[Androzani84]

Another week, another pair of reviews. I?ll probably increase the frequency when I?m not working on two fanfics for different franchises. But for now?

Timeranger Case File 20: A New Bond, 26/06/2000

We begin where last week ended off, with Gien looking to have more fun, by opening a locker within Londars, wherein the compression capsules are labelled with a skull.



Meanwhile, Tock?s files have been updated, so he can explain just what the hell Time Shadow is.





He then reveals that the robot wasn?t supposed to be finished for another 10 years, hence why no-one?s heard of it before today. He also attributes the time warp caused by Gien?s work with the Lambda crystal as the reason it?s ready now.



This makes Domon despondent that the year 3000 they return to might not be the one they left in the first place. Though Tatsuya does suggest it could just be a regular ripple effect of their actions in the present, which doesn?t change his mood much.



Out in the city, a series of baubles are thrown down, which explode and send people flying (proving that even 9/11 isn?t necessary for ?nothing bad ever happened ever? scenarios).



And then the criminal of the week appears, picking up a random Joe and tossing him aside before throwing more bombs.



Catching wind of the incident, Tock recognises the perpetrator as Blaster Madou ( of to be confused with Mad Blast from episode 5), a criminal from the Hells Gate, a reference that confuses Tatsuya.



Yuri fills him (and by extension, the audience) in on the Hells Gate.



And Tock explains that among these psychos, Blaster Madou (yes, they use the full name every time), committed 1030 murders.



Back in the city, Blaster Madou is running out of prey.



But his worries assuage themselves when a news crew in a helicopter flies by, with him shooting them down, and the vehicle crashing into a building (and to invert a famous meme, I cannot see their parachutes. They?re not okay).



It?s then that the Timerangers arrive and battle him, but neither their regular hits nor their weapons are capable of hitting Blaster Madou.



Ayase figures out why quickly.



Blaster Madou soon leaves, and blows up a car with the driver inside (?10 says the Time Force equivalent scene makes the car empty) in his path of destruction. But the heroes? pursuit is delayed because Domon?s feeling depressed over the existential issue he brought up earlier.



This culminates in him using Tock?s time space radio to go on an angry rant at the Time Protection Bureau for treating them as disposable pawns.



As the others comfort Domon and make clear they sympathise with him because they also saw the time phantoms, Tock picks up Blaster Madou?s signal.



Knowing they need to try and stop him, Ayase is the first to speak up and say why he won?t stop fighting, even if he doesn?t know what the future holds.



As he transforms and runs off, Yuri gives her reason and joins him.



And then we get our next insert for the season.

Where the Future Lies

The long hand spins quickly

The short hand spins slowly

That's what keeps the clock moving

Even if we were born in a different era...

Even if we carry a different destiny...

We chase our dreams as friends
Let's look for the future together

I want to continue living with you tomorrow

That firm beat reverberates in my chest
Right now, our thoughts become one
If we link our hands...

...does it not feel warm?

If we link our hearts,
we will obtain courage

Let's make a promise to never give up!
Let's walk towards the future

I will believe in tomorrow's you
A distant world...

...calls for us

Right now, let's get over...

...each of our sufferings
Let's look for the future together

I want to continue living with you tomorrow
That firm beat reverberates in my chest
Right now, our thoughts become one

As Ayase and Yuri battle Blaster Madou again, Sion gives his reasoning for continuing the fight: He loves being a Timeranger. Tatsuya, now the last one left to give his reasoning, instead gives Domon a motivational speech.









After yelling out in anguish as he realises that he made the choice to be a Timeranger, Domon rejoins the battle in time to save Sion from death, coming up with a plan to defeat Blaster Madou.



Amazingly, the plan to have Domon shoot from a bush actually works.



One blast from the Voltech Bazooka later, Blaster Madou grows giant. Fortunately, the Time Jets are repaired, and Ryuya sends them out when called.



As they form TimeRobo Alpha, Providus also sends out Time Shadow at Ryuya?s command.



But even with the added help, Blaster Madou is too powerful, knocking down Time Shadow and shattering Alpha?s Jiku Sword.





So the Timerangers switch to Beta and regain the advantage? only tor easier they have no way to recapture Blaster Madou (given his psychopathic persona, I?m pretty sure no-one would mind his death). But then Tock gives them a solution to this problem.



It turns out the two robots were designed to combine with the command ?Delta Formation?, which also triggers Providus to send a new weapon back in time.



And with it, the new combination Shadow Beta is born.



Within the new cockpit, Tatsuya?s control stick becomes a second cockpit exclusive weapon, the Prodivider.





They then trap Blaster Madou within a clock-face themed energy circle, before unleashing their new finisher to refreeze him.





Their job done, the Time Jets violently eject their pilots before returning to the future.



Back at Londar Prison, Dolnero has returned from his vacation and he?s psised at what went down while he was away.





He accepts Gien?s excuse of relieving stress, and takes back the Hells Gate key, but threatens that now the Family has been established in this era, he will take action of the robot acts out again. And then Lila interrupts by being Lila.



But no sooner have they gone does Gien reveal that ?the key is that there are two keys?.



And our episode ends with the heroes enjoying a fancier meal than they?re used to, due to Sion pulling in extra time working.



Next time, Sion is left alone to fight while everyone else is piss drunk, in Case File 21: Sion?s Way.

Final thoughts: A bit of a weird one. It can?t really decide if it wants to be a ?stronger monster introduction? episode, or a philosophical discussion of the ripple effect. And honestly, Domon wanting to give up the fight altogether came off as wangsting more than anything. Who knows? Maybe I?ll be more receptive to the Time Force equivalent when I do that.