#melancholymoments

[furederiko]

In less than 4 hours, the year 2022 as we know it will cease to exist in my time region.

I'd be lying if I say the year has been a great one. So many lives were lost in the popular circles. They were irreplaceable parts of my childhood. So, it felt like a piece of my life just vanished one after another, reminding me that the bygones be bygones.

But the one that hit the hardest? My extended family had to suffer the loss of a dear loved one. It came without warning, and we barely had the chance to say goodbye. Until now, that grief lives on, tormenting many of us, even when it does not seem so at a glance. In my case, it took a toll on my health, both physical and mental.

Of course, there were some accomplishments and joys. As the world reopened, I got the chance to visit my family in another country again. I also moved forward to learn something new, a goal I've had since before the pandemic. But does the good outweigh the bad? I can't really say for sure.

One thing I'm certain of, however, is "Good riddance, 2022!" I'm indeed grateful for the many lessons learned and knowledge known throughout the year. Then again, in all honesty, I'm even more grateful that 2022 is ending soon. This heavy and challenging year was too much for me to handle at times. So I'm relieved and glad that I have made it to these final hours not entirely shattered to pieces.

There is no telling what the future holds. Will 2023 be better than 2022? Or will it ignite more chaos between nations, dividing brothers and sisters within one, sowing and nurturing unnecessary hatred and distortion that affects the entire world?

I hope that's not the case. I pray that won't be the case. But who am I to say this, when I am just a tiny speck of dust in the grand mechanism of things? So, on that note, I simply wish to go where I'm supposed to go and be where I need to be. And hopefully, still, be in one piece despite the cracks and waves of damage that 2022 has brought on me.

Goodbye, 2022. I'm not going to miss you.

See you soon, 2023. Please be kind and gentle to us all...

[molecularshyness]

I fell in love with this song today.

I’ve always enjoyed a melancholy moment and I was transported to thoughts of a friend I barely talk to anymore. The one some people thought I’d end up with. The one that got married last year to someone else. The one I couldn’t have really ended up with because we shouldn’t have. So I’m glad we didn’t.

But if the world was ending...

[kidavalanche-blog]

#vancouver #vancity #seawall #melancholymoments #beautifulbc #cityatnight #cambiebridge #walkingwithghosts

[lougwanxx]

"La pluie tombe comme nous tombons amoureux : en déjouant les prévisions. " #rain #waterdrop #storm #melancholymoment #melancholypictures #pictures #quote #sadquote #photography #huaweip10lite #instarain #instawaterdrop #instastorm #instamelancholymoment #instamelancholypictures #instaphotography #instahuaweiphoto #instalike #likeforlikes (à Arthez-De-Béarn, Aquitaine, France) https://www.instagram.com/p/BwSUTwijncj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m27xpzmiacmz

[furederiko]

Heading into one hectic weekend be like.. 😨

(Where's my to-do list? WHERE'S MY TO-DO LIST?!!! 😱😫😱😬😱)

[furederiko]

I genuinely miss having a normal sleeping schedule... 🙄

[furederiko]

I miss the good old days when... ____________________________________

____________________________________

(feel free to fill in the blanks with whatever comes to mind, no word limits)

[furederiko]

When you're back in the city you grew up in, even if ever so briefly...

[furederiko]

Goodbye Christmas Angel

Farewell, my little angel. 👼🌈

Thank you for a sweet, loving, and tender 7,5 years.

For always being there whenever your hooman is down and lonely. 😢

Have fun frolicking, jumping around in the grasses of joy and eternity with the rest of our family, both hoomans and cavies. 🐹🌱☘🍃🏞

Until the day we meet again... ❤💔😭

[furederiko]

Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan <Shinshou>

Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan <Shinshou>

Composition/Arrangement: Kouhei Tanaka

Lyrics: Ouji Hiroi

Performed by: Teikoku Kagekidan Hanagumi

(Ayane Sakura, Maaya Uchida, Saori Hayami, Ayaka Fukuhara & Hibiku Yamamura)

[Sakura] Kudakechiru yami ni tsukitate no yaiba

Aku wo yurusanai

[Sakura] Ai no yume [Hatsuho, Claris, Ana, Azami] tagirasete

[Sakura] Ukabitatsu [Hatsuho, Claris, Ana, Azami] senshitachi

[ALL] Kagayakeru otome

[Sakura] Mankai no sakura dakishimeru yasashisa ga

Atsuku moeagaru tomo yo te wo nigiri

Kono ikusa iza! [ALL] Kachi susume

[Sakura] Setsunai Teito ni odorideru

[ALL] Hashire (hashire) kousoku no Teikoku Kagekidan

Unare shougeki no Teikoku Kagekidan

[Sakura] "Watashitachi seigi no tame ni tatakaimasu

Tatoe sore ga inochi wo kakeru tatakai de atte mo

Watashitachi wa anata to tomo ni mairimasu!

Sore ga Teikoku Kagekidan nano desu!"

[Hatsuho] Ankoku no yoru wo terashidasu yuuki

Sai wa nagerareta

[Sakura, Claris, Azami] Inochi kake [Hatsuho, Ana] Tomoshibi wo

[Sakura, Claris, Azami] Mamorinuku [Hatsuho, Ana] Senshitachi

[ALL] Utsukushii otome

[Claris] Maiagaru sakura kono mune ni someagete

Toki wo koete iku [Ana] tomo yo te wo nigiri

Kono ikusa iza! [ALL] kachi susume

[Azami] Itoshii ashita ni hikari are

[ALL] Hashire (hashire) kousoku no Teikoku Kagekidan

Unare shougeki no Teikoku Kagekidan

Yume wa yomigaeru Teikoku Kagekidan

Warera aratanaru Teikoku Kagekidan

_________

Notes:

* Vocal arrangement is my personal estimation. Based on the voice and common pattern in Sakura Taisen's group songs. Please send me notes if any part of it is inaccurate, okay. 😉👍

* I have been out of touch with my already limited Japanese skill. So please ask a more fluent person to translate the lyrics. Shouldn't be hard though, since I can understand the gist and messages just fine... 😅

* Japanese lyrics is available in SEGA Official Channel below. I separate the romaji according to that video. Hence why the "tomo yo te..." part feels a bit out of place. It's actually the next line. Also, Claris pronounced "... koete yuku", but the lyrics wrote "... koete iku". That's common in Japanese lyrics.

[furederiko]

Countdown Counter: 6. Miracles and sacrifice. The spirit of Christmas brings the Kyuranger together in its 43rd episode. The very last episode for the year...

