Recap: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger, Episode 8 – King and Prince In a Trial by Combat

Rita makes the announcement that Gira will be tried for his crimes through a duel with Racules. The winner of the duel can request anything of the loser. And the winner will be decided only by surrender or death.

The kids from the orphanage are protesting to show their support for their true king Gira while they draw jeers from others who are loyal to Racules.

Douga asks Racules why subject himself to a duel. Racules explains that this is the best way to show everyone the power he possesses that makes him the true king. Douga expresses his suspicions of Kaguragi. It was he who suggested a duel in the first place and Douga thinks he did so for nefarious reasons.

Racules thinks Douga is being quite talkative in front of the king.

Meanwhile, the other kings are on a video call together. Yanma is in N’Kosopa rallying his peoples in support of Gira. Kaguragi is with Himeno in Ishabana. Himeno questions why Yanma isn’t trying to stop the duel, but he says he never gets in the way of a fight. Himeno thinks this will only lead to Racules taking control of both KingOhger and the three Shugoshin.

Kaguragi says she shouldn’t worry too much about that. Himeno asks how Kaguragi seems to have such a good read on the guy. But she also wonders if he’s forgotten about the Wrath of God from 15 years ago. Only the ShuGods from Shugoddam could counter it, but they did nothing to help the other kingdoms.

Kaguragi pauses and says that the past is past.

Himeno asks Rita, also in the group video call, if she’s listening. Especially since she seems to be on Racules’ side. But she is meeting with the guards in the frozen prison, telling them that Gira is to have no visitors.

Himeno asks Yanma and Kaguragi to reconsider allowing the duel to occur since they all need Gira.

That includes the Bugnaraks. Kamejim reminds Desnarak that as long as they have Gira, the ShuGods are theirs. That’s why the duel trial is the perfect time to get him.

Just then, another Kamejim appears behind Desnarak. But it’s actually Gerojim, a gaseous shapeshifter who will help with the plan.

Rita asks Gira about the circumstances behind his kidnapping 15 years ago, but he remembers nothing. Rita says only Racules and Boshimar know the details of it and that is odd. She wonders if Racules had something to do with the kidnapping. And if so, he can be tried before the duel.

Gira asks why she would allow that. Rita says a dueling trial is only granted if both parties agree. But with Racules’ men holding the children hostage, Gira was coerced into agreeing. And Rita believes that is unfair. Thus, the imbalanced scale should be fixed.

But Gira says not to get it twisted. He relishes getting the opportunity to defeat Racules. He laughs maniacally as Rita wonders how crazy he must be to think he could win.

Back in Ishabana, Himeno tells Kaguragi about Scopy’s poison matching the poison used during the Wrath of God that killed her mommy and daddy. Meaning someone used Scopy’s poison amidst the chaos of that day.

Kaguragi laments on it having already been 15 years since.

Kaguragi later speaks privately with Racules at the palace. He brings a fish to use an example to show Racules the power of God Scorpion’s poison. Trying to insinuate that Gira may use underhanded tactics during the duel, Kaguragi says that Racules must be prepared himself. And God Scorpion’s poison may just be it. Kaguragi offers the king a syringe.

Seven days later, it is duel day. The Hasties come face to face in front of the palace as it is broadcast live across the five kingdoms. Rita asks each of the participants for what they want of their opponent in the event of their victory.

Racules wants Gira to be exiled from the royal family and be thrown into prison for the rest of his life. Gira, meanwhile, wants Racules’ throne.

Rita flags them off and the duel trial officially begins.

Racules activates his OhgerCalibur and henshins to OhKuwagata(r) Ohger.
As the battle rages on, Rita is surprised when three guards push her off to the side and reveal themselves to be Yanma, Himeno and Kaguragi.

Turns out Rita really wasn’t listening to their group chat so Himeno explains their plan. Because Racules is sure to win this duel, Kaguragi gave him some of Scopy’s poison that he is definitely going to use on Gira. At that point, they will retrieve Gira’s body which actually will only be injected with an anesthetic instead of the poison. That way, the Shugoddamian throne will no longer chase after a dead Gira. And the four of them will have Gira in their back pocket.

Himeno asks Kaguragi if he was able to give Racules the syringe. But he is not sure if he gave the right one.

The four kings head over and watch as Racules sends Gira flying into the mountains outside of the city and away from the cameras. Rita, Himeno and Yanma hurry over, sure that Racules is about to inject Gira with poison. Kaguragi, however, stays behind.

Gira wakes up and Racules declares that this is his end. Gira says Racules should be laughing maniacally if he is so sure of victory. But Racules assures Gira that he can defeat anyone.

Racules charges toward Gira who suddenly asks if he was truly kidnapped or was he banished by his own brother. Racules does not answer as Gira proposes that Racules was scared of a child and he banished his own brother to protect his spot on the throne.

