Recap: Mashin Sentai Kiramager, Episode 26 – Make it an Arrow Weapon

The Kiramagers are struggling against the Zombie Bechats. Yodonna thinks she should smile when the tunnel is complete since that’s what humans do when their plans work out. Tametomo is incensed by Yodonna’s mockery of them.

Bakudan Jamen takes some time to prepare a stylish attack. But Yodonna tells him to get on with it. She whips his face and clones him into five separate bodies.

The Bakudan Five deploy to set the bombs across the city.

The Zombie Bechats force the Kiramagers to dehenshin. But suddenly, the Zombie Bechats turn to mud and die. Yodonna expected this would happen with the power up.

The Kiramagers can’t believe she would be so cruel. But Yodonna says pawns are meant to be disposable. She leaves, but Tametomo says she will regret not finishing them off now. Yodonna says she’s making a decision as a frontline leader and the five of them are no longer worth her time.

Tametomo says she is no leader. Unlike Juuru who is someone they can rely on. And together as friends, they will be able to rise up and defeat her in the future.

Yodonna scoffs at the idea of friends.

Meanwhile, Takamichi is also struggling against the Monstone. But Energia seems to wear the Monstone down. That allows Takamichi to gain the upper hand and defeat the Monstone for good.

Back at the coconut tree, the Kiramagers are feeling defeated and slightly worried. Shiguru gets up and says they should hurry and stop the Bakudan Jamenshi from bombing the city. But Sena worries that in their current state, they might not have a chance.

Takamichi returns with the Kanaema Stone. He tells them about the immense power it has and Tametomo thinks they can use the power themselves and rise up like a phoenix. The others agree.

But Juuru does not. He pops up and screams at them that they will only end up like the dead Bechats.

Energia is indeed powerful, but their bodies won’t be able to handle it. Shiguru says that’s a good point, but they can’t let Yodonheim invade Earth. Sayo says if they can save the peoples, then they should.

Juuru interrupts by screaming, again insisting that they will not be throwing their lives away for this.

“So we just let Earth get destroyed?!” Tametomo screams at Juuru.

Juuru screams back that he doesn’t want that either. But he wants to protect the Earth AND their futures. Juuru grabs the Kanaema Stone and runs out.

The others start to follow him out, but the alarms sound when the Bakudan Five begin bombing the city. Sena says she’s not sure if they can do it, but they must try to stop the Jamenshi. Shiguru says they have to at least buy themselves some time.

Over in the Darkness, Carantula confirms to Garuza that Yodonna indeed works for the Emperor. But Carantula thinks she’s hiding something that might mean bad news for them two.

Juuru makes his way to the shrine. He tells the priest all about his present situation. And the priest remembers the sparkling alien that once visited the shrine.

Juuru realizes the kirakira alien is King Oradin. The priest says Oradin was very touched by the story of the phoenix whose power he gained. He challenged the priest to an archery contest and pushed himself past his limits. But in doing so, he broke his bow.

That’s when Oradin realized that he doesn’t need to exceed limits. Instead, add a twist to use the power to his advantage.

“Limits don’t exist to be broken. I’m glad I’ve realized that.”

Oradin’s words give Juuru a Hirameking.

The others are struggling as each of them take on a Bakudan Jamen. Dr. Sayo calls Mabushina and asks her to give Juuru her regards if they die. Mabushina is beside herself and cries at their dire situation.

Juuru comes waltzing into the Operations Room and gathers Mabushina’s blue diamond tears. He places the Kanaema Stone on them and asks it to make his Hirameking a reality.

The Kanaema Stone produces the brand-new weapon he drew.

In the quarry, the five Bakudan Jamen come back and return to one body. He has collected five bombs filled with human Dark Energy. Yodonna gives Bakudan Jamen the five locations those Dark bombs must be placed at to open the portal.

But the Kiramagers, minus Juuru, arrive to try and stop them.

Yodonna begins cackling believing this is a moment to try a laugh. Tametomo says she can laugh all she wants, but she is not going to succeed.

Juuru comes running in and says they will rise like a phoenix. He introduces the Kiraful Go Arrow which they will use to power-up.