- From the get go, signs that this is going to be a special episode are already there. How? There's no opening sequence, which means longer runtime for the actual story. And instead of a Kyuranger, VA Subaru Kimura returns as the narrator recapping the previous episode. Also, the story picks up directly at the gate of Jark Matter's base, with 9 Kyurangers forcing their way inside. That exciting top-notch hand to hand action promises something bigger later on! Gotta love that brief black silhouette splash screen... - Elsewhere, Tsurugi gets the answers he is seeking as Don Armage activates the Planetium Bomb. The Jark Matter Supreme Leader is the pure definition of a complete nutjob. Trying to conquer the entire universe, just to blow and erase it up all at once? Psycho antagonist alert!!! His trump card is the assumption that his immortality will be his advantage to survive it. But isn't that illogical? I mean what happens when everything become void? He is aiming to become a God and recreate his own universe, which sounds genuinely preposterous. - Turns out, there's a bigger upper hand to that goal as he reveals his 'true' self to Tsurugi. Okay, it's being kept as a secret for now, but BLACK CROW-like wings? Are you thinking what I am thinking? This backs up the theory that the real Don Armage is none other than Kuervo. That would explain why Tsurugi becomes so dumbfounded after seeing it, right? But Kuervo should have been dead, so how or when did he obtain immortality? As I said on the recap-view for episode 42, he must have stolen it from someone who seemingly had sacrificed his. Yep, from Tsurugi himself! If this theory is correct, then it lines up to why Tsurugi keeps getting visions of his former comrade, as well as that strange chest pain to which I assume related to his immortality. But enough speculation for now, let's continue with the episode... - If you think Raptor and Commander Xiao are being sidelined, then you are a bit mistaken. They do get some time to shine! They are busy holding out the fort, preventing reinforcements from messing around with the plan. Raptor is the 'getaway guy', so she monitors the entire operation from Battle Orion Ship. That's how she's able to alert everyone that the Planetium Bomb is set to explode in just 15 minutes. There's no time to waste. - Masked-Aslan shows up as predicted. Since his sole mission is to eliminate Leo Red, he couldn't care less as Scorpius Orange leads a team to head off and plant the Black Hole Generator. It's up to the RGBs (Red-Green-Blues LOL) team to try and get Aslan back to his good side. Lupus Blue (who almost gets a second fatal hit) uses the Gemini power to increase man-power, UrsaMinor SkyBlue grows giant with the Ursa Major power, while Leo Red uses his Shining power up. But none of it is able to make a dent on Masked-Aslan. - The only way to save Aslan is through miracle now. And daang... seeing the Leo Kyu Globe rescues Lucky from the brink of death gives me the chills. It's the energy that represents the entire Leo System, meaning both Lucky and Aslan. So it makes sense that it wants what's best for the father and son. Thanks to this miracle, Aslan is freed from the Mask and regains his good conscience. A sweet reunion! Aaaawww... I'm getting misty eyed. - Of course, clueless Mecha-Madako (poor thing doesn't aware of her boss' real goal) just has to enter and ruins the moment. Aslan's mask returns to its true form, which is Don Armage himself! Oh wow, first Hoshi Minato's puppet, now this? Is he a leech or parasyte or something? Then again, that WOULD explain him leeching Tsurugi's power. - Time for a 10-members transformation scene. With a gorgeous constellation-themed roll call too! This is the part that is too bad for Raptor and Xiao, because they don't get one (the sole minor quip I had for this episode *sigh*). Still, the action sequence that follows makes up for that. For a bad guy that refuses to die, Mecha-Madako gets to go down in a special way. She gets to participate in probably the coolest and most thrilling fight choreography the show has done so far. And be the first one to be eliminated by Kyutamajin's glorious Orion Big Bang Cannon attack. Indeed, we've seen the other mechas perform the ultimate finisher before, so this is the first time Kyutamajin takes over their places. - Then this is where things take an unexpected melancholic turn. Before fleeing the scene, Don Armage damages the Black Hole Generator, forcing the device to be activated manually. That means someone has to stay behind and sacrifice themself to save the universe. Lucky offers himself to do the job, but Aslan refuses and takes that duty away from him. "Saving his son... is a father's duty.", he states. Aslan couldn't do anything for Lucky when he was a child, so this is his chance to make up for that. Aaaawwww... T_T. To which pretty much many audience begin to break down and cry... - Aslan's sacrifice saves the universe, and more importantly carves a path for his son's future. A surprisingly fitting metaphor for the month's holiday season, don't you think? It's a heartbreaking but powerful moment. A poignant victory for the team marked by a solemn goodbye. Hold on, is this the first time an actual Kyu Globe is lost in the battle too? - What comes next is an epilogue or some sort. Xiao and Hammy deliver some words of encouragement for grieving Lucky, while the others (thanks to Kotarou's idea) whip up a wonderful surprise. A CHRISTMAS PARTY!!! Doesn't quite make sense in timeline, but this episode DID air on Christmas Eve so there's your festive reason. LOL. Goodness grace, a Christmas tree decorated with all those colorful Kyu Globes looks amazing! And those hand-made (courtesy of Stinger) plushies? Santa-Caesar!! Aaaawww... XD. Santa-Xiao then shows up with a special little present, the Red-Green colored Christmas Kyu Globe. Don't ask how he's able to even have one, or how Tsurugi ends up dressed as a fowl (the only one who is out of place! Holy moly... LOL). All that matters is that it's a celebration, and it warrants the appropriate holiday cheer! NOTE: ...plus a special one-time only Xmas ending sequence! Everyone is in their Xmas costumes, with Caesar tagging along with his cute growls. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" truly knows how to throw a pleasant surprise. Am I right? What a fantastic way to end the year... :D

Overall: Goodness grace! The show delivered its best offering on its final episode of 2017. Seriously! I don't know if I'm being swayed by the holiday festive and all, but for me personally this was definitely the best episode so far. An exhilirating wrap up episode for 2017 that simply hit all the right spots. It had exciting action sequences that were on par with "Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger"'s memorable Christmas episode. Great emotional moments that pulled off the "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" finale (as well as "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi" explosive climax), with both Lucky and Aslan's actors helping sell a truly poignant fleeting reunion between father and son. Unsurprisingly a general theme in Hollywood this year, in case you're wondering. This episode made me laugh, cry, and put me on the edge on my seat. A thrilling roller-coaster ride. It's also a tight and complete episode per se, in a big screen production style. A strong kick-ass opening, great moments every now and then both big and personal, and delightful heartfelt closing. An all around satisfying episode, and undoubtedly a high point for the series that will be hard to beat. Calling this as a series finale would be fitting (previous seasons would have treated it as such), but we know that it's not. There are still a few episodes left for us to explore. Will they deliver the same height? Here's hoping... Next week (year LOL): Power ups abound... Mr. Pega returns... The true face of Don Armage! This does NOT really feel like our annual New Year's Clip Show, eh? PS: Once again, this was the final episode of the year. The show will be having its customary New Year break on Sunday, December 31st. Thus episode 44 will air on January 7th. That's next year, of course! LOL.

Episode 43 Score: 9,3 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: December 29th, 2017 - Version 3.10. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

[furederiko]

Countdown Counter: 3. Kyuranger 46 starts with a bang, and ends with an unexpected blow to the team...

