Recap: Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, Episode 34 – Pumpkin Catching Competition!

The Gang is dressed up for Halloween, ready for the Trick or Treaters. But a wave of people wearing Jack-o-Lanterns on their heads storm the shop, clean them out of their treats and leave a mess in their wake.

Secchan thinks the Tojitendo are probably behind this madness and he is right. Halloween World shoots trick beams at people to make them rampage all over the city.

The Zenkaigers henshin, but Hakaizer also arrives and they battle. Stacey watches from a rooftop and flashes back to a conversation he had with Hakaizer about why he fights and works for Ijirude. Hakaizer says that’s just why he was built. But he does enjoy helping his friends and also getting a chance to fight against the exciting Zenkaigers. Especially when he can it do it together with others.

Stacey thinks that’s absurd, though he does pause for a moment.

Magine swoops in and knocks Halloween World’s pumpkin head off. The people seem to regain control of their emotions, but are still wearing the pumpkins. Halloween World says without his pumpkin head, his pumpkin power is cut in half.

Hakaizer helps protect Halloween World from the Zenkaigers and promises to find his head.

The Zenkaigers approach the Goldtsuikers for help in finding the pumpkin head. The siblings are intrigued and decide to treat the search as sort of a treasure hunt. To help, Kaito draws a picture of the pumpkin head. But the Goldtsuikers aren’t too sure about its accuracy.

At the palace, Bokkowaus is upset that Halloween World seems defective. Barashitara points out the main problem has been not knowing what kinds of powers each World will have until they already come online. Bokkowaus, Gege and Ijirude are left speechless by the very obvious flaw in their plans. But Ijirude assures Bokkowaus that Hakaizer is on the case.

The Zenkaigers are not having much luck finding the pumpkin. Kaito runs into Stacey who seems to be looking as well. Kaito approaches him and points out the great teamwork Stacey and Hakaizer seem to be having while both work for Ijirude. Stacey says that is nonsense and that he does not work for Ijirude.

Kaito asks Stacey if he wants to be alone. He knows Stacey aims to beat Barashitara. But he would be able to be more successful in that goal if he works together with some friends. Stacey says it’s none of Kaito’s business.

Stacey leaves, annoyed by all this talk of together-ness. What’s the point in working together when he won’t get all the credit. Just then, he sees a pumpkin floating down the creek. Hakaizer, however, sees one on a rooftop.

The Goldtsuikers stumble upon Halloween World. Zox henshins and they battle.

Kaito sees Stacey go into the water to retrieve the pumpkin he saw. The others run into Hakaizer who has retrieved his own pumpkin as well.

Both Stacey and Hakaizer arrive with their pumpkins. Halloween World is excited that one of them has found his head. Stacey thinks it is the one he found, but it is actually Hakaizer who finds the correct pumpkin.

The Zenkaigers henshin and help Zox against Halloween World before he can put his pumpkin head back on.

Stacey is upset that he has just lost to Hakazer as well.

Zox destroys the pumpkin head. But Halloween World takes the pumpkin Stacey had and uses it as a substitute. That reactivates the pumpkins on the peoples’ heads and they resume rampaging. Hakaizer commends Stacey on his help and finding a great pumpkin. Stacey says it was just a coincidence and he wasn’t trying to do that. Flustered, Stacey leaves.

Kaito and Zox go Super. And working together with their friends, they are able to deliver a Finale Buster at Halloween World. That finally returns the people to normal.

But Dai Halloween World appears and Kaito and Zox hop into Zenkaiju-Oh. The others stop Hakaizer from leaving and they continue to battle.

Secchan suggests Kaito and Zox put on a costume, so they put a sheet over themselves and finish off Dai Halloween World for good.

Vroom uses Boukenger Gear to shoot cement at Hakaizer. His battery runs out before he can leave and his helmet disappears, revealing his true identity. The Kikainoid4 are shocked by what they see. But Ijirude arrives to sweep the powered down Hakaizer away.

Later, the Zenkaigers head back home to hand out treats to the local children. Away from Kaito and Grandma Yacchan, the Kikainoid4 whisper about what they saw. That Hakaizer is actually…

Papa Goshikida. They think about the possibility that they were mistaken, but it was clear as day.

Over at the palace, Stacey visits Hakaizer as he is charging. He reconsiders the idea of working together and wonders if he should team up with Hakaizer to accomplish his goal of beating Barashitara.

Episode Thoughts

So the interesting thing is that Hakaizer being Papa Goshikida isn’t that much of a shocker. Like, he or his data (or whatever) is being used and controlled by Ijirude’s technology. And as soon as we saw how both Papa and Mama Goshikida were being held by Ijirude in those pods, it became a bit obvious that Ijirude would be using them in a way like he apparently is with Hakaizer.

Now I think this kind of revelation is different from say revealing what Stacey’s true identity is. If he has a “true identity” at all. Part of it is the fact that he’s been on the show much longer and he obviously has a foundation to his character that would make any such revelation be more impactful.

Especially with the way they have established Stacey’s connection with Grandma Yacchan and Stacey’s position within the Tojitendo, any movement with the mystery surrounding him would carry much more weight.

With the revelation of Papa Goshikida’s whereabouts, it kind of feels a little flat. Of course, Kaito and Grandma Yacchan will be relieved and happy to know he is still alive. But after the way the show handled Mama Goshikida’s reemergence, it has kind of taken away from the impact a reunion or even just a shocking twist involving them could have.

Like, Papa Goshikida being in the Hakaizer suit is very different and less shocking or impactful as say, revealing who is under the Gaisorg helmet in Ryusoulger. Different stories of course. But I feel like Zenkaiger kind of tried to replicate a similar vibe here. And it just doesn’t really work in that way.

What I would love to see is the Kikainoid4 keeping this a secret from Kaito and Grandma Yacchan for now. (Likely only until the middle of next week’s episode it looks like.) And trying to figure out the best way to break the news to them.

Overall, I’m happy to see a holiday episode with actual storyline consequences. (Hello Power Rangers lol) But the actual plot development felt too flat to me for some reason. Maybe it was predictable. Maybe it was telegraphed too obviously, especially in this episode itself. Or maybe this aspect of the overall story isn’t a major plot thread, so it just doesn’t feel like a momentous event.