Juuru says he realized they shouldn’t exceed their limits. So they will instead only use the power-up for 100 seconds.

Yodonna tells Bakudan Jamen to blow the Kiramagers to bits. She again whips Bakudan Jamen into five separate bodies and also summons more Zombie Bechats.

Takamichi says he will handle the Bechats while the others deal with the Jamenshis.

Juuru gathers the others and they use Kiraful Go Arrow to uphenshin. Each of them take one of the Jamenshi and take turns using the Arrow.

Up first is Sayo followed by Shiguru then Sena and Juuru.

Juuru tosses the Arrow to Tametomo last. But with only 10 seconds left, Yodonna pops in and knocks him down. The time runs out and the Kiramagers downhenshin.

Yodonna begins cackling again and orders Bakudan 2 to blow up whatever he can.

Tametomo says Yodonna is the unlucky one because unlike them, she has no friends. Yodonna again scoffs at the idea of friends.

A very flexible Takamichi is able to stop the Bakudan Jamen from detonating the last bomb.

Tametomo says this is what can be accomplished with the power of friendship. He tells Yodonna that her plan has failed and she will have nothing to smile about now.

Yodonna leaves and heads to the Darkness where Garuza offers they team up.

Back at the coconut tree, the Kiramagers celebrate their win with some cake.

Juuru first has something to say to Tametomo. He encourages him with his love life and says he’ll find a nice girl in the future.

Episode Thoughts

This was an exciting episode and a great debut for the new power up. But I must say, not as tightly written as some of the season’s other big episodes.

First of all, having the Kiramagers on their heels is a good story. Especially after the explosive debut of Yodonna. And having the Kiramagers at their lowest point helps to build up the excitement for the eventual debut of the new power up.

What I wasn’t sold on was Juuru’s very defeatist attitude. Like, Juuru is the guy with the brightest Kiramental. He’s got some psychic connection to Oradin and Crystalia. He’s always positive. He gets Hiramekings. So seeing him snap at the others like that was very surprising. And dare I say a little out of character. He doesn’t want to risk their lives to save the world? What?! Of all the people, Juuru would be the last one I’d expect to hesitate about saving the world.

So I feel like that came out of nowhere for him. I think they could’ve done it a bit differently. Maybe do a little more to build up to that moment of him being frustrated which of course would still lead him to the shrine to think. But the way they presented it here, I’m not a big fan of.

I haven’t brought out this excuse for a few weeks, but maybe this episode was affected by corona somehow. That’s why it wasn’t perfect.

Nah, just kidding.

Anyway, I loved seeing the others not hesitate. Of course, they can’t just go out recklessly. But I would think that no matter what, they’d give it all they’ve got and not give up.

When it came to harnessing the power of Energia, they also could’ve come up with something to be able to use it safely. Maybe Muryou develops something. Or they play around with the idea that the five/six of them share the power so it isn’t harmful to them. Or even just simply saying Kiramental or their teamwork/friendship allows them to control the powerful output of Energia that they can safely use it without dying.

Again, acknowledging the risk of Energia after seeing the Zombie Bechats turn to mud like that is also a good plot point. But we still could’ve gotten to the same result with the power up in the end without that out of character moment from Juuru.

Anyway, speaking of characters. Yodonna is definitely delivering. She just owned this episode, to be honest. And it will be very exciting to see her dynamic with Garuza (and Carantula) moving forward. Carantula says she must be hiding something. So that’s another thing to look forward to as well. Perhaps something to do with friendship that seemed to affect her.

Plus, in addition to her tongue action, we’re going to get some hilarious cackling every week. lol

Also, Tametomo’s character song is so good! That’s some pure J-pop goodness. It sounds like the single for the Produce 101 Japan Season 2’s winning group! It’s great. Rui Kihara is a great singer.

And can we appreciate this split from Takamichi’s suit actor please?

Overall, I would’ve preferred they did things differently when it comes to the Kiramagers being in dire straits. Having them in a bad situation and almost desperate is ripe for a great, dramatic story. They did it half-well this episode. But the scene of the Kiramagers using the Kiraful Go Arrow one after the other was excellent and made everything well worth your time, regardless.