- All 12 Kyurangers return to Earth, determined to stop the Big Consumarz from turning the planet into a Planetium Bomb. They do need one, because naturally a massive army of Indavers are already lining up in their way. The series director sure loves a line-up shot from the back, huh? Fun fact: I honestly just realized that Lucky's white coat is an exact copy of Tsurugi's, only with a different emblem and color scheme. How could I have missed that all these time? - Lucky handles the ground unit with Tsurugi, Stinger, and Naga, as they race time to locate Kuervo. Kotarou leads Champ, Balance, Hammy, Spada, and Caesar (where have you been, little lion?!) in Super Kyuren-Oh, while Commander Xiao teams up with Garu and Raptor in Ryutei-Oh. The two mechas are tasked to make sure the gigantic Consumarz is destroyed. Unfortunately, Kuervo's power is protecting the object, so the mecha team still needs to rely on the ground unit to complete their goal. - As Leo Red and Phoenix Soldier move forward, they reminisce a little pledge concerning friendship. Which is... kind of... concerning, if you ask me. It's as if Tsurugi is secretly planning a somewhat drastic measure to deal with Kuervo. - Speak of the devil, Kuervo has been waiting for his former comrade and is annoyed to see that he doesn't come alone. Still thinking that he's a true savior, Kuervo reveals a harsh truth that he "never once considered Tsurugi a friend". His 'friendship' was just to serve his own pride and glory. Oucch! To think that Tsurugi thinks so highly of him. Not that I'm surprised of course, having encountered many actual people who behaved exactly like this. Got to admit though, I do liked the angle that the writers chose for Kuervo, making him an actual villain and not another person (after Naga, and late King Aslan) who is waiting for redemption. - Amazed to see Tsurugi actually becoming a shield for Lucky, Kuervo traps Lucky in his own Kyu Globe, the #45 Corvus Kyu Globe. Yep, Kuervo was one of Tsurugi's 88 Warriors, so naturally he always had one. The power of this Kyu Globe is well... a bit hard to explain. But it's kind of like a 'Twilight Zone', shoving Lucky into a "world of despair"; an alternate reality or illusion where the outcome of their final battle is dark and gloomy. I mean, Earth heats up to the verge of blowing. There's nothing more dour and devastating than that, right? - Thankfully, Lucky is not one to give up that easily. Uhhmmm... okay, he DID gave up several times before. I mean, at the very least the other Kyurangers are acting way too off-character anyway, thus signalling that something is amiss. Lucky breaks out of the 'trap' on time, before Kuervo is able to put Tsurugi's life into a mortal end. - The ground unit successfully draws Kuervo out of the Consumarz, paving way for the mecha unit to destroy the giant machinery. Kuervo's plan has been thwarted! But is this really the end? Nope... this is in fact where the threat suddenly becomes even more dire... and personal. - Tsurugi might have poignantly ("Even after all this, I will still call you my friend"? Aaaaww) put an end to his former friend Kuervo with his own hands, but there's one major problem. Don Armage is a space ghost! The second Kuervo obliterates, Don Armage's spirit immediately looks for another host to possess. And all these time, he always have one special candidate in mind: TSURUGI! Poor Kuervo has always been a mere backup all along, he continues to be Tsurugi's shadow even after he dies. - Not surprisingly, Tsurugi also had suspected about this, therefore he has come prepared to sacrifice his fleeting body. He thinks that because he's dying, the other Kyurangers only need to destroy him to kill off Don Armage. Of course, that logic is rather... shaky at best. I mean, who can be sure that the moment Tsurugi is killed, Armage won't simply move to another body? The circle will then continues until every member of the Rebellion is killed. - Lucky might not be questioning the same logic, but without doubt he refuses to fulfill Tsurugi's 'last wish'. "I won't abandon a friend!", he shouts... which leads to Don Armage gaining a new and... ugh, weirder form. Seriously, the brain-infested look is already bad to begin with. Now it's worse *sigh*! The paint-job on those wings could have been waaay better. - The new Don Armage absorbs Earth's planetium into his own body, restoring its immortality so he can proceed to the next step: absorbing everything and everyone else! Xiao jumps in to protect his team, sacrificing himself the way Big Bear rescued him. Don Armage then mercilessly absorbs him (and his Draco Kyu Globe) and gains his power. So yeah, the team has just lost not one, but TWO members at the same time! Looks like that fan speculation that the end-game will only involve the 9 core Kyurangers could be true after all. Aaaawww... T_T

Overall: Ain't that one shocking development! When I saw this episode for the first time, it had me real good that I gasped real hard and totally didn't know how to feel or react. It's like that time you had a lovely moment with someone when suddenly that person slapped your face real hard it dazed and knocked you down completely (just an analogy, by the way, it did NOT actually happen in real life. Or did it? Hmmmm). As millennials would say, this episode might have 'scarred me for life'! To the point that it MIIIIGHT have made me lost enthusiasm to write this recap-view. Of course, things felt more obvious upon second viewing, so the show didn't pointlessly pull off something out of the left field. Tsurugi's selfless action has indeed been foreshadowed since the previous episode, so him taking desperate measure to protect the others' dreams was as to be expected. The same for Xiao. He kept on spouting "the last time" over and over again, pretty much parading his own death flags throughout the episode. Not to mention, he wanted to be like Supreme Commander Big Bear! This meant both him and Tsurugi have had their dreams prematurely granted in one episode!!! With such dire and intense situation, can the team truly save the universe without losing another precious member? Let's just cross our fingers so that won't be the case... Next week: Fight heats up!!! In an emotional way... PS: Pardon for the delay! Got a bit under the wind lately, hence why I couldn't post this last week... as it was planned to. Definitely not because I was trying to go with the number 9 (the date anyone?). Though the events in this episode MIGHT have caused it somehow. Anyways, expect the recap-view for episode 47 (that aired yesterday), before the end of the month!

Episode 46 Score: 8 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: January 9th, 2018 - Version 3.11. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screen captured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

[furederiko]

"Those times when it hurts... is when you most need to believe in your own fortune." In Kyuranger episode 37, Lucky receives an emotional closure to his personal arc... Also, it pains me to say this, but the show's FINAL quarter officially begins here. The countdown counter is now activated, and our starting number is 12. Including this one, that's the number of episodes left!!! Aaaaw... (-_-).

- After liberating Luth, everyone is aboard the Battle Orion Ship. Including Gramps, and Caesar who is gleefully playing with balls. By balls, I mean Kyu Globes of course, because let's face it, unlike previous mascots who had actual playmates, this poor thing is the only sentient mechanical animal of the series. I believe this is the third (or fourth, if we count pre-UrsaMinor Kotarou) time the team allowed outsiders inside their bridge. - Retainers? Silly Gramps, I see what you're doing here... but Lucky is not Takeru Shiba. At the very least, it's a reverse-scenario to Shinken Red's situation... if you know what I mean *wink*. Gotta love Tsurugi's fun upmanship attitude though, the older Red simply can't take a joke. Spada's body-language response sums it up nicely. LOL. - Quick update on their next mission, Planet Southern Cross is heavily guarded by barriers. Thus, with the help of Balance and Naga, Tsurugi proposes that the team replicates the ability of 4 Sages from 4 Constellation Systems (in alphabetical order): Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Perseus. Kyu Energy of their Kyu Globes will be able to break the barrier, so they need to locate three of them since the first one is present and has been used before (special thanks to Spada for his informative little reminder). It may not be the way I've always wanted, but I'm glad these figures are utilized for something big and important. Trivia: These four Constellations are mythologically connected to one another. King Cepheus is the ruler of Phoenicia, Aethiopia. Queen Cassiopeia is his wife, infamous for boasting about her and her daughter's beauty that easily enrages the God of Sea Poseidon (seriously, what is wrong with Greek royalties?! they keep pissing off the Gods...). Princess Andromeda is obviously said daughter, who has to take the fall by being chained as human sacrifice, to be consumed by a giant sea monster. Perseus, is of course the Pegasus-riding hero who rescues her, and eventually becomes her husband. Remember that Hollywood movie "Clash of the Titans"? It was roughly based on this story. One more thing, I just learned that the first Super Sentai series "Himitsu Sentai Gorenger" received their powers from the Cassiopeia constellation. Will we somehow get a nod to this fun fact in the next episodes? We'll see. - Of course, that's the story for another day. For now, their primary focus is to clear out the circumstances with Lucky's father King Aslan in Planet Cayenne. For some reason, Lucky can't believe that his father has turned evil, and wishes to know the truth. The all-male double-Red double-Blue (and double-Yellow, if we group Gold and Yellow in the same color chart) Away Team arrives, and witnesses with their own eyes that Aslan's 'approval rating' is... VERY poor. The massive amount of extras, I mean citizen clearly despises this lying treacherous King who only cares about himself. Hmmm... I wonder why this sounds... *cough-FakeNews-cough* familiar? - Problem is, newly revived Kukuruga and Menaster of the Leo System Jyumottz have also figured out about Lucky's lineage, so they have prepared a trap through the King's public speech. This is obviously arranged to lure out the Kyurangers, and it works. Lucky tends to act on a whim, so naturally he exposes himself to the open as he tries to defend his father. - Kukuruga was the one who conquered and laid waste to the Leo System. Meaning, he's the one who forced Aslan to send his son away to Luth, and seemingly the reason why the King became a Jark Matter conspirator. We have seen the chivalry between him and Lucky before, but now things have become more personal! And Lucky demonstrates his true heroism, by taking Kukuruga's numerous hit and gets captured to protect the citizen's safety. This is remarkable. Because prioritizing his people's life and safety before him? THAT is the sign of a true leader. Dang it... the chills when Lucky practically begs his father to actually DO something. - At the same time, Tsurugi also proves he's a smarter and more perceptive Red (hence why he's sharing the ending dance with Lucky... but in a switched position). During the battle, he notices something is amiss when Jyumottz and his Tsuyo-Indavers suspiciously freak out to the sight of a raincloud. Gramps' statement about Aslan's change of 'personality' helps him deduce, that this Aslan might NOT be the real thing. An imposter, just like those Tsuyo-Indavers who were created by Jyumottz. The challenge now, is how to let the public know about this. - Lucky's public execution serves as the right stage. Kukuruga is about to use Lucky as an example to spread more fear to the people, as well as to show that Aslan is a devotee to Jark Matter's rule. Thankfully, the plan backfires almost immediately. Not just because Tsurugi's plan comes to play, but because Lucky himself openly exposes to everyone, that the King who's about to execute him is nothing more than... FAKE. - Lucky might be loud, relies on luck, and act first without thinking. But he's also smart enough to know when something isn't right. And this time, his own heartbroken tears help him realize the truth. But where's the real King Aslan, then? Turns out, in an unexpected surprise, Kukuruga has already killed him many years ago. That memory of when Aslan gave him Caesar, was also the father and son's final moment together. Aaaaw... the FEELS!!! Dang it Kyuranger, you always know how to push the right button when it comes to emotional shockers. - Tsurugi's plan further confirms this reality. Stinger, Champ, and Raptor respectively use the Aquarius, #37 Cetus, and #17 Antlia Kyu Globe's water-induced power to expose Fake-Aslan's identity. They doused the imposter with his weakness, turning him back into sand in front of his people. Aslan's reputation and good name has been cleared! He's worthy of his name after all... - Having been freed by Hammy, Lucky gets to do the first major thing in the name of his late father: avenge his death, and liberate the Leo System! Doing so in one fantastic action sequence too, because as we all know, Leo Red Orion is always a delight to see in battle. Kukuruga, Jyumottz, and his Consumarz are all defeated by Kyuren-Oh, Orion Battler, and Gigant Phoenix. Caesar even gets his share of revenge too. But is this really the last time we're going to see the Vice-Shogun? I kind of doubt it, since these higher Jark Matter figures seem to be coming back again and again. Let's worry about that later... - Lucky has proven his worth and compassion for his people, so he is more than just deserving of the throne. It's a royal legacy that he has earned. It might not be grand or massive in scale (or production design... no throne at all LOL), but the Rebellion conducts a special ceremony to celebrate this. Lucky gets to wear a cool-looking (seriously, WHERE can I get one?!) white Leo System Coat, specially hand-made by Stinger under Tsurugi's direction. Naga uses the #30 Corona Borealis Kyu Globe, so Hammy can officially crown him in front of the people. A small celebration, but a sweet and heartwarming one. You can easily tell how the Kyurangers resemble one big family. NOTE: One might argue that Gramps should have been the one to crown Lucky, but considering this has a much stronger feel, I personally don't mind. Don't forget, Hammy initially saw Lucky as a rival and resented him, but things have come along way between them, and among the whole team in general. It might feel simple, but this is character development too! By the way, I wonder if he is the first Red in Super Sentai who actually becomes a King... - With that, Lucky's personal arc has come to a satisfying close. The previous episode might not be as good, but the pay off in this one certainly is. I might not get the Darth-Vader twist I've always wanted, but this outcome is wonderful nonetheless. Lucky might not receive the long awaited reunion with his father Aslan, which was the primary reason of how he ended up becoming a Kyuranger. But he still discovered a home, his place in the universe, his royal legacy, while the memory of a benevolent father remains as uncorrupted as it has been. I can already see that the Leo System will serve as the second base for the Rebellion now, but that's not the most important thing. What truly matter is, from zero to hero, from wandering traveler to real royalty, the Lion of Rebellion has officially become... the Lion King.

