Recap: Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, Episode 2 – The Gao Beast is Troublesome!

Boccowaus is annoyed at the appearance of this so-called Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger. Gege says many of the worlds they’ve captured in Tojiru Gears have their own Sentai teams who have protected them in the past.

Vroon is shocked to hear that. But Barashitara zaps him and tells him to mind his own business. Ijirude decides to insert the Mushroom Gear into a Kuddak to create Mushroom World.

As Mushroom World makes mushrooms sprout up all over the world, including on everyone’s foreheads, Kikainoid Gaon tries to befriend the cute, adorable beings on this planet such as humans and dogs.

Kaito and Zyuran find Mushroom World and Ijirude. Zyuran tells Kaito about Ijirude being a member of Tojitendo.

Mushroom World hops down and Kaito and Zyuran both henshin so they can battle. Ijirude is surprised they also use Gears. Kaito says his parents created the Gears. Ijirude says that is a coincidence because it was he who created the Tojiru Gears for the Tojitendo.

Kaito whips out the Goggle V Gear to give him and Zyuran special ribbon power. And with it, they are able to drive both Mushroom World and Ijirude away.

Back at the candy shop while enjoying dinner, Zyuran says there’s no hope for Kikainoids with Boccowaus pulling the strings. Kaito says they can be the first heroes to defeat the Tojitendo then. Kaito’s positivity cheers Zyuran up and they fist bump.

Secchan tells them that any abnormalities will go away once they defeat the enemy. In the meantime, Secchan suggests they look for teammates.

Next morning, Gaon is unsuccessfully trying to befriend a cat when Kaito and Zyuran appear in the city to try and recruit new members. While the people are initially excited to see the heroes from yesterday, they all scatter away when Kaito tries to entice them with 10 candy shop coupons.

Kaito tries to speak with each person and Kikainoid, but they don’t really want to get involved and would rather live with mushrooms on their heads.

Gaon sees Kaito and falls for his adorable human energy. He approaches Kaito, while ignoring Zyuran, and asks if he would like to be friends. But not become a Zenkaiger as he likes to avoid Kikainoids.

Gaon explains that Kikainoids are hard, bulky and definitely not cute. Especially with the Tojitendo, there’s nothing lovable or adorable about Kikainoids at all. Unlike the creatures of Earth who are so cute and warm and soft.

Gaon says he wants to live the rest of his life surrounded by these wonderful creatures.

Kaito says it’s okay if Gaon doesn’t want to fight. They can still be friends. They exchange phone numbers before going their separate ways.

On the way home, Kaito says all these mushrooms walking about has him craving some shrooms to eat. He and Zyuran decide to make a party of it.

But Ijirude tells Mushroom World to proceed with the next phase of their plan. The mushrooms on everyone’s heads emit some kind of poisonous gas, causing them much pain. It doesn’t affect Kikainoids though. Zyuran gives Kaito his handkerchief to cover his nose and mouth.

When Gaon sees the mushrooms causing pain on the adorable humans and animals he loves, he looks for and finds Kaito and Gaon who have found Ijirude and Mushroom World on a rooftop.

Gaon says he has decided to join them as a Zenkaiger. He can never allow anyone to hurt the cute beings of this world.

Kaito hands Gaon a Geartlinger and he teaches him how to henshin while Ijirude and Mushroom World watch and wait.

Kaito, Zyuran and Gaon henshin together for the first time and battle the just arrived Kudakks.

Kaito powers them up using a Hurricaneger Gear allowing them to use stealthier ninpou.

Mushroom World punches Kaito away and whacks Zyuran into a building. Gaon leaps in to take Mushroom World on himself before Kaito is able to regain his composure. Together they deliver a Grand Zenkai finisher at Mushroom World and everyone is freed of their mushroom heads.

Kaito and Gaon celebrate the win, but Zyuran reminds them there’s still more to come.

Ijirude summons a Kudaitest which steps on the Mushroom Gear allowing it to turn into Great Mushroom World.

Zyruan transforms into Tyranno and Gaon follows his lead by transforming into Lion. They try to fight the Kudaitest, but end up arguing with each other.

Kaito wants to join them and he flips his Gear as well. But Secchan says it’s not that simple. His Gear actually causes Tyranno and Lion to combine.

Kaito is able to hop inside Zenkai-Oh Zyuragaon. Together they’ve unlocked a new power that they can use against Kudaitests, as long as they work together. Secchan gives them helpful tips as they battle Great Mushroom World and are able to deliver a Super Zenkai Time Zyuran Sword Full Moon Crash finisher to finish him off for good.

All the mushrooms finally disappear and the world is back to normal.

While Vroon mops up, he sees that Mushroomtopia has been liberated from the Gear.

Over at the candy shop, Grandma Yacchan and Gaon introduce themselves to each other. Kaito introduces Secchan to Gaon, but Gaon tosses him aside. The lion and bird argue.

Episode Thoughts

This was an okay episode. Not as fun and exciting as last week, but a solid episode nonetheless.

Gaon is definitely an interesting character. A self-hating Kikainoid? Uh… sure! Okay. Lol I have no idea where they’ll go with his character, but we’ll have to wait and see.

Kaito and Zyuran trying to recruit members, unhenshined too, was not as funny as it could have been I think. It was just a gag scene. But I’d probably just prefer they go out and look for someone they connect with or something. People accepting their mushroom heads too was weird. I feel like there was a joke there somewhere that didn’t land. lol

I liked seeing a little more of the Tojitendo and their dynamics. That “coincidence” of Ijirude creating Gears like Kaito’s missing parents is very suspicious. lol

Vroon will be an interesting character to see how he leaves his job and eventually becomes a Zenkaiger. Seeing Ijirude out and about is also good. With his design, I thought he wouldn’t be very mobile. But he was all over the city with Mushroom World, so that’s good.

With the Tojiru Gears, I wonder how they’ll incorporate the worlds where Sentai exists. If they do at all. Kind of like a Decade sort of world hopping. But here, it’s overlaying those worlds onto Zenkaiger’s world.

Overall, I just thought it was okay. I didn’t feel as excited as the premiere, for whatever reason.