Recap: Kamen Rider Gavv, Episode 17 – Caramel Tentacles Taste Like Happiness

Shoma and Sachika join a neighborhood mochi pounding event for the new year. And Shoma enjoys delicious mochi for the first time. As they are eating, they overhear two ladies talking about their friend’s kind son, Takeshi-kun, having gone missing. Sachika tells Shoma that he is from her neighborhood and decides to go ask the ladies about what’s happened.

Turns out Takeshi has been taken and pressed by a part timer who is currently exchanging him for some Treats. Nyelv is nearby and says because the Granute is doing very well with collection, it’s only a matter of time before Red Gavv takes notice. And Nyelv is happy because he thinks it will be the perfect chance to debut his new invention.

Back at Hapipare, Shoma tells Hanto about Takeshi-kun, worried that it must be the work of a Granute. Hanto tells Shoma about mass disappearances from a theater and courtroom and wants to do some more digging to make sure Granutes are responsible for those too.

With Sachika out looking for Takeshi, Shoma says he’ll go and look around as well. Hanto says he’ll keep Takeshi in mind as he continues investigating as well.

Meanwhile, Lage9 enters a class for the elderly and presses them and their teacher after stinging them with happiness.

Shoma is asking around about Takeshi until he comes across Lage9 who just scoffs at him before walking away. Shoma thinks that was weird, but he soon comes up to a man who recounts how he also knows of a young, kind girl who had disappeared as well.

Lage9 rests after the pressings, wondering how many more of those things he needs to round up.

Nyelv pays him a surprise visit. Lage9 gives him the Presses, but Nyelv says to just pass them on to Lango-niisan’s Agent. Instead, Nyelv has an offer for a secret side job for Lage9. One that must be kept exclusively between them.

Lage9 wonders out loud which would benefit him the most: accepting this job or staying faithful to Lango-sama.

Nyelv is amused by Lage9’s glaring at him and tells him to feel free to wear his true colors around him.

I don’t mind if I do, Lage9 says, adding that he’s a pretty laid back kind of guy.

Nyelv would like Lage9 to turn the Granute Hunters into the hunted. Lage9 says that sounds more than just a casual job. But Nyelv says the reward will be properly matched, whether it’s Dark Treats or anything Lage9 requests.

Nyelv senses Lage9 is interested and takes that as an agreement. Nyelv opens his suitcase to reveal a Driver and pudding Gochizo.

Over at the theater, Hanto learns that aside from the theater of people who disappeared, a staff worker has also gone AWOL which makes no sense considering he was a kind and responsible boy.

Gochizos apologize to Shoma for not finding anything about Takeshi. Sachika calls him with an update, but they are suddenly disconnected. Hanto calls and he and Shoma compare notes on other nice kinds going missing too. They realize that kind people are the ones being targeted and that Sachika could be in danger as well.

As Sachika is walking, a woman’s scarf flies into the air. She chases after it and is able to return it to the woman. But turns out, this woman is the Granute exploiting kind people.

Before she can press Sachika, Shoma comes running. The woman leaves. But as Hanto arrives, he notices she seemed off. Hanto chases after her and Shoma follows.

Hanto loses her and he asks Shoma why he didn’t chase her down. Shoma says he sent a Gochizo after her and explains that if they drew out the Granute, then it would have put Sachika in danger.

Hanto understands and apologizes for snapping at him. He leaves to go look for the woman. He feels bad about doubting Shoma, but he still can’t shake off the feeling that he knows more than he lets on.

Shoma feels bad about continuing to keep his secret from Hanto. But he also admits that he didn’t go after the Granute because he didn’t want Sachika to find out who and what he is. He wonders if he’s just being selfish.

Elsewhere, the Granute is annoyed by being interrupted. But she spots Lage9 and decides to try him. She tosses her scarf in the air and Lage9 leaps up to grab it. As soon as he returns it to her, she tries to Press him. But Lage9 mocks her method and knocks her aside. The Granute is appalled, but Lage9 says he’s actually on her side.

Shoma and Sachika return to Hapipare, but when a Gochizo who saw the entire scene with Lage9 and the Granute arrives to report to Shoma, he quickly leaves.

Shoma and Hanto meet up at the location and the Granute reveals herself to them. She laughs at being able to easily exploit the kindness of gullible people.

Shoma and Hanto henshin and they battle the Granute.

Just then, Lage9 appears and steps in front of the Granute before Shoma and Hanto can deliver finishers. Shoma recognizes Lage9 from earlier.

Lage9 shocks Shoma and Hanto when he mentions them as Granute Hunters.

Lage9 takes his coat off and shows his stomach mouth, revealing his Granute form. But he also whips out the Driver and slaps it on. The pudding Gochizo hops over and Lage9 is able to henshin into a Kamen Rider.

Are you here to join us? Shoma asks. But Hanto says of course he’s not since he’s a Granute.

Lage9 slaps the ground and Shoma and Hanto go flying before getting slammed back to the ground. Shoma and Hanto try to fight back, but Lage9 has no problem handling both of them.

Episode Thoughts

I loved it! What a great episode. First thing that I noticed was this was definitely quite serious compared to the other brighter and lighter episodes. Even for example the episode where Siita “died,” I feel like it was not as heavy as this one. There was a certain heaviness to this episode, both narratively and visually that I really enjoyed actually.

Or perhaps I’m just feeling high on this episode because I really am so excited to have Kohei Shoji joining the cast. Hehe.

It’s a different feeling because Kohei Shoji is an actor I liked a lot who played my favorite character on one of my favorite Sentai seasons. And now he is appearing on and joining the cast of another show I am currently enjoying a lot.

So it’s a lot of positive feelings. I think it would be different if it were a vet from a meh season appearing on a season I currently don’t care for, you know? lol

Even better that Lage9 is already a very interesting character. A certain cool vibe, but of course mysterious. He could be a good guy or a bad guy or a grey area guy. He could be all of the above. And that’s very exciting. Especially when as a character, he can have really distinct connections to several major players like Shoma and Hanto and Lango and Nyelv. So he’s going to be a big character, I think. Someone who will really help propel the story forward.

So again, very excited for what’s to come and to learn more about him and also see more of him being a badass as well!

I continue to enjoy Nyelv as well and he continues to be my favorite non-Shoma Stomach Sibling.

Meanwhile, like I mentioned, there seemed to be a heavier feeling to the episode. And I think that showed in how each of Shoma, Hanto and Sachika acted throughout. Shoma feeling guilty about his secret, Hanto feeling guilty about doubting his new friend, Sachika’s kindness unknowingly putting herself in danger.

Having them in more serious situations and moments can only work if the show has done a good job in establishing their characters so far. And that’s absolutely what they’ve done. Especially when we’ve come to know them in a more lighter context for a big part of the time. I usually like that switch up as a season goes along and Gavv seems to be doing very well on that track.

So overall, a really great episode. Exciting and enjoyable. And definitely keeping up the season’s increasingly great momentum.