Overall: Kyuranger has once again proven why it's an excellent series. Want to know why? Because it always succeeds in flipping audience's expectation. I personally came to this episode with the sole assumption that King Aslan is an evil traitor. That Kyuranger is merely going the same route to previous series. Turns out, that WAS indeed the case, but NOT they way I presumed it would be! Just like the Hoshi Minato twist, we did NOT get the actual truth about Aslan spoiled ahead of time. Even the episode's preview deliberately kept this as secret (looking at you and your repeated flaw, oh "Kamen Rider Build"). Thus the reveal was not only effective, it was genuinely unexpected, and also powerfully moving. This show keeps on surprising and exciting audience in ways they didn't see coming. That's more than just impressive, it's absolutely amazing! It's unfortunate that many audience seems to have dismissed Lucky early on, and refused to see what a worthy Red he has progressed to become. Actor Takumi Kizu has also proven over time that he too had the acting chop to rival the more popular Yousuke Kishi. This episode's emotional moments among previous others as good examples. And speaking of being a Prince and/or a King, this episode also tackled the lesson of true leadership. It's about a leader who would do anything for their people, and not a hypocrite who only thinks of themselves. To be honest, as a country Japan might not desperately need this kind of figure right now. Yet this issue easily becomes far more relatable in an international point of view, since lately many other countries seem to have suffered with the absence of one. The metaphor is current and relevant, as if the show is telling us that this is the kind of leader the world currently and desperately needs. This is why this episode shines, and why I couldn't help but shower it with praise! Next week: Abs-crunching Tsurugi? Sushi-making Garu? Bathing Hammy & Raptor? Space wuxia Xiao? It's a FAN-SERVICE FEST!

Episode 37 Score: 8,2 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: November 15th, 2017 - Version 3.05. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

[furederiko]

Does being naive truly a bad thing? Kyuranger's sunset-colored loner takes the spotlight in "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger: Episode of Stinger". A story of vengeance and regret...

WARNING: This recap-view is obviously filled with SPOILERS. Also, it is based on the original untranslated Japanese-language version of the V-Cinema. Not trying to brag, but the dialogues is really not that hard to understand and the scenes are pretty self-explanatory. However, IF in a foreseeable future a fansub version is released, and when the time comes I discover some important bits that I've somehow missed out or forgot to mention in this essay, I'll be sure to post a Version 2 sometime after. Only if that's necessary though, because I will try to be as thorough as possible with this one. Prepare for a long one! XD

