[Talisman]

Man. Even when you know it's coming... you're never really prepared.

Just... Goddamn. I called it all and I'm STILL in pieces.

[Sunred]

All I'm gonna say is Muto be cookin'. Holy cow.

[Frontier]

Ryu has always just been trying his best...to live up to Ryo's memory and faith in him...to help mentor Gai into being Ryo's legacy...heck, he even introduced Gai to "Samurai Heart!"

The Samurai Troopers have finally encountered Emperor Ramaga! Only they can't hit him because there's a powerful barrier getting in their way. Not to mention ALL The remaining 10 Warriors. But Ramaga can definitely effect them...by possessing everyone to attack his son.

But Ryu comes in with the save! Whenever this team needs him, he's always there! Because Ryo entrusted him with carrying on the team without him and he's never forgotten it. Just like Yagyu, the memory of Ryo runs deep into Ryu and everything he does.

Sorry Yamato, you finally unleash your Secret Art and it was just to provide time for the rest of the team to come up with a plan...to take on the 10 Warriors and throw off the barrier so Gai and Shion can take the fight to Ramaga.

Oh, so Shion wasn't dumb enough to bring the real Sword of Domination right where the demons could get it. Of course now they don't have a sword they can use to defeat him with.

It was Ramaga all along! Infecting Ryusei so he could transform him into a monstrosity powered by all of the deep negative emotions Ryu feels! And one who can totally wreck the team!

But Ryu was the one who believed that Gai was human, who saved him from being a demon, who helped console him when he finally felt regret for his sins, who taught him humans aren't half-bad, who believed he COULD be the true successor to the Emissary of Fire and lead the team...just like he believed and mentored all of them. So if it takes all of them pitching in to save him, with Gai wielding the Sword of Domination, complete with Samurai Heart playing in the background...then they'll do it!

Except this wasn't a heroic save...whatever was effecting Ryu was a bad match-up for the Sword of Domination. So instead they just killed him. But not before Ryu passes the mantle of Emissary of Fire to Gai, expresses how much he believes in the team, and leaves them in Shion's hands. RYUSEI NOOOOOOOO.

Gai is now the true Emissary of Fire, and as such he will wield Righteousness in fighting his father and uses the Sword of Domination in full flaming glory to defeat Ramaga...and reveal Ramaga is NONE OTHER THAN RYO SANADA, THE ORIGINAL EMISSARY OF FIRE!!!!

[Sunred]

Speaking of episode 5, already looking forward to the Haohtei armor. I take it that the next big adventure will involve them looking for a mirror so they can use it.

[Sunred]

What the hell happened, Jun?

[Talisman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

What the hell happened, Jun?

There are a lot of theories going around right now... but all I can say for certain is "CPTSD is no joke".

I'm a bit iffy on this development mostly because I've seen it play out way too mean a few too many times.

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talisman

There are a lot of theories going around right now... but all I can say for certain is "CPTSD is no joke".

I'm a bit iffy on this development mostly because I've seen it play out way too mean a few too many times.

Seriously, I was utterly shocked to see him in such a state of distress. While I am open to the possibility of the root cause being something else, for now, I can only assume it's a culmination of the OG Samurai Troopers not returning five years ago, Yojyas back in full swing in the present, and finally seeing Ryo being used as a vessel for the new big baddie.

Side note, Jun is voiced by Mr. Zenitsu himself, Hiro Shimono.
Also, here are the Japanese release schedules of the model kits for the five troopers this year:
Gai is scheduled for March
Kaito is scheduled for July
Musashi is scheduled for August
Yamato is scheduled for September
Shion is scheduled for October

While they haven't said it, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryusei gets Premium Bandai'd in the future. Basically it would be the Shion kit but with Ryusei head+faces and either retooled or Emissary of Fire decals for the shoulder armor pieces.

[Talisman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

Seriously, I was utterly shocked to see him in such a state of distress. While I am open to the possibility of the root cause being something else, for now, I can only assume it's a culmination of the OG Samurai Troopers not returning five years ago, Yojyas back in full swing in the present, and finally seeing Ryo being used as a vessel for the new big baddie.

