Recap: Kamen Rider Gotchard, Episode 26 – Thwart Malice, Jet Black Wind

Mama Ichinose apologizes for having Sabimaru and Renge helping her out at the restaurant on this busy morning since Houtarou has slept in. They say it’s not a problem, knowing secretly why Houtarou has been so exhausted. But Houtarou wakes up and though they tell him to just rest, he says he is always ready to do what needs to be done. Both here and in saving his Chemy friends.

Meanwhile, Minato is on a rooftop thinking about Houtarou’s words during their recent battle as well as his memories of Daiki and Gurion’s mockery of him putting young people in danger.

Just then, Lachesis appears and Minato says she’s probably here to kill him. But Lachesis is emotional, asking him what went wrong. They were supposed to betray Gurion. And the plan was for Minato to fake turning against his students in order to train them to become powerful enough to defeat Gurion themselves.

“You can’t just let Gurion eliminate you!” Lachesis pleads. “We can run from him together!”

Lachesis says Gurion terrifies her and begs Minato-sensei to have the Kamen Riders help protect her from him.

Suddenly, Atropos and Clotho appear. They have confirmed that Gurion’s suspicions about Lachesis were correct. Clotho hesitates to kill her sister so Atropos takes the Dreadriver and henshins herself.

Before Atropos can get near Lachesis, Supana appears. He had come here for Minato, so he never expected this family squabble. Supana henshins and battles Atropos.

Clotho charges at Lachesis, but Minato steps in to protect her. Lachesis runs to safety. Minato apologizes to Supana before leaving as well.

Atropos dehenshins and she and Clotho retreat for now.

After the morning rush at the restaurant, Houtarou ends up immediately falling asleep. Mama Ichinose offers the kids some cake while taking a break. But she places a blanket on the sleeping Houtarou. Rinne arrives and seeing Houtarou, she apologizes that they weren’t able to do more to help him.

Atropos and Clotho apologize to Gurion for not being able to eliminate Lachesis. But he says it’s okay. They can take care of that later because their focus now must be to open the Door. He is missing only two Level 10s to complete what they need. One of them, Dragonalos, is in his gold cube. He fuses it with a Malice Doll to bring about Dragon Malgam who he orders to retrieve the 10th and final card they need.

On the other side of town, Supana is having lunch with Kyoka-san. She tells him about Gurion having Dragonalos which she figures he will use to retrieve the Level 10 Gaiard. She knows that when he has all ten Cards, his failed dream from ten years ago will finally become a reality.

Kyoka-san says to leave Minato to her while Supana can go stop the Malgam from getting the Chemy. She gives him the location of the museum where Gaiard is kept.

At Kitchen Ichinose, Rinne, Renge and Sabimaru get the message from Kyoka-san about what is happening. When Houtarou wakes up, Renge and Sabimaru try to keep what’s going on a secret. But Rinne says Houtarou will find out and follow anyway, regardless of what they do. Houtarou says he is rested enough.

Before they leave, Mama Ichinose says for them to stay safe.

The Malgam is at the museum and Gaiard emerges from the globe outside. The Malgam is able to capture the Chemy in a Card, but Supana arrives and he henshins. They battle, but Supana has a bit of trouble keeping up initially.

When the others arrive, Houtarou is ready to jump in. But Rinne says he is their last resort, so for now, she will be stepping in to help Supana in battle first.

The Rinne and Supana tag team are able to get some good hits at the Malgam. However, they are eventually overpowered and Houtarou immediately henshins to step in. Houtarou and the Malgam take their battle inside the museum.

The Malgam scoffs at Houtarou, saying that he is no match for him. The Malgam says Dragonalos and Gaiard were the first two Chemies born. And their immense power is why the level numbering system was created. All Level 10s born after them were derived from the two Chemies.

The Malgam mocks Houtarou, saying his mere human body cannot possibly handle the power of ancient alchemy.

The Malgam forces Houtarou to dehenshin and demands he hand over the Driver. Rinne and Supana come running to help, but the Malgam immediately forces them to dehenshin as well.

The Malgam is about to slam a fireball on Houtarou. But a mysterious figure arrives to block the attack.

It is Papa Kudo. And contrary to the Malgam proclaiming Gurion will shape the future, Papa Kudo says it is the youth who follow the faithful path that will forge the future. And he will be the one to help light that path for the new generation.

Papa Kudo activates his ring, bringing about the Alchemis Driver. He taps his key, links up and inserts the Gigabaham and Kuroana Cards to henshin to Kamen Rider Wind!

The Malgam says it doesn’t matter who he is because he will easily destroy him. The youngins all watch as Papa Kudo and the Malgam take the battle into the sky.

Papa Kudo says the Malgam relies too much on the power of Chemies. What is most important is the will to fight alongside them instead of merely just using them. Papa Kudo delivers a Big Bang Nova finisher to take care of the Malgam.