- Our V-Cinema (the FIRST character-related ever released for Super Sentai franchise) begins directly in the middle of a heated mecha battle. In case you don't have any clue and is intrigued to see what actually led to this situation, then that's where "High School Wars" comes in. Yes, the 4-episodes web-series serves as a prologue or some sort, and this V-Cinema's first 02.19 minutes acts as conclusion that clears out its pesky cliffhanger. At least, until the extra episode arrives. LOL. It's also the reason why at the beginning, we get to see Lucky, Stinger, Hammy, Naga, Spada, and Kotarou in student cosplays. They were doing undercover mission at Planet 3B of the Norma System. Of course, if you don't feel like seeing "High School Wars", then you... don't need to. Its storyline doesn't really have anything to do with the main event of this V-Cinema. How so? Because the story that puts Stinger and Champ in the spotlight, is in fact a flashback! Nope, I'm not kidding. I'll get to this real soon, but let's address how the two ends up reminiscing this memory. - As Kyuren-Oh is about to finish Malistrate Principal Indaver (voiced by Deka Green!!!), Taurus Black who functions as its left arm suddenly goes berserk, causing his Voyager to run off on its own. This is not a new situation, as it had happened before TWICE in the TV series. Scorpius Orange takes off to chase him, while Ophiucus Silver and UrsaMinor Skyblue fill in their vacant spots. When Stinger tries to stop Champ's malfunction, a villainous figure named Thunderbird (voiced by Tsutomu Isobe, whom you might be more familiar as... Wolzard Fire) catches them off guard. With one strike, he blasts the two Kyurangers down a cliff. Despite the other's concern, obviously they survive the fall. That's when the appearance of Thunderbird and a bed of Camomile bring their thoughts to a sad story that occured in the past. Flashback time! - Said memory takes place during the time Stinger and Champ took a break from the team to search for Scorpio, who is played by Yuki Kubota (who else?). It's between the ending of episode 13 and the closing scene of episode 15, which means the setting is not on Planet 3B, but on EARTH! Before they go, Commander Xiao hands them several Kyu Globes to aide their journey. Stinger can later be seen using Pump to deal with his thirst, Champ uses Fornax to set up a bonfire, while three others (Bootes, Lepus, and one unknown) aren't used. It includes one Blank Kyu Globe, to which Stinger quickly deduces is necessary for... gathering new power. Xiao and his sly way of getting things done! LOL... - The best part of this brief sequence, is that we get to see Stinger and Champ bonding for the first time! Stinger avoiding Champ's over-friendliness and giddy excitement? Stinger being irritated that Champ continues to call him 'partner' when he doesn't like it (not yet, in this span of time)? The two having a child-like walking competition, but then sharing a meal in a cafe with Stinger flaunting a drumstick to annoy the fighter robot? ADORABLE. And guess what, the scene in the same diner actually contains a not-so-subtle LGBT representation in the background! It's not even a blink or miss, because the lovey-dovey pair are sitting right behind Champ! Way to go TOEI, it might be small, but truly an AMAZING gesture to address diversity. - Soon, this odd couple encounters a dirty small town called Ryusei. This heralds the appearance of Mika Reetsu, played by gravure actress Yuki Mamiya. Her drill-esque monstrous-looking right arm seems to be scaring off the citizens, but some of them immediately take a stand against her and start calling her 'Monster'. FYI, this group consists of several familiar faces in the world of Tokusatsu. Their mob-leader is played by Kentarou Shimazu, who famously portrayed Gentle in "Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger". That big-sized guy? Kazuyoshi Nagazawa who played 'Kong' in "Kamen Rider Fourze: Movie War Ultimatum". The woman with the glasses? She's prolific suit actress Sanae Hitomi who has played various heroes since "Juuken Sentai Gekiranger" (she's also the one behind Mika's alternate form later on). And guess what? The Tokusatsu Network's very own Tom Constantine stands out as the sole 'gaijin/gaikokujin' among the crowd. I hope hitting that table doesn't hurt, Tom... *grins*. - Don't let these folks fool you though, because as it turns out... not only they are discriminative to Mika, they are also VERY VIOLENT towards her!!! Stinger and Champ arrive, and gets in a fight with Mika because she claims she's there to eliminate the citizens for Jark Matter. Stinger realizes that Mika is not human, and Champ points out that her right hand resembles the ones from people of the Monoceros System. Her statement "I seek power… That alone." however, instantly reminds Stinger of a particular person: Scorpio! - Flashback within flashback? You got it! LOL. Another gem of this V-Cinema, is we actually get to see Scorpio rampaging and slaughtering his own people in the Scorpius System. It has been vaguely teased in the TV series through Stinger's story (likely confirming that this V-Cinema might have been filmed prior to Tsurugi's debut), but this is the first time the entire sequence is played out. With a bonus of another round of Stinger's vocal performance too! Great goodness though, this V-Cinema is NOT for kids, because Scorpio is clearly snapping people's neck to death... ON-screen!!! - Thunderbird makes his first official entry to this part of the story, being the Jark Matter Malistrate whom Mika reports to in Furane City. He's seems to have a soft-spot on her, and promises power to help exact her revenge to those who has wronged her. By the way, I can't say for sure, but I think this setting is that famous chapel from "Kamen Rider W". - At the same time, Stinger isn't completely convinced that Mika is downright evil. I might not understand this one correctly, but it seems Stinger suspects that it's the people who are at fault here. They were openly being discriminative towards her... just because she's NOT human. Both him and Champ aren't as well, so if anything, they surely can relate. Unsurprisingly, that is indeed the case, as we get to witness later on when Mika shares about her abused condition to Stinger. - You see, Mika and a group of Indavers attacks the two Kyurangers. But while Champ chases a mysterious figure who is revealed to be Thunderbird, Stinger and Mika gets trapped under some falling debris. The pair gets some alone time, and Stinger gets to... ugh, SING for Mika, after seeing the 'loneliness' in her eyes. Aaaaaw... this is sweet, albeit corny and unnecessary. LOL. She realizes that her opposite is also not human after seeing his sting, and reveals that she's half-breed, a mix of Monoceros being and Earthling. The townspeople has been bullying her endlessly for that, and the gorgeous Camomile is her sole escapism. Which fits, since the flower is a symbol of 'patience', and we DO get to see Mika tries so hard to endure her loneliness and pain. - Sadly, this is where Thunderbird's influence comes in. He takes Mika to his wing, and sways her to kill the mob to fulfil her revenge. And he succeeds, because after our 'naive' Kyuranger lets Mika go with a flicker of hope (who returns the favor by destroying the debris that's holding Stinger back), the girl is violently ambushed, captured, and mercilessly condemned and beaten by the townspeople. There's a scene in the trailer above that shows the leader hitting someone with a SHOVEL, right? That's helpless Mika indeed! YIKES. - Driven by rage and anger this time around, Mika lashes out, stabs, impales, and.... eventually kills everyone. Including children and that Toku-Fan gaijin (thank goodness this is just acting, huh? poor Tom). The eerie scene is also poignantly symbolized by the Camomile being trampled on and torn by the people. It's a BLOODY, I repeat (this is not a drill)... BLOODY aftermath for the town. SERIOUSLY folks, this V-Cinema is NOT FOR KIDS! - Stinger might have been in disagreement with Champ over his compassion or 'naivety' towards Mika, but the brutal condition of the town brings them back into one mind and heart. They help bury the bodies amids the field of Camomile, while an accoustic version of Stinger's song amps up its sentimental atmosphere. Champ then tells Stinger that they need to 'save' Mika too. At this point, I can no longer hold it in, and inevitably get misty eyed. - Saving Mika is an ordeal on its own. Not unlike Scorpio, Don Armage has granted her the power she desires, and she has been transformed into a monstrous (ugly design, by the way) Malistrate Mika now. The Orange and Black Kyurangers have no other choice but to fight her, in order to turn her back to human. - It works, but regrettably, the malice inside her is already too much. Mika asks them to end her while she's still human. Reluctant and torn, Stinger eventually strikes his sting to free Mika from her torment. Before she dies, she says that she wishes she had met Stinger much earlier, and her soul becomes the #27 Monoceros Kyu Globe. They burried her outside of the town. Stinger regrets this incident, knowing that if he was stronger and stopped Mika before she walked away, things could have turned out very differently. Our main event flashback ends here, as the story returns to present time in Planet 3B... - As for Thunderbird, during Mika's final moments, he cold-bloodedly reveals that he never cared for her all these time. He then runs away with his Consumarz. And what become of him afterwards? He has been promoted to be the Menaster of the Norma System. What for? Because his experiment to pit human against each other had pleased Don Armage, earning him the position to lead Jark Matter's Brainwashing Facility (making him the boss of Principal Indaver). Yes, not only he has been using Mika for his personal gain, he's also the mastermind behind the townspeople unexplained hatred towards her! There weren't any discrimination in the first place. Thunderbird deliberately pushed both party to their limits, so that they would end up hating and killing each other. What a MESSED UP plan indeed! A painful but stark metaphor to what's currently going on in several countries now... (looking at you, America, Russia, and my own country... T_T) - Champs goes into another berserk and runs off. Thankfully, the other Kyurangers arrive just in time to aide Stinger in his fight against Thunderbird. Time for director Kouichi Sakamoto's signature wire-fu action sequence (most visible on Chamaeleon Green and Dorado Yellow) then! To avenge Mika and the townspeople's death, Scorpius Orange utilizes the Monoceros Kyu Globe, gaining a... 'handy' power up. With "Unicorn Antares" attack, he ends Thunderbird's journey by literally drilling a hole on his body. Expect this personal power up to be used later on in the TV Series! - Everyone is back at the Battle Orion Ship (at least that's what I think, because it could still be ORION), but not Stinger. Champ is still running off somewhere in Planet 3B, so he stays behind looking for him. Stinger has blamed himself for Scorpio's turn to evil and eventual demise, as well as not being able to avoid Mika's death. There's no way he's going to lose another important people in his life, so rescuing Champ is now his top priority. THE... END. Extra personal ramblings opinion! Specifically highlighting my major issue with this V-Cinema: - The reunion between Lucky and co with Stinger in the fight against Thunderbird, is where things start to get a little confusing. Hammy mentions that Champ is 'still berserking'. Does this refer to what happened in the Kyuren-Oh intro scene, or is she saying that the team is AWARE or have figured out about Champ's condition? Hmmm... I prefer to go with the first assumption, because episode 34 clearly told us that only Stinger and Garu knew about this secret. Then again, I can't say I'm sure about this. Which means... problematic writing? - That ending is also rather uninspiring, if you ask me. Eventhough Japanese movies are well known for leaving audience in a cliffhanger, not having a proper conclusion for this one still feels irritating. Moreso, it causes the position of "Episode of Stinger" and its counterpart spin-off "High School Wars" in the continuity to be... even more confusing. I'm already somewhat annoyed by Hoshi Minato's presence in the web-series, but that final scene adds even more question. Why? Read on... - Champ was 'benched out' from the team since the heartbreaking episode 16. He returned in episode 21, the one that debuted Tsurugi... who is NOWHERE to be seen. Champ then first exhibited his 'berserking condition' during the Holorogium story, in episode 25. He then travelled to the past as part of Tsurugi's 'Time Travel' in episode 26, and did NOT return to the team until episode 34. Does this mean this V-Cinema takes place after that? Hold on... - Both him and Stinger are present onboard Battle Orion Ship in episode 35. That's the Pavo System story that puts Hoshi Minato to the spotlight. Popular speculation is that the Norma System story takes place within this episode. But as I said yesterday, Hoshi Minato's presence has already contradicted this fact. - Thus I proposed that we ignore several things, and decide that the Norma System storyline takes place afterwards. Meaning... BEFORE episode 36. Problem is... both Stinger and Champ ALSO take part in that episode. LOL. They are even part of the active Away Team that went to Leo Minor System, and will soon be involved in a continuous storyline (Crux System story arc) that will proceed non-stop until around episode 39. - So the final question is, WHEN or HOW this V-Cinema fits? Precisely in-between episode 34 and 35? Then what on Earth happened to Tsurugi! Somewhere beyond episode 40? Sometime after the series ends? I might be nitpickish most of the time, but I really don't expect a brilliant explanation of this timeline. Just an acceptable one would suffice, even if to maintain Kyuranger's good track record in regards of continuity so far. Current speculation, is that we'll have the answer when "High School Wars" exclusive 5th episode arrive on DVD. Is that the case though? The only plausible response to that is... we'll see. *sigh*

