Recap: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger, Episode 41 – Time to Save the Universe

The other Ohgers arrive and join Gira in henshining. They each deliver a finisher, but Dagded is indeed immortal. Gira goes supercharged, but Dagded merely floats into the sky, unharmed. Dagded summons an embiggened and resurrected Daigorg. The Shugods combine into KingOhger, but their attacks simply make Daigorg embiggen even more.

Kaguragi suggests he speak with Suzume who has long infiltrated Racules’ castle in order to help them activate the castle robo. Kaguragi asks to borrow Gira’s lance. Rita is against the idea, but Gira hands it over as he puts his trust in Kaguragi.

The Ohgers take care of Sanagims before the castle turns into King Caucasuskabuto. Gira is happy to see Kaguragi has kept his word. He activates God KingOhger and is able to finish off the embiggened Daigorg for good.

Meanwhile, Dagded is growing impatient with Racules’ plan. He wants the killing to happen yesterday. Racules says the only thing stopping them is immortal Gira. So he asks Dagded to give him the power to kill Gira with his own two hands. Dagded is unsure why Racules would want to deal with one small snail like Gira. But Racules says Gira’s absence will hasten the clean-up process.

Racules asks Dagded to do the honors. Dagded rolls the ball that leads to each of the other Ohgers to return to their thrones only to find a strange fart cushion where they have sat. Yanma realizes the cushions are pressure sensitive bombs.

Dagded enjoys this new development. Racules asks Dagded to begin the process of leaving this planet. But they will be taking some humans in the castle to bring with them to the next planet they will destroy. Hirubiru uses her whispering to brainwash Shugoddamians into boarding the castleship.

Kogane finds Gira and says Boone has been taken to the castle to be shipped off into space. Gira calls the others who tell him about the bomb cushions. While Yanma tries to figure out how to disarm the bombs, Gira says he will go to the castle by himself.

After hearing Racules’ plan, Dagded is excited that this 2000 year partnership with the Shugoddam throne has produced some fun times. Racules is sure of his victory.

Gira meets Racules in front of the castle and they both henshin.

Meanwhile, the other Ohgers are shocked when Kaguragi gets up from his cushion and he only gets an explosion of fun. He tells them their cushions actually are bombs, so he tells Yanma to hurry while he goes to take care of his mission as well.

Gira demands Racules release the people who have hopped into the castle. Racules says the humans will be able to destroy any of the new creatures on their new home planet, thus ensuring the survival of humanity. Gira cannot believe Racules would push for more race wars and abandon everyone else because that is not what kings are supposed to do.

The brothers resume fighting. Gira is able get Racules on his knee and reminds him that a king protects all people. Gira asks if Racules has forgotten little Racules teaching little Gira about people working together to protect their fellow man.

Gira says he wanted to be just like Racules back then. Racules pulls Gira closer to him and says he really is so naïve and soft that it makes him want to vomit.

Kaguragi arrives and tosses the lance down. But Racules grabs it and henshins into King KingOhger. With the lance, Racules delivers a finisher that forces Gira to dehenshin when he gets slammed into the rockface. Dagded is celebrating.

Racules dehenshins as well as he falls to a knee. Kaguragi says he kept his promise and Racules says he is glad he trusted Kaguragi, the sure traitor. Racules tells Kaguragi to go to the new world and Kaguragi hopes Racules gives “him” a good final blow.

Racules points his sword at Gira and says their long battle ends here. Gira looks up at Racules almost with disgust.

Dagded appears and officially grants Racules the power to kill immortal beings as well as declare him an official jester.

So now, it’s time for Racules to kill Gira for good.

As Dagded dances with glee, Racules prepares for the moment he says he’s been waiting so long for. He raises his sword, but suddenly turns to slash at Dagded several times.

Gira is shocked.

“Gira, get up,” Racules says. “It’s time to save the universe.”

Episode Thoughts

So nothing in this episode was much of a surprise or unexpected. What I felt the most at the end of this episode was “relief”. Relief that yes, the series went there with Racules. And no, the series wasn’t going to just throw everything they’d set up about the Husty Bros to go with some dumb twist.

Though the scene of little Racules and little Gira helped keep my hope alive most of this season, King-Ohger‘s lightning fast pace/speeding through every good idea they have on paper certainly fueled my doubts as well. I think more on making me feel pessimistic. So even though I held out hope for Racules having his own secret plan that would involve an eventual happy reunion with the little brother he cares for so much, I knew also to expect being disappointed as well. I certainly have been disappointed many times in the past with Sentai and Kamen Rider seasons I’ve enjoyed.

So this episode, as soon as Racules asked Dagded to give him the power to kill the “immortal” Gira who was created out of thin air, I 99.9% knew he was doing that in order to get the power needed to kill immortal Dagded himself and not his brother.

But even with that full expectation, it was still a wonderful moment at the end to actually see it happen and play out. It’s a long time coming. Especially for a character like Racules who was so great before he was thrown off the cliff, literally. I think similar to how Kamen Rider Revice wasted Hiromi by employing the same cliff falling non-death, King-Ohger missed a lot of potential with seeing Racules be more of a thorn in the Ohgers’ sides in the middle of the season.

Having Racules continue to act like the “evil king” Gira ends up thinking he is only to be revealed that he is actually working for something good would have made this episode even bigger and more impactful.

Still, this episode unfolded very well. And the end was nonetheless a cheer-worthy moment. The look in Racules’ eyes as he pointed his sword at Gira was absolutely amazing. All the feelings from Racules seeing Gira’s almost defeated, yet also defiant reaction of disgust in his brother was very much conveyed in this scene. Bravo to both Masato Yano and Taisei Sakai.

I think one great thing about this story is that Gira has been portrayed as this sort of hot-blooded, sometimes reckless and very naïve person. And it very much was on full display in that moment at the end. Gira sees things as black and white. And then not being able to compute when everything is really gray.

I look forward to how next week’s episode will further peel back the layers of Racules’ lonely plan.

With Gira, I still don’t believe he’s just some toy Dagded created out of thin air. I actually think that would take a bit away from the brotherly bond between Racules and Gira. I guess it would be nice to see Racules bond with his not-human brother? But having them actually be blood-related brothers would make the story more meaningful. We’ll see.

It will also be interesting to see the details of Kaguragi and Suzume’s role in the whole thing. It would seem they, or at least Kaguragi, have been in on Racules’ plan. Or at least have a basic knowledge of what Racules might have been planning. It fits with their characters though, being people (Kaguragi specifically) who would do anything for their kingdoms, no matter how it might look to other people.

Overall, a satisfying episode of relief for me. And certainly a welcome and exciting episode, even if predictable (though very much hoped for!) result! I wanna be clear though. This isn’t a half-hearted endorsement of the episode. I may not love everything about the execution, but I love the story/endgame of the Husty Bros nonetheless!

Out of Studio Locations of the Week

They better be out of the studio for an episode as consequential as this!