Recap: Kamen Rider Zi-O, Episode 35 – 2008: First Love, Wake Up!

Convicted murderer Yuko Kitajima is being visited by Tetsuya who appears to be her ex-boyfriend that has remorsefully moved on with his life. Yuko, however, continues to insist her innocence. It is this anger that Ora uses to turn Yuko into Another Kiva.

Over at the shop, the kids are enjoying Uncle Junichiro’s freshly baked apple pie. Sougo says it tastes like “first love.” Geiz, Tsukuyomi and Woz are surprised Sougo has already experienced being in love.

Sougo explains that he didn’t have any friends when he was a kid so he had been playing alone when he scraped his knee and cried. A pretty older girl came by, put a band aid on him they played with each other. When they parted ways, she stroked his chin and called him a “cute boy.”

Sougo says he’s never forgotten her. Geiz and Tsukuyomi don’t really want to hear any more and Woz assures Sougo that many girls will throw themselves at him in the future.

On the other side of town, Yuko has escaped from prison and is now getting a glamorous makeover as she vows to become the queen of this world.

Back at the shop, lawyer Taiyo Kikuchi brings in his watch for repairs. Sougo thinks it’s cool that he fights for justice. But Taiyo says there have been times he wasn’t able to successfully defend the innocent and falsely accused.

Taiyo specifically thinks about a beautiful young girl he was unable to successfully defend. Anyway, Uncle Junichiro says he can come back for his watch after it’s fixed.

Taiyo leaves, but Sougo notices he has left his bag so he chases after him.

As Taiyo drives along he is stopped by Yuko, pointing out that he has been living a wonderful life since she’s gone to jail. Taiyo recognizes her.

He asks what she is doing here. Yuko answers that she is here to cast judgment on him.

Yuko transforms to Another Kiva and proceed to attack the lawyer. Sougo arrives and he quickly henshins. But suddenly, Another Kiva is flanked by three Arm Monsters who all overwhelm Sougo.

Sougo is forced to dehenshin and Yuko approaches him.

Yuko strokes his chin and calls him cute.

Geiz arrives and Yuko is nowhere to be seen.

Ora commends Yuko for catching on quick. But Yuko says Ora is nothing but her servant. Ora does not take kindly to being belittled like this and reminds grabs Yuko. Yuko turns to slap her, but Ora pops a few feet away.

Yuko will not let this insubordination stand. She kicks up a manhole cover and hurls it at Ora’s face, cutting her cheek.

Yuko repeats Ora is just a mere lackey and she has the power to become queen in her own hands.

Schwartz and Heure enjoy the show.

Back home, the gang is looking up information on Yuko and see she was accused of and convicted of murder and assault when she was 24. Tsukuyomi reasons that Yuko must be attacking those connected to her conviction.

Sougo says he understands her and believes she is innocent because she is his first love.

Meanwhile, Jiro/Garuru enjoys some coffee and tells the barista that he had a vision that the world is ending with some kind of meteor falling from the sky.

Back downtown, Yuko finds public prosecutor Sugimura Shoji. Before she can finish him off, Sougo and Geiz arrive. Sougo wants to know why she wants to become queen.

Yuko says she wants to establish the correct legal system in the world so no one will ever be falsely accused ever again. And to do that, she must be queen. Sougo thinks that is so noble.

Geiz says it’s a noble cause, but you don’t need to harm people to accomplish it. What Yuko is doing is nothing more than revenge.

Ora is back and is still upset Yuko scratched her beautiful face. Yuko again kicks up a manhole cover to and uses it as a shield. Yuko’s had enough of everyone being guilty.

The Arm Monsters appear and Geiz quickly henshins.

Before Sougo can henshin, he has a vision of 2008 where Yuko and Tetsuya are in a paddleboat and of 2015 where Tetsuya stands over an unconscious woman on the ground.

Geiz is being overpowered.

Suddenly, a strange object is entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Everyone freezes as they watch the strange thing coming closer and closer.

The thing crashes into the mountain and Sougo, Geiz, Tsukuyomi, Woz, Heure and Ora all run over to see. They are shocked to see Kamen Rider Ginga emerge.

Ginga sends an explosion their way. Yuko as Another Kiva will not have someone come storming in disregarding her rules. Ginga says as he is from space, her rules don’t apply to him. But there is one unchanging law that governs all of space. He sends an explosion her way.

Sougo henshins them into Trinity. But none of their disjointed attacks work against the powerful Ginga. Yuko walks away with a scoff.

Episode Thoughts

A lot to love about this episode. Most especially Yuko. Already such an awesome character with clear motivation. Sougo having a crush on her is probably the least interesting part about her character and story lol But we’ll see how that all connects together. And any reason to bring back youngSougo is good.

I really enjoyed how this episode felt very dramatic and serious. The first scene between Yuko and Tetsuya already set the tone. It even had the little Zi-O logo in the upper left corner to make sure that yes, this really is Kamen Rider Zi-O and not some legal drama lol

I assume it harkens back to the style and vibe of Kiva itself. Again, I don’t know much about Kiva and my only exposure to it is the Kiva arc on Decade and little Prince Wataru. But obviously that’s very different lol

But the episode really had a very nice vibe and aura to it. Still having the usual comedic bits and gags, but overall definitely more serious. And the plot certainly fit that vibe.

Not sure how Ginga will play into the plot other than being a power-up. But we’ll see.

I liked seeing the back and forth between Yuko and Ora as well. I feel like they’re missing a great opportunity to have Ora (and Heure as well) have a genuine foe to truly go up against. So seeing Yuko belittling Ora and Ora being upset and just shocked to see someone go against her was fun.

Overall, a great and dramatic episode.