Racules pushes Gira off. Gira believes Racules’ silence means what he has said is the truth. Racules sends an explosion Gira’s way. But Gira just laughs maniacally in the fire, saying he is an evil king who knows no defeat.

Rita watches from the cliff as Gira and Racules battle some more. Suddenly, Yanma comes running, calling for his BFF Gira with arms wide open offering his help.

Racules wants no interference so he quickly jabs the syringe into Yanma, releasing the poison into his body. Gira runs over to Yanma and takes him in his arms, saying that he has no part in this. Gira pleads for help to save Yanma. But just as he is doing that, the cameras for the worldwide feed arrive and capture the shocking scene.

Gira is shocked when Yanma comes running up next to Himeno. He looks down at the person in his arms and it is actually the Bugnarak Gerojim. Gira has now been broadcast worldwide to be a Bugnarak sympathizer.

Racules takes this opportunity to finally finish off Gira for good. Yanma and Himeno are about to go help Gira, but they must take on just-arrived Sanagims. They wonder where Kaguragi has gone off to, not knowing he has snuck into the Shugoddam castle where he has found something shocking as well.

Racules delivers a Lord Finish at Gira and he falls into the abyss. Rita declares Racules the winner.

Later, Gira wakes up with Yanma, Himeno, Kaguragi and Rita looking down at him. Himeno says he should be able to get up now since she has treated him. Yanma asks how it feels to almost die.

Gira realizes he’s lost. But Himeno says he is lucky that Racules missed his vital organs.

Gira takes a moment to ponder over Racules missing. But he thanks them all for saving him anyway. Rita, however, says that there’s still a giant Bugnarak rampaging above. Gira is raring to go, but Kaguragi reminds him that he is now dead.

Back in the city, Racules is prepared to use the power of the Shugoshin to defeat the embiggened Gerojim. The peoples cheer him on. But before he can summon KingOhger, God Hopper comes zooming down onto Gerojim to kill him.

Episode Thoughts

Another exciting episode! I really enjoyed this one. There were points in the episode where I felt a bit of a Donbrothers-esque vibe. That is, in terms of a good balance of humor with the more serious action.

At first, I thought the idea of a duel trial was so absurd. Even for this fantasy Chikyuu planet. But in the end, it actually opened up a lot of interesting possibilities.

Where to begin though. I think with the Hastie Bros, this episode introduced some nice nuance (I least, I’d like to think so) to them. Now previously, I think my one criticism is how they have Gira’s almost non-reaction to the revelation of his royal heritage. And the fact that he was kidnapped of course. Even when Rita was talking to him in the prison, Gira was like “Erm, I dunno.” But as the episode went along, I’m reminded of Gira’s almost singular wavelength. At least, at this point. We actually still don’t know what’s in his head other than his vocal pronouncements of wanting to be a king for the peoples.

So the two moments at the end. First with Racules remaining silent when Gira was confronting him about the kidnapping. And second, Gira thinking about the idea that Racules may have intentionally missed his vital organs and thus not dealing a fatal blow. Both of these moments offer up a very interesting new angle to their dynamic that the show can play off of if they choose to do so. I mean, I don’t know if I’m even reading those moments correctly. But just thinking about it has me intrigued. I’m rooting for some nice brotherly angst.

With Racules specifically, I think it’s been established that he’s that typical leader who uses propaganda to his advantage. So we can’t ignore the fact that all of this is just part of his calculus. And so far, he’s been able to respond quite well to the wildcards that have appeared. We’ll see what he does now with the appearance of God Hopper. But could he have some other secrets too?

Meanwhile, it was nice to see the other four kings with some equal time. Love seeing a more serious Himeno. Love seeing more cool Yanma. Love seeing more broody Rita. And I very much love seeing Kaguragi’s sneaky, mysterious ways. The contrast of his smirks and lurking about with him projecting a sense of aloofness and joker-kind of personality to the others is so fun. And probably makes him my favorite so far.

Elsewhere, the scene where Kaguragi seemingly kills that fish was actually really dark lol

I thought it was funny seeing the green screen reflected on Gira’s packing tape bandage on his face. Lol

And also amusing hearing Racules’ “OhKuwagata” with apparently an Aussie accent. “OhKuwagataur” hehe

Overall, this was a pretty great episode.

Out of Studio Location of the Week

So it was so wonderful seeing the cast actually in a physical, non-CG location. I think I will relish in those moments all season. So why not take note of it every week. It’s basically the opposite of my “Non-CGI Donbro of the Week” tracker last season. Lol

This week, it was Mt. Iwafune!

And the Ota Sasazuka Ishigaki Ruins!

Wonderful!