[Fish Sandwich]

I didn't want to believe it at first, but it would seem this week has brought about an attack on one of the most fundamental traditions of the Sentai faithful. Indeed, we have seemingly been denied our usual place of worship, the place we gather as a community to express our weekly praise for the Lord Tega Sword. Such a crisis demands action! For if one were to shirk such holy responsibility, it would surely lead down the path to ruination!



...All of which is to say it's apparently up to *somebody* to make this week's episode discussion thread for Gozyuger, and if nobody else wants to step up to the plate, I suppose the task might as well fall to me. Perhaps I'm unworthy after abandoning weekly Sentai discussion for like three years -- an outcast, of sorts, after so long, but then maybe that just fits even better.

Anyways, it shouldn't surprise anyone too much to find out I've been quite enjoying Gozyuger, and quite enjoyed this episode as well.

It's actually a particularly great episode to jump into discussing like this, even, because it touches on so many corners of the show all in just those 20-odd minutes.

Like, we start off resolving some epic cliffhanger where Fire Candle gains new power and reminds everyone he's supposed to be a bad guy, right? So already, it gets to fulfill the whole promise of another epic rival showdown with Gozyu Wolf, even bringing Shinken-Oh in there, because I hear giant robots with a traditional Japanese motif are in fashion now. Or maybe Fire Candle is just a trendsetter that way? At any rate, the episode is already clearly awesome just from that, right?

But then, the whole reason that situation even comes about is because it springs out of all the drama with Sumino's sister and the mysterious gray-eyed man, so the episode is *also* out here moving those big-picture plot threads along, teasing answers and backstory that raise yet more exciting questions, as is the way of these things. And hey, while Rikuo is getting some focus, why *not* give him another scene with Bouquet while you're at it, right?

Yes, there's just *so* much going on here, you might worry Sumino herself will be forgotten in the shuffle, but Kinjirou is here to make sure the actual episodic plot is all about cheering her up, even as that noble goal inevitably explodes into a chaotic mess of comedic antics. He's just a cool and caring old guy like that! The real heart of the team, in a way, so humble and generous that he recognizes -- before the announcer does(!) -- he's not even the real hero of this episode.

No, instead, it's Ryuugi who ends up saving the day, teaching Kinjirou and us all by example the distinction between a mere party and a true festival. His unwavering faith and extreme conviction lift the spirits of everyone around him, precisely because of how absurd they are, and exactly like Kinjirou lays out for the viewers at home, maybe there's an important lesson in there somewhere. After all, this episode turned out to be a good time, and *it's* completely insane! Strong character moments for nearly the entire cast, big plot turns that will have ramifications for episodes to come, and little plot turns that still make time for a considered moral lesson, such as it is, that even educates the viewer on the cultural history of celebration to boot? It's silly, honestly. Silly that just a random episode of Gozyuger has so much to discuss, silly to have all that to digest in one episode, and even more silly how it inexplicably all fits together so tightly. But some would say being silly is no bad thing, and this show tends to prove that week after week. The real secret is that Gozyuger is *always* a festival.

[Mesnick]

It is worth noting that the show follows the typical Gozyuger trope: competition in a given activity is reduced to revealing its true essence. This has already happened with manners, and with games, and even at the very beginning in the treasure hunt. Festivals are meant to glorify the gods, even if this is hidden behind a bunch of shops, entertainment and fireworks.
No less interesting is the gray-eyed one. It turns out, judging by this episode and the preview, I was right and he is well acquainted with Rikuo. Moreover, it seems that the former idol has his own Kuon, only less fixated on him. And I am very interested in what this character will bring to the show. I also want to make an interim summary for the Gozyugers. After the first episode, I was worried that the show might turn into a senseless farce. Well, I'm glad to admit that it didn't. Gozyuger is focused on his idea, which I mentioned earlier: revealing the true essence of things. And all the madness that happens in the show is essentially dedicated to this.
And if individual episodes remind us of the essence of ordinary things, then the whole plot leads to such a revelation for our heroes (and, perhaps, some of the villains). And this is what Gozyuger sees. That is, at first glance, this show has a lot in common with Geats. Competitions, wish fulfillment as a goal, gods as wish fulfillers, even a reboot of the world, albeit much less frequent. But these are all external signs, and the essence of these shows is radically different. Geats was all about how much you are ready to fight for your happiness and refusal or change of dream in this show was always condemned and/or punished (the old owl is the very exception that confirms the rule that Aristotle mentioned). Gozyuger is pushed to think and understand what exactly happiness is for you.
Actually, the main character, Hoeru, does not have a dream, but is looking for one. And that is why in this show, those who give away the rings of the Universe Senshi are not portrayed as losers, but are shown as people who have achieved their goal without winning. That is why Gozyuger is much closer to me. Besides, since your show has gods, let them be huge robots with complicated family relationships, rather than prayerless wish-fulfillers.
Either way, I look forward to seeing what this wonderful show has to offer next.
P.S. It was great to see Shinken-Oh again!

[Sh Ranger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

I didn't want to believe it at first, but it would seem this week has brought about an attack on one of the most fundamental traditions of the Sentai faithful. Indeed, we have seemingly been denied our usual place of worship, the place we gather as a community to express our weekly praise for the Lord Tega Sword. Such a crisis demands action! For if one were to shirk such holy responsibility, it would surely lead down the path to ruination!

Let us pray to Lord Tega Sword that Paladin come back to his usual self soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish Sandwich

Like, we start off resolving some epic cliffhanger where Fire Candle gains new power and reminds everyone he's supposed to be a bad guy, right? So already, it gets to fulfill the whole promise of another epic rival showdown with Gozyu Wolf, even bringing Shinken-Oh in there, because I hear giant robots with a traditional Japanese motif are in fashion now. Or maybe Fire Candle is just a trendsetter that way? At any rate, the episode is already clearly awesome just from that, right?

Gozyu Wolf also seems to have a preference for traditional Japanese motifs, having only used the Rings of Don Momotarou and Akaninjer so far. It's fitting that his rival Fire Candle has succeeded Oto as Shinken Red, a power that has had so many users. He's the second Universe Ranger since Don Momotarou to use another Ring in the Silver Tega Sword, with GoGo V he borrowed from Bouquet.

It's a good reminder for the audience about Fire Candle's alignment. Even though he's a nice person, or rather exactly due to him being so nice, of course he won't easily forget that the Gozyugers have been routinely murdering his friends every week. I think that's a connection to Shinken Red #19, the desire to live happily with his friends while haunted by the painful possibility of losing them, which is not even a possibility but more like a proven probability for Fire Candle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mesnick

Actually, the main character, Hoeru, does not have a dream, but is looking for one. And that is why in this show, those who give away the rings to the Universe Senshi are not portrayed as losers, but are shown as people who have achieved their goal without winning. That is why Gozyuger is much closer to me. Besides, since your show has gods, let them be huge robots with complicated family relationships, rather than prayerless wish-fulfillers.

Episode 19 was a good turning point for Hoeru's arc where before he was kind of like, whatever, about finding his wish and mostly taking the role of Gozyu Wolf to have something entertaining to do between losing jobs. But now Mine who had once told him to never wish for anything has had a change of heart after remembering the excitement of living and made him promise to definitely find a wish of his own. Feels like Hoeru has a much more personal stake in this battle now than when he was merely trying to repay 250 yen.