Recap: Kamen Rider Gaim, Episode 5 – Return! The Ichigo Arms of Friendship

Kamen Rider Gaim 5

Mitch henshins into Kamen Rider Ryugen and faces off against Hideyasu’s flying Inves. Grape Squash and Mitch easily defeats it, winning Hideyasu’s Lockseed.

That night, Mitch watches Mai practicing, but she only turns out to be a illusion. Suddenly, the white dressed, red eyed woman appears and gives Mitch the same warning she gave Kota and Kaito about being sure he is making the right decision and that he needs to fight to the end.

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Mitch says he doesn’t care what happens to him as long as doing this means Mai will finally notice him. The woman disappears and Mitch wakes up from his dream. He grabs his Sengoku Driver to make sure that not everything was a dream.

Mitch is at the garage explaining to the other Gaim members how other teams have aligned with Team Baron. He says until now, conflict was minimized since each of the teams kept each other in check. But now, lines have been drawn. The others suggest joining Baron then to avoid conflict, but all aligned teams merely serve as backup dancers. And they definitely don’t want that.

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Kota walks into the garage and asks to talk to Mitch. They head outside and Kota warns him about how dangerous the Driver can be in dragging him into a world beyond just Inves games and team conflicts.

Kamen Rider Gaim 5

Mitch assures him he’s thought about his decision and tells Kota about having his life laid out in front of him and just being dragged along. He wants to fight for what he believes in and this Driver can help him do it.

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At Team Baron headquarters, Kaito meets with Hideyasu who is here to pick up a new Lockseed, as Kaito had promised. But Kaito says acquiring all this power hasn’t been as fun as he thought it’d be. He explains how disgusted he is with weaklings everywhere making it hard to see who is truly strong. He can’t make they go away, so he gathers them all so he can watch over them.

However, those who refuse to be gathered may be weak now, but they have a future… like Gaim. Which is why Kaito wants to fight them.

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Hideyasu meets with Ryoji at Drupers. Ryoji was unsure about the alliance at first, but seeing as how they get free Lockseeds, it’s not so bad. But Hideyasu bursts his bubble and explains Kaito merely looks down on them all.

Ryoji is fired up and Hideyasu proposes they find some way to fight Kaito on even footing. Otherwise, they’re in trouble. Sid walks to his usual spot and smiles when he overhears their conversation.

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Kota finds Mai practicing and talks to her about Mitch. He asks why she didn’t stop Mitch, especially after Kota told them how dangerous the Driver could be. Mai says it was only because Kota was too reckless. Mitch is much smarter, so it should be okay.

She says she and Mitch want to continue dance, so that’s why they are prepared to fight to protect their place. They want to fight for themselves and protect their dreams. That’s the biggest difference with him, she says.

Mai gets a call from Chucky who tells her Kaito and Co. are at the garage to challenge Mitch.

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Kaito confronts Mitch who stands his ground and says he is Gaim’s one and only Armored Rider. He henshins and Kaito follows.

Hideyasu offers to help out, but Kaito says he has more reliable “servants” than them two and summons two Inves. Kaito has the power to control the Inves while also fighting Mitch himself.

Kota and Mai arrive and they watch Mitch getting knocked around. Kaito says since Kota gave up his power, he has no interest in him and he should just watch from the side. Kota runs toward the fighting ring, but gets zapped back at the invisible barrier. He pleads with Mitch to run because he can’t fight alone.

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But Mitch tells himself he can’t lose and give up with Kota and Mai watching. He musters up the strength to battle.

Kota wonders why he isn’t running and Mai says it’s because he’s watching. Mitch idolized Kota and it was Kota who pushed him forward and to find his strength.

Kota thinks, then asks Mai for his Driver. Mai is unsure, but he says that he is now going to fight for himself.

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Mai hurries inside the garage to grab the Driver. Mitch says Kota shouldn’t since he doesn’t have a reason to fight. But he does. He is the only one who can use the Driver and he accepts that. “That’s probably what adults mean by taking responsibility.”

Mai tosses Kota the Driver and Lockseed and he henshins. He charges toward the ring and shatters the barrier.

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Kota and Mitch team up against Kaito and the Inves. Kaito says he will rule over the weak and show everyone how powerful he is. But Kota says being strong isn’t about showing off your power.

Kota says supporting others and giving them courage, that is true strength.
Kaito doesn’t want to hear Kota’s nonsense.

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Mitch tosses Kota a strawberry Lockseed. He attaches it to his belt and unlocks Strawberry/Ichigo Arms. With the new power, he and Mitch take on the Inves and Kaito together.

With a Strawberry Charge and Grape Squash, they defeat the two Inves. Kaito is ready to continue fighting, but Hideyasu and Ryoji step in front of him.

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They decide to take things in their own hands and pull out their own Drivers. Ryoji and his Pinecone Lockseed and Hideyasu with his Acorn Lockseed henshin into Kamen Riders Kurokage and Guridon.

Across town, Sid is in a limo with Takatora. Takatora asks how the data collection is going and Side reports that there are six Sengoku Drivers in testing with him personally choosing five of them.

Takatora asks why Sid gave them the ability to cross dimensions. Sid asks if Takatora is just worried one of them will figure out the mystery of the Helheim Forest before he does.

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That’s not going to happen, Takatora says. Sid hands him the binder of Driver owners, but Takatora doesn’t want it and leaves it to Sid to take care of not knowing his brother is one of the participants.

Episode Thoughts
Insane! How many Riders are we going to see this season? And what crazy fruit is going to show up next? Durian!? He must smell something bad though. lol

Anyway, another good episode. I think Mitch’s character may be the most interesting so far. He’s got a lot of layers between him and his brother/family business and his relationships with Mai and Kota, there’s a lot of possibilities with his character.

Kota, Kaito and Mai are certainly interesting as well and I do hope we can go deeper with their characters in the future. Hideyasu and Ryoji are also interesting because I have no idea how big or small their roles really are. The concept of a Rider civil war is definitely shaping up to be very intriguing.

I am enjoying Gaim‘s quick development so far and I hope they don’t let up anytime soon.

4 thoughts on “Recap: Kamen Rider Gaim, Episode 5 – Return! The Ichigo Arms of Friendship

  1. hey, it’s been a while since i dropped by your blog.

    things look interesting with this one. it looks like they are about to tell this kids soon that wearing a sengoku driver isn’t a game. the next rider will probably be a lot more brutal.

    am guessing that that mai and that mysterious girl are the same (or at least connected). mai will also probably become a rider herself later.

      1. exactly. yun ang disappointing sa wizard e. they already teased a female rider dun sa toyline (peached, so it looks definite. not surprising kung si mai nga yun, since she already plays a big role in the story.

  2. Ok the lockseeds have something to do with fruit. And since when is a pinecone and acorns fruit? Bana bana banna-na

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