[Fish Sandwich]

I liked Gurucan Form a lot more than I expected!

The design didn't grab me beforehand, so I didn't realize the obvious joke that it's the super tough robot armor form because it's based on hard candy, which is typically genius. That'd already be cool enough, but having Vrocan join in as an equally oversized gatling gun pushes it to a level where it feels like I'm making an objective mistake by preferring other forms.

As is the norm for Gavv, it's a wonderfully imaginative idea realized to its fullest potential through equally creative action. It does concern me we haven't done the cool cutaways to Shouma and Hanto's eyes after transforming two weeks in a row, but the other standard features are still all accounted for. Gurucan-flavored written sound effects, practical candy flying about, Gochizo helping out... Nawata even somehow manages Gavv's trademark beastial lean in a suit that bulky, which is dang impressive.

What I liked a lot less than I expected was the story here, which felt way more thin than I've gotten used to with Gavv.

Really, it's mean to pick on it, since it's just part one of a two-part story, but that's also my whole issue. Gavv hasn't really been written that way at all so far. There's usually so many narrative threads progressing and intersecting in new ways that every individual episode has something to contribute just by itself, including a case like the previous episode pair, which even justified its more traditional two-parter structure with an "immortal" monster to make the occasion feel more special.

With only half a Hanto story and a suprisingly uneventful Halloween romp for Shouma, I didn't feel there was a lot to unpack here, despite enjoying myself, which wouldn't be a problem if this weren't Gavv. I still liked all the characters and the fighting and everything the same way I usually do, but I also want to be able to say that I saw something fresh or clever in there too. Call me greedy, I guess, but I especially would've liked Shouma's side of the plot to build to something dramatically on top of simply being cute. (I also found it weird that Sachika is only here for like two seconds, but I suppose she *did* just get her own spotlight story, to be fair.)

Still, since Kaori Kaneko does have that other half of a script left, I'll wait at least until seeing that before I cast any firm judgments about the idea of guest writers on this show. I've liked plenty of things Kaneko has written before; that's why I'm holding the episode to the usual standard! I honestly didn't expect to feel any major difference without Junko Koumura around. Heck, now that the door's been opened, maybe I should ask Santa for a Christmas episode by Ayumi Shimo or something. Could be pretty great!

[Mesnick]

With the theme of monsters and sweets, Halloween is the perfect holiday for Gavv. It’s all the more interesting that this episode features Hunt as the main character. However, it makes sense given the story in this episode. Still, Shoma does not have enough life experience to understand the girl at the most difficult stage of the path to her dream. I will also note that while being completely fantastical in nature, the show does not forget to add realistic details, such as the children's reaction to the stranger.This is what pleases me most about Gavv.
Shoma gets the honor of presenting his new form. Again, I am pleased with its validity. The villains have a machine based on previous battles with Gavv, so it can only be defeated with a new form. Plus, the bike that turns into a machine gun powered by tiny gochizos inside is awesome.
Among the not particularly important disadvantages, I note that it would have been possible to do without toilet humor. Well, the creepy tunnel could be more... uh, creepy. But this is completely nit-picking. And so the stakes for the next episode are high and I’m looking forward to it to see how both of our heroes will show themselves.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sh Ranger

If this was a Showa season, Lango totally would've said something like, "don't come back alive if you fail this time!" There's no way Jeep and Theta are going to meet that 10 day deadline. Not only did Gavv Gurucan foil their plan, but Super Hero Time is also pre-empted next week, so they're screwed.

Maybe this is the case with Sabre, when the villains lose the battle on screen and win the war. That is, Shouma and Hunto together can reduce Stomatch?s coverage, but not stop its activities. In addition, the current Granute, according to the twins and his own, is an excellent worker.

Quote:

It's a good moral here that while self-discipline is good, it's also important to have a treat to reward effort and boost morale.

The main thing is to make sure that there are no monsters or simply suspicious individuals nearby.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

What I liked a lot less than I expected was the story here, which felt way more thin than I've gotten used to with Gavv.

I would guess that this is due to missing a week. It seems that they decided not to overstrain the audience with too much information, which they will then have to remember. It's also entirely possible that the guest writer was simply asked to write pure filler that has little impact on the overall plot.

[DreadBringer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Really, it's mean to pick on it, since it's just part one of a two-part story, but that's also my whole issue. Gavv hasn't really been written that way at all so far. There's usually so many narrative threads progressing and intersecting in new ways that every individual episode has something to contribute just by itself, including a case like the previous episode pair, which even justified its more traditional two-parter structure with an "immortal" monster to make the occasion feel more special.

Wonder if it can be just the audience expecting something bigger when Gavv is actually just story of the week type (like for example Ultraman Blazar), ep. 1-3 was story of the week, plot part is ep. 4-6. Ep. 7 was also about painter problems.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

(I also found it weird that Sachika is only here for like two seconds, but I suppose she *did* just get her own spotlight story, to be fair.)

While you obviously wouldn't think this, wonder if Sachika will get the usual being sidelined or just there hate by this later. Often some females don't feel impactful to the audience, outside of some spotlights at best, and she does seem to have much less presence than Shoma and Hanto, though mostly previously it's due to Shoma distancing himself from others for a while.

[Mesnick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreadBringer

While you obviously wouldn't think this, wonder if Sachika will get the usual being sidelined or just there hate by this later. Often some females don't feel impactful to the audience, outside of some spotlights at best, and she does seem to have much less presence than Shoma and Hanto, though mostly previously it's due to Shoma distancing himself from others for a while.

She is not a rider, so receiving less attention is completely normal for her. Again, Kenzo gets much less attention, although he is an active ally. Although gender discrimination undoubtedly exists, it seems to me that sometimes it is brought up when it is completely unnecessary. I mean, I'm 70% sure that if Souji were a woman, someone would have remembered the women in the refrigerator.My point is that there is no hint that Sachika receives less attention than the conventional Tobei Tachibana would receive in her place. Plus, don't forget that this is a show written by a woman.
Also, all the attacks on Sachika?s small role in this episode are meaningless, because if it weren?t for her, Shouma would not have collected candy, would not have received the lollipop, and the show would have ended tragically on the 9th episode.