Recap: Kamen Rider Gotchard, Episode 48 – Say Goodbye at Twilight

After Rinne suddenly disappears in pain, Sabimaru says the crest on her hand was Gaelijah’s.

Meanwhile, Papa Kudoh is taking care of the injured Supana when Gurion suddenly comes banging on the door. Papa Gurion begs Papa Kudoh to help save his daughter Atropos.

Papa Gurion tells Papa Kudoh about both their daughters will die from Gaelijah’s plan to transmute Atropos with Chimera to create the supreme AI that will become a tool of death and destruction. Papa Gurion admits that Atropos is modeled after Rinne, confirming Papa Kudoh’s suspicions all along.

Papa Gurion says he has committed many atrocities, but he at least wants to keep Atropos safe as she is the only light left in his life. Papa Kudoh says Gurion’s sins cannot be overlooked. But if they work together, they can save both their daughters.

They hurry out not knowing Supana heard everything. He gets up and sees a note Papa Kudoh left telling him to treat his wounds and being free to use the laboratory after.

Over at the warehouse, Rinne and Atropos are tied up and shocked by the news of being model and doll. Gaelijah taunts them as Papas Kudoh and Gurion arrive.

Gaelijah laughs that she already knew they would come and she traps the daughters in Cards before transporting all of them to a copy of their research home from ten years ago.

Gaelijah traps the fathers on a seal and challenges them to be the first to shoot the other dead. Gaelijah manifests a gun and bullet in front of them and says if they resist, she will transmute the daughters with Chimera right this minute.

Gurion says Gaelijah could’ve killed them at any time. But Gaelijah says she likes to leave some things to the stars.

Atropos taunts Rinne and says Papa Kudoh is as good as dead knowing Gurion will not hesitate to shoot first. Rinne, however, asks if Atropos is okay, much to her shock. Atropos asks why Rinne is concerned for her when it is Rinne who will die.

Rinne knows, but she doesn’t want Atropos to hurt anyone else. Atropos scoffs at Rinne again being more concerned about others. She can’t believe she would be modeled after her.

Papa Gurion puts the bullet in the gun and says he regrets meeting Papa Kudoh like this. He recalls back when they researched alchemy together. He has carried these feelings inside of him ever since, resenting Papa Kudoh’s selfless belief to protect all things.

Papa Gurion realizes now that he longed for what Papa Kudoh had and what he wanted was reflected in him. That’s why he transmuted a daughter of his own.

Gaelijah tells them that’s enough talking and that it’s time to shoot. Papa Gurion aims his gun at Papa Kudoh. He pulls the trigger and the gun floats over to Papa Kudoh.

Papa Kudoh says he could never understand what’s truly in Papa Gurion’s mind. Even when he is a homunculus, he still has a desire for his child’s safety.

Papa Kudoh also pulls the trigger.

Houtarou arrives at the warehouse and finds the mirror portal. But Gaelijah says only those involved and needed in the duel can be present inside.

The gun floats back to Gurion and he shoots. But out pops butterflies.

Houtarou is able to uphenshin to Bulletchoucho Wild. And since a gun is needed in a duel, he was allowed inside.

Houtarou knocks everyone out of the mirror. The two daughters are released from the Cards. Papa Kudoh hurries over to hug his daughter. Atropos, meanwhile, hugs her Papa Gurion and says she always had faith in him.

But suddenly, Gurion activates his cube and that somehow triggers the seals on Rinne and Atropos’ hands. Gurion laughs that he made a modification to Gaelijah’s spell and in ten minutes, Rinne will die and Atropos will become Chimera.

Gurion laughs at the despair on Papa Kudoh’s face and says this will finally bring about his golden world. Gaelijah cannot believe a lowly Gurion could take command of her spell.

“You weren’t here to save me?” Atropos asks. Gurion says Atropos has not figured it out yet, but his endless love for her was all a lie.

The life energy begins to follow out of Rinne and into Atropos. Papa Kudoh and Gurion battle.

Gaelijah says all she has to do now is to dispose of Rinne so that the Chimera cannot come to be. Houtarou steps forward and says he will never allow that. But Gaelijah easily forces him to dehenshin.

Rinne steps up and henshins. But Gaelijah makes easy work of her as well.

Atropos asks Rinne what fuels her desperation to save others. Rinne says she learned alchemy to make people happy and she will fight for that until her last breath.

Gaelijah says that moment can be right now. She prepares to deliver a finishing blow at Rinne. Houtarou and Papas Kudoh and Gurion all run to protect Rinne.

But Atropos remembers all the times Rinne reached out to her. She tells Rinne that she will honor their promise.