Overall: "Episode of Stinger" was basically 3 additional episodes (technically 2+, since the duration is 58:55 minutes) added to the currently 36 that has aired on TV. If we judge this as a stand-alone movie, then this V-Cinema was undeniably an impressive, heartfelt, and ballsy feature. It was on par, if not better in some parts, with the best broadcasted episodes of the TV series. Stinger was a strong lead character who could totally carry his own title, and his buddy-cop styled relationship with Champ added levity to the drama. The story about discrimination, psychological manipulation, and the gray area about revenge and vengeance, gave this V-Cinema a powerful ambiguity that prompted questions and discussions. It's amazing how relevant and representative it was to the current political condition in various countries. On the other hand, the sexuality (Kouichi Sakamoto is well known for his fascination of female cleavage and thighs), and/or violence depicted here could likely ended up as a red-flag to some audience. Even for someone who had no issues going through Netflix' visually gruesome R-rated library, the brutality in this one was... genuinely shocking. This was most definitely intended for much older Tokusatsu audience, so the lack of parental advisory warning was concerning. Particularly in an era when parents are too busy with themselves and already showing utter ignorance about it. Further more, reviewing "High School Wars" inevitably brought negative effect on this one as well. I was about to give this a much higher score, but I simply couldn't brush off its blatant continuity issue now. As I have pointed out above through my extra opinions, the presence of this V-Cinema and its web-series spin-off is currently sitting at a HUGE question mark. It's placement in the continuity is still unclear for now, giving time for the TV series staff to... I don't know, fix it somehow. But both certainly pose a threat of causing a giant flaw that might blemish one of Kyuranger's best trait. In the end, I did enjoy this and was genuinely thrilled and moved by it. Yet the fact remains, it's also a fundamentally flawed feature that might demand Kyuranger's fanbase to just... be ignorant and accept things as is. That's NOT good, and would be a shame to acknowledge. I can only hope that the Summer Movie "Gueath Indaver no Gyakushu" doesn't share the same problem, otherwise that would be even more disappointing... Next: Back to the TV Series, with the Lion Royalties!!!

Overall Score: 7,6 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: October 31st, 2017 - Version 3.04. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

Trailer used above is officially available through TSUTAYA MOVIE Youtube Channel. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

[furederiko]

"I won't let you... suffer the pain alone!" Kyuranger's 28th episode, conveys the tale of broken bond, and lost friendship...

