuading him to own up to his heritage and come back, as if nothing happened.





This gives Tatsuya the will to speak up and announce he'll escape the fate of being an Asami by any means necessary.



He thus runs onto the deck to strip off his bow tie and dinner jacket to make an announcement, before leaving.



But he still takes the time to advertise his business before leaving.



As he goes, Asami Sr looks on, surprised that his son is going through with what he himself never had the nerve to.





Tatsuya goes to work, changing into his Chrono Suit.



His showing up doesn't do much to turn the tide, as the fight continues as it was proceeding before. Until Domon accidentally shoots Rouge's compression seal, triggering a rebound.



And unlike pretty much every other bad guy to grow giant, she doesn't want to do so, making her displeasure known.



Summoning Time Robo just gives her someone to complain to.





So, Yuri, Ayase and Tatsuya decide to make her an offer she can't refuse.







Rouge agrees, but gets terrified when Tatsuya begins brandishing the sword, due to her fear of getting hurt.



With Rouge's co-operation restored, Tatsuya slashes her gently, freeze-compressing her. Meanwhile, Tatsuya's parents leave the party, with his mother having picked up the business card he left behind.



Back at the dock, Tatsuya contains Rouge, staring longingly at her, before insisting everything?s alright. And the episode ends by revealing that the tux Tatsuya was wearing is a rental, with the others making him get the jacket back so they can get a return on their deposit.
Next time: Domon reverts to his old, pro-fighter persona after getting amnesia in Timeranger Case File 07: Domon is Hospitalised.




Final thoughts: Not the most action packed episode, but it more than makes up for it. There's a bit of amateur spy work, a greater look into Tatsuya's psyche and we see that his dad isn't just some controlling curmudgeon, but that he fully expects Tatsuya to grow as a person now that he's independent and actually has some sympathy for his son leaving the Asami name behind, since he tried doing the same. And Rouge was fairly fun for a one off villain, especially the very unique premise of a monster not wanting to grow big.