Recap: Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, Episode 41 – The Slippery Depths of the Noodle Swamp!

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

Since being freed, Papa Goshikida has been spending much of his time with the Goldtsuikers and the Kikainoids learning about their lives and where they’ve come from. Zyuran asks Kaito if he’s okay with it and both he and Grandma Yacchan say that’s how he’s always been. Once he sets his mind to something, he’s goes Zenryoku with it.

Zyuran says that’s great and all, but shouldn’t the father and son have things to catch up on as well. Such as playing catch or something.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

Down in the lab, Kaito approaches his father with a question. But Papa Goshikida gets the alert that he needs to recharge.

Meanwhile, the Kikai4 head over to help Zox who is fighting Noodle World. Kaito is left behind as he tries to stop his father from running out into battle as well.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

Noodle World stabs the Kikai4 and the Goldtsuikers with noodles and they begin arguing whether soba or udon noodles are better. Father and Son Goshikida arrive just as the entire city falls to utter chaos when the Great Noodle War of 2021 erupts with rallies, discrimination and court cases.

Over at the Palace, Bokkowaus is still very upset over the events of last episode. Stacey decides to lie low for now. Bokkowaus is punishing Ijirude for his failure. But Ijirude has an idea on how to pin the blame on someone else.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

Back in the city, the two sides decide to have a nationally televised cook off to decide which side Kaito will join. Zyuran, Vroom, Flint and Ricky are Team Udon while Magine, Gaon, Zox and Cutanner are Team Soba.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

Kaito whispers to his father that this is just a plan to calm everyone down while Secchan searches for Noodle World. Papa Goshikida expresses how proud he is of Kaito especially after having talked with everyone else and realizing how much they trust him as a friend. Kaito says he’s messed up a few times too.

Kaito mentions how he feels a bit guilty about taking Stacey’s only friend away from him and asks if they should go back to save him. Papa Goshikida says he doesn’t have much memories of his time as Hakaizer, let alone having a friend so he is not sure.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

But Papa Goshikida believes in Kaito’s feelings and says he is the only one who can decide for himself what he should do.

Secchan calls Kaito and sends him the location of Noodle World. He approaches the others and before he leaves, declares that he is Team Ramen. They are all very annoyed and chase after him.

Kaito uses a Jetman Gear to shoot a tomato at Noodle World and he uses that to convince the others that the Tojitendo actually prefers pasta. That allows all three Japanese noodle factions to join together against a common foe.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

The Zenkaigers henshin, declare their favorite noodles and battle Noodle World. Flint and the twins help out by shooting at the Kudakks. With united Sentai and noodle power, the Zenkaigers deliver a Finale Buster at Noodle World and the Great Noodle War is over.

Dai Noodle World appears and the Zenkaigers transform into their mecha forms. The embiggened noodle battle continues with many more different types. But the noodle factions again join together to finish off Dai Noodle World for good. Dai Noodle World wishes everyone a Happy New Year before he explodes.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

Later, everyone gathers to bid farewell to Papa Goshikida as he is about to take off in his quickly made Parallel World Gate van to search for his wife.

Before leaving, Papa Goshikida hands Kaito a Donbrothers Gear. Grandma Yacchan tells her son to not let himself get kidnapped this time and he tells her to take care as well.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

They wave goodbye and Kaito says to himself that he will work hard to save Stacey.

Back at the Palace, Ijirude is placing blame on Stacey for Hakaiju’s loss saying that he wanted to sabotage the project in order to help his father Barashitara look better.

Stacey says he didn’t do it for his father.

Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger Episode 41 Recap

But in saying that, he has admitted his guilt. Bokkowaus zaps Stacey as he tries to run away.

Episode Thoughts

So just like that Papa Goshikida is shuffled away never to heard of again until the climactic penultimate episode when Mama Goshikida ends up being some kind of programmed Tojitendo robo or something.

Or not, I have no idea. lol But the convenient shuffling off of Papa Goshikida after all that’s happened is kind of annoying to me. It really dilutes the impact of what was a season-long arc. And the fact that they’ve all been nonchalant about Mama Goshikida’s whereabouts for months now already watered everything down in the first place.

Seeing Papa Goshikida’s modifications requiring him to charge himself up. What in the world was that? That’s the kind of interesting thing to play around with more. Is he some kind of android now? What effect does that have on his body? And is it a similar kind of situation to Stacey’s?

There’s a lot of potential for deeper, more serious story. I’m not saying the show needs to get dark or anything. I’ve learned years ago to stop wishing for grim!dark Power Rangers or Sentai and appreciate the balance (mostly Sentai) has been able to find. But as much as I appreciate the levity of the season and knowing that this is the direction Toei wants to go toward to, I guess, stabilize the franchise, personally I just get that “What if” feeling.

What if there was more a dramatic side to balance the lighthearted fluff? Many Sentai seasons have been able to do just that. Zenkaiger has all the ingredients necessary, but they’re leaving most of them on the table. And I guess that’s what I feel the most regretful or sorry about.

(And I’m not even going to get into how I feel about whatever Donbros is supposed to be. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Which is apparently in two weeks. lol)

Anyway, the most amusing moment of the episode for me was Kaito saying he was Team Ramen before running out. It was a funny gag for the moment.

I liked seeing Papa Goshikida be so interested in things and learning. That would’ve made for a great full episode with Vroom as they explore and learn things together.

But at the same time, it just felt lacking to see practically zero father-son moments. Not even any mother-son moments either. Airing alongside Revice which has made family a central theme of their story I guess has spoiled me or, I dunno, given me high expectations or something. Because I feel like Zenkaiger had a pretty good thread about family running through the season in the beginning.

Whether it was the great relationship between Kaito and Grandma Yacchan or their shared longing to be reunited with Mama and Papa Goshikida. And then Stacey’s connection with Grandma Yacchan and his own longing for a family. Not to mention the tease that he actually might be part of the Goshikida family. And the twisted relationship he has with Barashitara and the idea that Stacey has dozens of half-siblings scattered around the universe. (What?!)

Almost all of these plot points seem to have gone by the wayside as we head into the final stretch. Again, potential left on the table. *shrug*

Oh well. This was a fun, amusing episode nonetheless.

4 thoughts on “Recap: Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, Episode 41 – The Slippery Depths of the Noodle Swamp!

  1. Like you, I was also disappointed we only got Papa Goshikida for one eps.! And he is also half machine or what?!

    Still, I am looking forward to seeing next week’s Donbrothers preview.

  2. So after Kaito’s rescued his father, we get a filler episode that is about noodle.
    I find it interesting that this show has a lot of food related MOTW.
    I really hope we get food or cooking motif Sentai (or Rider) someday; there has been plenty of cooking/food related anime and TV shows, so why not tokusatsu? lol XD
    (…seriously, Kamen Rider Gaim had fruits and Ninninger has BURGER henshin item; make it happen Toei!).

    Overall, as final episode of the year (2021), it was decently enjoyable filler.
    It was kind of sad to see papa Isao had to leave to find his wife/Kaito’s mother, Mitsuko; hopefully, they come back in the end.

    Since we’re only less than 10 episodes away til the end, the show has been alright so far; it’s not Junko Komura (writer) best Sentai nor worst; it’s fine for what it is.
    The tokusatsu show this year has been pretty lackluster, despite anniversary year, but that’s just me.

    1. I like Zenkaiger but not really excited about it like other seasons. At least I don’t hate it.

      It would be great if there was a season with the main characters maybe run a restaurant and then have the items inspired by food.

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