- Let's get this right off the bat: POOR Balance!!! T_T... He wasn't around when Naga first succumbed into the darkness, so imagine his utter shock upon witnessing how his partner-in-crime (we'll get to this later) has become an evil, ruthless, brutal, and plain messed up person. Dark-Naga is completely different from his regular self, and this is the first time we get to see Balance gets deeply depressed. Even more so than that stolen-Birthday story... - Sure, the episode starts in a carefree and casual way. We see Balance utilizing the #43 Camelopardalis Kyu Globe to become a 'mechanical giraffe' and scout the area, while Dark-Naga is having fun with his newly found emotions through a practice fight with the Indavers (again, the actor is definitely having a blast). I also personally enjoy seeing Akyanba and Kukulga get along with one another, mirroring the bond between Ikagen and Madako nicely. But everything turns sour just 4 minutes in, and the cheerful mood has completely dissolves into a somber and melancholic tome. - Balance clearly arrives on scene with a belief that he could easily persuade Naga to the good side. That's how they've always been, right? But nope. If this is another show, the whole 'turning into evil' trope would be done and over with in just two episodes. This is Kyuranger we're talking about, and that's NOT how the show works. After declaring that the BN Thieves has now been disbanded, Dark-Naga doesn't pull any punches on his (former?) friends. He shoots Balance on the spot, intentionally injures his left thigh, and then tortures him with sheer glee. Balance refuses to react, resulting in an abusive scene that... well, rather disturbing to watch. I wonder how TV Asahi even allows this on a morning show? - It's a neatly choreograph, but devastatingly desperate fight scene. Once again, Dark-Naga is soooo close on killing the other Kyurangers with his 'Dark Galaxy' attack. This time around, a mysterious woman steps in to save the day. And it's a... female Naga! Hold on, I mean, a Naga-esque female individual from the Ophiucus system. She introduces herself as Echidna (obviously portrayed by Taiki Yamazaki, voiced by Ayumi Tsunematsu), and reveals more details about the same-faced inhabitants of her system. Trivia: In Greek mythology (nope, not the ant-eater one, nor... Sonic the Hedghehog's rival) Echidna is a half-woman half-snake 'She-Viper'. She's the mother of many mythical monsters such as Orthrus (that gave birth to Sphinx and Nemean Lion), Cerberus, Hydra, and possibly Chimaera. There's a 'mother angle' in her story. So can we assume this is just pure coincidence? Or is she actually Naga's mother? Hmmm... - Echidna's appearance is... well, a bit awkward to watch. Not because of the female voice coming out of Naga's lips, but mainly because it looks a bit out of sync. This is a common occurence in Tokusatsu, but I wonder why they don't just alter his actual voice with a sound editor? Also, design-wise, I think the production team made a minor miscalculation. IMO, they should've enclothed a 'female Naga' with a high-neck dress that fully covers the neck area. At least, give him a choker or something. The actor is what many generally calls 'pretty boy', so he CAN look and showcase Echidna's feminity just right. Yet it's also clear his adam's apple is still immediately noticeable in this dress style, and that would likely attract questions from audience. Especially observant nitpickers like yours truly LOL. With that said, her inclusion is still a much appreciated decision. It gives a good excuse to keep Naga's actor among the non-suit ones, without the need to hire a new artist. And similar to Dark-Naga's messed-up sassy gestures (that is always a delight to see), he's able to make us believe that Echidna's an entirely different character. - Echidna's exposition, leads to a deeper backstory for both Balance and Naga. And that's good. We FINALLY get to see how Balance met Naga for the first time! True to his trickster reputation, not only Balance ran into Naga when he was stealing a treasure from his planet, he also made use of Naga's pure desire for emotions to get away. On a whim! Yep, turns out things didn't actually start out in 'real' good terms for them. Back then, Balance was merely using Naga, turning him into a partner for his own selfish benefit. Not unlike Akyanba, huh? Nevertheless, it's a fated meeting that managed to change him for the better. Balance now actually cares for him and others in general! That's why Dark-Naga's berserking frenzy isn't just hurting Balance physically, but also scars him emotionally (if not all of us in general, of course). Balance is going to do anything to bring his BFF back, even if it forces him to engage in an intense heartbreaking duel with him. We've seen it teased in the preview, right? - I was initially pretty disappointed when Akyanba revealed that the key to bring Dark-Naga back to his senses, is to hurt him so badly. I admit, it IS a common thing for a Tokusatsu antagonist to foolishly state their Achilles heel. Even Kyuranger have done it before with a lesser MotW. I guess, I kind of expected more from this cunning villainess. Turns out, more is certainly what I'm getting. Televi's scans have already spoiled about this 'solution' before, along with the Gold-Silver fight, and Echidna's arrival. But what a pleasant surprise when those report (probably... intentionally?) left out the powerful twists that come as part of the actual package. - Contrary to popular assumption, Echidna isn't here to help Naga. She is sent to... eliminate him. Apparently, obtaining emotions is considered a massive threat in the law of Ophiucus system. OUCH!!! Echidna also blames Balance for 'swaying' him out of his planet. This is what I meant earlier by 'turning him as partner-in-crime'. Second, the Gold-Silver fight? Intense, but heartbreaking. I expected a Mexican Standoff-esque battle, but nope... Libra Gold doesn't want his BFF to suffer alone. So when he launches that rain of arrows using the #35 Sagittarius Kyu Globe, he's taking the fall WITH HIM. Aaaaawwww, the chills!!! But the episode saves the biggest twist of all. Hurting Naga badly to save him? LIES. That was nothing but lies. It's all Akyanba's trick to pit the Kyurangers against each other. She's merely toying with her enemy, trying to make them hurt one another. So disappointment is gone, because Akyanba IS a dangerous antagonist INDEED. - Worse thing is... according to her, Dark-Naga is beyond help. There's NO way he can be cleansed from darkness once he gains back his emotions. That means...? Aaaaaw!!!! T_T. I can already hear those devastated outcries reverberating throughout the Naga fanbase. Not to mention, Naga have always wanted emotions to make Balance happy! Putting the burden and guild on the Golden robot even more. If I didn't know any better, it seems the only ways to save Naga now are: defeat Akyanba to remove her curse/spells that unlocked Naga's emotions, and seal back the emotions he's been longing to have all these time. Those are NOT easy feats! Things aren't looking good in the present time. Fun fact: Can't believe it took me this long to realize one thing. Naga Ray's name is clearly a pun for either the Japanese word 'Nagare' which means 'to flow/washed away', explaining why he's easily persuaded; and also 'Nagareboshi' which means 'Shooting Star'. And we know how a meteor is called a shooting star, right? When it FALLS down on Earth. Suffice to say, Naga's fall to darkness has been written on his name. This character was already doomed from the get-go. And that rain of arrows is another really good metaphor to this too... - What's happening in the past doesn't fare better! 'Time Travel' team exits the time hole (healing Commander's Xiao's back in the process), and goes directly to witness Tsurugi's final fight against Don Armage. And it plays out exactly like Tsurugi's story, confirming several things: One, Tsurugi has been telling an honest truth all these time. As in, he's not dreaming or seeing illusions or alternate reality like some fans have theorized. Two, Kuervo sacrifices himself to protect Tsurugi from Don Armage's blow. So yeah, I think he's genuinely really dead, as we can only see Orion (who now has a face, more on this later) carrying Tsurugi to safety afterwards. Three, Don Armage is defeated... for REAL. Phoenix Soldier strikes him down (here's hoping we get to see that cool flaming winged attack again soon), blowing up his planet along the way. So HOW is Don Armage still alive till the present time? That side of truth is still shrouded in mystery. As if that's not enough, all of a sudden the ORION is under mysterious heavy attacks! Forcing Raptor to quickly warp off towards Earth. With Don Armage gone, WHO is attacking them then? - Before you dismiss that this time travel side is removed or unrelated, do remember one thing. Kyuranger had always run several plots in parallel, but they generally still share the same theme (examples: Stinger's route of vengeance crosses path with Champ, and the brotherhood parallel between Scorpio and Kotarou). Considering the current theme is about heroes/good person turning to the dark side, could it be foreshadowing the true identity of the new Don Armage? If we observe how Naga is Balance's best friend, we can see there's a parallel running in the past: Orion or Kuervo are Tsurugi's closest comrades too! Who do you want to bet as the real Don Armage, then? - Anyway, we're back in the present time. Akyanba walks away with a severely wounded Dark-Naga, leaving the fight to the giant Indavers. Since Ursa Minor SkyBlue has to tend for Balance, Leo Red uses Gemini Kyu Globe to duplicate Lupus Blue and Chamaelleon Green, so they can form a three-colored RGB Kyuren-Oh. What a NEAT trick! Even SkyBlue is surprised to see that this is possible. I don't think we actually need a mecha battle, but at least it's unpredictable. - Despite Echidna's firm statement that the only option to the Ophiucus Metal situation is to eliminate Naga, obviously 'Save Naga' team isn't going to give up just like that. Balance personally refuses to obey, and will do anything to rescue Naga. Even if he has to face Echidna for that. But that's when something unexpected comes up. Well, duh? This IS Kyuranger, so obviously it's one thing after another. Our present team senses an odd surge of time-paradox, and notices a distress beacon from the ORION. Has the spaceship really returned? - This is where the two time-crossed storylines come together in a shivering and shocking way. Because what Lucky and friends see, is NOT the ORION they've known all these time. It's a broken and aged ruins of the spaceship! Dang it, the goosebumps. Don't forget, there's a price for trying to break the rule of nature. A small alteration in the past will affect the flow of time and reality in its future... and this must be one! Does this mean, the real one is destroyed in the past?! Oh good heave, I hope not! But the scene that slowly shifted back in time... only confirms that concern. ORION has indeed crashed down on Earth, and its passengers are on the ground, wounded and unconscious. And standing in front of them, is none other than... Sir Orion!!! Fun fact: Orion is played by actor Kai Shishido, who is the son of legendary actor Joe Shishido. He's not new to Tokusatsu, having played DASH Captain Shigeru Hijikata in the 2005's "Ultraman Max". Looks like Shishido was added to the cast later on, because I don't think he was the actor we saw in Eris's story. That one was younger, smaller in figure, and has much lighter skin! Something that obviously a nitpicker like me would've noticed... LOL. It's a tad disappointing, because having felt familiar with his face, I've been really curious about that mysterious 'temporary' actor. Guess I won't be getting my answer anytime soon. But at the same time, I'm not complaining about Shishido. He DOES has a powerful presence worthy of an important character. Beside, if my theory of Orion being Lucky's biological father pans out, his surname would make for a perfect pun! The kanji means another, but 'Shishi' is 'Lion' in Japanese, right?