Atropos steps forward to shield Rinne and absorbs the attack instead. She falls to the ground and Rinne rushes over to her.

Atropos says she’s always been jealous of Rinne and the way her father truly loved her. She admits that she was misguided and that what she really wanted all along was a friend and that friend Rinne was here all along.

Rinne says they can still do it and be friends. But Atropos apologizes for making her life so difficult.

Atropos closes her eyes and fades away. Rinne screams. Clotho, running to the scene, senses that she is too late.

Gaelijah says this was the wrong death, but she gets the same result nonetheless.

Rinne picks up Atropos’ gold trinket (What is that called? Lol) and Gaelijah’s seal disappears from her hand. The gold becomes a ring and it manifests the MajestyDriver which she uses to henshin to Twilight Majade.

Gaelijah is confident that she can still foretell Rinne’s moves. But Rinne finds that Twilight Majade can move on its own. Actually, it’s Atropos who tells Rinne that it appears they are now one body. That’s why Gaelijah can no longer predict her actions.

Rinne and Atropos agree to work together and they take on Gaelijah.

Gaelijah does not understand why they would resist their fates. She knows humans inevitably fall victim to rage and sorrow and they eventually turn to fate and destiny. That is what led her to abandon her own humanity.

Rinne says she is wrong. No matter how hard it can get, the way they live their lives is up to their own choices.

Rinne delivers a Twilight Nova finisher at Gaelijah who explodes.

Atropos supposes they won. Rinne thanks Atropos for keeping her promise and says it’s time for her to keep her side of the deal. Atropos says not to worry about that because she’ll always be here inside of her.

Rinne dehenshins and Papa Kudoh puts his hand on her shoulder. However, their attention turns to Gurion who grabs Gaelijah’s stone fragment. He says he may have lost Chimera, but at least they’re one Meikoku King down.

Just then, Gigist appears and takes the stone, saying that Gurion will be able to survive so long as he submits as his doll once again. Gurion remains defiant that he will end up with all the stones and then he’ll be able to make his golden world a reality.

Both Gurion and Gigist disappear.

Episode Thoughts

Definitely a climactic episode. And I think a fitting one for Rinne and Atropos’ story.

First of all, I think Gotchard is such a unique season in that it really has so much potential story to tell. And it’s not like they wasted any time during the year since they’ve moved at a pretty good pace. Especially relative to other seasons. But there is really such an abundance of story that it can feel both a bit rushed and also like there’s still lots to do despite there now only being two episodes left.

That said, I don’t have any problem with the way Atropos’ story has wrapped up. It’s certainly a great way to bring about Majade’s final form. But though not really that surprising, I think Atropos wanting a friend and Rinne wanting to help and their model-doll connection and Gurion (thankfully) remaining an asshole are all good. They all have enough depth and development to make this a satisfying episode.

Of course, there’s definitely some things that could’ve been done differently to enhance this climax even more. Maybe touch upon that connection between Rinne and Atropos more. Explore the two Papas’ relationship more. Things like that.

But with so much good story this year, I guess it’s that much more difficult to be able and take time to flesh those things out. But again, the show has done enough to still make this a worthy conclusion to several plot threads from the season.

In other seasons, they sometimes drop the ball with the demise of the secondary antagonists. Treating generals and upper-level villains like simple MOTWs. But just another thing that Gotchard does well is making these episodes actually feel big, important and consequential.

Gaelijah’s demise was worthy of her impact on the story and the characters. And again, her principles, as counter to that of our heroes, help to continue building that path to the finale and Houtarou’s Gotchable climax.

As for Gurion, I’m glad that he really is an asshole. Though I honestly didn’t think for one minute that he would change into an honorable and heroic father or something lol

Next week looks like another Supana focus and I guess he gets his new toy too. Which now makes me wonder about the final episode and Houtarou’s own story. I think I stumbled upon some comments on the internets about how Houtarou doesn’t feel like the title character he’s supposed to be. And I can see how that can be the case. But again, I really feel like the stories of each of the supporting characters have just been building toward Houtarou’s endgame.

I mean, his ultimate Gotcha is a peaceful world of humans and Chemys living together. And in these last couple of episodes, the show has explored both the pros and cons of such a world. And now it’s up to Houtarou to reconcile those difficulties and find the best way to achieve his Gotcha.

That said, I definitely know Gotchard has plenty of material for post-season movies and TTFC specials. So that will be fun actually!

But just two episodes left. And I think at this point, regardless of how they play out, I’m pretty set on saying this season will be one of my favorites. Maybe not my #1 or #2. But certainly up there. Still believing in an excellent final two weeks!

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