I don't think he knows about Ryo just yet, though. There were some stuff in the leaks that offer a pretty good reason as to why, but even with what we have right now in-show, there's a good chance that it's all of that plus him washing out as a Trooper candidate that could've led him to this.

To say nothing of what's likely happened to his parents in the intervening years.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunred

Also, here are the Japanese release schedules of the model kits for the five troopers this year:
Gai is scheduled for March
Kaito is scheduled for July
Musashi is scheduled for August
Yamato is scheduled for September
Shion is scheduled for October

While they haven't said it, I wouldn't be surprised if Ryusei gets Premium Bandai'd in the future. Basically it would be the Shion kit but with Ryusei head+faces and either retooled or Emissary of Fire decals for the shoulder armor pieces.

I would say that they could easily include Ryusei parts with Shion but Bandai's never made something that could work as two things without selling the other thing separate later down the line.

[Sunred]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talisman

I don't think he knows about Ryo just yet, though. There were some stuff in the leaks that offer a pretty good reason as to why, but even with what we have right now in-show, there's a good chance that it's all of that plus him washing out as a Trooper candidate that could've led him to this.

Yeah, that is likely too now that you mention it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Talisman

I would say that they could easily include Ryusei parts with Shion but Bandai's never made something that could work as two things without selling the other thing separate later down the line.

Yep, which is why I think Ryusei getting the possible PB treatment seems inevitable.

[Frontier]

Oh snap, a flashback to the original show! Getting to see everybody in their original styles, including Nasti! We even get to see Ryo training Shion/Ryusei, and Nasti back when she still had long hair! Did she cut it when she lost her boys?

Admittedly the OG team DID still have it, they were able to hold their own against the 10 Warriors, but then Ramaga saw Ryo's potential as a host and possessed him...but what happened to the rest of the team!?

It's rough for Nasti seeing Ryo like this, especially since it seems like there's nothing left of him. Even Musashi and Yamato have to see their Hero like this. And Ryo doesn't even have much time left as Ramaga's body, which is why Ramaga is so focused on finding a new host. And Gai isn't ready to be one...yet. Also, uh...Happy Birthday Gai?

Ramaga just makes a floating fortress for his army above the city, the one from the OP, and gives our heroes seven days to prepare before the final battle. And the 10 Warriors say "goodbye" by making the Troopers realize they were just going easy on them and showing they're still nowhere near strong enough to beat the 10 Warriors. Are they going to be okay?

Mirei and Nasti are both not taking losing the guys in their life (Ryu and Ryo respectively), but they have to do what they can to make sure the Troopers they have now are ready to face the next challenge! And that means they need Shion!

You know it's bad when 3/4 of the team are willing to quit rather than fight a battle they're inevitably going to die in. Musashi is really losing it.

I can't believe they actually put Mirei in a soldier uniform and threw her into a combat situation. This is not how you treat the Heroine! Though count on the Heroine to be able to talk to Shion...he doesn't need to 100% replace Ryu, he needs to do what only HE can do for the team. With some assistance beyond the grave from Ryu.

Gai is throwing his feelings about Ryu's death into fighting training dummies...but then he takes his last "lesson" which was having all the humans he killed come at him and kill him. Dang Ryu, that's a little much! But it's effective in making Gai realize that he's discovered empathy, and an understanding of the sins he committed, through his experience losing Ryusei.

Shion doesn't make a good impression on the team, what with keeping Nasti/Mirei "hostage," and immediately insulting/challenging them all...but if it makes them willing to fight him, all the better. And because of Ryusei's files on them, he knows their strengths, weaknesses, and why Ryu believed in them all as he fights them. If it means fighting them like Ryu would, all the better.

And then it comes down to Gai, who is no longer fighting to save himself but to protect others from his father, and it's with that drive that he's able to hold his own against Shion and actually beat him! And rally the rest of the team to not give up! Now Shion is part of the team and as such they can treat him as the "newbie" they can all lord over!

Their best bet to defeat Ramaga is the Armor of the Supreme Emperor, but to obtain that they'll need Jun from the OG series' help...too bad he's become a hikikomori voiced by Hiro Shimono who was on the train base this whole time, so not sure how much help he'll be there.