Overall: Oh wow, one surprise after another huh? Thank goodness we got a lighter episode last week, otherwise I don't think my heart is ready for such intensity to come every week. This episode left me with a bitter taste, which was both sad but good. Realizing that Naga can't actually be saved, felt like swallowing a bitter pill that refuses to go down the throat. It made me feel... hopeless. But such uneasiness could only land if audience deeply cares about him and Balance as characters, which is a really good thing. So call me hypocrite, but I'm glad the Dark-Naga arc isn't resolved too quickly. Otherwise I'd be quite disappointed. Thumbs up to the writers this time for a strong focus episode for Balance. Much needed praises also goes to the sound department, because once again, GREAT use of fitting BGM to amplify the scenes. The melancholic ones during Naga and Balance's heartbreaking moments worked gorgeously by adding shade and tint of sadness. I might have some minor nitpicks about this episode that affects my score, but overall, a truly excellent episode... Next week: Orion, oh ORION... PS: We're back to "Kyutama Dancing" as the ending theme, but this time Tsurugi has been added to the equation. Also, alongside teaser for the first Bluray Box set, the official trailer for V-Cinema "Episode of Stinger" has been aired. It's available online if you're curious about it.

Episode 28 Score: 8,3 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: September 5th, 2017 - Version 2.13. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

[furederiko]

"GOOD LUCK!!!" The 32nd episode of Kyuranger sends off one of its key member to its final journey...

NOTE: Several unrelated things before I moved on to the recap-view. I couldn't rewatched this episode again (with subtitle) sooner due to unexpected situations at home. Hence why this post takes a bit longer to publish. And one more thing, I'll be off the grid throughout next week to deal with personal affairs, so recap-view for episode 33 will also be delayed until after October 15th, 2017. I'll probably batch that one with episode 34 in the 3rd week of October.

- Okay, let's start. New broadcast time!!! 09.30 JST means I can now wake up later than usual (not that I could do that casually, due to my 'trained' biological clock... -_-). This new time slot however, means more 'noise' issues to the streaming. Both figuratively and literally, as in internet traffic problem that caused delays, and pesky annoyingly LOUD morning aerobic held by the neighbourhood community almost every Sunday. On the bright side, this reschedule means the absence of that usual time stamp/clock! Although it does feel odd (like something's missing or somehow LOL) and took me a while to get used to, this clean footage definitely looks so much better than before because of it. - The show itself celebrates its new schedule with a neat special intro-narration that occurs mid-fight. Opening sequence remains the same though, here I thought it would get revamped like "Kyoryuger". It also debuts a Holy Moly flashy fan-service grin-inducing "Kyulette Chance!" by the duo of Tsurugi who firmly believes he should be the new Commander, and Stinger who tags along for unknown reason. Gotta love Kotarou's reaction to these two, particularly the "You're making us Earthling looks bad" jab to the former... LOL. Not unlike the cool intro narration, I'm not sure if the pair will continue to do this in the next episode (since Xiao already shows up later in the closing scene). Nevertheless, this is a hillarious gem indeed. - Don Armage looks a bit desperate, that he's offering Vice-Shogun promotion for Malistrates who can take down the Kyurangers. This is where Kukuruga's subordinate Dogyun (whose design reminds me of Decepticon Shockwave) steps in. Apparently, the Jark Matter scientist has the ability to control machines, and wants to utilize this skill to activate the numerous Consumarz on Earth. Remember, those machines were all shutdown by Tsurugi when he was awaken from his cold-sleep. - On the protagonist side, Naga confirms that Don Armage is situated in the Crux System. Somewhere around there, at least (Naga with emotions means he can openly cast jokes now LOL). Unfortunately, the team is facing a problem: ORION's condition doesn't allow them to do that. Not only the spaceship is damaged, but it is also beyond repair. Aaaaw... T_T. - Raptor, who is troubled due to her deep connection with ORION, wants to use Dogyun's ability to help repair ORION. Unfortunately, the Malistrate's skill is nothing but a fraud. Tsurugi explains that the appliances only become active due to a liquid organism matrix that triggers their electric circuits. So Dogyun doesn't play a direct role on them. - Things get more troubling, as Tsurugi's premature leadership is already put into question. Raptor feels that ORION is one of their important comrade, while he thinks that's just her usual delusions. This provokes Raptor's emotions, who runs away thinking it's useless to fight. A good example to why an inconsiderate guy like Tsurugi shouldn't be assigned as the new Commander *sigh*. - Spada has always been linked to Raptor (classic Yellow-Pink trope if you will), so it comes off as natural that he would stand up and support her. Aside from confirming that they are the early Rebellion members (possibly after Xiao and Stinger, and before Hammy and Champ joined the group), Spada admits that ORION might've been the miraculous spaceship that Raptor suggests. I don't know about you, but this scene makes me curious to see more flashback to the Rebellion's foundation! - Knowing a brief history that leads towards Raptor's attachment to ORION, Lucky decides to look for her while the away team deals with Dogyun who has rigged another set of Consumarz to level the area. Raptor is about to give up, troubled by the fact that she won't be able to save a teammate. Lucky proves that he's a better candidate to be a Commander, by encouraging Raptor to stand up and do something better for ORION's sake: fight on, to save the universe! - It's really nice seeing Aquila Pink being so fierce and feisty in battle. Not only she (with Leo Red's help) saves the day by using Telescopium Kyu Globe to remove the slimes from the reactivated Consumarz, but her action and strong feeling totally reaches out to ORION. Dogyun combines 10 regular Consumarz into a 'Super Big' Consumarz that's set to collide with Earth, and Kyutamajin is unable to stop it. So who's coming to the rescue? It's none other than... ORION. - The spaceship sentiently lights up its last remaining power, transports Spada, Balance, and Kotarou (the three stayed behind inside the ship) into Kyutamajin for safety, and rams the Giant Consumarz away from its destination. Which also means, ORION is sacrificing himself to save the Kyurangers and Earth. And to top it all, in its very last seconds, the ship sends one last transmission to the team, and most likely to Raptor in person... "GOOD LUCK". Aaaaawww... the FEELS. Dang you Kyuranger, even your ship is giving me misty eyes. Fun fact: Just like what happened to Orion or various other elements of the series, this is another strong nod to "One Piece". In this case, ORION serves as the Going Merry 'situation' for the Kyurangers. - In the end, the other Kyurangers agrees with Raptor, acknowledging that the spaceship is indeed the unofficial 13th member of the team. They pay tribute to ORION as it joins the stars in the sky, while Xiao can be seen overseeing a behemoth of battleship that would inherit its heroic legacy (the official CM for one has already been aired! LOL). Farewell ORION, thanks for taking us through an amazing rollercoaster ride throughout 32 episodes. You shall not be forgotten!

Overall: Personally, I think this was a good episode. Wasn't at the heights of the previous ones, but an overall good one nonetheless. It put Raptor283 in the spotlight, progressed her personal character journey that have already begun since episode 4, but at the same time, affecting the whole team in a major way. Of course, not every audience would take this kindly, nor in a positive way. The barrage of long and pointless heated complaints for this episode on RangerBoard, firmly reminded me why I walked away from that forum (glad I never rejoined and served only as passive spectator until now... totally forgot my password anyway LOL). This wouldn't please those who kept on arguing about her lack of focus episode and exposure. Completely ignoring the fact that they have ironically been downplaying her crucial importance to the show (seriously, Kyuranger would be nothing without Raptor's presence, eventhough she largely operates in the background), under the disguise of 'her defense'. Some people just could never be satisfied with anything! If you ask me, the fact that this episode was able to slip in a moving moment as a climax, and made us relate to the struggle of an android (who is portrayed by suit + voice actor), is an amazing achievement on its own. Do I want to see more development and focus story for Raptor? Yes. Will we get any? Probably not, because the approach to treat female characters as secondary at best is a common thing in Super Sentai franchise. Then again, Kyuranger has surprised us plenty of times before, so let's hold our horses and don't jump the gun just yet... Next week: Eris! Orion! And the Kyurangers' search for a place called home... PS: Just restating what I've said above. I'll see you again with the next recap-view after October 15th! Till then, stay safe, take care, and see you soon...

Episode 32 Score: 8 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: October 1st, 2017 - Version 3.01. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.