Papa Kudo is able to capture Dragonalos and Gaiard in Cards.

But Papa Kudo is suddenly impaled from behind by Gurion!

They all run up the stairs as Gurion says while Papa Kudo bested him ten years ago, it is the other way around today. Gurion takes the four cards in Papa Kudo’s possession and relishes in now having all that he needs for his ideal world to become a reality.

Rinne tells her father to hold on. But Papa Kudo says they are the ones that will have to stop Gurion now. Rinne begs her father not to leave her. But Papa Kudo promises that they will meet again one day.

Papa Kudo tells them Gurion is in the Ouroboros Realm. He has opened the gate for them and they can take TenLiner to go there.

“I leave our future… to you,” Papa Kudo says with his last breath.

They watch as Papa Kudo disappears. Sabimaru through Isaac says that Papa Kudo was actually a body double that was made from alchemy.

But for now, they are all determined to go to the Ouroboros Realm to save the Chemies and stop Gurion’s plan. TenLiner arrives to pick them up.

Minato looks up at the sky and watches as they zoom through the portal.

In the Ouroboros Realm, Atropos and Clotho follow Gurion as he adds the four Cards to the full collection. He declares it is finally time for the ultimate experiment to begin.

Hopper1 and the other Chemies suffer in pain as Gurion activates the dark experiment.

Episode Thoughts

Gotchard really knows how to keep things exciting, but also maintain a good pace that truly allows every story beat, emotional punch and shocking revelation land safely on the strong foundation they’ve built.

Another great episode. So so good!

First let’s start with our new power couple! Lololol

Just kidding. But I mean, what a way to start the episode. We all knew Minato and Lachesis were working together of course. But their scene though! I don’t think anyone knew they’d taken things that far! Lol Like, it legit felt like they had already fallen in love, Romeo and Juliet-style, “Us Against the World,” running away from the evil king!

That was really my first thought as the scene unfolded. My jaw dropping lower and lower with each of Lachesis’ lines! Lol. I mean, what better love story than two people fighting against the odds to be together and free! Lol

“You can’t die! We’re supposed to be together forever!” 😭

It was a big surprise for me, but I mean, it definitely makes sense in general. The two of them trying to escape Gurion’s evil clutches. I definitely want a TTFC special with the convos they’ve had in the shadows all this time. Or even an actual episode in-series flashing back. But then again, I feel like once they do that, that will mean the end to either or both of Minato and Lachesis. Like, we watch the difficult journey they’ve had together before they kill them off.

No no no! What am I saying?! Don’t think such things! lol Minato and Lachesis must survive! They have plenty of story potential left to be explored! Hehe.

But seriously, such a great dynamic from them, even from what little we’ve seen. And it really helps to highlight Houtarou-tachi being so grateful to Minato and caring about him as well as the true depravity of Gurion as well as the Sisters’ perhaps blind loyalty to him. Really great stuff.

Also, very fun to see little old Atropos henshining!

Meanwhile, another wonderful scene I loved, though also short, was Mama Ichinose telling Houtarou to be careful as they left. There’s really something about having someone at home thinking about a loved one who might be out in the dangerous world. Whether for a job or a responsibility. That scene was just a few seconds long. But really packed an emotional punch. Especially as we know that things are getting more and more dangerous for Houtarou and friends.

What that scene also had me looking forward to is the future revelations about Papa Ichinose. And whatever secrets and mysteries that part of the story holds. I’m sure it’s going to be something really impactful. Especially if the show will be able to draw upon Houtarou and Mama Ichinose’s relationship. And the nice connection that Mama Ichinose has also forged with Rinne and the others too.

The rest of the episode was of course Houtarou being his determined and sincere self. Definitely saved by Papa Kudo of course. But I think that scene again showed that Houtarou still has a lot of learning and growing up to do yet. No matter how special he may or may not be.

With Papa Kudo, I would have not been surprised if he was some kind of illusion or fake or actual traitor or something like that. But the fact that he’s just some manifestation using alchemy, like his soul is being frozen in ice somewhere or whatnot; I think that was the perfect way to explain away his appearance to help further the story without taking anything away from Rinne’s story. As well as the story around his disappearance. It’s a creative way that can feel like a plot device. But still feel believable and plausible in-story. And it worked in the grander scheme of things, again, without taking anything away from the existing stories or a future story involving him and Rinne too.

Elsewhere, I loved the wonderful drone work during Papa Kudo and the Malgam’s battle in the sky. I really love the way Toei has integrated drones to both Sentai and Kamen Rider in the last couple of years. It’s helped to bring some refreshing new angles and perspectives in battles that might have otherwise felt overly familiar by now. Really great work.

And a really great episode once again from Team Gotchard! So exciting. So emotional. And it looks like things will only get more intense next week! Yay!

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