Recap: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger, Episode 20 – Duel of King and King

Kaguragi grits his teeth as he watches Suzume officially get married to Racules. Yanma tells Shiokara that this is just a political marriage. First to be used to quell the negative sentiment toward Racules by the Shugoddamians. And second, as a way to assert his control over Toufu as Kaguragi would have no choice but to side with Racules. Yanma thinks this is all Gira’s fault.

Rita visits Gira in jail and says that if he had not instigated the duel, Racules would have already been dethroned. But Racules has instead been given a reprieve. Rita screams as Gira laughs maniacally declaring he will defeat Racules on his own so he can rule the world.

Back in the palace, Kaguragi congratulates Racules who says that everything that’s happened so far is water under the bridge. Now that they are family, they should help each other out. Kaguragi asks for Racules to call him 兄上 then. Racules says not to get carried away.

Instead, Racules asks Kaguragi to return the lance to him as he has already retrieved the crown from Gira. Together, the lance and crown bring out a true kingly power that is a crucial key to the palace itself.

Racules uses 兄上 as he holds Suzume’s fate over Kaguragi’s head in order to get him to comply with his command.

Back in Toufu, Jerami meets with Kaguragi who says he is thinking about returning the lance. Kaguragi asks Jerami to come with, but to do so in secret and not let the other kings know.

But Jerami immediately gossips to Yanma and Hymeno about Kaguragi returning the lance in order to protect his sister. Jerami leaves them to take this information as they see fit. Yanma and Hymeno agree it must go to Gira and not to Racules.

At the palace, Boshimar congratulates Racules on his marriage. But Racules points out Boshimar had run away. To make up for that, Racules orders Boshimar to retrieve the lance from Kaguragi and prevent the other kings from obtaining it. Otherwise, Racules will dispose of him. Racules whips out his sword and slices Boshimar’s belt causing his pants to fall down.

Down in the tunnels, Desnarak is tired of Kamejim’s tricks and says anyone who does not lay their life down for their cause will be killed. Kamejim assures Desnarak that he will kill Gira.

Next day, the duel is about to begin. Shugoddamians watch the PPV event as Rita explains the rules. The duel will end only with surrender or death. Racules would like Gira to be banished from the family and thrown in jail for life if he wins. Gira wants to take the throne from Racules if he is the victor.

Racules and Gira take their swords and henshin. Racules puts the crown on and the battle begins.

Meanwhile in the empty streets of the capital, Yanma and Hymeno think they’ve found Kaguragi and the lance sneaking around. But it’s actually Jerami. Just then, Sanagims appear and they battle the three of them. Boshimar comes running toward them and bumps into Jerami, managing to gain possession of the lance.

Racules and Gira have taken their battle to the outskirts of the city. Shugoddamians cheer on their duel bets with Gira and Racules factions facing off against each other.

Gira doesn’t seem to have enough power to counter Racules’ crown power-up at first. But Gira manages to use his speed to knock the crown off Racules’ head. Gira delivers a finisher at Racules, forcing him to dehenshin.

Rita asks if Racules surrenders. Gira picks the crown up and points his sword at Racules. He tells his older brother to apologize to the Shugoddamians for his shameful tyrannical rule. If he does that, Gira will surrender. Though he could never forgive him, Gira would like the brother he knew in his memories to return.

The older brother Racules who once promised to be a king that protects all his people by reaching out. To form a country where he and the people are kings of a shared nation together. Gira says he wants to live in such a country and there is still a chance for that to happen.

All Racules has to do is apologize and become that king he dreamed he could be.

Rita realizes Gira issued this challenge just to say that.

Racules says he understands. Gira lowers his sword, but Racules suddenly stands and slashes at Gira’s face. Racules says all this sweet talk in the middle of a duel makes him sick. Telling Gira he is too soft, Racules says he would never bow his head to anyone. Instead, he will take Gira’s and chop it off.

The other kings arrive as Sanagims approach the scene, but so does Boshimar who runs toward them with the lance. Just before he reaches Gira though, the lance breaks apart and explodes in confetti thanks to Jerami.

But everyone is shocked when Boshimar turns out to be Kamejim. Kaguragi never expected their little trick of a fake lance with Jerami would reveal such a twist.

Racules asks Kamejim how long he has been a spy and what has happened to Boshimar. Kamejim says Boshimar has long since turned to bones and mocks Racules for being taken for a fool.

Racules starts toward Kamejim, but Rita reminds him that the duel is not over. Yanma, Hymeno and Jerami take over against Kamejim and the Sanagims so Rita can return to overseeing the duel.

The brothers stare at each other before they resume their battle. Gira can’t believe Racules would continue fighting when the Bugnarak have come to attack. Racules says Gira’s want for people to be happy is foolish. People are tools who don’t think and work until they are broken to silently serve their country. And he as king IS the country.

Shugoddamians cannot believe what they are watching and hearing. They begin to revolt against Racules’ rule.

Gira and Racules continue to clash. But Kaguragi steps between them and tells Gira to listen to the Shugoddamians cheering for him.

Kaguragi says he has been waiting for this moment for a long time. He hands the real lance to Gira in order to bring down Racules.

Gira vows to crush Racules as he henshins and then uphenshins with the crown and lance to King Kuwagata Ohger. Racules also henshins and the battle once more.

As Yanma, Hymeno and Jerami are able to drive Kamejim away, the brothers’ decisive battle begins to wrap up. Racules remains indignant as Gira declares he will rule the world. He delivers a KingOhger Finish finisher at Racules, sending him flying over the cliff.

Rita declares Gira the winner. Shugoddamians cheer.

Gira heads back to the palace where the other kings welcome him. Rita proclaims Gira the new king of Shugoddam.

Episode Thoughts

I know something’s wrong with me because I have no idea why this episode felt so underwhelming to me! I want to love it very much. But I just don’t know.

I know it’s exciting and has great action. And I’m sure everyone else will love the episode. But I’m somehow looking for something more. It was an opening credits-less episode of course.

As appreciative as I am at the season’s fast pace, I kind of feel like I would’ve preferred this episode to have come much later. Maybe even late 20s, early 30s.

For an episode like this, I feel like things need to bubble up a bit more and increasingly more directly too before such a confrontation. I assume we will learn more about how Racules came to be how he is now later on. And maybe my concerns will be solved once that happens. But I think doing a bit more with him and Gira and their past could’ve helped me be more invested in such a climactic battle.

Before this episode, I was invested in seeing that brotherly angst and drama. And slowly uncovering what must have happened in the Husty Family all those years ago. I’ve been holding on that moment where Racules held back from seriously injuring Gira in order to hope and expect some kind of big, deep, emotional revelation. And again, we might get that later on. But I think a battle like what we saw here feels more like a final third-type of event rather than Episode 20.

I don’t really know how to put it into words. Maybe it’s partly because I think Racules could be such a great character that drives story both as an antagonist and whatever his true relationship is with Gira. But in “offing” him now, it eliminates some possibilities that could have been more possible before such a decisive battle.

I dunno. Being worried about a season running out of story stems from my previous experiences with many a Sentai or Kamen Rider season. But I remain hopeful for King-Ohger and what they have in store for the next 30 episodes.

Out of Studio Locations of the Week

So awesome to have them all out in the mountains this week!